NEW ORLEANS – Trustees at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary set a course for the seminary’s future by establishing two degree-granting extension centers, restructuring undergraduate and church music degrees and launching new doctoral specializations during their spring meeting. By Gary D. Myers New Orleans Seminary Public Relations NEW ORLEANS – Trustees at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary set a course for the seminary’s future by establishing two degree-granting extension centers, restructuring undergraduate and church music degrees and launching new doctoral specializations during their spring meeting. The meeting opened with an encouraging report from NOBTS President Chuck Kelley. In his remarks, Kelley presented a positive picture of the seminary’s recovery and future. He called attention to the assistance of Southern Baptists in the seminary’s recovery process. “We are very grateful for the difference the Cooperative Program made in the New Orleans Seminary Hurricane Katrina experience,” Kelley said. “Southern Baptists kept a challenge from becoming a crisis. We are no longer in survival mode. We are in growth and opportunity mode. The SBC threw its full weight into giving us … [Read more...]

ALEXANDRIA – In their second quarterly meeting of 2006, the Louisiana Baptist Foundation trustees focused on the future while celebrating the present: a positive return on investments. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing Editor ALEXANDRIA – In their second quarterly meeting of 2006, the Louisiana Baptist Foundation trustees focused on the future while celebrating the present: a positive return on investments. The Foundation anticipates a return to the Louisiana Baptist Convention office building, Executive Director Wayne Taylor suggested to the trustees. The current building could be leased for additional revenue for the LBC, Taylor added. A return to the state convention offices could happen within the year, Taylor said in conversation after the meeting. “This proposal is being considered by the LBC Executive Board,” Taylor said. “The move would allow the Foundation to continue receiving ‘free office space’ and generate income to the LBC to address some deferred maintenance issues and update the LBC building.” The bulk of the discussion at the quarterly meeting centered on the possibility that the Foundation could assist churches with capital fundraising campaigns. It’s a service the state … [Read more...]

SAREPTA – Despite what almost seems like a plethora of patriotic songs, America does not have a nationally-recognized ballad for Memorial Day. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing Editor SAREPTA – Despite what almost seems like a plethora of patriotic songs, America does not have a nationally-recognized ballad for Memorial Day. But there’s a growing movement toward one, since city alderman, high school history teacher and coach Tony Mullins wrote “Memorial Day” at the offhand request of the music minister at his church, New Sarepta Baptist. “It’s not like I’m trying to make the “Star-Spangled Banner” or something,” Mullins said with a disparaging grin. “But people keep calling about it.” “Memorial Day” was featured last year at week-long festivities in Waterloo, N.Y., a patriotic village in upstate New York known as the official birthplace of Memorial Day. Ever since, the song has been spreading across the nation via the Internet. “I don’t want to charge anything for the use of the sheet music this year,” Mullins said. “It’s something given to me and I want to share it with others.” Mullins says he can’t sing a lick, doesn’t read music and doesn’t much care for poetry. But one day a couple of … [Read more...]

ARLINGTON, Texas – About 350 disaster relief leaders attended the annual SBC-wide Disaster Relief Roundtable last week at Fielder Road Baptist Church in Arlington. ARLINGTON, Texas – About 350 disaster relief leaders attended the annual SBC-wide Disaster Relief Roundtable last week at Fielder Road Baptist Church in Arlington. Freddie Arnold, a church planting missionary with the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans assigned the Disaster Relief Coordinator role after Katrina, received a Distinguished Service Award for his recovery work. With more than 350 leaders present, Arnold thanked Southern Baptists for their assistance in Louisiana following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. “Thank you for being faithful with the trust we’ve been entrusted with in sharing Jesus Christ,” Arnold said. “You’ve helped establish integrity and respect of Southern Baptists in south Louisiana.” … [Read more...]

ALEXANDRIA - One would think Cooperative Program giving might be hindered by the major disasters that swept the coast of Louisiana. However, first quarter CP receipts from Louisiana Baptist churches are running 7.18 percent over 2005 first quarter receipts. By LBC Communications ALEXANDRIA - One would think Cooperative Program giving might be hindered by the major disasters that swept the coast of Louisiana.  However, first quarter CP receipts from Louisiana Baptist churches are running 7.18 percent over 2005 first quarter receipts. “We are grateful to be a conduit for our churches’ mission giving,” said Dale Lingenfelter, LBC director of Business and Information Services. “Obviously, the storms served as an Acts 1:8 wake up call for some to be more engaged in reaching their Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth through the Cooperative Program.” The Cooperative Program is the funding mechanism for a worldwide network of mission ministries.   These ministries include the Louisiana State Convention mission work, the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home, Louisiana College, The International Mission Board, North American Mission Board, six theological seminaries, the Ethics and Religious Liberty … [Read more...]

