Observers agree - the city of New Orleans is one of the nation’s most challenging environments, a true laboratory for missions work. It was in this laboratory that almost 200 people recently were led to Christ through the work of 800-plus youth. Observers agree - the city of New Orleans is one of the nation’s most challenging environments, a true laboratory for missions work. It was in this laboratory that almost 200 people recently were led to Christ through the work of 800-plus youth. This summer, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary hosted eight weeks of MissionLab New Orleans, allowing youth to learn missions by doing and to encourage and equip them to be missionaries at home. "We want them to understand that God is already doing a work here that they can be a part of, but we also want them to see that God is working around them at home, and they need to go home and get plugged into that," MissionLab co-director Darrell Lindsey says. Young people from across the United States were invited to participate in 117 projects at 22 New Orleans sites, including the French Quarter, where youth handed out sandwiches, hygiene products and evangelistic literature to the homeless; the Desire Housing Development, … [Read more...]

Louisiana leaders recently granted Distinguished Partners in Education 2000 awards to five organizations for outstanding volunteer work with local schools.   They included University Baptist Church in Baton Rouge. Louisiana leaders recently granted Distinguished Partners in Education 2000 awards to five organizations for outstanding volunteer work with local schools.   They included University Baptist Church in Baton Rouge.   For two years, University members have volunteered in various capacities at Highland Elementary School, a public school located less than two blocks from the church.   "It’s very humbling because we don’t do these things for the recognition," University pastor Keith Putt says.   Two years ago, a long-term school volunteer asked the church if it had maps it could donate to the school. The volunteer was not a member of University, but she saw the church as a potential provider for the school. Seeing the school’s needs, the church soon decided to take it on as a community mission. Members formally adopted the school and titled their program "To Highland, With Love."   The ministry began with donations for school uniforms and later … [Read more...]

In this case, Hollywood is wrong - viewing violence in television and other media can result in an acceptance of and acting out of violence by some children, public health experts warned in a recent statement. More than 1,000 studies from more than three decades point to a "causal connection between media violence and aggressive behavior in some children," officials with the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Psychological Association and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry warned in a statement released late last month. In this case, Hollywood is wrong - viewing violence in television and other media can result in an acceptance of and acting out of violence by some children, public health experts warned in a recent statement. More than 1,000 studies from more than three decades point to a "causal connection between media violence and aggressive behavior in some children," officials with the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Psychological Association and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry warned in a statement released late last month. Indeed, the public health community has concluded … [Read more...]

These junior high school students had one thing on their minds during a summer visit to Shreveport - showing God’s love through helping others.   Even though most of the students had little experience in home repair, the 110 youths spent five days cleaning and painting house exteriors, replacing porches and putting up siding on 11 residences in low-income areas of Shreveport. These junior high school students had one thing on their minds during a summer visit to Shreveport - showing God’s love through helping others.   Even though most of the students had little experience in home repair, the 110 youths spent five days cleaning and painting house exteriors, replacing porches and putting up siding on 11 residences in low-income areas of Shreveport.   Seven junior high youth groups from five nearby states - Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Texas and Tennessee - spent a week in the Louisiana city in late July participating in World Changers, a ministry sponsored by the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board.   World Changers projects focus on home repair and community service while giving student volunteers a hands-on lesson in missions.   Each summer, groups … [Read more...]

My friend remains consistent, slowly prowling up and down each lane, waiting to pounce upon any open space. He even pauses at every handicapped place, sorely tempted.   He, unlike I, is looking for a parking place. Earlier, I watched as though by magic a place opened for me as I crept by. Not just a parking place, but the best parking place - the closest by the door. My friend remains consistent, slowly prowling up and down each lane, waiting to pounce upon any open space. He even pauses at every handicapped place, sorely tempted.   He, unlike I, is looking for a parking place. Earlier, I watched as though by magic a place opened for me as I crept by. Not just a parking place, but the best parking place - the closest by the door.   As he pokes around, some places do open for him, at the end of the row. He desires a closer one and keeps moving. He circles the lot while the Tappet Brothers on Public Broadcast Radio solve two car problems and he is still circling.   A couple of times he thinks he is about to get a pretty good place, but he is a car too slow and someone shoots into the place as though they are arrows from the strings of a giant bow. His hands give one of those … [Read more...]

