Combatting and overloading: For ministers and others alike, life can be stressful - but there are means of offsetting the harmful effects Editors Note: These articles on ministerial burnout, stress and means of combatting overload in ones life are by Terri Lackey from LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. When Barney Self gets a call in the middle of the night, his heart does not thump out of his chest. He figures it is a distressed pastor, and he knows he must remain calm. Combatting and overloading: For ministers and others alike, life can be stressful - but there are means of offsetting the harmful effects Editors Note: These articles on ministerial burnout, stress and means of combatting overload in ones life are by Terri Lackey from LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. When Barney Self gets a call in the middle of the night, his heart does not thump out of his chest. He figures it is a distressed pastor, and he knows he must remain calm. "When a person actually picks up the phone and calls the 1-888 help line number, he or she has exhausted all the other resources out there," said Self, a … [Read more...]
Weekly Briefs
For the week of August 29, 2002 Time of prayer As the first anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks approaches, leaders of New Hope New York are asking pastors to consider leading their congregations in a special time of prayer for the needs that remain in the city. The effort is being coordinated through PrayNewYork.com, a Web site allowing individuals to sign on as prayer partners for the city, its people and outreach efforts that will take place during the next few years. New Hope New York is the name of the Southern Baptist Strategic Focus Cities effort in New York, which is developing strategies for prayer, church planting, church strengthening, pastoral leadership development and collegiate ministry efforts that will take place primarily in 2004 and 2005. Prayer guides are available free for churches to use in their Sept. 11 emphasis. For details, call (212) 580-0655 or download the prayer guide at www.praynewyork.com Web site. Other resources for Sept. 11 services are available at www.namb.net/911. Missouri executive David Clippard, 53, was scheduled to be presented Aug. 27 as the unanimous recommendation for the new executive director of the Missouri Baptist Convention. Clippard currently is serving … [Read more...]
‘It is only natural that (churches) would be the ones who reach out to those individuals (impacted by poverty)’
When asked to describe welfare, terms like slums, poverty and hunger often come to mind. In turn, many people know little about the welfare reform of 1996. Indeed, often, those who need welfare most are unsure how to obtain it. "The main reason the subject of welfare is so difficult for many in our society is the sheer lack of information and knowledge," said Rolland Slade, a national missionary for the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board in the area of welfare back to work evangelism ministries. When asked to describe welfare, terms like slums, poverty and hunger often come to mind. In turn, many people know little about the welfare reform of 1996. Indeed, often, those who need welfare most are unsure how to obtain it. "The main reason the subject of welfare is so difficult for many in our society is the sheer lack of information and knowledge," said Rolland Slade, a national missionary for the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board in the area of welfare back to work evangelism ministries. The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 is a reform plan that requires work in exchange for … [Read more...]
Louisiana Baptists – reaching out with hope and care
While many poverty-stricken people of Louisiana struggle to survive, Louisiana Baptists are doing their part to help at least some of those in need by providing hope and care centers. These ministry centers operate to meet clothing, food and other needs that arise for those living at or below the poverty level. The centers operate out of storefronts in many locations around the state. While many poverty-stricken people of Louisiana struggle to survive, Louisiana Baptists are doing their part to help at least some of those in need by providing hope and care centers. These ministry centers operate to meet clothing, food and other needs that arise for those living at or below the poverty level. The centers operate out of storefronts in many locations around the state. Other services some of the centers offer include English as a Second Language training, reading and writing programs, pregnancy counseling and tutoring of school children. Louisiana Baptist Convention Director of Mission Ministries John Hebert said the hope and care centers "were created in response to a need. "We had more impoverished people in the state per … [Read more...]
What impact will the Internet have on churches?
As it has with other segments of society, the Internet now may be changing the face of organized religion. However, what is not so certain is what the changes are - and what they will mean. "Only God knows what the future will be like for religion on the Internet, ..." said Scott Thumma, a staff person with the Hartford Institute for Religion Research. As it has with other segments of society, the Internet now may be changing the face of organized religion. However, what is not so certain is what the changes are - and what they will mean. "Only God knows what the future will be like for religion on the Internet, ..." said Scott Thumma, a staff person with the Hartford Institute for Religion Research. "And there are times that I think even God is a bit baffled by it," he quipped in a spring address at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Joking aside, Thumma suggested the Internet could impact the dynamics of local congregations, even a churchs identity. However, the Internet phenomenon still is in its early stages as far as religion is concerned - and it will be several years before observers will be able to gauge … [Read more...]
