The youth minister asked everyone in the circle to stand up and join hands to pray, but Roger Rice didn’t have any arms, much less hands. It was his first time at church after a long absence, and he was skeptical about how he’d be treated.  NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) – The youth minister asked everyone in the circle to stand up and join hands to pray, but Roger Rice didn’t have any arms, much less hands. It was his first time at church after a long absence, and he was skeptical about how he’d be treated. “I wondered how he was going to react to me being right next to him,” Rice said of the youth minister at Westwood Baptist Church in Nashville, Tenn. “But without any hesitation at all, he reached and touched me on the shoulder. It was at that moment that God touched my heart and I realized how stupid I had been and that I needed Christ in my life.” Rice, who stands three foot, four inches, was born in the late 1950s with severe physical handicaps caused by an inadequately tested drug that was intended to prevent miscarriages and control morning sickness. Medical professionals advised Rice’s parents to place him in a nursing home because of the burden he would be to them and because his quality of life looked dim. But a … [Read more...]

People of faith have firm positions on key issues that drive how they evaluate candidates and parties. Evangelicals may reveal differences in preferences as they seek the man or woman who best represents their values. However, there is no evidence those values as priorities have changed, and that will be a part of the story in the 2008 elections. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) – In January, “reform” was the rally cry of the Democrat-controlled Congress that took office in 2007, but reform also was the prescription offered in sports with the late December release of the Mitchell Report detailing the wide extent of steroid and human growth hormone use in Major League Baseball. Meanwhile, the lack of reform about liberal homosexual policies within the Episcopal Church caused the first entire diocese to break with the denomination. In Southern Baptist life, reform involved debate about the extent and impact of Calvinism in the convention. However, both political and religious news of 2007 most likely will be remembered for what it meant to events yet to come in 2008, and for the apparent strengthening ties between religion and politics at a time when public attacks against faith in the public square are on the rise. Southern … [Read more...]

Ten people made professions of faith in Jesus because Jeff Mizell attended the annual LBC Evangelism Conference last year. PINEVILLE – Ten people made professions of faith in Jesus because Jeff Mizell attended the annual LBC Evangelism Conference last year. Mizell, pastor for three years of Isabel Baptist in Bogalusa, participated at the 2007 Evangelism Conference in several small group seminars, and at one, heard about help being offered from the North American Mission Board for smaller church revivals. “It actually worked out good!” Mizell said. “It” is the Baptism Assistance Project – BAP, a partnership between NAMB and COSBE, the Council of Southern Baptist Evangelists to benefit smaller churches. Churches of limited size that commit to a detailed planning and preparation process, and agree to take a sacrificial love offering to go to BAP, receive – at no further cost, not even for travel expense – the revival preaching services of a COSBE-certified evangelist. Gary Bowlin, a preaching evangelist from Mississippi, and Bob Smith, a music evangelist from Alabama, teamed up to bring a weekend revival at Isabel Bogalusa in September that led to 10 professions of faith and several rededications. “I wouldn’t have … [Read more...]

On Aug. 28, 1963, an estimated 250,000 people gathered at our nation’s capital for the express purpose of making a unified statement that all citizens of America – regardless of their skin color – should be treated with equality. On Aug. 28, 1963, an estimated 250,000 people gathered at our nation’s capital for the express purpose of making a unified statement that all citizens of America – regardless of their skin color – should be treated with equality. It was to this mighty throng that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his most memorable oratory. With an economy of words, Dr. King eloquently articulated a vision that still moves people committed to life, liberty and justice for all. Throughout his “I Have A Dream” speech, Dr. King echoed his vision of a colorblind America where people would “not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” “In a sense,” he told the crowd, “we have come to our nation’s capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men would be guaranteed the … [Read more...]

Cancer is an ugly visitor.It enters your home without asking. It rearranges your life. It takes over with or without your consent. ALEXANDRIA (BP) – Cancer is an ugly visitor. It enters your home without asking. It rearranges your life. It takes over with or without your consent. I remember a conversation about cancer with my friend Ricky several years ago. He told me his story of his father battling cancer, and I was quick to say I didn’t ever want to go through that with a family member. But Ricky said he viewed the issue differently. Ricky told me how his father’s cancer was the greatest blessing of his life. For the first time, he and his father had man-to-man conversations, instead of father-to-son talks. The two spent hours during the chemotherapy, telling each other the things they had always wanted to tell. Their love for each other grew deeper. Instead of sadness, there was great joy. I thought about Ricky’s story these past 20 months as I watched my mother-in-law, Claudia, and my wife, Wendy, walk side-by-side as Claudia became a breast cancer survivor. The two who were already close became even closer. I gave both Claudia and Wendy a double-banded ring to wear to remind them to pray for one … [Read more...]

