Week of January 2, 2006 New LC football coach Louisiana College has hired Dennis Dunn as its new head football coach. Dunn, who turned Evangel Christian Academy into a Louisiana and national high school power during the past two decades, takes over for David Armstrong who did not have his contract renewed by the school after this past season. Dunn began his coaching career in 1984 at Southwood High School in Shreveport. In 1987, Dunn moved to Woodlawn High School of Shreveport to become the head coach. During Dunn’s five-year tenure at Woodlawn, his teams won three district championships and made the state 5A playoffs each year. In 1992, Dunn took over as the head coach at Evangel Christian Academy. During his 14 years at Evangel, his teams won nine state championships and one national championship. Dunn also coached 19 All-Americans during his time at Evangel Christian Academy. Schwarzenegger nominee In a move that could impact the outcome of a California “gay marriage” case, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has nominated what some are calling a moderate to the state Supreme Court. Last month Schwarzenegger nominated San Francisco appeals court Judge Carol Corrigan to replace Janice Rogers Brown, a conservative who … [Read more...]

Louisiana Baptists’ response to Hurricane Katrina and Rita was selected as the state convention’s top news story of 2005. By Brian Blackwell LBM Newswriter Louisiana Baptists’ response to Hurricane Katrina and Rita was selected as the state convention’s top news story of 2005. Hurricane Katrina devastated Southeastern Louisiana when it made landfall in the New Orleans area on Aug. 29. One month later, Hurricane Rita slammed into the southwestern part of the state. Within days of both storms’ impact, Southern Baptists sent multitudes of volunteers to the affected areas. By the end of the year, more than 9,000 Baptists relief volunteers had responded in the largest disaster effort in Baptist history, which included preparing a record 13 million meals for hurricane victims and relief workers. The state united behind the effort, as Louisiana’s churches and camps opened their doors to hurricane evacuees. Also, the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home accepted displaced children while students from the state’s Baptist Collegiate Ministries sacrificed weekends and holidays so they could minister in affected areas. The Louisiana Baptist Convention headquarters in Alexandria offered congregations directly … [Read more...]

New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary celebrated a historic graduation Dec. 17 – its first since Hurricane Katrina. In spite of the disruption caused by the storm at the start of the semester, 137 graduates completed their degrees. New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary celebrated a historic graduation Dec. 17, 2005 – its first since Hurricane Katrina. In spite of the disruption caused by the storm at the start of the semester, 137 graduates completed their degrees. The graduation, held at the Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Ala., marked another milestone in the seminary’s effort to recover for the worst natural disaster in U.S. history. The tone of the ceremony was triumphant and worshipful. The graduates understood the significance of the event. “God proved Himself to be faithful and true,” graduate April Price said. “Through this hurricane, I had to learn to rejoice in Him always and regardless of the circumstances it was amazing to see how faithful He was.” Price said walking across the stage was “even sweeter” because of difficulties each graduate faced. In his remarks to the graduating class, Seminary President Chuck Kelley praised the work of the students and faculty following the … [Read more...]

Last January, she stood on her second-floor balcony, pointed to foundations where homes once stood and counted off the number of people who died when a vicious tsunami wave swallowed her village. (Editor’s note: On Dec. 26, 2004, a massive earthquake in the Indian Ocean spawned one of the most destructive tsunamis in recorded history. It swept away thousands of lives and left millions of people homeless. One year later, Southern Baptists continue to aid and share God’s love with survivors in South Asia.) Last January, she stood on her second-floor balcony, pointed to foundations where homes once stood and counted off the number of people who died when a vicious tsunami wave swallowed her village. “At that house, two women died,” she recalled. “At that one, a man died. At that house, one woman died.” Then Jenat*, a 33-year-old mother of two, went to the only thing remaining in her home – an altar to Buddha – and gave him glory for saving those who lived. “I am Buddhist, and I am very happy because we saved a lot of people,” she said. “We were praying to Buddha.” That was her response to the tsunami in 2004. Today, Jenat is a vibrant follower of Jesus Christ who understands that He alone has the power … [Read more...]

In 1999, wife Lean and I were on the way to the Baptist World Alliance meeting in Melbourne, Australia. We had overcome the Y2K millennium fears to board the plane and head south by southwest. We had a stopover in New Zealand to visit with Baptists in that island country. By Lynn P. Clayton LBM Editor In 1999, wife Lean and I were on the way to the Baptist World Alliance meeting in Melbourne, Australia. We had overcome the Y2K millennium fears to board the plane and head south by southwest. We had a stopover in New Zealand to visit with Baptists in that island country. We had a wonderful time touring various parts of New Zealand, visiting with Baptist leaders and attending a Baptist church’s worship. We were actually so busy that we forgot that the millennium sunrise was only a night away. It dawned upon us that New Zealand would be the first nation of size to view the millennium sunrise – the name given to the first sunrise of the new millennium – and we were on the east shore of the island to see it, first of the first. Some folks had predicted there would be no millennium sunrise because the earth would be destroyed at 12:01 a.m., Jan. 1, 2000, so we wanted to prove them wrong. And, it was just a … [Read more...]

