As the publisher of a faith-based military news site, I’m well aware that there are some who consider faith and any form of government an oxymoron, but I have to disagree. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) –  Pollsters continue to ask the question, but the result is the same – the majority of Americans still say they believe in God. And, despite the recent attempts we’ve seen by some to take God out of our schools, our pledge and even our national motto, God remains very much a part of our country’s makeup. As the publisher of a faith-based military news site, I’m well aware that there are some who consider faith and any form of government an oxymoron, but I have to disagree. There’s a reason why “In God We Trust” has been around for 50-plus years. In fact, I can think of five: 1. We trust in God because evil still exists. The media went crazy in the days after 9-11 when our president brought the term “evil” to the forefront, talking about the “axis of evil” and those in our world who are, well, evil. Hard to comprehend for people who refuse to believe that someone else could actually want to hurt and harm. After all, the “evil” people can’t help how they feel, right? And who am I to tell them they can’t do that? Let’s … [Read more...]

The Georgia Barnette Offering is the thread that connects disaster relief, prison ministry, seafarers ministry, collegiate ministry, radio ministry, resort ministry, and more, across the state of Louisiana. Note: Leading up to the annual Week of Prayer for State Missions and the Georgia Barnette State Missions Offering (September 17-24), the Message will present reports on ongoing missions work across Louisiana. The Georgia Barnette Offering is the thread that connects disaster relief, prison ministry, seafarers ministry, collegiate ministry, radio ministry, resort ministry, and more, across the state of Louisiana. This year’s $100,000 allocation is designed to spread out and result in thousands of lives changed, just as these ministries have done in the past. Disaster Relief Even before Hurricane Katrina hit, Louisiana’s Disaster Relief unit was deployed to First Baptist Covington, and that was just the start of the outpouring of assistance that rolled over the state as churches and associations responded to the need. To date, no one has sat down and tabulated all that was done, said Gibbie McMillan, new as the LBC liaison with disaster relief efforts from the local church to the national level. … [Read more...]

Reports from the churches: Potpourri OAK GROVE – First church:  Bayou Bacon Associational Evangelism Conference; Aug. 20, 6 p.m.; Gene Douglas and Joe Aulds, guest speakers; Wesley Bennett, associational evangelism director; Jay Morgan, director of missions; Carl Gulde, pastor. SHREVEPORT – Kingston Road church:  Cross Point Quartet in concert; Aug. 19, 7 p.m.; nursery provided; Trey Lewis, pastor. ZACHARY – Milldale church:  Labor Day Weedend Camp Meeting; Sept. 1, 6:45 p.m. – Sept. 4; Bill Britt, Malcom Ellis, Jerry Chaddick, Danny Greig, Sonny Holland, Joe Murray, Danny Lovett, Luther Price, Philip Robertson, Sonny Simpson and Jerry Spencer; for information, call (225) 654-8168 or email gloriarogers@milldale.org; Jimmy Robertson and Danny Greig, co-camper directors. BATON ROUGE – Istrouma church:  “Blitz on the Bayou” leadership training; Aug. 19, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; Ken Hemphill, keynote speaker; $20 per person; for information, call (225) 274-8600; Stuart Rothberg, pastor. KEITHVILLE – Mansfield church:  Crosspoint in concert; Aug. 20, 6 p.m.; Glenn Scruggs, pastor. WEST MONROE – Ridge Avenue church:  “English as a Second Language” training; Aug. 18 and 25, 6-9:15 p.m.; Aug. … [Read more...]

DENVER (BP) – No rate increase is expected to be enacted in 2007 in the personal medical plans of GuideStone Financial Resources, marking the third year in a row that the Southern Baptist entity has held the line on rates. DENVER (BP) – No rate increase is expected to be enacted in 2007 in the personal medical plans of GuideStone Financial Resources, marking the third year in a row that the Southern Baptist entity has held the line on rates. GuideStone trustees approved the annual re-rate recommendation during their July 31-Aug. 1 meeting in Denver. An update on GuideStone’s long-range planning toward its 100th anniversary in 2018 also was presented to trustees by Chief Operating Officer John R. Jones. Other than regular age increases, GuideStone President O.S. Hawkins noted in his report to trustees, 100 percent of personal medical plan participants will receive no rate increase and more than 40 percent will receive a rate decrease. Hawkins credited the good report to the continued improvements in the administration and design of GuideStone’s medical plans. “During the past several years, we have provided a greater variety of choices in our medical plans with varying deductibles and … [Read more...]

when Rhonda Kelley began noticing she was meeting countless other women of her generation who like Kelley were dealing with hard decisions in helping their aging parents, Kelley decided to write Raising Moms. She wanted to help these women, aiming to provide a resource focused not only on the facts of caregiving but also on the biblical principles that should guide Christians. “What a privilege to tenderly care for parents in the way that they cared for you in childhood,” says Rhonda Kelley of New Orleans. “Yes, it is hard to juggle the demands of work and family while also supporting parents. But the sacrifice is worth it. In caring for aging parents, Christians are following the biblical principles of honoring parents, continuing the spiritual legacy, and training children to respect elders.” Kelley and her husband, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary President Chuck Kelley, gained firsthand experience in the subject when they become caregivers for his parents. The experience led Rhonda to pen Raising Moms, released by the New Hope publishing division of Woman’s Missionary Union. When her father-in-law Charles Kelley Sr. began facing age-related health problems, the family began searching … [Read more...]

