The number of persons who tithe to their churches is down - and the only answer is for churches to teach what God says about their finances, many say The news that tithing declined by about 62 percent last year presents the church with both a warning and a challenge, several experts in Christian financial and seminary circles note. The number of persons who tithe to their churches is down - and the only answer is for churches to teach what God says about their finances, many say The news that tithing declined by about 62 percent last year presents the church with both a warning and a challenge, several experts in Christian financial and seminary circles note. In mid-May, the Barna Research Group reported the results of a survey of 1,010 adults. It showed that the proportion of households tithing - giving 10 percent of income - to churches dropped from 8 percent in 2001 to just 3 percent in 2002. "Different challenges have caused people to choose not to tithe," researcher George Barna said. "For some, the soft economy has either diminished their household income or led to concerns about their financial security. For others, the nation's political condition, in terms of terrorism and the war in Iraq, has … [Read more...]

The kid down the block had one, and I always wanted one. His family had more money than we had, but just about every other family in town did. More important, his dad was not a Baptist preacher, which contributed to him having more money and living in one house, his family's house, his entire six years. The kid down the block had one, and I always wanted one. His family had more money than we had, but just about every other family in town did. More important, his dad was not a Baptist preacher, which contributed to him having more money and living in one house, his family's house, his entire six years. We had just moved into the "parsonage" of my dad's new church. A dandy tree stood in the backyard, a perfect one for building a "boyz only" tree house. But, Dad did not feel we had the freedom to build things in the parsonage's trees. The deacons seemed to believe the parsonage trees should not have the kinds of things hanging from them that boys want to put there. So, for a couple of days, my older brother and I stood at the edge of our backyard and watched the blessed kid go up and down his knotted rope into his tree house. He ignored us with a great flair. Finally, he asked us in a condescending … [Read more...]

For the week of July 24, 2003 POTPOURRI •SHREVEPORT - Pinecroft church: Set Free in concert; Aug. 3, 10:45 a.m.; Marty J. Wright, pastor. •NEW ORLEANS - Oak Park church: Joanna Miley King in concert; Aug. 3, 6 p.m.; Paul Brady, pastor. •SULPHUR - Houston River church: "Understanding Your Bible" seminar; Aug. 2, 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.; Bob Utley, seminar leader; Lonnie Gothrup, pastor. •MORGAN CITY - First church: Joe Sanford's Memorial Bluegrass Gospel Concert; July 26, 7 p.m.; Glynn G. Dunn, minister of music. •BALL - First church: Mike Bullock and Men of Music in concert; July 24, 7 p.m.; and Kingdom Bound Gospel Quartet in concert, Aug. 3, 11 a.m. Michael Hedrick, pastor. •DERIDDER - Mt. Carmel church: Kellie Blackmon in concert; July 26, 7 p.m.; love offering; light refreshments after concert. • WISNER - First church: Not By Sight contemporary Christian trio in concert; Aug. 4, 7 p.m.; Thomas Peoples, pastor. •PINEVILLE - Northside church: Brothers Redeemed in concert; July 26, 7 p.m.; Keith Ryan, pastor.•MONROE - First church: The Young Continentals in concert; July 30, 6 p.m.; Randy McGee, pastor. •DENHAM SPRINGS - Eden church: Mike McCain presents "Michael, An Eyewitness" depiction of … [Read more...]

You may be aware the Southern Baptist International Mission Board, despite a record Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, had to make some serious cuts recently. You may be aware the Southern Baptist International Mission Board, despite a record Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, had to make some serious cuts recently. About 100 missionary candidates have had their service put on hold - and the number of short-term personnel is being reduced 30 percent. Facing a $10 million shortfall, the board also has eliminated 61 stateside staff positions and the Commission magazine. Your heart may have been as burdened as mine upon reading this news. What can we do? Baptist Press recently featured an article on some "missionary kids" who suggested that $1 from each of the 16 million Southern Baptists would more than make up for the shortfall. (See article on Page Nine) From the mouth of babes!" Is there any reason why every Southern Baptist church could not receive a special offering that would total at least ONE DOLLAR for every church member and forward it to the board for the purpose of sending missionaries? We have prayed for our mission force to grow, and record numbers are responding. God forbid this flood of workers … [Read more...]

For the week of July 31, 2003 Roe vs. Wade case The key player in the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion is appealing the dismissal of her effort to reopen the case. Norma McCorvey was "Jane Roe" in the case. However, she has who became a Christian and a pro-life advocate about two decades after the Roe ruling. Recently, she filed a motion to have her famous 1973 case reopened. A federal judge denied the motion, saying 30 years after a case does not represent a "reasonable time" for moving to reopen it. McCorvey has appealed that decision. "How could the judge have read the affidavits from over 1,000 post-abortive women in two days?" she said. "I deeply regret the damage my original case caused women. I want the Supreme Court to examine the evidence and have a spirit of justice for women and children." McCorvey presented more than 5,400 pages of evidence in her recent petition, seeking to demonstrate abortion harms women and destroys the life of a human being. The evidence also attempts to show that safe haven laws are better alternative than abortion. Those laws provide legal protection for mothers who leave their babies in a secure location. Work and worship Campers on Mission has scheduled … [Read more...]

