Southern Baptist churches are catching a vision of taking the Gospel to people groups that have never heard – even when there is no missionary to help them, International Mission Board trustees were told during their April 7-9 meeting in Dallas, Texas.  DALLAS (BP) – Southern Baptist churches are catching a vision of taking the Gospel to people groups that have never heard – even when there is no missionary to help them, International Mission Board trustees were told during their April 7-9 meeting in Dallas, Texas. In the past two years, about 125 congregations have accepted the challenge of taking the Gospel to unreached people groups in West Africa. Bartlett Baptist Church near Memphis, Tenn., is one of many churches nationwide that has taken responsibility for getting the Good News to a people group in West Africa that has no long-term missionary, said Randy Arnett, the IMB’s leader for work in that region. “In 2004, I looked at our region and asked how we were going to reach all the micro people groups there,” Arnett said. “I looked at the numbers and saw there was no way we were going to put missionaries with all those people groups. We just didn’t have the personnel.” Arnett’s team began recruiting churches to … [Read more...]

The Baptist Foundation, Baptist Employees of Louisiana (BEL) Credit Union and Baptist Message all expect to return to the Baptist Building sometime this year. ALEXANDRIA – The Baptist Foundation, Baptist Employees of Louisiana (BEL) Credit Union and Baptist Message all expect to return to the Baptist Building sometime this year. The return of the affiliate entities of the Louisiana Baptist Convention is a result of building maintenance upgrades, sound business practices and greater efficiency with Cooperative Program dollars, LBC officials say. “We live in extraordinary economic times,” said David Hankins, executive director of the Louisiana Baptist Convention. “All across the landscape of Southern Baptist life, state conventions and their ministries are examining the use of every dollar. The Louisiana Baptist Convention is no exception. Anything we can do to be more efficient with our overall costs that go to utilities or operations allows us to invest more into Kingdom ministry.” The plan is that the affiliate organizations will return to the Baptist Building and the properties they have been in are to be leased for income to pay for continuing maintenance of the Baptist Building. The Baptist Building is 50 years … [Read more...]

Everything the Louisiana Baptist Convention does came together April 29, when the Associational Leadership Planning Conference took place at Kingsville Baptist Church, where missions-minded bicyclist Bart Walker is pastor. PINEVILLE – Everything the Louisiana Baptist Convention does came together April 29, when the Associational Leadership Planning Conference took place at Kingsville Baptist Church, where missions-minded bicyclist Bart Walker is pastor. Like the well-oiled gears on Walker’s GIANT TCR-2 roadbike, the many facets of the state convention worked together in the main address by Eddie DeHondt, director of missions in the Northeast Louisiana Baptist Association, and by the presentations from LBC staffers about every aspect of Southern Baptist work in the state. “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor,” DeHondt preached from Ecclesiastes. He gave multiple examples of how churches have partnered together, including First Baptist Rodessa, located near the Arkansas border. They were down to an elderly group of no more than eight people, who expended all their energy in finding a preacher each week after their pastor left. Brookwood Baptist offered to partner with them. Brookwood … [Read more...]

A recent USA TODAY article described the problem law enforcement agencies have with uncooperative witnesses to murders and other violent crime. The rate of solved murders throughout the United States is down because of the silence of witnesses. A recent USA TODAY article described the problem law enforcement agencies have with uncooperative witnesses to murders and other violent crime. The rate of solved murders throughout the United States is down because of the silence of witnesses. Is there a valid comparison here with the church? Are salvations and baptisms down because of the silence of witnesses? According to Jake Roudkovski, professor of evangelism at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, only 5 percent of believers ever lead one person to Christ. If this is the case, silence is killing our friends. The population of the United States and Canada is 332 million. According to the North American Mission Board, more than 250 million people in these two countries do not have a relationship with Jesus Christ. Does that number include someone you know? In the USA TODAY article, an FBI representative said criminals have created a climate of fear to silence witnesses. I wonder how many times I’ve heard the same … [Read more...]

Drive by your local booming suburban church, or the up and coming congregation everyone’s talking about in your community. You might find a state-of-the-art children’s complex – complete with antibiotic soap dispensers on every corner. You might find a Family Life Center – previously known as a gym – with a basketball court, foosball tables, maybe even an Olympic size pool. You’ll almost certainly find a feeding hall, perhaps with a franchised gourmet coffee kiosk nearby. What you will not find is a graveyard. Drive by your local booming suburban church, or the up and coming congregation everyone’s talking about in your community. You might find a state-of-the-art children’s complex – complete with antibiotic soap dispensers on every corner. You might find a Family Life Center – previously known as a gym – with a basketball court, foosball tables, maybe even an Olympic size pool. You’ll almost certainly find a feeding hall, perhaps with a franchised gourmet coffee kiosk nearby. What you will not find is a graveyard.  Not many churches have cemeteries anymore. In some ways, that’s a good thing. Churches that are growing and evangelistic rightly conclude that sharing the Gospel with the living is more important than … [Read more...]

