Not only do the members of two of the state’s Baptist choirs, the Singing Ministers and the Louisiana Baptist Singing Women, pay their own way for each concert, they also provide $8,000 worth of scholarships and/or funds to music students in the state. ALEXANDRIA—Not only do the members of two of the state’s Baptist choirs, the Singing Ministers and the Louisiana Baptist Singing Women, pay their own way for each concert, they also provide $8,000 worth of scholarships and/or funds to music students in the state. “These people travel all over the state and pay their own way,” said Randy Turner, the current director of the choirs and the State Music Strategist at the Louisiana Baptist Convention (LBC). “They really put out a lot of effort to be in these groups.” No LBC funds are used for the choirs, Turner said. Members pay annual dues of $15 each and furnish their own clothing. Women wear a black outfit with a strand of pearls while the men wear black suits with a white shirt and a coordinating tie. Because there are so many people in the choirs, the churches where they perform usually sponsor a meal, with choir members paying $5 each. In addition, every fall, the two choirs have separate … [Read more...]

Bruce Sides, area director for Guidestone Financial Resources, recently moved from the Dallas area to the Baton Rouge area. BATON ROUGE – Bruce Sides, area director for Guidestone Financial Resources, recently moved from the Dallas area to the Baton Rouge area. This makes him Guidestone’s prototype for an out-based person, Sides said with a wide grin. “I think it’s going to be something that will prove to be a viable option,” said Sides, a native of Baton Rouge who had been wanting to move back home to live nearer his family. As the first geographically out-based employee of Guidestone – an area director who lives out in the field as opposed to being based in Dallas – Sides’ duties will not change very much. He will continue to relate to Louisiana, Tennessee, and California.  In addition, Sides will pick up Mississippi because of his proximity to that state. There is no major difference in Sides’ relationship with Louisiana or the other states he represents, Sides said. It should not be perceived that Sides is becoming a “state representative,” the Guidestone representative added. However, the change in location does make for a more personal relationship with Guidestone clients … [Read more...]

Potpourri ALBANY – Old Zion church:  His By Grace in concert; Nov. 19, 6 p.m.; free admission, love offering accepted; Jerry Chapman, minister of music; Bobby Stults, pastor. BOYCE (Gardner Community) – St. Clair church:  The Greene’s in concert; Nov. 17, 7 p.m.; free admission, love offering accepted; Ronnie Parks, pastor. DRY PRONG – First church:  “Eternity – Will You Be Ready?” drama presentation by Jack and Betty Crosby; Nov. 17, 7 p.m.; free admission; nursery provided for all ages, not recommended for children under the age of six; Lloyd Whitman, pastor. SHREVEPORT – Pinecroft church:  Lane Moore, associate director of missions, guest speaker; Nov. 26, 10:45 a.m. and 6 p.m.; Marty J. Wright, pastor. KURTHWOOD – Sunny Hill church:  Sign, Sealed and Delivered in concert; Nov. 17, 7 p.m.; free admission, love offering accepted; Ricky Carver, pastor. Revivals MONROE – Loch Arbor church:  Nov. 26, 10:50 a.m. and 6 p.m.; Nov. 27-29, 7 p.m.; Jerry Chaddick, evangelist; Charles Canterberry, music; Andy Myrick, pastor. WILDSVILLE – Evangeline church:  “Monday Night Manna’ one night revival; Dec. 4, 7 p.m.; Perry Gardener, evangelist; Dennis … [Read more...]

“Let us always be mindful of the past, living in he present, and preparing for the future,” writes Pastor Dan Glenn in First Vidalia’s newsletter. The Adult 2 class was to gather Nov. 11 for a bonfire and Christmas  in November. The (apparently) year-long World Missions offering receipts exceed more than $15,000. Deacons one recent Saturday helped prepare members’ vehicles for winter. Mitch Harris is pastor at Goodwood Baton Rouge. He writes in a recent newsletter about the need to be watchful in prayer. “Our prayers are often hampered by a dull drowsy frame of mind,” Harris writes. “We must be on the alert. The Greek word for watch means to be awake or vigilant. Webster’s defines watch as ‘keeping awake in order to guard.’” Last year First Jonesboro filled 170 boxes for Operation Christmas Child, a ministry of Franklin Graham’s Samaritan’s Purse. This year they want to do even more. Perry Webb is interim pastor. Charles (wife Judy) Wesley apparently has been called as pastor; at any rate, they’re buying property in the area. Grace Baton Rouge provides Daily Bible Readings in its newsletter. Weekly ministries include JOY Club, Ikebana, AA meeting and a mid-month potluck with a Methodist … [Read more...]

