Friendship Baptist, Many North Sabine Baptist Association A small church with a bivocational pastor nonetheless found a way to be actively involved in missions. About 55 people attend Sunday morning worship at Friendship Baptist, which started in the 1960s as the result of a church spilt. The church meets in its white vinyl-over-wood church building graced by a tall steeple; Friendship is located seven miles north of Many. Friendship Baptist is a country church in the woods, says Gary Allen, pastor for three years at Frienddship, and in the ministry for 17 years. His secular job is managerial: purchasing agent for three Cenla plants owned by Boise Southern. “Probably my biggest challenge starts with me,” Allen said. “It’s creating a deeper concern and desire to reach the lost not only in our community, but world-wide. I want to be able to not only speak but also to demonstrate the love of Christ so that others might truly see Jesus in me.” While members are actively involved in the House of Hope community ministry, they haven’t seen much that stirred them beyond the church walls, the pastor said. Until they heard Steve Speer, a former Friendship pastor, had become a church planter, that is. “I shared Steve’s vision one … [Read more...]

In November 1977 a group of conservative Christian leaders signed a full-page advertisement in The New York Times expressing their concern over international negotiations surrounding the permanent boundaries of Israel and the apparent pro-Arab tilt of American foreign policy. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) – In November 1977 a group of conservative Christian leaders signed a full-page advertisement in The New York Times expressing their concern over international negotiations surrounding the permanent boundaries of Israel and the apparent pro-Arab tilt of American foreign policy. To the evangelical leaders, among them the famed pastor of the First Baptist Church in Dallas, W.A. Criswell, all of the land west of the Jordan was Israel’s. The land was theirs by “divine right,” not because they had seized it in the Six Day and Yom Kippur wars. God had promised the land to the people of Israel. The statement was not Criswell’s first in support for Israel, and it would not be his last. In 1988, he was honored by Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin for his steadfast support of the Jewish people. Almost immediately after the publication of the advertisement in 1977, Criswell and other evangelical leaders were rebuked by the senior … [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 people go … [Read more...]

The 2008 Children’s Home Offering is on track for Sunday, June 8. MONROE – It’s just around the corner. The 2008 Children’s Home Offering is on track for Sunday, June 8. Churches across the state are praying, promoting and preparing for this day of support for your Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home. Lives are being changed for the better every day at the Children’s Home. Hurting boys and girls are finding hope and security for the first time in their short lives. Since 1899, children have found refuge at the Children’s Home. Our mission has remained steadfast over the past century …to build confidence and self respect in each child’s mind and heart…to replace their uncertainty and fear with a smile and laughter….to offer hope through a relationship with Jesus Christ.     You might find it surprising to know that the boys and girls who find themselves at the Children’s Home today are not orphans as they were when the ministry first began. Most come from homes that are shattered by abuse, neglect and family hardship.     Just in the past few years, we have seen children in situations that are just unimaginable. Through our doors came a beautiful, healthy baby boy who just wasn’t wanted. We welcomed a young girl … [Read more...]

The inmates stand, cheering for the two BMX riders who complete back flips off the ramp. ANGOLA – The inmates stand, cheering for the two BMX riders who complete back flips off the ramp. Not wanting to lose the energy of the group, Brad Bennett of Real Encounter begins to share his testimony and the love of Christ. Arms raise throughout the crowd as inmates respond to the Gospel message. Volunteers, Bible and follow up material in hand, help counsel the men as they begin their journeys as believers.  Louisiana Baptist volunteers prepared food, led revival services and participated in one-on-one evangelism in cells and dorms of prisoners during the May 16-17 Angola Revival. Friday afternoon the event was kicked off with a service in the rodeo arena. The Real Encounter team presented powerful shows of extreme sports and concluded with a message and invitation.  A reported 105 decisions, which included 66 professions of faith, were made during the Angola revival. The number of decisions continually increased as volunteers reported on their experiences. Some 5,200 inmates reside in Angola; about 1,300 in cells and the rest in dorms. To reach them, volunteers ate lunch with inmates, and visited with them in the dorms and … [Read more...]

