The 18th annual Youth Evangelism Celebration – YEC – the largest event produced by the Louisiana Baptist Convention, is scheduled for Nov. 19-21 at the Rapides Parish Coliseum. ALEXANDRIA – The 18th annual Youth Evangelism Celebration – YEC – the largest event produced by the Louisiana Baptist Convention, is scheduled for Nov. 19-21 at the Rapides Parish Coliseum. Tony Noland, band pastor for the Casting Crowns musical group and a gospel communicator who has seen thousands make decisions for Christ, is the featured speaker. Musical artists are SPUR58, the worship band for the event, and Building 429, who recently toured with Casting Crowns. In addition, performances by Clear Vision Drama Co. and Lou Leventhal, an illusionist, are slated for the event. “YEC is designed to equip, empower and encourage today’s teenager,” said Kevin Boles, LBC’s Youth Ministry Strategist. In addition, the event is a great “front-door experience” for teenagers who don’t have a relationship with God, he aded. “They’ll hear the gospel in amazing ways and numerous times,” Boles said. The average attendance for YEC is a little more than 5,000, he said. The face of youth evangelism – and parenting for … [Read more...]
Note church news here
In 1936, several families began meeting together at their homes for Bible study, prayer, and singing. Believing that there needed to be a Christian witness on the north side of Bastrop, Cherry Ridge Baptist Church was organized, Alice Wallace reports. BASTROP – In 1936, several families began meeting together at their homes for Bible study, prayer, and singing. Believing that there needed to be a Christian witness on the north side of Bastrop, Cherry Ridge Baptist Church was organized, Alice Wallace reports. On October 29, Cherry Ridge will celebrate its 70th Anniversary with Homecoming and Dinner on the Grounds. The day will begin at 9:45 a.m. with Sunday School. A high attendance goal of 301 has been set for Sunday School. At the 11 a.m. worship service, several former pastors are set to speak, and former staff members will be recognized. Following a pot-luck Dinner on the Grounds, The Patriot Quartet will be in concert at 2:30 p.m. All former staff members and members are invited to attend this celebration day. HOUMA – Adolphe Stagg Baptist Association of 32 churches and missions soon will be changing its name to the Bayou Baptist Association, reports the associational … [Read more...]
Arabs take epic Sahara missions camel trek
How’s this for a mission trip: Three months on camels in the scorching Sahara. No contact with family members. Beaten with metal rods. Kidnapped by renegade soldiers. NORTHERN AFRICA (BP) – How’s this for a mission trip: Three months on camels in the scorching Sahara. No contact with family members. Beaten with metal rods. Kidnapped by renegade soldiers. All to bring Jesus to isolated oasis camps inhabited by nomads – hostile strangers who might not give you water during your journey, much less listen to your message. That’s what some new Arab believers did earlier this year. They intend to do it again next year – and the year after that. Why? Because they read the New Testament. “It was the Holy Spirit,” says Luke [name changed for security reasons], the Southern Baptist worker who introduced the Arabs to stories from God’s Word. “From the beginning, we told them, ‘As soon as you know the stories, you need to be sharing them.’ That was on their heart, and the Book of Acts had just come out in their dialect of Arabic. They began going through it and wanted to be like [the Apostle] Paul. They saw that Paul went out to other places.” It all started about six years ago, when Luke … [Read more...]
Lottie Moon missions resources availabe for 2006 offering
The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering has helped support missionaries since 1888 in taking the Gospel around the world. The 2006 goal is $150 million, with 100 percent of Southern Baptists’ gifts undergirding more than 5,100 missionaries working in almost every nation. RICHMOND, Va. (BP) – The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering has helped support missionaries since 1888 in taking the Gospel around the world. The 2006 goal is $150 million, with 100 percent of Southern Baptists’ gifts undergirding more than 5,100 missionaries working in almost every nation. West Africa – home to 287 million people and 355 people groups with virtually no access to the Gospel – is the International Mission Board’s focus for the 2006 Lottie Moon offering. Heading into the Christmas season, the International Mission Board is offering an array of resources free of charge to help churches gain a vision for reaching the people of West Africa – and people all over the world – by supporting the 2006 Lottie Moon offering. Two tools strategically designed to help church leaders spread the Lottie Moon message are the Pastor’s Guide and the Missions Leader’s Guide, available in English and Spanish and featuring an … [Read more...]
Wireless agent makes connections
ALEXANDRIA – When Steve Lloyd isn’t selling wireless telephone service, he’s giving away Bibles, except for the hours he’s leading his church to more than double its Sunday school attendance. Friends, coworkers and his pastor say Lloyd is good at everything he does – Sunday school director and sound man at Homewood Baptist in Alexandria, president of the Alexandria camp of Gideons International, and personal communications specialist – aka inside sales agent – at a Centennial Wireless office in Alexandria. “The church has been blessed since the Lord led Steve to Homewood in his sweet spirit and willingness to serve the Lord in any capacity,” said Homewood Pastor Jimmy Koonce. “He and wife Marilyn have been a great asset to our church and we especially appreciate his work with the Gideons.” Fourteen years ago Lloyd’s landlady got him to go to church; that was the start of his new life, Lloyd said. “I love the fellowship and camaraderie of being with Christians and being a part of their activities,” Lloyd said. “Our church, for example, has fish frys. “After we fry the fish we visit and have a great old time,” Lloyd continued. “You don’t have to get drunk to have fun when you’re … [Read more...]