Week of January 2, 2006 Potpourri HAUGHTON –  Koran  church: The Calvary Boys and Southern Harmony Boys in concert; Jan. 14, 7 p.m.; George Rogers, pastor. RUSTON – Cook church: Conflict Management Seminar; Jan. 16, 6:30-9 p.m.; Bob Shefield, guest speaker; $10 fee payable at the door; Mike Holloway, pastor. EUNICE – Acadian center: Men’s retreat; Jan. 20, 6 p.m. registration - Jan. 21, after lunch; $40 per person; to register, call (337) 457-9047; James Newsom, camp manager. Staff Changes Pastors LIVONIA – Jim Bain to Faith church as interim pastor. Youth JONESBORO – First church: Associational youth revival; Jan. 15-18, 7 p.m.; Robbie Robison, guest speaker; Broken Vessel, musical guest; Matthew D. Wohlfarth, pastor. Revivals ROBELINE – First church: Jan. 15-18, 7 p.m.; Jack Daniels, evangelist; Bryan Ray, pastor. Retirements COLUMBIA – Columbia Heights church: Bruce McGee retires Jan. 8 after pastoring the church for almost nine years and serving a total of 25 years in ministry. Ordinations ZACHARY – First church: Dennis Kirby and Robert Ballard to the deacon’s ministry; Jan. 8, 6 p.m.; Reggie Bridges, pastor. Available DEVILLE – Donald Lemons available for supply and interim pastorate; can … [Read more...]

Red beans and rice. The meal is a weekly staple on New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary’s main campus – something school administrators, professors and staff members have missed during their time of displacement in Decatur, Ga. Red beans and rice. The meal is a weekly staple on New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary’s main campus – something school administrators, professors and staff members have missed during their time of displacement in Decatur, Ga. That changed on Dec. 14 when seminary alum Nelson Price came to the seminary’s North Georgia Campus with two large pots of the Louisiana delicacy that he and his wife, Trudy, spent the morning (and much of the day before) preparing. “Having lived in New Orleans so long, I know New Orleans is famous for its red beans,” Price said. “With dear friends being displaced from there, I thought perhaps their palettes might be appealed to by red beans and rice. “I wanted the joy of trying to revive those memories for them.” Price, a Mississippi native, learned to cook red beans and rice during the years he studied and served in Louisiana. He initially moved to Louisiana to attend Southeastern Louisiana University where he starred on the school’s basketball … [Read more...]

Although more than 10,000 Southern Baptist churches didn’t baptize a single person in 2004, there’s no real secret to seeing new believers stir the waters of the baptistery, says a pastor who baptized 29 on a recent Sunday evening. Although more than 10,000 Southern Baptist churches didn’t baptize a single person in 2004, there’s no real secret to seeing new believers stir the waters of the baptistery, says a pastor who baptized 29 on a recent Sunday evening. When people have “experienced the power of the Gospel personally ... they want to share that with others,” says Jeff LaBorg, pastor of College Heights Baptist Church in Gallatin, Tenn. New believers, he notes, are the fruit of soul-winning by church members who “love the Word of God and have been taught by exposition and example from their leaders that soul-winning is a requirement and not an elective.” College Heights members “love everybody that comes through the door, regardless of appearance, affluence, or economic status,” says LaBorg. “On Sunday, they flood the altar with tears and intercession, and then they go out and pursue the very ones they have been praying for. They are bold about sharing their own testimonies of how Christ changed their … [Read more...]

When Southern Baptist Convention President Bobby Welch called for a baptism emphasis in churches across the nation to be held last year, the event happened to coincide with a milestone at a congregation where evangelism has become second nature to most members. When Southern Baptist Convention President Bobby Welch called for a baptism emphasis in churches across the nation to be held last year, the event happened to coincide with a milestone at a congregation where evangelism has become second nature to most members. “This church has been evangelistic for many years in that they were one of the first churches to start using the FAITH evangelism training,” says Michael Cloer, pastor of Englewood Baptist Church in Rocky Mount, N.C. Cloer explained that the previous pastor died of cancer at age 40, and for eight months the church was without a pastor. However, the congregation still baptized 67 people because they are intentionally evangelistic. “It has nothing to do with me; it’s what God was doing through them before I got here,” explains Cloer, who began leading Englewood in August 2000. The church hit its 1,000 mark in total baptisms under the new pastor’s leadership the very day they participated in … [Read more...]