A Louisiana Baptist study committee has announced it will recommend that local associations assume total control of director of missions within a five-year period. "We recommend that total financial and administrative autonomy and supervision of the director of missions be assumed by the local associations," the study committee recommendation proposed last week reads. A Louisiana Baptist study committee has announced it will recommend that local associations assume total control of director of missions within a five-year period. "We recommend that total financial and administrative autonomy and supervision of the director of missions be assumed by the local associations," the study committee recommendation proposed last week reads. "This process would be implemented over a maximum period of five years. Each association would work with the state convention to establish a financial phase-out over the five-year period." The recommendation is scheduled to be presented to the Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board at its September 24 meeting. If approved there, it will be presented to state convention messengers during the annual meeting in … [Read more...]
Weekly Announcements
For the week of May 30, 2002 Potpourri BROUSSARD - First church: Truth in concert, June 10, 7 p.m.; Jeffery L. Cook, pastor. COUSHATTA - First church: Concert of Prayer; June 2, 5:30 p.m.; Stan Horton, coordinator; Benny Alford, pastor. FOREST HILL - Calvary church: Ralph Stapleton, guest speaker; June 9, 11 a.m.; Joel McMickin, pastor. DEQUINCY - First church: Choir and orchestra present "Changed By the Power," June 2, 6 p.m.; Jared Prewitt, minister of music; Ronnie Burke, interim pastor. BATON ROUGE - University church: All music worship service with special guest, Earl Taylor; June 2, 6 p.m.; Warren Miller, minister of music; B. Keith Putt, pastor. Youth EUNICE - Acadian center: Missions camp; boys or girls grades 1-12; July 1-5; registration July 1, 3 p.m.; $87 camp fee; Chip Dickey, guest speaker; to register or for information, call (337) 457-9047; James Newsom, camp manager. DRY CREEK - Dry Creek camp: RA camp for boys; ages 6-12; July 1, 9 a.m. - July 4, 2 p.m.; Eric Johnson, guest speaker; Ronnie LaLande, music; $80/$25 deposit; to register or for information, call (337) 328-7531; Curt Iles, camp manager. … [Read more...]
Growing emphasis on ‘tolerance’ impacting evangelism
Wayne Jenkins regularly does busi-ness with a man who adheres to the Muslim faith. Meanwhile, Jenkins is a Christian, which means the two men hold very different views related to God and salvation. Nevertheless, Jenkins speaks of the Muslim believer as somewhat of a friend. Wayne Jenkins regularly does busi-ness with a man who adheres to the Muslim faith. Meanwhile, Jenkins is a Christian, which means the two men hold very different views related to God and salvation. Nevertheless, Jenkins speaks of the Muslim believer as somewhat of a friend. "Do I believe he has the right to believe as he does?" proposed Jenkins, evangelism director for the Louisiana Baptist Convention. "Yes. "Do I tolerate his beliefs? Yes. "Am I friendly to him? Yes. "Do I think hes all right how he is in terms of faith? No. "I try to build a relationship with him. I try to share the gospel with him." Uh oh - Jenkins just messed up as far as the current American culture is concerned. He did fine up until the last question, when his response branded him as "intolerant" - a view that more and more Americans … [Read more...]
Helping the gospel to be heard: For 57 years, Louisiana Baptists have presented an airwaves witness to South Louisiana through the French Radio Hour
What began 57 years ago as a vision to reach French-speaking individuals with the gospel has grown to a broadcast to more than 150,000 potential French Baptist Hour listeners on 13 stations in Louisiana and worldwide through the Internet. What began 57 years ago as a vision to reach French-speaking individuals with the gospel has grown to a broadcast to more than 150,000 potential French Baptist Hour listeners on 13 stations in Louisiana and worldwide through the Internet. "It is certain that the uncompromising message of the gospel, presented with love in a non-threatening manner, has broken down walls of religious prejudice, of deep resentment and of intolerance," Louisiana Baptist Convention Language Missions Director Elie Woerner says in a paper presented May 3 to the Louisiana Baptist Convention Historical Association. "It has slowly, but surely, helped our witness to be heard and heeded by many. ... Most of the results, however, will never be known on this side of heaven. "Only eternity will tell." Currently in his 30th year as director of the French Baptist Hour, Woerner says this ministry has changed drastically since the first permanent French radio … [Read more...]
Christianity and Islam – which is winning the world?
One of the oft-heard comments since Sept. 11 is that Islam is growing so rapidly, it soon will become the worlds largest religion, overtaking Christianity in just a couple of decades. Many of these projections are traceable to the work of Harvard University scholar Samuel Huntington, who has put forward the idea of a "clash of civilizations." One of the oft-heard comments since Sept. 11 is that Islam is growing so rapidly, it soon will become the worlds largest religion, overtaking Christianity in just a couple of decades. Many of these projections are traceable to the work of Harvard University scholar Samuel Huntington, who has put forward the idea of a "clash of civilizations." But a new book about Christianity in the Third World says Huntington and others are missing the true global picture. Islam is indeed expanding as Christianity loses its force in the Western world, particularly Europe, says historian and religious studies scholar Philip Jenkins, author of "The Next Christendom." But at the same time, the numbers of Christians are exploding in the southern hemisphere, he reports. In his Oxford University Press book, Jenkins … [Read more...]
