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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

A random act of kindness

Intent on committing suicide by jumping off a bridge and taking their baby with them, a desperate Alabama couple drove to New Orleans.   Deciding first to feed their baby, so she at least would die with a full stomach, they stopped at the neighborhood grocery. Intent on committing suicide by jumping off a bridge and taking their baby with them, a desperate Alabama couple drove to New Orleans.   Deciding first to feed their baby, so she at least would die with a full stomach, they stopped at the neighborhood grocery.   Meanwhile, two seminary students also stopped at the store. Upon noticing the disheveled couple with the baby dressed only in a diaper, they decided to open their wallets and give the family all their money.   Sneaking up behind the overweight, barefoot man, Don Wilton rolled up more than $200 in bills and stuck them in the man’s back, telling him not to turn around.   With a gentle voice, he told the fearful man: "My friend, you don’t know who I am. But I want you to know that there is another man and I (in) here tonight who love the Lord Jesus Christ. He has done something for us that we cannot do for ourselves. Because of him, we just want to … [Read more...]

Southern Baptist missionaries bear testimony – ‘God is at work’

Just across the Mississippi River from downtown St. Louis, in a city that once had the highest homicide rate in the nation, an inner-city Baptist mission center has been working and witnessing.   When Chet and Michelle Cantrell began their ministry at the East St. Louis (Ill.) Christian Activity Center 14 years ago, 90 percent of the area youth were affiliated with gangs and 60 percent usually dropped out of school before the 10th grade. Just across the Mississippi River from downtown St. Louis, in a city that once had the highest homicide rate in the nation, an inner-city Baptist mission center has been working and witnessing.   When Chet and Michelle Cantrell began their ministry at the East St. Louis (Ill.) Christian Activity Center 14 years ago, 90 percent of the area youth were affiliated with gangs and 60 percent usually dropped out of school before the 10th grade.   Now in 2002, less than 5 percent of the youth are tied to gangs, and more than 90 percent have graduated or advanced to their next grade, the Cantrells say. In addition, more than 75 youth now attend college through the efforts of the Baptist mission.   And in an area where 57 percent of all the kids … [Read more...]

God finally brought her from anger to forgiveness

Debbie Morris offers a thought - " ‘Forgiveness’ is a beautiful word - until you are the one who has to forgive,"   Morris should know.   As a 16-year-old Louisiana youth, she was brutally raped by Robert Lee Willie, the prisoner whose life was chronicled in the 1995 movie, "Dead Man Walking." Debbie Morris offers a thought - " ‘Forgiveness’ is a beautiful word - until you are the one who has to forgive,"   Morris should know.   As a 16-year-old Louisiana youth, she was brutally raped by Robert Lee Willie, the prisoner whose life was chronicled in the 1995 movie, "Dead Man Walking."   Years later, Morris would chronicle her own story in her own book - "Forgiving the Dead Man Walking."   Earlier this month, she shared that story of anger, pain and forgiveness during the Southern Baptist Woman’s Missionary Union annual meeting in St. Louis.   "Forgiveness is a difficult thing to do sometimes," acknowledged Morris, who lives with her family in Mandeville. "It takes courage. It takes faith."   Morris’s story begins when she and her teenage boyfriend, Mark, were kidnapped and taken to a remote area in south Alabama and … [Read more...]

Spiritual practice of confession now growing – even among Protestants

The sign at the church door read: "Confession: Thurs-days, 1-3 p.m." But this was not a Catholic parish - it was a Methodist church.   It may be a sign of the times. A growing number of Christians - including Protestants - are looking to confession as a spiritual practice that offers comfort and healing. The sign at the church door read: "Confession: Thurs-days, 1-3 p.m." But this was not a Catholic parish - it was a Methodist church.   It may be a sign of the times. A growing number of Christians - including Protestants - are looking to confession as a spiritual practice that offers comfort and healing.   "The tradition of confession fell on hard times ... but is today making a comeback," says Jim Forest, author of "Confession: Doorway to Forgiveness" (Orbis).   "Frequently, people will come to me asking for counseling or spiritual direction, but what they really want is to make confession," says Natalie Van Kirk of Southern Methodist University’s Graduate Program of Religious Studies.   Individual confession to a priest has long been a tradition in Catholic and Orthodox churches. But Protestant reformers of the 16th century largely threw the practice out, … [Read more...]

Southern Baptist Convention tops 16 million in church membership

First, the good news - membership in Southern Baptist churches topped the 16 million mark last year, an all-time high.   Now, the more tempering news - the record high of 16,052,920 church members represents an increase of just 92,612 persons. That translates to a growth rate of about 0.6 percent. First, the good news - membership in Southern Baptist churches topped the 16 million mark last year, an all-time high.   Now, the more tempering news - the record high of 16,052,920 church members represents an increase of just 92,612 persons. That translates to a growth rate of about 0.6 percent.   For even more good news from the statistical front - the total number of churches affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention grew last year to 42,334, an increase of 746 (1.8 percent).   However, for more tempering news as well - the number of church-type missions in the convention dropped to 4,933, which represents a decline of 310 (5.9 percent) from the previous year.   And for even another shot of not-so-good totals - baptisms declined last year to 395,930, a drop of 18,727 (4.5 percent). The decline ends four consecutive years of baptisms totals more than … [Read more...]

