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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

The oldest city in North America really needs the gospel

Mark Puckett is working to establish a spiritual beachhead in North America’s oldest city. Mark Puckett is working to establish a spiritual beachhead in North America’s oldest city. St. John’s, Newfoundland was seasonally inhabited by European fishermen from 1497 until the arrival of permanent British settlers in the mid-1700s and has a longstanding religious heritage, notes Puckett, a worker with the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board and a church starting coordinator with the Canadian Convention of Southern Baptists. However, today in Newfoundland most people under 50 “have little interest in spiritual matters at all,” Puckett notes. The Canadian province is one of the darkest spiritual areas in North America, Puckett says. “There is very little concept of what it means to have a relationship with Jesus Christ,” he says. “Those who consider themselves religious are primarily basing their faith on an institution and a works-based theology.” With a population of 170,000, St. John’s accounts for one-third of Newfoundland’s total and serves as the province’s capital. There is no Southern Baptist church there now – but Puckett says he believes the city is strategic in reaching the rest of the … [Read more...]

Saudi’s need is evident – an encounter with God

As recent news headlines have indicated, a new king – and new custodian of Islam’s most sacred sites – has taken the throne in Saudi Arabia. Note: A 90-day period of worldwide prayer for Saudi Arabs currently is underway and set to continue through the month of October. As part of the emphasis, the Southern Baptist International Mission Board recently released the following article and list of prayer requests. The prayer emphasis comes at a time of transition for Saudi Arabia, which is undergoing a change in leadership. As recent news headlines have indicated, a  new king – and new custodian of Islam’s most sacred sites – has taken the throne in Saudi Arabia. The ailing King Fahd inherited the desert kingdom his father founded and saw it become the world’s biggest and richest oil producer. When Fahd died Aug. 1. Crown Prince Abdullah officially became the absolute monarch of more than 25 million people in Saudi Arabia. Abdullah had been de facto ruler since his elder brother Fahd began suffering debilitating strokes a decade ago. Abdullah recently visited the Texas ranch of President George Bush, who calls him a friend and ally against global terror. The new king styles himself as a moderate and a … [Read more...]

Read and know – gambling can devastate families, lives

Kathy Barrett is mad – furious, in fact – and she absolutely wants everyone to know exactly why. It is because her family has been devastated by casino gambling. Note: The Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission has selected gambling as its September focus. The following article addresses the growing impact of gambling in the United States. Kathy Barrett is mad – furious, in fact – and she absolutely wants everyone to know exactly why. It is because her family has been devastated by casino gambling. Her son Jason, a casino employee, was convicted of embezzlement. He began stealing from the casino to fund his own gambling and to share his ill-gotten gains with others. “He was acting like Robin Hood,” Barrett says, stealing from the casino and giving the money to struggling friends and family members. His wife was found guilty of knowing about the embezzlement and also is serving time. Barrett’s young grandsons are living with their other grandmother while both parents are imprisoned. Barrett’s mother is in her seventies but is another casualty of the casinos. She was living modestly on her retirement income in a condominium on which nothing more was owed. Then, she began visiting … [Read more...]

Aguillard set to be inaugurated as LC president

The inauguration of Joe Aguillard as Louisiana College president has been set for Sept. 22. The inauguration of Joe Aguillard as Louisiana College president has been set for Sept. 22. Aguillard will be inaugurated as the eighth president of the Louisiana Baptist school. He has been serving in that capacity since his election by school trustees in January. His formal installation as president will feature several activities and the involvement of the board of trustees, alumni and the campus community. The inauguration ceremony is set for Sept. 22 at 10:30 a.m. in Guinn Auditorium. The theme is “Unchanging Foundations in Changing Times,” taken from the Scripture verse of Malachi 3:6. It reads, “For I am the LORD, I do not change.” Several thousand invitations have been sent to Louisiana College trustees, alumni and supporters, as well as to Louisiana Baptists and ministers throughout the state. Everyone is welcome to attend the planned inauguration activities. Jimmy Draper is scheduled to deliver the inaugural charge during the Sept. 22 ceremony. Draper is the retiring executive director of LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. He also is a former Southern Baptist Convention … [Read more...]

Final plan of dissolution approved for the Baptist Retirement Center

Baptist Retirement Center members unanimously adopted a final plan of dissolution of the corporation during its June 30 meeting in Arcadia. By Brian Blackwell LBM Newswriter Baptist Retirement Center members unanimously adopted a final plan of dissolution of the corporation during its June 30 meeting in Arcadia. Center trustee Chair Bobby Dye and fellow retirement center trustee Robert Spicer acted as co-liquidators of the corporation during the meeting. Information about the meeting had been mailed to every Louisiana Baptist church, who were asked either to attend the meeting or return a proxy form that appointed Dye to vote for them. Persons representing four churches attended the meeting. Also, Spicer reported that 119 churches returned proxy forms. Under the adopted plan, the center’s assets will be disbursed as follows: • All debts and administrative expenses of the corporation shall be paid and/or provided for, including the costs of liquidating the corporation. • A special distribution of $100,000 will be paid to the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home in Monroe. • The remaining assets will be placed in trust with the Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board for use in … [Read more...]

