SHREVEPORT/BOSSIER CITY – A church may call a man to be its pastor, but God calls a man to preach. Jeff Harper is a testimony to that statement. He began his career in ministry at Bellaire Baptist Church in Bossier City in 2000 as a student intern. Throughout his eight-year tenure, he served on the staff of his father, Randy Harper, in the sports outreach program, student ministry, young adult ministry and recently as the associate pastor. A month ago he accepted the pastorate at his father’s old church to serve in the same pulpit his father served in more than 15 years ago. “I always envisioned I would stay under my dad’s ministry until he retired, and then follow him into the pulpit if that was God’s plan for me,” Harper said. “In 2008, Northwoods Baptist, dad’s old church, approached me and asked if I would become their pastor. “I prayed about it but I just wasn’t comfortable at the time with the idea of leaving Bellaire, especially since our church was in the middle of a $6 million-building campaign,” Harper said. A year later, Northwoods approached Jeff again. “I still was hesitant about leaving,” Harper said. “So, I asked God to tell me what I needed to do. After much prayer, He changed my heart, and I … [Read more...]

Externally, not much seems to have changed in this southwestern Louisiana town since Hurricane Ike barreled its way through the region last fall. JOHNSON BAYOU – Externally, not much seems to have changed in this southwestern Louisiana town since Hurricane Ike barreled its way through the region last fall. Most of the remnants of mobile homes seem to shiver in the early spring wind, with insulation material flapping from exposed studs like laundry on a clothesline. The roof of the new (since Hurricane Rita in 2005) building of Johnson Bayou Baptist Church has been removed from where it lay last August, flattened atop the rubble of what once were church walls, but that rubble remains – clay-colored concrete block, red brick facing, hand-sized shards of glass, bigger sections of what might have been bathroom mirrors, lengths of wood with nails pointed skyward, a broken toilet and a shattered baby grand piano among the residue. “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us,” are the words on a banner that hangs from the concrete baptistry, the only part of the structure still intact. Hung by townspeople, it is the motto of the Johnson Bayou High School Class of 2006, who … [Read more...]

Linda Selymes started gambling two years before her retirement as an executive at Boeing Aircraft. But after retirement, she began gambling more often. Linda Selymes started gambling two years before her retirement as an executive at Boeing Aircraft. But after retirement, she began gambling more often. She went through $500,000 in retirement savings, fell behind on house payments, and hated the person she had become. At the height of her addiction, she would draw out $500 from her credit union account and head for the casino. After losing that money, she would use her debit card to get another $500, then add $300 more to credit cards. On one occasion, she had in her purse $14,000 that she had won, but the money was all gone in just three days. At first Linda’s husband did not know what she was doing since she managed the household finances. But after an all-nighter at a casino, her husband threatened to leave her-though never did. Finally, her husband, her son, and her doctor convinced her to get help. It took several months to eventually gain control and completely stop gambling. She now says she will never stop going to her support group meetings because she knows that if she gambles again, she will be on … [Read more...]

With 825 students in attendance Feb. 6-7, the Collegiate Evangelism Conference – CEC – at Calvary Baptist Church in Alexandria increased in number by 200 from last year, reported Janet Williams, administrative assistant with the Louisiana Baptist Convention’s Collegiate Ministry department. ALEXANDRIA – With 825 students in attendance Feb. 6-7, the Collegiate Evangelism Conference – CEC – at Calvary Baptist Church in Alexandria increased in number by 200 from last year, reported Janet Williams, administrative assistant with the Louisiana Baptist Convention’s Collegiate Ministry department. CEC is a chance for college students and high school juniors and seniors to come together in fellowship, and to be revived by the teachings of Christ, Williams explained.  Vantage Point, the theme for CEC 2009, taught students how to live in a secular world with a biblical point of view. “If we are going to be a people with a biblical world view, we must be people of the Word,” challenged Landon Dowden, featured speaker for the weekend. Dowden is senior pastor at CrossPoint Baptist Church in Baton Rouge. He speaks at many events for the Millennial generation, such as the Louisiana Youth Evangelism Conference, Student Life camps … [Read more...]

Against the backdrop of financial tumult and political change, the Board of Trustees of the Louisiana Baptist Foundation met in regular session on Jan.30 at the Baptist Building. ALEXANDRIA – Against the backdrop of financial tumult and political change, the Board of Trustees of the Louisiana Baptist Foundation met in regular session on Jan.30 at the Baptist Building. Because of the routine quarterly meetings and the electronic media updates provided by Foundation staff between meetings, the Trustees were greeted with no surprises. The Board welcomed Cornelius Tilton as a new trustee. Tilton is pastor of Irish Channel Christian Fellowship in New Orleans. In addition to his duties as pastor, Tilton has a solid background in administration and also serves on civic committees for the city of New Orleans. The Board was presented with several reports including the total assets under management of $125,367,000. Investment income paid to Baptist causes and ministries in 2008 from Foundation accounts was more than $5,140,000. During the morning hours, the Investment Committee of the Board heard a presentation from Lee Morris, senior vice president of institutional investments at Citigroup. Morris serves as investment … [Read more...]

