Any hardships encountered by this Louisiana couple in the Dakotas are minor in comparison to their former Muslim ministry. MINOT, ND – Serving as missionaries with the SBC’s IMB  in Yemen from 1997 to 2002, Bruce Roach, along with his wife Beth and two sons, Caleb, now 13, and Michael, now 6, faced hardships and danger, yet also witnessed God’s activity, Beth said. She shared her family’s story at a recent WMU event in Vernon Baptist Association. The Roaches are from Louisiana. Stationed at the Southern Baptist Hospital in Jibla, Yemen, which at the time was funded by the International Mission Board, Bruce was chief of the medical staff while Beth homeschooled Caleb, cared for Michael, and spent time in her favorite activity: visiting with Yemeni women, she said. “Arabs originally migrated from the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, which is where Yemen is located,” Beth said. A very poor country about the size of Nebraska, Yemen has the highest percentage of Muslims in the world – 99.98 percent. The other .02 percent are Jews, a total of about 268 people. “We could discuss matters of faith, witness, or give someone a Bible only if we were asked specifically by a Yemeni,” Beth said. The Yemeni government did not … [Read more...]

In the city of Tiberius, on the northern edge of the Sea of Galilee on a December evening in 1998, Bill Bailey listened as a friend shared his testimony about being called to witness for the Lord. BOSSIER CITY – In the city of Tiberius, on the northern edge of the Sea of Galilee on a December evening in 1998, Bill Bailey listened as a friend shared his testimony about being called to witness for the Lord. At that moment, Bailey felt the Holy Spirit convicting him in a similar way, he said later. “I thought that if Jesus could change [my friend] so much he could change me too,” Bailey wrote in his book You Will Never Run Out of Jesus. “I prayed for a long time that night. I told Jesus that I knew I was His child … but not a true servant. I asked Jesus to let His will be mine. I wanted to surrender my life and services to him – whatever that would be.” Over the next year, Bailey’s life was changed forever, said the doctor, who is a member at Airline Baptist Church in Bossier City. By February of 1999, Bailey was doing short-term international mission trips. By September, he had retired from full-time medical practice to devote himself fully to short-term mission trips. “There comes a time in life when you reach the … [Read more...]

How does God grow a church? ALEXANDRIA – How does God grow a church? Healthy, growing churches seem to share eight quality characteristics, according to Christian Schwarz, founder and president of the Institute for Natural Church Development (NCD) in Germany. “[Schwarz] got to noticing that there was a connection along several points on churches he was studying across Europe,” said Randy Tompkins, president of Cornerstone Consultants here and a provider for NCD surveys. “After years of work and study, [Schwarz discovered] these eight characteristics.” The characteristics are: “empowering leadership; gift-oriented ministry; passionate spirituality; functional structures; inspiring worship service; holistic small groups; need-oriented evangelism; and loving relationships,” according to Natural Church Development, a book by Schwarz. Through NCD, churches can measure their effectiveness in all of these areas and thus “discover and develop [their] God-given, unique nature,” Schwarz wrote. Tompkins – former state Sunday school director and Stewardship and Cooperative Program director at the Louisiana Baptist Convention – can lead a Louisiana church through a NCD survey which is designed to measure the perception of … [Read more...]

JONESBORO – After seeing the production last year of Last Chance: Heaven’s Gate or Hell’s Flames at First Baptist Haynesville where Shelby Cowling is pastor, Randy Lee, pastor of Ebenezer Jonesboro decided a similar evangelical crusade was in order here, said Tom Williams, minister of music and education at Ebenezer. About 30 people were involved with the multi-media live drama June 24-26, Williams said. “We had a great turnout,” he added. At least 18 made professions of faith and another 18 came forward for rededication, including some in a family visiting from Texas. Ebenezer has visited those people who indicated they had no church affiliation and sent letters to appropriate churches for those who made decisions but were already associated with another church, Williams said. DRY CREEK – Dry Creek Baptist Camp has planned a couple of special nights in August: Father/Daughter Friday Night Out is set to start at 5 p.m. Aug. 17, with dinner to start at 6 p.m. and the evening to conclude by 9 p.m. The special night for fathers and their daughters is to be led by Bill Holifield, pastor of First Vinton, and his daughter, Laura. Cost: $7/person for dads and daughters at least 6 years old. Casual attire. A Men’s … [Read more...]

cooking and helping Southeastern students move in, a DJ will be entertaining in the background. “As you’re helping them to carry stuff in, it’s a way to introduce them to what’s available at the BCM,” Husser said. “John and I are working on a couple of other things too.” Among their discussions, a “BCM Sunday” at Crossgate, during which the BCM praise band would lead worship, and Schaffner would preach; “student adoptions” of BCM members by church members, so that students who live on campus can have a family nearby they can visit, go to church with, go out to eat with, share a meal with, hang out with and do laundry with, among other things. Crossgate and the BCM also want to find a way to introduce internationals to BCM and the church. AMITE – Kedron Baptist, where Herb Cowan is pastor, celebrates its 133rd anniversary and the dedication of a new activities building at 10:45 a.m. Sunday, July 29. A list of memorial gifts is to be read during the service. Immediately following, a ribbon-cutting ceremony is to take place in front of the old fellowship hall. A covered dish meal is to take place inside the new building. SHREVEPORT – A revival crusade is set for Aug. 5-8 at North Shreve Baptist Church, with Bill … [Read more...]

