Cameron, Calcasieu, and Jefferson Davis Parishes as well as a small, southern portion of Allen Parish comprise this Southern Baptist association, which ministers not only in the Festival Capital of Louisiana but also in an area that’s been destroyed by a hurricane.         CAREY ASSOCIATION – Cameron, Calcasieu, and Jefferson Davis Parishes as well as a small, southern portion of Allen Parish comprise this Southern Baptist association, which ministers not only in the Festival Capital of Louisiana but also in an area that’s been destroyed by a hurricane.   Area festivals involve tourists and natives alike, as everyone celebrates heritage, food, culture, music, and more. The more widely known festivals include Mardi Gras; the Black Heritage Festival; the Cajun French Music and Food Festival; the Cal-Ca-Chew Food Festival; DeQuincy’s Railroad Festival, Cameron’s Fur Festival, Iowa’s Rabbit Festival, and Lake Charles’ Contraband Days, an observance of the area’s legacy of piracy, which begins when "pirates," led by Jean Lafitte—his Contraband treasure is supposedly buried in the lake area—storm the city, conquer it, and, with swords drawn, kidnap the mayor whom they force to "walk the plank" into the … [Read more...]

J.P. Miles, Director of Missions here, is not one to let leaky baptismal boots get in the way of preaching a good sermon.         CAREY ASSOCIATION – J.P. Miles, Director of Missions here, is not one to let leaky baptismal boots get in the way of preaching a good sermon.   New to the church where he was baptizing a new believer, Miles had anticipated the church’s baptismal boots – similar to fisherman’s waders and worn by many pastors beneath baptismal robe and over street clothes – would be fine. They weren’t. As he prayed and then baptized the new believer, water rushed in around his feet and began to rise, soaking his socks and pants.   Lacking a change of clothing, he nevertheless persevered through the remaining service, preaching in shoes that squished and in pants that were soaked.   "Fortunately, I was behind the pulpit," he said, so not many noticed, except for the music minister who gave him an odd look. "I just went on and preached."   Born June 15, 1944, Miles has been DOM for the Carey Association going on 11 years and has been in the ministry for 41 years. He is married to Sheri; they have two grown sons, Jonathan who is married to Tamara, and Brian who is married to Jennifer. … [Read more...]

A social storm is impacting the nature of childhood in today’s culture, eroding what has been and leaving in its place a vacuum that robs children of both innocence and imagination.         Editor’s note: First printed in Beyond Ordinary Living, a Canadian Christian publication, this first-person article seemed a good start to our March focus on children, a five-week series that will look at school, play, parenting and teaching youngsters about God’s love for them. In October 1991 a storm stronger than any in recorded history hit the coast off of Gloucester, Massachusetts. This "Perfect Storm" – so called because it was three storms combined into one – created an almost apocalyptic situation in the Atlantic ocean, where boats encountered waves of 100 feet (30 meters) – the equivalent of a ten-story building. The event was memorialized as both a book and then a movie, both called The Perfect Storm. Another storm is gathering momentum, three forces coming together, each contributing to the degree of damage that is possible. It is a social storm that is impacting the nature of childhood in today’s culture, eroding what has been and leaving in its place a vacuum that robs children of both innocence … [Read more...]

It’s another early morning for Bill Barker in the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia. He leaves home earlier than usual in his brown Toyota minivan, which suddenly tops a mountain crest. He pulls off the road to talk to God. HURRICANE, W. VA. – It’s another early morning for Bill Barker in the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia. He leaves home earlier than usual in his brown Toyota minivan, which suddenly tops a mountain crest. He pulls off the road to talk to God.   "I look out across the mountains as the morning mist and fog begin to lift," he says. "You can still see the green valleys below filled with fog. It’s such a beautiful sight. I stand there and pray, ‘Lord, please send revival and fill these mountains again with Your glory even as You fill these valleys with the morning mist.’"   Born in Boone County, W. Va., Barker, a North American Mission Board missionary, grew up in the state’s rugged coal mining country but left in 1969 with plans to never return. But it was a Higher Calling – God Himself – who told Barker seven years ago that he should "go home" to West Virginia after a 32-year absence.   As a native Appalachian, Barker believes he is uniquely qualified for his current post, director of Appalachian … [Read more...]

Seattle can seem like one big paradox.         SEATTLE, WASH. – Seattle can seem like one big paradox.   On one hand, it is the largest city in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. Almost 574,000 people live in Seattle proper, and about 4 million in the metro area.   Seattle – also known as the "Emerald City" because of the lush evergreen trees in the area – has been called the most literate city in the United States. The most recent census found that Seattle has the highest percentage of college graduates of any major U.S. city. Men’s Fitness magazine named Seattle the fittest city in the U.S. The area is home to Microsoft, Boeing and Starbucks. With some 190 different languages spoken, Seattle is a very multiethnic city. Many world religions are represented. It’s a very spiritual city, and more than 80 percent of the residents say they believe in something beyond the physical realm.   At the same time, only about four percent of the 4 million people in greater Seattle are evangelical Christians.   "Seattle has never been a Christian city," says Gary Irby, churching planting missionary for the North American Mission Board (NAMB) and the Puget Sound Baptist Association. "It’s … [Read more...]

