By Erich Bridges, IMB World Correspondent Jacob (not his real name), age 8, probably isn’t up to speed on the cultural and spiritual struggles going on in America. He’s a kid, for one thing. He doesn’t live in the United States most of the time, for another. His parents are Southern Baptist workers in North Africa and the Middle East. He doesn’t understand why far more violent conflicts are exploding around him and his family, either. He just knows that he misses his friends. See, Jacob is sort of a refugee. His family had to leave the country where they were serving because of potential threats. They’re serving in another place for now, but leaving the home and people they love has been hard on all of them – especially Jacob. “This past year I have had to move around a lot,” Jacob wrote in a recent prayer message to American kids. “I love playing sports and meet lots of friends by playing sports at clubs. I have lived in three different countries in [North Africa and the Middle East]. In each of those countries I have friends that I have made by playing sports. “These friends are just like me,” Jacob said. “But they don’t know about Jesus. Please pray that these friends of mine would come to know Jesus. Also pray for them … [Read more...]

By Jeff Iorg, President of Golden Gate Seminary A new television show, “Naked Dating,” recently debuted. In each episode, a man and a woman dates two different suitors – with the goal of deciding by the end of the episode if any of the relationships will continue. And, as the name of the program implies, everyone is naked from first meeting until final credits. This new naked show joins a lineup of other recent shows with characters in the buff. “Naked and Afraid” drops two survivalists – a man and a woman – into rough country and expects them to live off the land. The pair is, as they say in the country, “buck-nekkid,” but who wouldn’t be? It makes perfect sense to plunge into the Amazon rainforest or the African desert without any clothes (Sarcasm intended). Beyond these two shows, there is the equally implausible “Buying Naked” about searching for real estate in clothing-optional communities. The clients show up for home tours and serious discussions about a major life purchase missing something – their clothes. Again, makes perfect sense. Who doesn’t go house hunting in the nude? (See previous note concerning sarcasm). Disclaimer – apart from about five minutes of watching “Naked and Afraid,” just to be sure it … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE – South Carolina pastor Don Wilton will be the keynote speaker for this year’s E4 preaching conference. The pastor at First Baptist Spartanburg, SC, Wilton will bring messages during all three sessions over the course of the conference, scheduled for Sept. 19-20 at First Baptist Pineville. Wilton is no stranger to Louisiana Baptist life. Not only is his son, Rob, pastor of Vintage Church in the New Orleans area, but Wilton holds a degree from and once was a professor at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He also preached a sermon at the 2012 Southern Baptist Pastors’ Conference in New Orleans. “Don Wilton has some unique Louisiana connections and has a respected ministry as a preacher,” said Stewart Holloway, pastor of First Baptist Pineville and conference organizer. “The last two to three years we have tried to get people who pastor and whose message resonates with pastors. We want to keep that going.” In addition to Wilton’s sermons, the conference will also feature breakout sessions on such topics as preaching Psalms, proven strategies for closing the back door of your church and the role of the Holy spirit in preaching. Professors from New Orleans Baptist … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer GREENWELL SPRINGS – Changing the culture for Christ in a drastic way can take just 80 minutes a month, believes Walter “Hank” Hankins Jr. And Hankins believes it can happen with churches of all denominations throughout the country, including Louisiana Baptists. The target audience is the country’s elected officials. The method is Culture Impact Team, a network of individual, multi-denominational churches whose sole purpose is to be salt and light, as Jesus intended in Matthew 5:13-16. By holding just one monthly 60 minute meeting and church members taking five minutes every week to contact their elected officials about issues discussed at the meeting, the results can be monumental. “If a pastor can get the congregation to commit to 80 minutes, we can change the culture,” said Hankins, chairman of Greenwell Springs Baptist Church’s Culture Impact Team. “When elected officials are receiving calls and e-mails and our voices and positions are being heard by standing on biblical principles, this culture would be turned around.” The Culture Impact Team strives to equip Christians with the answer of what they can do to change society, the same question Hankins wrestled with a few years ago … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer Students trickle into Helping Hands storefront classes which host between 60 and 70 students each week. Throughout the hour of study for each student, tutors mix in questions about their day-to-day lives with lessons about the English language. Tutors enjoy the one-on-one connection just as much as helping the students learn to speak fluent English. “The students drive me,” said tutor Sallie Brown. “You become a part of their lives while they are here.” The students are from such countries as Cambodia, China, Dominican Republic, Mexico and Puerto Rico. Some students remain for months while others just a few weeks. The Leesville location is one of many throughout the state who are embracing ESL ministry, said Shannon Brown, the Louisiana Baptist Convention’s regional literacy missions coordinator for Southeast Louisiana. “From what I see now, the Lord is moving in our state with regards to ESL ministry,” Brown said. “More churches are expressing interest and we have more opportunities than ever to use it as a tool for mission outreach and cross-cultural ministry.” Next month, an ESL workshop is scheduled at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. The workshop on two Saturdays, Aug. … [Read more...]

By Tobin Perry, Baptist Press JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (BP) – When Jim Jackson became the pastor of Faith Fellowship Church in Johnson City, Tenn., in January 2013, his first move wasn’t what most people might expect. He closed the church. The church had been near its end for several decades as the community around it changed and the church didn’t adjust to better reach its neighbors. Faith Fellowship seemed destined to become one of the 1,000 churches Southern Baptists close annually. But God didn’t appear to be finished with the church quite yet. Just 18 months since Jackson closed the church, Faith Fellowship has found life. Today, where a dying Tennessee church once stood, more than 160 people regularly worship together. Jackson is among a growing trend of Southern Baptist church planters who are replanting dying churches. Yet Faith Fellowship’s story of rebirth almost never happened. Jackson had been busy revitalizing a Kentucky Baptist church. “It was one of the best ministry experiences of my life,” Jackson said. His wife Tina had a well-paying job as a nurse practitioner. And he wasn’t looking for a new assignment. That’s when the couple sensed God drawing them to medical school for Tina. This would allow her to have … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Thu, 07/24/2014 - 14:04 Mark Lowry ALEXANDRIA -- Singer, songwriter and comedian Mark Lowry, along with Grammy winner Jason Crabb will bring an enjoyable evening of music, comedy and ministry to the Alexandria Riverfront Center in Alexandria on Aug. 9. Presented by Muse Concerts and sponsored by Feed the Children, Mark Lowry Live will be held at the Alexandria Riverfront Center located at 707 Second Street in Alexandria. The show starts at 7 p.m. with doors opening at 6 p.m. Mark Lowry is best known for penning the Christmas classic, “Mary Did You Know?” and for years singing baritone in the Grammy-Award-winning Gaither Vocal Band. His unique gift of communicating profound truths through music, humor and storytelling has been entertaining audiences since age 11. Lowry’s life work includes a long list of recordings and DVDs reflecting a wide range of influences, including his most recent release, Unforgettable Classics (June 2013). This collection contains timeless hits such as “Unforgettable,” “It Had to Be You,” “Smile” and more. Joining Mark will be one of Christian music’s most celebrated artists, Jason Crabb, whose most recent project Love is Stronger (2012) was co-produced by Rascal … [Read more...]