C. Lacy Thompson LBM Associate Editor   Fred Luter made history at last week’s Southern Baptist Convention - and brought thousands of annual meeting messengers to their feet in doing it.   In delivering a full-throttle convention sermon, Luter became the first African- American to bring the annual address in the denomination’s history. Fred Luter made history at last week’s Southern Baptist Convention - and brought thousands of annual meeting messengers to their feet in doing it.   In delivering a full-throttle convention sermon, Luter became the first African- American to bring the annual address in the denomination’s history.   He made the most of it, delivering a message that was interrupted several times by applause and that ended with messengers on their feet, calling Luter back to the podium for a final exhortation.   In many ways, it was a fitting honor for an amazing story.   In 1986, Luter was a street preacher in New Orleans when Louisiana Baptist leaders asked him to become pastor at Franklin Avenue Baptist Church.   The New Orleans congregation had undergone inner-city transition and was down to a few dozen members. Although … [Read more...]

Before meeting, Southern Baptists took time to spread the love of God in New Orleans   James Dotson North American Mission Board Before meeting, Southern Baptists took time to spread the love of God in New Orleans   The new dollar coin bearing the likeness of the Native American heroin Sacagawea recently gained new meaning to many exotic dancers on New Orleans’ notorious Bourbon Street.   The coin became a symbol of both God’s unconditional love and the concern of Christian women willing to step out of their comfort zones and bring the dancers small no-strings-attached gifts as symbols of that love.   About two dozen people participating in Southern Baptists’ Crossover New Orleans evangelistic emphasis visited many of the strip clubs in the city as a way of letting the women know they care about them and want to help.   "Basically you use the woman on the coin as a symbol that God created women with special gifts and abilities," said Jean White, a ministry evangelism associate with the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board. "Women are created in the image of God and God loves them very much."   The circle of the coin is a symbol for the … [Read more...]

Before meeting, Southern Baptists took time to spread the love of God in New Orleans   James Dotson North American Mission Board Before meeting, Southern Baptists took time to spread the love of God in New Orleans   The rain might have been torrential, but thanks to covered porches at the Fisher public housing complex in Gretna, teams of lay evangelists still were able to lead more than 300 residents to faith in Jesus Christ early this month.   Those 300 were only part of the more than 1,200 professions of faith recorded during a rain-soaked Crossover New Orleans evangelistic effort prior to last week’s Southern Baptist Convention in the city.   "It’s amazing what God has been doing," said Travis Johnson of Texas. "We just walked door-to-door, because a lot of people were out. We just walked around and talked."   The remnants of Tropical Storm Allison required Crossover participants to be creative and flexible in their efforts. Block parties were moved indoors and French Quarter ministry efforts were somewhat limited by the rain and accompanying sparse crowds. Even so, hundreds of decisions were recorded and nearly 40 churches reported they made significant … [Read more...]

The Cooperative Program took center stage during the report of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee last week. The Cooperative Program took center stage during the report of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee last week.   For one thing, Southern Baptist Convention messengers approved a record Cooperative Program goal of $178.3 million for the 2001-02 fiscal year.   In addition, convention leaders made an impassioned - and reflective - plea for support of the unified giving plan.   The $178.3 million goal was one of only four recommendations presented by the SBC Executive Committee for messenger action. All four were approved easily.   Based on convention policy, the 2001-02 Cooperative Program budget will be the same as final receipts for the 1999-2000 budget, the latest to be completed. The goal for the current year is $168 million, meaning next year’s budget represents an increase of 6.1 percent.   Fully funded, the new budget will channel $89.1 million to the International Mission Board; $40.6 million to the North American Mission Board; almost $38.6 million to theological education, including six national seminaries; nearly … [Read more...]

Southern Baptist Convention messengers elected five national officers last week - three by acclamation and two through ballot votes. James Merritt was granted a second one-year term as convention president by acclamation. Merritt serves as senior pastor at First Baptist Church of Snellville, Ga. Southern Baptist Convention messengers elected five national officers last week - three by acclamation and two through ballot votes. James Merritt was granted a second one-year term as convention president by acclamation. Merritt serves as senior pastor at First Baptist Church of Snellville, Ga. In nominating Merritt for a second term, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President Al Mohler said Southern Baptists have been blessed in recent years by a generation of leaders who have demonstrated the courage and determination necessary to leading a great denomination. "(James Merritt) is a dear friend and a friend to all Southern Baptists," Mohler said. "He is a man of integrity and character." Merritt is the first baby boomer elected to the Southern Baptist Convention presidency. A Georgia native, he has been pastor of the 12,000-member suburban Atlanta church since 1985. During his tenure the congregation … [Read more...]