COMINGS AND GOINGS -Daniel (wife Catherine) Reed, new as pastor, Evans Creek Baptist, Pearl River. NEEDED -Part-time/bivocational worship minister; send resume to Longview Baptist Church, Attention: Music Search Committee, PO Box 29, Deville LA 71328. -Used 35-41 passenger bus; call 318.237.9454. -Full-time pastor; send resume to Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church, PO Box 969, DeQuincy LA 70633. -Bi-vocational youth minister; send resume to Cooper Baptist Church, 853 Cooper Church Road, Leesville LA 71446. ANNIVERSARIES AND CELEBRATIONS -SLIDELL – Calvary Baptist: 50th Anniversary Celebration and reception 6 p.m. Saturday, March 14; 11 a.m. Sunday, March 15; David Hankins, speaker; meal to follow service; Charles Starnes, pastor. -BOYCE – Cotile Baptist: Homecoming Sunday, March 15; Johnny Miller, speaker; lunch to follow; 1:30 p.m. Joe Cook Family in concert. -SHREVEPORT – Kingston Road Baptist: 5th Anniversary and Homecoming celebrated on March 1; Trey Lewis, pastor. -WEST MONROE – Fair Park Baptist: 60th Anniversary Celebration 10:30 a.m. Sunday, March 15; picnic style lunch; Waymond Warren, pastor. -METAIRIE – Shiloh Christian Fellowship Baptist: 20th Anniversary Celebration 9 a.m. Sunday, … [Read more...]

Despite the nation’s financial upheaval, “the generosity of countless numbers of men and women in the pews of our churches” is evident, leaders of the SBC’s 11 entities and its women’s auxiliary noted in an open letter to Southern Baptists released Feb. 16. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) – Despite the nation’s financial upheaval, “the generosity of countless numbers of men and women in the pews of our churches” is evident, leaders of the SBC’s 11 entities and its women’s auxiliary noted in an open letter to Southern Baptists released Feb. 16. Difficult circumstances often are “the platform on which God demonstrates His supernatural activity,” the Baptist leaders noted. “What appears to many as a dark day may be the brightest day we have ever seen for reaching this generation for Christ,” the leaders added. The open letter was read by SBC Executive Committee President Morris H. Chapman during the opening session of the EC’s Feb. 16-17 meeting in Nashville, Tenn. Released through the Great Commission Council, which consists of SBC entity presidents and Woman’s Missionary Union executive director, the letter also was signed by Atlanta-area pastor Johnny Hunt, president of the Southern Baptist Convention, and Randall L. James of … [Read more...]

Most American parents feel their parenting skills and family life are pretty good, but they are reluctant to describe their homes as peaceful, relaxed or joyful and their daily family time consists mostly of eating dinner and watching television, according to a new study from LifeWay Research. NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Most American parents feel their parenting skills and family life are pretty good, but they are reluctant to describe their homes as peaceful, relaxed or joyful and their daily family time consists mostly of eating dinner and watching television, according to a new study from LifeWay Research. While most parents are trying to improve their skills, far fewer look to the church or the Bible for help. The national survey of 1,200 parents with children under 18 at home was conducted by LifeWay Research, the research arm of LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. The study found that 96 percent of parents agree they consistently try to be better parents. Fifty-eight percent agree strongly and 38 percent agree somewhat with this statement. “Parents claim they are trying hard to be better parents but they are not welcoming outside guidance or advice,” said Scott McConnell, associate … [Read more...]

Psychologists and counselors are dealing with a problem that many in America consider inevitable: divorce. Psychologists and counselors are dealing with a problem that many in America consider inevitable: divorce. They offer advice to people in pain. On the surface, their advice sounds forward-looking, pragmatic, and helpful: Get On With Your Life ... GOWYL. “We think of a marriage as a crap shoot, with worse than 50-50 odds of finding and marrying ‘the right person,’” writes Diane Sollee of Smart Marriages. “If we marry ‘the wrong person,’ we want the right to exit and try again.” GOWYL. It’s hard to imagine a family that hasn’t been touched by divorce today. The method preferred by social scientists in determining the divorce rate is to calculate how many people who have ever married subsequently divorced. Counted that way, the rate has never exceeded about 41 percent, researchers say. Rising radically in the 1960s, since the 1970s the rate has steadily been inching downward. Still, even as divorce rates decline, the number of lives impacted is staggering. In 2003, based on the 45 reporting states (excluding California, Hawaii, Indiana, Louisiana, Oklahoma), 920,060 marriages were dissolved. Over 1.8 million … [Read more...]

Question: My spouse and I seem to fight all the time. I am so tired of the fighting. What should I do? Question: My spouse and I seem to fight all the time. I am so tired of the fighting. What should I do? Michele Louviere answers: First of all, I am so sorry that you and your spouse are struggling. Marriage can be a challenging relationship. Even though our society portrays marriage as “happily ever after,” even the best marriages have seasons of difficulty. Conflict doesn’t have to destroy your marriage; rather, it can actually help you grow as a couple. Here are some suggestions that may help you and your spouse.  First of all, when you are struggling with your spouse, it’s very easy to see what your spouse is doing wrong. You think, “if only my spouse would do _____, then everything would be ok.” It’s much more challenging to see your own contribution to the problems. Take some time to spend with God. Ask God to push away your thoughts about your spouse’s contribution to the problems and ask Him to show you what your contribution may be. Then ask God to really break your heart about what you have done or said to your spouse that has hurt his or her heart. Take 100 percent responsibility of whatever God places on your … [Read more...]