As an earthquake brutally shook under his feet, Awal Khan left his goats in the mountains and rushed home, only to find his house a mass of rubble. As an earthquake brutally shook under his feet, Awal Khan left his goats in the mountains and rushed home, only to find his house a mass of rubble. His wife and 12-year-old daughter had been inside. “The walls and roof of the house caved in on them,” Khan said. “I took them and buried them. I dragged them out, and now, they are in the cemetery.” A Southern Baptist disaster relief assessment team found Khan standing on the edge of a road situated high above the town where his home once stood. Reaching the town was not easy. Living in it right now is even harder. Shelter, food and medical care are scarce in this town, which had served as a supply hub for area villages. “Southern Baptist workers have assessed many of the affected areas and are responding,” said Philip Monroe (not his real name), a Southern Baptist disaster relief specialist serving in Asia. “The vast majority of the seriously-affected areas are accessible only by helicopter, long walks on foot or long, dangerous drives in vehicles.” Khan’s town is one of several hard-to-reach sites where … [Read more...]
Hurricane relief workers find witness opportunities
Members from Watson Chapel Baptist Church in Madisonville, Tenn., are living up to their state’s nickname, the Volunteer State. Members from Watson Chapel Baptist Church in Madisonville, Tenn., are living up to their state’s nickname, the Volunteer State. Even after a member of their chainsaw crew was pinned by a tree, almost paralyzing him, the church was willing to send a team of youth and adults to return to Louisiana the following week. The team was led by youth pastor Russ Cooper. Members stayed at First Baptist Church of Ponchatoula and drove every morning to New Orleans to distribute food, water, ice and cleaning supplies at Calvary Baptist Church and at a non-church site. By giving out Bibles at both sites, doors for ministry opened, workers report. One woman began to cry after receiving a Bible. Through her tears, she asked for another Bible for her mother because the hurricanes destroyed both of their Bibles left in their homes. Volunteer worker Tina Dalton said she was moved by the love and kindness of the people she helped. “People didn’t take any more than they needed,” she notes. “They didn’t want to be wasteful. I kept saying take more, but they would say, ‘No, No, someone else … [Read more...]
He was worried about traveling with an evangelical – but then …
Peter Perl’s apprehension grew the minute he saw the roommate list for his trip to the Middle East. Peter Perl’s apprehension grew the minute he saw the roommate list for his trip to the Middle East. For three weeks, the newspaper journalist for The Washington Post would be rooming with a Southern Baptist seminary student – and he was uneasy. He admits wondering what it would be like to live for three weeks with someone who might try to save his soul. Still, for 23 nights, he bunked with Matthew Cates, a student at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. And looking back, he admits he learned one thing about Southern Baptists he had least suspected – their desire to spread the grace of God is born out of a genuine love for people. Perl and Cates were fellow travelers on an annual summer trip called the Middle East Travel Seminary, a pilgrimage to notable Middle Eastern sites. The group was an eclectic blend of 20 spiritual sojourners, including conservative and liberal Protestant seminary students and practitioners of the Jewish faith. Perl wrote of his experience and his relationship with Cates in a lengthy first-person article that ran in the Aug. 21 edition of The Washington Post under the headline … [Read more...]
World of religion
week of September 5, 2005 LC enrollment Louisiana College President Joe Aguillard announced last week the Pineville school has extended the registration deadline to assist college students displaced by Hurricane Katrina. The deadline for the Louisiana Baptist school has been extended until Sept. 9 for students affected by the storm. For information, call (318) 487-7259 or (800) 487-1906. Issuing an apology Pat Robertson initially defended, then apologized for remarks he made on national television on Aug. 22, calling for the murder of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. The retraction by the conservative Christian broadcaster came after a day of criticism from political and religious leaders across the ideological spectrum, including the president of the Southern Baptist Convention all condemned the comments. During the Aug. 22 broadcast of his Christian Broadcast Network show “The 700 Club,” Robertson said the time had come for United States officials to consider assassinating the Venezuelan dictator. “It’s a whole lot cheaper than starting a war,” Robertson said of killing Chavez. “We have the ability to take him out, and I think the time has come that we exercise that ability.” The outcry began … [Read more...]
Acadia Baptist Academy
Oct 7-9, 2005, the Acadia Baptist Academy Alumni Association is hosting an Alumni Reunion at Acadia Baptist Center in Eunice. Oct 7-9, 2005, the Acadia Baptist Academy Alumni Association is hosting an Alumni Reunion at Acadia Baptist Center in Eunice. Acadia Baptist Academy was a Christian boarding high school sponsored by the Louisiana Baptist Convention for 50-plus years. Acadia Baptist Academy had a great impact on those young people who attended the school and, I believe, played a very specific role in spreading the gospel throughout this state. In its earlier years, it was particularly instrumental in training young men interested in entering the ministry. The reunion will be held Friday -Sunday – but the major program will be held on Saturday. Registration will begin at 9:00 a.m., and the “formal” program will conclude shortly after noon. Peggy Watson, Secretary Acadia Baptist Academy Alumni Association … [Read more...]
