For the week of January 4, 2001 Potpourri •SHREVEPORT — Calvary church: "Night of Praise," concert; Jan. 5, 6:30 p.m.; Canaanland, Johnny Parrack, the Bennetts, the Allen Family, music; W. D. "Step" Martin, pastor.   •DENHAM SPRINGS — Riverside church: Associational Ministers Conference; Jan. 8, 10:30 a.m.; Gerald Martin, pastor. Revivals •WASHINGTON — Washington church: Jan. 13, 7 p.m.; Jan. 14, 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.; Jan. 15-16, 7 p.m.; Ed Long, evangelist; Louis Charrier, pastor. Available •WALKER — Bret Gilmore; available for pulpit supply and interim ministry until June 2001; for information, call (225) 667-7341 or email: bret_gilmore@hotmail.com.   •LIVINGSTON — Yancy Wilmot; available for revivals, youth events, pulpit supply. Threefold Truth, musical group, available to accompany; for information, write: Yancy Wilmot, P.O. Box 1114, Livingston, LA 70754 or call (225) 686-7653. Ministers Needed •DENHAM SPRINGS — New Bethlehem church: bi-vocational youth pastor; send resumes to: Jeanie Achord, 11219 Cloverleaf Dr., Denham Springs, LA 70706 or call (225) 665-1321; James Courtney, pastor. Ordinations •ALEXANDRIA — Calvary church ordained Terry Arceneaux, Mixson "Doc" Bankston, Ronald … [Read more...]

Most parents struggle with it - how to interest kids in church and church-related activities as the teenage years arrive. Should the decision be left to the teenager? Most parents struggle with it - how to interest kids in church and church-related activities as the teenage years arrive. Should the decision be left to the teenager? Should the parents force the child to attend church? Will requiring church involvement end up making it a chore that a young person resents and eventually rejects?   What is a parent to do?   Research indicates there is a simple - but challenging - answer to the problem.   As parents do, teenagers likely will do.   Indeed, the best way for parents to ensure their children will attend church once they leave home is to make a regular practice of attending church as a family while the kids live at home, Carol Lytch stressed during a recent report to Scientific Study of Religion members.   At least, that is what research indicates, said Lytch, coordinator of Lilly Endowment programs for strengthening congregational leadership at Louisville Presbyterian Seminary.   "Families who cultivate the collective understanding that ‘our … [Read more...]

For everyone who has - or has had - or anticipates having - a child calling from college to ask for money, take heart. For everyone who has - or has had - or anticipates having - a child calling from college to ask for money, take heart.   Collegians also give!   Indeed, for the 1999-2000 school year, college students from around the country donated $3,417,705 to mission activities through their Baptist campus ministries.   The college students walked, baked, played racquetball and made snow cones, along with many other activities to raise money. They gave - and they had fun.   "Three and a half million dollars is a lot of money," said Bill Henry, director of national collegiate ministries for LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. "These college students work hard and make personal sacrifices to raise that kind of money. They are to be commended for that."   State convention and local campus leadership is what gives the students the drive to raise money for missions, Henry said. Without the dedication and determination of the campus ministers, it never would happen, he emphasized.   The money the students raise is sent to … [Read more...]

Now that everyone is agreed the 21st century has arrived, perhaps persons can decide the top stories of the past century. Now that the Christmas wrappings are disposed of and the New Year’s festivities are complete, attention can turn to an annual pastime - selection of the top story for the previous year.   What was it?   The election (finally) of a new president in the United States?   The slow - and often bloody - efforts at peace in the Middle East?   Completion of the human genome pro-ject, providing a genetic map of humans?   The Elian Gonzalez drama?   The Microsoft trial?   The Russian submarine tragedy?   The firing of the Taco Bell chihuahua as a fast food commercial spokesdog?   Or was it something else?   Certainly, the year 2000 offered its range of news and events, including those of the wonderful, weird and wacky bent.   For instance, what other year can boast of having a magician who encased himself inside a block of ice for 61 hours?   And what year can lay claim to the whole reality-based television boom?   And before the year 2000, did anyone even know what a … [Read more...]

Now that the Christmas wrappings are disposed of and the New Year’s festivities are complete, attention can turn to an annual pastime - selection of the top story for the previous year. Now that the Christmas wrappings are disposed of and the New Year’s festivities are complete, attention can turn to an annual pastime - selection of the top story for the previous year.   What was it?   The election (finally) of a new president in the United States?   The slow - and often bloody - efforts at peace in the Middle East?   Completion of the human genome pro-ject, providing a genetic map of humans?   The Elian Gonzalez drama?   The Microsoft trial?   The Russian submarine tragedy?   The firing of the Taco Bell chihuahua as a fast food commercial spokesdog?   Or was it something else?   Certainly, the year 2000 offered its range of news and events, including those of the wonderful, weird and wacky bent.   For instance, what other year can boast of having a magician who encased himself inside a block of ice for 61 hours?   And what year can lay claim to the whole reality-based … [Read more...]

