“The church is looking for better methods. God is looking for better men,” pastor and author E.M. Bounds once wrote. “The church is looking for better methods. God is looking for better men,” pastor and author E.M. Bounds once wrote. There has never been a time in Southern Baptist history where we’ve had more methods to reach the lost. Yet when we look statistically at the impact we are having on our nation for Christ, we are losing the war. I’ve asked my friends at the North American Mission Board to confirm these statements. They did. We are a people with many strategies and yet the gates of hell are standing strong. I know that is not the final result. Jesus made a declaration of the ultimate defeat of those gates. Yet I’m not so sure the American church is causing the gates to bow. What are some of the reasons we are not taking the gates? One reason is a lack of urgency. When we live like there is a tomorrow, we always have one more day. We are supposed to be alert for the imminent return of Christ. Doesn’t that mean today? I think another reason we are not bowing the gates of hell is apathy. If a church of 100 committed followers of Christ rose up and collectively decided to affect their community of 1,000, … [Read more...]

Imagine you are a man who hasn’t attended a church in years. You enjoy such activities as golfing, hunting and fishing on Sunday mornings. You think it’s more beneficial to spend time outdoors with a few of your closest friends than it is to be cooped up in a church building.  GRAPEVINE, Texas (BP) – Imagine you are a man who hasn’t attended a church in years. You enjoy such activities as golfing, hunting and fishing on Sunday mornings. You think it’s more beneficial to spend time outdoors with a few of your closest friends than it is to be cooped up in a church building. Now imagine that your wife has asked you to try going back to the local Southern Baptist church one more time. Do you think the average worship experience will entice you to come back? Upon entering the service, worshippers sing what sound like sappy love songs to Jesus. The lyrics say things like, “Hold me close, let your love surround me,” “Jesus, I am so in love with you” and “I’m desperate for you, I’m lost without you.” After the singing, church attendees hold hands for prayer and hear a sermon emphasizing concepts such as a “personal relationship” with Jesus, having “intimacy” with God and “sharing” their feelings with other … [Read more...]

Giving helps to open doors in the former Soviet Union RICHMOND, Va. (BP) – When the Berlin Wall fell in 1989 and the Soviet Union collapsed two years later, the world changed. Southern Baptists responded rapidly, sending hundreds of missionaries and thousands of volunteers to spread the Good News and help local Baptists. Hundreds of millions in the former Soviet Union search for God but are ignorant of His love and mercy. Their hearts have been brutalized and corrupted, first by communism and later by the free-for-all greed that swept post-Soviet Russia and its satellite nations. Hearts literally are starving for the story of Jesus and the liberation that faith in Him can bring. Fifteen years after its fall, many doors remain open. But they could close at any moment. Some doors already are shutting as governments in the region restrict ministries, deny visas and send foreign workers home. Yet more than 280 million people in 350 unreached people groups – more than 90 percent of all people groups in the vast region – still don’t know Jesus is Lord and Savior of all peoples, including them. ACTION NEEDED The time to pray passionately, to give sacrificially, to act boldly is now. Southern Baptist … [Read more...]

Many people know her name. Few know her story. WAKE FOREST, N.C. (BP) – Many people know her name. Few know her story. The remarkable life of Charlotte “Lottie” Moon was recounted by Daniel Akin, president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Every December, the memory of Lottie Moon is honored by Southern Baptists when a worldwide missions offering is taken in her name, to be given to the cause of carrying Christ’s name to the nations. “I have no doubt, having spent many months in her biography and letters, that Miss Lottie would be both amazed and embarrassed at all the fuss that is made about her each year by Southern Baptists,” Akin said. However, more than $2.8 billion has been raised in her name for missions. Nearly 120 years after she first urged Southern Baptists to raise more than $3,000 to send three missionaries to China, the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering grew to a gift of more than $150 million dollars in 2006. “Hers was not a perfect life, no doubt,” Akin said. “It was, however, a powerful life, a life lived for King Jesus and a life worthy of our careful study and attention.” Akin said his study led to four lessons that Lottie Moon’s life exemplifies. Moon lived a grateful life, a total life, … [Read more...]

Church Planting Movement (CPM) is a rapid and multiplicative increase of churches planting churches within a given population segment or people group. Church Planting Movement (CPM) is a rapid and multiplicative increase of churches planting churches within a given population segment or people group. Missions International has recently researched movements in three countries with the following number of surveys of church planters in each country: 542 Surveys from a church planting movement of 400,000 858 Surveys from a CPM that is growing by 100,000 a month 507 Surveys from a movement of over 1 Million converts Our research revealed Seven Components that drive a CPM. Almost all focus on the equipping process and the expectations for new believers. Missions International is offering training for church planters and missionaries who would like to start a CPM anywhere on earth. From the Church Planting Booklet... So, what is a Church Planting Movement? A simple, concise definition of a Church Planting Movement (CPM) is: a rapid and multiplicative increase of indigenous churches planting churches within a given people group or population segment. There are several key components to this … [Read more...]

