Forced terminations in the Southern Baptist Convention were down during 2006, but those who issued the latest report say work remains to be done to reconcile conflicts between pastors and congregations. ATLANTA (BP) – Forced terminations in the Southern Baptist Convention were down during 2006, but those who issued the latest report say work remains to be done to reconcile conflicts between pastors and congregations. The Southern Baptist Church-Minister Relations Association found that 680 fulltime and bivocational pastors were forced out of their positions in 2006, plus 265 staff members. While the total of 945 is 27 percent lower than the 1,302 reported for 2005, a former LifeWay Christian Resources staff member who conducted the survey pointed out that the report lacked input from four state conventions. Barney Self, a former pastoral counselor with LifeWay, said the omissions mean the actual number of terminations may have been closer to 1,100. The Southern Baptist Church-Minister Relations Association, encompassing state convention officials who work in the area of church-pastoral relations, compiles its annual survey with the help of nearly 1,100 SBC directors of missions from across the country. Their … [Read more...]
Emergency information is vital to crisis ministry
When a pastor’s phone rings at midnight, it often signals an emergency or tragedy – and early morning ministry. FORT WORTH, Texas (BP) – When a pastor’s phone rings at midnight, it often signals an emergency or tragedy – and early morning ministry. John Sharp, pastor of North Point Community Church in Columbia, S.C., rolled over to answer his phone around midnight last summer. Bob Hataway – a chaplain for the North American Mission Board who heads up TransAlive, a ministry to professional truckers – was on the line, telling Sharp that a driver from Columbia had been killed in an accident. Hataway asked Sharp if he’d minister to the family in crisis. “My first thought was, ‘Is this real or could this be a dangerous prank or scam?’ After confirming its validity, my thought shifted to, ‘Can’t you find someone else?’ I just couldn’t seem to hang up the phone or give a good enough reason not to accept the opportunity,” Sharp recounted. “God wanted me to answer the phone that night and play a small part in ministering to a family in need.” And Sharp did. Hataway, a member of First Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas, said Sharp is one of many pastors grateful for the opportunity to be used by God in crisis ministry. Of … [Read more...]
Revival sweeps into small Georgia church
Less than 18 months ago, Harbor Lights Baptist Church in northwest Georgia had a for sale sign on the outside and eight discouraged members on the inside. LAFAYETTE, Ga., (BP) – Less than 18 months ago, Harbor Lights Baptist Church in northwest Georgia had a for sale sign on the outside and eight discouraged members on the inside. Today, the 68 people attending the church are anything but discouraged, after a revival meeting – initially scheduled for four days – extended to a total of 12 days, with 29 people making professions of faith in Christ. “I’ve never experienced anything quite like this,” said vocational evangelist Mark Yoho, the revival preacher. “It was a God-sent revival, definitely.” “It wasn’t a normal revival, that’s for sure,” said Jim Powell, bivocational pastor of the church, located on the outskirts of LaFayette, a town of 6,700 people. “It was an amazing thing,” Yoho recalled. “The presence of God was so strong. People were lying flat on the floor just weeping all over the house when the revival broke.” “I watched during the invitation as deacons laid their Bibles down on the altar and led people to Jesus,” Powell said. Another deacon whose job is 40 miles from the church repeatedly asked … [Read more...]
King’s legacy shared at conference
In a first-ever event, the Louisiana Baptist Convention hosted a Martin Luther King Jr. luncheon to begin the state’s annual evangelism conference. About 100 people – blacks and whites in roughly equal numbers – participated. PINEVILLE – In a first-ever event, the Louisiana Baptist Convention hosted a Martin Luther King Jr. luncheon to begin the state’s annual evangelism conference. About 100 people – blacks and whites in roughly equal numbers – participated. At the same time, in Jena, La., less than 40 miles away, the news media reported that two dozen white supremacists, perhaps a dozen purported Black Panthers and respective supporters of both groups marched in the small town that was in the national spotlight last summer as the site of a media-driven civil rights march, that march drew perhaps 20,000 people. Despite vitriolic speech and even loaded shotguns – as reported by the secular media – only one person was arrested in Jena and, in Pineville, no mention was made at the MLK luncheon of the Jena events. E. Edwards Jones Sr., pastor of Galilee Baptist Church in Shreveport for 49 years, was the luncheon’s guest speaker. Jones was a civil rights activist who in 1966 led a seven-year battle to desegregate the … [Read more...]
Is your candidate mean enough to be president?
Back in August, Newsweek magazine assessed the presidential prospects of former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and concluded his primary problem is that he seems “too nice” to turn aside a whole field of hard-knuckle Republicans and then Hillary Clinton on the way to the White House. Back in August, Newsweek magazine assessed the presidential prospects of former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and concluded his primary problem is that he seems “too nice” to turn aside a whole field of hard-knuckle Republicans and then Hillary Clinton on the way to the White House. Whether one supports Huckabee or someone else, Newsweek’s question was a good one, and one as old as Christianity. Take Huckabee off the table, along with the question of whether his perceived “niceness” is the fruit of the Spirit or small-town southern manners or his own niche political strategy. I know what Newsweek means: personal character isn’t enough to swim through the piranha waters of American politics. “Niceness” is just shorthand for Newsweek that Huckabee doesn’t seem to have the consuming ambition needed to go all the way to Pennsylvania Avenue. That’s why, in the article, some wise voices turned the question away from niceness to fundraising benchmarks … [Read more...]