Telling the truth
As I finished reading the letter entitled “An Unmentioned Reason,” by Steve Pruett in the August 18 issue, I almost laughed at the rebuttal of solutions to the SBC’s evangelistic slide. As I finished reading the letter entitled “An Unmentioned Reason,” by Steve Pruett in the August 18 issue, I almost laughed at the rebuttal of solutions to the SBC’s evangelistic slide. The reason given that we are “alienated” by “70 percent of the population” is because that 70 percent of the population believes women should be pastors. I serve a God whose message is very confrontational. Coming to him challenges the natural man to live a new life, contrary to almost everything the world believes. Is it “not fair” that the SBC has no women pastors? Maybe in the world’s eyes, but since I was saved, I no longer look through the world’s eyes. My opinion on the matter is, “What does the Bible say about women pastors and other confrontational issues?” The passages for the qualifications of a pastor are clearly masculine in nature. The denominations that have accepted women pastors are the ones struggling with the acceptance of homosexual pastors. I do not wish to see the SBC struggling with such issues. One passage for those … [Read more...]
Cultural engagement
Steve Pruett’s response to the article on “steps to reverse SBC evangelistic slide” was hasty and naive. Steve Pruett’s response to the article on “steps to reverse SBC evangelistic slide” was hasty and naive. To propose an abandonment or weakening of our stance on “divisive culture war issues” would neglect our responsibility to be salt and light. Pruett chides the SBC for “our close association with one political party.” A more accurate observation is that one party has hitched their wagon to the evangelical team. “Cultural” and biblical” issues overlap more often than not. Pruett chose as an example of Southern Baptist’s “alienation” the tired issue of female clergy. He concluded that since 70 percent of Americans support women pastors, we must embrace or tolerate this unscriptural ideology or forfeit our opportunity to evangelize. God’s standards are our plumb line, not fickle opinions of secular society. The cliched mantra “who are we to judge others” is drawn from the well of liberal jargon. Pruett’s use of 1 Cor. 5:12-13 as a command for Christians to silence our mouths to the sin around us is poor exegesis. If we abandon the front line in the “culture wars,” who will take our place? No one, and … [Read more...]
Weekly announcements
Week of September 5, 2005 Potpourri DRY CREEK – Dry Creek camp: Senior Adult Retreat; Sept. 19, 9 a.m.-Sept. 20, after lunch; David Holder and Bill Thorn, guest speakers; Jim Reynolds and Margie Nell Walker, music; Boyd Tweedy and R. L. Hillum of Cross Country, special featured guests; $45/full time lodgers, $25/2 day commuter and $15/1 day commuter; to register or for information, call (337) 328-7531; Curt Iles, camp manager. BATON ROUGE – Istrouma church: The Signature Sound Quartet in concert; Sept. 18, 6 p.m.; free, love offering accepted; Stuart Rothberg, pastor. MANY – First church: Gene Mills, guest speaker; Sept. 11, 11 a.m.; Steven L. Kelly, pastor. COLFAX – Colfax Civic center: Area-wide crusade; Sept. 9-11, 7 p.m. nightly; Joe Aulds, evangelist. SHREVEPORT – Emmanuel church: “Becoming Jewels in God’s Crown” women’s conference; Sept. 24, 8:30 a.m. registration - 2 p.m.; Jean Bailey, guest speaker; Laura Crawford and Cathy DeRousse, music; $10 per person/includes lunch; registration deadline Sept. 18; for information, call (318) 686-7548; Bill Stowell, pastor. Youth DRY CREEK – Dry Creek camp: “See You at the Pole” youth rally; Sept. 17, 5:30-8:30 p.m.; Todd Burnaman, guest speaker; … [Read more...]
What will Katrina reveal of us? Will we look to God?
If God’s Word does not have something significant and true to say in New Orleans today, it is not true in the rest of Louisiana tomorrow. If God’s Word does not have something significant and true to say in New Orleans today, it is not true in the rest of Louisiana tomorrow. But God’s Word does have some thing to say in the aftermath of Katrina. God’s Word never fails. It is true in New Orleans today – and in all of Louisiana tomorrow. The Epistle of James gives us the sterling truth that trials and tragedies are tests. We generally do not like tests, but when they come, we are wise to heed carefully what they reveal. For years, the levees that were built to protect New Orleans have been tested, and they failed the tests. People familiar with New Orleans’ position below sea level and the levees that protect it have known that they were not adequate for a Category Four or stronger hurricane. Yet, what the tests revealed was not heeded. All that happened was that different governments argued about whose responsibility it was to strengthen the levees. And then, the test progressed when Katrina burst upon the city as an unwelcome, destructive guest. Would the entities involved be able to move fast enough … [Read more...]
He used to deal drugs – now, he proclaims Christ
The sound of a trumpet awoke Huey Harris on April 5, 2001, his last night as a drug dealer. Harris says he looked out of his bedroom window in Montgomery, Ala., and saw people of all races running without direction, screaming and crying. The sound of a trumpet awoke Huey Harris on April 5, 2001, his last night as a drug dealer. Harris says he looked out of his bedroom window in Montgomery, Ala., and saw people of all races running without direction, screaming and crying. Fire appeared to be streaming down from the heavens. Harris felt himself lifted out of his body. “I’m getting ready to destroy this world full of sin,” Harris heard the voice of God telling him. Few believed “Shockey” – as he was known on the street – had truly changed his life, and Harris would have to ignore the taunts of even family and friends as he preached on the same streets he once ruled by intimidation. He would start his own church in Montgomery, and his persistence and testimony would gain national attention, with articles in church publications and appearances on television and at a Billy Graham crusade. On a 90-degree night, the 6-foot-2-inch, 255-pound preacher wipes sweat from his face as he leads Bible study on an asphalt … [Read more...]
