The woman in the small ice-covered town near Springfield, Mo., was hardened toward the church. She had no good words for it, had lost faith and hope in it, and said she had opted out of it. SHOCCO SPRINGS, Ala. (BP) – The woman in the small ice-covered town near Springfield, Mo., was hardened toward the church. She had no good words for it, had lost faith and hope in it, and said she had opted out of it. But that was up until a cold morning last January when she was surrounded by 15 men – all Southern Baptist disaster relief volunteers – who presented her with a Bible, autographed by every man who had worked all day in sub-freezing weather to clear her property of downed trees and limbs after an ice storm. Taking the Bible, she began to cry. “I had given up on the church,” she said. “But I can’t believe how you people came to my house and did all this work. There’s no way I could have ever paid for it.” Becoming emotional as he told the story at this year’s 2007 Disaster Relief Roundtable, Jim Wells, director of missions for the Tri-County Baptist Association in Nixa, Mo., said, “The chainsaw team’s chaplain then asked the woman if anyone had ever shared Christ with her. She dropped her head and said no.” With the … [Read more...]

Woman’s Missionary Union now offers print-on-demand Bible studies to help small groups in churches increase in biblical and missional understanding of their responsibility and opportunities for sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ.  BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (BP)—Woman’s Missionary Union now offers print-on-demand Bible studies to help small groups in churches increase in biblical and missional understanding of their responsibility and opportunities for sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. These Bible studies are offered for all age levels as part of WMU’s new Generation M (M for missions) brand of online products. Generation M products can be easily purchased and instantly downloaded from the WMU online store, www.wmustore.com. Among the Generation M products is a 52-week Bible study based on the Book of Acts. Intended to spark discussion and understanding about present-day missions and missions involvement, the “Christ Followers” series provides an undated lesson plan to be used by small study groups any time of year. The intergenerational series includes four units of 13 sessions designed for the educational needs of preschoolers, children, students/youth and adults. “Christ Followers is general and timeless, making it … [Read more...]

astor Jay Wolf was walking across a parking lot of a local store when a young black man fell in stride beside him. MONTGOMERY, Ala. (BP)--Pastor Jay Wolf was walking across a parking lot of a local store when a young black man fell in stride beside him. Simultaneously, each noticed the matching black and white wristband the other was wearing. “Our eyes met and we smiled the smile of recognition and brotherhood. Then we clasped hands,” Wolf said. “It was as if we had an instant connection as brothers in Christ.” Wolf, pastor of First Baptist Church in Montgomery, Ala., has been wearing that wristband for more than a year. Technically he could have taken it off weeks ago and still been politically correct. But then, he said, he would miss moments like this one. “Racial reconciliation is not something you can collect data on, but there is anecdotal evidence like this that God is at work in Montgomery, in Alabama and in the world,” he said. Wolf’s predominantly white congregation joined forces with a local black church, Fresh Anointing International Church, in December 2005 to launch the ONE Movement, a citywide emphasis on racial unity. The movement, ushered in with the 50th anniversary of the Montgomery Bus … [Read more...]

from Joe McKeever's blog: Our pastors were invited to meet today with Global Maritime Ministries, the work founded by John Vandercook in the early 1960s and now being administered by his son Philip. We toured the new Port Ministry Center at 3635 Tchoupitoulas Street in New Orleans (www.PortMinistry.com) and learned of the incredible “foreign missions” Philip’s team is accomplishing every day of their lives as they reach out to the crews of the hundreds of international ships arriving at the Port of New Orleans each year. “How did this work get started?” I asked the now-retired Rev. John Vandercook. “Was there a moment you look to as ‘the’ time God started this work?” Brother John was pastoring the Third Street Baptist Church in those days, a small church not far from the docks. One Sunday afternoon he had walked down to the docks – it was all open then; anyone could walk down to the river, as opposed to the high security now – and was watching a huge ship dock. As the vessel maneuvered into place, John became aware of a man onboard who was watching him. When the gangway was lowered, the man was the first one off. He approached Pastor Vandercook and speaking with a strong Dutch accent called out, “Sir, my friends and I … [Read more...]

Southern Baptist Army Chaplain Pete Keough is no stranger to war, the loss it brings, nor even the mysterious ways of God. FORT  POLK – Southern Baptist Army Chaplain Pete Keough is no stranger to war, the loss it brings, nor even the mysterious ways of God. Stationed in Baghdad from October 2005 to September 2006, Keough, a captain with about 1,400 soldiers on 11 bases in a 300-mile radius under his spiritual care, saw not only hundreds of soldiers dedicate their lives to Christ during that period, but also saw soldiers lose their lives, some without the saving grace of Christ, he said. “I would travel all of Northern, Central and Southern Baghdad – visiting soldiers, doing ministry in all those places,” Keough said. “We actually were able to baptize more than 25 in makeshift baptismals that were either large engine containers or old water tubs that we found. We were pretty resourceful. “We also had six soldiers surrender to full time gospel ministry that year too,” he continued. “Two are [now] in seminary.” In addition, Keough led a weekly worship service Wednesday nights on the main base camp. Starting with four soldiers, by the end of his tour, Keough saw the worship service grow to nearly 100 every week. “That … [Read more...]