First Baptist Church of Lacombe members celebrated 75 years of ministry in their community during anniversary ceremonies last fall. First Baptist Church of Lacombe members celebrated 75 years of ministry in their community during anniversary ceremonies last fall.   The Louisiana Baptist church was established in 1925 with 11 members. It has had a total of 26 pastors since then and has grown to a membership of almost 400 and an average Sunday School attendance of more than 150. The church currently is planning to construct a new facility.   Glen Carver currently serves as pastor of the Lacombe church, which celebrated its anniversary with a special service and dinner on the grounds.   During the ceremonies, former Pastor Keith Ivey delivered the anniversary address and former Minister of Music Eddie Lightsey returned to lead in music.   In addition, the church recognized Elise Clark, who has been a member of the congregation since 1957. Church members helped Clark celebrate her 90th birthday during the anniversary celebration. … [Read more...]

When President-elect George W. Bush prepares the speech for his inaugural address on January 20, he might well include an appropriate verse from the Bible. When President-elect George W. Bush prepares the speech for his inaugural address on January 20, he might well include an appropriate verse from the Bible.   He would not be the first president to do so. Indeed, several of his predecessors have done the same.   Most recently, in his 1992 inaugural, Bill Clinton cited a verse from Paul’s letter to the Galatians - "And let us not be weary in well-doing, for in due season, we shall reap if we faint not" - using it as a call for Americans to serve the good of their country.   Jimmy Carter was the last president before Clinton to use a biblical quote in his inaugural address. On January 20, 1977, Carter said: "Here before me is the Bible used in the inauguration of our first president in 1789, and I have just taken the oath of office on the Bible my mother gave me just a few years ago, opened to a timeless admonition from the ancient prophet Micah - ‘He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly … [Read more...]

Snow and snow turned to ice covers the canyon gravel road. The road winds up the side of the snow-covered Colorado mountainside, reaching an altitude of some 11,000 feet. The December sky is amazingly blue and the air feels warmer than its registered 20 degrees. Snow and snow turned to ice covers the canyon gravel road. The road winds up the side of the snow-covered Colorado mountainside, reaching an altitude of some 11,000 feet. The December sky is amazingly blue and the air feels warmer than its registered 20 degrees.   The ice-covered lake stretches behind the dam and up the canyon floor.   Sure enough, seven figures - not the dollar kind - dot the ice. I have come here to try to prevail on someone’s kindness.   "Any vacant hole out there?" I ask the slender man fixing a sandwich at the truck that is parked beside the dam.   "No, we just drilled one apiece and that is all we could muster," he answers in a pleasant tone.   "I can understand that. How thick is the ice?"   " ’Bout 12 to 14 inches."   "Not much danger of falling in," this flatlander Louisianian responds, seeking assurance.   "Nope. Could drive a truck over … [Read more...]

The National Basketball Association has dunking sensation Vince Carter. ` College basketball boasts coaching legend Mike Krzyzewski. The National Basketball Association has dunking sensation Vince Carter. ` College basketball boasts coaching legend Mike Krzyzewski.   But the Upward Basketball League lays claim to a far greater presence on the basketball court – 120,000 girls and boys learning about Jesus and jump shots.   Through this unique ministry, more than 600 churches this year will have the opportunity to teach children fundamental basketball skills while also sharing with them about salvation.   "Upward Basketball is not a traditional basketball league," says Shane McKenzie, Upward Unlimited vice president of operations. "Its primary focus is outreach. It’s not about championships. It’s not about trophies. What we’re about is changed lives and creating opportunities to share the Lord."   The Upward Basketball season consists of eight games and 10 practices. Boys and girls in grades one through six are invited to participate. There is a fee for a child to join the league, but kids receive a bag full of basketball goodies. Scholarships are available for kids who need … [Read more...]

As the Serbian people face their first winter with a new democratically-elected government, evangelicals are scrambling to minister to a nation left nearly bankrupt, observers report. As the Serbian people face their first winter with a new democratically-elected government, evangelicals are scrambling to minister to a nation left nearly bankrupt, observers report.   It remains to be seen if they will find the help they need.   Bread of Life Co-director Jasmina Tosic recently laid out a plan to meet the physical and spiritual needs of more than 15,000 Serbian families this winter. Bread of Life is a ministry that largely has focused on refugee aid during the Balkan conflicts of the 1990s. The Southern Baptist World Hunger Fund is among Bread of Life’s sources of support.   However, Tosic recently noted Bread of Life has received only a few offers of outside help for the plan. "We are putting our trust in God and find ourselves continuing as written in Haggai ‘giving careful thought’ about our past and future," said Tosic, a member at First Baptist Church of Belgrade.   The organization’s winter ministry plan includes monthly distribution of food and hygiene items; a … [Read more...]