Sharing fond memories…catching up on each others lives…enjoying great food and entertainment and just being together…that’s what family reunions are all about. MONROE – Sharing fond memories…catching up on each others lives…enjoying great food and entertainment and just being together…that’s what family reunions are all about. The Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home family reunion is no different. Scheduled for June 6th and 7th on the campus in Monroe, former Children’s Home “brothers and sisters” from across the country will come “home” for a special time of reminiscing and getting reacquainted. The LBCH alumni reunion which takes place every three years is greatly anticipated by alumni, children and staff alike. In addition to sharing stories and browsing through old photos, alumni have the opportunity to visit with current residents and share their experiences. This year, some very special entertainment is planned for the weekend. On Friday evening, “America’s Minister of Encouragement” Dr. Dennis Swanberg will be on hand to share a few humorous stories that will make you laugh and be encouraged at the same time. On Saturday, the southern gospel group The New Liberty Quartet will perform a mini concert. If you … [Read more...]

“The California Constitution properly must be interpreted to guarantee this basic civil right [the right to marry] to all Californians, whether gay or heterosexual, and to same-sex couples as well as to opposite-sex couples,” declared the California Supreme Court. The court ruled 4-3 on May 15 that “homosexual marriage” must be sanctioned in the Golden State. “The California Constitution properly must be interpreted to guarantee this basic civil right [the right to marry] to all Californians, whether gay or heterosexual, and to same-sex couples as well as to opposite-sex couples,” declared the California Supreme Court. The court ruled 4-3 on May 15 that “homosexual marriage” must be sanctioned in the Golden State. Although California’s high court says that marriage should be guaranteed to all Californians, it really does not believe its own ruling – not really.  When the ruling takes effect, which it is set to do in 30 days, marriage is still going to be regulated. All Californians will not be allowed to marry whomever they desire, and there will still be restrictions. So who will be able to enter into marriage in California? According to Chief Justice Ronald M. George, who wrote the majority opinion, only individuals … [Read more...]

The value of denominations in America is being scrutinized, analyzed, and evaluated today. Many denominational churches are in trouble due to a loss of influence, declining offerings, an aging church membership, and a failure to attract younger people. The value of denominations in America is being scrutinized, analyzed, and evaluated today. Many denominational churches are in trouble due to a loss of influence, declining offerings, an aging church membership, and a failure to attract younger people. George Mitrovich, a member of First United Methodist Church in San Diego and active in Wesleyan renewal efforts, has stated that membership in the United Methodist Church in America has declined by nearly three million members in the past 30 years. He reveals that the average age of a United Methodist is approaching 60 and that United Methodist youth membership totals less than 500,000. “Based upon available statistical evidence, one doesn’t need to be a rocket scientist to understand that unless we experience dramatic change, the United Methodist Church has no future,” Mitrovich observed. “We are a dying denomination – a once great church that is in danger of becoming a mere footnote in American history.” Mitrovich … [Read more...]

The California Supreme Court ruled May 15, 4-3, declaring Proposition 22 (which was adopted by vote of the people and states: Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California) unconstitutional and opening the way for homosexual marriages to be legalized in California. The California Supreme Court ruled May 15, 4-3, declaring Proposition 22 (which was adopted by vote of the people and states: Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California) unconstitutional and opening the way for homosexual marriages to be legalized in California. Their decision is a disaster for the future of California. If it leads to homosexual marriage being legalized and widely practiced, the negative societal ramifications will undermine the family – and ultimately societal structures that support healthy communities. Others have written in great detail about these implications and I will leave it to those columnists to make those points. Let me respond with a more personal perspective – and one I encourage you to emulate. While I have homosexual friends and family members, my positive relationships with them do not minimize my opposition on this issue. I am not homophobic, nor am I a … [Read more...]

You know you’ve been to the hospital too many times when the emergency room staff knows you by name. When my boys were younger, I think we even may have qualified for customer loyalty cash back on certain hospital procedures. You know you’ve been to the hospital too many times when the emergency room staff knows you by name. When my boys were younger, I think we even may have qualified for customer loyalty cash back on certain hospital procedures. Those painful memories of many minor hospital visits rose to the surface again recently. My week ended with my daughter needing an emergency visit to the dentist because of an abscessed tooth. Two days later, my youngest son fell off a scooter and we were in the emergency room getting a splint on his elbow and arm. Spring training for high school football started two days after that and we were back in the hospital because my oldest son received a mild concussion from a blow to the head. It’s not that I don’t appreciate the medical staff and their wonderful skills, but I would like to appreciate them from afar. I think it is much better to recommend doctors based on other people’s evaluations than from first-hand experience. “It is not those who are healthy who need a … [Read more...]