Expensive things are real burdens – most especially if one is not accustomed to dealing with expensive things. Expensive things are real burdens – most especially if one is not accustomed to dealing with expensive things. Ten or 15 years ago, my only brother, Paul, for no particular reason, gave me a solid gold fountain pen. It arrived in a beautiful box and certainly cost more than any other fountain pen I ever have owned. Inside the box also was a return certificate that entitled me to send the pen – along with my signature on the certificate – back to the company to have the signature engraved onto the pen. Knowing how rich people are treated was nice. Every other time I had put my name on something, it had cost me money, but this time, they were going to do something “nice and lasting” with my signature. That never had happened with a Bic pen. For years, I only used the pen for special occasions, like signing marriage certificates at weddings. I have no idea how much a solid gold pen costs, but however much it may be, it was more than I wanted to lose. So, the pen spent most of the time in my cufflinks box. Being notorious at losing things, I simply did not want to add the pen to the long … [Read more...]
Envisioning the future: New leader discusses his goals for Louisiana College
Joe Aguillard was elected president of Louisiana College in Pineville – effective immediately – during a called meeting of school trustees on January 17. Since that time, he has dialogued with various college groups – students, faculty, staff and outside supporters. Joe Aguillard was elected president of Louisiana College in Pineville – effective immediately – during a called meeting of school trustees on January 17. Since that time, he has dialogued with various college groups – students, faculty, staff and outside supporters. As part of that process, he agreed to a question-and-answer session with the Louisiana Baptist Message. It appears in full below. Aguillard, 48, is no stranger to Louisiana College. A 1977 alumnus, he joined the faculty in 2000 as chair of the LC Division of Education. Still, last year, as his name emerged as a presidential possibility, opposition was evident. Faculty members voted to oppose his election, and members of the college community lined up on either side of the issue. Trustees eventually voted 17-13 to elect Aguillard. Aguillard assumes office as the Louisiana Baptist school enters a year of academic probation. Last fall, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools … [Read more...]
World of religion
Week of February 21, 2005 New Orleans witness After an all-night prayer vigil and morning chapel message, Southern Baptist Convention President Bobby Welch and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary students and faculty recently took the gospel to the streets. Welch and about 100 members of the seminary family fanned out in early February to share the gospel in the community around seminary. Twelve people made professions of faith in Christ. During a pre-witnessing chapel service, Welch reminded persons that there is a longing among people today – but that the harvest will last only a short time. “The world is waiting for us to come with the gospel of Jesus Christ,” he said. “There are people out there with whom God is dealing.” Welch urged members of the seminary community to commit to training, witnessing, baptizing, giving, starting new units and participating in Vacation Bible School. Work in these six areas is essential if the Southern Baptist Convention is to reach the goal of 1 million baptisms in one year, he said. The evangelism blitz as a great success, said David Platt, an instructor of evangelism at the seminary. “Not only did 12 people place their faith in Christ, but God taught the students and … [Read more...]
At this church, the pastor is the one in the white cowboy hat
It is 6:30 on a cool Thursday winter evening in northeast Louisiana. Already, 20 people are congregating in B.C. Haley’s converted potato barn, sipping coffee and munching on cookies. Brian Blackwell LBM Newswriter It is 6:30 on a cool Thursday winter evening in northeast Louisiana. Already, 20 people are congregating in B.C. Haley’s converted potato barn, sipping coffee and munching on cookies. Pastor Ron Bray and a handful of others from First Baptist Church of Kilbourne greet guests as they arrive for the 7 p.m. worship service. There is singing, prayer time and preaching – cowboy style. Instead of a piano and organ, musicians utilize guitars, a keyboard and fiddles as they play on a stage behind decorative saddles which rest on bales of hay. Bray dresses in his white cowboy hat, tan vest, blue jeans and boots. The congregation sits in lawn chairs. Since last July, the church has opened the doors of Haley’s barn for the weekly gathering that is known as the Cross Trail Cowboy Church. Haley never dreamed his barn would be used for such a purpose. “We’re reaching people, and they come as they are,” Haley explains. “We’re not just playing around – we’re trying to win souls.” Attendance … [Read more...]
What can be done in times of plateaus and dips?
Plateaus are part of every journey, and these become especially obvious if the journey is represented by a graph. Businesses experience plateaus; individuals experience plateaus; churches experience plateaus; denominations experience plateaus. And sometimes, the journey experiences not just a plateau but a dip or, occasionally, a downward spiral. Plateaus are part of every journey, and these become especially obvious if the journey is represented by a graph. Businesses experience plateaus; individuals experience plateaus; churches experience plateaus; denominations experience plateaus. And sometimes, the journey experiences not just a plateau but a dip or, occasionally, a downward spiral. Baptists dislike plateaus and dips and downward spirals in their graphs because they reflect fewer people following Christ and fewer people accepting Christ as their personal savior and/or fewer dollars supporting what we believe is kingdom work. So, what should we do when we experience plateaus and dips? We can sit back and believe such trends are inevitable. We can look at the graphs of other churches, individuals or denominations and take solace in their plateaus or dips. Or – we can dream again. Jeanne Tessier … [Read more...]
