When persons visit a doctor for the first time, them expect him or her to ask about their health history - past surgeries, illnesses or injuries. However, now, the doctor might ask questions about religious beliefs as well. When persons visit a doctor for the first time, them expect him or her to ask about their health history - past surgeries, illnesses or injuries. However, now, the doctor might ask questions about religious beliefs as well.   A small - but growing - number of physicians are taking patient "spiritual histories," Harold Koenig of Duke University explains. By collecting information about each patient’s religious or spiritual beliefs, he says he believes doctors can make more informed treatment decisions and help patients rally spiritual resources to aid healing.   "Neglecting the spiritual dimension is just like ignoring a patient’s social environment or psychological state, and results in failure to treat the ‘whole person,’" he says.   A spiritual history might ask - Does the patient rely on religion or spirituality to help cope with illness? Is the patient a member of a supportive spiritual community? What spiritual questions, if any, does the patient find … [Read more...]

For the week of September 18, 2003 Briefs 9-18 Iraqi relief efforts Baptist relief workers from five states visited homes and engaged in healthcare efforts among Iraqi refugees in Jordan last week. The workers originally were scheduled to go into Iraq, to begin delivery of 46,000 food boxes collected by Southern Baptists for needy families there. However, security concerns diverted the team to Jordan. Workers there sought to arrange for a portion of the boxes to be delivered to Iraqi refugees living in the country. However, red tape and other problems derailed such efforts. Instead, relief workers were able to visit some refugee homes, giving a limited amount of supplies they either had brought with them or purchased locally. The workers also provided a nominal sum of money to the refugees for rent. Relief workers also spent a day at a location where Iraqi refugees and others who are too poor to afford regular health care received some basic medical attention. "What better way to show the grace and reconciliation of God than to bring help to those who – we perceived – had hurt us," one of the stateside workers noted. Voucher program A school voucher program for the District of Columbia drew nearer to … [Read more...]

Sundays were made for The New York Times," goes the familiar refrain for that newspaper’s advertising campaign.   Apparently, Sundays, Sunday mornings in particular, were also made for children’s birthday parties, soccer games and "play dates."   But made for church? Sundays were made for The New York Times," goes the familiar refrain for that newspaper’s advertising campaign.   Apparently, Sundays, Sunday mornings in particular, were also made for children’s birthday parties, soccer games and "play dates."   But made for church?   What’s that?   One of my children was just invited to a Sunday morning birthday party. Again. Ten a.m. to be exact. It is a familiar pattern. The invitation comes in, we eagerly scan the invitation for the date and time, we find it falls in the middle of our Sunday morning and church service and we have to decline.   I call the mother to respond and, as always, she is stunned that a family would be in church at 10 on a Sunday morning, even more stunned that they would not put it aside for a birthday party.   She mutters something about how she just "hadn’t thought of that" and indicates by her voice that … [Read more...]

it has been said that God works in mysterious ways. John Winters insists the Lord used a hip injury to give him an idea for evangelism.   After Winters retired as Louisiana Baptist Convention Brotherhood director, he taught Royal Ambassadors at Trinity Baptist Church in Pineville. However, when Winters suffered a hip injury, he was forced to give up teaching. It has been said that God works in mysterious ways. John Winters insists the Lord used a hip injury to give him an idea for evangelism.   After Winters retired as Louisiana Baptist Convention Brotherhood director, he taught Royal Ambassadors at Trinity Baptist Church in Pineville. However, when Winters suffered a hip injury, he was forced to give up teaching.   "To look at these four walls (at my house), it didn’t take long to get bored," Winters explains. "I asked God if there was something I could do for him."   God answered Winters, challenging him to create gospel tracts that others could use for evangelism.   The results of the challenge have been two tracts - one that utilizes a gold dollar coin and another that features a five-color circle. Printed on ivory-colored slick paper, these full-color tracts … [Read more...]

Rick Warren has a message for those who feel insignificant and unimportant and worthless - and it comes from the highest of all places.   "You were planned for God’s pleasure," Warren writes in "The Purpose-Driven Life," his best-selling study book. Note: Louisiana Baptist currently are engaged in a study of "The Purpose-Driven Life" by Rick Warren. The convention also is launching a pilot study program with several churches, with plans to expand use of "The Purpose-Driven Life" statewide next year. As part of that effort, the Baptist Message is presenting a six-part series of articles based on Warren’s book. This week, the series looks at the first of five life purposes Warren presents in his book.   C. Lacy Thompson, LBM Associate Editor   Rick Warren has a message for those who feel insignificant and unimportant and worthless - and it comes from the highest of all places.   "You were planned for God’s pleasure," Warren writes in "The Purpose-Driven Life," his best-selling study book.   "The moment you were born into the world, God was there as an unseen witness, smiling at your birth," he says. "He wanted you alive, and your arrival gave him great pleasure. … [Read more...]

