Week of May 22, 2006 By Rhonda Havens Section Editor Potpourri WINNFIELD – Bethlehem church:  “The Sweet Fragrance of Christ” ladies conference; June 10, registration at 5:45 p.m.; Tracy Orr, musical guest; free admission/supper provided; call Beverly Morrow at (318) 259-2162 to register by June 1; Wayne Morrow, pastor. WOODWORTH – First church:  Jamie Womack, guest speaker; May 28, 10:45 a.m.; Randy Ellis, pastor. Youth LAKE CHARLES – Sale Street church: Christ United Methodist Youth Choir, from College Station, Texas, in concert; May 28, 6:30 p.m.; Eddie Simmons, pastor. Revival FERRIDAY – Lake St. John Community church: May 28, 10:45 a.m. and 7 p.m.; May 29-31, 7 p.m.; Scotty McDowell, chalk art evangelist; Glen and Brenda Roberts, music; special musical guests will be featured each evening at 6 p.m., they are as follows:  Sunday – Glen and Brenda Roberts, Monday – Brad Mount, Tuesday – Jack Cane and Wednesday – Fulton McGraw; Karl Wilson, pastor. Homecomings CROWVILLE – First church: June 4, 10:30 a.m. with dinner on the grounds to follow; Angelyn Ward, music; Oda “Tuck” Roberts, guest speaker. NOBLE – Shady Grove church: 60th; June 4, 10:30 a.m.; Don Hagar Sr., pastor. WILDSVILLE – … [Read more...]

ALEXANDRIA – A senior journalism student from Oklahoma Baptist University has joined the Message staff for the summer. By Baptist Message Staff ALEXANDRIA – A senior journalism student from Oklahoma Baptist University has joined the Message staff for the summer. Amy Adams of Topeka, Kansas, will travel the state on assignment, Editor Kelly Boggs said. “We’re excited to bring Amy on staff,” Boggs said. “She got our interest when she gave journalistic reasons for wanting to come to Louisiana.” Adams said, “I want to see first hand and report what Louisiana Southern Baptists are doing in their everyday business and to help rebuild all the communities that were destroyed by hurricanes Rita and Katrina.” … [Read more...]

PICAYUNE, Miss. — The Southern Baptist Bivocational Ministers Association is asking the North American Mission Board to fund an office of bivocational ministry, and will submit the proposal to messengers attending the 2006 Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in June in Greensboro, N.C. By Connie Davis and William Perkins For Baptist Press PICAYUNE, Miss. — The Southern Baptist Bivocational Ministers Association is asking the North American Mission Board to fund an office of bivocational ministry, and will submit the proposal to messengers attending the 2006 Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in June in Greensboro, N.C. The resolution, which was approved unanimously by  bivocational ministers attending the organization’s May 5-6 meeting near Picayune, has been delivered to the NAMB board of trustees and SBC Executive Committee members. The meeting was held at the campground of Pearl River Baptist Association and drew about 100 ministers. The resolution noted “bivocationally-led existing churches baptize more new believers per 100 members than churches led by full-compensated pastors.” It was presented by Dale Holloway, bivocational consultant of the Mississippi Baptist Convention … [Read more...]

NEW ORLEANS (BP) – It would be difficult to overstate the importance of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary’s 88th commencement exercise May 13. The ceremony not only marked the first graduation on the main campus since Hurricane Katrina, it served as a joyous testimony of God’s grace and provision. By Gary D. Myers NOBTS public relations NEW ORLEANS (BP) – It would be difficult to overstate the importance of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary’s 88th commencement exercise May 13. The ceremony not only marked the first graduation on the main campus since Hurricane Katrina, it served as a joyous testimony of God’s grace and provision. “Hearing the stories of what God has done to see everybody through is just a reminder that there isn’t a circumstance in which God cannot work,” NOBTS President Chuck Kelley said following the service. “There is no heartbreak so great that God cannot mend and heal and we’re celebrating that mending and healing today.” Once again the campus teemed with activity as graduates and their families packed Leavell Chapel. The pain and hardship of the last nine months was softened with joy and thankfulness. A total of 241 certificates and degrees were awarded to the … [Read more...]

“Great place to play golf and one of the best courses in the state” was the sentiment expressed by participants of the spring Baptist Golf Fellowship Tournament. The course received rave reviews from its 84 participants. By Joanne Brechtel Staff Writer “Great place to play golf and one of the best courses in the state” was the sentiment expressed by participants of the spring Baptist Golf Fellowship Tournament. The course received rave reviews from its 84 participants. “The tournament attracts all levels of golfers from high-handicappers to more accomplished players, and one pro,” Message Editor Kelly Boggs said. He noted there are championship and five flights for ministers and championship and four flights for laymen during medalist play on the first day of the two-day tournament. Although there was a possibility of threatening weather, those who observed the golfers gathering at the course around noon on Monday only saw the distinct blend of delicious casual humor and gumbo of personalities ready to embark. Carts were being readied, practice shots taken and sustenance for the trip consumed. Some players had impressive credentials and others not so impressive, but it wasn’t to be a trip where … [Read more...]

