Every month, Lisa Werst goes home from helping in a church ministry to special needs families - amazed. Every month, Lisa Werst goes home from helping in a church ministry to special needs families - amazed.   "When I go home, I can’t imagine what these people do on a daily basis," says Werst, children’s ministry director at First Baptist Church of Colleyville, Texas. "They have amazing strength. We’re just such a small part of ministering to them."   Statistics indicate nearly 53 million Americans have disabilities, 33 million of which are severe. Therefore, 33 million American families deal daily with extra doctor visits, special care and overcoming obstacles to fit in with society.   One obstacle these families often face is a lack of acceptance in churches. Indeed, about 90 percent of special needs families are unchurched, Werst notes.   In response to such needs, First Baptist Church of Colleyville began an Evening Stars Respite Care ministry last fall. The effort is designed to provide temporary relief to the caregivers of special needs children in the community.   Each month, about 38 families bring their special needs children and siblings to the free … [Read more...]

A 20-foot-by-40-foot building may seem small in stature, but for 68 years, the Riverfront Mission has impacted some individuals in the city of Shreveport in a large way. A 20-foot-by-40-foot building may seem small in stature, but for 68 years, the Riverfront Mission has impacted some individuals in the city of Shreveport in a large way.   "The mission filled a need for a group of people who were social outcasts and had no place to go," says Aljean Wright Middleton, who authored the booklet "Story of the Riverfront Mission of First Baptist Church, Shreveport, Louisiana."   "It was a collecting point for them to gather," Middleton continues.   "It’s a relic of the past, because during the 1930s, ’40s and ’50s, lots of people came by (the area) on trains and to the mission to try to get some help."   These hobos, homeless and unemployed persons moved into the area along the Red River during the 1930s, only eight blocks from First Baptist Church of Shreveport at the time. First, Shreveport, has moved to another location in the metropolitan area.   The people were known as the Batture. They lived in abandoned railroad cars along the tracks or in shanties made of … [Read more...]

One of the most important actions taken by messengers at any Louisiana Baptist Convention is the election of state committee and board members. One of the most important actions taken by messengers at any Louisiana Baptist Convention is the election of state committee and board members.   It is these persons who will be responsible for conducting convention business during the rest of the year - for the state offices and various agencies.   Thus, the process of nominating and electing state committee and board members represents an integral part of Louisiana Baptist life.   It begins with convention structure, which includes seven ongoing committees to address areas of Louisiana Baptist life. Also, each convention agency is governed by a separate trustee board. There is an executive board to handle denominational business during the year as well.   A total of 64 persons serve on elected committees, which include - Committee on Order of Business, Committee on Nominations, Committee on moral and Social Concerns, Committee on Louisiana Baptist History, Committee on Credentials and Committee on Convention Arrangements.   Another 179 serve on boards, which include - … [Read more...]

A fall gathering: November is just around the corner, which means Louisiana Baptists must be preparing for their annual state convention - as always, it looks to be a time of business, fellowship and inspiration A fall gathering: November is just around the corner, which means Louisiana Baptists must be preparing for their annual state convention - as always, it looks to be a time of business, fellowship and inspiration   The chill of fall is in the air, and that means only one thing - the annual Louisiana Baptist Convention is just around the corner.   Hundreds of Louisiana Baptist church members are scheduled to gather at the Cajundome Convention Center in Lafayette on Nov. 10-11 for their annual meeting of business, fellowship and inspiration.   This year’s gathering has been low-key in buildup, unlike some previous years.   Only one person has announced plans to be nominated as convention president, despite the fact that it is an open election year. Steve James of Lake Charles has served a pair of one-year terms and is ineligible for re-election.   In past years, that meant a contest.   This year, only Philip Robertson has announced plans to be … [Read more...]

in a recent issue of the Baptist Message, I noticed two guest editorials regarding the preponderance of objectionable media content. In a recent issue of the Baptist Message, I noticed two guest editorials regarding the preponderance of objectionable media content. I also applaud your call to action by concerned Christians wanting to impact American media for Christ.   Southern Baptists provide an alternative television viewing option for today’s families through our own full-time television network - FamilyNet. The signal reaches millions of homes in the United States and Canada with quality, family-friendly, child-safe programming. In addition, the Good News is proclaiming as well as spot announcements. And in concert with the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board’s evangelism response center, persons are able to call a toll-free telephone number and talk with someone who cares about them.   From TruthQuest: California - a FamilyNet production for youth done in cooperation with LifeWay and Baptist Press - to Mary Lou’s Flip Flop Shop, a half-hour children’s show with Olympic Gold Medalist (and Southern Baptist) Mary Lou Retton - to Swan’s Place featuring Southern Baptist humorist … [Read more...]

