For the week of January 16, 2003 Cooperative Program Gifts through the Southern Baptist Cooperative Program in December totaled $12.4 million last month, a decrease of more than $2.1 million (14.8 percent) from the previous December. For the year, gifts total more than $42.3 million, a decrease of about $1 million (2.3 percent) from the same time last year. The total also stands almost $1.9 million (4.3 percent) behind budget three months into the fiscal year. Meanwhile, designated gifts totaled $3.8 million last month, a decrease of more than $1.1 million (23.1 percent) from the previous December. Three months into the giving year, overall gifts total $10.1 million, a decline of $1.9 million (16.1 percent) from the same time last year. Mother Teresa action Acting with unusual speed, Pope John Paul II recently gave final approval to the beatification of Mother Teresa of Calcutta. The action elevates the deceased nun to the rank just below sainthood a little more than five years after her death. Usually, there is a five-year waiting period after a person dies before the process of granting sainthood even can begin. However, the pope waived that for Mother Teresa four years ago. Now, he has approved her heroic … [Read more...]
Churches show wisdom to set the example of generosity
Cooperative Program giving from Louisiana Baptist churches to the state convention and, therefore, all other entities supported through the Cooperative Program missed the 2002 budget goal. That is the bad news, and be sure it is bad news for each ministry, Cooperative Program giving from Louisiana Baptist churches to the state convention and, therefore, all other entities supported through the Cooperative Program missed the 2002 budget goal. That is the bad news, and be sure it is bad news for each ministry, and each person touched by the ministry, supported by those gifts. Each ministry received proportionately less because the total gifts are more than $2 million under budget. There is good news: gifts during 2002 totaled some one-half million more than the previous year. Still, concern remains. What was the reason for the slowing of what has been a healthy increase of Cooperative Program gifts, each year over the previous years? Statisticians and denominational watchers will be opining on that for months. One of the reasons given - and remember, all reasons given to this point are guesses, some more educated than others - is the poor economy in … [Read more...]
Leader – state facing challenge of cooperative funding
Others may debate the state of the economy and how serious its current slide could be. Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Director Dean Doster has a clear mark for assessments sake. He has just watched state Cooperative Program giving fall significantly short of the goal for 2002. Others may debate the state of the economy and how serious its current slide could be. Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Director Dean Doster has a clear mark for assessments sake. He has just watched state Cooperative Program giving fall significantly short of the goal for 2002. To be exact - "significantly short" translates to a budget shortfall of $2,076,847.14 (8.7 percent). It is the largest shortfall ever experienced by the state convention - and sets the stage for a very challenging 2003. Indeed, while holding to a standstill budget goal, Louisiana Baptists still will have to increase giving at a level never seen in order to reach it. They also face a greater challenge - educating new generations and Christians on the value of the Cooperative Program and its unified means of funding worldwide missions and … [Read more...]
Louisiana minister found murdered in home
A Louisiana Baptist minister was found murdered in his Blanchard home Jan. 5 - and his wife is hospitalized with injuries sustained in an attack on the couple. A man and woman have been charged with the crime. A Louisiana Baptist minister was found murdered in his Blanchard home Jan. 5 - and his wife is hospitalized with injuries sustained in an attack on the couple. A man and woman have been charged with the crime. Julian Brandon, 70, apparently died as many as three days prior to his discovery. He was a former Louisiana Baptist pastor and was serving as minister to senior adults at First Baptist Church of Blanchard. Brandon and his wife, Alice, 69, were found after friends became concerned with their absence from a Sunday night Bible study, said Betty Tyler, secretary at First Baptist Church of Blanchard. Concern had not been raised before because the couple often were gone to a nearby daughters house or guests at another church on weekends, she explained. News of the attack and Brandons death stunned church and community members, Tyler acknowledged. "Things like this just dont happen in Blanchard," she said. A man and … [Read more...]
Weekly Announcements
For the week of January 16, 2003 Potpourri • JONESBORO - McDonald Memorial church: Super Sunday; Jan. 19, 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.; Carol Garlington, guest speaker; Terry J. Mims, pastor. • RUSTON - Calvary church: Gospel Music Extravaganza; Jan. 18, 6-8:30 p.m.; sponsored by Joe Aulds Evangelism Asssociation; David Hastings, pastor. • EUNICE - First church: "Business by the Book" financial workshop; Jan. 21, 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.; $149 per person; Rick Boxx, seminar leader; to register, call (337) 457-2361; Mike DeRosier, pastor. • BOGALUSA - Westside Emmanuel church: Jeremiah People in concert; Jan. 27, 6:30 p.m.; nursery available; Stephen Teal, pastor. • LEESVILLE - Cooper church: Jamie Chaney Womack, special guest speaker; Jan. 26, 6 p.m.; Ed Chaney, interim pastor. • HAYNESVILLE - First church: Bill Tisdale, featured guest speaker for mens wild game supper; Jan. 25, 6 p.m.; Shelby Cowling, pastor. • JENA - East Jena church: "Gods Design for Men" mens conference; Jan. 25, 4-8 p.m.; Keith Dickens and Philip Robertson, guest speakers; Craig James, pastor. • HODGE - Hodge church: Testify in concert; Jan. 26, 10:45 a.m.; Dwayne M. … [Read more...]
