By Staff, Baptist Message   PINEVILLE – Andrew Wilks, Kimberly Landry and Deborah Rogers were chosen to represent Louisiana at the National Youth and High School Bible Drill Competition at Meadowbrook Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala., folliwing the LBC’s Youth and High School Bible Drill, Xtreme Bible Challenge and Speakers’ tournament.   The four events were held May 6-7.   Wilks, a ninth grader at Trinity Baptist Church in Pineville, beat eight others in a drill off at the competition.   Joining Wilks will be Landry of Riverside in Denham Springs, and Rogers of Highland in Bogalusa.   Youth Bible Drill   7th Grade –There were 4 people recognized as winners in four 7th grade groups.  They were: Rachel Copeland-FBC, Gonzales; Robert Belmont-FBC, Covington; Carrie Ikerd-Trinity, Oak Grove; Mark Jones-Grace Memorial, Slidell.   8th Grade –There were 6 people recognized as winners in three 8th grade groups. They were: Thomas Gamble-FBC, Gonzales; Austin Meng-Temple, Ruston; Sadye Dudley-FBC, Lafayette; Abbi Wilson-FBC, Lafayette; Paige Nevels-FBC, Oak Grove; Lexie Barkley-Dunn,Dunn.   9th Grade – The first & second place winners of each of … [Read more...]

By Staff, NOBTS Communications   NEW ORLEANS – At least 13 students with Louisiana ties graduated from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS) this May. In total, the seminary graduated approximately 126 doctoral and graduate level students May, 14.   An additional 100 students graduated from NOBTS’ Leavell College, May13.   This year’s double ceremony marks the first time since Hurricane Katrina that the seminary had a graduation class too large to be accommodated in a single service.   Of those graduating in May, the following call Louisiana home:   Doctoral Degrees   Dwight Walter Munn, education pastor at First Baptist Church, West Monroe, doctor of ministry; Andrew Arthur, Leesville, received the doctor of philosophy; Mike Miller, pastor of First Baptist Church, Kenner, doctor of philosophy.   Graduate Degrees   Bob Lansing Jr., Baton Rouge,master of arts in Christian education degree; Stefanie M. Schneider, West Monroe,master of arts in Christian education; James Robert Barham, Oak Ridge, master of arts in marriage and family counseling; Sherrie Hutson, Prairieville, master of arts in marriage and family counseling; Keith Lavon … [Read more...]

By Erich Bridges, IMB Communications   DALLAS (BP) – IMB President Tom Elliff vows at the SBC annual meeting June 14-15 in Phoenix to challenge Southern Baptists to engage all of the estimated 3,800 people groups worldwide that still have not been touched by the Gospel.   “I intend to introduce at the 2011 annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention a very simple plan by which each one of these 3,800 unengaged people groups can be embraced by a Southern Baptist congregation,” Elliff said.   “I believe we can accomplish this in one year. Just think about that for a moment. Should Jesus grant us the days, by the 2012 Southern Baptist Convention meeting, we would be able to say that to our knowledge, every people group on this globe has some church committed to take specific steps to strategize, to pray over, to learn about and discover some way that the Gospel witness can be shared with those people.”   [img_assist|nid=7371|title=Tom Elliff|desc=Missionaries are “your boots on the ground,” new IMB President Tom Elliff, says. But fulfilling the Great Commission is “going to require local churches … becoming burdened for the unengaged and the unreached of this world, signing on, … [Read more...]

By Mickey Noah, NAMB Communications [img_assist|nid=7373|title=Kevin Ezell|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=67|height=100]ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) – The North American Mission Board’s overarching strategic initiative, “Send North America,” will be the heart of its message during the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention in Phoenix. NAMB will commission about 20 missionaries, including church planters and chaplains, during the Tuesday session of the annual meeting following its report to messengers. Kevin Ezell, the mission board’s president, will explain his Send North America vision during a Pastors’ Conference luncheon at noon June 13 in Room 120 C/D of the Phoenix Convention Center. The luncheon for pastors, church staff and other leaders also will feature Ed Stetzer of LifeWay Christian Resources and worship leader Chris Mills. Seating is limited, and tickets are available at www.namb.net/SNAluncheon for $7 each. With its Send North America church planting strategy, Ezell has said NAMB intends to change the conversation on church planting throughout the Southern Baptist Convention. “We plan to use this year’s annual meeting to send a message to SBC pastors and messengers that our overarching focus is on church … [Read more...]

