ALEXANDRIA – Emmanuel Baptist’s Heritage Club is to host Theron Jones of the Central Louisiana Red Cross as guest speaker at the 12 p.m. Friday, Oct. 26, meeting. A First Aid and CPR Training course is set for 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3. Pre-registration is required. Chris Thacker is pastor. BATON ROUGE – A trip to Audubon Zoo in New Orleans is set for Friday, Oct. 26, by First Baptist. Burn Page is pastor. BATON ROUGE – A Fall Family Gathering was held at Broadmoor Baptist, Sunday, Oct. 21. A Men’s Fall Prayer Breakfast is set for Saturday, Oct. 27. Major Stephen Long of the Baton Rouge Salvation Army is to be the guest speaker. Reservations are needed for the event. Children three years – 5th grade are to participate in the church’s Trunk or Treat at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 31. All children and adventuresome adults are encouraged to wear non-scary costumes and prizes are to be awarded for best adult costumes. DENHAM SPRINGS – Hebron Baptist is to conduct a “Fall Distribution Blitz” and “Prayer Walk” in area neighborhoods at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 27. Packets will contain a fall festival flyer, Upward Basketball and Cheerleading form and church services/information brochure. Joe Alain is … [Read more...]
Efforts of Louisiana Baptists bless Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home
Former cottage dad Don Estep sorts through food gathered during the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home’s 2007 Fall Food Roundup. Former cottage dad Don Estep sorts through food gathered during the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home’s 2007 Fall Food Roundup. Between Sept. 17 and Oct. 16, LBCH cottage dads drove across the state to pick up food collected by local churches. This year, 361 churches participated in the food drive. Food collected during Fall Food Roundup is used to feed the boys and girls of LBCH for an entire year. Items still needed are: syrup, cooking oil, ziplock bags, aluminum foil, plastic wrap, dishwashing liquid. “Our children are blessed daily by the efforts of Louisiana Baptists during Fall Food Roundup,” says Executive Director Perry Hancock. “This support helps us meet needs and share God’s love with hurting children. We are sincerely thankful to all who faithfully participate each year.” … [Read more...]
First Baptist Baker produces fall festival
Youth are to take youngsters through a maze in various parts of the church that are to depict earth, heaven and hell. First Baptist Baker produces a fall festival each year for children of the church and community. This year from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 31, the youth are to take the youngsters through a maze in various parts of the church that are to depict earth, heaven and hell. Dennis Allen is pastor; Amelia Pilcher is youth minister. … [Read more...]
Southern Baptists gave $7.4M in 2006 to fight hunger overseas, in North America
On Aug. 15, an 8.0-magnitude earthquake 90 miles outside of Lima, Peru, shook the countryside and left approximately 33,000 people without shelter and food. RICHMOND, Va. (BP)--On Aug. 15, an 8.0-magnitude earthquake 90 miles outside of Lima, Peru, shook the countryside and left approximately 33,000 people without shelter and food. Baptists immediately came to their aid. Missionaries on the ground and others from the United States gathered to feed and comfort the Peruvians. Wayne Brinkley of the Southern Baptist International Mission Board set up community kitchens to feed families in a city a few hours from Lima. A preliminary relief team assessed needs in the earthquake areas to bring relief to smaller communities. Within days, a system to feed thousands through World Hunger Funds was in place and Southern Baptist volunteers were in place to assist in this effort. On the other side of the world a few days later, another disaster occurred. The area around Bihar, India, was caught off guard in what was called the severest flood in living memory. Once again, World Hunger Funds allowed Southern Baptists to respond rapidly. Southern Baptist missionaries and local believers surveyed the flooding conditions, then quickly … [Read more...]
Public funding of Planned Parenthood challenged
Planned Parenthood may be a household name in this country but for none of the right reasons in the eyes of knowledgeable pro-lifers. WASHINGTON (BP) – Planned Parenthood may be a household name in this country but for none of the right reasons in the eyes of knowledgeable pro-lifers. The Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) describes itself as “the nation’s leading sexual and reproductive health care advocate and provider.” Planned Parenthood promotes itself as the protector of women and their rights. It says it desires for every child to be a wanted child. Hollywood celebrities and leading politicians laud its services, which are underwritten by more than $300 million in government funds annually. To pro-life advocates, however, Planned Parenthood is the United States’ No. 1 abortion chain, producing more than a quarter of a million dead babies in a year. It is a leading policy advocate for abortion rights without restrictions. Its clinics sometimes, if not often, cover up the sexual abuse of underage girls who seek their help. If a child is unwanted, PPFA typically promotes abortion, not adoption. Now, federal and state office holders, as well as enterprising pro-lifers outside government, are … [Read more...]
