The story of three Shreveport area churches’ relocation is so remarkable there is no doubt "that God was in this," Morningside Baptist Church pastor Terry Lodatto insists.   Lodatto’s congregation recently sold their property to From Bondage to Freedom, an African-American Bossier City church. The story of three Shreveport area churches’ relocation is so remarkable there is no doubt "that God was in this," Morningside Baptist Church pastor Terry Lodatto insists.   Lodatto’s congregation recently sold their property to From Bondage to Freedom, an African-American Bossier City church.   Morningside then bought Brookwood Baptist Church’s facilities with the monies received from sale of its property.   Meanwhile, Brookwood is proceeding with construction of a new church plant.   Until it is completed, Morningside and Brookwood congregations will share facilities - with church offices located across the street from one another.   "All three churches are winners because of this," Lodatto says. "(From Bondage to Freedom) is going to minister to the community we left, we’ll minister to the Brookwood community and Brookwood will have a new … [Read more...]

WHEREAS, it is the desire of the Executive Board to clarify the relationship of the Directors of Missions to the various associations and reaffirm the autonomy of the various associations;   BE IT RESOLVED, that the Executive Board of the Louisiana Baptist Convention rescinds any previously adopted recommendation for employing and calling a Director of Missions and adopts the following employment options: WHEREAS, it is the desire of the Executive Board to clarify the relationship of the Directors of Missions to the various associations and reaffirm the autonomy of the various associations;   BE IT RESOLVED, that the Executive Board of the Louisiana Baptist Convention rescinds any previously adopted recommendation for employing and calling a Director of Missions and adopts the following employment options:   Option One: That the associations employ, supervise and pay the salary and expenses of the Director of Missions of their choice.   Option Two: That the associations enter into a contract with the Executive Board of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, whereby the Executive Board would employ the Directors of Missions.   BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Executive … [Read more...]

Within days, Louisiana Baptists will be asked to approve a revamped director of missions proposal, outlining the role of the state and local associations in the process.   Action on the proposal at the upcoming state convention will culminate some 10 months of study, discussion and debate about how associational directors of missions should be employed, paid and administered. Within days, Louisiana Baptists will be asked to approve a revamped director of missions proposal, outlining the role of the state and local associations in the process.   Action on the proposal at the upcoming state convention will culminate some 10 months of study, discussion and debate about how associational directors of missions should be employed, paid and administered.   And while it appeared a few weeks ago that the issue would be a divisive one, it looks now like the revamped proposal is being viewed favorably by most concerned.   "Any real or perceived problems about the relationship of directors of missions to both the association and state convention have been studied and addressed, and an adequate recommendation has been made," maintained Dean Doster, executive director of the Louisiana … [Read more...]

For the week of October 31, 2002 Potpourri • DENHAM SPRINGS - Hebron church: Marty Haggard in concert; Nov. 2, 5 p.m.; Rob Burns, pastor.   • LAFAYETTE - First church: "In His Hands" seminar for men/women; Nov. 9, 9 a.m. registration; $15 per person/includes lunch; Rachel Norris, Beau Guidry and Mary Langford, guest speakers; for information or tickets, call (337) 233-1774 ext. 3039 or Annette Smith at (337) 981-2352; Perry Sanders, pastor.   • JONESVILLE - First church: Face Down in concert; Nov. 9, 7 p.m.; Gary Norris, interim pastor.   • BENTON - Cypress church: "Judgement House" walk through drama; Oct. 30, Nov. 2-3, 6-9 p.m.; tours begin every 10 minutes; $2 donation; for information, call (318) 965-9233; Richard Young, pastor.   • RINGGOLD - Springhill church: Down East Boys in concert; Nov. 2, 7 p.m.; Eric Hodge, pastor. Revival • RAYVILLE - Eastside church: Oct. 30 - Nov. 3, 7 p.m. with homecoming services Nov. 3, 10:50 p.m.; Ed Blankenship, evangelist; Kyle Coates, pastor.   • WINNFIELD - First church: Nov. 10, 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.; Nov. 11-13, 11:45 a.m. service with lunch to follow and 7 p.m.; Larry Ramsour, evangelist; Phillip Willis, music; Lindsey … [Read more...]

Secret restoration work on the Shroud of Turin has set off heated debate between the custodian of what some consider Christianity’s most sacred relic and scientists studying its authenticity.   Cardinal Severino Poletto of Turin announced recently that experts had "rejuvenated" the shroud, which is preserved in a bulletproof aluminum and crystal casket in Turin’s Renaissance Cathedral of St. John. Secret restoration work on the Shroud of Turin has set off heated debate between the custodian of what some consider Christianity’s most sacred relic and scientists studying its authenticity.   Cardinal Severino Poletto of Turin announced recently that experts had "rejuvenated" the shroud, which is preserved in a bulletproof aluminum and crystal casket in Turin’s Renaissance Cathedral of St. John.   "I believe they were well intentioned," said William Meacham, a University of Hong Kong archaeologist. "I also believe that they made a terrible mistake."   Many Christians revere the 17-foot-long linen sheet bearing the outline - like a photographic negative - of the body and face of a bearded man. They insist the shroud is the winding-sheet in which Jesus was wrapped after his … [Read more...]

A limestone bone box dating to about 63 A.D. is being heralded as "the only New Testament-era mention of the central figure of Christianity," the Biblical Archaeology Review reports. It is "the first-ever archaeological discovery to corroborate biblical references to Jesus," the journal states. A limestone bone box dating to about 63 A.D. is being heralded as "the only New Testament-era mention of the central figure of Christianity," the Biblical Archaeology Review reports. It is "the first-ever archaeological discovery to corroborate biblical references to Jesus," the journal states. It may be the most important find in the history of New Testament archaeology," added Hershel Shanks, editor of Biblical Archaeology Review. The existence of the box - roughly 20 inches long, 10 inches wide and 12 inches high - was announced Oct. 21. It apparently once contained the bones of James, brother of Jesus. An inscription on the box reads, "James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus." An extensive article about the limestone box - called an "ossuary" - appears in the November-December issue of the Biblical Archaeology Review. The journal’s Web site at www.bib-arch.org notes: "The family relationships contained on the new … [Read more...]

For those who thought this editor brainless, there is proof otherwise. How good a brain is still questionable - and what doctors and technicians found shows little sign of use.   For three weeks, doctors and technicians photographed, x-rayed, echo-grammed, electro-magneticized and finally drilled through my skull - not just to find my brain but to find the cause of some funny stuff going on in there. For those who thought this editor brainless, there is proof otherwise. How good a brain is still questionable - and what doctors and technicians found shows little sign of use.   For three weeks, doctors and technicians photographed, x-rayed, echo-grammed, electro-magneticized and finally drilled through my skull - not just to find my brain but to find the cause of some funny stuff going on in there.   Turns out they found an abscess fairly deep in the right hand side of the brain - "About the size of a chicken egg ..." Well, I know I have laid many eggs in my day but never thought I would end up with one in my brain. The neurologists did assure me such abscesses are rare and that in all their practice of medicine, they had never seen one this large.   Hey, if you are going to … [Read more...]