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...]

Louisiana College alumnus Sheila Thompson-Johnson has been named one of Louisiana’s all-time greatest college basketball players.   Johnson was ranked 14 on the All-time Collegiate Women’s Basketball Team compiled by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association and released last month. The team includes the top 20 Louisiana players of all time, as determined by association members, coaches, athletic administrators and former players at colleges and universities throughout the state.   Louisiana College alumnus Sheila Thompson-Johnson has been named one of Louisiana’s all-time greatest college basketball players.   Johnson was ranked 14 on the All-time Collegiate Women’s Basketball Team compiled by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association and released last month. The team includes the top 20 Louisiana players of all time, as determined by association members, coaches, athletic administrators and former players at colleges and universities throughout the state.   Johnson played for the Lady Wildcats from 1977 to 1981, during which she helped lead the team to a fourth place finish nationally. She was inducted in 1990 as a charter member of the LC Sports Hall of Fame. She now serves … [Read more...]

Apparently, this is one specialty license plate that will not go unnoticed. A specialty Louisiana license plate bearing the words "Choose Life" and depicting a pelican carrying a baby wrapped in a blanket may soon be the target of a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union. Apparently, this is one specialty license plate that will not go unnoticed. A specialty Louisiana license plate bearing the words "Choose Life" and depicting a pelican carrying a baby wrapped in a blanket may soon be the target of a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union. The "Choose Life" license plate featuring Louisiana’s state bird was approved unanimously by both the Louisiana House and Senate in 1999 and signed into law by Republican Governor Mike Foster. People who buy the specialty license plates pay the $3.50 cost of the plate (a cost paid for all license plates) plus an additional $25 charge for the specialty design, money that is collected by the state treasury. From those funds, an advisory council established under the Louisiana law then recommends the awarding of grants to private adoption advocacy groups. The money must be targeted to help women who have a crisis pregnancy. The help can be financial, … [Read more...]

I enjoyed Lynn Clayton’s July 13 column On Second Thought about the Senior Olympian named Runner "from another state" who prepared for the last National Senior Olympics but missed the events because he went a week too late. I enjoyed Lynn Clayton’s July 13 column On Second Thought about the Senior Olympian named Runner "from another state" who prepared for the last National Senior Olympics but missed the events because he went a week too late.   Runner and all would be Senior Olympic participants put on your calendar now: the next National Senior Olympic Games are July 24-28, 2001 in Baton Rouge, La.   The Louisiana Senior Olympic state qualifying games will be held September 9 through October 28, 2000 in Baton Rouge, La.   Men and Woman aged 50 plus, if you are interested in any of the 26 sports (58 different events) from archery to shuffleboard to washer pitch, call 1-800-799-8309 or (225) 925-1748 at Louisiana Senior Olympic Games for information and entry forms. Entry deadline is August 18, 2000. Mary Williams New Orleans … [Read more...]

A recent article in the Baptist Message was entitled "failure to forgive results in living hell." I certainly agree with that up to a certain point. I would say that a Christian should always be willing to forgive if the proper conditions are met. A recent article in the Baptist Message was entitled "failure to forgive results in living hell." I certainly agree with that up to a certain point. I would say that a Christian should always be willing to forgive if the proper conditions are met. The proper conditions would be for the offender to be sorry for his action and apologize for it; that is, ask for forgiveness. The Scriptures indicate that God does not forgive unless there is repentance and faith on the part of the offender. God always stands ready to forgive if the proper conditions are met. God did not forgive me until I repented and trusted Christ as Savior. The Christian should have no hatred for the offender nor do anything to hurt him. However, to forgive him for his wrong without sorrow and apology on his part is to give him an excuse for what he did and perhaps lead him to commit other offenses. Wayne D. Bryan Baton Rouge … [Read more...]

Please let us know if you (individuals or group) will be attending the Oberammergau Passion Play in Oberammergau, (Bavaria) Germany this summer (August or September 2000) and would like to help us in a missions project. Please let us know if you (individuals or group) will be attending the Oberammergau Passion Play in Oberammergau, (Bavaria) Germany this summer (August or September 2000) and would like to help us in a missions project.   We have free evangelistic tracts in German (with an English translation and instructions). We would love for you to pass out during your visit in Germany - especially here in Bavaria.   Let us know the name and address of the hotel where you will be staying at the beginning of your stay. Let us know how many are in your group and how long you are staying, so that we will know about how many tracts to send you. Please don’t miss this opportunity to help us spread the gospel of Jesus Christ in Bavaria.   We are IMB, SBC German-language missionaries serving on the East Bavaria Team located in Cham, Germany (northeastern Bavaria). No, we don’t have any tickets for Oberammergau for sale, sorry.   Check the East Bavaria Team website at … [Read more...]

Southern Baptists are poised to set another record for short-term volunteer projects overseas - with astounding impact both abroad and at home.   But while missions leaders continue to call for even more volunteers, they are reminding Southern Baptists to be sure overseas ministries encourage - and not hinder - the development of evangelistic, multiplying churches that know how to trust God for their needs. Southern Baptists are poised to set another record for short-term volunteer projects overseas - with astounding impact both abroad and at home.   But while missions leaders continue to call for even more volunteers, they are reminding Southern Baptists to be sure overseas ministries encourage - and not hinder - the development of evangelistic, multiplying churches that know how to trust God for their needs.   Southern Baptists continue to step up in record numbers to serve in short-term volunteer projects overseas, said Bill Cashion, director of the Southern Baptist International Mission Board volunteers program.   Last year, 26,741 volunteers participated in projects - and the board is on a course for 30,000 this year. That compares to 12,756 volunteers in 1994 and … [Read more...]