Call issued for Louisiana Baptist nominees, resolutions

Louisiana Baptists have been invited to submit names of nominees for service on state convention boards and committees and to submit resolutions for possible consideration at the 2005 Louisiana Baptist Convention. Louisiana Baptists have been invited to submit names of nominees for service on state convention boards and committees and to submit resolutions for possible consideration at the 2005 Louisiana Baptist Convention. The Louisiana Baptist Committee on Committees is beginning work to nominate persons to serve on various state convention committees. Currently, 22 nominees are needed for service on committees on convention arrangements, credentials, Louisiana Baptist history, moral and social concerns, nominations, order of business and resolutions. Committee on Committees chair is William O’Neal, pastor at Miller French Baptist Church in Iota. In addition, the Louisiana Baptist Committee on Nominations is beginning work to fill vacancies on state boards. At this point, 19 nominees are needed to serve on the state Executive Board and as trustees of Louisiana College, the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home, the Louisiana Baptist Message, the Louisiana Baptist Foundation and the Baptist Retirement Center.  … [Read more...]

Goes without saying

Re: “So, what have been the most influential books of ministry during past 3 years?” in June 23, 2005 issue Re: “So, what have been the most influential books of ministry during past 3 years?” in June 23, 2005 issue I am a pastor of a small church in North Louisiana. I understand the scope of the article. However, it would have seemed appropriate to mention somewhere in the article the most-influential book for pastors was the Word of God. There is no other book than the Word of God that has made more of an impact on man. Revival will not begin from a book written by man. Until we get back to the word of God, there will not be revival in America and in this world. Again, I hope that this goes without saying. But it caught my attention that the Bible was not mentioned anywhere in the article. Thank you, and God bless you. Floyd Smith, Pastor Bryceland Baptist Church Bryceland … [Read more...]

World of religion

Week of July 11, 2005 Cooperative Program Gifts through the Southern Baptist Cooperative Program totaled more than $12.5 million last month, a decrease of $567,434 (4.3 percent) from the previous June. However, nine months into the convention’s fiscal year, overall gifts total $145 million, an increase of almost $2.2 million (1.5 percent) from the same time last year. The total also stands more than $7.6 million (5.5 percent) ahead of budget at this time. Meanwhile, designated gifts totaled $13.5 million last month, a decrease of $5.6 million (29.4 percent) from the previous June. For the year, designated gifts total almost $171 million,  a decrease of $801,395 (0.5 percent) from the same time last year. Court ruling The Georgia Supreme Court has denied Shorter College’s motion for reconsideration of an earlier ruling in a case regarding its break from the Georgia Baptist Convention. In May, the state high court upheld a lower ruling that Shorter College’s 2003 actions to sever ties with the Georgia Baptist Convention should be set aside as outside the bounds of state corporate law. A county judge had allowed Shorter to dissolve and transfer its assets to the newly-formed Shorter College Foundation Inc., thus … [Read more...]

Weekly announcements

Week of July 11, 2005 Potpourri HOUMA – Coteau church: Testify in concert; July 24, 10:45 a.m.; Dwight Hazelwood, minister of music. WEST MONROE – Cypress church: The Dixie Echoes in concert; July 21, 7 p.m.; love offering accepted; Larry Eubanks, pastor. NEW ORLEANS – Oak Park church: Ben Caston in concert; July 24, 6 p.m.; Paul Brady, pastor. NATCHITOCHES – Coldwater church: “His” in concert; July 16, 7 p.m.; Jerry Ford, pastor. BATON ROUGE – Foster Road church: David’s Song Quartet in concert; July 17, 6 p.m.; Huey Moak, pastor. HAUGHTON – First church: Tim Keith, guest speaker; July 24, 6 p.m. with fellowship to follow; Gevan L. Spinney, pastor. MINDEN – First church: Bridges-Blake in concert and Roy Fish, guest speaker; July 18, 7 p.m.; Junior Hill, evangelist, guest speaker and Summer Grove church choir, musical guest; July 25, 7 p.m.; Wayne DuBose, pastor. ST. FRANCISVILLE – First church: Paul Penton, guest speaker; July 24, 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.; Joe Ratcliff, pastor. HARRISONBURG – First church: Evangelism Rally; July 17, 6 p.m.; Bill Robertson, guest speaker; Darrell Robertson, music; preservice music at 5:30 p.m.; Ralph Webber, pastor. Youth CLARENCE – Clarence church: Presentation … [Read more...]

Well, it sounded a lot of fun just reading about it

I said I never had and never would – and I meant it. Everything God created to fly has wings, and those things do not. So, why would anyone want to get on a wingless creation of man and expect it to fly? I said I never had and never would – and I meant it. Everything God created to fly has wings, and those things do not. So, why would anyone want to get on a wingless creation of man and expect it to fly? But the schedule clearly states, “Helicopter from Bar 10 ranch to bottom of Grand Canyon and awaiting raft.” That night, sitting round the ranch, I casually ask the owner, “About that helicopter ride in the morning ...” “Yes, sir.” “Is there another way to get from here to where the rafts will be?” The purpose of the trip is to raft down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon for three days. To get to this point, we ride a major airline and, then, a commuter plane that flies us over the Grand Canyon and up the canyon to an isolated airstrip on this working ranch of 250,000 acres with some 1,000 ranging head of cattle. The planes have wings. The horses we ride did not have wings, but they never got that far off the ground. “Yes, sir,” the owner replies to my earlier question. “You can ride a … [Read more...]