Three deaths and seven illnesses beset a 25-member Georgia mission team on a construction missions assignment here recently. NEW ORLEANS – Three deaths and seven illnesses beset a 25-member Georgia mission team on a construction missions assignment here recently. Walter Hill Jr., a retired electronics engineer, died April 7 at a New Orleans hospital following a heart attack. He was 77. Two other members of the First Baptist Church of Lakeview in Rossville, Ga., were called home by the deaths of close family members. And seven members of the team were downed at various times during the week by a virus. Despite all, the team kept on, rewiring and replumbing the gutted worship center of Edgewater BaptistChurch in New Orleans’ Gentilly neighborhood. “Quitting was not an option,” said Max Parris, pastor of First Lakeview in Rossville. “The team knew that God had brought them to a city that really needed light.” Team members concurred. “We went there to minister, but we were ministered to by the wonderful people at Gentilly and Edgewater Baptist Churches who cared for us and comforted us,” Dianne Godfrey said. Jay Schroder, Edgewater’s construction project coordinator, said that “despite all the difficulties, … [Read more...]

The second writing conference sponsored by the Louisiana Baptist Message – Get Published! – informed and inspired an audience of at least 70, which was more than twice the number who attended last year’s inaugural writers’ conference. ALEXANDRIA – The second writing conference sponsored by the Louisiana Baptist Message – Get Published! – informed and inspired an audience of at least 70, which was more than twice the number who attended last year’s inaugural writers’ conference. Cheryl Turner, a Eunice resident who attended the Message’s first writers’ conference last year, returned for more this year. Invited to tell her story to the conference participants,Turner said she was so inspired by last year’s conference that she began a monthly newsletter she’s maintained for a year, growing a readership of about 300 people. “It was [at the conference] that I met other women from all over the state who shared my passion for ministering to women,” Turner wrote on her website, sparrowsnestministries.com. “I also had the privilege of meeting and talking to Karen Willoughby, Kelly Boggs…Carolyn Curtis, and [others]. It was after hearing their testimonies and receiving their advice that I was encouraged to begin this … [Read more...]

In a 5-4 decision, the court upheld the federal ban on the grisly procedure known as partial-birth abortion. The U.S. Supreme Court building is a monumental structure, an identifiable edifice that is striking not just for its architecture, but also for the process of justice that it represents. The symbolism of its entryway façade with the words “EQUAL JUSTICE UNDER LAW” is timeless. The nine justices now serving in this prominent landmark issued a ruling on April 19 that is no less monumental. In a 5-4 decision, the court upheld the federal ban on the grisly procedure known as partial-birth abortion, with Roberts, Scalia, Thomas, Alito and Kennedy forming the majority and Ginsburg, Stevens, Souter and Breyer expressing dissent. Observers had guessed the composition of the conservative and liberal blocs that formed, except that Kennedy was viewed as an unknown, a moderate jurist who could decide either way. Writing the majority opinion, Kennedy decidedly established a new direction for the court, emphasizing a remade perspective on abortion restrictions by underscoring the state’s valid interests in “respect for life, including the unborn.” To be sure, Kennedy was clear to reaffirm the Roe v. … [Read more...]

God loves rascals. It is not just something that God did a long time ago with a man named Jacob. He wrestles with us today to bring us sinners to himself. The story of the patriarchs is told in a magnificent way in the first book of the Bible. Genesis contains fifty chapters of adventure and inspiration, the record of the legacy of faith and of faithful men. As the Bible gives these accounts, it does not do so through the lenses of rose-colored glasses.  We read in the record both of the virtue and the vice of these who founded our faith. That is especially true of the life of Jacob – the third in the trilogy of our founding fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. We know that Jacob was born a twin. His parents, Isaac and Rebekah, prayed for twenty years that God would give them an heir.  Finally, God answered their prayers, and gave them not one but two heirs – he gave them a double blessing, so to speak.  You who have gone to the hospital to bring home your little bundle of joy and have brought home two bundles of joy know that double blessing can have some complications.  That was certainly the case in the birth of these twin boys. Jacob and Esau were, without a doubt, “un-identical” twins. I remember an occasion … [Read more...]

Recently there’s been much discussion about the issue of tongues in Southern Baptist life. I know individuals who believe in the gift of tongues and know that they love the Lord and His Word. So with what I write I am not attacking anyone. I only endeavor to summarize the scriptural teaching on this matter. Recently there’s been much discussion about the issue of tongues in Southern Baptist life. I know individuals who believe in the gift of tongues and know that they love the Lord and His Word. So with what I write I am not attacking anyone. I only endeavor to summarize the scriptural teaching on this matter. Primary passages in two books – Acts and 1 Corinthians – describe the gift of tongues. One resulted in thousands being saved, the other in confusion and problems in the church. In Acts 2 the apostles and about 120 other disciples were gathered in a room near the temple when the Holy Spirit filled these believers and they began to praise God in other languages. People had gathered from 15 different provinces, yet each person heard the words of praise to God spoken in his or her own dialect. In Acts 10, Cornelius – the first Gentile convert – had a similar experience but without all the supernatural … [Read more...]

