How can a couple of garage sales make an Acts 1:8 difference? About 20 men and women at First Bastrop can tell you how. BASTROP – How can a couple of garage sales make an Acts 1:8 difference? About 20 men and women at First Bastrop can tell you how. The group, mostly from the Adult IV Sunday School Department aged 55-80, have raised more than $12,500 for missions in the Ukraine and Canada by conducting two different garage sales in the church gym, said Ramona Westbrook, department director for the Adult IV’s at First Bastrop. “We raised a little over $7,000 the first time,’ she added. The money was sent to Mike and Linda Ray, missionaries to the Ukraine, so the two could buy a structure to remodel into a church. Ray is the former minister of education at First Bastrop. Love for fellow church members inspired the first garage sale, Westbrook said. “We just really love Mike Ray and his family.” But then the love multiplied to include strangers and neighbors. After the first garage sale, people kept asking when the next would be. Then, about a year ago, First Bastrop began helping sponsor Miramichi Valley Church in Doaktown, New Brunswick in Canada, pastor Jim Ingram said. The Adult IV’s were inspired to conduct … [Read more...]

Louisiana Women’s Missions and Ministry plans to distribute 1,300 gift boxes at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women (LCIW) Aug. 24-25. Volunteers are needed to pack gift boxes Aug. 1-2, and distribute them to residents Aug. 24-25. ST. GABRIEL – Louisiana Women’s Missions and Ministry plans to distribute 1,300 gift boxes at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women (LCIW) Aug. 24-25. Volunteers are needed to pack gift boxes Aug. 1-2, and distribute them to residents Aug. 24-25. “This is a weekend ministry opportunity that will open doors and prepare the way for women’s hearts to be open to, and hear the Gospel,” said Janie Wise, director of LBC’s Women’s Mission and Ministry team. The weekend of ministry will begin Friday, with some 60 women distributing the boxes to residents in the Correctional Institute. Saturday, “Ladies Day” will be a day of fellowship for the women inside LCIW as volunteers will hold a BBQ and activities throughout the day for the women. The weekend will conclude with an Evangelism rally on Sunday. This is the second year Louisiana Women’s Missions and Ministry has prepared gift boxes, however, Ladies Day and the Evangelism Rally are long-standing events of the Baptist Association … [Read more...]

PLAQUEMINE – Bayou Plaquemine Baptist plans a pastors/wives conference July 14 with McCain Ministries, Gary Mitchell, Mike Ferguson, Dory Davis and others. Ken Austin is pastor. HODGE – Hodge Baptist plans a Freedom Celebration Sunday, July 1, with morning worship at 10:50 a.m.; games and activities at 2 p.m. and hamburgers, hot dogs and more at 5 p.m. Norris Curry is pastor. BATON ROUGE – First Baptist Baton Rouge plans a Patriotic service at 6 p.m. Sunday, July 1, in the sanctuary of the downtown campus, with the sanctuary choir, Pelican State Brass, soloists and ensemble members. BENTON – A group from First Baptist spent June 9-16 on a mission trip to New Orleans. The church recently added three deacons: Bob Brown, Ken Lee and Tim Parker. SULPHUR – First Baptist is in the midst of  “The Summer of Missions,” with weekly gatherings in homes to study “various missions and missionaries our church supports through the Cooperative Program,” writes Pastor Dave Holder in a recent issue of The Vision newsletter. “The Cooperative Program’s genius is focusing Southern Baptist churches to do the Acts 1:8 challenge together instead of separately,” he continues. “During our Summer of Missions we will gather in host homes to … [Read more...]

The new family life center at Calvary Baptist Church in Tullos has been named in honor of Dr. Jimmy Brossette who came out of retirement to pastor the church. Helping cut the ribbon for the new Dr. Jimmy Brossette Life Center at Calvary Baptist Church in Tullos are Pastor Duane Moreno; Vera Wells, the oldest charter member of the church; Jimmy Brossette, deacons and other Calvary members. Brossette came out of retirement to pastor Calvary from 2004-06. He was instrumental in beginning the family life center and to honor him, the church decided to place his name on the building, “keeping before the community the wonderful influence he has had in their lives,” a church member said. “Many were led to the Lord as a result of his willingness to continue in his service to the Lord.”   … [Read more...]

Milestones Comings, Goings, Available Charlie R. (wife Emily) Beard is new as pastor of First Baptist Evangeline. He was ordained June 10. Weldon Moak is new as pastor at First Baptist Broussard. John Goodwin’s final service as pastor at Broadmoor Baton Rouge is set for July 29. He plans to retire, after 28 years at the church. Gary Brown is new as associate pastor/youth leader at Bayou Plaquemine Baptist in Plaquemine. Ken Austin is pastor. Joe Luna is new as student minister at First Baptist Hammond. Jim Lancaster is pastor. John Mark Little is new as pastor at Victory Baptist, Monroe. Part-time minister of music or pianist available in Central Louisiana. Call Ken Hayes at 337-392-8253. Terry (wife Renee) Mims is new as pastor of Emmanuel Monroe. Matt (wife Becky) Surber is new as of June 17 at Istrouma Baton Rouge, from Prestonwood Dallas, where he was student pastor and pastor of Prestonwood North Campus. Needed St. Landry Baptist seeks a full-time pastor. Send resume to Pastor Search Committee, 134 Benny St., Ville Platte LA 70586 or call 337.363.5051 or 337.461.7299 for more information. First Baptist Benton seeks a part-time minister of youth and a part-time minister of music. Send resume … [Read more...]