By the NUMBERS 5,338 Field personnel under appointment (11/07/07) 4,211 Career/associates /apprentices 1,127 2-year International Service Corps/journeymen/masters 758 Field personnel appointed 2006 6,100 Student volunteers 2006 609,968 Overseas baptisms 2007 157,890 Overseas churches 2007 9.9 million Overseas church membership 2007* 25,497 New churches 2007* 1,140 People groups engaged 5,924 People groups of the Last Frontier 1.6 billion Population of the Last Frontier peoples 6.6 billion World population 2006 $150.2 million Lottie Moon Christmas Offering receipts for Christmas 2006 $165 million Lottie Moon Christmas Offering goal for Christmas 2007 $304.8 million International Mission Board budget for 2008 $6 million World Hunger/Disaster Relief 2006 receipts $6 million   … [Read more...]

OAK GROVE – First Baptist is hosting an Evening of Celebration at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 4, with a Christian concert by Christian rock band Two Empty Chairs. A challenge from actor Jason McLeod of “Facing the Giants” is to be presented also. The event is sponsored by the Bayou Macon Association. Admission is $3 each, $5 for a family, or free for DiscipleshipNow Weekend participants. Carl Gulde is pastor. Kevin Miles is associate pastor/youth minister. Jay Morgan is director of missions. OAK GROVE – The BCM of Louisiana Tech is to lead small groups for a DiscipleshipNow Weekend at First Baptist at 7 p.m. Friday through Sunday, Jan. 4 to Jan. 6. Carl Gulde is pastor. Kevin Inman is BCM Director at Louisiana Tech University. Jay Morgan is director of missions. DENHAM SPRINGS – The 2008 Eastern Louisiana Baptist Associational Women’s Conference is set for 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 11, and 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12, at Calvary Baptist. Guest speaker is Patty Hankins of Alexandria. Nursery is to be provided. Registration of $20 is due by Jan. 4. Contact Michelle Miller at 225.937.0195 or xanderandre@cox.net for registration. DENHAM SPRINGS – Several courses to be offered at Calvary Baptist beginning Sunday, Jan. … [Read more...]

Joe McKeever has produced a set of cartoons on the Winter Bible Study Again, this year, Joe McKeever has produced a set of cartoons on the Winter Bible Study, which is Paul’s Epistle to the Romans this year. These cartoons are free of charge and available atwww.joemckeever.com. They may be reproduced and used any way the teacher/preacher chooses ,other than publishing them in book form.   … [Read more...]

COMINGS, GOINGS Ryann (wife Diana) Cooper, new as minister to youth and families at First Baptist, DeRidder. Randy Butler, new as music director at Downsville Baptist, Downsville. Jessie J. Charpentier Sr., new as pastor of Jenkins Memorial Baptist, St. Martinville. William “Bill” Pianki, new as associate pastor of youth and young adult ministries at Colyell Baptist, Livingston, from First Baptist, DeRidder. Mark (wife Michele) Wilson, new as student minister and associate pastor at First Baptist, Monroe. Brian Lee, resigned as associate pastor of youth and recreation at First Baptist, Vidalia. NEEDED A full-time maintenance technician and part-time housekeeper and food service worker are needed at Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center, Woodworth. Call 318.445.6797. Associate pastor of youth and recreation needed at First Baptist, Vidalia. Call 318.336.7111. Part-time, full-time and flexible hour childcare assistants are needed at East Leesville Baptist, Leesville. Interviews are to be held January 10. Call 337.239.3733. AVAILABLE A free piano is to be given to a mission church or any church. Contact First Baptist, Haynesville, at 318.624.0214. REVIVALS HAYNESVILLE – First … [Read more...]

When it comes to maintaining a vital relationship with the Lord, Sunday School leaders never graduate from the spiritual disciplines prescribed through the ages for all Christians NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) –When it comes to maintaining a vital relationship with the Lord, Sunday School leaders never graduate from the spiritual disciplines prescribed through the ages for all Christians: praising God and hearing His Word in corporate worship; praying to the Father and reading His Word in daily devotions; allowing the Holy Spirit to work through our spiritual gifts to minister to others; obeying Jesus by witnessing to His love and sharing the Good News of eternal and abundant life in Him; and gathering with other believers for fellowship. You could add other disciplines to this list. But there are some disciplines unique to the effective Sunday School leader. Here are a few: Continuous preparation The Sunday session always goes better when you start preparing early in the week. That may mean simply reading the Scripture passage on Sunday afternoon or Monday morning, and perhaps glancing at the teaching materials, especially the teaching aim. There are obvious reasons to do this, but there are also some less obvious ones. By … [Read more...]