Joy Stewart, a member of West St. Charles Baptist Church here, has had that “Joy Unspeakable” of knowing Christ for 20 of her 24 years, and she uses every opportunity to share that joy – especially with those for whom much of the world is literally “unspeakable.” BOUTTE – Joy Stewart, a member of WestSt. CharlesBaptistChurch here, has had that “Joy Unspeakable” of knowing Christ for 20 of her 24 years, and she uses every opportunity to share that joy – especially with those for whom much of the world is literally “unspeakable.” Stewart, a therapist who works with autistic children aged 2 to 6 in private early intervention, finds that not only does the work challenge her own faith, she said, but it also gives her the opportunity to unlock a world of relationships – and joy – for children for whom communication is an impossibility. “I am daily, minute by minute asking God for strength, wisdom, creativity and patience to deal with these children with special needs,” she said, explaining that autism is a neurological disorder that affects language and communication skills as well as social skills. “A person with autism may exhibit weaknesses in nearly anything that deals with communication,” she said, and … [Read more...]

For private investigator and retired FBI special agent Ron West, pipe fittings and wrenches aren’t the normal tools of his trade. But West said he is satisfied that his recent work in New Orleans made a difference in one family’s life. NEW ORLEANS (BP) – For private investigator and retired FBI special agent Ron West, pipe fittings and wrenches aren’t the normal tools of his trade. But West said he is satisfied that his recent work in New Orleans made a difference in one family’s life. West spent 10 days in New Orleans working with Operation NOAH Rebuild, the two-year initiative of the North American Mission Board to rebuild homes in New Orleans damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Unaccompanied by a group, West came alone to work. “I called Diane Gahagan at the NOAH office and asked if they could use me,” West said. “She said, ‘Sure.’ So I came.” Diane’s husband Steve is the construction manager for Operation NOAH, supervising the reconstruction work of hundreds of volunteer teams. NOAH’s goal is to rebuild 1,000 homes in the Greater New Orleans area, representing 1 percent of the estimated 100,000 homes damaged or destroyed by Katrina. (NOAH is an acronym for New Orleans Area Homes.) As office manager for … [Read more...]

Seeking staff Pastor needed at Goodwood Baptist, Baton Rouge. Resumes to Pastor Search Committee, 1813 Beechgrove Dr, Baton RougeLA 70806. Worship leader needed at Trinity Franklinton. Resumes to PO Box 743, Franklinton LA 70438 or email trinitystan@bellsouth.net. Full-time minister of education sought by Riverside Watson. Resumes to 36890 La. Hwy., Denham Springs LA 70706 or email rbcsbc@bellsouth.net. Larry Hubbard is pastor. First Farmerville is accepting resumes for pastor. Video tape messages are welcome. Send to First BaptistChurch, PO Box 296, Farmerville LA 71241. Una George, search committee chairman. Pastorless: Tensas, Delta Association. Pastorless: New Era, Sicity Island First Baptist, and WallaceRidge, all in Ouachita Association. Available Supply pastor: Glyn Nale, Marion, La.; 318.245.8908 cell. Supply pastor: Paul Jackson, Downsville, La. 870.310.3116 cell. Supply or interim: Drew Spillers, 318.245.3033 cell. Interim: J.S. Miller, 318-793-4032. In ministry 40 years; lives in Gardner; willing to move. Valid Christian Rock Band from Delta/Ouachita Associations, with a mission to win the youth for Christ. Members: Trey Motes, Daniel Staneart, Randy Tarpley, Matt Dill, Corey Coleman. … [Read more...]

MINDEN – North Acres reports 10 professions of faith and at least 20 recorded rededications during its recent revival. New Believers/New Members Survival Kit: Five Keys to Effective Spiritual Growth class starts April 15 through May 27. Upcoming events: Chicken spaghetti lunch and dinner April 20 as a youth fund-raiser. Financial Seminar set for 9 a.m. Saturday, May 5. Couples Supper: Encouragement for parents and grandparents, set for 6 p.m. May 12. Roy Strother is pastor. OAKDALE – “The Spirit-led brainchild of a group of believers in our area,” according to Stephen Laughlin, pastor of First Oakdale, Operation Rescue will be an area-wide “block party” to take place from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, April 22, at the OakdaleHigh School football field. “The event is an attempt to reach our area for Christ,” the pastor wrote in a recent issue of FBC Connections. “It will include music, entertainment, preaching, and booths with information ranging from abstinence to drug abuse. As a church, we are committed to participate through prayer, finances, and our personal participation.” FERRIDAY – Delta Storefront Mission is in need of men’s clothing and women’s undegarments. Open 8 a.m. to 12 noon Monday, … [Read more...]

John Fluharty says church discipline saved his life. Third and last in a series on church discipline FRANKFORT, Ky. (BP) – John Fluharty says church discipline saved his life. Even though Fluharty was a member of BuckRunBaptistChurch in Frankfort, Ky., he still had major sins in his life. A gambling addiction snowballed until he began embezzling from his employer to fund his habit. But when Buck Run and its pastor, Hershael York, intervened with church discipline, Fluharty repented and began to grow spiritually like never before. “You’re missing something if your church doesn’t have church discipline,” Fluharty told Baptist Press. “God will give you the wisdom and the courage and the knowledge to get through it, but it has to be implemented.” Fluharty’s gambling addiction dated back to before his salvation in August 2005. After making a public profession of faith at Buck Run, he quit gambling for three months but failed to develop devotional habits to help him stay away from his sin. By January 2006, he had started gambling again, and in March the problem escalated to a new level. Fluharty’s wife went on a spring break trip to Florida, leaving him at home. While she was away, he gambled at a … [Read more...]

The Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission declined either to support or oppose an alternative stem cell bill approved by the Senate April 11. WASHINGTON (BP) – The Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission declined either to support or oppose an alternative stem cell bill approved by the Senate April 11. ERLC President Richard Land and biomedical consultant C. Ben Mitchell issued a statement prior to the Senate vote commending the bill sponsors’ efforts to advance ethical research but expressing concern the measure might implicitly affirm the destruction of some human embryos. The Senate voted 70-28 for the Hope Offered Through Principled and Ethical Stem Cell Research Act (S. 30). Known as the HOPE Act, the bill is designed to promote efforts to derive stem cells with the qualities of those found in embryos –- and known as pluripotent cells -- without creating embryos for experimentation or destroying them. Passage of the HOPE Act followed immediately after the Senate’s 63-34 vote for the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act (S. 5), a bill that would provide federal funds for stem cell experimentation that results in the killing of embryos. S. 5 would OK grants for … [Read more...]

Which of the three “B’s” are the best benchmarks on which to judge the health of a Southern Baptist church – buildings, budgets or baptisms? ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) – Which of the three “B’s” are the best benchmarks on which to judge the health of a Southern Baptist church – buildings, budgets or baptisms? Baptisms is the best indicator, according to a new study, because baptisms measure whether churches are reaching the lost – not just moving believers around. The “Church Planting Survivability and Health Study” was conducted by the North American Mission Board’s Center for Missional Research based in Alpharetta, Ga. Richard Harris, vice president of NAMB’s church planting group, described church planting as “one of the best evangelistic tools available to Southern Baptists. The study validates that church plants have some of the most effective ministries because they have to be contextual to the culture without compromising the message if they are to survive.” The research – based on more than 500 completed telephone interviews sampled from 1,000 church plants from 12 denominations and networks – indicates that flourishing new church plants with a higher-than-average number of baptisms during their first four … [Read more...]

International Mission Board trustees rejoiced during their recent meeting in Memphis, Tenn., that the 2006 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering is projected to exceed the goal of $150 million, which would be a record. MEMPHIS, Tenn. (BP) – International Mission Board trustees rejoiced during their recent meeting in Memphis, Tenn., that the 2006 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering is projected to exceed the goal of $150 million, which would be a record. David Steverson, vice president of finance and treasurer for the International Mission Board, reported the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering is projected to exceed the $150 million national goal for 2006. A final report will be released after the May 31 close-out date for the offering receipts. Trustees appointed 49 new missionaries March 21 during a service at KirbyWoodsBaptist Church in Memphis. The latest addition of missionaries brings the total number of overseas personnel to 5,160, including more than 4,000 long-term missionaries on the field. In other business, IMB Personnel Committee Chairman Paul Chitwood said that the ad hoc committees revisiting a baptism guideline and prayer language policy for missionary candidates, both adopted in November 2005, had … [Read more...]

Zach Johnson’s two-shot victory at the 2007 Masters Tournament on Easter Sunday surprised those inside and out of the golf world -- but as no surprise to those who know him, Johnson boldly used the occasion to proclaim his love and faith in Jesus Christ. AUGUSTA, Ga. (BP) – Zach Johnson’s two-shot victory at the 2007 Masters Tournament on Easter Sunday surprised those inside and out of the golf world -- but as no surprise to those who know him, Johnson boldly used the occasion to proclaim his love and faith in Jesus Christ. “Being Easter, my goal was the glorify God and hopefully I did that today,” said the Cedar Rapids, Iowa, native, who attended the same high school as fellow Christian and former NFL MVP quarterback Kurt Warner. Johnson credited his faith in God and the counsel of longtime PGA Tour chaplain Larry Moody of Search Ministry, whose Bible study Johnson attends on a weekly basis, for allowing him to remain calm in the competitive and often chaotic final round. The 31-year-old golfer entered the final round at Augusta National Golf Club two shots behind third-round leader Stuart Appleby and one behind four-time Masters champion Tiger Woods, the heavy favorite in Sunday’s sunny, but cool final … [Read more...]

The annual spring tournament of the Louisiana Baptist Golf Fellowship is set for May 7-8 at the OakWing Golf Club here, on the grounds of the former England Air Force Base. ALEXANDRIA – The annual spring tournament of the Louisiana Baptist Golf Fellowship is set for May 7-8 at the OakWing Golf Club here, on the grounds of the former England Air Force Base. Sponsored by the Louisiana Baptist Message and Louisiana Baptist Foundation, the tournament is open to all Louisiana Baptists and their guests. “We’re excited to bring this year’s golf tournament to Alexandria and the beautiful OakWing Golf Club,” said Editor Kelly Boggs. “Come, join in the fellowship, and bring your friends.” Wayne Taylor, executive director of the Foundation, also had words of welcome for tournament participants. “We’re looking forward to a great day on the links,” Taylor said. “You’re going to be impressed with this course.” OakWing possesses a character all its own, according to its website – www.oakwinggolf.com – which includes illustrations of each hole. The course blends the natural beauty of Louisiana bayous, lakes and towering tree-lined fairways with the challenge of rolling hills and undulating greens. OakWing, a … [Read more...]