NEW ORLEANS – Instead of soaking up some sun on a Florida beach during spring break, Georgia Southern University student Merideth Turner spent her week-long vacation clearing debris inside a home in New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward. By Brian Blackwell Staff Writer NEW ORLEANS – Instead of soaking up some sun on a Florida beach during spring break, Georgia Southern University student Merideth Turner spent her week-long vacation clearing debris inside a home in New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward. “This has brought us all together,” Turner said last week, as she was riding with a van load of her fellow Baptist Collegiate Ministry peers. “It’s amazing how we have worked together and God has blessed what we’ve done.” Turner spoke a day after her team completed a mud-out job inside a home left water-damaged by Hurricane Katrina. The students completed the job in two days. “We cleaned it down to the concrete level,” she explained. “All that’s left is the flooring and framing. We worked our tails off getting this done a day earlier than expected.” However, the Georgia Southern BCM is not alone. Since last October, thousands of BCM students from Louisiana and across the nation have participated in disaster … [Read more...]
Relief worker finds treasure
NEW ORLEANS (BP) -- After ripping Sheetrock from a moldy closet, Trista Wright was removing the debris when a flash of green caught her eye. By Keith Manuel Regional Reporter NEW ORLEANS (BP) -- After ripping Sheetrock from a moldy closet, Trista Wright was removing the debris when a flash of green caught her eye. Wright, on a spring break mission trip from Armstrong Atlantic University in Savannah, Georgia, reached into the debris and pulled out an old, grubby $100 bill. As she dug around in the debris a little more, she discovered a long-hidden hole in the wall, which served as a makeshift safe, and pulled out another $100 bill, then another and another. “At first, I thought it was Monopoly money. It was just stacks of $100 bills. The money was very old,” she said. “My friend and I were joking just yesterday about finding a secret hole of treasure.” When the students hastily totaled the money, it was more than $30,000. The discovery presented a new problem: “What do we do now?” After consulting with the leaders of the mission trip to New Orleans, the group decided to notify the local authorities. The sheriff’s department came and verified the home had been in the family for several … [Read more...]
Trustee explains IMB actions
RICHMOND, Va. (BP) – International Mission Board Trustee Chairman Tom Hatley issued an “open letter” March 7 to all Southern Baptists and a much longer letter to all Southern Baptist pastors, addressing recent decisions by IMB trustees. By Staff Baptist Press RICHMOND, Va. (BP) – International Mission Board Trustee Chairman Tom Hatley issued an “open letter” March 7 to all Southern Baptists and a much longer letter to all Southern Baptist pastors, addressing recent decisions by IMB trustees. The letters accompany detailed background material outlining the trustees’ votes on glossolalia (the practice of tongues), the use of private prayer language by missionary candidates and the candidates’ mode of baptism. Southern Baptists can access both letters, the new policy on use of tongues, the guideline on baptism and additional background materials at www.imb.org, the International Mission Board’s Web site. “I have addressed (the detailed explanation) to pastors because they are the teachers and guardians of the Word for their congregations,” Hatley said in his letter to Southern Baptists. “But feel free to look over their shoulders and read this material. “There has been no small controversy concerning … [Read more...]
Checking out churches: First Bunkie rolls with the punches
BUNKIE – Peace: That’s what I felt when I entered the worship center at First Baptist Church here. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing Editor BUNKIE – Peace: That’s what I felt when I entered the worship center at First Baptist Church here. Sunlight streaming through stained glass windows in shades of blue, complemented by walls painted in the very palest blue, cast a reverent hush even before a talented pianist started softly playing hymns of his own arrangement. It was easy to worship God in such surroundings, even before a robed choir of more than 30 people led by a great tenor entered the sanctuary. I had gone to First Bunkie because the pastor had sent me a simple “welcome to Louisiana” note in late January; I wanted to know what kind of a church such a nice pastor would have. First Bunkie is much more than just “nice.” It’s on mission with God, and that starts with prayer, including prayer for their two missions. They have a 19-member prayer team, and give significant attention to prayer. Pastor’s wife Linda Edwards’ storytelling skills warrant a story all on their own; I was spellbound with her description of a moment in the life of Joseph and his brothers. And in the nursery/young … [Read more...]
AAEO lifeline of churches
While the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering is probably not viewed as the premiere mission offering by most Southern Baptists – the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering likely holds that distinction – it is no less important. By Kelly Boggs Editor While the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering is probably not viewed as the premiere mission offering by most Southern Baptists – the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering likely holds that distinction – it is no less important. The AAEO currently being promoted in SBC congregations from sea to shining sea, is received for the purpose of providing support for mission endeavors throughout North America. In the Bible Belt, where the vast majority of Southern Baptists dwell, the need for an offering to support missions on our own continent might not seem very critical. However, speaking as one who spent several years ministering in one of the most unchurched areas of the United States, I can assure you the AAEO is worthy of your support. For seven years I was pastor of a church in Oregon, a state that along with Washington and a small portion of northwest Idaho comprises the Northwest Baptist Convention. It was there that I learned firsthand how important the AAEO is for … [Read more...]
