In the early church worship services, one would come with a song, another comes with a message from the Lord, another a testimony, and so on. [That’s the way our Wednesday pastors’ gatherings are.] By Joe McKeever BAGNO Director of Misssions Editor’s note: The following is excerpted from Dr. McKeever’s blog. If you’re interested in a running commentary on New Orleans, check out www.joemckeever.com. It’s updated sometimes daily. In the early church worship services, one would come with a song, another comes with a message from the Lord, another a testimony, and so on. [That’s the way our Wednesday pastors’ gatherings are.] Freddie Arnold [BAGNO’s disaster relief coordinator] reports to outsiders that the SBC disaster relief teams which descended on New Orleans and the Gulf Coast after the hurricane established a high reputation here for integrity, that they helped to create a spiritual environment that enhanced the Billy & Franklin Graham crusades, and that provided a ray of hope in a dark, dark situation all across this area. Freddie reported that in last week’s Arlington meeting, a representative of the International Mission Board presented a check for $800 from a small group of Muslims … [Read more...]

ARLINGTON, Texas (BP) – “It’s good to be odd for God.” By Tammi Ledbetter Southern Baptist Texan ARLINGTON, Texas (BP) – “It’s good to be odd for God.” That’s what Jim Burton, director of volunteer mobilization at the North American Mission Board, told yellow-shirted disaster relief leaders at the annual Disaster Relief Roundtable, April 25-27 at Fielder Road Baptist Church in Arlington, Texas. Burton quoted 1 Peter 2:9, which describes Christians as “a peculiar people” set apart to do God’s will. Disaster relief volunteers exhibit abnormal behavior as they travel hundreds of miles in crowded vehicles – often with strangers – to volunteer, he said. “It’s not normal to choose to sleep on a floor or shower in a trailer that has wheels on it. It’s not normal to get up at 4 o’clock in the morning – if you even get to sleep at all – to cook thousands of meals, often in high heat and high humidity,” Burton said. Carrying chainsaws to other states to remove debris from the houses of strangers, packing up materials to care for children they’ve not yet met, and risking health by shoveling mud and muck out of flooded homes are other indicators that Southern Baptist volunteers don’t lead normal … [Read more...]

Week of May 8, 2006 Broadman & Holman changes name NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) – Broadman & Holman Publishers, the trade publishing division of LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention, announced April 27 plans to change its name to B&H Publishing Group, effective June 1. B&H Publishing Group will serve as an umbrella for areas that include academic, children, educational, Spanish and trade books; church supply products; and Bibles and Bible-related products. John Thompson, senior vice president of marketing, said the name change is a result of the desire for greater flexibility in how the organization manages its various products and imprints. Broadman & Holman produces books, Bibles, church supplies and multimedia products. The company’s Holman Bible Publishers division developed the new Holman Christian Standard Bible translation and also is the largest publisher of Spanish-language Bibles in the United States. Visit www.broadmanholman.com for more information. ‘United 93’ viewpoint MACON, Ga. (BP) – The first major film about the tragedy of Sept. 11, 2001, “United 93,” hit theaters April 28, and commentators across the spectrum are debating it from … [Read more...]

Week of May 8, 2006 By Rhonda Havens Section Editor Potpourri SHREVEPORT – Pinecroft church:  Mercy’s Mark in concert; May 21, 10:45 a.m.; Marty J. Wright, pastor. DRY CREEK – Dry Creek camp:  Schedule of certification classes:  Challenge Course Certification- May 22-25, $450; Challenge Course Recertification-May 27, $150; Shooting Sports Counselor Training Course-May 23-24, $90; and Level I Basic Archery Instructor Course-May 22-23, $75; all rates are per person and include course, meals and lodging; for more information or to register, call (337) 328-7531; can also visit website at www.drycreek.net; Todd Burnaman, manager elect; Curt Iles, camp manager. LIVINGSTON – Satsuma church:  Ladies Day; May 20, 9 a.m. - 12 noon; Patti Higginbotham and Gwen Davis, guest speaker; Voices in the Wilderness, music; free admission; Andrew Voss, pastor. MORGAN CITY – Immanuel church:  “The Name of Jesus Tour,”  May 17, 6 p.m.; concert performed by Todd Agnew, Big Daddy Weave, Nate Sallie and Jason Morant; $15 per general admission ticket/$12 for groups of 20 or more; for tickets, call (985) 384-1722; Robby Gallaty, pastor. WEST MONROE – Northeast Louisiana association: Area wide crusade at the West … [Read more...]

LONGVILLE – Thirty miles north of Lake Charles lies a field of dreams. By Brian Blackwell Staff Writer LONGVILLE – Thirty miles north of Lake Charles lies a field of dreams. On this special baseball diamond, there are no winners or losers. The youngest player is three; the oldest is 57. Regardless of whether they are blind, deaf or wheelchair-bound, these players are given the chance to compete in First Baptist Church of Longville’s Buddy Ball league. Started in the town by First Longville, Buddy Ball allows people with special needs to play baseball by pairing them with able-bodied buddies. Each buddy helps his or her teammate, whether it is helping them run the bases or hitting the ball for them. “People with certain medical conditions are prevented from playing sports most of the time,” said Buddy Ball Organizer Gayla Guidry. “With Buddy Ball, they’re given a chance to play. “We organized this so no one in this parish would get left behind,” she continued. “Their motto is ‘they’re equal, not special.’ “But they don’t feel special if they don’t get to play,” Guidry noted. “You want every child of every ability to get included in sports.” In addition to allowing each disabled player … [Read more...]

