Howard Allan admits his life was a mess. He was going to places he should not have been, doing things he should not have done, with people he should not have associated with.   He had decided he was going to change – get back to the religious training his mother insisted he experience as a younger child. He had promised God he would. Howard Allan admits his life was a mess. He was going to places he should not have been, doing things he should not have done, with people he should not have associated with.   He had decided he was going to change – get back to the religious training his mother insisted he experience as a younger child. He had promised God he would.   But before he got his journey back to Christian living in gear, there was that terrible night. In a place he should not have been, with young men he should have avoided, doing things they should not have been doing, a shot rang out and a man fell to the ground, dead.   That was 20 years ago, when Howard was 17. Howard was convicted for that killing, although the one eye witness who testified against him now has recanted his testimony in an affidavit.   Since his conviction of second degree murder, … [Read more...]

"The reward for doing a job well is to be chosen to do another job."   That saying certainly is not Scripture, but it is definitely true. If you have any doubts, ask T.W. Terral, Director of Missions for Judson Baptist Association and the Baptists of the churches he serves. "The reward for doing a job well is to be chosen to do another job."   That saying certainly is not Scripture, but it is definitely true. If you have any doubts, ask T.W. Terral, Director of Missions for Judson Baptist Association and the Baptists of the churches he serves.   Judson Baptist Association responded well to the requests of Burl Cain, warden of Louisiana State Prison, Angola, as indicated by the major article about the Angola Prison ministry in this issue.   When Warden Cain wanted something else to strengthen the spiritual atmosphere on the massive farm known as the largest land-area prison in America, he turned again to Terral and Judson Association.   "The men tell me they appreciate the New Testaments they have," Cain told Terral. "But they also tell me they want the complete Bible."   Different groups have distributed many New Testament, according to Terral, but … [Read more...]

On this massive farm, the words also carry the bone-chilling realities of legal sentences that hold the 5,100 male-only residents captive.   The vast majority of these men have been sentenced to life in prison, or to death at the hands of the state’s executioner. Here, one’s existence can understandably slip into a mist of never - ending hopelessness and despair. In the state of Louisiana, life means life, with no hope of parole. Never. On this massive farm, the words also carry the bone-chilling realities of legal sentences that hold the 5,100 male-only residents captive.   The vast majority of these men have been sentenced to life in prison, or to death at the hands of the state’s executioner. Here, one’s existence can understandably slip into a mist of never - ending hopelessness and despair. In the state of Louisiana, life means life, with no hope of parole. Never.   There is scant hope for any of these men walking out of the gates of this massive prison a free man. The future for most of these men holds no hope of finding a wife or being physically reunited with one, of ever having children or more children, of ever watching grandchildren play in the yard of their homes. … [Read more...]

Dr. Sarah Anders, Louisiana’s outstanding representative to the world, just completed her tenure as moderator of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship at the annual CBF meeting in Orlando, July 1. Dr. Sarah Anders, Louisiana’s outstanding representative to the world, just completed her tenure as moderator of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship at the annual CBF meeting in Orlando, July 1.   All of us from Louisiana who were present were very proud of the accomplishment of this outstanding former Louisiana College professor. Dr. Anders presided over the national gathering of moderate Baptists with her usual grace, dignity and pleasing sense of humor.   Dr. Anders has given her life to Baptist causes, and I am confident that all of Louisiana Baptists would join me in saying "thank you" to this outstanding Christian leader.   John W. Goodwin, Pastor Broadmoor Baptist Church Shreveport … [Read more...]

I really have to take offense with the article written about the Baptist Women in Ministry in the July 20 issue of the Baptist Message. I was offended with just about everything they said. I really have to take offense with the article written about the Baptist Women in Ministry in the July 20 issue of the Baptist Message. I was offended with just about everything they said.   First of all, I do not read in my Bible that a woman should be in a pastor’s role in a church. Secondly, to say "her grace" is enough for them is a slap in God’s face. God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit is not a "her." Thirdly, we shouldn’t put the Bible on a pedestal and leave it there. It was written by humans but inspired by God. Either you believe this or you don’t. If you don’t, "travel on, sister."   The last point I have to comment on is Ms. Yeatts’ view on abortion. She said, "We should be careful when we take the life of a child, but the decision is the woman’s." So, be careful when you kill a child, but it still is the woman’s decision? Is that what she believes? This is murder - period, period, period.   My dear sister, please know that you can leave the family farm. If you feel like this, you should … [Read more...]