The occasional sound of a morning dove, raven or songbird mingles with the muted buzzing of bees and the industrious chirp of crickets. It’s gentle, peaceful, until a dilapidated pickup rattles down the road and breaks the mood. MONTPELIER – Ann Booth Fletcher knew life was bound to be better in Louisiana when she moved to Montpelier with her new husband from Mississippi, and she was right. Today Fletcher, a member of Montpelier Baptist Church, is one of the state’s leading dairy farmers. “I thought I’d moved to the promised land when I moved down here and didn’t have to look at the back of a mule and pick cotton anymore,” Fletcher said. “I wouldn’t trade my life with anyone.” Fletcher has been the state delegate four times to the National Holstein Association; she was the first woman to serve on the state Holstein board. She owns three pieces of property she calls Shade View Farm, which together include about 800 acres and nearly 400 registered Holsteins, and she’s an active, committed member of her church. Fletcher is the daughter of Mary Booth, a 90-year-old church organist featured last week in the Message. A reader contacted the paper about Mrs. Booth; that interview led to … [Read more...]

Similar in content to Sunday School Week at Ridgecrest, Louisiana’s conferences prepare teachers and leaders for the upcoming church year, with ideas and concepts designed to build Sunday schools and Bible study groups, and grow healthy churches. ALEXANDRIA – Fewer conferences during the year are more important to teachers and leaders in Louisiana’s churches than the “Ridgecrest-style” events that take place in six regions of the state starting this weekend. Similar in content to Sunday School Week at Ridgecrest, Louisiana’s conferences prepare teachers and leaders for the upcoming church year, with ideas and concepts designed to build Sunday schools and Bible study groups, and grow healthy churches. Each regional event is designed by people in that region, to meet their specific needs: Blitz on the Bayou Aug. 19 at Istrouma Baton Rouge features Ken Hemphill, the SBC Empowering Kingdom Growth specialist, and “A Game Plan for Growth as a theme. First Shreveport Aug. 19 features NOBTS President Chuck Kelley; Sessions include Children in Crisis, Positive Guidance, and Learning Styles. Ridgecrest in Cenla Aug. 26 at Louisiana College Pine-ville features David Frances, a LifeWay Sunday School national … [Read more...]

Camp ministry goes 15th century at Judson this summer. JACKSON – “To know Jesus is our quest, we’ll make Him known to all the rest!” This catchy phrase was the clicker used to help campers remember the most important truth of the 2006 summer camp season. This year “the rest” included more than 580 girls and counselors who attended camp during one of the four weeks of July at Girls’ Missions Camp at Judson Baptist Retreat Center. This included 18 Angel Tree campers, a record number. Several  other records were broken as more than 20 girls made professions of faith during worship, at the concession stand and at the creek. Four young ladies said they felt God’s call to missions. Campers were invited “To Know Him and to Make Him Known” as they experienced a medieval quest. From the moment the girls drove on the campground, they were immersed in the camp’s summer-long medieval theme. A castle spacewalk awaited them at the entrance to camp with a sign asking, “Are you ready for the quest?” As campers exited their cars for registration, Celtic music played over loud speakers to fill the entire campground. Campers were even greeted by staff dressed in medieval attire. “One Thing,” the camp theme song by … [Read more...]

News from the churches Potpourri n WALKER – Judson church:  Joe Aguillard, guest speaker; Aug. 27, 10:30 a.m.; Merlin McCon, pastor. n WEST MONROE – First church:  “It’s a Mom Thing” women’s conference; Aug. 26, 8:30 a.m. registration – 4 p.m.; Chonda Pierce, Jennifer Rothschild, Kim Hill, Jill Rigby, Joneal Kirby and Gigi Schweikert, guest speakers; Sandi Patty, musical guest; $53 per person/$15 meal package; $55 per person at the door/meal package not available; to register, call (318) 322-5104 ext. 157, (318) 396-3122 or (800) 858-4109; Barry Haire, communications pastor; Bob Utley, interim pastor. n MANY – First church:  “A Night of Encouragement” featuring Dennis Swanberg; Aug. 27, 6 p.m. at the Many High School gym; love offering accepted; Steve Kelly, pastor. n HARRISONBURG – First church:  Ouachita Associational Evangelism Rally; Aug. 27, 5:30 p.m.; Mack Walker, evangelism director; Ralph Webber, director of missions. n ST. FRANCISVILLE – First church:  Benji Harlan to present special music program; Aug. 20, 6 p.m.; Joe Ratcliff, pastor. n PINEVILLE – Louisiana College:  “Ridgecrest in Cenla” church leadership and Sunday school teacher training; Aug. 26, 7:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.; Joe … [Read more...]

NEW COLUMN, because you might be interested in seeing what other churches across the state are doing – local ministries, church program, inreach and outreach Each week Section Editor Rhonda Havens reads through all the church newsletters, looking for specific information that she uses for the Louisiana People, Places and Events column. When I was looking through the latest batch of newsletters, I saw a lot of information that didn’t fit in Rhonda’s column. It seemed to me that you might be interested in what other churches are doing across the state – local ministries,  church programs, inreach and outreach. So I took the time to set down a page’s worth, all in alphabetical order. Let the Message know if you like this column or not. And send in your newsletter so we can report what your church is doing! I also noticed some things missing from some church newsletters; check yours to make sure it includes the pastor’s name, your mailing address and phone number with area code. Airline Baptist, Bossier City; Chad Grayson, pastor: A MOPS – mothers of preschoolers – ministry started Aug. 6. World Changers was here. Youth and youngsters attended Camp Fuego and Centrikid. Sunday School teachers/workers … [Read more...]