That all peoples may know him: For Southern Baptists, the challenge is clear - shine the bright light of the gospel on all the world That all peoples may know him: For Southern Baptists, the challenge is clear - shine the bright light of the gospel on all the world Where can one find thousands of millionaires - not to mention nine of the worlds richest billionaires as well? India. Who makes more movies than Hollywood? India - by far. "Bollywood," the vast film industry based in Bombay (now Mumbai) churns out about 1,000 pictures a year, roughly twice as many as Hollywood. Hindi movies burst with melodrama, action, sexy stars and big musical production numbers - and gross $3.5 billion a year worldwide. Which nation boasts the worlds biggest democracy? India. And it still works, as demonstrated by this years stunning upset victory by the underdog Congress Party against the ruling Hindu nationalist alliance. Which country now counts more than 24 million Christians - nearly 19 million of whom are evangelicals? Right again - India. If ones most vivid impressions of India come from … [Read more...]
LBC churches report renewed focus, ministry from 40 Days of Purpose study
Forty days this year drastically changed Chesbrough Baptist Church in Kentwood. Forty days this year drastically changed Chesbrough Baptist Church in Kentwood. As a result of their participation in the 40 Days of Purpose campaign in April and May, the eastern Louisiana church eliminated various committees and formed 25 new ministries. Pastor John David Stewart said that while 40 Days of Purpose was not the solution to all his churchs problems, the study helped his members think more about serving others. Developed by Rick Warren, pastor at Saddleback Valley Community Church in Lake Forest, Calif., 40 Days of Purpose is based on "The Purpose-Driven Life," written by Warren. That book invites individuals to undertake a 40-day study to help them understand Gods meaning and purpose for their lives. "Unbelievable ministries have formed as a result of the study," Stewart said. "The campaign got everyone focused on serving one another. Forty Days (of Purpose) got everyone in tune to focus on the same goal, and the entire church was brought closer together." Chesbrough is one of many Louisiana Baptist churches who has participated in the 40 Days of Purpose … [Read more...]
N.O. church seeks to put gospel work ‘on the map’
David Crosby admits that when he found himself ministering in the inner city of Houston for five years, he sometimes wondered why he was there. David Crosby admits that when he found himself ministering in the inner city of Houston for five years, he sometimes wondered why he was there. When he served as a city desk reporter for the New Orleans Times Picayune newspaper during his seminary years, he probably wondered what world he had stumbled into at times as well. But now, one easily can say it was all training for the day when Crosby would find himself as the only fulltime pastor of an Anglo church in the eastern part of Orleans Parish. As it turns out, that pastorate is First Baptist Church of New Orleans. As it also turns out, since arriving to the position in 1996, Crosby has led the church to a critical junction - for itself and for the Greater New Orleans area. "Its really been a generation since First Baptist Church has been on the map, so to speak," Crosby acknowledged recently. "But now we are again. This all is an effort to put a light on the hill - and we are." Indeed, whereas it once may have taken initiative to … [Read more...]
Leader cites need to teach youth biblical sexuality
Youth ministries must teach teenagers how to reflect the glory of God with their sexuality, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President Al Mohler Jr. emphasized recently. Youth ministries must teach teenagers how to reflect the glory of God with their sexuality, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President Al Mohler Jr. emphasized recently. Churches must confront the current crisis of teenage sexuality by teaching youth about the Bibles comprehensive plan for sex and marriage, Mohler said. "The church, as the redeemed people of God under the authority of Scripture, is supposed to be the one place where sanity prevails in God-ward terms," he said. "But were in big trouble, because so often, we do not begin where the Scripture begins." Teenagers must understand that God created them as sexual beings so that they could glorify him in that area, Mohler said. "When we talk about the crisis in sexuality, the first crisis is that most people dont know where to begin," he said. "So, lets just nail that down and say, Were going to begin with the glory of God, so that our message to young people and to their parents is this - we want to help them, … [Read more...]
Study – religious involvement healthy for collegians
College students with high levels of religious involvement and commitment tend to be more emotionally and mentally healthy than those with little or no involvement, a study by UCLAs Higher Education Research Institute indicates. College students with high levels of religious involvement and commitment tend to be more emotionally and mentally healthy than those with little or no involvement, a study by UCLAs Higher Education Research Institute indicates. "College can be an unsettling time as students struggle with change and fundamental issues about themselves and the world," UCLA professor Alexander Astin said. "This study suggests religion and spirituality can play a positive role in the mental and emotional health of students." Students who frequently participate in religious services - compared to non-participants - show much smaller increases in feeling overwhelmed during college. Non-religious students had a 14 percent increase in feeling overwhelmed, while religious students had a 2 percent increase during college, the study found. Likewise, just 20 percent of highly-religiously-involved students reported experiencing high levels of psychological distress, … [Read more...]
