Casey Thompson, children's director at Jefferson Baptist, makes it a point to involve the children in giving to the World Hunger Relief Fund. BATON ROUGE— The children’s director at Jefferson Baptist Church, Casey Thomas, makes it a point to involve the children in giving to the World Hunger Relief Fund. “As soon World Hunger Day starts rolling around, we pass out our rice bowls, about a month before,” she said. To begin with, she reads the kids the very short story called “If the World Were a Village of 100,” by David Smith, which among other things, illustrates the huge economic and racial disparities that exist among the nations and peoples of the world. On the Wednesday night before collecting the rice bowls, Thomas engages the children in an activity called the World Feast. Using the story, and ratios indicated in the story, she divides the children by continent or by country, then distributes food to them. Children who represent the U.S. get steak and cola, while kids from Asia get food that is appropriate for that culture, and so on. Not only does she give out appropriate types of food, she also gives out the appropriate amounts.  Some of the children who … [Read more...]

Scripture makes it plain that expecting the perfect life is simply not realistic. “I just don’t know what to do anymore.” “We just can’t get along.” “I am slipping past the end of my rope.” “We’ve tried everything but nothing has worked.” “I’m so depressed.” Most of us have struggled with the aforementioned feelings at one time or another.  Some of those challenges come as we move through the normal stages of life – career choices, marriage decisions, parenting issues, and aging. At other times we are faced with the unexpected – family violence, divorce, unemployment, traumatic childhood events, illness, and more. In some cases we are able to cope well with the circumstances and move on. At times, however, we find ourselves in need of help and in our society today we may not want to admit that need. Feelings of embarrassment, inadequacy, and failure often prevent us from seeking assistance. We don’t want to admit that some of our problems are the result of our own poor choices. And at times we want to protect those who have hurt us. As Christians we live with the added tension of feeling that some will judge us and conclude that we are just not close to the Lord when we are overwhelmed by … [Read more...]

Publicaton of this notice is required twice, one month before the start of the annual meeting of the Louisiana Baptist Convention. It will be repeated in the Oct. 12 issue. PARISH OF CALCASIEU STATE OF LOUISIANA BE IT KNOWN, that on _____Day of November, 2006, before me, the undersigned Notary Public in and for the Parish and State aforesaid, personally came and appeared the undersigned parties of full age of majority whose signatures are subscribed who declare, in the presence of the undersigned competent witnesses that, availing themselves of the provisions of the Louisiana Nonprofit Corporation law, Louisiana Revised Statutes12:201-12:269 (1950 as amended), and upon the instructions of the messengers to the 2006 Louisiana Baptist Convention, they do hereby organize a nonprofit corporation under and in accordance with these articles of incorporation as follows: ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION of the LOUISIANA BAPTIST CONVENTION ARTICLE I. NAME The name of this body is the Louisiana Baptist Convention, hereinafter referred to as “Convention”. ARTICLE II. DURATION The duration of this Convention shall be in perpetuity. ARTICLE III. NON-PROFIT … [Read more...]

Publicaton of this notice is required twice, one month before the start of the annual meeting of the Louisiana Baptist Convention. It will be repeated in the Oct. 12 issue. SUGGESTED RESOLUTION BY THE EXECUTIVE BOARD OF THE LOUISIANA BAPTIST CONVENTION FOR THE INCORPORATION OF THE CONVENTION WHEREAS, Louisiana law concerning the governance of organizations has changed and evolved over the last 100 years in favor of incorporation; and, WHEREAS, the Louisiana Baptist Convention is an unincorporated association which form of governance is vulnerable to a lack of clear statutory law and jurisprudence as to its method of organization, powers and resolution of issues which it may from time to time face; and, WHEREAS, the Louisiana Baptist Convention can be incorporated in a manner consistent with Baptist Polity and without changing the manner in which it has traditionally operated: BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Executive Board of the Louisiana Baptist Convention does hereby recommend that the Messengers to the Louisiana Baptist Convention adopt the following resolution: “BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Louisiana Baptist Convention hereby directs and authorizes the officers of the Louisiana Baptist … [Read more...]

Potpourri LAKE CHARLES – Gillis First church:  “Dear Diary” production presented by The Jeremiah People, a nationally known musical theater ministry; 7 p.m. Oct. 6; free admission, love offering accepted; Glenn George, pastor. COLUMBIA (Hebert) – Welcome Home church:  Wild Horse Ministries, featuring Paul Daily, to perform Oct. 18, 6 p.m.; musical guest, Suzy Gayle, at 5 p.m.; bring your lawn chairs; for information, call Greg Floyes at 318-248-3922; Bill Gueringer, pastor. BOGALUSA – Superior Avenue church:  Perry Hancock, guest speaker; Oct. 8, 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.; Clay Norris, pastor. ALEXANDRIA – Home-wood church:  “Financial Peace University” program; Oct. 17, 7 p.m.; presented by David Ramsey; $90 per family; program will be once a week for 13 weeks; to register, call 318-445-3915 between 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; Jimmy Koonce, pastor. MONROE – North Mon-roe church:  Gospel concert featuring Testify, The New Liberty Quartet, The Liberty Boys Quartet, Julie McIntyre and Amanda Carter; Oct. 7, 6 p.m.; tickets available at the door; Bill H. Dye, pastor. MONROE – Memorial church:  One day Bible conference; Oct. 21, 4:30 p.m.; Jerry Price, Robert Spicer and Lyndon Longoria, … [Read more...]