With the explosive growth of contemporary worship in the past two decades, some Christians might think they have seen the last of liturgical worship. Think again. Though still small, there is a movement back to the roots of ancient worship. It is surfacing in some unlikely places. With the explosive growth of contemporary worship in the past two decades, some Christians might think they have seen the last of liturgical worship. Think again. Though still small, there is a movement back to the roots of ancient worship. It is surfacing in some unlikely places. For instance: Some liturgical churches are attracting a new generation of worshipers seeking to connect with ancient traditions to counteract America’s eclectic and rootless religious culture. Some traditional evangelical churches are "blending" liturgical elements into worship for the first time. Even some new-style churches are finding that Generation Xers respond to the counter-cultural nature of ancient worship. It is a far cry from the user-friendly contemporary worship predominant among baby boomers. Not so long ago, liturgical worship - a set ritual for public worship - was considered anathema by many evangelicals, who come mostly from … [Read more...]

Many of the members have never met. Even so, this group of nearly 200 pastors and laypersons from around the world use the Internet to teach and learn from one another every day. Many of the members have never met. Even so, this group of nearly 200 pastors and laypersons from around the world use the Internet to teach and learn from one another every day. Louisiana Baptist pastor David Anderson of Franklin, started a church growth ideas e-mail list in April 1999 as an outlet for pastors and laypersons to share ideas, sermons, resources and other church related topics with one another. It has grown to have close to 200 members worldwide who send and receive daily e-mails. Anderson says he wanted to show pastors how important the Internet can be in their ministries. "I think most pastors today really undervalue the role of the Internet in their ministries," he says. The list offers members an opportunity to use the Internet as a ministry tool, as well as a chance for pastors to communicatewith each other. "The Lord inspired me and showed me what we could do," Anderson says. The e-mails’ content is "strongly-flavored Southern Baptist," but members are from all denominations, Anderson says. Pastors and lay … [Read more...]

Seafarers seem to have one thing in common when they dock on American soil they want to shop at discount stores.   At least, that is what workers at the Gonzales Seamen’s Center have discovered. And as amazing as it seems, this fact has had significant impact on the center’s life and ministry. Seafarers seem to have one thing in common when they dock on American soil they want to shop at discount stores.   At least, that is what workers at the Gonzales Seamen’s Center have discovered. And as amazing as it seems, this fact has had significant impact on the center’s life and ministry.   "Contrary to popular belief, America is the cheapest place to shop," says Donald Davis, coordinator of missions and ministries for the Judson Baptist Association, which oversees the Gonzales center.   Many of these men purchase clothing, electronics, outdoor equipment and numerous other products at popular stores to bring back to their native countries. In America, these products are usually available at a fraction of the cost the men would have to pay in their countries, Davis notes.   The Gonzales center has gone through a few changes since its original location in Convent (then … [Read more...]

As an interested bystander neared the new grass field located near the rear entrance of Louisiana College, he smiled and shook his head a bit in wonder.   "Now, that’s a sight that hasn’t been around here in a long while," he said, nodding toward the field.   Indeed, it was. As an interested bystander neared the new grass field located near the rear entrance of Louisiana College, he smiled and shook his head a bit in wonder.   "Now, that’s a sight that hasn’t been around here in a long while," he said, nodding toward the field.   Indeed, it was.   On the recently-sod field were 101 Louisiana College students, all clad in school colors, all wearing bright orange football helmets, all lined up and clapping in unison as a coach directed warm-up drills.   When the players did not perform the drill as the coach desired, he shouted, "Not good enough. Again."   And the drill was repeated - until it was good enough.   From the summer blue sky to the shouts of the coach to the shrill of the whistle to the scattered spectators ringing the practice field sidelines, everything made it official.   After a 32-year absence, football … [Read more...]

Twenty percent or 54 million Americans have special needs - and churches should have programs to minister to them, a national consultant said. Twenty percent or 54 million Americans have special needs - and churches should have programs to minister to them, a national consultant said.   "Jesus didn’t tell us to minister to just those who can walk up our steps, who are socially acceptable, who are good looking or who are well-behaved and highly intelligent," said Marci Campbell, a consultant for LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. "No, the Bible tells us to minister to everyone."   During a recent presentation, Campbell said people are misinformed when they think of people needing special education as being only mentally challenged.   "Of this 20 percent of Americans with special needs (from 1990 Census figures), only 3 percent have mental retardation."   People with special needs have a variety of challenges, Campbell said. They may deal with hearing disabilities, learning disabilities, physical disabilities, mental handicaps, visual impairments, behavior disorders or even be exceptionally bright.   Additionally, it is not only the … [Read more...]