A Deville pastor has announced plans to allow his nomination for president of the Louisiana Baptist Convention during the annual meeting in November.   Philip Robertson is pastor at Philadelphia Baptist Church in Deville, just outside of Pineville and a former president of the LBC Executive Board. A Deville pastor has announced plans to allow his nomination for president of the Louisiana Baptist Convention during the annual meeting in November.   Philip Robertson is pastor at Philadelphia Baptist Church in Deville, just outside of Pineville and a former president of the LBC Executive Board.   He also is the only announced nominee for state convention president.   He explained recently that he did not choose to be a nominee but was approached about the possibility by leaders of the Louisiana Inerrancy Fellowship.   "I prayed about it for a long time," Robertson said. "The thing the Lord really spoke to my heart about was in Jude, where it says to earnestly contend for the faith. ... That’s really the passion of my heart, to help do all I can to enhance the kingdom of God."   Robertson said he sees his nomination as a possibility to continue the … [Read more...]

When Randy Impson looks at a smaller church, he sees one thing above all else - tremendous potential for the kingdom of God.   "The question is not - can my church make an impact," said Impson, a former Louisiana Baptist who now serves as pastor at Calvary Baptist Church in Starkville, Miss. When Randy Impson looks at a smaller church, he sees one thing above all else - tremendous potential for the kingdom of God.   "The question is not - can my church make an impact," said Impson, a former Louisiana Baptist who now serves as pastor at Calvary Baptist Church in Starkville, Miss.   "The question is - will my small church make an impact?’   The idea is not just a theoretical one for Impson.   He offers living proof that small churches can make a kingdom difference. He explained how during a seminar at the recent "Whatever It Takes" conference at First Baptist Church of West Monroe. The conference attracted more than 400 participants and sought to challenge participants to do all possible to share the gospel message.   Leading his seminar was like coming home for Impson.   He spent 20 years in commercial banking in the area before entering the … [Read more...]

For the week of September 18, 2003 Potpourri   • BATON ROUGE - Jefferson church: The Dixie Echoes in concert; Sept. 27, 7 p.m.; T. C. French, Jr., pastor.   • CHENEYVILLE - Beulah church: Louisiana Purchase Celebration Commemorative events; Sept. 28 - "What is the Louisiana Purchase and its significance?" Thomas Howell, guest speaker; Oct. 26 - "What is the Heart of Spain Exhibit and what does it mean to Christians?" Ted Barnes, guest speaker; Nov. 16 - "Celebrating our freedom in Christ and liberties made possible by the Louisiana Purchase," Judy Rhodes Davis, guest speaker; all programs begin with music at 1:15 p.m.; George Hearn, pastor.   • WINNSBORO - Temple church: Deer Creek Association annual meeting; Sept. 25, 3:30 p.m.; James Carson, director of missions; Bill Robertson, pastor.   • KROTZ SPRINGS - First church: Perry Hancock, guest speaker; Sept. 28, 10:30 a.m.; Gerald Roberts, pastor.   • PINEVILLE - Louisiana College: "Sanders Lectureship in Biblical Studies," Sept. 23-25, 10:50 a.m. in the Guinn Auditorium; Allen Jackson, keynote speaker; lectures are free; for information, call Jim Elder at (318) 487-7137; Rory Lee, president.   • … [Read more...]

In the midst of the battle for the direction and future of Southern Baptists, agencies in some state conventions took preemptive action and removed themselves from denominational control. In the midst of the battle for the direction and future of Southern Baptists, agencies in some state conventions took preemptive action and removed themselves from denominational control.   Essentially, the agencies gave up denominational funding for the right to elect their own trustees and control their own fate.   Their state conventions no longer had a say in their direction and operation.   Conservatives decried such moves. Thus, having won the battle for the direction and future of the Southern Baptist Convention and most state conventions, they have sought to prevent them from happening again.   As a means of doing that, leaders have asked agencies to declare their convention as the "sole member" of their corporation. Such a move guarantees the agency cannot move to independent basis without permission of the particular convention.   Louisiana Baptist agencies were asked to do just that last year. All but one agency complied - and it is doing so this … [Read more...]

The amount of money flowing through Baptist church offering plates has increased 112 percent in the last 15 years, but the amount of money churches give to missions causes has increased at only half that rate. The amount of money flowing through Baptist church offering plates has increased 112 percent in the last 15 years, but the amount of money churches give to missions causes has increased at only half that rate.   An analysis of financial data reported by Southern Baptist churches shows congregations nationwide are sending smaller percentages of their undesignated offerings through the Cooperative Program missions budget. That budget funds both state and national missions programs.   Further, designated giving to special missions offerings also has increased at only half the pace of increases in undesignated giving to church causes.   This is a trend found not only among Baptists, explained Sylvia Ronsvalle, executive vice president of empty tomb, a Champaign, Ill., ministry devoted to increasing awareness of missions funding needs.   "These trends are common to the church in the United States," she said. "Churches seem to be turning inward. They seem to be … [Read more...]