From storm-ravaged villages in Honduras to the decaying ghettos of New York City to the war-torn Balkans, missionaries and volunteers are ministering to hungry souls through the Southern Baptist World Hunger Fund. From storm-ravaged villages in Honduras to the decaying ghettos of New York City to the war-torn Balkans, missionaries and volunteers are ministering to hungry souls through the Southern Baptist World Hunger Fund.   Indeed, last year, almost 30 million people were impacted by Southern Baptist efforts. And a new video by the Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission is seeking to make sure workers have even more money to use this year.   "When Will We Cry?" highlights ministries funded by the Southern Baptist hunger emphasis. It also challenges viewers to give to the World Hunger Fund – and to find their own place of service in a Christ-centered ministry to persons in need.   Commission director of Hunger Concerns Steve Nelson said he has high hopes the production will raise awareness of the fact that God calls his people to be involved in ministry evangelism.   "Southern Baptist hunger ministries often go unnoticed," Nelson noted. "Many people are … [Read more...]

Owners and operators of Louisiana’s gambling boats must be celebrating the new year in fine fashion. Owners and operators of Louisiana’s gambling boats must be celebrating the new year in fine fashion. They see the natural progression of expanding gambling taking its next step and they can see a wonderful financial future for themselves. Revenues from gambling are the most addicting of all state income. State politicians and citizens were seduced by the promise of millions upon millions of dollars from legalizing gambling, and approved greatly expanding it in our state. Our state quickly passed proposals to open wide our state to legalized gambling - off-track betting, lotteries, video poker, casinos.   Some limits were placed on gambling at first. That made it easier to get proposals passed over some obvious objections of its negative impact on the state. For instance, casinos were to be only on boats that actually sailed. The boats’ sailing limits the number of gamblers that can gamble at a time, and supposedly keeps other negative influences safely on the shore. (The exceptions are casinos on Indian reservations that are land based. But, the state draws no income from these. After they reach a … [Read more...]

Many of you volunteer to come to Louisiana State Penitentiary on a regular basis to facilitate discipleship training studies and work and support the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Extension Center at Angola. This precious time away from families and churches, as well as the traveling expenses, are personal sacrifices. Many of you volunteer to come to Louisiana State Penitentiary on a regular basis to facilitate discipleship training studies and work and support the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Extension Center at Angola. This precious time away from families and churches, as well as the traveling expenses, are personal sacrifices.   I thank God for each volunteer and for the wives and children who share their husbands, fathers and grandfathers with us. Your sacrifices are touching the lives of many. You are fulfilling the Great Commission. We ask God daily to watch over you, protect you and provide for your every need.   For those who contribute financially, please be aware that your contributions are assisting the mission field within this prison. Your money buys books for studies, supports the New Orleans Seminary Extension Center and pays for other Christian materials … [Read more...]

For the week of January 11, 2001 Potpourri •BAKER - First church: Common Good in concert; Jan. 21, 10:30 a.m.; Ralph Parks, minister of music; B. K. Miller, Jr., pastor.   •POLLOCK - Pleasant Hill church: The Down East Boys in concert, Jan. 18, 7 p.m., with a special appearance by In Christ. Lyndon Marcotte, pastor.   •BASTROP - First church: The Hoppers in concert; Jan. 14, 6 p.m.; Dick Day, minister of music; Mark Strum, pastor.   •BATON ROUGE - Woodlawn church to host Evangelism Explosion Clinic, Feb. 7-11; Ray Castro, speaker; for information, call the church office at (225) 753-1667; Tommy Middleton, pastor.   •LAFAYETTE - Northside church: "Ministry Arts Tour" clown ministry featuring Duane Laflin and J. T. "Bubba" Sikes; Jan. 19, 6 - 10 p.m.; Jan. 20, 8:30 a.m.- 5:30 p.m.; for details, contact Sheri Young at (337) 237-6956; Wayne Sistrunk, pastor.   •RUSTON - Calvary church: "Gospel Music Extravaganza"; Jan. 13, 6 - 9 p.m.; sponsored by Joe Aulds Evangelism Association; David Hastings, pastor.   •SHREVEPORT - Summer Grove church: "A Changeless Gospel for Changing Times" 2001 Louisiana Baptist Evangelism Conference; Jan. 22-23; Roy Fish, Alvin … [Read more...]

Everyone now agrees a new millennium has begun, and there are plenty of challenges on the horizon including some hopeful ones for an American church seeking to impact its culture Remember all those stories in recent years about teenagers signing sexual abstinence pledge cards, vowing to remain sexually pure until marriage?   Tell the truth - did it cross your mind that the effort was nice but rather ineffective? After all, it was just a piece of paper, just a name scrawled across the bottom of a page.   What good could that do related to the sexual pressure young people feel in this world?   As it turns out - quite a bit.   And that makes for an encouraging "sign of the times."   Indeed, a recent study shows that teenagers who pledge to remain sexually abstinent until marriage are 34 percent less likely to have sex than those who do not take virginity vows.   "Pledging decreases the risk of intercourse substantially and independently," Peter Bearman and Hannah Brückner, wrote in their study, published in the American Journal of Sociology. Bearman is professor of sociology and director of the Institute for Social and Economic Theory and Research at … [Read more...]