DRY CREEK – For only the fourth time in its 81-year history, Dry Creek Baptist Camp in southwest Louisiana has changed camp directors. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing Editor DRY CREEK – For only the fourth time in its 81-year history, Dry Creek Baptist Camp in southwest Louisiana has changed camp directors. And not to death or even retirement, but just because former director Curt Iles believes God wants him to write books unhindered by camp responsibilities. Iles already has written five books, including his newest, “Hearts Across the Water.” Since turning over the reigns May 10 to Todd Burnaman, Iles has started work on a piece of historical fiction centered in 1800s Louisiana. “Todd and I are both products of this camp,” Iles said. “It was just the funnest place in the world. I still have so many friends I met here.” It’s often during a week of camp, free from the distractions that bombard modern-day America, that young people – and their parents –  connect at a deeper – life-directing – level with their Creator. Dry Creek Baptist Camp, owned by Carey, Beauregard, Vernon and Mt. Olive Baptist Associations, is one of 10 retreat centers owned by Southern Baptists in Louisiana. All have … [Read more...]

WOODWORTH – With little discussion and no dissension, a new way of dealing with the state convention’s annual budget passed unanimously at the spring Executive Board meeting. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing Editor WOODWORTH – With little discussion and no dissension, a new way of dealing with the state convention’s annual budget passed unanimously at the spring Executive Board meeting. A related action designed to send additional dollars to national Cooperative Program causes without hurting LBC coffers also passed unanimously. The Cooperative Program maximizes the Southern Baptist Convention’s missions thrust throughout the world. “It’s a very conservative budget plan, very similar to the national denomination’s,” said David Hankins, executive director of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, in explaining the Conservative Budget Policy Motion to board members. “The rationale is that it keeps you from planning budgets you later have to cut” when income doesn’t meet projections. In the past, the budget planning subcommittee was charged with the responsibility of setting the next year’s budget. They did so based on needs presented by LBC team leaders and a guesstimate of projected income from … [Read more...]

the eyes of 20 teenagers, though they maintained a strict military bearing even when they bowed their heads in prayer. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing Editor DOYLINE – Excitement danced in the eyes of 20 teenagers, though they maintained a strict military bearing even when they bowed their heads in prayer. After making several wrong choices in their lives, this one, they knew, was a good decision: baptism to symbolize their commitment to Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. “I want to make it official that the Lord, the Holy Spirit, is dwelling with me,” said Jeremy Dittler, 17. “I want to give myself to the Lord; I feel like I need Him,” said Casey Ellis, 17. “He’s going to show me what I need to do in my life to make the choices I need to make, instead of the ones I used to make.” “I just figure it’s a big step for me changing my life,” said Kendall Ardoin, 17. “I felt myself getting into more and more trouble. I came to Jesus before it was too late.” For the last three years, members of First Baptist Doyline have been carpooling one Sunday each month to the Louisiana National Guard’s Youth Challenge Program at Camp Minden, where about 125 teens live in “a five-month residential … [Read more...]

ALEXANDRIA – People from across the South traveled here to honor Louisiana Baptist Convention’s outgoing Baptist Collegiate Ministries Team Director John Moore, who was ensnared by LifeWay Christian Resources in Nashville, Tenn., after 29 years in Louisiana. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing Editor ALEXANDRIA – People from across the South traveled here to honor Louisiana Baptist Convention’s outgoing Baptist Collegiate Ministries Team Director John Moore, who was ensnared by LifeWay Christian Resources in Nashville, Tenn., after 29 years in Louisiana. In his new role he will serve as a liaison between LifeWay and churches in a five-state region of the South that includes Louisiana, Moore said. “It’s like a funeral with these flowers here and everything,” grinned Bill Collins, BCM director at Northwestern State University in Natchidoches, who served as emcee of a noontime program at the Baptist Building. “But the corpse is still walking around and making jokes.” Banners hung from the third-floor railing from various colleges, universities and BCMs across the state. Centerpieces on 15 tables echoed the collegiate theme. In addition to accolades from several, and recognition of several family … [Read more...]

WINNSBORO – When Temple Baptist Church here formally voted to support Louisiana College’s recent trustee action, other churches started doing the same. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing Editor WINNSBORO – When Temple Baptist Church here formally voted to support Louisiana College’s recent trustee action, other churches started doing the same. LC trustees voted a revision of the Christian Commitment policy for faculty, staff and administrators at their April 3-4 meeting. “The issue here is not individual sin, but the concept of exemplifying a Christian lifestyle,” said Tim Johnson, chairman of the LC board of trustees and pastor of First Baptist Choudrant. “That’s what sets us apart from other institutions: We are a liberal arts college that is distinctively Christian. The policy for the first time in recent history addresses the issue of beverage alcohol: Faculty, staff and administrators “are expected to abstain from serving, using, or advocating the use of alcoholic beverages in public and/or in settings in which students are or are likely to be present.” (See #5 below.) Temple Winnsboro voted unanimously in favor of a resolution supporting the Christian Commitment statement and the … [Read more...]