A sense of anticipation fills the dining room inside Building A on the grounds of the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola. By Brian Blackwell LBM Newswriter A sense of anticipation fills the dining room inside Building A on the grounds of the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola. As each of the 66 soon-to-be seminary graduates pass by family members, some of the men give a “thumbs up,” while others hold up a finger to credit God in heaven. On this day, the graduates of the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary extension program at the state’s only maximum security prison have completed one of the biggest accomplishments in their entire lives. “No matter how bad a day you’ve had, something better is coming,” Seminary President Chuck Kelley tells the prospective graduates – the largest class ever at Angola – during the commencement exercises. “You don’t have the opportunity to see the effect you’re having on the world. “What you’re doing here is becoming evident all over the world,” he continues. “Where there is Jesus, there is hope. People say in other places I go that if it can happen (at Angola), it can happen (at their places).” Kelley has described the seminary program at Angola … [Read more...]
Religious leaders launch new political campaign to end hunger in America
Religious leaders from around the country and across the political spectrum have launched a massive political campaign to end hunger in America. Religious leaders from around the country and across the political spectrum have launched a massive political campaign to end hunger in America. They are calling on Congress to pass a hunger-related bill and asking President George Bush not cut federal funding of poverty and hunger programs. “Arguably, it is almost the whole of all organized religion in the United States,” Bread for the World President David Beckmann said of the religious leaders lobbying against hunger. “This is the beginning, we feel, we hope, of a new movement to overcome poverty.” A group of more than 600 activists participated in a recent weeklong conference on poverty and hunger. It was organized by Bread for the World, a Washington-based Christian anti-poverty group. The conference was designed to mobilize religious organizations. During the session, some participants traveled to Capitol Hill in a lobbying effort to protect federal food assistance programs from funding cuts and structural weakening. For many, the spiritual apex of the conference occurred when more than 1,500 people … [Read more...]
Annual Lottie Moon offering closes at second-highest giving total ever
Following a year when Lottie Moon Christmas Offering giving shattered old records and removed appointment restrictions, Southern Baptists raised nearly that amount again. Following a year when Lottie Moon Christmas Offering giving shattered old records and removed appointment restrictions, Southern Baptists raised nearly that amount again. All in all, Southern Baptists contributed almost $134 million through their annual offering for international missions. The offering is collected each year on a June 1-to-May 31 basis. Thus, when the 2004 Lottie Moon offering closed its books, gifts totaled $133,886,221. The total is the second-highest in offering history. However, it still fell short of last year’s $136 million offering and well shy of the $150 million giving goal for the year. The 115-year-old offering is used to support more than 5,200 missionaries on the field. In addition to the $133.8 million Lottie Moon total, Southern Baptists also have given more than $16.3 million to relief efforts following a deadly earthquake/tsunami in southern Asia and the Pacific Rim regions at the close of 2004. “We are overwhelmed with this testimony of Southern Baptists’ heart for missions and desire to reach our … [Read more...]
Study offers definite clues for satisfying prayer life
For those who have wondered what makes for a satisfying personal prayer life, a new study of Protestant ministers offers some definite clues. For those who have wondered what makes for a satisfying personal prayer life, a new study of Protestant ministers offers some definite clues. To begin, very few Protestant ministers are satisfied with their personal prayer lives – indeed, just 16 percent of them are, a new study by Ellison Research of Phoenix indicates. Another 47 percent of ministers are somewhat satisfied with their personal prayer lives, notes the study conducted for LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Meanwhile, 30 percent of the 868 Protestant church pastors included in the national survey indicated they were somewhat dissatisfied with their personal prayer lives. Seven percent of the pastors said they were very dissatisfied. There was a substantial difference in percentages reported by age group. Just 9 percent of pastors under age 45 are very satisfied with their personal prayer lives, compared to 13 percent among ministers age 45 to 59 and 30 percent among pastors 60 or older. The youngest pastors actually are more likely to be very dissatisfied with their … [Read more...]
And now – how NOT to dispose of an eight-ton whale
What you end up with is usually determined by how you go about doing it. Case in point – how do you go about disposing of an eight-ton whale? What you end up with is usually determined by how you go about doing it. Case in point – how do you go about disposing of an eight-ton whale? Well, in 1970 (I’m late on my internet surfing) a 45-foot long, eight-ton whale washed up on a beach in Lane County, Ore. Imagine the distinct odor eight tons of rotting whale emits, not to mention the threat to the health of any living creature within several hundreds of yards of the rapidly-decaying carcass. The lot of removal of the whale fell to the Oregon State Highway Division. No one knows if the governor had it in for the folks in that division, but assuming that does seem appropriate. Engineers of the division, after considering several options, came up with what they thought would be a fail-proof plan to rid the beach of their whale of a problem. They decided to blow the smelly carcass to smithereens with dynamite. They figured that sea gulls and crabs quickly would consume the resulting tiny bits of whale blubber – and all traces of the sea behemoth would disappear. So, the engineers calculated how much … [Read more...]
