Think of Siamese twins joined at the heart - and at the feet and at the hands and at the head. Calvary Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, N.C., and "missions" even connect solidly at the checkbook. Think of Siamese twins joined at the heart - and at the feet and at the hands and at the head. Calvary Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, N.C., and "missions" even connect solidly at the checkbook.   Each year, up to 500 members of the church participate in mission trips that reach across town, across the state and across the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The church pays half the expense for each team member - an average outlay of $1,000 per person. However, since a heavy majority of Calvary’s Sunday School teachers have been on the trips, the payoff is that the missions mandate threaded throughout Scripture gets plenty of attention in their classes.   Pastor Mark Corts readily and steadily preaches on the mandate as well. Missions pastor Francis Smith coordinates and "inspirates" the opportunities and responses. Each returning team is given a prominent platform to report on its trip.   "I believe and preach that a church should be ‘a whole body for the whole world,’ " Corts explains. "I … [Read more...]

On the one hand, there is singing, laughter, jokes as they work and the most hilarious revelers during the Thai New Year celebration.   On the other hand, there is poverty, constantly moving to find work, despair and hard, monotonous jobs. On the one hand, there is singing, laughter, jokes as they work and the most hilarious revelers during the Thai New Year celebration.   On the other hand, there is poverty, constantly moving to find work, despair and hard, monotonous jobs.   These two extremes reflect one people - the 20 million Isaan of northeastern Thailand, a people group lost in spiritual darkness. Indeed, monks chant repeatedly at Isaan funerals: "There is no hope, only suffering ... Dead, never to arise."   However, in the midst of such darkness, four Southern Baptist missionary couples and a few nationals are working to bring the light of Jesus to the Isaan people.   Buddhism teaches the Isaan that good works and countless reincarnations will release them from this world’s suffering, missionary Mark Caldwell explains. Animism leads them to make offerings to spirits for protection from evil or in gratitude for blessings received.   The Isaan … [Read more...]

Editor’s Note: December 3-10 has been set as the Week of Prayer for International Missions and the International Mission Study in Southern Baptist churches. It also represents a time of emphasis for the annual Lottie Moon Christimas Offering for International Missions. This year’s offering goal is $115 million to provide funding for some 5,000 international missionaries. The theme of this year’s emphasis is "The Unfinished Task: Dispelling the Darkness." The following articles and photos all relate to ongoing international missions work and the upcoming emphasis. Editor’s Note: December 3-10 has been set as the Week of Prayer for International Missions and the International Mission Study in Southern Baptist churches. It also represents a time of emphasis for the annual Lottie Moon Christimas Offering for International Missions. This year’s offering goal is $115 million to provide funding for some 5,000 international missionaries. The theme of this year’s emphasis is "The Unfinished Task: Dispelling the Darkness." The following articles and photos all relate to ongoing international missions work and the upcoming emphasis.   She used to grope in the darkness for something to hold onto - but now, Hale … [Read more...]

Her name is not given - nor is her location exactly. All that one learns from the accompanying information is that the woman is one of the 20 million Isaan people who live in northeastern Thailand.   The information also explains that the Isaan region is the poorest in Thailand, a region beset with difficulties and despair - AIDS, drugs, poverty, a lack of hope. Her name is not given - nor is her location exactly. All that one learns from the accompanying information is that the woman is one of the 20 million Isaan people who live in northeastern Thailand.   The information also explains that the Isaan region is the poorest in Thailand, a region beset with difficulties and despair - AIDS, drugs, poverty, a lack of hope.   The Isaan people live in spiritual darkness. They rely on works to gain spiritual favor and on sacrifices to appease the spirits of good and evil. Fewer than 1 percent of them are Christian. Family pressure helps keep it that way - members fear that embracing Christianity will anger the spirits.   Gospel work among the people is painstakingly slow - and built on relationships built in a variety of ways. Practical, helpful, needed ministry is the … [Read more...]

On the one hand, poll after poll and survey after survey show that Americans are a religious people.   On the other hand, real questions linger about whether that is making any difference in the way they live their lives.   Add another log to that particular fire. On the one hand, poll after poll and survey after survey show that Americans are a religious people.   On the other hand, real questions linger about whether that is making any difference in the way they live their lives.   Add another log to that particular fire.   A recent Gallup poll shows that while American teenagers say they are religious, they tend to rely more on themselves than God and religious teachings when it comes to making decisions and how to conduct their lives.   And while they fare better on that particular question, American adults still come across as relatively self-focused.   Studies show that most American teenagers say they believe in God, consider themselves to be religious, pray often and attend church regularly, the September 2000 issue of the "Emerging Trends" newsletter reports. The newsletter is published by Princteon Religion Research Center and … [Read more...]

