“We are still ministering to hundreds of people monthly who are still traumatized by Katrina,” reported Dennis Watson, pastor of Celebration Church, which has grown to include four campuses – two as a result of the storm, and one providentially two weeks before. METAIRIE – “We are still ministering to hundreds of people monthly who are still traumatized by Katrina,” reported Dennis Watson, pastor of Celebration Church, which has grown to include four campuses – two as a result of the storm, and one providentially two weeks before. About 600 people are in counseling with the church’s professional counseling staff, the pastor said. Many are coming to faith in Jesus Christ, he added. Celebration’s multiple ministries also include partnering with other inner-city churches, such as a National Baptist church that pre-Katrina had 225 in worship. “We are working with churches across the nation to help rebuild these congregations and ministries,” Watson said. The church also is working through its location on Transcontinental Avenue, and its other locations: Construction on the 250-seat worship facility and community/recreation center in St. Bernard, site of the former Arabi Baptist Church, is to be completed by the end of … [Read more...]

A new year is a splendid time for people to reflect on their lives and refocus their priorities. Let me join that chorus of voices reminding you to make “New Year’s resolutions.” It is a good thing to ask, “What will I do this year to build significance and service into my personal life?” A new year is a splendid time for people to reflect on their lives and refocus their priorities. Let me join that chorus of voices reminding you to make “New Year’s resolutions.” It is a good thing to ask, “What will I do this year to build significance and service into my personal life?” Churches need a time of reflection, too. Pastors are busy people. So are church lay leaders. We can become so busy that we don’t stop long enough to look at our past and refocus on our future. Are you engaging that process? That is what we hope to do with Empowering Kingdom Growth – Louisiana. If a church is already intending to use the beginning of a new year to challenge people to spiritual renewal; if a church is working toward an intentional evangelism and mission strategy so as to avoid merely surviving 52 disconnected Sundays a year; if a church recognizes the need for people to overcome financial tyranny and maximize their resources for God’s … [Read more...]

Hugh Hefner is “a pretty moral guy.” If you don’t believe it, just ask him. Hugh Hefner is “a pretty moral guy.” If you don’t believe it, just ask him. In an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times some time ago, the founder of Playboy magazine reflected on religion and morality. When asked whether he had ever sinned, Hefner replied, “Oh, sure, but I haven’t pursued very much immoral behavior. I’m a pretty moral guy.” How can a man who is credited with mainstreaming pornography into American culture claim to be moral? “Now it’s morality as I perceive it,” Hefner said. “Morality is what is perceived as good for people…. I define it in a way that is truly, what I believe to be truly humanistic and rational and loving.” So there you have it. Hugh Hefner is moral because he says he is. Welcome to the world of postmodern ethics where morality is in the eye of the beholder. While not easily understood, postmodern thought is nevertheless becoming the dominant philosophy in America. According to postmodern thought, the idea of “absolute truth” is an oxymoron. At best, truth is relative and a matter of individual interpretation. At worst, truth is a social invention designed to maintain a culture’s status quo. As such, it is … [Read more...]

On Friday, Nov. 9, Executive Committee President Morris H. Chapman mailed a letter to every church pastor in the Southern Baptist Convention asking him to participate in a Cooperative Program/Stewardship survey.  NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) – On Friday, Nov. 9, Executive Committee President Morris H. Chapman mailed a letter to every church pastor in the Southern Baptist Convention asking him to participate in a Cooperative Program/Stewardship survey. Chapman said the purpose of the survey is “to collect data that will provide an empirical baseline of our churches’ thoughts, feelings and perceptions about Cooperative Program/stewardship and to give us insights for developing a more focused strategy in the promotion of CP and stewardship across the convention.” LifeWay Research, the research arm of LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention, is conducting the survey at the request of Chapman, who described it as the most ambitious survey conducted to date by LifeWay. Chapman stated in the letter to pastors, “Learning actual opinions and assessments is our objective.” Describing the survey as comprehensive, Chapman noted that “every pastor plus five members of each church in the convention are being asked … [Read more...]

We heard reports [at a recent meeting] about the ongoing ministries of the Rachel Sims Baptist Center and the Carver Center, both located in the uptown area of New Orleans and ministering to inner city children. Larry Miguez is over both centers, with Linda Middlebrooks assisting him at Rachel Sims and Jennifer Fannin at Carver. NEW ORLEANS – We heard reports [at a recent meeting] about the ongoing ministries of the Rachel Sims Baptist Center and the Carver Center, both located in the uptown area of New Orleans and ministering to inner city children. Larry Miguez is over both centers, with Linda Middlebrooks assisting him at Rachel Sims and Jennifer Fannin at Carver. They are incredible servants of God, pouring out their lives for Christ in some difficult situations. Lots of positive things to report. Rachel Sims and Carver are providing ESL (English as a Second Language) classes for some 22 participants at the moment. They have programs to prepare people to take their GED exams. Puppet ministries, after school homework clubs, and discipleship classes. They host volunteers in their buildings – church teams from outside our area – who come to minister in the inner city. Director Larry Miguez reports that the centers … [Read more...]

