What began with a frog in a kettle has evolved into a series of face-to-face dialogues throughout the country that began last month in Louisiana. What began with a frog in a kettle has evolved into a series of face-to-face dialogues throughout the country that began last month in Louisiana. LifeWay Christian Resources President James Draper Jr. visited First Baptist Church of Bossier City to show his support for and discuss the concerns of younger leaders throughout Louisiana. They gathered to brainstorm solutions to issues raised on LifeWay’s younger leaders online message board (www.lifeway.com/youngerleaders). “I know the problems and you do, too,” Draper told the more than 60 men and women gathered in the First Baptist Church choir room. “But what are we going to do about it?” With his “Is the Southern Baptist Convention a Frog in the Kettle?” column last June, Draper opened the doors of communication with Southern Baptist leaders under age 45 by voicing his concerns about the “lack of denominational involvement and loyalty ... among younger ministers.” When responses to that and subsequent columns flooded into his e-mail inbox, Draper began inviting people to post their concerns, observations and … [Read more...]

There was no mistaking the emphasis of the 2005 Louisiana Baptist Evangelism Conference – reaching the lost with the gospel. There was no mistaking the emphasis of the 2005 Louisiana Baptist Evangelism Conference – reaching the lost with the gospel. Speaker after speaker stressed the point – Christians must renew their focus and determination to take up the gospel task. In addition, they must understand the need to do things differently if they hope to reach the lost. Hundreds of persons from through the state attended the annual gathering, held at First Baptist Church of Bossier City. It focused on the theme “It’s Time to Harvest” as part of the Louisiana Baptist Convention emphasis on sharing the gospel throughout the state during 2005. The following articles offer summary accounts of major addresses during the two-day conference. ‘Something has to change’ If Baptists want to reach the lost for Christ, they better take a couple of lessons from the Apostle Paul and make some changes, Alvin Reid emphasized. “It’s obvious we don’t have a burden for lost people because we’re not reaching many, ...” said Reid, professor of evangelism at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. “Some of us need … [Read more...]

Week of February 7, 2005 Louisiana College New Louisiana College President Joe Aguillard has selected Rouse Caffey as interim vice president for academic affairs for the school. Caffey assumed duties Feb. 2, two weeks after Aguillard was elected president of the Baptist school. Caffey replaces Don Sprowl, who serves as chair of the school’s Division of Mathematics and Computer Science and was serving in the interim vice president position. Sprowl voluntarily stepped down from that position following Aguillard’s election in order to devote more time to teaching, a school news release noted. “Dr. Caffey brings the perfect combination of administrative experience, academic excellence and a vision for faith-based liberal arts education that Louisiana College needs,” Aguillard said. Caffey is chancellor emeritus of the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, having served there from 1984 to 1997. He served as chancellor of Louisiana State University at Alexandria from 1981 to 1984. He is a member at Jefferson Baptist Church in Baton Rouge. Financial resources GuideStone Financial Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention (formerly the Annuity Board) reached an all-time high of $8.3 billion in assets at … [Read more...]

I wanted to express my appreciation for the life and ministry of Dr. Clifton Tennison (a retired Louisiana Baptist pastor who recently died at the age of 85). Remembering a life I wanted to express my appreciation for the life and ministry of Dr. Clifton Tennison (a retired Louisiana Baptist pastor who recently died at the age of 85). The college ministry at First Baptist Church of West Monroe (where Tennison was longtime pastor) meant a great deal to me during my years at Northeast Louisiana Univeristy (now University of Louisiana at Monroe), and during that time, I surrendered to the ministry. I still remember walking to the front of the sanctuary during a Sunday night invitation and taking Dr. Tennison’s hand to tell him that God was speaking to me about going to seminary. “Dr. T” took an interest in me from then on and continued to send letters of encouragement when I started my work at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. His kind words and support made all the difference for a young college student seeking God’s direction for his life. Danny Chisholm, Pastor Signal Mountain Baptist Church Good enough for me Re: January 20, 2005,  Baptist Message editorial on “Now is the time for all to pray for … [Read more...]

Almost one year ago at Easter time, a commercial movie smashed into the consciousness of the United States. "The Passion of The Christ" was an in-your-face, big-screen presentation of the writer-producer-actor Mel Gibson's understanding of the Passion of Christ, or the last 12 hours of Christ's life. Almost one year ago at Easter time, a commercial movie smashed into the consciousness of the United States. "The Passion of The Christ"  was an in-your-face, big-screen presentation of the writer-producer-actor Mel Gibson’s understanding of the Passion of Christ, or the last 12 hours of Christ’s life. A year ago, when movie houses showing the tremendous production were filled to overflowing, many wondered what the lasting impact of the movie would be. Would the movie change the lives of those who saw it? Would the movie bring revival to the church? Would the unabashedly religious movie change Hollywood’s attitude about the profitability of different kinds of movies than the ones they have been producing? A year later, we apparently know the answers to these questions, and they are not what most in the church hoped they would be. A recent Barna Research Group poll shows that the vast majority of people who … [Read more...]

