Submitted by philip on
By Karen L. Willoughby, Managing Editor
MINDEN – With little fanfare but amazing attention to detail, First Baptist Church of Minden hosts an event each summer designed to minister to senior adults from across Northern Louisiana.
They’ve been leading what officially is known as a senior adult revival and mini chautauqua – “chautauqua” meaning “a summer school or educational meeting held in the summer,” according to www.dictionary.com. It’s named after the lake in upstate New York where it first took place.
“We call it summer camp for senior adults,” says Bill Crider, pastor of that age group at First Minden, where Leland Crawford is senior pastor.
People from 21 churches participated this early August.
Rousing music, no-holds-barred preaching, substantive Bible teaching, excellent near-home cooking and heart-gladdening fellowship combine at the chautauqua with a variety of displays that reflect First Minden’s commitment to missions.
David Rains was guest speaker this year. Born with cerebral palsy, the internationally-known evangelist asked his listeners what their excuse was for not doing what God wanted them to do.
“When you wake up,” Rains preached, “does the devil say, ‘Oh, no – trouble!’ or does he even flinch?”
At the Sunday evening service, virtually everyone in the congregation walked down the aisle at Rain’s compelling invitation that they “love on people because somebody once loved on you. … Think outside your comfort zone. … Do you know what time it is? Time for you to come to God. Come to your feet and start walking.”
With the congregation at the altar and halfway up First Minden’s two aisles bending their heads in prayer, Rains continued:
“Each step you took was a step of faith. It was you, saying, ‘God, bless my faith. I’m so sorry, Lord, for giving you my excuses.’”
Other speakers included David Blackwell of New Orleans, who talked about the sports hospitality ministry of his parents, Cherry and Ben Blackwell in New Orleans; Kathy Towns of Arcadia, who spoke about what she learned by being a member of the International Mission Board’s trustee board; and Karen Willoughby, managing editor of the Baptist Message, who showed how the Louisiana state Baptist newspaper helps churches impact the world for Christ.
Missionaries who serve or have served in Kenya, Brazil and Kazakhstan, described their work and the growth of God’s kingdom through Southern Baptists’ giving to missions through the Cooperative Program and Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions.
Crider, First Minden’s senior adult pastor for the last 10 years – and Minden’s Man of the Year this year – commended the chautauqua’s hard-working committee.
“It’s really the best one we’ve had since I’ve been here,” Crider said. “It was all great. We were well pleased.”