Leaders at the South Bossier Baptist Church construction site confab over architectural drawings. Leaders at the South Bossier Baptist Church construction site confab over architectural drawings. They’re working on the 10,000 square foot building now, says Mission Builders Strategist Jeff Woodrich, in dark shirt. Bill and Joyce Temple are project coordinators. … [Read more...]

The House of Representatives approved legislation June 21 that would undermine a ban on federal funds for organizations that perform or promote abortions in foreign countries. WASHINGTON (BP)--The House of Representatives approved legislation June 21 that would undermine a ban on federal funds for organizations that perform or promote abortions in foreign countries. Representatives defeated an amendment that would have fully restored the pro-life policy, first instituted 23 years ago, before passing the overall spending bill that includes a controversial provision that would, at least, weaken the rule. The House voted 218-205 against the amendment, then 241-178 for the final version of the measure. Bush reinstated the rule, known as the Mexico City policy, by executive order on his second full day in office in 2001. President Reagan had first established the policy, which was announced at a 1984 conference in Mexico’s capital. When President Clinton took office in 1993, he immediately rescinded the rule. Under the Mexico City policy, organizations may receive aid through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) if they agree not to perform abortions, to lobby foreign governments to revise their abortion … [Read more...]

Dwight McKissic has resigned from the trustee board of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, citing “too much mental, physical, emotional and even spiritual energy” spent on his role in a conflict over speaking in tongues and private prayer language at the seminary in the past year. GRAPEVINE, Texas (BP)--Dwight McKissic has resigned from the trustee board of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, citing “too much mental, physical, emotional and even spiritual energy” spent on his role in a conflict over speaking in tongues and private prayer language at the seminary in the past year. McKissic, pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Arlington, Texas, emphasized his love for the seminary and its president, Paige Patterson, in a lengthy conciliatory letter June 20 to trustee chairman Van McClain and copied to Patterson, SBC President Frank Page, SBC Executive Committee President Morris H. Chapman and three trustees. “Furthermore, I don’t want any possible future relationships or involvements with other missions or ministry opportunities to in anywise be misconstrued as a conflict of interest with my role as a trustee at SWBTS. I do not want my exercise of freedom of speech or freedom of associations in any way to … [Read more...]

Tom Blackwell had never been fly fishing before. But, here he was, standing knee-deep in the Tuckasegee River near the Great Smokey Mountains National Park in North Carolina, flicking an “Olive Wooly Bugger” gently across the crystal clear river trying to entice a trout. RIDGECREST, N.C.,  —  Tom Blackwell had never been fly fishing before. But, here he was, standing knee-deep in the Tuckasegee River near the Great Smokey Mountains National Park in North Carolina, flicking an “Olive Wooly Bugger” gently across the crystal clear river trying to entice a trout. Blackwell’s efforts were rewarded as his fly pole bent with the weight of a feisty trout, which jumped and flailed in and out of the rippling river in the struggle that ensued between man and fish. This time, man won. Blackwell wasn’t the only person on the river flicking the fly rod through the air and watching the green line whip around him toward the water on this perfect spring day. Dale Connally, an accomplished fly fisherman and fellow participant at the Fly Fishing Adventures retreat sponsored by LifeWay Christian Resources, stood nearby and encouraged Blackwell. “Atta boy,” yelled Connally, who may have been just as happy as Blackwell as they unhooked … [Read more...]

More than 3,000 Southern Baptist churches have registered their commitments to develop an intentional and comprehensive missions strategy through the Acts 1:8 Challenge. ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) – More than 3,000 Southern Baptist churches have registered their commitments to develop an intentional and comprehensive missions strategy through the Acts 1:8 Challenge. Launched in May 2004 by the International Mission Board (IMB) and North American Mission Board (NAMB) – in cooperation with Baptist state conventions and associations – the Acts 1:8 Challenge is designed to encourage SBC churches to take a fresh look at how they plan and execute their missions efforts. “It’s a testimony to the passion that Southern Baptists have for Jesus’ Acts 1:8 mandate to impact lostness and create disciples of all nations that in less than three years, 3,019 churches across the United States and Canada have embraced the challenge,” said Tim Yarbrough, director of church relations at NAMB. The Acts 1:8 Challenge assists congregations in implementing a comprehensive missions strategy that involves their community, region, continent and the world. It’s based on Jesus’ charge to the apostles in Acts 1:8:  “But you will receive power when the … [Read more...]