Missouri schools expel Planned Parenthood
A new law has made Missouri the first state to ban Planned Parenthood from teaching sex education classes in public schools. WASHINGTON (BP)--A new law has made Missouri the first state to ban Planned Parenthood from teaching sex education classes in public schools. The legislation’s enactment gave permanent status to the Missouri Alternatives to Abortion Services Program, allowing schools to emphasize abstinence during sex education classes. The law also prevents any personnel affiliated with abortion clinics from teaching sex education classes. Gov. Matt Blunt, R.-Mo., signed the bill into law at Concord Baptist Church in Jefferson City on July 6, saying in a written statement, “All life is precious and needs to be treated with the utmost dignity and respect. “Abortion providers like Planned Parenthood should not be supplying our students with information about sexual health,” Blunt said. “This vital legislation ensures that our children get the information they need from their teachers, parents and physicians.” Jim Sedlak, vice president of the American Life League, applauded Missouri’s action, saying in a news release, “The elected officials in Missouri understood the conflict of interest that exists when … [Read more...]
A 10-year-old’s Passion serving others
Erin Oquindo received 99 pairs of shoes and 154 pairs of socks last year for her 9th birthday. FRANKLIN, Tenn. (BP) – Erin Oquindo received 99 pairs of shoes and 154 pairs of socks last year for her 9th birthday. All of which she promptly gave away. No, Erin isn’t unusually finicky about footwear, nor does she harbor an orthopedic obsession. What she does have is a heart for service. When Erin invited friends to her birthday party, she told them she didn’t want gifts for herself, but asked them to bring shoes and socks to donate to the Dallas-based charity Shoes for Orphan Souls. “She didn’t feel like she needed anything, but she knew other people that did,” said Robin Oquindo, Erin’s mother. “She never thinks about herself; it’s the way she’s always been – it’s just the way God made her.” It is also just one of many mission projects in which Erin has participated. Braided pigtails and smudged Puma sneakers give every indication that Erin, who celebrated her 10th birthday in September, is an average girl excited about reaching “double digits.” But ask her about her extensive charity work, and her dark eyes reflect fond memories of mission projects that outnumber those of people many years her senior. “It … [Read more...]
Will Graham encourages N. O. faithful
A broad cross-section of nearly 1,200 New Orleans-area residents gathered at First Baptist Church on the second anniversary of Hurricane Katrina’s landfall. NEW ORLEANS (BP) – A broad cross-section of nearly 1,200 New Orleans-area residents gathered at First Baptist Church on the second anniversary of Hurricane Katrina’s landfall. They came to the 2007 Katrina Anniversary Prayer Rally to praise God for His abiding grace over the last two years and, under the high-energy direction of worship leader Lisa Pierre of Houston, praise God they did. They came to pray and – led by pastors from all over the city plus one high school girl – pray they did, for safety in the city, people who are standing in the gap, mothers keeping their families strong, students and teachers and more. Hard times continue in New Orleans, so they came also to be encouraged. George Shinn, owner of the Hornets pro basketball team, did more than that: With a coach’s pre-game fervor, he motivated those who had gone through a bad season to have faith – in America, New Orleans, oneself, neighbors and God. But Will Graham – son of Franklin, grandson of Billy – brought the unexpected. The program had William Franklin Graham IV bringing a “message of … [Read more...]
Revival breaks out at Trinity
Trinity Baptist reported 250 professions of faith and 119 other decisions during four days of revival last week. LAKE CHARLES – Trinity Baptist reported 250 professions of faith and 119 other decisions during four days of revival last week. Ronnie Hill of Fort Worth, Texas, was the preaching evangelist. Ray Jones of San Antonio, Texas, was the music evangelist. “Folks were saved; folks were revived. It was quite a deal, a God deal,” said Pastor Steve James. “We prayed and asked for God to do something supernatural, and He did. “It wasn’t like anything this church has ever experienced in its 75-year history,” James continued. “I’ve been pastoring for 30 years and I’ve never seen anything like this.” Prayer was the key, the pastor said. The church family – about 1,500 attend Sunday morning worship – individually through the week and corporately on Sunday for 40 days went through a revival preparation prayer guide developed by the Arkansas Baptist Convention and adapted by Trinity that included scripture, devotional thought, directive prayer and prayer specifics. “Ronnie just preached real simple messages and connected with the people,” James said. “We had 50 encouragers, counselors, who each received two weeks of … [Read more...]
Engaging culture for the sake of the Kingdom
Every week leading up to the week of prayer a recipient of the State Mission Offering will be highlighted. You’ll see a snapshot of your missions offering at work around the state. The week of prayer for the Georgia Barnette State Missions Offering (September 16-23) is just around the corner. The state goal is $1,500,000. Every week leading up to the week of prayer a recipient of the State Mission Offering will be highlighted. You’ll see a snapshot of your missions offering at work around the state. What if those who shape our culture—musicians, film-makers, entertainers and artists—used their art form to communicate the Christian faith? James and Amy Welch asked themselves that question as they processed God’s call on their lives to church planting. As artists, they felt drawn to “cultural creatives”—the highly educated and highly creative—who are often outside the reach of a traditional church. “We wanted to plant our lives with the people who are influencing the broadest segment of our society,” Welch said, “and bring the Gospel and redemption to the culture.” Sojourn Ministry, the sole Southern Baptist presence in the heart of the arts district of New Orleans, is engaging the culture with solid biblical … [Read more...]
