By CHESTER QUARLES, Professor Emeritus Criminal Justice, University of Mississippi   Church crimes are increasing exponentially. While attacks are geographically isolated, they are occurring in almost every state on a regular basis, and church size or membership, doesn’t correlate. Responsible church leaders should plan to prevent these crimes.   Some churches are targeted because they are located in more vulnerable inner-city locations. Other churches are targeted because they are "soft" and "easy" targets.   … [Read more...]

By H.P. Tarpley, Pollock, La. In 1950, at the tender age of 20, I was called to be the pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church at Little Creek, Louisiana in LaSalle Parish. Shortly thereafter, I led the church to give 10 percent of the gross from our offerings to missions through the Cooperative Program. Recently, at the ripe old age of 80, I returned to Ebenezer to fill the pulpit in the absence of the church’s pastor. While there, I spoke with Mrs. Betty Mills Evans, the current church treasurer and daughter of the person who was treasurer when I was pastor of the church 60 years ago. Mrs. Evans informed me that the church has been faithful to give 10 percent to the Cooperative Program since the time I was pastor. Though many of the older records have been lost, records since 1997 indicate Ebenezer has contributed $56,532.53 to the Cooperative Program! The aforementioned amount represents only 13 years out of 60 years of Cooperative Program giving. This amount does not include offerings to state or special mission causes. Only God really knows how much financial impact this small rural church has had for the cause of Christ. The genius of the Cooperative Program allows churches like Ebenezer to partner with thousands of other … [Read more...]

By KELLY BOGGS, Editor   EDITOR’S NOTE – On December 12, the Town Talk – the daily newspaper of Alexandria, La., reported on a draft proposal the paper had in its possession that indicated Louisiana College had at one time sought $70 million in funding for the LC medical school from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia – $35 million from each country. The Town Talk report also indicated the proposal called on the school to be named in honor of George H.W. Bush. On December 16, the Alexandria newspaper followed up with a report based on a press release from LC that confirmed the proposal and sought to give it some context. In light of the aforementioned reports, the Baptist Message conducted a question and answer session with Louisiana College president Joe Aguillard on December 17.   Baptist Message : What motivated the draft proposal? How did it originate?  Joe Aguillard: The draft reported on in the Town Talk was the result of, I would say, 10 to 12 revisions of an original proposal that was developed when we learned that Kuwait was giving money through the Red Cross and other agencies to Gulf Coast states after Katrina.   Most of the money [given after Katrina] was medical-related gifts and grants. So … [Read more...]

By ERIN ROACH, Baptist Press   REDMOND, Wash. (BP) – A pastor in Washington state led his congregation to observe a solemn assembly this fall, to repent of sins and seek God intensely – and lives were changed. Now he is challenging other churches to throw off the grip of worldliness and set aside a day for repentance and renewed commitment.   "I’m absolutely convinced that if there is not a significant awakening in the church, we’re in serious trouble," Scott Brewer, pastor of Meadowbrook Church in Redmond, Wash., told Baptist Press.   "We are well past answers found in new strategies and new innovations and the best that we can produce. I think by and large, our churches are void of a manifest sense of God’s presence that results in His empowerment of the mission," Brewer said.   [img_assist|nid=6968|title=In response to a challenge from Scott Brewer, president of the Northwest Baptist Convention, pastors and lay leaders at the annu|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=68]Though his idea for a solemn assembly grew out of a personal retreat with God a year ago, Brewer said he was encouraged by the call of Southern Baptist Convention President Bryant Wright and other SBC leaders for churches to … [Read more...]

By Suzanne Davis, NOBTS Communications   NEW ORLEANS (BP) – At 5:30 a.m., all is quiet on the seminary campus. The sky is a deep purple, and the campus in New Orleans is illuminated only by the soft glow of the old-fashioned, wrought-iron lamp posts.   Except for a few lone joggers, it seems nearly everyone within New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary’s gates is still asleep. At the Sellers Music Building’s recital hall, however, there is the sound of music and the quiet murmurs of people praying.   … [Read more...]

By MICHELLE LOUVIERE   Question: I had a very difficult year last year. How can I make this year better than last year?   Michele Louviere responds : Sometimes reaching the end of a year can bring a sense of relief if that year has been difficult or painful. Starting a new year can be an opportunity for a fresh start. Unfortunately, unless you are purposeful, a new year may be nothing more than writing a new year for the date. What can you do to purposely prepare for a better new year?     First, use the ending of a year to check to make sure that you have grieved over the hurts, learned from the mistakes, and completed the needed tasks of that year. Often, people just rush through life with little thought of where they have been, where they are, or where they are going. An ending and a beginning provides the perfect opportunity to pause and evaluate.   Second, use the ending of a year as an opportunity to evaluate your current life. With a notebook, ask God to give you insight as you answer these questions – What were the highlights of the previous year? What were the greatest challenges? What did you learn during the year? What are your regrets? What was left unfinished? What did you complete? … [Read more...]

By Kirk and Jacki Lynn Greenfield, Homelife Magazine   God instituted marriage in the garden of Eden. He determined that "it is not good for the man to be alone." After considering all the creatures He had created, God declared that "for Adam no suitable helper was found." He made woman to provide the relationship that was crucial for man.   The verse often recited in weddings clearly describes what a marriage is to be: "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. The one-flesh union between husband and wife should occur emotionally, spiritually, and physically. A husband and wife must strive for this oneness.   Another way to view this union is as a partnership. The following five steps will help a couple achieve this partnership.     Embrace your   God-given roles.     The husband’s role is to be the head of the household. Southern Baptists are sometimes criticized for this view; however, a husband’s authority is not to be cruel or unjust. Paul compared a husband’s love for his wife to the love Christ has for the church. He also said a husband should love his wife as he loves his own body. Therefore, … [Read more...]

By KAREN L. WILLOUGHBY, Managing Editor   MARKSVILLE – A promise is a promise, 9-year-old Hannah Monk knew.   "Especially when you make it to God," she added.   … [Read more...]

By KAREN L. WILLOUGHBY, Managing Editor   MARKSVILLE – When 6-year-old Christen Monk jumped into her dad’s pickup, she saw the new red New Testament.   "I said, ‘Daddy, the Lord’s put it on my heart to give this Bible away,’" Christen said.   … [Read more...]

By QUINN LAVESPERE, Message Intern Staff Writer   NEW IBERIA – Most coaching strategies center on winning games and championships. Highland Baptist Church’s coaching strategy aims at a different type of glory.   Pastor David Denton and his staff have made strides in reaching out to their community and helping strengthen their church through a three-pronged strategy that focuses on coaching, powering up the Sunday School, and sharing the Peace of Jesus.   "The strategy covers a six-month period of time," Denton said. "We wanted to use that time to lay the groundwork for future growth."   [img_assist|nid=6978|title=Highland|desc=Pastor David Denton and his staff have made strides in reaching out to their community and helping strengthen their church through a three-pronged strategy that focuses on coaching, powering up the Sunday School, and sharing the Peace of Jesus.|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=75]Denton, who has been pastor at Highland since 2006, said the strategy was not created by him or members of his church but came about when Highland enlisted the help of the Louisiana Baptist Convention.   "The Louisiana Baptist Convention has a coaching strategy that they make available to … [Read more...]