Church is good for children.  NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) – Church is good for children. That’s the message of a new study that says young children of churchgoing parents fare better behaviorally, emotionally and cognitively than do children of parents who never attend church. In fact, the more often the parents attend, the better off the kids are. The study by sociologist John P. Bartkowski and a team of researchers at Mississippi State University examined data from the nationwide Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, which evaluated first-graders by interviewing parents and teachers. In the data Bartkowski used, some 9,500 parents and 8,800 teachers were interviewed. The ECLS study was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics. Examining the ECLS data, Bartkowski and his team concluded it is “quite clear” that religious attendance impacts children positively. His research – which claims to be a “first of its kind” study on the subject using “nationally representative data” – will be published in the journal Social Science Research. “[R]eligion does seem to be good for young children,” the study says. “The religious attendance of parents and a cohesive religious … [Read more...]

The 37 congregations in this association have big ideas about reaching the world for Christ. NORTH RAPIDES BAPTIST ASSOCIATION – The 37 congregations in this association have big ideas about reaching the world for Christ.  A partnership existed in the 1970s between the Louisiana Baptist Convention and the Korean Baptist Convention. It died, but for many years its memory lived on for both the Koreans and some people in this association, said North Rapides Director of Missions Herb Dickerson.  “The Koreans wanted to recreate a new version of it,” Dickerson said, and others in the association came up with the idea to do so. “So we built a covenant, and they signed on and we signed on.” The result has been more than 1,400 professions of faith among the Koreans over a span of about three years. The two-pronged partnership involves an exchange of sorts. In the summer, Korean children grades four through six visit the association for about seven days to attend Camp USA, staying in host homes with other children and their families, attending Vacation Bible School and immersing themselves in American culture. In the fall, the association sends witnessing teams to Korea to help churches in visitation.  Koreans generally … [Read more...]

Church WithOutWalls is building a worship center this summer with the help of Louisiana Baptist Builders and Builders for Christ. LAFAYETTE – Church WithOutWalls is building a worship center this summer with the help of Louisiana Baptist Builders and Builders for Christ. C-WOW needs a building, Pastor Chris Kopp says. They’ve been meeting in a school, and Sunday morning worship attendance now – in the fifth year of the church’s life – is 175 or more. Fifteen people have been baptized over the last year. Among present and future ministries are drug rehabilitation, financial counseling, job skills development. A building is a tool that can be used to provide space for ministry, the pastor says. But to him, a building is not the church. “I love it when people ask me where the church is,” Kopp said. “I tell them, ‘Well, let’s see. It’s 11 o’clock, so some of them are at work. Some are probably on lunch break.  Some are starting their TRUST Small Group.” TRUST – Teach, Reach, Uplift, Share, Truth – groups are small Bible study groups that meet throughout the week at various times, mostly in people’s homes, rather than as Sunday morning Bible study classes. In essence, the pastor said, C-WOW is all over Lafayette and … [Read more...]

Pastor Charles “Mike” Holloway has agreed to allow his name to be placed in nomination as a candidate for the 2007 LBC presidency. RUSTON – Pastor Charles “Mike” Holloway has agreed to allow his name to be placed in nomination as a candidate for the 2007 LBC presidency. Holloway is pastor at Cook Baptist in Ruston. He and his wife, Shirley, have two children in their 20s. “I believe you will find that Dr. Holloway brings strong, proven leadership to Louisiana Baptists,” wrote Randy Harper, pastor of Bellaire Baptist in Bossier City, in presenting Holloway to Baptist Message readers. Holloway has pastored four churches in Louisiana: Highland Park Monroe, First Marion and Unity, and he has been at Cook Ruston since October 2005, where he also is evangelism director for Concord-Union Association. From 1992-98 he served on the LBC Executive Board, and while there was chairman of the budget committee and vice president. He was on the NOBTS board of trustees also from 1992-98. “Mike is mission oriented and ... believes the Bible is the inerrant Word of God,” Harper wrote. “He believes the Bible should inspire us all to work together in helping one another, serving one another and loving one another to do missions and … [Read more...]

Top flight golfers from Haynesville to Houma recently spread eagle-like wings to enjoy two days of golf, fun and fellowship at OakWing Golf Club on the grounds of the former England Air Force Base. ALEXANDRIA – Top flight golfers from Haynesville to Houma recently spread eagle-like wings to enjoy two days of golf, fun and fellowship at OakWing Golf Club on the grounds of the former England Air Force Base. This fellowship of pastors and laymen known as the Baptist Golf Fellowship gather from around the state twice a year to try their respective hands at conquering the strange phenomenon known as golf. At this event, the greens become king and the players – servants of the greens for the two-day event. “The fellowship becomes stronger and many lasting bonds and friendships are formed during the gathering,” said Kelly Boggs, editor of Louisiana’s Baptist Message, which sponsors the venture with the Louisiana Baptist Foundation. “The event is growing and we look forward to many more tournaments throughout the state and invite new participants to join us as we travel to different courses,” said Wayne Taylor, executive director of the Louisiana Baptist Foundation. Longtime participant and layman Don Valentine of Trout … [Read more...]