Call sounds for volunteers
NEW ORLEANS – Skilled and unskilled volunteers are needed to help as rebuilding continues in this city ravaged by manmade and natural disasters at a scale never before seen in the United States. NEW ORLEANS – The precipitous drop in the number of Southern Baptist relief, recovery and other volunteers in Greater New Orleans was not expected, leaders say. “We knew there’d be a drop-off, but not this much of one,” said Jim Burton, director of volunteer mobilization for the SBC’s North American Mission Board. He spoke at an Aug. 30 gathering of area pastors at El Buen Pastor Bautista Iglesia. As recently as mid-August, BAGNO Director of Missions Joe McKeever said that not one day has passed since Aug. 30, 2005, when Southern Baptist volunteers were not onsite somewhere in greater New Orleans. But none were found Labor Day weekend. “This month is a great opportunity for Louisianians to make a special effort to make at the least weekend trips to New Orleans,” said Gibbie McMillan, LBC disaster relief coordinator. “All volunteers are needed, if only for two or three days at a time,” McMillan said. “We need your help. In order to reach the goals of 1,000 homes and 20 churches, we need all hands on deck. “Now is the … [Read more...]
The constant is change
The single constant in metro New Orleans over this past year has been change. Everything is different – the population, the businesses, the scenery, the atmosphere, the politics, everything. Last September, on the first Sunday back from evacuation, Pastor Tony Merida told the congregation of Kenner’s First Baptist Church, “If you don’t like change, you’ve come at a bad time.” The single constant in metro New Orleans over this past year has been change. Everything is different – the population, the businesses, the scenery, the atmosphere, the politics, everything. Every church has changed. Some have disappeared off the earth, losing their buildings and entire neighborhoods. Others that remained high and dry have lost members. A number of pastors have relocated; several new ministers have arrived. Every neighborhood has changed, as long-time residents relocated out of the area from necessity or for jobs, family, or peace of mind. New citizens have arrived, particularly thousands of foreigners eager to assist in the rebuilding of the city. Every resident of the city has changed. You cannot live here and deal with the massive devastation of your beloved hometown and remain unmoved. There’s a soul-sadness reflected in the … [Read more...]
First churches to reopen show faith
KENNER – After years of working toward his goal of increasing the membership, attendance at First Baptist Church of Kenner had reached 500 people for the fourth week in a row that Aug. 28, 2005. In fact, that Sunday a high of 549 people worshipped inside the sanctuary and Pastor Tony Merida was on cloud nine. Then, one day later, Hurricane Katrina made landfall in the early morning hours of Aug. 29. His church members evacuated and scattered throughout the South. KENNER – After years of working toward his goal of increasing the membership, attendance at First Baptist Church of Kenner had reached 500 people for the fourth week in a row that Aug. 28, 2005. In fact, that Sunday a high of 549 people worshipped inside the sanctuary and Pastor Tony Merida was on cloud nine. Then, one day later, Hurricane Katrina made landfall in the early morning hours of Aug. 29. His church members evacuated and scattered throughout the South. Merida wondered what the future of his church held. He received his answer Sept. 25, at the first post-Katrina service. Amidst an atmosphere of jubilation, 200 worshipers high-fived one another. Instead of being fearful, Merida was now optimistic about his church’s future. “It was like homecoming … [Read more...]
Churches score with disaster relief
METAIRIE – At first, the future looked bleak for the congregation of Celebration Church in Metairie. Note: Louisiana Baptist churches throughout the state have responded to the needs of Hurricane Katrina evacuees. All of the stories could not be recounted. Instead, the following article about efforts of three churches is representative of many others in the state. METAIRIE – At first, the future looked bleak for the congregation of Celebration Church in Metairie. Like most churches in the New Orleans area, more than 75 percent of its members had not returned to the city because Hurricane Katrina forced many of the city’s residents out of New Orleans. But five months later, there was hope for the congregation that had added 80 percent of its pre-Katrina attendance, including 800 new Christians who had been helped by the church’s disaster relief centers. “Because of the disaster relief centers and crews we have hosted, our church has been able to share the gospel and minister to the community,” said Dennis Watson, pastor of Celebration Church. “We have hundreds upon hundreds of testimonies from people who were helped by volunteers at our relief centers. We’ve seen God do so many incredible things here.” The congregation began … [Read more...]
Youth skate into body of Christ
ke Silman needed wax for a skateboarding trick, Rye Hill knew just where to lead him: to Kevin Miles, youth pastor at First Baptist Church in Oak Grove, a small town in northeast Louisiana. OAK GROVE – When Jake Silman needed wax for a skateboarding trick, Rye Hill knew just where to lead him: to Kevin Miles, youth pastor at First Baptist Church in Oak Grove, a small town in northeast Louisiana. Though he doesn’t skate much himself, Miles is the kind of guy kids go to. And sure enough, he had the wax. While they were there, Silman, who didn’t attend church, suggested that a skate ministry would be a great addition to the community. Miles knows a chance to serve the Lord when he sees it. “When Jake mentioned it, I thought ... this is it! This is the next thing God wants us to do,” Miles said. “A challenge, yet it would get us out of our comfort zone.” But Miles also knew the ministry would take work. “I saw a LONG journey,” he said. “I knew it would have to be researched. From the church standpoint – insurance was a deal.” Silman, a ninth grader, who is now the skate team leader for the ministry, wanted in on the action, as well. “At that point on, I started seeking God in my life more, and I don’t mean … [Read more...]