Embarrassed at policy
As one who sometimes teaches in a college/university setting, I am embarrassed that trustees at Louisiana College will effectively control by an approval process what materials college faculty may use in the classroom. As one who sometimes teaches in a college/university setting, I am embarrassed that trustees at Louisiana College will effectively control by an approval process what materials college faculty may use in the classroom. Trustee Joe Nesom responds that no other school has an academic freedom policy that gives "absolute power over their materials" and that other schools "would probably be amazed (Louisiana College) had such a policy." Nesom is correct - but not the way he intends. The trustees should consult with my friends and colleagues at several institutions - secular universities and Baptist seminaries - who are indeed amazed by their foolish and excessive policy. Who do not need to obtain approval for "all materials." Who are still held accountable if they abuse their freedom - by procedures far more reasonable than what these trustees have mandated. The new policy displays a lack of trust in those the school trusted enough to hire and already have been required to … [Read more...]
‘Fast service’ in this case took twenty-seven minutes
A cup of coffee sure would be nice." "We dont have time." "What do you mean?" "We are going to be late enough getting home as it is." A cup of coffee sure would be nice." "We dont have time." "What do you mean?" "We are going to be late enough getting home as it is." In a few minutes, in the dark distance we see the sign of the massive fast food company that promises fresh food and fast service. "Look, we can pull in there and get a cup of coffee and be on our way in nothing flat. They promise." "Well, if you will hurry." "No problem." This is one of the busiest travel days of the year, and this establishment is on the side of the interstate in the middle of nowhere, so its customers are primarily interstate travelers. Surely, they are prepared for the rush. There is a relatively short line. There is only one cashier/order-taker/server station open. Things begin to move slowly. Finally, my turn. "Give me two cups of coffee, please." "Two coffees - seventy-eight cents." She hands me the coffees and upon … [Read more...]
Weekly Briefs
For the week of December 5, 2002 What would Jesus ...? Members of religious and environmental groups concerned about the effect of gas-guzzling vehicles on the environment are launching a "What Would Jesus Drive?" campaign in an effort to promote use of more fuel-efficient cars. The National Religious Partnership asserts that gas-guzzlers are contrary to Christian moral teachings about protecting people and the earth. The group plans to use news conferences and television advertising to promote their views. The campaign comes as the George Bush administration considers a proposal to increase fuel efficiency standards for sports utility vehicles and light trucks. As SUVs have become increasingly popular, the average fuel economy of the American fleet has been pushed down to about 21 miles per gallon - the lowest point in two decades. "We hope that when Christians go to purchase their next vehicle, they will ask, What would Jesus have me drive?" a National Religious Partnership spokesperson noted. "We think the answer would be he would have you drive the most fuel-efficient vehicle that truly meets your needs." Baptist Hour change The name of the "The Baptist Hour" radio program has been changed to "Strength … [Read more...]
History of Nativity scenes dates back hundreds of years
With the proliferation of Nativity scenes each year at the Christmas season, it would be easy to suppose they have been around since that first manger night in Bethlehem. Not so. With the proliferation of Nativity scenes each year at the Christmas season, it would be easy to suppose they have been around since that first manger night in Bethlehem. Not so. Indeed, the introduction of Nativity scenes into the Christmas season did not begin until hundreds of years after Jesus birth. However, in the ensuing centuries, they have become an unmistakable - and creative - aspect of the annual Christmas holiday season. St. Francis of Assisi is credited by most with the real introduction of Nativity scenes in 1223 or 1224. However, some histories cite the church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome with creating the first such scene in the 10th century. As the idea spread across Italy, churches reportedly began constructing decorative scenes that included gold, silver and jewels. Enter St. Francis. Concerned with the trend to ornate representations of the nativity, St. Francis decided to create a scene that was truer … [Read more...]
A birth in the night – in a dark world, lighting the way to a new way of living
He was more than an hour from the office and still frustrated, still muttering to himself about the fool state of his life. He had a right. It was just a couple of hours ago that his truck had died on him, requiring a tow to the repair shop, forcing him to rent a car in order to travel the several hours he needed to for the weekend. Note: The following is the first of three devotions on the Nativity to be published in the Louisiana Baptist Message in celebration of the Christmas season. This devotional was written by LBM Associate Editor C. Lacy Thompson. He was more than an hour from the office and still frustrated, still muttering to himself about the fool state of his life. He had a right. It was just a couple of hours ago that his truck had died on him, requiring a tow to the repair shop, forcing him to rent a car in order to travel the several hours he needed to for the weekend. And that was not all. No, that was on top of the other aggravations and circumstances from the previous two weeks - seemingly a new one each and every single day, he thought. Of course, he tried not to think of it too much. That was … [Read more...]