Thank you for the series of articles that have been included in the Louisiana Baptist Message about Rick Warren’s "The Purpose-Driven Life" and the 40 Days of Purpose Journey. Thank you for the series of articles that have been included in the Louisiana Baptist Message about Rick Warren’s "The Purpose-Driven Life" and the 40 Days of Purpose Journey.   This week, we have received so many calls wanting details about the 40 Days of Purpose campaign in Louisiana. And we are hearing some tremendous testimonies about what God is doing through this spiritual journey.   I appreciate so much your emphasis - it has created a tremendous awareness for what we pray will be a spiritual journey that will change the lives of people, the churches where they serve and, ultimately, the communities in which they live.   Jim Gifford LBC Church Growth and Sunday School director … [Read more...]

After talking with a trustee of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and after reading the article about the move to have the Southern Baptist Convention (the Executive Committee) as the sole member of the corporation, I feel compelled to write. After talking with a trustee of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and after reading the article about the move to have the Southern Baptist Convention (the Executive Committee) as the sole member of the corporation, I feel compelled to write.   While I am "in the camp" of the conservative resurgence, I feel that the Executive Committee is in violation of Baptist polity and, equally important, seems to have a short-sighted view of TRUST.   I view this move as an effort to gain absolute control over all our institutions by our Executive Committee. Frankly, it smacks of paranoia.   By all means, we must be assured that only Christ-honoring, truthful and decent persons are elected to these boards of trustees, but having elected them, let them do the work to which they were called.   Micromanaging by the Executive Committee will not work, nor is it "the Baptist way."   Bobby W. Bonds, Pastor Mt. Hope Baptist … [Read more...]

For the week of October 23, 2003 Potpourri • BOSSIER CITY - Airline church: Testify in concert; Nov. 2, 10:45 a.m.; Jerry Elkins, music director; Harrell Shelton, associate pastor. • TIOGA - First church: Dean Doster, guest speaker; Nov. 2, 6 p.m.; David E. Cranford, pastor. • OAKDALE - Trinity church: Family Bible Conference sponsored by Mt. Olive Association; Nov. 3-6, 6:30 and 7:30 p.m.; Philip Robertson, Julian Woods, Ricky Gresham and Tom Smith, guest speakers; Bill Earl, keynote speaker; Scotty McDowell, evangelist/chalk artist; for information, call (318) 335-2757; Tony Robinson, pastor. • MONTGOMERY - Union Hill church: Brian Free and Assurance in concert; Oct. 23, 7 p.m.; Ernest Little, pastor. • HAYNESVILLE - First church: Ladies Fall Celebration Day Seminar; Nov. 1, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.; Judy Wallace, guest speaker/soloist; $12 per person, includes 11 a.m. brunch; Oct. 26 registration deadline, call (318) 624-0214; Shelby Cowling, pastor. • HAYNESVILLE - First church: Men’s Ministry chili supper with Jack Daniels, guest speaker; Oct. 25, 6 p.m.; Shelby Cowling, pastor. • BALL - First church: Gospel Concert; Oct. 25; The Southern Plainsmen, 12 noon; Tommy Drewett Family, 2 p.m. and Kingdom Bound, … [Read more...]

New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary trustees voted unanimously recently not to change its articles of incorporation to name the Southern Baptist Convention as its "sole member." New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary trustees voted unanimously recently not to change its articles of incorporation to name the Southern Baptist Convention as its "sole member."   The action makes the seminary the only convention entity not to make the change.   At the same time, seminary trustees approved a motion reaffirming its "deep and abiding commitment to the Southern Baptist Convention."   Since the mid-1990s, denominational entities have been amending their articles of incorporation in order to make the Southern Baptist Convention what is called in legal terms their "sole member."   Proponents of the process say that sole membership primarily will do two things.   First, it will explain the legal relationship between the convention and its entities in terms with which modern courts are familiar, thus saving time, paperwork and money in court cases.   Second, it will prevent an entity’s board of trustees from doing what some college trustees have done in … [Read more...]

A tragic bus accident on I-20 last week some two miles west of Tallulah claimed the lives of eight people who were on a 16-day church tour of historic sites in southern, eastern and northeastern states. A tragic bus accident on I-20 last week some two miles west of Tallulah claimed the lives of eight people who were on a 16-day church tour of historic sites in southern, eastern and northeastern states. The bus was owned and operated by First Baptist Church of Eldorado, Texas, and the tour was sponsored by the church. The bus was eastbound on I-20 with 13 passengers and two drivers on board. News reports indicate the driver said he went to sleep at the wheel and drifted into an 18-wheeler loaded with compressed cotton and parked on the right-hand shoulder of the interstate. The driver survived the crash. John Rushing, pastor at First Baptist Church of Tallulah, said he went to the hospital to be of whatever assistance possible. Two injured passengers initially were taken to the relatively small hospital in the community but then were transferred to hospitals in Mississippi. A temporary morgue was set up at the hospital as well. Rushing said he found that there was little he could do because families of the … [Read more...]