Tom Brokaw, former anchorman for NBC Nightly News, wrote a book about “the greatest generation” in which he detailed the lives of those who lived through the great depression and endured World Wars I and II. Most people of that generation take pride in being independent and helping others, yet they do not easily accept help for themselves. Tom Brokaw, former anchorman for NBC Nightly News, wrote a book about “the greatest generation” in which he detailed the lives of those who lived through the great depression and endured World Wars I and II.  Most people of that generation take pride in being independent and helping others, yet they do not easily accept help for themselves.  They don’t stop to think about how it steals a blessing from those offering help. The Bible gives us many examples of God’s people asking for or accepting help from others.  In Exodus 17, Moses accepted help from Aaron & Hur to keep his arms “lifted up to the throne of the Lord,” when the Israelites won a great victory in battle over the Amalekites.   In Exodus 18, Moses accepted the advice of his father-in-law, Jethro, and appointed leaders to help decide the minor disputes of the people. As a result, the people were better served and … [Read more...]

Morehouse Baptist Association, which occupies the parish by the same name just south of the Arkansas border is home to 26 Southern Baptist churches and almost 30,000 people. MOREHOUSE ASSOCIATION – Morehouse Baptist Association, which occupies the parish by the same name just south of the Arkansas border is home to 26 Southern Baptist churches and almost 30,000 people. A mixture of woods and urban areas, the area is definitely a sportsman’s paradise, said Associational Missionary – the name Morehouse Association gives its Director of Missions – Jerry Price. For instance, Chemin-A-Haute State Park on Bayou Bartholomew offers 503 acres of wooded, secluded camping areas, while BigSloughLake attracts anglers and bird watchers as well as those who just want to relax and take in the fantastic views from the new cabins built along the lake. The 2,228 acre Bussey Brake Reservoir, owned by International Paper Co., offers some of the best bass and white perch fishing in the state. Wham Brake, also owned by the International Paper Co., is open to the public for duck hunting. In downtown Bastrop, the parish seat that is also a Louisiana Main Street city – part of the state’s historic preservation program – … [Read more...]

The 26 churches in this association don’t allow size to be an obstacle when it comes to taking the gospel to their communities. MOREHOUSE ASSOCIATION – The 26 churches in this association don’t allow size to be an obstacle when it comes to taking the gospel to their communities. With permission from LifeWay Christian Resources, which markets the product, to use its FAITH Sunday School Evangelism Strategy on an associational level rather than the church level as it was designed, the association has seen lives changed. FAITH – an evangelistic pneumonic device much like “the ABC’s of salvation” – stands for Forgiveness; Available – as in, forgiveness is available to all--; Impossible – it is impossible for God to allow sin into heaven; Turn – repent; and Heaven. The strategy involves teams of three in a 16-week class – called a semester – that provides classroom instruction on evangelism and regular opportunity, through planned visitation, to put that knowledge to use. “One advanatage to doing it association-wide is that you have more people involved, which creates more excitement,” said Marty Black, pastor at Bonita RoadBaptist Church in Bastrop and an organizer for the FAITH Evangelism semesters for the … [Read more...]

Erry Price, Associational Missionary – same as Director of Missions – for the Morehouse Association, has been known to lift up the Lord’s Supper, but not in the way you might expect. WEST MONROE – Jerry Price, Associational Missionary – same as Director of Missions – for the Morehouse Association, has been known to lift up the Lord’s Supper, but not in the way you might expect. During his first pastorate at a small country church, Price prepared to observe his first Lord’s Supper as a pastor. Unbeknownst to him, workers had placed a cloth not only over the elements of the Supper, but also beneath them, so that when Price went to remove the top cloth, he accidentally took hold of the bottom cloth. The deacon on the other side of the altar, following his pastor’s lead, also took hold of the bottom cloth and before either of them knew what was happening, they had lifted the Lord’s Supper off the table. “For a moment we levitated the grape juice, with sweat popping out on both our foreheads,” Price said. Then the deacon whispered, “Preacher put it down very slowly,” which Price did. From then, the service went smoothly. Price has gone through shaky times, as the incident above illustrates, as well as humbling times, … [Read more...]

Northeast Baptist School here is a variation on the norm. WEST MONROE – NortheastBaptist School here is a variation on the norm. While all other Southern Baptist schools in Louisiana were begun by a single church, this school was begun by – and continues to be supported by – the Northeast Baptist Association. Indeed, NortheastBaptist School is one of only six  schools in the nation owned and operated by an association rather than by a single church, said Ed Gamble, Executive Director of the Southern Baptist Association of Christian Schools. In 1994 a group of Christian laity, through research, found that a large number of Baptist children in the area were attending parochial schools and other private schools, Anita Watson said. In effect, Baptist parents were placing their children under the direction of other theologies. The need for a Baptist school seemed obvious. “They had 34 kids to begin with, 4-year olds through eighth grade, with several combined classes,” said Watson, who began working at the school in 1999. “It just grew a little by little from there,” she said. “The way the school has grown has been very much a God-thing.” The school currently serves 220 students in classes for 3-year-olds up to … [Read more...]