His witness is simple – a smile and a cross and the gospel
To say that 92-year-old Woodrow Connors still carries his cross is an understatement. To say that 92-year-old Woodrow Connors still carries his cross is an understatement. The fact is he dangles several small, wooden crosses over his walker, distributing them – along with a smile and the gospel – to all who cross paths with him. Connors has served as a deacon at North Jacksonville (Fla.) Baptist Church for 40 years. During that time, he has made more than 20,000 of these reminders of Christ to give away. He said people tend to be astonished that their gift, often accompanied by a gospel tract, comes without a price. “The gospel is free,” Connors says. “Jesus didn’t charge anything. How can I?” The crosses open doors for ministry, with Connors noting, “Wherever I go, I carry a sack.” In a visit to a children’s hospital once, kids and parents draped them on their beds; Connors says he also is fond of leaving crosses at restaurants and hotels. He was introduced to the idea of making crosses by the late Dan Crawford, a local Lutheran he met at a woodworking club. Years of friendship and cross making ensued. A batch of 300 crosses initially was assembled and then distributed by a retreat group in … [Read more...]
The world told her that she was nothing – but God told her different
Her limousine pulls into the church parking lot. An expectant crowd watches as the door opened and a pair of peach-colored stilettos step onto the pavement. Her limousine pulls into the church parking lot. An expectant crowd watches as the door opened and a pair of peach-colored stilettos step onto the pavement. Oprah Winfrey has arrived, looking every inch the star with glamorous hair and a form-fitting peach suit that instantly sets the crowd abuzz. But from the moment she bounds out of the limo, Winfrey presents herself as a simple churchgoer who merely craves a chance to visit the church of “my all-time favorite minister so far” – Otis Moss, pastor at Olivet Institutional Baptist Church in Cleveland. Winfrey makes it clear that she is a fan of Moss – and the popular talk show host has visited Olivet on occasion. She seems as genuinely fond of the historic Quincy Avenue church as the congregation is of her. On this day, she is speaking to church members again as part of a special church emphasis. Several moments of the service that ensue noticeably touch Winfrey, including a soloist’s rendition of “I Surrender All.” Moss picked the song. He says he knew from his friendship with Winfrey that the … [Read more...]
Weekly announcements
Week of June 13, 2005 Potpourri HAMMOND – First church: Carolyn Russell in concert; June 26, 6 p.m.; James “Jim” Lancaster, pastor. SHREVEPORT – Trinity Heights church: Dennis Swanberg, guest speaker for special service honoring senior adults and homebound adults; June 26, 10:45 a.m. with banquet meal to follow; Billy Crosby, pastor. PINEVILLE – Alpine First church: “America We Must Not Forget” musical; June 26, 10:30 a.m.; John Frank Reeve, worship minister; Sammy Morrow, pastor. BATON ROUGE – Goodwood church: Sam Gonzales, guest speaker; June 26, 10:30 a.m.; Mitch Harris, pastor. ALEXANDRIA – Emmanuel church: Summer choir concert featuring multi-cultural music; June 19, 6 p.m.; Larry Taylor, pastor. MONROE – First church: Jamboree and gospel music show featuring The Ingles in concert; June 18, 6 p.m.; $10 per ticket; for tickets, call the church at (318) 325-3126 or Pam Jones at (318) 0955; Randy McGee, pastor. Homecomings JACKSON – First church: June 26, 11 a.m. with dinner on the grounds to follow; Mark Branch, music minister; Joe B. Nesom, pastor. Anniversaries NEW IBERIA – Trinity church: 50th; June 26, 9:30 a.m. with lunch to follow; all former members/friends invited; Roland Fontenot, … [Read more...]
NOBTS board adopts budget, new programs
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary trustees recently approved the largest budget in seminary history, created a new specialization in the master of divinity program and endorsed two new graduate certificates to aid international missionary candidates. New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary trustees recently approved the largest budget in seminary history, created a new specialization in the master of divinity program and endorsed two new graduate certificates to aid international missionary candidates. School trustees approved a budget of $18.3 million, a $1.3 million increase from the current year. Due to the establishment of two endowed faculty chairs last year, trustees were able to raise the budget with only slight increases in tuition and fees. “Once again, the Cooperative Program will contribute almost 50 percent of the funds for the operating budget of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary,” President Chuck Kelley said. “Every dollar that comes to us from the Cooperative Program and from donors who think the training of ministers and missionaries is important is a dollar our students do not have to pay in fees. “We can never say thank you enough to God for his provision and to Southern … [Read more...]
It is just a night of bowling – what is the big deal?
“Can a night out bowling be sacred?” The heading of the column by Kay Warren, wife of well-known pastor Rick Warren, did its job – it caught my attention. “Can a night out bowling be sacred?” The heading of the column by Kay Warren, wife of well-known pastor Rick Warren, did its job – it caught my attention. In the column, Kay Warren encouraged ministers to set one night a week as “family night” and enforce it as something sacred. And before I go any further, church members should be very aware of the unique needs of a minister’s family at this point and help ensure the minister’s family has this special night. “Family night became sacred on our calendar,” Warren states. “No one was allowed to schedule other meetings or get distracted in any way.” Certainly, some folks would severely question the “sacredness” of a night of bowling, but Warren makes great sense. Indeed, both she and her husband grew up as pastors’ kids and knew how ministry constantly demands a minister’s time. “There’s always someone else who needs to hear about Christ and always someone else you need to serve,” she notes in the column. And she could have mentioned the unyielding expectations of a congregation to meet the needs they … [Read more...]