Two amendments have been proposed to the Articles of Incorporation of Louisiana College. Following are two proposed amendments to the Articles of Incorporation of Louisiana College, as passed in late September at their regularly-scheduled meeting by the college’s board of trustees. First: Amend the Articles of incorporation of Louisiana College by striking out the entirety of the current Article V (Liquidation), which reads ARTICLE V: LIQUIDATION The corporation is formed exclusively for educational and religious purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. No part of the net earnings of the corporation shall inure to the benefit of or be distributable to the trustees, officers, or other private persons, except that the corporation shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments or distributions in furtherance of its educational and religious purposes. The assets of the corporation shall be dedicated to the educational and religious purposes of the corporation. Upon dissolution of the corporation, the assets shall be distributed to the Louisiana Baptist Convention or to the designee of the … [Read more...]

In an all-out effort to share the Gospel of Christ with metro San Diego's 3 million residents, the North American Mission Board's initiative will bring attention, volunteers and resources to the effort. ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) – The North American Mission Board has named San Diego as the next Strategic Focus City – an initiative that will bring additional Southern Baptist attention, volunteers and resources in an all-out effort to share the Gospel of Christ with metro San Diego’s 3 million residents. NAMB’s Strategic Focus Cities (SFC) is a six-year-old strategy for leveraging the resources of the Southern Baptist Convention’s 16.3 million members and 43,000-plus churches to win America’s top 11 metropolitan areas for Christ. Fermín A. Whittaker, executive director for the California Southern Baptist Convention, said Baptists there are excited about partnering with NAMB to reach the lost and make disciples in the Golden State. “With at least 33 million unchurched Californians, we must do everything possible to tell every man, woman, boy and girl about Jesus and His saving grace. This is one more way to help California Southern Baptists’ culturally diverse congregations be on mission and be … [Read more...]

Page, Southern Baptist Convention president, said he woud spend his time in that role calling on Souther Baptists to pray for revival within he denomination.   … [Read more...]

A "perfect storm" of financial helps for people drowning in debt has been unleashed in recent days by the Louisiana Baptist Convention, Southern Baptist Convention and B&H Publishers. ALEXANDRIA— A “perfect storm” of financial helps for people drowning in debt has been unleashed in recent days by the Louisiana Baptist Convention, Southern Baptist Convention and B&H Publishers. • Louisiana Baptist Convention begins promotion this month of Financial Peace University’s small group studies on personal finance. Financial Peace University was founded in 1988 by Dave Ramsey, a Christian and personal finance adviser with a national following. • This follows the Southern Baptist Convention’s recent announcement of a “National Stewardship Initiative” for regional conferences in partnership with Crown Financial Ministries – CFM is an outgrowth of a merger in 2000 with Larry Burkett’s Christian Financial Concepts and Howard Dayton’s Crown Ministries. • And in late August, B&H Publishers released Making Change: A transformational guide to Christian money management, written by EKG strategist Ken Hemphill at the request of Morris Chapman, president of the SBC Executive Committee. LBC and the … [Read more...]

Fifteen people from three churches were baptized in Lake Buhlow, near Alexandria, Sunday evening, Sept. 4, in the second North Rapides Associational baptism rally this year. PINEVILLE – Fifteen people from three churches were baptized in Lake Buhlow, near Alexandria, Sunday evening, Sept. 4, in the second North Rapides Baptist Associational baptism rally this year. Ten were baptized last spring. “Welcome to His baptistry,” said Steve Speer, founding pastor of His Church, a contemporary congregation in Pineville not quite three months old. Speer’s words took on a double meaning as about 350 people contemplated the serene lake behind the pastor that was rimmed with tall green pine trees and covered with a semi-sunny sky, which later turned into a golden sunset. It was a perfect fall evening in central Louisiana – no humidity, gentle breeze, just enough scattered cloud cover to shade the sun. The event came to be as much a time of worshipping God in the world He created, as it was a celebration of the baptismal candidates’ decisions to follow Jesus as their Lord and Savior, said Kevin Roberts, event organizer. “I realized I wasn’t living right,” said Jason Pruitt, 28, an offshore worker and member … [Read more...]