Survivors of a devastating earthquake in Bam, Iran, are seeing the love of God demonstrated through the work of Southern Baptist disaster relief volunteers from Alabama. Survivors of a devastating earthquake in Bam, Iran, are seeing the love of God demonstrated through the work of Southern Baptist disaster relief volunteers from Alabama. The suffering of the city’s residents is heartbreaking, volunteers say. The words "Alabama Disaster Relief" provided the first witness to God’s love as the team began unloading supplies on site, team leader Larry Murphy relates. Iranian helpers saw those words stenciled on the side of supply crates and saw in "Alabama" a combination of words in their own language, he explains. "Ala" sounds like their word for God, "Ba" like their word for "with" and "ma" like "us." As a result, the Iranians translated "Alabama Disaster Relief" to mean "‘God with us’ Disaster Relief." "When I heard that, I just jumped and said, ‘Yes!’" Murphy says. The Alabama team was assigned the lead role in feeding operations in Bam, a key role in the wider relief response mounted by humanitarian organizations from around the world. A … [Read more...]
LBC church scores ‘one for the little guys’
Member of New Sarepta Baptist Church have demonstrated - big things can come in small packages, says Tim Everett, associate pastor for the congregation. Member of New Sarepta Baptist Church have demonstrated - big things can come in small packages, says Tim Everett, associate pastor for the congregation. Musical artists from the church in Sarepta - a congregation of 300 in a town of 1,000 - recently joined together to record and release the CD "Jubilee 2003." The album is composed of songs written (or arranged) and performed entirely by New Sarepta members. "Our contemporary culture seems to say that big is best and most is more and that churches must have megasized congregations and budgets to have an impact," Everett notes. "I believe New Sarepta has just scored one for the little guys." "Gods blessed us with all this musical talent," album co-producer and gospel artist Julie Everett explains. "It just seemed like this was the vision God gave us. We wanted to do something, not just for my husband (Tim) and me, but wanted to use all the other talent." Produced in a local home studio in a span of 40 hours recording time, the CD features Southern gospel, bluegrass … [Read more...]
Revisiting the DOM issue ( Part One )
Revisiting the DOM issue: LBC Executive Board members prepare to take final step of returning complete control of associational directors of missions to local level Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board members took a step last week to complete a return of control for associational directors of missions back to the local level. Board members approved a motion that asks a committee of eight to recommend a transition plan that will give local associations complete authority for hiring, firing, supervising and funding their own directors of missions. The state convention has funded the directors of missions since the 1960s - and until 2002, it also was responsible for supervising their work, with associational input. However, that structure created concerns among some associational members, who urged more control by local churches in determining who served as the intermediary between themselves and the state convention. Those concerns came to a head in 2002, and the Executive Board established a committee to study the issue. After months of discussion and debate, messengers to the 2002 Louisiana Baptist Convention narrowly approved a key change in … [Read more...]
Revisiting the DOM issue ( Part Two )
In addition to addressing the directors of missions situation in the state, Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board members handled other items of routine business during their meeting last week. In addition to addressing the directors of missions situation in the state, Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board members handled other items of routine business during their meeting last week. During last weeks meeting, members: Gave final approval to a pair of charter changes designed to tie the Executive Board more tightly to the state convention and prevent it from establishing itself as a self-perpetuating body. The changes were approved by messengers to both the 2002 and 2003 conventions. Approved a study of the bylaws of convention agencies to ensure they are in line with convention documents regarding the nomination and election of trustees. The study came in response to a motion at the 2003 convention. The concern is that some agencies could have bylaws in place that would tie the hands of the state convention in who could be nominated as trustee. The core issue is that while the convention has guidelines for persons who may serve on state boards, individual … [Read more...]
Weekly Announcements
For the published week of January 22, 2004 Potpourri RUSTON - Cook church: Sportsman Banquet; Jan. 23, 6:30 p.m.; David Newberry, pastor. WINNFIELD - First church: The Kings Messengers in concert; Jan. 25, 6 p.m.; Lindsey Burns, pastor. SHREVEPORT - Morningside church: Gospel Jubilee; Jan. 24, 6-9 p.m.; Billy Woods, The Living Water Singers, The Davis Family, Kelly and Mike Igo, Hulon Carkeet, Praise Trio, Glory Bound, The Jordans and Faye Wallace, featured guests; Larry Wheeler, worship leader; Donnie Lodatto, pastor. BATON ROUGE - Stevendale church: The Dixie Echoes in concert; Jan. 24, 7 p.m.; Michael J. LoBrutto, pastor. PINEVILLE - Louisiana College: Presents "Diana of Dobson" theatre production; Jan. 22-24, and 29-31, 7:30 p.m.; Jan. 25 and Feb 1, 2:30 p.m.; Jonathan Bank of New York, director; Rory Lee, president. GONZALES - Central church: Tim Frith and The Gospel Echos in concert; Feb. 1; covered dish lunch, followed by The Gospel Echos at 1:30 p.m.; James "Jay" Matthew Avance Jr., pastor. Anniversaries SHREVEPORT - Western Hills church: H. D. Smith, 20 years as pastor. SHREVEPORT - … [Read more...]
