LAFAYETTE – Judy Hathorn of First Baptist Minden likes to be in the background, she said at last week’s Missions Celebration. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing Editor LAFAYETTE – Judy Hathorn of First Baptist Minden likes to be in the background, she said at last week’s Missions Celebration. Never before had she attended one of the WMU’s annual meetings, and she really couldn’t explain why she decided to participate in this one, she said, but she was glad she did. “I felt a renewal for missions this weekend, and I appreciate it,” Hathorn said. “[Speaker] Caroline Jones brought a lot of joy to me today. She showed me [in her talk] that even the small things we do can bring glory to God. This is a recommitment for me.” Hathorn was one of perhaps 800 men, women, Acteens and GAs to participate in the 106th annual session of the Louisiana Women’s Missionary Union and its Missions Celebration, which took place March 31 and April 1 at First Baptist Lafayette. It was a sensory event designed to instill or rekindle a passion for missions, said Cindy Townsend, director of the Women’s Missions and Ministry team for the Louisiana Baptist Convention. “So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take … [Read more...]

ALEXANDRIA - About 55 people attended the Baptist Employees of Louisiana [BEL] Credit Union annual meeting March 23 at the Baptist Building. By Joanne Brechtel Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA - About 55 people attended the Baptist Employees of Louisiana [BEL] Credit Union annual meeting March 23 at the Baptist Building. Manager Matt Marcantel reported assets of $4,516,474 for the financial institution that serves employees of Louisiana Baptist agencies and churches. “In all, 276 loans were granted during 2005 for a total of $1,673,142,” Marcantel said. “At year’s end, there were 413 loans in the amount of $3,099,983.” Over the last 30 years, about 11,800 loans totalling nearly $41 million had been granted, Marcantel added. Marcantel praised the credit union team for what he said was personalized service that may not be available at larger financial institutions. Board member John Moore gave the Nominating Committee report for committee members Jim Gifford, Randall Hargis and Gary Richerson. They recommended Beverly Ingram, Alan Miller and Bobby Bonds to fill three-year term positions on the Board of Directors, which began April 1, 2006. The members present approved the nominations. Others … [Read more...]

CP DNASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) – “The Difference” is easy to see. By Art Toalston Baptist Press Editor NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) – “The Difference” is easy to see. It’s a DVD being mailed to Southern Baptist churches across the country. “The love of Southern Baptists is making a difference through the Cooperative Program,” the cover of the DVD states. The Difference DVD focuses on how Southern Baptists have been at the leading edge of helping victims of Hurricane Katrina,   as well as victims of the tsunami in Asia, the earthquake in Pakistan and other natural disasters. “Pastors are supported” when Southern Baptists give through the Cooperative Program, the DVD cover notes. “Congregations are being restored. “Lives are being changed forever.” The Cooperative Program, however, reaches far beyond disaster relief: State by state, nationally and internationally, CP gifts from Southern Baptist churches help impart the Gospel to people in need of Christ within state lines and across North America and the world. The Difference DVD, distributed by the Cooperative Program office of the SBC Executive Committee, includes four video segments of varying lengths that can be used in sermons or other … [Read more...]

WOODWORTH – Holding a $20 bill, Warren Morris reminded approximately 600 first through sixth grade boys and their adult leaders that each person is significant to God. By Brian Blackwell Staff Writer WOODWORTH – Holding a $20 bill, Warren Morris reminded approximately 600 first through sixth grade boys and their adult leaders that each person is significant to God. “We all mess up,” the former Louisiana State University baseball star told participants attending the late March Royal Ambassador Congress at Tall Timbers Conference Center in Woodworth. “Because of that, we think we’re worthless. But God looks at us with value no matter what we do.” Morris was the featured speaker at the recent RA Congress, a weekend that featured camping, car races and missions awareness. In his message, Morris reflected on his days as an RA at Calvary Baptist Church in Alexandria. After high school graduation, Morris attended LSU and eventually landed a starting role on the baseball team. His faith helped Morris persevere through a hand injury in 1996 – the same year he hit a game-winning homerun in the College World Series championship game. “I got to the point where I wondered if I’d play baseball again,” … [Read more...]

If I were to maintain that I was born the wrong race – let’s say a black person in a white body – not only would I not be taken seriously, but current society would likely suggest that I was in need of some intense counseling. By Kelly Boggs Editor If I were to maintain that I was born the wrong race – let’s say a black person in a white body – not only would I not be taken seriously, but current society would likely suggest that I was in need of some intense counseling. However, if someone insists they were born the wrong gender – a man in a woman’s body or vice versa – many in American society not only embrace the concept, they seek to make public accommodation. A report in The New York Times highlighted the push by transgender activists to “establish gender-neutral bathrooms in public places.” According to the report, transgender is “an umbrella term that can include transsexuals [people who believe they were born the wrong sex], cross-dressers and those with a fluid, androgynous identity who do not consider themselves completely male or female.” To the aforementioned, gender is not a matter of biology but rather a matter of belief or feeling. So all-encompassing is the definition of … [Read more...]