Watch carefully; this pitcher does not throw with his foot

Matt is a genuinely nice 12-year-old. Polite, lightly shy, a smile easily creeps across his face.   He is a strapping, Norman Rockwell all American kid. He loves sports and is a standout in all them he plays–basketball, football, soccer, baseball. Matt is a genuinely nice 12-year-old. Polite, lightly shy, a smile easily creeps across his face.   He is a strapping, Norman Rockwell all American kid. He loves sports and is a standout in all them he plays–basketball, football, soccer, baseball.   No one ever told Matt that his slight limp caused by a significantly pigeon-toed right foot is supposed to keep him from being a better than average player. He has been playing sports since he was a tot and his foot did not deter him then, and it does not now. Matt apparently does not think about it.   Well, this year he entered the age where kids get to be more like kids, which means they can be cruel as well as engaging. Kids tend to deal with the infirmities of others with occasional cruelness. It must be if kids can make fun of others with even perceived slight abnormalities, they are not as frightened by them, and may feel less vulnerable to experiencing them.   Anyway, … [Read more...]

Weekly AnnouncementS

For the week of May 2, 2002 Potpourri   • BENTLEY - Bentley church: Lil’ Joe Poisso in concert; May 4, 10 a.m.; hamburger lunch for $5 donation from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.; bake auction at 12 p.m.; Paul Daily’s Wild Horse Ministries at 1 p.m; for information, call Helen Nichols at (318) 899-7585.   • HORNBECK - First church: Associational singles fellowship; May 4, 6:30 p.m.; bring a covered dish and a dessert; Jerry Key, pastor.   • HOUMA - Christ church: Gospel singing and deacon sponsored fish fry; May 11, 5 p.m.; community invited; John C. Baye, Jr., pastor.   • ZACHARY - Milldale church: Teen retreat; June 17-20; ages 13-18; $125 per person; Bill Britt, camp evangelist; Dan Spencer, Bible teacher/worship leader; Randy Spurgeon, recreation director; Mike Loveday, camp director; for information, call (225) 654-8168 or (225) 654-5065 or visit web site at www.milldale.org; Jimmy Robertson, pastor.   • BATON ROUGE - Istrouma church: NewSong in concert; May 12, 6:30 p.m.; Forrest Pollock, pastor.   • BENTON - Cypress church: Vacation Bible School clinic; May 16, 6:30 p.m.; Glenda Greer, associational VBS director; Bob Utley, pastor.   • EUNICE - Acadian … [Read more...]

She celebrated turning 108 as always – with her church

When Susie Harville has a birthday, all her fellow members at First Baptist Church of Doyline celebrate.   And why not - on her most recent birthday, "Miss Susie" turned 108.   Harville herself attended the April 6 church celebration for her birthday. The congregation has been holding a birthday celebration for Harville since 1994, when the longtime member turned 100. When Susie Harville has a birthday, all her fellow members at First Baptist Church of Doyline celebrate.   And why not - on her most recent birthday, "Miss Susie" turned 108.   Harville herself attended the April 6 church celebration for her birthday. The congregation has been holding a birthday celebration for Harville since 1994, when the longtime member turned 100.   "Many would assume she (Harville) was brought to the church from a nursing home, but they would be mistaken," explains Steven Kelly, pastor of the Doyline congregation. "Others would determine that she must have arrived in a wheelchair, but that would be silly for a woman with two good legs.   "In fact, Miss Susie’s arrival on the church grounds is not a big deal to the members at First Baptist Church. Since September, … [Read more...]

In Thibodaux, Baptist workers launch ‘a good thing’

Two-and-a-half years ago, Nicholls State University Baptist Collegiate minister Tim LaFleur identified a problem - more than12,000 African-Americans lived within a five-mile radius of the Thibodaux campus with no church for that ethnic group. Two-and-a-half years ago, Nicholls State University Baptist Collegiate minister Tim LaFleur identified a problem - more than12,000 African-Americans lived within a five-mile radius of the Thibodaux campus with no church for that ethnic group.   While LaFleur was pondering the best way to reach the large group, then-Director of University Police Al Carter was holding a Bible study on Wednesday nights on the campus for the African-American students. Carter, now serving as deputy staff lieutenant for the LaFourche Parish Sheriff’s Department, started the Bible study with just five students, but it grew to nearly 60 attending each week.   "It has been very strange how it all happened," Carter says. "We didn’t even have a musician at first, as all the singing was a capella. It’s been a blessing."   LaFleur and Jim Duck, pastor at University Baptist Church in Thibodaux, began praying about the situation. They approached Carter about starting a … [Read more...]

After years of hard division – reconciliation at last

Almost certainly, members of Christ Baptist Church in Houma and Bayou DuLarge Baptist Church in Theriot have sung "I’m So Glad I’m a Part of the Family of God" on occasion.   However, they probably never have sung it on a more meaningful occasion than the one celebrated late last month.   They sang it then to close a joint service between the two churches and other congregations in the area. Almost certainly, members of Christ Baptist Church in Houma and Bayou DuLarge Baptist Church in Theriot have sung "I’m So Glad I’m a Part of the Family of God" on occasion.   However, they probably never have sung it on a more meaningful occasion than the one celebrated late last month.   They sang it then to close a joint service between the two churches and other congregations in the area.   While that might not make for an unusual occasion in most instances, the April 26 joint service at Christ Baptist Church definitely was not a "most" instance.   It was the first time the two estranged congregations had come together in seven years.   Indeed, the recent "reconciliation service" ended a sometimes bitter dispute, dating to when Bayou DuLarge was a … [Read more...]