Edgewater Baptist Church has done an excellent job embracing their post-Katrina neighborhood. By Tobey Pittman Special to the Message NEW ORLEANS – Edgewater Baptist Church has done an excellent job embracing their post-Katrina neighborhood. Pastors Kevin Lee and Jason Sampler have inserted themselves very effectively as anchor-points for members and  neighbors who want to return. Even though they are meeting in a tent or in cramped quarters inside the partially renewed facility, Sunday attendance is now greater than it was before the storm! Samaritans Purse has installed a wonderful new playground for the children. Bear Creek Baptist in Katy, Texas, recently installed a new fence around the playground. Pastor Ben needed a deep layer of pea gravel along one side of the playground. He did not know how to order a dump truck of pea gravel in New Orleans. Next door a local construction company was rebuilding a house. Who better to ask? Marvin asked how much gravel was needed. He came over to measure the area, called his office and ordered the gravel. Ben asked what the price would be. Marvin said that he was donating the gravel. This is how God’s new economy works in … [Read more...]

ALPHARETTA, Ga. – The North American Mission Board has appointed Vanessa Lynn Kulpa as a Baptist Center missionary, serving in New Orleans, La. Prior to her new post, Vanessa was a sign language interpreter for the First United Methodist Church in St. Augustine, Fla. A Florida native, she earned an A.A.S. degree in sign language at Florida Community College at Jacksonville, Fla., and a B.S. degree in nutrition at the University of North Florida, Jacksonville, Fla. She also attended Saint Johns River Community College, Palatka, Fla. … [Read more...]

A majority of states in America now have adopted constitutional marriage amendments. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) – A majority of states in America now have adopted constitutional marriage amendments. Seven states passed amendments Nov. 7 protecting the natural definition of marriage, bringing to 27 the number of states nationwide that have adopted amendments aimed at prohibiting “gay marriage.” An eighth state, Arizona, seemed to be on the verge of becoming the first one to defeat an amendment, although conservatives there still hoped to see the final count yield a victory. The seven states passed the amendments with an average of 63.6 percent of the vote, ranging from 52 percent in South Dakota to 80 percent in Tennessee. In Colorado, conservatives celebrated a double victory, watching the amendment win easily while also helping defeat Referendum I, which would have granted same-sex couples many of the legal benefits of marriage. It was a somewhat stunning loss for Referendum I after it led in pre-election polls. “This shows that, nationwide, Americans still support marriage,” Glen Lavy, an attorney with the conservative Alliance Defense Fund, told Baptist Press. “They know that marriage … [Read more...]

Throughout Global Missions Week at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, all the activities and sermons were leading to one moment – a chance for the next generation of missionaries to respond to God’s call. NEW ORLEANS (BP) – Throughout Global Missions Week at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, all the activities and sermons were leading to one moment – a chance for the next generation of missionaries to respond to God’s call. When International Mission Board President Jerry Rankin offered that opportunity, a number of students responded by committing their lives to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Rankin did not mince words in his message: He assured the audience that a call to global missions is no easy task. “God is not primarily concerned about your safety and your comfort and your security,” Rankin said. “God’s primary concern is His glory among the nations.” Rankin noted the paradox facing missionaries today: In a world of increasing turmoil, God is bringing about a great harvest. “We are living in a time of probably the greatest mission advance in history, but our news is just filled with chaos, disaster, warfare, violence [and] political upheaval,” he said. … [Read more...]

ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) – Southern Baptists were viewed favorably by 57 percent of adults interviewed as part of recent research conducted by the North American Mission Board’s Center for Missional Research through Zogby International. The positive outlook toward Southern Baptists, United Methodists and the Catholic Church was about the same in the survey, while the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) and Muslims received less favorable ratings, 32 percent and 27 percent, respectively. Southern Baptists received unfavorable impressions from 17 percent of the respondents, while another 24 percent said they were not familiar with Southern Baptists. The NAMB research polled 1,210 American adults across the country. Southern Baptists made the best impression where they are most prevalent, in southern ‘Bible Belt’ states. Two out of three respondents in the South expressed a favorable opinion of Southern Baptists, compared to only half of respondents in the West and East, where Southern Baptists have a smaller presence. Catholics were rated more favorably in the East and West, regions where their presence among survey respondents is proportionally greater, according to the … [Read more...]

Gail Ladner is an ambassador of hope. A president or other political person did not appoint her to a prestigious post in a foreign county. Instead, she was commissioned by God to go into Rayburn Correctional Center in November to serve as a mentor to a child who would spend the day with her incarcerated father. ANGIE – Gail Ladner is an ambassador of hope. A president or other political person did not appoint her to a prestigious post in a foreign county. Instead, she was commissioned by God to go into Rayburn Correctional Center in November to serve as a mentor to a child who would spend the day with her incarcerated father. This was Ladner’s third assignment as an ambassador of hope. “I think God’s hand is in this ministry,” Ladner said. “God has a purpose for reaching out to dads in prison and getting them to accept their responsibility.” The ministry is called One Day With God; it is a daylong children’s camp inside the chainlink fence. Forgiven Ministry sponsors camps like these in several states, under the leadership of Scottie Barnes, a woman who knows firsthand what it means to feel abandoned and unloved by an incarcerated father. “Seventy percent of the children of inmates end … [Read more...]