La. Baptists need to do better caring for those who cared for us
Statistics from the Southern Baptist Annuity Board reveal people who cared for Louisiana Baptists are not being cared for. Presently, 736 retired persons, the vast majority ministers, who live in Louisiana receive annuitant payments from the Annuity Board. Statistics from the Southern Baptist Annuity Board reveal people who cared for Louisiana Baptists are not being cared for. Presently, 736 retired persons, the vast majority ministers, who live in Louisiana receive annuitant payments from the Annuity Board. Here are the heartbreaking segments of those statistics. Of the 736, 34 receive from one to 50 dollars per month. Seventy-eight receive from $51 to $100 per month. One hundred and twenty six receive $101 to $200 per month. There are 108 annuitants who receive from $201 to $300 per month. These figures mean 346 retired Louisiana Baptist ministers receive less than $300 per month in retirement pay from the Annuity Board. Only 390 receive more than $301 per month, or an average of $505. Even with maximum Social Security benefits added to these amounts, the funds do not provide a comfortable retirement. Frequently, there is added tragedy. … [Read more...]
Reigning Miss Teen Louisiana stays busy – but maintains a focus on faith
One pair of blue jeans may not mean much to most teenagers, but for Courtney Haynes, Miss Teen Louisiana 2001, that article of clothing shaped the rest of her life. While a sixth grader, Haynes family experienced a financial crisis, and she was left with just one pair of jeans to wear the entire year. One pair of blue jeans may not mean much to most teenagers, but for Courtney Haynes, Miss Teen Louisiana 2001, that article of clothing shaped the rest of her life. While a sixth grader, Haynes family experienced a financial crisis, and she was left with just one pair of jeans to wear the entire year. "Before that, I was a cheerleader, popular and well-off," says Haynes, a member at First Baptist Church of West Monroe. "I lost everything, and thats when I started to realize it wasnt about the way I looked but the hero thats inside me." That time in Haynes life inspired her to develop the "Hero Inside" program, which was her platform during the Miss Teen Louisiana Pageant. The program is designed to instill self-esteem and confidence in young students as they face challenges in their teenage years. Only 16-years-old, Haynes has accomplished more than … [Read more...]
Words can hurt – and heal Focus falling on dangers of gossip and verbal abuse
He heard the whispers as soon as he drew near to anyone. "There he is - the tax-collecting scoundrel!" "Thats him. I hope he falls and breaks his head!" "May God curse him with a sad life!" He heard the whispers as soon as he drew near to anyone. "There he is - the tax-collecting scoundrel!" "Thats him. I hope he falls and breaks his head!" "May God curse him with a sad life!" Of course, the crowd would not allow him up front where he would have been able to see. No one wanted to be around him, much less help him by providing him a place to stand. That is when he saw the tree and decided it would be an advantageous spot. One, he could see. Two, he would not have to listen to the vile comments of the rest of the people. And that is where Jesus saw him. And wonder of wonders - Jesus spoke to him. And Zacchaeus could not believe - unlike every other comment he had been hearing and overhearing for who knows how long now, these words were kind. Mark Twain once theorized that the difference between the right word and the almost-right word was the difference between … [Read more...]
Effort focuses on building chapels on every Louisiana prison grounds
Work continues in the effort to build or upgrade chapels at all Louisiana prisons, with the first of three such facilities planned for the state penitentiary in Angola to be dedicated this month. Work continues in the effort to build or upgrade chapels at all Louisiana prisons, with the first of three such facilities planned for the state penitentiary in Angola to be dedicated this month. "Theres a tremendous amount of ministry taking place in these prisons," said Ross English, executive director of the Louisiana Prison Chapel Foundation, the non-profit group leading the charge to build the chapels. "Were not just building chapels for chapels sake. Were trying to provide a place for whats already happening in the prisons." That there is a need for ministry - and chapels - on Louisiana prison grounds is clear. There are 15 state adult prison facilities in Louisiana. More than 38,000 state prisoners are housed in the state institutions, with the number growing each year. Indeed, Louisiana ranks second in its per capita incarceration rate. More than one-third of inmates are sentenced for violent crimes - and one-third of them are in their 20s went sent to … [Read more...]
Spiritual weapon of prayer key to winning lost, Louisiana pastor emphasizes
If Louisiana Baptists hope to reach the world for Christ, they must understand they are fighting a spiritual battle and use a spiritual weapon to win, David Uth said recently. "If we try to win people to Christ using the means of the world, we will never see a harvest," Uth said during a dinner prior to the recent Louisiana Baptist Great Commission Prayer Conference in Ruston. Editors Note: The following article is from addresses related to the recent Louisiana Baptist Great Commission Prayer Conference. In upcoming weeks, the Baptist Message will present articles related to the conference. This article is based on an address delivered by David Uth at a dinner just prior to the two-day conference. Uth is pastor at First Baptist Church of West Monroe. This article was written by LBM Associate Editor C. Lacy Thompson. If Louisiana Baptists hope to reach the world for Christ, they must understand they are fighting a spiritual battle and use a spiritual weapon to win, David Uth said recently. "If we try to win people to Christ using the means of the world, we will never see a harvest," Uth said during a dinner prior to the recent Louisiana Baptist Great Commission Prayer … [Read more...]
