Southern Baptist women were challenged recently to spend the next two years focusing on - and helping - the poor. Southern Baptist women were challenged recently to spend the next two years focusing on - and helping - the poor.   Southern Baptist Woman’s Missionary Union leaders unveiled the organization’s new "Project HELP: Poverty" during their recent annual meeting in conjunction with the Southern Baptist Convention in Indianapolis.   The goal of the effort is to connect churches to people’s needs, organizers said.   Through Project HELP, Woman’s Missionary Union identifies a social and moral issue and then ties in national projects to address it through the course of two years.   "How much do you love Jesus?" Kentucky WMU President Cathy Chinn asked women at the recent annual meeting. "Because the amount of love you have for him determines how much you love others."   Project HELP: Poverty will use the recently published book "Breaking the Cycle: Issues Affecting Poverty" by Cathy Butler as its primary resource.   Through the effort, WMU leaders will encourage churches to adopt local, national and international action plans during the next year, … [Read more...]

For the week of July 15, 2004 Cooperative Program   Gifts through the Southern Baptist Cooperative Program totaled $13.1 million last month, a decrease of $1.9 million (12.7 percent) from the previous June. Nine months into the convention’s fiscal year, gifts total $142.8 million, an increase of almost $3.8 million (2.7 percent) from the same time last year. The total also stands $6 million (4.4 percent) ahead of budget at this time. Meanwhile, designated gifts total $19.1 million last month, a decrease of $734,102 (3.7 percent). Overall, designated gifts total almost $171.7 million, an increase of $22.2 million (14.9 percent) from the same time last year.   New Orleans Seminary   The executive committee of the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary trustees approved two missions initiatives and a doctoral specialization in a recent meeting. Trustees voted to support missionary training by approving a tuition discount for returning Journeyman and International Service Corp missionaries. The discount is designed to help returning workers to prepare for additional missionary service. Trustees also approved a new 25-hour graduate certificate in missions. The certificate is designed … [Read more...]

A step back in time: In June, East Bayou Baptist Church brought members and area residents back in time - all the way to the first-century world of Capernaum that Jesus knew so well A step back in time: In June, East Bayou Baptist Church brought members and area residents back in time - all the way to the first-century world of Capernaum that Jesus knew so well   The small boy approached the robed man wandering through the Jewish marketplace with a purpose - and a question - in mind.   "Are you the Jesus from heaven?" he asked the man.   The man replied that he was.   The small boy leaned in with his primary question then - "Did you see my granddaddy in heaven?"   No, the man was not really Jesus - and the encounter between the two did not take place in a real first-century Jewish marketplace.   But for hundreds of Lafayette residents, what was presented at East Bayou Baptist Church on four June nights was as real as it could get - a detailed depiction of first-century Capernaum, complete with a full-scale marketplace where Jesus himself walked.   Held in a multi-purpose facility, East Bayou members erected an elaborate set of shops and … [Read more...]

Just about a year ago, Kenny Perry was a solid, friendly - yet largely unknown - PGA Tour golf professional. Just about a year ago, Kenny Perry was a solid, friendly - yet largely unknown - PGA Tour golf professional.   Paid to wear colorful Tabasco golf shirts and raised in a small town in Kentucky, Perry was a former Tour winner but had faded into golf’s background.   However, that was before Perry won three tournaments in the summer of 2003, including back-to-back events at the Bank of America Colonial with a career-low third-round score of 61 and the Memorial Tournament the following week.   Then, the entire golf world learned that Perry is devoted to his faith, his family and his small-town roots.   "The greatest thing about last year is that (the golf media and fans) told my story about how important my faith is to me, about growing up in a small town and about wanting to help others," Perry says. "I’m just one simple guy, but God tells us to be ready at all times."   Perry won more than $4 million in PGA Tour prize money last season with his three wins. He is using that money to fund scholarships at David Lipscomb University - a Church of Christ school in … [Read more...]

The committee charged with nominating a new executive director for the Louisiana Baptist Convention has issued a called for a day of prayer. The committee charged with nominating a new executive director for the Louisiana Baptist Convention has issued a called for a day of prayer.   Members of the search committee recently called on Louisiana Baptists to set aside August 15 as a day of prayer for the group and its work.   In a released statement, committee members asked Louisiana Baptists "at all levels" to engage in concerted prayer for the search process.   The full statement of the call reads:   "The executive director search committee requests that Louisiana Baptists at all levels participate in concerted and continuous prayer as we seek God’s man to lead Louisiana Baptists.   "This pivotal time in history of the Louisiana Baptist Convention requires the clear leadership of God to be present at every stage of the process.   "Specifically, we ask that you set aside Sunday, August 15 as a special day of prayer for our search committee. We are confident that God has a bright and glorious future for Louisiana Baptists.   "May we join the … [Read more...]