Editor’s note: Part of the purpose of the Baptist Message is building community among Southern Baptist churches in Louisiana – helping us all get to know each other better. Toward that end, we started Louisiana Landscapes 18 months ago to let readers know what was going on in churches across the state. We relied on newsletters supplied us by churches and associations. But not all the nearly 1,600 churches in Louisiana send out newsletters, so this year our goal is to contact by telephone every church in the state, to learn what God is doing through each, in order to pass on that information to our readers for inspiration, prayer support and ideas exchange – and to remind each of us how good it is to be a Louisiana Southern Baptist! WINNSBORO – Buford Brady, 70, is pastor of Lone Cedar Baptist. The church has been working for a year on the preliminary work needed before construction can begin – permits and inspections – on a new worship center to set adjacent to the current church building, which is more than 100 years old.  Earth was to have begun moving this week. About 40 people attend Sunday morning worship at Lone Cedar; 25 in Sunday School. At Christmas they celebrated the first person baptized “in several years,” … [Read more...]

COMINGS, GOINGS -Kurt Auger, new as pastor at First Baptist, Farmerville, from Paron Baptist, Sterlington. -Adam and Lisa Farris, new as youth directors at Emmanuel Baptist, Ruston. -Brandon Ramsey, new as full-time counselor at First Baptist, Ruston. -Greg Oden, new as bivocational music minister at Mt. Vernon Baptist, West Monroe. -Kevin Miles, new as student minister at New Chapel Hill Baptist, West Monroe. -Julie Cappo, new as children’s minister at New Chapel Hill Baptist, West Monroe. -Ronnie Parks, resigned as pastor at St. Clair Baptist, Boyce. -Donald Turner, new as music minister at Live Oak Baptist, Watson. -Scott Munson, new as interim minister of music at Florida Boulevard Baptist, Baton Rouge, from Riverside Baptist, Watson. -David Chelette, new as associate pastor of music and education at Riverside Baptist, Watson. -Travis Turner, new as bivocational pastor at North Eunice Baptist, Eunice. NEEDED -Webster-Claiborne Association needs pastors at the following churches: First Castor, Old Saline, Castor, Calvary, Springhill, First Cotton Valley, Fellowship Dubberly, North Acres Minden. Youth ministers are needed at First Arcadia, First Doyline, First Ringgold. -Concord-Union … [Read more...]

Marian Jordan’s life was much like the four characters on HBO’s hit show “Sex and the City,” characterized by casual sex and expensive fashion.  NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) – Marian Jordan’s life was much like the four characters on HBO’s hit show “Sex and the City,” characterized by casual sex and expensive fashion. “Sex and the City became the show that defined life for modern single girls,” Jordan writes in a new book, “Sex and the City Uncovered,” released by B&H Publishing Group. “These new [role] models taught us that sex wasn’t sacred; it was simply a biological function. It was ‘just sex.’ “I’m just a girl who believed the lie that the deep longings of my soul could be fulfilled in the lifestyle portrayed on Sex and the City,” Jordan admits. “Rescued from the emptiness, I’m here to tell other women the rest of the story.” Jordan was a single career woman living a life focused on fashion, sex, alcohol and approval. When a friend invited her to Second Baptist Church in Houston, Jordan met the love of her life – Jesus. She began to see the misconceptions portrayed by Sex and the City and set out to share her new understanding with viewers of the show, which remains in syndication. “The girls of Sex and the … [Read more...]

Motherhood Interrupted, a book to be released early this month, consists of stories of healing and hope after abortion. Sixteen women come together to offer their personal experiences on how abortion affected their lives. Motherhood Interrupted, a book to be released early this month, consists of stories of healing and hope after abortion. Sixteen women come together to offer their personal experiences on how abortion affected their lives. “These revealing stories underscore the impact of abortion on the individual, relationships and families,” said Jane Brennan, author of Motherhood Interrupted. “These courageous women overcome their shame and guilt to witness to the devastating aftermath of their choice. “Through their stories readers will understand that abortion is not the answer for women or society,” Brennan continued. “Motherhood Interrupted is a journey through acceptance, forgiveness, and healing arriving at mercy and hope.” A Google search on “abortion regret” shows this is a book sorely needed. A 30-minute film on the subject – I Was Wrong – was released in July. “Empowered and unified voices of experience speak dismissed truth into the darkest moments of child loss through choice,”  said Joyce Zounis, … [Read more...]

William L. (Bill) Wagner, a former Southern Baptist missionary and seminary professor and current president of Olivet University International in San Francisco, says he will allow his name to be placed in nomination for Southern Baptist Convention president when messengers meet in Indianapolis in June. SAN FRANCISCO (BP) – William L. (Bill) Wagner, a former Southern Baptist missionary and seminary professor and current president of Olivet University International in San Francisco, says he will allow his name to be placed in nomination for Southern Baptist Convention president when messengers meet in Indianapolis in June. Wagner formerly was a professor of missions at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary and before that an International Mission Board missionary for 31 years in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. He served as SBC first vice president from 2003-04. He also is the pastor of a small San Francisco-area church, Snyder Lane Baptist, and the author of the 2004 book, “How Islam Plans to Change the World,” published by Kregel. “It is hard to believe that the Southern Baptist Convention, historically and currently bound together in their desire to introduce others to the Gospel all over the world, have … [Read more...]