From ‘God’ to ‘UFOs’ to ‘yo-yos’ – a surfing experience
There is no denying that the Internet has opened a wide world of information for users - including when it comes to religion and spirituality. Unfortunately, of course, there is no denying that sex currently rules online, with millions of pornographic sites available to the undisciplined surfer. And just as unfortunate, there is no denying that the very nature of the Internet creates problems. There is no denying that the Internet has opened a wide world of information for users - including when it comes to religion and spirituality. Unfortunately, of course, there is no denying that sex currently rules online, with millions of pornographic sites available to the undisciplined surfer. And just as unfortunate, there is no denying that the very nature of the Internet creates problems. After all, anyone can post anything at all, which means it is left to the visitor to determine if the information made available is reliable or not. In addition, the very manner of searching about a particular topic can be troublesome. For example, searching for "Christianity" may return a few millions sites - but how many are pro-Christian and how many are … [Read more...]
The right questions
Re: Teen sexual activity report (Baptist Message, April 15, 2002, Page Two) Re: Teen sexual activity report (Baptist Message, April 15, 2002, Page Two) The questions being asked of teenagers in these surveys are worded in such a way that we get false results. "Are you having sex?" To the average teenager, that means sexual intercourse. They (like a former president) dont consider anything else sex. As a pregnancy resource counselor, I deal with hundreds of clients a month, many of them teenagers, and they think that abstinence is "how far can I go without intercourse?" We need to ask the right questions to get the whole picture. April Bolgiano Leesville … [Read more...]
Weekly Announcements
For the week of August 29, 2002 Potpourri SHREVEPORT - Pinecroft church: True Heart in concert; Sept. 8, 10:45 a.m.; Gary Melanson, minister of music; Marty J. Wright, pastor. BOGALUSA - Superior Avenue church: "Miracle Mondays," at 6 p.m.; guest speakers are as follows: Sept. 9- Chuck Kelley; Sept. 16- R. Alan Jackson; Sept. 23- Leo Day; Sept. 30- Waylon Bailey; J. T. Wright, Jr., pastor. FOREST HILL - Calvary church: Mark Lanier in concert; Sept. 1, 6 p.m.; Mike Evans, minister of music; Joel McMickin, pastor. DRY CREEK - Dry Creek camp: "See You at the Pole" rally; Sept. 14, 5:30-8:30 p.m.; bring picnic lunch; recreation activities available during picnic; for information, call (337) 328-7531; Curt Iles, camp manager. RAYVILLE - Eastside church: "Chalk Art for Christ" presentation; Aug. 31, 7 p.m.; Kyle Coates, pastor. HARRISONBURG - First church: "Kingdom Family" rally; Sept. 7, 7 p.m.; J.J. Jasper, from American Family Radio, to speak; Ralph Webber, pastor. Revivals CAMERON - Johnson Bayou church: Sept. 8, 10:45 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.; Sept. 9-11, 7 p.m.; Jack Daniels, evangelist; Greg Trahan, music; Les Fogleman, pastor. … [Read more...]
Pending cases focus on public display of Ten Commandments
Amid the rolling hills of rural southwest Ohio, four high schools feature identical sets of five monuments placed neatly in front of their new buildings. Each of the tombstone-like monuments highlights a different legal code, such as the Declaration of Independence and the Magna Carta. But the monument in the center is the one that has sparked controversy - the one with the Ten Commandments etched in granite. Amid the rolling hills of rural southwest Ohio, four high schools feature identical sets of five monuments placed neatly in front of their new buildings. Each of the tombstone-like monuments highlights a different legal code, such as the Declaration of Independence and the Magna Carta. But the monument in the center is the one that has sparked controversy - the one with the Ten Commandments etched in granite. The monuments were donated by a private group of ministers and laypeople. School officials contend they belong there and have appealed a June district court decision declaring them unconstitutional. "Our belief is that the monuments are there not primarily as a religious statement but as a historical reminder of our system of law and government in the … [Read more...]
In the land of Jesus, ‘crazy’ volunteers work to show the love of God to others
Only a few days after the Sept. 11 terror attacks, Bill Curington went to New York to serve meals to survivors and rescue workers near the smoking ruins of the World Trade Center. That earned the Southern Baptist disaster relief veteran pats on the back from friends back home in Tennessee. But when he announced he was heading to Israel in late June to deliver food to needy Palestinian families in bullet-riddled Gaza, some folks questioned his sanity. Only a few days after the Sept. 11 terror attacks, Bill Curington went to New York to serve meals to survivors and rescue workers near the smoking ruins of the World Trade Center. That earned the Southern Baptist disaster relief veteran pats on the back from friends back home in Tennessee. But when he announced he was heading to Israel in late June to deliver food to needy Palestinian families in bullet-riddled Gaza, some folks questioned his sanity. "They said, Youre crazy! I wouldnt go," Curington recalls. Friends warned him about terrorists and suicide bombers, about getting caught in Israeli-Palestinian gun battles. A family member begged him to make "real sure" he heard the voice of God before … [Read more...]
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