P>In 1815, not many miles from the Louisiana Superdome, the famous Battle of New Orleans was fought.   In the battle, a collection of American volunteers and recruits commanded by Andrew Jackson defeated twice as many British soldiers to save control of the Louisiana port city and the Mississippi River. In 1815, not many miles from the Louisiana Superdome, the famous Battle of New Orleans was fought.   In the battle, a collection of American volunteers and recruits commanded by Andrew Jackson defeated twice as many British soldiers to save control of the Louisiana port city and the Mississippi River.   "But there was only one problem," Southern Baptist Convention President James Merritt explained last week. "The battle was really not worth fighting. ... The war had ended two weeks earlier when the Treaty of Ghent was signed in Europe."   Therein lies a lesson for Southern Baptists, Merritt said in delivering his president’s address to last week’s Southern Baptist Convention in New Orleans.   "There are battles raging outside of this arena, and we need to be on the frontlines," said Merritt, citing attacks on the institution of marriage, sanctity of life and … [Read more...]

Millions of people in North America are "lost at sea" without a personal relationship with Jesus Christ - and it is time for Southern Baptists to go on a rescue mission to save them. Millions of people in North America are "lost at sea" without a personal relationship with Jesus Christ - and it is time for Southern Baptists to go on a rescue mission to save them.   That was the challenge of the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board to messengers at the 2001 Southern Baptist Convention in New Orleans last week.   "Frankly, my friends, North America desperately needs more heroes - common people with an uncommon commitment to the highest of all calls - the Great Commission of Jesus Christ," said Robert Reccord, president of the convention mission board.   The North American Mission Board report to last week’s convention opened with a song by recording artist Wintley Phipps, titled, "Four Chaplains on the Sea of Glory." It described how four chaplains on a battleship during World War II sacrificed their lives to help fellow crewmen when their ship was hit and there were not enough life jackets to go around.   "Today, North America is awash with people who are lost at … [Read more...]

Leaning on a cane and gripping the hand of his wife, Southern Baptist missionary Charles Beaty listened to staccato applause swell into a standing ovation. Leaning on a cane and gripping the hand of his wife, Southern Baptist missionary Charles Beaty listened to staccato applause swell into a standing ovation.   The Beatys came to the 2001 Southern Baptist Convention to challenge pastors and church leaders to go to the mission field. But they also had another reason for coming - Charles Beaty is dying of cancer and is seeking someone to take his place as a missionary in North Africa.   "Is the Lord calling you to go to the people who have no voice?" Beaty asked. "Then my challenge is to go and not wait, because we are not promised tomorrow."   As part of the Southern Baptist International Mission Board report at last week’s convention, a video depicting the Beatys’ ministry played on large screen projectors. The couple then offered a challenge and prayer for church leaders who may feel led to participate in missions.   "My challenge to you is to continue to go and to answer the call when (God) calls you," Beaty told messengers, who later held hands and prayed for the … [Read more...]

The old joke says – often with good reason – that wherever there are two Baptists, there are sure to be three opinions. However, Southern Baptists proved the cliche wrong last week, approving nine resolutions without so much as a moment of discussion or a sign of dissent. The old joke says – often with good reason – that wherever there are two Baptists, there are sure to be three opinions. However, Southern Baptists proved the cliche wrong last week, approving nine resolutions without so much as a moment of discussion or a sign of dissent. Southern Baptist Convention Resolutions Committee Chair Danny Akin admitted that was "pretty unusual." But he also said he thought it showed Southern Baptists "are very much of one mind on the issues (the resolutions address)." The issues presented to messengers at the 2001 Southern Baptist Convention were not the headline-making one of the past – but they did focus on current and ongoing concerns. Messengers addressed those concerns in easy fashion. The whole process took less than 15 minutes, making a second session for considering resolutions unnecessary. In addition to a traditional statement of appreciation for convention organizers, the resolutions … [Read more...]

C. Lacy Thompson LBM Associate Editor A trio of efforts to make wording changes in the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message were defeated easily by Southern Baptist Convention messengers last week. A trio of efforts to make wording changes in the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message were defeated easily by Southern Baptist Convention messengers last week.   The efforts were among 26 motions presented by messengers during last week’s annual meeting - and the only three proposals to be considered on the floor of the convention. The other 23 motions were referred to convention agencies or ruled out of order by officials. (The Baptist Message will review some of those proposals next week)   All three motions related to the Baptist Faith and Message sparked debate - but the outcome was not close, with each one falling well short on show-of-ballots votes.   In each instance, messengers were opposed from the convention platform by members of the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message committee.   In the first instance, Fred Malone sought to amend the Baptist Faith and Message article on the Lord’s Day. Malone is pastor at First Baptist Church of Clinton.   The final passage of the … [Read more...]