Everyone now agrees a new millennium has begun, and there are plenty of challenges on the horizon including some hopeful ones for an American church seeking to impact its culture Sign of the time: Everyone now agrees a new millennium has begun, and there are plenty of challenges on the horizon including some hopeful ones for an American church seeking to impact its culture   Last year arrived with many fearing a technological meltdown of apocalyptic proportions - complete with food shortages, utility breakdowns and survivalist conditions.   Many Christian leaders urged churches to prepare for ministry to church members and the community in a time of need. Some even called for stockpiling food and materials to be used in a time of technological anarachy.   Instead, Y2K fizzled.   Now, at the dawn of yet another new year, the American church faces another challenge - and pre-year 2000 concerns may pale in comparison when one reflects on the signs of the times and considers the possibilities.   Forget technological anarchy.   Moral anarchy may be beginning.   The difficulties facing the church certainly are indicative of such an era, Christian … [Read more...]

Paul Daily dons fringed leather chaps over his Wrangler jeans stuffed into cowboy boots.   He stands in the corner of the indoor arena, taking in the scene. Paul Daily dons fringed leather chaps over his Wrangler jeans stuffed into cowboy boots.   He stands in the corner of the indoor arena, taking in the scene.   The crowd sits in the stands, waiting to see what the evening has in store. Jeans, long-sleeved shirts and cowboy hats are the chosen attire. Jackets help to ward off the slight chill from the autumn air, still felt inside the arena.   It is a rodeo setting. However, Daily is not just another cowboy waiting on the sidelines to ride a wild bronc or a bull in front of a cheering crowd. Instead, he uses his abilities in training horses as a way to portray how God wants to have a love relationship with people.   He leads Wild Horse Ministries, based in Trout. Daily, his family and his assistants, travel the country staging evangelistic horse-training clinics.   In June 1999, the ministry worked with Southern Baptists in the Dakotas. The effort was part of the Louisiana Baptist Convention’s partnership with the Dakota Southern Baptist … [Read more...]

Talk of recession, economic downturn and market slowdown seems to be everywhere these days.   But do not expect Louisiana Baptists to buy into the idea when it comes to taking care of their own business. Talk of recession, economic downturn and market slowdown seems to be everywhere these days.   But do not expect Louisiana Baptists to buy into the idea when it comes to taking care of their own business.   Indeed, they recently closed four annual offerings for missions and ministry efforts around the state, nation and world.   Three of them closed at record levels.   And state leaders see no reason to doubt that trend will continue into a new millennium - despite recession talk.   "Our people are continually involved in supporting missions and ministry causes," said Dean Doster, executive director for the Louisiana Baptist Convention.   "I’m as excited about the support from the churches for our work as I’ve been at any time since I arrived here."   It is with good cause.   Louisiana Baptists closed their most ambitious Cooperative Program year to date in record fashion.   Gifts for the year totaled … [Read more...]

"You don’t have to get dressed. Just put a coat on." I urge my wife, all wrapped in pajamas and sitting beside the wood-burning stove, to drive up the valley with me to see the wildlife usually visible in the early morning hours. "You don’t have to get dressed. Just put a coat on." I urge my wife, all wrapped in pajamas and sitting beside the wood-burning stove, to drive up the valley with me to see the wildlife usually visible in the early morning hours.   "We will stay on the main roads and I guarantee we will not see anyone up the valley," I say to support my effort to get on the drive before the wildlife moseys back up into the higher elevations of the mountains.   Leah pulls on her warm boots and wraps her heavy coat around her. The pajamas are heavy flannel and look better than some of the "street pants" I have seen the last few days.   The higher we go into the mountains the more the grandeur of this place becomes apparent.   We come to a place where there is an overlook of a waterfall that drops more than 250 feet. It will obviously be frozen and provide a strong Kodak moment.   The gate to the road to the waterfall is open, and there is no sign … [Read more...]

For the week of January 18, 2001 Potpourri •DRY CREEK - Dry Creek camp: men’s retreat; Jan. 26-27; Lindsey Burns, speaker; to register or for information, call the camp at (337) 328-7531; Curt Iles, camp manager. •GRAYSON - Grayson church: annual Tri-Associational Men and Boys Fish Fry and Evangelism Rally (Caldwell, Deer Creek and Richland Associations); Jan. 27, 5:30 p.m.; Oda "Tuck" Roberts, speaker; Tim Post, music; for information, call the missions office at (318) 435-6304. •HORNBECK - First church: The Chordsmen in concert; Jan. 27, 6:30 p.m.; Jerry D. Key, pastor. •LEESVILLE - East Leesville church: Doug Field’s "Purpose Driven Youth Ministry" seminar live via satellite; March 3, 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.; for costs and registration information, or to pre-register, go to: http://www.purposedriven.com or contact Corey Olivier, minister of students, at (337) 239-3733; Gil Arthur, pastor. •MONROE - Lighthouse church: Prophecy Conference; Jan. 21, 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.; Jan. 22-24, 6:30 p.m. Bob White, speaker; Danny Pitts, pastor. •PINEVILLE - Louisiana College’s annual "Fill the Fieldhouse" event is scheduled for Jan. 20, at 1 p.m. The Lady Wildcats and Wildcats will face UT-Dallas. Admission is free … [Read more...]