Effort underway to emphasize covenant marriage
How can Christian churches battle the legalization of homosexual unions? How can they begin to reverse the 30-year fallout of "no-fault divorce"? As director of the Covenant Marriage Movement, Phil Waugh said he sees one key step Christians must take - returning to a solid adherence to Gods design for marriage as a covenant relationship. How can Christian churches battle the legalization of homosexual unions? How can they begin to reverse the 30-year fallout of "no-fault divorce"? As director of the Covenant Marriage Movement, Phil Waugh said he sees one key step Christians must take - returning to a solid adherence to Gods design for marriage as a covenant relationship. "(The movements) desire is not so much to change the American culture as it is to change the culture of the church - the bride of Christ," Waugh said, citing the high divorce rate within the church. "As we, the bride of Christ, are called back to the adherence to marriage as a covenant, then, society will be impacted by our witness." To advance that vision, Waughs group has designated Sunday, Feb. 15, as Covenant Marriage Sunday 2004. Leaders say they hope 50,000 congregations worldwide will celebrate … [Read more...]
Annie Armstrong offering sets record – falls short of goal
Southern Baptists set another record in giving to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions in 2003. Gifts for the annual offering total $49,650,270 last year. Southern Baptists set another record in giving to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions in 2003. Gifts for the annual offering total $49,650,270 last year. The 2003 Annie Offering was 1 percent over the previous year," North American Mission Board President Robert Reccord said. "Considering the economic downturn weve experienced, thats quite remarkable. The influence of (the Southern Baptist Womans Missionary Union) across North America is what helps Southern Baptists focus on the mission, the missionaries and the offering that supports them. "On their behalf, thank you." However, despite the increase in giving, the year-end total was nearly 7 percent short of the $53 million national goal. That continues a trend of stagnant and - in some cases, declining - mission offerings among Southern Baptists. The shortfall creates problems for the mission board, which counts on the offering as a major source of funding. "We are so thankful for … [Read more...]
What an honor. Now, if I were just a woman
Everyone likes to be recognized. That is the reason the letter thrills me. Everyone likes to be recognized. That is the reason the letter thrills me. The official letter on the letterhead of "Manchester Who’s Who empowering executives and professionals" said someone recently appointed me as a biographical candidate in a volume of their Who’s Who. I checked again, and sure enough, the letter is not a "to whom it may concern" or "resident," it is addressed to me personally, "Lynn Clayton." Cannot be a mistake. Then, the next paragraph says that the company is "pleased to inform you that your candidacy was approved. Your confirmation for inclusion will be effective within 5 business days, pending our receipt of the enclosed and application." How wonderful. I wish my father and mother were still alive to know of this honor. They would have been so proud to know their son was being recognized. They would have been pleased, just as soon as they got over the shock. And my kids . . . I can just imagine how proud they will be when I show them the award. Their attitude has always been, "Who’s He?" And now, I will be in the 2003/2004 Honors Edition of the Registry. I will point … [Read more...]
Weekly Briefs
For the published week of January 29, 2004 Seminary loss J. Hardee Kennedy, retired academic vice president and professor emeritus of Old Testament and Hebrew at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, died Dec. 28 in Meridian, Miss. He was 88. Kennedy served 34 years on the New Orleans Seminary faculty during a career of nearly 40 years in education. Kennedy was elected to the seminary faculty shortly after completing the doctor of theology degree there in 1947. From 1959-68, he served as dean of the seminarys school of theology. He was named vice president for academic affairs in 1972, serving until 1981. "For generations of seminary students, J. Hardee Kennedy was the perfect illustration of the word proper," seminary President Chuck Kelley said. "Gracious in spirit, dignity personified in manner, passionate in scholarship and ministry, and impeccable in integrity, Dr. Kennedy set a high standard for the life, character and behavior of a minister of the gospel." Kennedy was active in church work and in denominational work, serving on various state and national committees. During his academic career, he authored six books and numerous journal articles. He is survived by one … [Read more...]
Television pushes the envelope of sexuality to sell programs
One of the best examples of what drives a tremendous segment of marketing in the United States is the explosion of the number of homosexual characters on television. One of the best examples of what drives a tremendous segment of marketing in the United States is the explosion of the number of homosexual characters on television. For decades we have understood that marketers are convinced that sex sells products and sex garners viewers. Some readers are old enough to remember the attractive blond urging a man to "take it all off" as he shaves in time with well-known "stripper" music. Sales of the shaving products went up. Such blatant sexuality, even with tongue-in-cheek, was rather shocking for its day, but the shock and the sex sold shaving products. Sex became more and more a staple of marketing. Apparently, television network executives watched the numbers of viewers slip and thought, "Sex sells products; sex will sell television shows." After all, movie channels such as Home Box Office and Showtime had viewers paying to watch their sexually-explicit Hollywood movies. To compete, "free" channels believed they had to push the envelope of sexuality further. It was like the movie … [Read more...]