By Kathie Chute, Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary communications ST. LOUIS (BP) - About 500 Southern Baptists gathered June 12 for the opening sessions of WMU's 2016 Missions Celebration and Annual Meeting in St. Louis, Mo. With a theme of "By All Means," the two Sunday programs recognized current and retired missionaries, as well as International Mission Board staff, and celebrated Wanda Lee's service as she retires as executive director of WMU. "I believe just as strongly today as I did 16 years ago that WMU is important to the Kingdom," she said. "We have the opportunity to make a difference. Our charge first and foremost is to be a light to the nations. There is strength in our union. There is strength in our collective purpose of missions. May our song truly be a song for the nations." Lee said she was working as a nurse when God called her to missions. When she returned home to serve in the U.S., her call to missions did not end. "My calling was to go wherever God leads," she said. "My call has not changed, only the place. No other ministry in Baptist life devotes itself exclusively to missions. What we do matters because we are shining a light." Jeff Iorg, president of Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, … [Read more...]
Lee honored for 20 years leading national WMU
By Julie Walters, WMU communications ST. LOUIS (BP) - Approximately 150 Southern Baptist leaders, family members and friends from across the country gathered in St. Louis on June 11 to honor Wanda Lee and her leadership of national WMU over the past 20 years - 16 as executive director and four as president. Frank S. Page said he got to know Lee in 2010 when assumed his current role as president and CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention's Executive Committee. Page recited Micah 6:8, "What does the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? "I believe Wanda Lee has exhibited that great trio of imperatives from our Lord," Page said. "I believe she has done what is right, what is just. She is merciful, and many of you are the recipients of her mercy and ministry in your own life. She is a strategist, an organizational genius, yet is always humble and gives credit to those around her. I am honored to call her my friend, and I thank God for her." The three women who served with Lee as president of national WMU - Debby Akerman of Myrtle Beach, S.C. (2010-2015); Kaye Miller of Little Rock, Ark. (2005-2010), and Janet Hoffman of Farmerville, (2000-2005) - each reflected on their years … [Read more...]
VIDEO: Tallulah pastor voices excitement over this year’s SBC Annual Meeting
ST LOUIS - Jason McGuffie had just landed in St Louis, but already was voicing excitemenr about this year's Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting. He is pastor of FBC Tallulah. Check back with the Baptist Message for more updates through articles, videos and photos of what's happening at the SBC Annual Meeting, with a special emphasis on Louisiana Baptists. https://youtu.be/C8OiJoC28XQ … [Read more...]
VIDEO: Bossier pastor shares the passion of messengers at the SBC Annual Meeting
ST LOUIS - Brad Jurkovich appreciates many things about the SBC Annual Meeting each year, but shared with the Baptist Message what he enjoys the most. "I love what God's doing - the passion for prayer, revival, awakening," said Jurkovich, pastor of First Bossier. https://youtu.be/IRzdMfIgD7o … [Read more...]
VIDEO: Pastor shares about what he learned from this year’s SBC Pastors Conference regarding the role suffering plays
ST LOUIS - Mike Holloway shared with the Baptist Message about the role suffering plays in everyone's lives. He was reminded of that during a message at the SBC Pastors Conference. Holloway, who served as president of the Louisiana Baptist Convention in 2008 and 2009, is now the pastor of Ouachita Baptist Church in West Monroe. In the last few months, the church has gained 50 new members and now averages 150 in Sunday morning worship. Since February, the church has baptized 15, with another 16, including 11 children, awaiting baptism. https://youtu.be/u_3NxgANVUI … [Read more...]
VIDEO: Prior to book signing at LifeWay booth, David Crosby thanks Louisiana Baptists
ST LOUIS - A day before the SBC presidential election, New Orleans pastor David Crosby took a few moments to thank Louisiana Baptists. He is one of three candidates for the office. The election will take place Tuesday afternoon. Crosby is pastor of First Baptist New Orleans. https://youtu.be/XDXVkt-Bx0M … [Read more...]
Louisiana Baptists at WMU Annual Meeting
The Southern Baptist Convention's WMU Mission Celebration/Annual Meeting got underway Sunday in the Ferrara Theater at America's Center in St. Louis. Here are some photos of Louisiana Baptists who were in attendance. Look for more photos and videos of Louisiana Baptists sharing what they thought of the meeting later today. … [Read more...]
New ‘stealth’ controversy at SBC replaces Conservative Resurgence battle
By Joni B Hannigan, Christian Examiner ST. LOUIS, Mo. (Christian Examiner) – It has been nearly 20 years since the Southern Baptist Convention met for its annual meeting in St. Louis with 25,607 registered messengers in the midst of the Conservative Resurgence. It was there, at the Gateway City to the West, after years marked by passionate discussions over liberalism, neo-orthodoxy and inerrancy, the SBC approved a report from "The Peace Committee" formed in 1985 to determine the sources of controversy in the SBC and recommend how it could be resolved. To read the rest of the article, click here. … [Read more...]
Video, photographs chronicle final day of NOBTS Gezer dig
By Gary D. Myers, NOBTS communications Finished. Today we wrapped up the 2016 Tel Gezer Water System Expedition. We removed the last few buckets of dirt and pottery from each of the excavation area and began the clean-up process by 10:30 a.m. yesterday. Today we took final photos of each area, took down the dig tent, and packed all the tools and equipment for storage. This was a great dig season – with important finds that we cannot mention and new questions to answer. Each year we are inching closer to a firm answer about the date of the water system – the primary question we are looking to answer. We collected countless pottery sherds, charcoal samples and ancient material items. Much study will take place in the months to come. Databases of pottery information were created and will be studied closely. The pottery evidence is the most important aspect of our research – the pottery will help us determine the date of the system and who built it. Experts in archaeology have developed finely tuned typologies of pottery in Israel – these experts (like Dr. Eli Yannai) can date a piece of pottery within a 100 years or less. Even with all the research left to close out the books on this season’s dig, before we left the tel today, … [Read more...]
NOBTS dig team reports best finds to date
By Gary D Myers, NOBTS communications You may have noticed that the blog has been less active this dig season and especially less active this last week of the dig. There are several reasons – the addition of a third digging location makes this our busiest dig season at Tel Gezer. More people, more pottery, more contemplation, more paperwork, and more work. The extra work leaves us ready for bed much earlier than usual. Another reason for the lack of blogs is the complicated and theoretical nature of our work this season. We are trying to answer complicated questions regarding the dating of the water system construction and we are trying understand the relationship between the water system and fields C and D. It was much easier to blog when we were only focused moving dirt from the tunnel. Once we broke through all the fill material in the tunnel several years back, even the discussions of our progress in the water system became more complicated. The main reason for the lack of blogs is the wonderful season we are having. We have made our best finds to date at the Tel Gezer Water System Expedition. We would love to tell you all about the finds, but we can’t until each has been studied and published. The team is well and we are … [Read more...]