BATON ROUGE – Intercessors for Louisiana (IFL). Join us for prayer at the Capitol on the second Tuesday of each month in Senate Committee Room A, 7 p.m. Next meeting: May 9. By Todd Trahan Special to the Message BATON ROUGE – Intercessors for Louisiana (IFL). Join us for prayer at the Capitol on the second Tuesday of each month in Senate Committee Room A, 7 p.m. Next meeting: May 9. I need to give this report in a form that goes chronologically to do justice to the wonderful thing God did in our midst at the Capitol. We had a short meeting with leadership of IFL before 7 p.m. on April 11 to discuss a few things, along with Roger and Charlotte Mershbrock of Prayer Focus Ministries, who joined us as well. We sensed the Lord wanted to touch two themes in prayer: the Lord as Lawgiver and the abortion issue. Before we began the actual meeting, an intercessor pulled me aside and gave me a small bag with some items in them that she felt the Lord had her buy to give to me. In this bag were: a set of hanging scales that balance and weigh; a framed picture of God’s hand holding a plumb line with the Scripture Amos 7: 7, 8; some chalk powder (high visibility red in color) that you would use to pop a … [Read more...]

GREENSBORO, N.C. (BP) – New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary’s annual Alumni & Friends Luncheon will be a time of celebration for the renewal of the campus following Hurricane Katrina. GREENSBORO, N.C. (BP) – New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary’s annual Alumni & Friends Luncheon will be a time of celebration for the renewal of the campus following Hurricane Katrina. The June 14 luncheon will be in the Sheraton Four Seasons’ Guilford F/G Ballrooms immediately following the Wednesday morning session of the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting. NOBTS President Chuck Kelley will report on the progress of the campus restoration, about the return of classes to the main campus and new initiatives the seminary will launch during the coming school year. Kelley also will present the seminary’s distinguished alumni awards. Tickets – at $10 each before June 1, $12 after June 1 – are on sale by mail and online. Tickets also will be available at the NOBTS booth in the SBC exhibits hall. To purchase a ticket before the SBC, mail a check payable to NOBTS to New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Attention Alumni Relations, 3939 Gentilly Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70126. For information about … [Read more...]

ALEXANDRIA – Instead of flowers at the annual LBC women’s conference, the platform area at Calvary Baptist Church here was dominated by a full-size cross, bare except for the thorny vine that twined around its center. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing Editor ALEXANDRIA – Instead of flowers at the annual LBC  women’s conference, the platform area at Calvary Baptist Church here was dominated by a full-size cross, bare except for the thorny vine that twined around its center. It was that kind of a “gets you in the gut” event, which included Carrie McDonnall’s gripping story of how a beautiful day in Iraq started with ministry and making new friends, and ended with the bullet-ridden death of three missionary friends as well as her new husband. “We did what God told us to do,” Cindy Townsend told the Message a few minutes after the conference was over. “This wasn’t a feel-good conference. It was more a challenge conference.” Townsend is director of the women’s missions and ministry team at the Louisiana Baptist Convention, which sponsored the day-long event. The challenge was for participants to influence their everyday world for Christ. “I’m going to do better about praying,” said Jennifer Bates … [Read more...]

WESTLAKE, La. (BP)--The revival that drew Larry Thompson to Christ as a 17-year-old continues to influence his ministry long after he left South Carolina for pastorates in four other states. By Ken Walker Baptist Press WESTLAKE, La. (BP)--The revival that drew Larry Thompson to Christ as a 17-year-old continues to influence his ministry long after he left South Carolina for pastorates in four other states. “These are the kind of things I have attempted all through my ministry,” the pastor of First Baptist Church in Westlake, La., said. “I’ve often said that I’ve based my ministry on teaching the principles of revival, just in case the Holy Spirit decides to do it again.” In particular, Thompson retains a strong desire to see others accept Christ. This spark was lit by his conversion in the early days of a revival that began in Easley, S.C., and a youth conference that summer sponsored by the South Carolina Baptist Convention. In addition to lessons from the conference on prayer and personal Bible study, Thompson attended sessions on how to share his faith. By Thursday of that week, he had led his first convert to Christ and by Sunday, two dozen more. And he wasn’t the only person from Easley … [Read more...]

EASLEY, S.C. (BP)--For layman Terry Ballenger, a gratifying result of the revival that broke out in Easley, S.C., in the early 1970s is hearing the preaching of those who were called into the ministry and how their spiritual gifts have developed over the years. By Ken Walker Baptist Press EASLEY, S.C. (BP)--For layman Terry Ballenger, a gratifying result of the revival that broke out in Easley, S.C., in the early 1970s is hearing the preaching of those who were called into the ministry and how their spiritual gifts have developed over the years. Ballenger, communications manager at Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative, is equally pleased with the vast numbers now serving as deacons, Sunday School teachers and Christian influences in the workplace. After listing examples in nursing, accounting and the federal government, Ballenger said, “You’ve got folks like that I can name right and left who went into secular work like me. “In 1970 I saw myself going to seminary. I told my boss when I came here, ‘I’m giving you one year and if I feel the Lord calling me, I’ll have to go.’ But I never felt the Lord calling me.” Ballenger isn’t fond of the notion that God’s call refers primarily to becoming a pastor, … [Read more...]