Canadians help in New Orleans
PINE – “Thank God for country boys with chainsaws.” By Andi Cook Special to the Baptist Message PINE – “Thank God for country boys with chainsaws.” This was the heartfelt cry of Pastor Wayne Cook after Katrina roared through Washington Parish, toppling ancient oaks and tossing towering pines across virtually every power line and stretch of roadway in the rural parish two hours north of New Orleans. After Cook climbed over and ducked under over fifty trees littering the two-mile stretch of road between his home and Pine First Baptist Church, he found the steeple upside down in the church yard and half the tin roof stripped away, exposing the old damaged shingles underneath. Several windows in the trailers that served as Sunday school space had blown out, allowing rainwater to saturate some of the rooms. Despite the damage, the church was to become the focus of rescue operations for the surrounding rural community. God would reward this faithfulness in the months to come in ways the church never imagined. With no gas, no water, and no power, the parish was paralyzed and seemingly forgotten, as all eyes focused on the devastation in New Orleans. The position of the parish north of the stricken … [Read more...]
Missionaries share Christ in America’s inner cities
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – Jesus’ words in Matthew 18:14 are what drive North American missionary Chet Cantrell – 24/7, 365 days a year. By Mickey Noah North American Mission Board EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – Jesus’ words in Matthew 18:14 are what drive North American missionary Chet Cantrell – 24/7, 365 days a year. For the past 16 years – with his wife Michelle at his side – Cantrell has served as director of the Southern Baptist-supported Christian Activity Center (CAC) in East St. Louis, Ill. – a safe haven for hundreds of children and teenagers growing up in a rough-and-tumble town. East St. Louis is not for sissies – physical or spiritual. The Cantrells are among the 5,300-plus missionaries in the United States, Canada and their territories supported by the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions. Chet is one of eight Southern Baptist missionaries that were highlighted as part of the annual Week of Prayer, March 5-12. The 2006 Annie Armstrong Easter Offering’s goal is $56 million, 100 percent of which is used for missionaries like the Cantrells. “I’m a North American Mission Board missionary. So that means I work for all those people in the pews out there,” Cantrell noted. … [Read more...]
Church excels in CP outreach
DALTON, Ga. (BP) – Grove Level Baptist Church, where about 1,500 people worship on Sunday mornings in Dalton, Ga., reaches out to its community and beyond in a variety of biblical ways. DALTON, Ga. (BP) – Grove Level Baptist Church, where about 1,500 people worship on Sunday mornings in Dalton, Ga., reaches out to its community and beyond in a variety of biblical ways. The congregation’s outreach starts each week with giving 18 percent of undesignated offerings through the Cooperative Program, Southern Baptists’ unparalleled way of reaching people and supporting missions across America and around the world. “The Cooperative Program provides a structure for missions that I find maturing believers are attracted to,” pastor Charlie Bridges said. “What the Cooperative Program tells these people is that we have a safe way – a tried and tested, most effective way – of partnering in missions in North America and around the world that they can be a part of.” “We’re committed to it,” Jim Bledsoe, associate pastor for missions, evangelism and administration, said of the Cooperative Program. “It works. It brings unity and keeps us focused on what we’re called to do. Two can do more than one is the … [Read more...]
Call for prayer
ALEXANDRIA – A group of prayer intercessors met recently at the Baptist Building to send out a mass mailing to the 497 churches across the state they know to have a prayer ministry. ALEXANDRIA – A group of prayer intercessors met recently at the Baptist Building to send out a mass mailing to the 497 churches across the state they know to have a prayer ministry. Each ministry was asked in the mailing from LBC Evangelism team leader Wayne Jenkins to pray specifically this year for one of Louisiana’s 105 state representatives and 39 state senators – which means at least three churches will pray for each lawmaker. “We also need 60 groups to go to the state capitol, one each legislative work day, to pray,” said Carolyn R. Hatcher, director of Intercessors for Louisiana, founded in 2000 to pray specifically for the state’s lawmakers. The annual session started March 27 in Baton Rouge and will go through June 19. … [Read more...]
Louisiana College inagurates 8th President Joe Aguillard
PINEVILLE – Joe Aguillard is no stranger to daunting challenges. Even when he was hardly big enough to touch the pedals, he drove a tractor on the family’s rice and cattle farm in southeastern Louisiana. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing Editor PINEVILLE – Joe Aguillard is no stranger to daunting challenges. Even when he was hardly big enough to touch the pedals, he drove a tractor on the family’s rice and cattle farm in southeastern Louisiana. Never once did that tractor get away from him, his mother, Helen Aguillard, reported. “He really grew up knowing how to work,” Mrs. Aguillard said in a recent conversation with the Message. “He was very smart, well-liked. He had a lot of friends – always at our house.” Aguillard also was athletic – he lettered in football, basketball and track all four years of high school – and he sang in the church choir – his mother thought he was called to music ministry – but none of that came up in the multitude of accolades showered on the eighth president of Louisiana College during inaugural events March 22-23. Instead, he was lauded for his Christian commitment, high moral principles, scholarship, leadership, integrity, and – as entered into the Congressional … [Read more...]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 558
- 559
- 560
- 561
- 562
- …
- 808
- Next Page »