By Julie Walters, WMU Communications   PHOENIX (BP) – “Proclaim!” will be theme drawn from Luke 4:18–19 for speakers, breakout conferences and music during the WMU Missions Celebration and Annual Meeting, June 12–13 in Phoenix.   Ginger Smith, executive director of the Mission Centers of Houston (Texas), will be the keynote speaker for the celebration’s opening session on Sunday evening.   Smith has served since 2002 at Missions Centers of Houston, which encompasses three ministry sites -- Fletcher Mission Center, Gano Mission Center and Joy Fellowship Center that minister to impoverished communities in inner-city Houston by sharing the love of Christ through programs such as kids and youth clubs, English classes, senior adult programs and Christian Women’s Job Corps. During the missions celebration, Smith will address the topic of human exploitation, the focus of WMU’s Project HELP.   Jeff Iorg, president of Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, will be the keynote speaker on Monday evening. He teaches leadership, preaching and church ministry courses at Golden Gate and frequently speaks on these subjects in conferences. Iorg also is the author of “Live Like a Missionary: Giving … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Press   PHOENIX (BP)--Registration is now open for the three-day "SBC Fuge" student event, to be held June 13-15 in conjunction with the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Phoenix. For all information regarding registration, visit www.sbcannualmeeting.net and click on "Children & Students." SBC Fuge is planned by the Centrifuge and M-Fuge staff of LifeWay Christian Resources for students who have completed the 7th through 12th grades. According to the website, the Fuge sessions will include worship, seminars and recreation, with a goal of encouraging, challenging and equipping "the next generation of leaders in the Southern Baptist Convention." [img_assist|nid=7376|title=SBC Fuge|desc=The SBC annual meeting can be a family venture with an activity-filled childcare for children up to age 3, along with a children’s program for ages 4-12 and a Fuge camp for students in grades 6 through 12.|link=none|align=left|width=640|height=442]The theme for the 2011 SBC Fuge, "Connect," will focus on developing godly relationships, according to the site. This year's theme verse is Matthew 22:37-39, which says, "[Jesus] said to him, 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your … [Read more...]

By Erin Roach, Baptist Press   PHOENIX (BP)--Anne Wright, president of the 2011 SBC Ministers' Wives' Luncheon, said the theme "Influential Joy" came to her out of a personal journey. "About four years ago I came home from a trip to Africa with my husband and I had a severe battle with malaria. It took a long time for me to get well, and on the heels of that, within about a month of my getting well, my brother, my only sibling, was suddenly killed in a wreck," said Wright, whose husband Bryant Wright is pastor of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta, Ga. The luncheon will begin at noon Tuesday, June 14, in the North Ballroom A/B/C of the Phoenix Convention Center. The theme is based on Psalm 16:11, which says, "... you will fill me with joy in your presence." "My experience of realizing that true joy is found, as the verse says, in the presence of God in spite of our circumstances was life-changing for me because I had never been through anything that traumatic," Wright told Baptist Press. "What it says to me is that through daily personal time with our Lord we're filled with the joy of Christ in His presence." Wright said ministers' wives have a threefold platform of influence in their homes, their … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Press   PHOENIX – In addition to the annual meeting of the SBC, in Phoenix, Pastors Conference and WMU annual meeting, several fellowship groups plan to meet.   Annual meeting activities start with the 23rd annual Crossover on Saturday, June 11. That’s when Southern Baptists from across the nation will aid an oasis of local churches in ministering to the spiritual thirst in their communities.   Dozens of congregations will join volunteers – from Arizona and across the nation – at 70 ministry venues throughout the Phoenix-Tucson corridor, a 120-mile stretch encompassing 5.2 million residents. The North American Mission Board is working with the local Crossover coordinating team to provide volunteers with opportunities to share the love of Christ as they participate in block parties, prayerwalking excursions, Intentional Community Evangelism outreach projects and acts of kindness.   What makes this year’s Crossover events unique to the decades-long tradition is that it will directly impact and strengthen 10 new churches just starting in the five Baptist associations of the Phoenix-Tucson corridor – Central, Estralla, Valley Rim, Gila and Catalina Baptist … [Read more...]

By Staff, LBC Communications   ALEXANDRIA – The Cooperative Program still possesses the same potential as it did when it was started in 1925, Louisiana pastors say.   Likewise, according to multiple national surveys, the majority of Southern Baptists still believe the Cooperative Program is the most efficient and effective funding method to carry on the work of missions and ministry.   “Why then, since 1990, has the percentage of the Cooperative Program receipts from SBC churches steadily declined?”   That question, posed by Michael Stewart, Cooperative Program Strategist for the Louisiana Baptist Convention, was asked May 24 of a group of LBC pastors. Stewart brought them to the Baptist Building to discuss the current and future state of cooperative missions and ministry in Louisiana and around the world.   One of his main goals was to give these pastors a safe and friendly forum for honest discussion, Stewart said.   “I was also really blessed by our time together,” said Neil Everett, pastor of First Baptist Church of Calhoun. Michael “created an atmosphere that enabled us all to share personal struggles and ask honest questions without hesitation. I believe God … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message   NEEDED/GIVING   Iowa First Baptist Church needs a pastor. Send resumes to email:  iowafirstbaptist@yahoo.com   First Baptist Church Doyline, Full-time Pastor needed. Send resumes to 433 Hanson Drive, Doyline LA 71023 or call 318.745.2545.   Concord Union Association churches without pastors: Rock Corner, University, Pleasant Hill Ruston, Canaan, Union Grove. DOM: Barry Joyner.   Northwest Association churches without pastors: Airline, Emmanuel Shreveport, Emmanuel Vivian, Ferry Lake, Greenwood First, Mansfield Road, Red River, Shreveport First. DOM: Wayne Dubose.   REVIVALS, ANNIVERSARIES   Central Gonzales: Revival June 6-10. Evangelists: Robby Dickerson, Murray Bankston. Pastor: Billy Burton.   Canaan Spearsville: Homecoming to start with worship at 10:45 a.m. June 12, followed by lunch. Speaker: Richard Methvin. Music: King’s Servants.   New Ouachita, Enterprise: Homecoming June 12. 10 a.m.: singing with James Kelly, Rodney Hutchins. 11 a.m.: preaching with Kent Nugent. Noon: churchwide meal. Pastor: James King.   New Beginning, Bush: Revival June 19 – 22. Speaker: Ed Jenkins, Pastor: Otho … [Read more...]