This book will be a blessing to you and to your ministry. “Brother Nick Holden’s book, Magnify The Lord: Ten Reasons to Discover, Declare, and Defend Why Christ Came is now at the LifeWay store, here in Shreveport. It is in the “Theology” section. “Some of my pastor friends like Dr. Austin Tucker and Dr. Mark Sutton, as well as other pastors, have been praying with me about Brother Nick’s writing. We have been eagerly anticipating the book’s publication and distribution. This book will be a blessing to you and to your ministry. “Brother Nick served our country in the U.S. Navy and then served our Lord in the pastorate for seven years. Brother Nick has recently answered God’s call to evangelism. His website is www.truthimpacts.org. His blog is www.truthimpacts.blogspot.com.” – Roy Davis, pastor Shreveport … [Read more...]

The nomination of Avery Willis, a former Southern Baptist missionary and retired International Mission Board administrator, for president of the Southern Baptist Convention was announced May 6 by John Marshall, senior pastor of Second Baptist Church in Springfield, Mo. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--The nomination of Avery Willis, a former Southern Baptist missionary and retired International Mission Board administrator, for president of the Southern Baptist Convention was announced May 6 by John Marshall, senior pastor of Second Baptist Church in Springfield, Mo. Willis is one of six candidates Southern Baptist messengers will consider. Baptist Press asked each candidate to participate in a survey of mostly standardized questions, but the questionnaire included at least one query individualized for each candidate. Willis’ answers to the questions posed by Baptist Press follow: 1) What has God done in your life and ministry to prepare you to be president of the Southern Baptist Convention? He has saved me, called me to preach and be a missionary and used me by the power of His Spirit as a Southern Baptist in a variety of settings. Since you ask, I’ll list them, but all the credit goes to God for whatever He has … [Read more...]

William L. (Bill) Wagner, a former Southern Baptist missionary and current chief academic officer of Olivet University International in San Francisco, announced Sept. 7, 2007, that he would allow his name to be placed in nomination for president of the Southern Baptist Convention. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--William L. (Bill) Wagner, a former Southern Baptist missionary and current chief academic officer of Olivet University International in San Francisco, announced Sept. 7, 2007, that he would allow his name to be placed in nomination for president of the Southern Baptist Convention. The identity of his nominator has not been announced. Wagner is one of six candidates Southern Baptist messengers will consider. Baptist Press asked each candidate to participate in a survey of mostly standardized questions, but the questionnaire included at least one query individualized for each candidate. Wagner’s answers to the questions posed by Baptist Press follow: 1) What has God done in your life and ministry to prepare you to be president of the Southern Baptist Convention? First, it should be said that I have been serving in the SBC for over 50 years. In the beginning, I was the New Mexico State Baptist Student Union … [Read more...]

The nomination of Frank Cox, pastor of North Metro First Baptist Church in Lawrenceville, Ga., for president of the Southern Baptist Convention was announced Feb. 7 by Alabama evangelist Junior Hill. ASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--The nomination of Frank Cox, pastor of North Metro First Baptist Church in Lawrenceville, Ga., for president of the Southern Baptist Convention was announced Feb. 7 by Alabama evangelist Junior Hill. Cox is one of six candidates Southern Baptist messengers will consider. Baptist Press asked each candidate to participate in a survey of mostly standardized questions, but the questionnaire included at least one query individualized for each candidate. Cox’s answers to the questions posed by Baptist Press follow: 1) What has God done in your life and ministry to prepare you to be president of the Southern Baptist Convention? First and foremost, God, in His grace, allowed me to be birthed into a Southern Baptist pastor’s home. I am a third-generation Southern Baptist preacher. It was there I learned about the grace of God and salvation offered me through Jesus Christ. He saved me at 8 years of age, called me to preach at the age of 17, and I was educated by Southern Baptists for effective … [Read more...]