ALPHARETTA, Ga. – James Jenkins, a Shreveport-based, jointly funded missionary for the North American Mission Board and the Louisiana Baptist Convention, has been named “African-American Church Planting Missionary of the Year” for his work in starting new Southern Baptist Convention churches in Louisiana last year. By Mickey Noah NAMB Staff Writer ALPHARETTA, Ga. – James Jenkins, a Shreveport-based, jointly funded missionary for the North American Mission Board and the Louisiana Baptist Convention, has been named “African-American Church Planting Missionary of the Year” for his work in starting new Southern Baptist Convention churches in Louisiana last year. Richard Harris, vice president-church planting for NAMB, honored Jenkins before a crowd of over 200 at an awards dinner on March 24, during the four-day 2006 Church Planting Missionaries Forum at the Westin Airport Hotel in Atlanta. “This group of CPM’s (church planting missionaries) are our front-line strategists to evangelize and congregationalize North America,” Harris said.  “They are the most ethnically diverse group of leaders in the SBC, and model what North America looks like when you walk the streets. “More importantly, they model the … [Read more...]

NEW ORLEANS – During their week in New Orleans, six men used chainsaws as tools to open doors to share the gospel. By Keith Manuel Regional Reporter NEW ORLEANS – During their week in New Orleans, six men used chainsaws as tools to open doors to share the gospel. The chainsaw disaster relief team from Lake County Baptist Association, Eustis, Fla., led 57 people to begin a relationship with Christ. Besides using chainsaws to clean yards, the other tool employed was the FAITH evangelism strategy, developed by fellow Floridians: Doug Williams and Bobby Welch, the current SBC President. “When you say to someone, ‘Let me tell you about Jesus,’ [in order for people to believe your message] it is about blind trust,” chainsaw crew member Larry Alloway said. “But if you say, ‘Let me come in and help you recover from your pain,’ now you develop some trust. When you have held up your end of the bargain, by cleaning up, and then you say, ‘Let me tell you about Jesus,’ the people are so open. In their minds, you have earned the right to that time.” Fellow worker Richard Earnest described how the need for toothpaste led to a profession of faith. Having forgotten his toothpaste at home, Earnest approached a … [Read more...]

NEW ORLEANS – At least three Southern Baptist pastors were rescued from their attics last September by First Responders activated even as Katrina was bearing down on the port city. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing Editor NEW ORLEANS – At least three Southern Baptist pastors were rescued from their attics last September by First Responders activated even as Katrina was bearing down on the port city. The Southern Baptist chaplain at University Hospital was rescued too. And so were countless thousands of members and attenders of the region’s 154 Southern Baptist churches and missions. “Many of our [Louisiana] troopers were separated from their families; some didn’t know where their families had been evacuated to, but they were continually on the line, getting people to a safe place,” said Cherry Blackwell, member at Williams Boulevard Baptist Church, which opened its facilities to First Responders from early September to nearly Thanksgiving. “We even had some National Guardsmen who had just returned from Iraq and were here instead of with their families,” Blackwell said. “We want to say ‘Thank you’ for the personal sacrifices they made.” To say ‘Thank you’ in a meaningful way, Louisiana Baptists … [Read more...]

FERRIDAY – While on a late Saturday afternoon drive I spied a carefully tended church that had a fully-paved parking lot, which made me curious. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing Editor FERRIDAY – While on a late Saturday afternoon drive I spied a carefully tended church that had a fully-paved parking lot, which made me curious. I liked the idea of spending time with folks who were so particular about the appearance of their church, and I wanted to know if some rich person had donated the parking lot, or how did it happen to get paved? So I drove back Sunday morning and was about 30 minutes early for the worship service at St. James Baptist, a rural church not even a stone’s throw from the Frogmore Plantation tourist attraction. Adults were meeting for Sunday School in the worship center; two children’s classes were meeting at opposite ends of the square fellowship hall. The younger class was learning – amazingly quietly even in their vocalizations and rhythms – the importance of being genuine in your praise of God. Children from both classes began to either read or recite what they had learned to adults sitting in church while standing under framed copies of the Church Covenant and the Ten … [Read more...]

PINEVILLE – During the April 3 meeting of the Louisiana College board of trustees, the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention presented the institution with a $100,000 gift. PINEVILLE – During the April 3 meeting of the Louisiana College board of trustees, the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention presented the institution with a $100,000 gift. “We’re tremendously moved and thrilled at the compassion of the Southern Baptists of Texas and express our heartfelt gratitude,” Louisiana College President Joe Aguillard told the Baptist Message. “The funds are not only greatly appreciated but will be wisely utilized to carry forth the mission of this institution.” Like most Louisiana Baptist churches and entities, Louisiana College has felt the impact financially of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The SBTC awarded the gift to Louisiana College because of “a loss of revenue through the Louisiana Baptist Convention Cooperative Program shortfall and from other sources directly impacted by these natural disasters,” according to a resolution passed by the SBTC Executive Committee during its March 24 board meeting in Grapevine, Texas. “Louisiana College has continued to perform admirable ministry and services through a … [Read more...]