In recent months, I have read several articles in the Baptist Message referring to our Baptist Retirement Center at Arcadia, Much-needed mission In recent months, I have read several articles in the Baptist Message referring to our Baptist Retirement Center at Arcadia. I believe it is a much-needed mission to our retired ministers, their wives and the disabled elderly. Actually, I think we should begin planning additional retirement assisted living and nursing facilities for other areas of the state. The Episcopalians have four centers, the Catholics have 27 and other denominations have one or more in Louisiana. Since these facilities, including our own, are non-profit, they can provide a much-higher quality of service than the for-profit centers can as they must have a healthy bottom line. Louisiana Baptists are to be commended on the center at Arcadia, but we should not rest on our laurels. We should be planning for the future as our elderly population increases. I would be happy to volunteer my services to work with any planning group. My 33 years of service in this field might be of help. Winborn E. Davis NHA, MSW Baton Rouge … [Read more...]

Baptist Retirement Center will continue to draw from its primary area. Forty to 50 miles is about the maximum. A scant handful may come from outside this zone, but the majority is local. Baptist Retirement Center will continue to draw from its primary area. Forty to 50 miles is about the maximum. A scant handful may come from outside this zone, but the majority is local. And "local" is not Arcadia or Bienville Association. Local is the service area: Monroe to the east, Winnfield to the south, Minden to the west. It seems to me that if these surrounding associations (Concord, Union, Jackson, Webster/Claiborne, Northeast, Winn, Bienville) each has a trustee committed to the home, he/she could be a voice encouraging consideration of the Baptist Retirement Center. Concord, Webster/Claiborne and Winn currently have one trustee each. Bienville Association, which has averaged one per year for the last 12 years, presently has none. Over the first 30 years of operation, Bienville Association filled one-third of the trustee roles. Only one in five of those were Bienville pastors. These local area men and women have done yeoman service for Louisiana Baptists. And we have the wherewithall to offer an ongoing stream of caring … [Read more...]

I read the July 17, 2003 article about Bro. Jesse Norris with great interest. I thank the Lord that Bro. Norris did preach in the small rural churches. I read the July 17, 2003 article about Bro. Jesse Norris with great interest. I thank the Lord that Bro. Norris did preach in the small rural churches. Bro. Kenneth Wall was the pastor of Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church out from Olla. Bro. Jesse Norris was holding a revival at Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church during the summer of 1952. A neighbor took me with their children to the revival on July 7, 1952, where I accepted Jesus as my personal savior and have lived for him all these years. God has blessed me with a very good life. I was successful with a job with the state for 30 years and have been serving as the financial secretary at Highland Baptist Church in West Monroe for the past 13 years. Thanks to Bro. Jesse Norris, I came to know Jesus at an early age and have been able to live my life serving him. Willie Jean Duke Shields West Monroe, La. … [Read more...]

In relation to the recent article in the Baptist Message concerning decreased tithing, I have no doubt that the basic assertion is correct, if you are referring only to tithes given to the local church. In relation to the recent article in the Baptist Message concerning decreased tithing, I have no doubt that the basic assertion is correct, if you are referring only to tithes given to the local church. However, it is imperative that it be understood that many people continue to tithe by giving to other Christian ministries rather than entrusting their tithe to local churches and the conventions. As suggested in the article, one reason for this may be superficially explained as decreased denominational loyalty. But why is there decreased denominational loyalty? I should like to suggest at least two possibilities, but I am sure there are others as well. First, many of us are dismayed at the "Bapostolic" transformation of the local churches, and we refuse to support these changes with our tithe. Second, there is a great deal of dissatisfaction with the fundamentalist takeover and creedal transformation of the Southern Baptist Convention by those who have anointed themselves as infallible interpreters of the … [Read more...]

With all that is going on in the world, both here and overseas, one almost longs for the idealistic fantasies of Superman and other such superheroes to be true. Note: The following is part of a series of articles to be published in the Baptist Message regarding the Cooperative Program and how it is at work throughout Louisiana and the rest of the world. Subsequent articles will appear in the newspaper during the year to highlight Cooperative Program missions and ministry work. With all that is going on in the world, both here and overseas, one almost longs for the idealistic fantasies of Superman and other such superheroes to be true. It would be so much more reassuring if we could just read about the daily disasters on the front page of our newspapers, sink back into our chairs with our morning coffee, and say to ourselves, "Well it's nothing our local superhero can't handle!" But just as not all superheroes are cloaked in bright capes, not all disasters are national headline news - for instance, the closing down of manufacturing plants in a small, central Louisiana town. Within the past year, nearly 1,000 people have been given the pink slip to financial instability in LaSalle parish. "We … [Read more...]