What has happened to the grand old name, Baptist? Why are some Baptist churches distancing themselves from the name "Baptist?" Why has the Southern Baptist Sunday School Board changed its name, leaving the word "Baptist" out? What has happened to the grand old name, Baptist? Why are some Baptist churches distancing themselves from the name "Baptist?" Why has the Southern Baptist Sunday School Board changed its name, leaving the word "Baptist" out?   Over the years, Baptists have picked up lots of negative baggage, much of it deserved. Many Baptist churches trying to overcome this negative image are offering a smorgasbord of religious services. You can now have charismatic or traditional preaching, contemporary music or hymns, dress codes from casual to Sunday best.   People don’t automatically join the church or even the denomination where their parents hold membership. This has brought on a new trend, "church shopping." You visit churches until you find one you like or feel comfortable with. Billy Graham, who, incidentally, is a Baptist, recommended this.   Our Baptist Sunday School Board and its affiliates have changed their name. Their new name is "LifeWay." They have already … [Read more...]

Years later, McKinney stood in front of 10,000 Baptists to lead them in singing "Wherever He Leads I’ll Go," one of the many songs he had penned.   As the singing ended, McKinney leaned toward the microphone and whispered the lesson he had learned well.   "Be sure that you mean the words you sing," he reminded Baptists. Years later, McKinney stood in front of 10,000 Baptists to lead them in singing "Wherever He Leads I’ll Go," one of the many songs he had penned.   As the singing ended, McKinney leaned toward the microphone and whispered the lesson he had learned well.   "Be sure that you mean the words you sing," he reminded Baptists.   Tim Boyet recounted the instance in a 1962 article in Home Life Magazine.   "That is a presence that has got to be awesome - just to stand in front of 10,000 people and speak softly," says Boyet, who serves as minister of music at Bistineau Baptist Church in Heflin.   Boyet recently joined McKinney’s family and friends in honoring the famed Southern Baptist musician at the annual B.B. McKinney hymn sing on July 22 at Bistineau Baptist Church. McKinney was a Louisiana native who became a prominent Southern … [Read more...]

Filadelfo Pavón was bitter and suspicious. He was bitter that Hurricane Mitch ripped through Honduras and washed much of the countryside where he lived toward the Caribbean Sea.   His suspicion arose from weekly waves of Southern Baptist volunteers who arrived to build his house and more than 100 other houses for others in the area.   "What could they possibly want?" the Honduran native wondered. "We’ve lost everything." Filadelfo Pavón was bitter and suspicious. He was bitter that Hurricane Mitch ripped through Honduras and washed much of the countryside where he lived toward the Caribbean Sea.   His suspicion arose from weekly waves of Southern Baptist volunteers who arrived to build his house and more than 100 other houses for others in the area.   "What could they possibly want?" the Honduran native wondered. "We’ve lost everything."   Pavón escaped death in late 1998, when Hurricane Mitch leveled communities, crops and lives as it ripped across Central America. Honduras took the greatest blow - and thousands lost their lives in the hurricane’s wake.   Now, thousands like Pavón are finding life as well - eternal life - as Baptists have … [Read more...]

He may have been prouder when his son and daughter were born. If he was, it was a sight to behold.   This day has been months in the making - about the same length of time his children were in the making. Anticipation could not have been higher. All his friends knew this day was coming - that is about all he talked about. Most of his friends by this time sort of turned away when they saw him coming; they did not want to hear any more about it. He may have been prouder when his son and daughter were born. If he was, it was a sight to behold.   This day has been months in the making - about the same length of time his children were in the making. Anticipation could not have been higher. All his friends knew this day was coming - that is about all he talked about. Most of his friends by this time sort of turned away when they saw him coming; they did not want to hear any more about it.   We had been out of town for vacation, and then I was at the Southern Baptist Convention when the day finally arrived. I wondered if he had passed out cigars, or at least pink bubblegum cigars.   "Lynn, I’ve been waiting for you to get home," he said as soon as I answered the phone. … [Read more...]

God’s will stands as one of the most vital concepts in Christian living, yet, no other term seems more commonly misused and abused.   Every person who claims the name of Christ should desire above all else to do what God wills or what God wants. This goes for every part of a Christian’s life. God’s will stands as one of the most vital concepts in Christian living, yet, no other term seems more commonly misused and abused.   Every person who claims the name of Christ should desire above all else to do what God wills or what God wants. This goes for every part of a Christian’s life.   To hear much Christian conversation, one would think that God’s will only bears on momentous decisions or incidents. Certainly, God’s will should bear strongly on these, but it has far broader bearing. It is an all encompassing concept that means seeking to do what God wants us to do in all circumstances and all situations.   Most conversations about God’s will make it seem as though God always hides his desire and finding it proves to be one of the greatest tasks faced by believers. Yet, for 99.44 percent of life, we have a certain word from God about knowing his will. God’s will is to follow … [Read more...]