Robert Richardson (far right) celebrated the 55th anniversary of his ordination to the gospel ministry while he and his wife Rosalie were on a recent mission trip to Anchorage, Alaska, with the Evangeline Baptist Association. They’re shown here with daughter Barbara and  Charles Harvey of Orlando, Fla. Richardson, a native of New Orleans, was pastor of Coliseum Baptist in New Orleans from 1958-64, and one day before he was too old, he became a military chaplain. He retired in 1983 from the Air Force as a colonel. After pastoring in New Orleans, Shreveport, Plain Dealing, Lafaytte, Kaplan and Duson, the Richardsons now are members at First Lafayette, where he continues as a Sunday school teacher and she is active in WMU. and choir. … [Read more...]

Comings, Goings Jonathan Bost, new as interim pastor at Jenkins Memorial Baptist Church, St. Martinville. Needed Sicily Island First Baptist Church seeks a bivocational pastor. Please send resumes to Pastor Search Committee, 2676 Hwy 8, Sicily Island LA 71368, or email to jamyers@nexusla.net. For more information, call 318.389.5572. Deaths While Sonny AAWilson of Bienville Baptist Association was on a mission trip to Mexico in early July, his daughter, Dixie Wilson, 26, died. Concerts and related events Good Old Southern Gospel 5th Sunday Sing at 5 p.m. Sunday, July 29, at Providence Baptist, Leesville. Guests include Gravel Hill, Marlow, Lonestar, Smyrna and others. Bring a friend and a covered dish. Call 318.463.8683 for directions. Lonnie Cleveland is pastor. The Pineridge Quartet is to perform at 6 p.m. Sunday, July 29, at Homewood Baptist in Alexandria. Robbie and Paulette Mays are to be at the church at 10:45 a.m. Aug. 5. Jimmy Koonce is pastor. Country Christian recording artist Hunter Irwin is to perform at 6 p.m. Sunday, July 29, at Old Zion Hill Baptist in Albany. Bobby Stults, pastor. The Cook Family is to perform in concert at 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 4, at Evangeline Baptist. Pastor … [Read more...]

A shot at watching his uncle Kris Korver play at Paramount (Calif.) High School hooked Kyle Korver on basketball. MEMPHIS, Tenn. (BP) – A shot at watching his uncle Kris Korver play at Paramount (Calif.) High School hooked Kyle Korver on basketball. “Wow, this is awesome; all these people cheering for you,” said Kyle, who was 5 years old as he walked onto the court after a game. “Before I knew it, I loved it. I was hooked.” It’s not the hook shot that Kyle has perfected while playing for the Philadelphia 76ers but the 3-pointer. In his fourth season, Korver led the 2006-07 team in 3-point percentage (.430). His 14.4 scoring averaged ranked second behind Andre Iguodala’s 18.2 points per game. “He (Korver) shoots the basketball, that’s what he does,” Philadelphia coach Maurice Cheeks said. “I’ve been labeled a 3-point shooter,” Korver said. “I try to play smart and play hard with a lot of energy. I’m developing the rest of my game. God has given me some ability. I want to be the best basketball player I can be.” Indiana Pacers forward Troy Murphy called Korver “an unbelievable shooter. You can’t give him an open look. He’s one of the best shooters in the league.” Entering the 2006-07 season, Korver ranked second … [Read more...]

Though he no longer coaches the Elkmont High School baseball team, Matt Stockman is still keeping busy on the diamond. ATHENS, Ala. (BP) – Though he no longer coaches the Elkmont High School baseball team, Matt Stockman is still keeping busy on the diamond. He has found a new calling in the sport he loves. He has begun Baseball for Christ, a program that allows him to teach the youth of Limestone County not only how to strengthen their baseball skills, but to help strengthen them spiritually as well. “It was a vision God gave me,” Stockman said. Stockman played college baseball at Central Alabama Community College in the mid 1990s before transferring to Montevallo where he was the team MVP in 1998. He played professionally in the Northern League for one season, won a bronze medal in the 1999 Pan-American Games with Team Canada, played with the Great Britain National Team from 2001-2005 and was head coach at Elkmont from 2002-2006. Beginning in 1999 he began to explore his spiritual side and was baptized in 2001. Three years later, Stockman was ordained as a deacon at Lindsay Lane Baptist Church and in 2005 he became an assistant student pastor at the church. As his two passions became intertwined Stockman … [Read more...]

Korean-Americans initiated a campaign to bring freedom to North Korean refugees trapped in China at a July 17 rally in Washington. WASHINGTON (BP) – Korean-Americans initiated a campaign to bring freedom to North Korean refugees trapped in China at a July 17 rally in Washington. The event, held on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol, inaugurated an effort seeking to convince China’s government to take the following steps: n Grant refugee status to about 300,000 North Koreans who have fled the oppression of their home country. n Stop the return of North Korean refugees to their country, where they face imprisonment, torture and execution. n Permit the North Korean refugees to move to another country, such as South Korea or the United States. Representatives of the Korean Church Coalition (KCC), which sponsored the rally, gathered from across the country to begin the effort and to urge Congress to bring pressure on China in the time leading to next year’s Summer Olympics in Beijing. The regime of North Korean dictator Kim Jong II is one of the most oppressive in the world, denying the most basic rights to its citizens. It is a perpetrator of a variety of human rights violations, among which are the detention, … [Read more...]