Walk onto "the yard" at the Sierra Conservation Center prison in Jamestown, Calif. - and one soon notices the standard foot attire. Walk onto "the yard" at the Sierra Conservation Center prison in Jamestown, Calif. - and one soon notices the standard foot attire. No one dares go to the yard without his prison boots. Since the possibility of a fight between rival gangs and ethnic groups breaking out at any moment is high, every prisoner needs boots for extra mobility and protection. In fact, a prisoner who walks out without boots might be disciplined by members of his own gang. So, when inmate Danny Duchene told a gathering of a couple hundred prisoners on the yard to take off their boots because they were standing on holy ground, one could have heard a pin drop. Even the guys leaning on the fence to watch the church service from a distance were surprised. But in a show of unity and courage, more than 100 men took off their shoes in unison, signaling to others that this was Gods yard now. "When they did that, they actually did two things," says George Stephens, a volunteer worker from Crossroads Church in Copperopolis, Calif. "Certainly, they did it because they … [Read more...]
Gambling in Louisiana – a long fight in a new year
Score another one for all of those individuals who warned Louisiana lawmakers about the perils of legalized gambling several years ago. Score another one for all of those individuals who warned Louisiana lawmakers about the perils of legalized gambling several years ago. In a Jan. 20, 2004, editorial regarding Indian casinos, the Baton Rouge Advocate newspaper makes the case succinctly - "Gambling isnt a good source of government revenue, and Louisiana is far too dependent on it." Well said. But if that is the case, why can Louisiana residents expect to face a barrage of pro-gambling measures in this years legislative session? And why is talk still heard about expanding gambling in the state - as in the latest effort by a tribe of Louisiana Native Americans to open yet another casino in the state? The latter is what the Advocate editorial addresses specifically - the efforts of the Jena Band of Choctaws, who are seeking to open a land-based casino in Logansport. As reported two weeks ago in the Baptist Message, 40 acres of land in Logansport already has been approved by the federal government as tribal land. Now, the tribe … [Read more...]
Want to reach Louisiana? Then, focus, leader urges
When it comes to reaching this state with the gospel, Wayne Jenkins understands the challenge confronting Louisiana Baptists. He also understands the solution. When it comes to reaching this state with the gospel, Wayne Jenkins understands the challenge confronting Louisiana Baptists. He also understands the solution. The challenge is clear when one considers the baptism numbers from recent years in the state convention. In 2000, the annual number fell just shy of 15,000. In 2001, it dropped to 13,162. In 2002, it hovered at 13,341. In 2003 - well, with 190 churches and missions unreported, it stands at 12,782. If those 190 churches all reported at the state average of about nine baptisms in a year, the total would rise to 14,492. That would be a better showing - yes. However, it would still mark a troubling slide for Louisiana. "Over the past three years, we have been flatlined and actually have gone down (in baptisms)," said Jenkins, evangelism director for the Louisiana Baptist Convention. "If we were a patient at the hospital, the family would be called in." The picture gets worse when one considers … [Read more...]
Weekly Announcements
For the published week of January 29, 2004 Potpourri SWARTZ - First church: Brian Free and Assurance in concert; Feb. 8, 6 p.m.; Collin Wimberly, pastor. WEST MONROE - Fair Park church: Brothers In Christ, singing police officers, in concert; Feb . 1, 6 p.m.; Waymond Warren, pastor. LIBUSE - Philadelphia church: Wildgame Supper; Feb. 6, 6 p.m.; Phil Robertson "the Duck Commander," guest speaker; Philip Robertson, pastor. NEW IBERIA - Highland church: Fishing Seminar/Wild Game Supper; Feb. 9, 6:30 p.m.; Glenn Chappelear, pro B.A.S.S. fisherman, guest speaker; $5 per ticket; call (337) 365-5471; Steve Horn, pastor. DRY CREEK - Dry Creek camp: Valentines Couple Retreat; for couples married seven years or less; Feb. 13, 5 p.m. registration - Feb. 14, 2 p.m.; John and Amber Reynolds, retreat leaders; Josh and Heather Dickson, musical guests; $60 per couple lodging/$40 commuters; Curt Iles, camp manager. Revivals JACKSON - First church: Feb. 1, 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.; Feb. 2-4, 7 p.m.; Kendall Holley, evangelist; Mark Branch, music minister; Joe B. Nesom, pastor. LAKE CHARLES - Boulevard church: Feb. 8, 10:45 a.m. and 5 p.m.; Feb. 9-11, 7 p.m.; Ed Lacy, evangelist; Dan Morgan, music; Mark Stagg, … [Read more...]
Looking for a church minister? Tried surfing the Internet?
For more and more churches and their ministers, a match made in heaven may have been launched in cyberspace. For more and more churches and their ministers, a match made in heaven may have been launched in cyberspace. Every day, thousands of ministers log onto a constellation of Internet Web sites looking for a new church to serve. And with increasing frequency, church representatives also turn to the Web, posting ministerial vacancies and sorting through resumes. And although cybersearches may not totally replace more conventional means of finding ministers, they are gaining ground. Indeed, www.ChurchStaffing.com receives 2,500 to 3,000 visitors on weekdays and slightly fewer on weekends, say Todd Rhoades, president of the site. The site normally carries 400-500 job openings and has about 3,000 resumes on file. The site also has teamed with Leadership Network to offer www.LeadNetChurch-Staffing.com, which deals with churches with attendance that averages 1,000 or more. The Baptist General Convention of Texas hosts two free Internet-based search programs - www.CPIS.org serves churches of all sizes and ministers of all types, while www.bivocational.com specializes in bivocational ministers and smaller … [Read more...]