As I type this column, Dr. Phil is holding forth on “Larry King Live.” He’s saying that there was no way anyone could have predicted the troubled Cho Seung-Hui would have perpetrated the awful massacre at Virginia Tech on Monday. As I type this column, Dr. Phil is holding forth on “Larry King Live.” He’s saying that there was no way anyone could have predicted  the troubled Cho Seung-Hui would have perpetrated the awful massacre at Virginia Tech on Monday. Dr. Phil makes his case as controversy has already erupted over the university’s failure to prevent this tragedy by failing to respond to early signs that Cho was a troubled, depressed young man. “There is no answer to ‘why,’” Dr. Phil advises, “so the question becomes ‘what.’” What ought survivors to do now in order to cope with this meaningless catastrophe? In the days following the shooting, many of the talking heads were quick to tell us what we should think about the massacre and whom we should blame. Many pundits blamed the administration of Virginia Tech for not locking down the school after the first shootings and others pointed an accusing finger at the government for lax gun laws. I have to say that while I am thankful for tho-rough coverage … [Read more...]

Located in the Cajun prairie of Evangeline, St. Landry, and Acadia Parishes, this Southern Baptist association is “harvest-oriented in an unseeded generation,” says Director of Missions Buddy Hampton, using words from NOBTS president Chuck Kelley. ACADIA BAPTIST ASSOCIATION – Located in the Cajun prairie of Evangeline, St. Landry, and Acadia Parishes, this Southern Baptist association is “harvest-oriented in an unseeded generation,” says Director of Missions Buddy Hampton, using words from NOBTS president Chuck Kelley. Amid rice, crawfish, soy bean, sugar cane, cotton and sweet potato farms, festivals for every season, and a strong Catholic presence, Acadia Baptist Association is located in what could be described as the “ankle” of the state’s famous boot shape. Consisting of 31 churches, the association ministers to a surrounding population of almost 180,000, according to 2005 population estimates. “Acadia is a strong association,” Hampton said. “The churches are strong. They’re doing well. We’re well-represented in this French culture. “I love this area and I love working with the people,” he added. “I wouldn’t have traded the last 20 years for anything.” For example, First Baptist of Opelousas has grown from a … [Read more...]

With the help of Southern Baptists from across the state, Church Point Baptist Mission is putting the finishing touches on its new fellowship hall, said Buddy Hampton, director of missions in the Acadia Baptist Association, where Church Point Baptist is located. CHURCH POINT – With the help of Southern Baptists from across the state, Church Point Baptist Mission is putting the finishing touches on its new fellowship hall, said Buddy Hampton, director of missions in the Acadia Baptist Association, where Church Point Baptist is located. Church Point, a town of about 10,000, is north of Sunset, in the middle of Cajun country. The mission is sponsored by PilgrimRestBaptist Church in Eunice. “We’re praying that this new facility will help the church to grow,” Hampton said. The construction won’t be finished for another two weeks. The mission church was built about eight years ago, but the fellowship hall was damaged by Hurricane Rita, Hampton said. With financial help from the Louisiana Baptist Convention, Rolling Hills Ministries in Monroe, the Acadia Association, and volunteers from First Baptist Church Jonesboro and Ebenezer Baptist Church in Jonesboro, the mission is well on its way to seeing the new … [Read more...]

Being publicly bested by a squirrel has neither stopped Buddy Hampton, director of missions for the Acadia Baptist Association, from following God’s call, nor interfered with his sense of humor. EUNICE – Being publicly bested by a squirrel has neither stopped Buddy Hampton, director of missions for the Acadia Baptist Association, from following God’s call, nor interfered with his sense of humor. After a squirrel-hunting trip to Mississippi with a deacon in which neither hunter saw one, Hampton was caught off guard the next Sunday when, as he preached, a squirrel – unseen by the congregation – scampered back and forth outside, in front of the sanctuary’s double glass doors. Deacons in the choir, aware of the unfruitful hunting trip, also saw the squirrel, and could barely contain their laughter. Hampton continued to preach. “Then the squirrel puts his little paws on the doors and looks in,” Hampton said. “The guys are just dying laughing.” Hampton had to stop the service to explain to the puzzled congregation. “I guess he’s making fun of me,” he said of the squirrel. For the past 20 years, Buddy Hampton has seen the churches of Acadia Baptist Association go through both triumphs and struggles in … [Read more...]

Through church support, volunteers, creative fundraisers, and private donations – which often arrive in the nick of time – as well as discounts, payment plans, and financial aid, the 18 Southern Baptist schools in Louisiana supplement incomes and subsidize tuition in order to provide the best educational environment possible for as many students as they can. STATEWIDE – Through church support, volunteers, creative fundraisers, and private donations – which often arrive in the nick of time – as well as discounts, payment plans, and financial aid, the 18 Southern Baptist schools in Louisiana supplement incomes and subsidize tuition in order to provide the best educational environment possible for as many students as they can. All the schools offer some sort of discount, and many offer multiple discounts – such as military, employees, multi-student, or ministerial. Half of the schools offer some sort of financial aid, though in some cases it may be limited. All but two of the schools offer some sort of payment plan; some offer multiple plans. All the schools have fees in addition to the tuition, which cover expenses such as books, maintenance, and registration. “We couldn’t do this without … [Read more...]