OBERLIN – A $1 million church complex is rising here from the ashes of an arsonist’s fire last June that destroyed a structure built about 50 years ago. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing Editor OBERLIN – A $1 million church complex is rising here from the ashes of an arsonist’s fire last June that destroyed a structure built about 50 years ago. The cost of the new 16,000 square-foot worship center, education wing and fellowship hall would nearly double, if it were not for the work of the volunteer Louisiana Baptist Builders, who started April 24 by getting the ground ready. They were setting forms and laying pipe last week, and expect to complete the project by the end of the year. “No words can express our gratitude for the Louisiana Baptist Builders,” said Shane Nugent, pastor since 2002 of Oberlin Baptist. “The builders work their bottoms off all day long, and they work hard to get the best prices for what we need to buy.” Oberlin is one of 18 construction projects volunteer crews of Louisiana Baptist Builders are working on over the next 24 months. At the top of the list this summer: A new worship center for Ban Suk Korean Baptist Church in Bossier City is nearing completion. Global … [Read more...]

PINEVILLE – During the wee hours of Sept 24, 2005, Phillip Vincent faced his own “shadow of death.” By Brian Blackwell Staff Writer PINEVILLE – During the wee hours of Sept 24, 2005, Phillip Vincent faced his own “shadow of death.” As the twelfth grader witnessed through a television screen Hurricane Rita cause destruction to his hometown – Lake Charles – Vincent began to think about life from an eternal perspective. “As the storms of life come and the winds shake us to our very foundation, we stand in the rubble of our lives with eyes fixed upon the heavens,” the Lake Charles resident recently told hundreds of state Bible Drill and Youth Speakers’ Tournament participants at Louisiana College in Pineville. “Waiting for some miraculous show of might to save us, we, like Elijah, must wait for the silence and the whisper – peace that can only come from God, the strength of conviction that allows us to say, ‘I have faith in a God who’s much bigger than any of this.’” One of two twelfth graders who participated in the Youth Speaker’s Tournament, Vincent captured first place among those in his grade level. In all, seven teenagers participated in the tournament. The Youth Speakers’ Tournament is … [Read more...]

Charles Colson, founder of Prison Fellowship, expressed concern in recent commentary about a trend in Christian radio that is replacing teaching and issue-oriented programs with programming that is more entertainment oriented. By Kelly Boggs Editor Charles Colson, founder of Prison Fellowship, expressed concern in recent commentary about a trend in Christian radio that is replacing teaching and issue-oriented programs with programming that is more entertainment oriented. “One station canceled my four-minute BreakPoint commentary,” Colson wrote, “saying that four minutes is the equivalent of one song.... Besides, the station manager allowed, BreakPoint is too serious and not contemporary enough.” It is not only his radio commentaries that Colson is concerned about. “Several stations recently -– many acting on the advice of a leading consulting firm –- have dropped serious programming in favor of all-music formats,” he reported. “For example, a major station in Baltimore has dropped four talk shows in order to add music.” American society and even Christians, it seems, are surrendering to the insatiable desire to be entertained. Our quest for amusement has become not only a national pastime, it has … [Read more...]

RUSTON – The world is hungry for Jesus and the only way they will come to know Him is through Christians’ witness, Darryl Wilson said last week. By Brian Blackwell Staff Writer RUSTON – The world is hungry for Jesus and the only way they will come to know Him is through Christians’ witness, Darryl Wilson said last week. “It begins in our community,” Wilson told 39 people attending the “Assimilation: Closing the Back Door” Conference at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Ruston. “If we ever want them to get to Jesus, we’ve got to start there.” One of three such events held in recent days, the conference was for pastors and other key church leaders to receive training so they could strengthen their ability to retain and disciple church members. Eighty-three people attended the conferences, which were sponsored by the Sunday School and Discipleship Ministry of the Louisiana Baptist Convention. Wilson, director of adult Sunday school for the Kentucky Baptist Convention, said assimilation is “connecting people to the body and mission of Christ through relationships, small group involvement, expectations and ministry involvement in order to lead them to become fully devoted followers of Christ.” Churches … [Read more...]

GOLDONNA – Mill Creek Baptist Church members voted unanimously at their May business meeting to start giving to missions through the Cooperative Program and Shady Grove Baptist Association. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing Editor GOLDONNA – Mill Creek Baptist Church members voted unanimously at their May business meeting to start giving to missions through the Cooperative Program and Shady Grove Baptist Association. The Cooperative Program is the Southern Baptist Convention’s widely acclaimed method of global missions involvement. “The Cooperative Program offers so many things to not only our church, but the state and nation, and these programs are designed so we are educated to reach out better,” said Craig Stephens, pastor since July 2003 of the church established in 1954, where about 30 people worship on Sunday. “We brought up the church tithing about a year and a half ago,” the pastor said. “It wasn’t received real well then, and in the democratic process we let it go, but a couple of months ago we said we need to be obedient about this. ‘I’m not going to take a vote today,’ I told them. ‘I’m just going to ask if you are willing to be obedient.’ “It’s not just obedience in tithing but every … [Read more...]