Louisiana College trustees have a new chair, elected last week during an off-campus called meeting after the previous chair abruptly resigned. Louisiana College trustees have a new chair, elected last week during an off-campus called meeting after the previous chair abruptly resigned.   Meanwhile, the flagship school of the Louisiana Baptist Convention has been notified its accrediting agency will send a fact-finding committee to the campus this fall to investigate questions that have arisen.   It has been an eventful few weeks.   • In late June, 18 trustees signed form letters asking for a special meeting with a specific agenda - to remove the sitting chair of the board and elect a new one just two months before the scheduled election of new officers.   • In a precluding action, trustee Chair Joe Nesom released a letter June 27, resigning his post. News of Nesom’s decision was made public in a July 1 news article in the Alexandria Town Talk.   • In early July, Louisiana College officials learned their bid to launch a masters program in teaching had been denied by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).   • On July 9, a Town Talk … [Read more...]

More than three-fourths of Protestant clergy believe the separation of church and state in the United States has gone too far, recent research indicates. More than three-fourths of Protestant clergy believe the separation of church and state in the United States has gone too far, recent research indicates.   Indeed, in a study by Ellison Research, 78 percent of Protestant clergy say "the separation of church and state in the U.S. has gone too far or in ways it was never intended to go." The study was conducted on behalf of LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention.   In the study, just 8 percent of all agree with the statement "the separation of church and state in the U.S. has not gone far enough; more is needed," Ellison reported.   In turn, 13 percent believe "the current separation of church and state in the U.S. is right about where it should be."   Among the larger denominational groups in the study, Southern Baptist ministers particularly are likely to view the separation of church and state as having gone too far - by a 93 percent majority. Pentecostal and charismatic pastors also are united in this belief (92 percent), while Methodist ministers … [Read more...]

President George Bush’s re-election campaign is drawing criticism for an initiative that includes seeking possession of church directories. President George Bush’s re-election campaign is drawing criticism for an initiative that includes seeking possession of church directories.   Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission President Richard Land said he is "appalled" by the move.   Similar criticism was voiced by leaders of groups as diverse as Americans United for the Separation of Church and State.   A spokesperson for that group called the effort a "shameless attempt to misuse and abuse churches for partisan political ends."   In the initiative, Bush-Cheney ’04 has provided coalition coordinators with a sheet asking them to give their church membership directories to the campaign, to talk to church groups about the re-election effort and to distribute "Voter Guides" in the churches. The instructions cite 22 responsibilities and deadlines for completion.   "I’m appalled that the Bush-Cheney campaign would intrude on a local congregation in this way," Land said. "It’s one thing for the church to have a voter registration drive, to seek to inform … [Read more...]

So you want to be funny. Good. Everyone except flint-face fuddy-duddies enjoy a good laugh, and I have seen a slight smile crack even their lips. So you want to be funny. Good. Everyone except flint-face fuddy-duddies enjoy a good laugh, and I have seen a slight smile crack even their lips. But, trying to be funny can be dangerous, and no laugh is worth hurting someone’s feelings or getting you stoned.   Fact & Trends, a publication of LifeWay, had a neat set of guidelines for preachers wanting to be funny, and we preachers need help knowing what to say and what not to say when it comes to that. (Facts & Trends, July/August, 2004) I repeat, trying to be funny. Nothing is more "unfunny" than someone who tries to be funny and misses by a mile. I know. I have an ostrich egg on a table in my office someone accused me of laying one Sunday.   So, the next time you want to tell a joke or story during "opening assembly" or before any group, consider these edited F&T’s questions.   1. Does it pass the "Is God laughing" test?   Well, I’ve never heard God laugh, but I have felt like he was, but I think it was more when I was trying to know it all more than when I was … [Read more...]

For the week of July 22, 2004 Louisiana Baptist call   The committee charged with nominating a new executive director for the Louisiana Baptist Convention has issued a call for nominees and a day of prayer. Members of the search committee recently set an Aug. 15 deadline for persons to submit resumes for a new executive director. Resumes should be mailed to: Dr. Jim Law, c/o The Executive Office, Louisiana Baptist Convention, P.O. Box 311, Alexandria, LA 71309. Committee members also called on Louisiana Baptist to set aside Aug. 15 as a day of prayer for the group and its work. "This pivotal time in history of the Louisiana Baptist Convention requires the clear leadership of God to be present at every stage of the process," the committee call reads. The committee is charged with nominating a successor to Dean Doster, who is set to retire Jan. 31, 2005.   Louisiana College   Following a somewhat tense closed-door trustee session July 9, the search for a new Louisiana College president is continuing. There had been some speculation the off-campus session earlier this month was called with intentions to circumvent the search process and elect a new president immediately. However, those … [Read more...]