For the past 27 years, Reinaldo Meza has driven the same yellow Land Cruiser over the dirt roads of the Venezuelan Andes. CANAGUÁ, Venezuela (BP) – For the past 27 years, Reinaldo Meza has driven the same yellow Land Cruiser over the dirt roads of the Venezuelan Andes. Before heading to his farm, Meza stops at a roadside market in Canaguá to buy a few loaves of bread for himself and International Mission Board missionaries Forrest and Becky Bohlen. After a 45-minute drive from the market into the surrounding mountains, Meza pulls the truck off the road. He and the Bohlens will hike 30 minutes on narrow trails before they reach Meza’s farm, but he’s used to the hike. After six years of working in rural areas of the Venezuelan Andes, the Bohlens also have grown accustomed to the landscape. Although the Bohlens live in Mérida, they spend about two weeks each month in Canaguá, a mountain town in the region of Pueblos del Sur (Towns of the South). They travel mountain roads and hike beaten paths to build relationships with Andean agriculturists like Meza. “The Gospel is not being preached up here. It’s not even being heard,” Forrest says. The Iowa native previously was a pastor in Texas. “Our goal is to take … [Read more...]

A group of young people from The Nazarene Church in Great Falls, Kans., led by Michael Zigler, had planned a mission trip to Juarez, Mexico, this summer. SHREVEPORT – A group of young people from The Nazarene Church in Great Falls, Kans., led by Michael Zigler, had planned a mission trip to Juarez, Mexico, this summer. As the time grew nearer for them to leave for Juarez, the political instability and violence in the area became so dangerous that Zigler decided the environment may be too hostile to take the group of young people into. Upon hearing this, they were obviously disappointed but came up with an alternative mission. They put together a drama team to go into various churches that don’t have a budget to accommodate bringing such a team in to perform for their youth. It was a 60-minute drama portraying the love of Jesus that knows no boundaries. It sounded good, but unexpectedly “walls” were put up in their path. After calling several small churches and being told that such a thing should be scheduled months in advance, Ziglar and the team were once again disappointed, but didn’t give up. “I was praying and weeping for my ‘warriors’ and I felt the leadership of the Holy Spirit to take this message to … [Read more...]

FIRST BAPTIST OPELOUSAS ACADIA BAPTIST ASSOCIATION OPELOUSAS – The First Baptist Church JOY group met for the month of August with creative casseroles being brought for the covered dish luncheon and pictures of the past being brought to display to see if pictures could go unrecognized by fellow peers just for fun.  Alice Lewis provided program consisting of happenings from the past and our memories as gems. Central Louisiana Home Health Care provided blood pressure and pulse monitoring for the group.  Prayer was said for fellow JOY friends who were unable to attend due to sickness.  JOY meetings take place every second Tuesday of the month at First Baptist Church and is a ministry open to senior adults in the community.  The covered dish luncheon/fellowship begins at 11 a.m. with the meal being served at 11:30 a.m. The fellowship lasts until around 1 p.m.  If you would like more information about JOY and have an interest to attend, call the church at 948-4401. Perry Hubbs, pastor of First Opelousas, begins Sunday morning worship services at 10 a.m. with Sunday school following. OAK HILL BAPTIST SABINE BAPTIST ASSOCIATION MANY – Sometimes we are tempted to think that because a church may be small in size, … [Read more...]

For 32 years, Kathryn Carpenter was director of the Woman’s Missionary Union in Louisiana, from 1955-’86. BATON ROUGE – For 32 years, Kathryn Carpenter was director of the Woman’s Missionary Union in Louisiana, from 1955-’86. She died Sunday, Aug. 10. Her funeral was Aug. 16 at University Baptist Baton Rouge. “After her retirement she remained a faithful friend, teacher and mentor to WMU in this state,” said Janie Wise, LBC Women’s Missions and Ministry Strategist.  Carpenter began at the LBC in 1943 when she started working with the convention’s rural evangelism department. A popular Bible teacher and speaker, she lead Bible studies and conferences in numerous states and taught Sunday school classes at her home churches of Emmanuel Baptist in Alexandria and University Baptist in Baton Rouge for more than 50 years.  At her request, the Kathryn Carpenter Missions Endowment has been established through the Louisiana Baptist Foundation, Wise reported. Memorials may be sent to the Kathryn Carpenter Missions Endowment at the Louisiana Baptist Foundation, PO Box 311, Alexandria LA 71309. Income from the endowment is to be distributed to the Lottie Moon Offering for International Missions, the Annie Armstrong … [Read more...]

COMINGS AND GOINGS -David Cranford resigns as pastor Tioga First Baptist, Tioga going to First Baptist, Ponchatoula. -Matt Palmer (wife Leah) new as pastor, Lamourie Baptist, Lecompte. NEEDED -St. Landry Baptist Church needs 15-passenger van for ministries. Donation appreciated; willing to buy if good price. Pastor Joshua Adams. 318.838.2655 or 337.331.1974. LICENSES -Scott Tagert licensed to the gospel ministry by First Baptist, Morgan City. ANNIVERSARIES AND CELEBRATIONS -RAYVILLE – Boeuf River Baptist celebrates David Herrington (wife Becky) 25th anniversary in ministry 10 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 24; fellowship, dinner on grounds; music and testimonies. David Herrington, pastor. -TIOGA – Tioga First Baptist hosts covered dish luncheon 11:15 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 24 in honor of David Cranford’s service as pastor. -FRANKLINTON – Sunlight Baptist celebrates 80th Anniversary and Homecoming 10 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 31; Sammy Smith, pastor. -BATON ROUGE – Oakcrest Baptist celebrated 48th Anniversary and Homecoming Sunday, Aug. 17.  Jamie Elliott, guest speaker; Ace McVay, pastor. -OAK GROVE – First Baptist Centennial Celebration Fellowship 4 p.m. Saturday,  Aug. 30; Jan Russell, Stan Taylor, Garth Smith, McKay Pearce, … [Read more...]