Tuesday speakers preach on passion
When Jonathan Forester MD of Pineville took time away from his busy medical practice to attend the 2008 Evangelism Conference, he heard the precariousness of Tuesday afternoon speaker Sammy Gilbreath’s life. PINEVILLE – When Jonathan Forester MD of Pineville took time away from his busy medical practice to attend the 2008 Evangelism Conference, he heard the precariousness of Tuesday afternoon speaker Sammy Gilbreath’s life. “It’s a very serious condition,” Forester said after the session about Gilbreath’s heart ailment. “He could have died any moment, even when he was speaking up there.” Because he is living proof, Gilbreath had his audience’s attention, but it took awhile before they caught his passion. Living with passion begins by learning the value of the promise of life, Gilbreath said. He spoke of the joy of a child with a new puppy or kitten, of the father of a newborn child, and in the same sentence, continued with “I don’t see many people getting excited about new life in the Kingdom of God. “There is no greater joy than taking the word of God and sharing it with someone, and seeing them come to know Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord,” Gilbreath said, and the after-lunch audience responded with silence. … [Read more...]
White lights a first for Louisiana College
Brilliant on every level. Brilliant in planning, in development and in presentation. PINEVILLE – Brilliant on every level. Brilliant in planning, in development and in presentation. That was the Thursday – repeated Friday – production of “Follow the Star” on the Louisiana College campus. Thousands upon thousands – 10 cases, with eight sets per case – of twinkling white lights crawled up trees, slinked across massive oak boughs, and dotted shrubbery around the campus circle. It was the first time ever that the campus was lighted, said Tim Johnson, LC vice president for institutional advancement. The brilliance of the lights – which started on the boulevard at the front entrance to the campus – provided a glittering first impression to the evocative evening, which itself was the opening of a multi-event weekend featuring former First Lady Barbara Bush. See the center spread of the Dec. 20 issue of the Louisiana Baptist Message for the full story of Louisiana College’s gift to its community. Children’s choirs from three area churches Thursday – and adult choirs and soloists Friday – provided seasonal entertainment at “Follow the Star,” which about 700 people, mostly from the Alexandria/Pineville community, listened … [Read more...]
YEC event captures attention
Nearly 4,300 teenagers swarmed the Rapides Coliseum Thanksgiving week for the 20th annual Youth Evangelism Conference. ALEXANDRIA – Nearly 4,300 teenagers swarmed the Rapides Coliseum Thanksgiving week for the 20th annual Youth Evangelism Conference. It’s an event constantly evolving to keep up with the lost culture leaders want to reach, churched youth dealing with the same teen angst as their nonchurched friends, and the youth leaders who week-in and week-out minister to teens, said Kevin Boles, director of youth ministries strategies for the Louisiana Baptist Convention. “In these days and time it takes a lot to keep teenagers’ attention,” Boles said. Three separate production companies – video, audio and equipment – work behind the scenes at YEC to ensure a high-energy, richly-textured environment in which teens are challenged, equipped and encouraged to live the faith they profess. “YEC is a great mid-year shot-in-the-arm,” Boles said. “After summer camp, there’s a lull as the school year kicks off. Then there’s YEC. “Beyond those kids making a profession of faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, we want to help the churched kids see that the kid sitting next to them in biology or chemistry needs … [Read more...]
Baptist churches, relief group, come to evacuees’ aid
A disaster no matter the size is still a disaster when it affects people’s lives. CHOUDRANT – A disaster no matter the size is still a disaster when it affects people’s lives. Two weeks ago, Nov. 26, more than 40 homes were hastily evacuated when 11 cars of a westbound Kansas City Southern train derailed near the Lincoln Parish line between the north-central Louisiana communities of Choudrant and Calhoun. The accident took place along a rural stretch of track just off U.S. 80, separated from the highway by a bank of trees, according to a release by Lincoln Parish Sheriff Mike Stone. Three of the tanker cars left the track but managed to stay on the rail bed. The other two tankers left the track, slid down an embankment and settled in a V-shape among the trees next to the road. Upon discovering the five derailed tankers were carrying butadiene, a highly flammable, butane-like substance, emergency personnel immediately cleared a 1/2-mile radius around the accident. While early reports indicated the presence of noxious gases, that was later found to be inaccurate. The danger was from the potential for fire. If the butadiene had ignited and exploded, it was capable of incinerating everything in a 1.5 mile radius, … [Read more...]
Letter to the Editor
God’s word, Spirit sufficient to capture souls of the lost The seeker–friendly churches do indeed draw crowds of curious people. But how many are saved and stay and grow spiritually? Crowds flocked to Jesus but many turned away after the miracles and wonders ceased. I agree with Bob Burneys’ article [Willow Creek’s Sobering Confession, Nov. 15] however, he left out another man that has led this movement in many Southern Baptist churches – Rick Warren. I have a friend in California that saw churches split and hearts broken by the Purpose Driven movement. When the early disciples went out they depended on Gods’ Word and His Spirit to win the lost. In the last few decades the Church has left the Word and began ‘marketing’ the Gospel like Wall Street promotes new products. Someone started a rumor about a great end–time revival and men have been trying to bring it to pass. God alone can bring revival and there hasn’t been one truly powerful one in this generation. Christianity is under a great spiritual attack from without and within. When Paul wrote to Timothy he said the time will come when people will turn away from the truth. II Timothy 3:5 says that people would one day be characterized as “having a form of … [Read more...]