The nomination of Johnny M. Hunt, pastor of First Baptist Church of Woodstock, Ga., for president of the Southern Baptist Convention was announced May 6 by Ted Traylor, pastor of Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola, Fla. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--The nomination of Johnny M. Hunt, pastor of First Baptist Church of Woodstock, Ga., for president of the Southern Baptist Convention was announced May 6 by Ted Traylor, pastor of Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola, Fla. Hunt is one of six candidates Southern Baptist messengers will consider. Baptist Press asked each candidate to participate in a survey of mostly standardized questions, but the questionnaire included at least one query individualized for each candidate. Hunt’s answers to the questions posed by Baptist Press follow: 1) What has God done in your life and ministry to prepare you to be president of the Southern Baptist Convention? For the last four or five terms, I have had different men to ask me for the privilege to place my name in nomination. After praying through it, I never felt led. Oftentimes, it has been said that I had placed my name in nomination and removed it. That is not a true statement. My name has never been placed in nomination. With that … [Read more...]

The nomination of Les Puryear, senior pastor of Lewisville (N.C.) Baptist Church, for president of the Southern Baptist Convention was announced May 12 by Dwight McKissic, senior pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Arlington, Texas. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--The nomination of Les Puryear, senior pastor of Lewisville (N.C.) Baptist Church, for president of the Southern Baptist Convention was announced May 12 by Dwight McKissic, senior pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Arlington, Texas. Puryear is one of six candidates Southern Baptist messengers will consider. Baptist Press asked each candidate to participate in a survey of mostly standardized questions, but the questionnaire included at least one query individualized for each candidate. Puryear’s answers to the questions posed by Baptist Press follow: 1) What has God done in your life and ministry to prepare you to be president of the Southern Baptist Convention? I have pastored for 11 years and worked in the business world for 25 years. I believe I have a unique combination of a solid theological foundation with a practical business approach to getting things done. Also, God has given me a passion for encouraging leaders of small churches. Since … [Read more...]

The nomination of Wiley Drake, pastor of First Southern Baptist Church in Buena Park, Calif., for president of the Southern Baptist Convention was confirmed May 20 by Bob Bosworth, the congregation’s music minister.    NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--The nomination of Wiley Drake, pastor of First Southern Baptist Church in Buena Park, Calif., for president of the Southern Baptist Convention was confirmed May 20 by Bob Bosworth, the congregation’s music minister. Drake is one of six candidates Southern Baptist messengers will consider. Baptist Press asked each candidate to participate in a survey of mostly standardized questions, but the questionnaire included at least one query individualized for each candidate. Drake’s answers to the questions posed by Baptist Press follow: 1) What has God done in your life and ministry to prepare you to be president of the Southern Baptist Convention? Forty-two years pastor of SBC churches in California, Texas, New Jersey, Arkansas. Seeing God save 300-plus each year for the past 10 years and allowing us to disciple them. God has allowed me to serve as moderator of our association twice and as second vice president of our SBC. He has allowed me to serve as a … [Read more...]

In Asia, Africa and Latin America more than 500 million people live in “absolute poverty.” STATEWIDE – In Asia, Africa and Latin America more than 500 million people live in “absolute poverty.” One in 12 people – 1.3 billion – worldwide are malnourished, including 160 million children under the age of 5. More than 850 million people around the world barely have enough to eat to sustain life, and annually, more than 10 million children under the age of five die from diseases and malnutrition as a result of hunger. It is almost incomprehensible, especially to many who live in the United States; such conditions could exist in the world today. But world hunger does exist, and it is 100 percent preventable. On the weekend of April 19, 21 members of the youth group of Hebron Baptist Church in Bush learned firsthand what it would be like to go without food by participating in a “30 Hour Famine.” The participants – four boys and 17 girls – ranged from 12 to 17 years of age. “I originally heard about this event through the seminary (New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary), and again when I was a youth intern in Athens, Ga. Using the guidelines of the World Vision Organization the kids got a taste of what many … [Read more...]