Voters in seven states sent a good news-bad news signal to gambling opponents regarding the future of the practice last week.   The good news came from three states where voters dealt organized gambling stinging defeats. The bad news came in four states where gambling proponents prevailed. Voters in seven states sent a good news-bad news signal to gambling opponents regarding the future of the practice last week.   The good news came from three states where voters dealt organized gambling stinging defeats. The bad news came in four states where gambling proponents prevailed.   The good news:   • Maine voters rejected a measure that would have allowed 1,500 video gambling machines at a horse racetrack. Opponents feared passage would open the door for video gambling machines to spread statewide. The gambling measure was defeated on a 60 percent-to-40 percent vote.   • A ballot initiative in a West Virginia county to allow casino-type gambling at a historic resort was defeated by a two-to-one margin. Gambling interests poured $1.1 million into an effort to pass the measure. Opponents spent only $20,814 in their efforts to win the vote, which was viewed as a test … [Read more...]

Even as all eyes were on the incredibly tight presidnential race last week, voters in several states were deciding key moral and social issues.   A review of state initiatives and propositions reveals key votes on pressing concerns, including: Even as all eyes were on the incredibly tight presidnential race last week, voters in several states were deciding key moral and social issues.   A review of state initiatives and propositions reveals key votes on pressing concerns, including:   •Pro-life issues   Maine voters narrowly rejected an assisted suicide measure that said "a terminally ill adult, who is of sound mind, (should) be allowed to ask for and receive a doctor’s help to die." The measure was defeated on a vote of 321,901 (51 percent) to 303,201 (49 percent).   "This is a hopeful sign," said Ben Mitchell, consultant for biomedical and life issues with the Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. "If both Oregon (which allows assisted suicide) and Maine had legalized the practice, they would have set up bookends on either side of the nation and the culture of death would have made its push toward the heartland."   Meanwhile, … [Read more...]

Who wants to be a millionaire? Answer this question - when is the last time a Louisiana Baptist Convention was held and no resolutions were passed?   The answer? Last week. Who wants to be a millionaire? Answer this question - when is the last time a Louisiana Baptist Convention was held and no resolutions were passed?   The answer? Last week.   It was not that Louisiana Baptists had nothing to say. It was not that the state Resolutions Committee had not proposed statements on issues of concerns.   No. It simply was that when time came for resolutions to be considered - not enough messengers were present to consider them.   Convention rules require that one-fourth of registered convention messengers be present in order to conduct business.   Unfortunately, as the final session of last week’s annual convention drew to a close, the number of messengers present had dwindled drastically.   Indeed, all agreed that a quorum was not present, which meant fewer than 550 of the almost 2,200 registered messengers had left the meeting. Thus, reports could be received from the Louisiana Baptist history committee, the state arrangements committee or the … [Read more...]

A Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board member announced a plan last week designed to change the nature of the annual state pastors’ conference and ensure it is nonpolitical.   In doing so, he acknowledged the full Executive Board may be drawn into the situation at some point. A Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board member announced a plan last week designed to change the nature of the annual state pastors’ conference and ensure it is nonpolitical.   In doing so, he acknowledged the full Executive Board may be drawn into the situation at some point.   During the board’s pre-convention meeting, Scott Shaver announced formation of three groups - the Louisiana Baptist Laity Conference, the Louisiana Baptist Layman’s Network and the Louisiana Baptist Pastors’ Conference.   All three names have been registered with the Louisiana secretary of state, said Shaver, pastor at First Baptist Church of Natchitoches and executive director of Mainstream Louisiana Baptists, a group opposed to the more conservative direction of the Southern and Louisiana Baptist conventions.   That means the name "Louisiana Baptist Pastors’ Conference" now rests in the hands of … [Read more...]

Louisiana Baptist pastor Tommy French gained a second term as state convention president last week - but not in customary fashion.   Instead, it was deja vu all over again. Louisiana Baptist pastor Tommy French gained a second term as state convention president last week - but not in customary fashion.   Instead, it was deja vu all over again.   Traditionally, Louisiana Baptists have granted first-term convention presidents a second term unopposed. The only time it is believed that did not happen was in 1996, when President Michael Claunch survived a challenge to his second term on a vote of 61.5 percent to 38.5 percent.   Likewise, French also was forced to survive a challenge from fellow pastor Perry Sanders in order to gain his second term. He did so by a margin of 389 votes. French is pastor at Jefferson Baptist Church in Baton Rouge. Sanders is pastor at First Baptist Church of Lafayette.   The challenge was not unexpected.   Just days prior to the annual convention, the Mainstream Louisiana Baptists group announced in its publication that it would nominate persons for all three denominational offices. However, no names were released by the … [Read more...]