People still drawn to 10 Commandments monument
For visitors to the capital of Alabama, the granite monument of the Ten Commandments is the most popular attraction that is not there. For visitors to the capital of Alabama, the granite monument of the Ten Commandments is the most popular attraction that is not there. In the rotunda of the state Supreme Court building, behind the United States and Alabama flags, the floor shows only vague scuff marks where the monument used to sit. But even in its absence, the Ten Commandments has a presence. Tourism has gone up since the controversy over former Chief Justice Roy Moores monument became national news this past summer, courthouse Marshall Willie James reports. "Visitors always ask: Where are the Ten Commandments? Can we see them?" James says. The response is that the 2.5-ton monument is locked away in a room, the private property of Moore and off-limits to the public - as court order dictates. Only two people have the necessary key to reach the monument - James and building manager Graham George Jr., a retired U.S. Army colonel. It was George who presided over the physical removal of the commandments monument last August. "The media was pasted up … [Read more...]
Let’s have a little chat about driving in interstate holiday traffic
Okay, gang, lets have a little chat about driving in interstate holiday traffic. Okay, gang, lets have a little chat about driving in interstate holiday traffic. First, just know that getting from home to Grandmas house is going to take longer. Count on it. Plan for it. Certainly we all want to get to Grandmas house while the turkey is still fresh and the dressing in the back seat is still warm, but it aint gonna happen Accept it; it is not the end of the world. On your drive, you can rant and rave and honk and shake fists and make everyone in your car and the cars you encounter miserable, but it will not get you there one second faster. The rest of the traffic is going some 10 miles an hour over the legal speed limit anyway, so settle for that. You can struggle to pass every car on the road, but when the traffic is bumper to bumper for a hundred or more miles, you are wasting your time, energy and anger. I have seen drivers unmercifully pushing their autos, working for five minutes to get past one car only to have the next car go no faster and the passing lane just as clogged. On those rare occasions the traffic opens a little, one of those uniformed folks … [Read more...]
Religious freedom still faces challenge in several nations
When the Soviet Union collapsed, doors long shut opened for gospel witness - and Christian workers flooded into that part of the world. Now, some of those doors are threatening to close. When the Soviet Union collapsed, doors long shut opened for gospel witness - and Christian workers flooded into that part of the world. Now, some of those doors are threatening to close. Croatia is the latest post-communist country in Europe and Central Asia to propose a religion law that gives preferred status to majority religious groups. Leaders suggest the latest draft of the proposed law gives minority religious communities - including Baptists - a second-class status under the majority Roman Catholic Church. The bill makes a distinction between established "historical religions" and newer groups, similar to religion laws elsewhere in the region. Croatias proposed law is to be presented to parliament this spring. The latest draft recognizes the Catholic Church, the Serbian Orthodox Church, the Jewish communities, the Islamic community, the Lutheran Church and the Reformed Church as historical churches. Other bodies in existence at the time the law is … [Read more...]
Weekly Briefs
For the week of December 4, 2003 Correction In the Nov. 13 issue of the Baptist Message, a cutline referred to Alexandria attorney Jean Pharis as "retired." Pharis actually continues an active law practice with Pharis Law Offices in Alexandria. Convention finances A third of state Baptist conventions this fall reduced their budgets for next year in order to address declines in giving by churches. Financial cutbacks were approved by messengers in Georgia, Illinois, Kansas-Nebraska, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, the Baptist General Convention of Texas, the Baptist General Association of Virginia, New England, New York and West Virginia. Despite the budget decrease in Louisiana, messengers voted to raise the Southern Baptist Convention allotment for the first time since 1988 by a quarter-percent. Others raising the national convention allotment included Nevada Baptists (quarter percent), New York Baptists (half percent) and Pennsylvania/South Jersey Baptists (0.1 percent). Meanwhile, California, lowered the portion it will send the national body from 30 percent to 27 percent. Vote against materials During their recent annual … [Read more...]
The world is coming to this church – literally
Some congregations spend years trying to discern the Lords will - but leaders of Woodland Heights Baptist Church in Bedford, Texas, say God simply laid it in their hands. Some congregations spend years trying to discern the Lords will - but leaders of Woodland Heights Baptist Church in Bedford, Texas, say God simply laid it in their hands. In July 2000, a Brazilian church started a trend when it asked to share the facilities of Woodland Heights Baptist Church. Soon, a Korean church did the same. Later, a 50-member Chinese church would come to use the buildings, too. Now, Sudanese people are coming to services and may start a church on the premises soon as well. "This has not been in our plan," Woodland Heights pastor Doug Riggs says. "Its not something we set out to do necessarily. But its something God laid in our hands." Riggs acknowledges he was not used to working in a multicultural setting. Yet, he says he has been willing to learn. One thing he has learned is that a host church must be willing to treat the other congregations as equals. While the leaders interact and encourage each other, the congregations essentially … [Read more...]