Cancer is an ugly visitor. It enters your home without asking. It rearranges your life. It takes over with or without your consent. ALEXANDRIA (BP) – Cancer is an ugly visitor. It enters your home without asking. It rearranges your life. It takes over with or without your consent. I remember a conversation about cancer with my friend Ricky several years ago. He told me his story of his father battling cancer, and I was quick to say I didn’t ever want to go through that with a family member. But Ricky said he viewed the issue differently. Ricky told me how his father’s cancer was the greatest blessing of his life. For the first time, he and his father had man-to-man conversations, instead of father-to-son talks. The two spent hours during the chemotherapy, telling each other the things they had always wanted to tell. Their love for each other grew deeper. Instead of sadness, there was great joy. I thought about Ricky’s story these past 20 months as I watched my mother-in-law, Claudia, and my wife, Wendy, walk side-by-side as Claudia became a breast cancer survivor. The two who were already close became even closer. I gave both Claudia and Wendy a double-banded ring to wear to remind them to pray for one … [Read more...]

Jan. 22 will mark the 35th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s historic and horrific Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion on demand in America. Southern Baptists won’t be celebrating, though. ORLANDO, Fla. (BP) – Jan. 22 will mark the 35th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s historic and horrific Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion on demand in America. Southern Baptists won’t be celebrating, though. Instead, they can celebrate the fact that due to hundreds of crisis pregnancy centers across the United States supported by SBC churches, an estimated 3,500 babies were spared from abortion during 2007. Additionally, some 5,000 women accepted Christ because pregnancy center staff members shared the Gospel with them. Through October 2007 – the period through which exact statistics were available – almost 94,000 clients had received counseling and free services from the centers; center staff had shared the Gospel with 28,000 girls and women; and almost 2,700 Southern Baptist volunteers were trained to present the Gospel to center clients. One life-saving example is in Florida, where more than 700 infants are alive today because of the work in 2007 at First Life Center for Pregnancy, an outreach of First … [Read more...]

ARCHIBALD About 100 people participate in Sunday morning worship at First Baptist Archibald, where John Cleveland has been pastor since April 2007. Members give 12 percent of undesignated receipts to missions through the Cooperative Program and Richland Baptist Association. “Arms in Motion for Christ” is a traveling puppet ministry led by Tammy Woods and perhaps a dozen First Archibald members. Call to set a time they can minister at your church: 318.334.2938. About 60 youngsters participate in Awanas each Wednesday evening. Senior adults throughout the community gather at First Archibald once a month for DMA – Don’t Mention Age – which includes a program and mission projects. “This is a church that truly has a heart for people and for service to the Lord,” Cleveland said. The church in downtown Archibald is often identified as the one with the blue metal gym, the pastor said. It also has a red brick worship center, topped by a white steeple. NATCHITOCHES  Lambda Chi, the girls ministry at First Baptist Natchitoches, sponsors the annual “Princess Retreat,” which this year is set for Saturday, Jan. 19, at the church. It’s an opportunity for sixth- through twelfth-grade girls to come together for a day filled … [Read more...]

COMINGS, GOINGS   Sarabeth Parker, resigned as pianist/organist at First Baptist,  Bastrop.   Alton Achord (wife Maedean), new as associate pastor at Calvary Baptist, Gardner.  Dan Clancy, new as minister of youth at Summer Grove Baptist, Shreveport.  Jack Duke, new as minister of music at Emmanuel Baptist, Vivian.  Virgil Ragland (wife Susan), new as pastor at Linda Lay, Gilliam.  Jerry Elkins, retires as minister of music, from Airline, Shreveport.  Lewis Attaway, retires as pastor of Fillmore, Princeton.  Jamey Droddy, director of Baptist Collegiate Ministries, Shreveport.   LOTTIE MOON CHRISTMAS OFFERINGS   Fair Park Baptist, West Monroe, Goal: $15,000; Received: $15,571.25. Waymond Warren, pastor  First Baptist, Franklinton, Goal: $7,500; Received: $15,106.50. Luther Stanford, pastor.  First Baptist, Oak Grove, Goal: $2,400; Received: $4,196.50. First Baptist, Houma, Goal: $18,000; Received: $20,735.44 CONCERTS AND RELATED EVENTS   PINE PRAIRIE – Altar’d is to be in concert at Friendship Baptist, 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19. Love offering. Barry Trindle is pastor.  DEVILLE – The Louisiana College Chorale is to be in concert at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19, at Philadelphia Baptist. … [Read more...]

The 2008 Compensation Survey for Southern Baptist churches, provided through the joint efforts of Baptist state conventions, LifeWay Christian Resources and GuideStone Financial Resources, is now available online atwww.LifeWay.com/compensationsurvey. DALLAS — The 2008 Compensation Survey for Southern Baptist churches, provided through the joint efforts of Baptist state conventions, LifeWay Christian Resources and GuideStone Financial Resources, is now available online at www.LifeWay.com/compensationsurvey. All ministers and employees of Southern Baptist churches are encouraged to participate. Answers to the online survey are kept confidential and are not reported individually. The survey takes, on average, less than 10 minutes to complete. In addition to salary and benefit information, participants in the survey will need to have available their church’s average weekly worship or Bible study attendance, resident membership and annual budget. LifeWay and GuideStone are pooling resources to provide the online survey, compile the data and make available an online reporting tool for users to access results. The survey is available through mid-April, and results will be released in time for the Southern Baptist … [Read more...]