Jennifer Nichols acknowledges that her archery training can be tedious. BEIJING (BP) – Jennifer Nichols acknowledges that her archery training can be tedious. The U.S. Olympic archer shoots at her target from a distance of 70 meters. After every six shots, she walks to the target to retrieve her arrows. She usually shoots at least 120 arrows every day – sometimes as many as 200. Do the math, and that means she spends a lot of time walking. So Nichols and her sister Mandy, who trains with her, found a way to redeem the time – by reciting passages from Scripture. Jennifer has memorized the first five chapters of Proverbs. They recite verses to each other as they walk back and forth to the targets. “We want to verbally speak it so it gets into our lives and into our heads,” Nichols said. Nichols’ Scripture-saturated language is proof that the Bible memory exercises have worked, just as her prowess with a bow has proven the success of her archery training. Nichols discovered during the 2004 Olympics in Athens – when she placed ninth – that winning a medal is not her top priority. “After that year, I realized that winning and my achievements in archery became a little too important to me,” Nichols said. “I … [Read more...]

In all likelihood, Matt LaPorta will have a standout career in professional baseball. BEIJING (BP) – In all likelihood, Matt LaPorta will have a standout career in professional baseball. LaPorta, left fielder for the Akron Aeros, the Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians, came to the franchise in the trade that sent Cy Young winner C.C. Sabathia to the Milwaukee Brewers in early July. Teams don’t typically give up pitchers like Sabathia for second-rate prospects. The Indians expect great things from LaPorta, who prior to the trade had hit 20 home runs for Huntsville to lead the Southern League in that category. But no matter what the future holds for LaPorta in the big leagues, he’ll tell you that representing his country in the Olympics is “a huge deal.” “I’m so thankful. My fiancée and I, we’ve been doing a lot of praying about it. God definitely answered our prayers and has given me the opportunity to play on the Olympic team,” LaPorta said. “It’s going to be up there with the pinnacle of my career,” he continued. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime thing.” LaPorta, a native of Port Charlotte, Fla., was raised as a Catholic but eventually stopped going to church altogether. During his high school years, … [Read more...]

Elaine Breeden’s swimming career almost didn’t get started. Her uncle signed her up for swim lessons when she was 4, but Breeden was too afraid to get into the water. BEIJING (BP) – Elaine Breeden’s swimming career almost didn’t get started. Her uncle signed her up for swim lessons when she was 4, but Breeden was too afraid to get into the water. “I refused to get in, and I remember him chasing me around the pool deck,” Breeden said. “He finally won, and I have been swimming ever since.” Breeden, 19, a native of Lexington, Ky., is now happy that her uncle was faster than she was. She’s representing the U.S. swim team in Beijing in the 100-meter and 200-meter butterfly events, her first time to compete in the Olympics. In the 100-meter race, she advanced to the semifinals but didn’t qualify for the finals. She’ll begin competition in the 200-meter event Aug. 12. A product of Trinity Christian Academy in Lexington, Ky., which doesn’t have a swim team, Breeden now swims at Stanford University. In a university setting that can often be hostile to Christians, Breeden has found a group of committed believers there as she pursues not only swimming, but her relationship with Christ. “She’s found a very comfortable, … [Read more...]

Prancing around the house in a Mary Lou Retton leotard, a 4-year-old Stephanie Brown Trafton wanted to be just like the gold medal gymnast from the 1984 Olympics. BEIJING (BP) – Prancing around the house in a Mary Lou Retton leotard, a 4-year-old Stephanie Brown Trafton wanted to be just like the gold medal gymnast from the 1984 Olympics. “I think a lot of young girls looked up to her during that Olympic season,” Trafton said. “She was graceful, beautiful and full of energy. I wanted to wear the USA uniform just like her.” At 6-4, Trafton doesn’t bear much physical resemblance to the petite Retton. But her dreams of following Retton to the Olympics came true in Athens in 2004. This year in Beijing, Trafton is again representing her country at the discus competition, which begins Saturday. “I plan on going into the event with a determination to make it onto the medal stand,” said Trafton, a native of Arroyo, Calif. “My first round will be doing just what it takes to make finals. In the final round I will be confident that I have the ability to compete for a medal.” Trafton has more on her mind in Beijing than just the competition. She also is leading a Bible study in Olympic Village for any athletes who want to … [Read more...]

NEW ORLEANS (BP) – Three years ago, New Orleans residents escaped a city forever changed. Nearly half would leave for good because they had no reason to return after Hurricane Katrina’s storm surge forced Lake Pontchartrain into their streets and living rooms. Those who returned when the city reopened came back to the eerie silence of a city under siege by disaster— a silence interrupted only by the mechanical buzz of construction equipment and military vehicles. “It was like a ghost town,” says Freddie Arnold, a North American Mission Board-supported church planter missionary, who only salvaged some cast-iron cookware and crystal from his own home. “To come back and see all your stuff moved around the house . . . furniture rotting. . .” Even now, the city is still only at half strength. Even as the smooth notes of jazz and tourists fill the French Quarter, places to the north near Lake Pontchartrain will never be the same. Indeed, some parts will never be rebuilt. In parts of the now-infamous Lower Ninth Ward, for instance, all that remain are houseless foundations reclaimed by overgrowth – a state made all the more poignant as alleged corruption siphons off a multi-billion-dollar stream of government – and other aid … [Read more...]