Weekly Briefs
For the week of October 7, 2004 Disaster relief efforts President George Bush made reference last week to ongoing Southern Baptist relief efforts to help Florida residents impacted by the recent string of hurricanes. "Despite week after week of strain, faith-based groups, like Southern Baptists and the Salvation Army, are setting up kitchens to feed the hungry," Bush noted in a visit to one area of the hard-hit state. The president repeated the reference in a follow-up visit to another Florida town the next day. In the wake of Hurricanes Charley, Frances and Ivan, nearly 6,000 Southern Baptist disaster relief volunteers have helped prepare more than 1.6 million meals and completed nearly 5,000 cleanup and recovery projects. On Sept. 27 about 600 volunteers from 10 states were already in various stages of deployment to Floridas east coast in the wake of Hurricane Jeanne, and mobile kitchen units were en route from seven states. Louisiana Baptists have been an active part of the effort. Units from the state have been at work since August. LBC youth conference The annual Louisiana Baptist Youth Evangelism Conference has been set for Nov. 21-23 in the Rapides Parish Coliseum in … [Read more...]
Yarnell a wise choice who deserves understanding, support
Congratulations to the Louisiana College Presidential Search Committee and the Louisiana College board of trustees. They have elected a person of unquestioned academic achievement to serve as president of Louisiana Baptists shining gem. Congratulations to the Louisiana College Presidential Search Committee and the Louisiana College board of trustees. They have elected a person of unquestioned academic achievement to serve as president of Louisiana Baptists shining gem. Malcolm Yarnell earned a masters degree from Duke and a doctorate from Oxford - two premier universities. He has served in teaching and administrative positions at two Southern Baptist seminaries plus he has secular business experience in the financial world. He understands the local church because he has served as a pastor. Not unimportantly, he is a native Louisiana Baptist. The Louisiana College Presidential Search Committee obviously worked diligently to bring a man of such qualifications and experience to the helm of the school. Now, the future direction of the college will be determined to a large extent by Malcolm Yarnell. He comes to the school in the midst of a degree of controversy and uncertainty. … [Read more...]
Kids spend ‘One Day With God’ – and Angola dads
Reuniting 200 inmate fathers with their children during the recent One Day With God camp at the Louisiana State Penitentiary was a God-sized task. Reuniting 200 inmate fathers with their children during the recent One Day With God camp at the Louisiana State Penitentiary was a God-sized task. And Supervisory Chaplain Robert Toney says it happened only because of a God-sized miracle. "We offered something to the men that wouldnt have been possible without an act of God," says Toney, also the pastor at Zion Hill Baptist Church in Gloster, Miss. "All around me, I was hearing inmates pray for their kids, which gave me goosebumps," notes Bruce Efferson, head of the prison ministry at First Baptist Church of Slidell. "Seeing kids pray for their daddies was amazing." Organized by the penitentiary at Angola in conjunction with Forgiven Ministries, a prison ministry in North Carolina, One Day With God was the first-of-its-kind event in the United States. It allowed 300 children to spend the day with their inmate fathers. Indeed, while Forgiven Ministries has sponsored similar events at other prisons, it never had held one at a maximum security prison on such a … [Read more...]
So – your church is changing its worship style
The following article is based on a small-group seminar held during the "Whatever It Takes" conference at First Baptist Church of West Monroe. The conference was hosted by a trio of state conventions and was designed to focus church leaders on growth strategies. Note: The following article is based on a small-group seminar held during the "Whatever It Takes" conference at First Baptist Church of West Monroe. The conference was hosted by a trio of state conventions and was designed to focus church leaders on growth strategies. In addition to general sessions, a number of small-group seminars were offered to participants. The Louisiana Baptist Message will present periodic articles based on those seminars. The following article is based on a seminar entitled - "Transitions 101: Managing Change in Worship Styles." Quinn Stanfill understands the perils of leading a congregation to adopt - and adapt to - a new worship style. But he insists that deciding to change ones worship style is not the danger. Indeed, that is an easy choice, said Stanfill, associate worship pastor at First Baptist Church of West Monroe. "Its not the changes that do you in," he said. "Its the … [Read more...]
LBC board proposes standstill budget for 2005
Louisiana Baptist Executive Board members approved a standstill state Cooperative Program budget for 2005 last week - but with some allocation changes. Louisiana Baptist Executive Board members approved a standstill state Cooperative Program budget for 2005 last week - but with some allocation changes. In their scheduled meeting, they also adopted a recommendation to the previously convention-owned Baptist Retirement Center in Arcadia and a statement related to the ongoing transfer of responsibility for local associational directors of missions. Most items of business during the meeting were handled with little debate, as board members also received reports regarding various aspects of convention work. Cooperative Program In the major item of business, Executive Board members agreed to a standstill $22 million budget that still must be approved by messengers to the annual convention. While the overall budget goal remains the same as 2004, the allocation percentages for the money does change. For one thing, the amount to be forwarded to the Southern Baptist Convention to support worldwide missions and ministry efforts is set to increase from … [Read more...]