KANSAS CITY, MO. – “The Annie Armstrong Easter Offering makes the thing that is impossible among us . . . possible.”         KANSAS CITY, MO. – "The Annie Armstrong Easter Offering makes the thing that is impossible among us . . . possible."   It’s profound and ironic that North American missionary Thira Siengsukon (pronounced See-eng-su-kone) – Chinese by birth, Thai by culture and for whom English is a second language – could so eloquently yet concisely utter just 14 words that so accurately reflect what the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering is all about.   The 57-year-old Siengsukon, director of the Lao School of Ministry at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Mo., is also an Asian missionary strategist and church planter for the North American Mission Board and the Kansas-Nebraska Convention of Southern Baptists.   Born in Bangkok, Thailand as the son of non-Christian, Chinese parents, Siengsukon was raised in the Thai culture, educated in Thai schools and taught the Buddhist religion of his ancestors.   "When I joined an American missionary’s youth program at a chapel near my house, I heard about Jesus and the Gospel for the first time," he said. "I compared Christian … [Read more...]

Women in Zimbabwe are socially inferior to men. They cannot question a man’s decision. They must enter a room on their knees, if a man is present, as a sign of respect. They speak to men only when permission is specifically granted.         PINE – Women in Zimbabwe are socially inferior to men. They cannot question a man’s decision. They must enter a room on their knees, if a man is present, as a sign of respect. They speak to men only when permission is specifically granted.   "As a result, African women do not know who they are in Christ," Sherrie Bumstead, IMB furloughing missionary to Zimbabwe, told the congregation at Pine First Baptist Church, a group that faithfully prayed for her over the last three years.   Bumstead, a nurse, went to Botswana in 2003; and when conditions deteriorated there, she was moved to Zimbabwe. She felt the call to missions while living in New Orleans. She sees medicine as the skill that opens doors to her, allowing her to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. Back in the United States for a year, Bumstead’s mission is to acquaint Southern Baptist churches with her ministry in Africa.   As a female missionary in a male dominated culture, Bumstead cannot lead a man to … [Read more...]

March 2007   1 – Developing a Biblical Process of Discipleship, Istrouma Baton Rouge. LBC contact: Lisa Smith.   1 – Singing Ministers//Womens Concert. Calvary, Alexandria.   3 – Area Keyboard Festival, Broadmoor Shreveport. LBC contact: Teresa Thomason.   3 – M-Jam Xtra for GAs and Children in Action, Louisiana College, Pineville. LBC contact: Judy Fussell.   4-11 – Week of Prayer for North American Missions. LBC contacts: Judy Fussell; Jill Morrow.   8-9 – Louisiana Baptist Ministry Assistants Retreat, Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center, Woodworth. Contact: Debra Hull, Broussard Grove, Prairieville.   13 – Church Building Conference, First Baptist, Opelousas. LBC contact: Lisa Smith.   15 – CANCELLED Bivocational Pastor/Wife Appreciation Banquet, Shreveport. LBC contact: Gary Mitchell.   15-16 – Louisiana Baptist Religious Education Association Annual Conference, Baptist Building, Alexandria. Cost: $25; $30 after March 1. LBC contacts: Beau Colle and Jeannie Maxwell.   22 – CANCELLED Bivocational Pastor/Wife Appreciation Banquet, Monroe. LBC contact: Gary Mitchell.   22-24 – Prayer for Spiritual Awakening Conference, Kingsville Baptist, Pineville. Co-sponsored by Evangelism/Church Growth and Pastoral … [Read more...]

OLLA – A benefit for Wild Horse Ministries is set for Saturday, March 10 at the Lazy 2M Ranch on McCartney Road in Olla. A trail ride is to start at 9 a.m. A meal followed by an auction is to start at noon. And at 3 p.m. is to be a wild horse demonstration by Paul Daily.   Cost for a barbeque plate lunch: $10/person. For more info or to donate an item for the auction, contact Mike McCartney at 318-495-3283.   Bring lawn chairs; camping space available for Friday night. No alcohol permitted.   SULPHUR – A free health fair and Dennis Swanberg Concert for senior adults is set for 2 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 20 at Houston River Baptist Church Family Life Center.   The event – designed to foster good spiritual, physical and mental health – is sponsored by the church’s Silver Beacons ministry for Beauregard, Calcasieu and Cameron seniors.   Registration begins at 2 p.m. Afternoon guest speakers include Roger Gill and Curt Iles. A free "brown bag" supper will be made available to all who register by 3:30 p.m.   FourTold are to perform in concert at 5:30 p.m.; Swanberg at 6:20 p.m. HAYNESVILLE – First Baptist has set a showing of the new film Facing the Giants for 6 p.m. Sunday, March 4, … [Read more...]

Staff changes Ronnie (wife Tabitha) Osborne is new pastor of First Baptist, Ringgold. John (wife Jennifer) Long is new associate pastor/youth at Calvary Slidell, from Fort Worth, Texas. Charles Starnes is pastor. John (wife Candy) Saxon have resigned as associate pastor at First Hammond. Jim Lancaster is pastor. Byron (wife Cynthia) Townsend is new as pastor of music and missions at CrossPoint Baptist in Baton Rouge. Randy Lee has transitioned to pastor of children and administration. Landon Dowden is senior pastor. Seeking staff Full-time pastor needed: Send resume to First Baptist Church, Attn: Pastor Search Committee, PO Box 205, Castor LA 71016. Organist needed at Calvary Slidell.  Please call 985-643-6957. Charles Starnes is pastor. Part-time minister of music needed; small church: Indian Mound Baptist Church, PO Box 275, Greenwell Springs, La. 70739;Contact: imbcinformer@gmail.com or 225-261-8271. Jim Effersonis pastor. First Baptist Church, Farmerville, is accepting resumes for pastor.  Video tape messages are welcomed.  Send to First Baptist Church, Mrs. Una George, Chairman, Pastor Search Committee, PO Box 296, Farmerville LA 71241. Director of Education, part-time to full-time. Broadmoor Baptist, … [Read more...]