Supporters from across the state gather to focus on Louisiana College
Persons from across Central Louisiana and elsewhere in the state gathered at Louisiana College recently to pray for the future of the school. Persons from across Central Louisiana and elsewhere in the state gathered at Louisiana College recently to pray for the future of the school. More than 300 persons gathered at the Louisiana Baptist school in Pineville on Feb. 19 to participate in a campus prayerwalk designed to signal a new day of spirituality fir the college. “God promised us in 2 Chronicles 20 when we declare, ‘Our eyes are upon thee,’ his reply is, ‘Be not afraid, the battle is not yours but God’s. Stand ye still and see the salvation of the Lord, ...’” new LC President Joe Aguillard said in announcing plans for the event earlier this year. “God’s promises are real and true, and he will bless our obedience,” Aguillard added. “This call to prayer is a total acknowledgment that God is in charge of Louisiana College, and our allegiance to him will bring his blessings upon us.” Aguillard addressed the gathered participants at the start of the prayerwalk. Persons then were led in small groups to various campus sites for times of prayer. Following those directed sessions, participants reconvened … [Read more...]
Answer his call … tell his story … change your world
Missions is not just about overseas efforts – it also is an unfinished task at home, in this country, in this state, in every neighborhood. Missions is not just about overseas efforts – it also is an unfinished task at home, in this country, in this state, in every neighborhood. The Southern Baptist Week of Prayer for North American Missions and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering – set for March 6-13 this year – is a reminder of that fact. Each year, Southern Baptists take time to focus on the North American missions task and to pray for the resources – and workers – needed to meet the needs. The Annie Armstrong offering supplies much of the financial needs, with 100 percent of its gifts being used for missions support. Last year, Southern Baptists gave almost $54 million through the offering. The goal for the offering this year is $55 million. However, the offering does not supply all the needs – as the theme for this year’s missions focus asserts. Indeed, the responsibility to answer the gospel call falls on each Southern Baptist – whether that call is to pray, give or go out in service of the gospel – perhaps elsewhere in the nation or throughout the state or around the corner or even across the … [Read more...]
Southern Baptist gifts for tsunami aid top $10 million
As ministry to Asian tsunami survivors begins the transition from emergency relief to long-term recovery, Southern Baptist gifts to the aid effort have topped $10 million. As ministry to Asian tsunami survivors begins the transition from emergency relief to long-term recovery, Southern Baptist gifts to the aid effort have topped $10 million. By Feb. 17, gifts for tsunami aid through the Southern Baptist International Mission Board surpassed $10,209,000 – an unprecedented outpouring of compassion, leaders say. So far, about $2.5 million has been disbursed for nearly 50 aid projects, ranging from food and water distribution, medical care, temporary shelter and sanitation to providing fishing nets and reconstruction materials for villagers struggling to rebuild their lives. More projects will be funded in the months to come, a mission board spokesperson said. They will support ongoing relief as well as longer-term efforts to help areas rebuild. Every penny given will go to tsunami-related ministry, the spokesperson said. “The resources we’re using have come through Southern Baptists, but they’ve come from God,” he noted. “When it’s all said and done, I’m sure we will have utilized all we’ve received – … [Read more...]
LBC leader cites need for ‘gospel intentionality’
With almost 200 churches not reporting 2004 figures, Wayne Jenkins cannot be certain exactly how many baptisms were recorded by Louisiana Baptists last year. But he is certain about one thing. C. Lacy Thompson LBM Associate Editor With almost 200 churches not reporting 2004 figures, Wayne Jenkins cannot be certain exactly how many baptisms were recorded by Louisiana Baptists last year. But he is certain about one thing. “We’re low, ...” said Jenkins, evangelism director for the Louisiana Baptist Convention. “There’s no doubt about it. We’re losing ground.” When the 2004 LBC Annual is published, it will show that Louisiana Baptist churches recorded more than 12,900 baptisms, an increase of about 1 percent) from 2003. Of course, that is without 195 churches reporting. If those churches averaged five baptisms each last year, the state total actually could be close to 14,000. That would bring the annual total to about the same level seen in last half of the 1990s. Then, when a church did not report, convention leaders used the baptism figures from the previous year to calculate the total. Now, non-reporting churches simply are counted as zero. But all of that is calculation problems. What … [Read more...]
Cartoon characters latest focal point in fight about homosexuality
The battle for the acceptance of the homosexual lifestyle in America appears to have a new focal point – cartoon characters. The battle for the acceptance of the homosexual lifestyle in America appears to have a new focal point – cartoon characters. Consider: • A children’s music video featuring SpongeBob SquarePants has been criticized by traditional family advocates as indirectly promoting homosexuality. In the video, SpongeBob and other cartoon characters – such as Arthur, Barney and Big Bird – sing the popular 1970s tune, “We are Family.” While the video does not mention homosexuality, the video’s distributor – the We Are Family Foundation – has a tolerance pledge on its Web site that includes “sexual identity.” The video is being sent to 61,000 public and private elementary schools nationwide. • Producers of the PBS children’s show “Postcards from Buster” have filmed an episode in which Buster – a cartoon bunny who travels the U.S. meeting real people – visits a lesbian couple. A little girl introduces Buster to “my mom and Gillian” before everyone sits down for dinner. PBS since has said it will not air the episode, but the producer says it will provide the show to stations that want it. • In … [Read more...]