Getting a school started takes hard work, but, like anything worthwhile, can have tremendous payoffs, said Don Whatley, missions pastor at Baldwin Baptist Church and founding principal of First Baptist Christian School in Lafayette. BALDWIN – Getting a school started takes hard work, but, like anything worthwhile, can have tremendous payoffs, said Don Whatley, missions pastor at BaldwinBaptistChurch and founding principal of FirstBaptistChristian School in Lafayette. Whatley, who, as a consultant, paid staff member or interested relative,has had his hand in beginning or growing at least five Southern Baptist schools, insists on the need for more private, Christian schools. “People are really looking for something that is godly that they [can] give their children over and beyond what they can get at the public schools,” he said. “The school just took off so rapidly,” Whatley said of First Baptist Christian in Lafayette. “We weren’t expecting it to be that fast. We found out that a lot of folks were looking for something different. At one point we were the fastest growing private school in Lafayette.” Aside from providing quality Christian education, Whatley found that First Baptist Christian also … [Read more...]

Joy Stewart, a member of West St. Charles Baptist Church here, has had that “Joy Unspeakable” of knowing Christ for 20 of her 24 years, and she uses every opportunity to share that joy – especially with those for whom much of the world is literally “unspeakable.” BOUTTE – Joy Stewart, a member of WestSt. CharlesBaptistChurch here, has had that “Joy Unspeakable” of knowing Christ for 20 of her 24 years, and she uses every opportunity to share that joy – especially with those for whom much of the world is literally “unspeakable.” Stewart, a therapist who works with autistic children aged 2 to 6 in private early intervention, finds that not only does the work challenge her own faith, she said, but it also gives her the opportunity to unlock a world of relationships – and joy – for children for whom communication is an impossibility. “I am daily, minute by minute asking God for strength, wisdom, creativity and patience to deal with these children with special needs,” she said, explaining that autism is a neurological disorder that affects language and communication skills as well as social skills. “A person with autism may exhibit weaknesses in nearly anything that deals with communication,” she said, and … [Read more...]

For private investigator and retired FBI special agent Ron West, pipe fittings and wrenches aren’t the normal tools of his trade. But West said he is satisfied that his recent work in New Orleans made a difference in one family’s life. NEW ORLEANS (BP) – For private investigator and retired FBI special agent Ron West, pipe fittings and wrenches aren’t the normal tools of his trade. But West said he is satisfied that his recent work in New Orleans made a difference in one family’s life. West spent 10 days in New Orleans working with Operation NOAH Rebuild, the two-year initiative of the North American Mission Board to rebuild homes in New Orleans damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Unaccompanied by a group, West came alone to work. “I called Diane Gahagan at the NOAH office and asked if they could use me,” West said. “She said, ‘Sure.’ So I came.” Diane’s husband Steve is the construction manager for Operation NOAH, supervising the reconstruction work of hundreds of volunteer teams. NOAH’s goal is to rebuild 1,000 homes in the Greater New Orleans area, representing 1 percent of the estimated 100,000 homes damaged or destroyed by Katrina. (NOAH is an acronym for New Orleans Area Homes.) As office manager for … [Read more...]

Seeking staff Pastor needed at Goodwood Baptist, Baton Rouge. Resumes to Pastor Search Committee, 1813 Beechgrove Dr, Baton RougeLA 70806. Worship leader needed at Trinity Franklinton. Resumes to PO Box 743, Franklinton LA 70438 or email trinitystan@bellsouth.net. Full-time minister of education sought by Riverside Watson. Resumes to 36890 La. Hwy., Denham Springs LA 70706 or email rbcsbc@bellsouth.net. Larry Hubbard is pastor. First Farmerville is accepting resumes for pastor. Video tape messages are welcome. Send to First BaptistChurch, PO Box 296, Farmerville LA 71241. Una George, search committee chairman. Pastorless: Tensas, Delta Association. Pastorless: New Era, Sicity Island First Baptist, and WallaceRidge, all in Ouachita Association. Available Supply pastor: Glyn Nale, Marion, La.; 318.245.8908 cell. Supply pastor: Paul Jackson, Downsville, La. 870.310.3116 cell. Supply or interim: Drew Spillers, 318.245.3033 cell. Interim: J.S. Miller, 318-793-4032. In ministry 40 years; lives in Gardner; willing to move. Valid Christian Rock Band from Delta/Ouachita Associations, with a mission to win the youth for Christ. Members: Trey Motes, Daniel Staneart, Randy Tarpley, Matt Dill, Corey Coleman. … [Read more...]

MINDEN – North Acres reports 10 professions of faith and at least 20 recorded rededications during its recent revival. New Believers/New Members Survival Kit: Five Keys to Effective Spiritual Growth class starts April 15 through May 27. Upcoming events: Chicken spaghetti lunch and dinner April 20 as a youth fund-raiser. Financial Seminar set for 9 a.m. Saturday, May 5. Couples Supper: Encouragement for parents and grandparents, set for 6 p.m. May 12. Roy Strother is pastor. OAKDALE – “The Spirit-led brainchild of a group of believers in our area,” according to Stephen Laughlin, pastor of First Oakdale, Operation Rescue will be an area-wide “block party” to take place from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, April 22, at the OakdaleHigh School football field. “The event is an attempt to reach our area for Christ,” the pastor wrote in a recent issue of FBC Connections. “It will include music, entertainment, preaching, and booths with information ranging from abstinence to drug abuse. As a church, we are committed to participate through prayer, finances, and our personal participation.” FERRIDAY – Delta Storefront Mission is in need of men’s clothing and women’s undegarments. Open 8 a.m. to 12 noon Monday, … [Read more...]