The summation phrase for the nine-week Jena (La.) Revival is captured in the lyrics of the song, “How great is our God ... and all will see how great, how great, is our God!”  JENA, La. (BP) – The summation phrase for the nine-week Jena (La.) Revival is captured in the lyrics of the song, “How great is our God ... and all will see how great, how great, is our God!” For nine weeks LaSalle Parish experienced a mighty revival unlike it’s seen in many years. At last count, well over 100 people came to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, and most of those were adults. The number of people who reconciled with God and each other are too many to tally. Jena is the community of less than 3,000 that became divided by a racial incident last year. In Sept. 2007, approximately 20,000 people marched down the streets of Jena to express support for six young men known as the “Jena 6.” After months of tension and much prayer, something extraordinary occurred. A revival meeting began at Midway Baptist Church Feb. 17. What started out as a typically planned four-day event became so much more. Little did the members of that church know that God would call on church leaders to extend that meeting from four days to 48 … [Read more...]

A favorite event each year at the Louisiana Baptist Convention Building is the annual Baptist Employees of Louisiana BEL Credit Union Annual Meeting. ALEXANDRIA – A favorite event each year at the  Louisiana  Baptist Convention Building is the annual Baptist Employees of Louisiana BEL Credit Union Annual Meeting.  As in years past, all reports at the April 25 gathering were favorable and showed a fiscally solid organization. Members were pleased with the information they received and the fact that their credit union is thriving and expanding.  “At BEL we have always tried to tailor services to fit our member’s needs,” said Executive Director Matt Marcantel. “We have never tried to ‘out do’ any other financial institution. We know our members and we understand we are here for them and their needs only. The Board has never felt the need to be the biggest on the block – just the best.”  BEL Credit Union was chartered in May of 1975. To date, the credit union has granted $44,136,475 in total loans for some 12,229 loans approved.  Grady Welch, the first customer and member of the Supervisory Committee of the 33-year-old credit union, was in the audience. He has seen much growth since his initial deposit of $30, and in … [Read more...]

Lisa Vizier, a senior from Galliano, La., was named this year’s winner of the Miss LC title at the Miss Louisiana College Scholarship Pageant Saturday, April 26. Pineville – Lisa Vizier, a senior from Galliano, La., was named this year’s winner of the Miss LC title at the Miss Louisiana College Scholarship Pageant Saturday, April 26. “This year we had six outstanding contestants, exsaid, Peggy Pack, LC’s vice-president of student development. “Each of them represents the characteristics and qualities of an educated, Christian young woman who will represent Louisiana College very well.” Vizier, who received the highest score in the talent competition, received $1,000 for being named Miss LC. The first runner-up was Nicole Charlie, a senior from Ville Platte, La. Nicole will receive a $750 scholarship. Second runner-up was Jessica Ward, a sophomore from Shreveport, La. Jessica will receive a $500 scholarship. Hali Hunt, a freshman from Alexandria, La., was named Miss Congeniality; she also had the highest grade point average. For more information about the pageant, contact the Office of College Communications at 318.487.7194.   … [Read more...]

COMINGS, GOINGS -Jarrett Banks, new as pastor, Broadmoor Baptist, Baton Rouge. -Scott McKenzie, new as minister to senior adults, single adults and pastoral counselor, First Baptist, Lafayette from First Baptist, Oakdale. -Andrea McKenzie, new as minister of missions, community ministries and college students, First Baptist, Lafayette. -Larry (wife Linda) Brignac, new as pastor, Calvary Baptist, Springhill. -David (wife Linda) Willoughby, new as pastor, Calvary Monroe, from First Morgan City. -Brandon Rodgers, new as youth and college minister, Highland, West Monroe. -James Liner, new as music minister, Emmanuel, Monroe. NEEDED -Full-time experienced minister of education needed, Bedico Baptist, 28156 Hwy. 22, Ponchatoula LA 70454; call 985.345.2016 or fax 985.845.1038. -Full-time pastor needed. Send resume to Isabell Baptist Church, 53674 Parker Road, Bogalusa LA  70427. -Part-time youth minister needed. Contact Ray Teal, pastor, 318.628.7284 or 318.471.8673. Send resume to First Baptist  Church, PO Box 475, Montgomery LA  71454. -Full-time associate pastor of education and administration needed, First Baptist, Zachary. Send resume to dmcelroy@fbcz.org. -Part-time minister of music needed. … [Read more...]

It’s a fact: Vacation Bible School is the most effective evangelism strategy in the Southern Baptist Convention. Churches that understand its effectiveness also understand that follow-up is a critical component of the VBS week.  NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) – It’s a fact: Vacation Bible School is the most effective evangelism strategy in the Southern Baptist Convention. Churches that understand its effectiveness also understand that follow-up is a critical component of the VBS week. “The whole point of Vacation Bible School is to lead the children, youth and adults who attend to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Bottom line, that’s it,” said Jerry Wooley, VBS specialist at LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. In 2006, the most recent year’s figures, nearly 3 million people were enrolled in VBS, yielding 212,000 Sunday School prospects for local churches, nearly 40,000 of whom subsequently were enrolled as a result of VBS, Wooley said. “It is startling to realize that in Vacation Bible School in 2006, we documented 94,980 decisions to accept Christ,” he said. “That is 1.1 decision for every one person trained as a VBS worker by our state conventions. That is phenomenal when you consider that … [Read more...]