Katie Vacanti-Mitchell turned 12 last April, loves the color purple, plays softball and soccer and teases her two younger brothers one minute then mothers them the next. Katie Vacanti-Mitchell turned 12 last April, loves the color purple, plays softball and soccer and teases her two younger brothers one minute then mothers them the next. She considers herself pretty ordinary. However, Vacanti-Mitchell’s world changed after her birthday when doctors diagnosed her with leukemia. The irony sobered Katie, who had spent a year growing her hair long for Locks of Love, a group that creates wigs for cancer patients from donated hair. The first night she spent in the hospital, Vacanti-Mitchell says she sat on the bathroom floor by herself, buried her face in her hands and unsuccessfully tried to muffle her sobs from her parents. “I just kept saying, ‘I don’t want to have cancer’ and ‘I just want to go home and everything be all right,’” she recalls. However, Vacanti-Mitchell did not let her sadness stick around for long. During her stay at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, she was visited by Monroe Carell Jr., founder of the medical institution and CEO of Central Parking Corp., where her dad, James, works. During … [Read more...]

Much has been written – and suggested – about the faith of President George Bush and his expressions of it. But exactly where does Bush rank among past American presidents in terms of public displays of religion? Much has been written – and suggested – about the faith of President George Bush and his expressions of it. But exactly where does Bush rank among past American presidents in terms of public displays of religion? Well, as far as author David Aikman can tell, Bush should be placed squarely in the middle on that count. “Virtually every American president in office has either been a person of faith or a supporter of the principle that faith was a good thing,” said Aikman, a former senior correspondent for Time magazine who has written a book about Bush’s Christian faith. “I think this particular president – although he has been more outspoken than most recent people in office – is absolutely in the mainstream of an important American historical tradition.” In terms of religiosity, Aikman compares the current president to Democrats Woodrow Wilson and Jimmy Carter and to Republicans Abraham Lincoln and William McKinley. Even Thomas Jefferson – a deist – recognized the importance of religion while … [Read more...]

America soon will learn if a Louisiana Baptist will be named the next “American Idol.” Jonathan Murrell is a 25-year-old minister of music at First Baptist Church of Pollock. Brian Blackwell LBM Newswriter America soon will learn if a Louisiana Baptist will be named the next “American Idol.” Jonathan Murrell is a 25-year-old minister of music at First Baptist Church of Pollock. He auditioned in New Orleans last summer with 10,000 other aspiring singers who hoped to land a spot on the television music reality show “American Idol.” After three days of auditions, Murrell was one of 16 contestants from those auditions chosen to advance to the next round of competition in Hollywood, Calif. New Orleans was one of seven cities that hosted a total of about 100,000 individuals who competed for 160 spots in the Hollywood round, which is currently on Fox television network. After two more weeks of competition – which was taped last year – the field will be narrowed to 24 contestants. Then, the show will be shown live on Fox, where, each week, viewers will vote via telephone calls and cellular telephone text messaging for the contestants they wish to remain in the competition. Murrell characterized the … [Read more...]

Now, one can add a new designation to Generation X and Generation Y – Generation M. It is the missionary generation, a fast-growing group of young adults emerging from religious colleges who are engaging the culture with values and perspectives counter to the typical secular student. Now, one can add a new designation to Generation X and Generation Y – Generation M. It is the missionary generation, a fast-growing group of young adults emerging from religious colleges who are engaging the culture with values and perspectives counter to the typical secular student. At least, that is how Naomi Schaefer Riley sees things. In her new book, “God on the Quad: How Religious Colleges and the Missionary Generation Are Changing America,” Riley explains what she learned from visiting 20 religious colleges in 2001 and 2002. The visits revealed some significant ways Generation M students are set apart, said Riley, who has written for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and other major publications. “They reject the spiritually-empty education of secular schools,” she said. “They refuse to accept the sophisticated ennui of their contemporaries. “They snub the ‘spiritual but not religious’ attitude,” Riley … [Read more...]

David Hankins acknowledged that some people shy away from using military terms and imagery these days. But when it comes to talking about the task confronting Louisiana Baptists, he is not one of them. C. Lacy Thompson LBM Associate Editor David Hankins acknowledged that some people shy away from using military terms and imagery these days. But when it comes to talking about the task confronting Louisiana Baptists, he is not one of them. “We are in the God’s army,” emphasized Hankins, who assumed full responsibility as Louisiana Baptist Convention executive director at the start of February. That means it falls to every Louisiana Baptist to “recognize that they have been enlisted in the army of the Lord Jesus, and they are to advance his kingdom,” he added. Every soldier is responsible – and the most important thing individual Louisiana Baptists can do at this time is focus on their own lives and answer God’s claim on them as participants in the kingdom of God, Hankins said. Growing the kingdom of God and moving it forward in Louisiana are key themes for Hankins as he assumes the helm of the state convention this month. He was elected to the position unanimously last fall, leaving a top … [Read more...]