News reports of the current special session of the Louisiana Legislature focus on several key items of economic development.   However, measures related to key moral and social issues also are pending. News reports of the current special session of the Louisiana Legislature focus on several key items of economic development.   However, measures related to key moral and social issues also are pending.   Proposed measures include:   • House Bill 3. The bill would establish "In God We Trust" prestige license plates if 1,000 requests are received. Money from the plates would be allocated to the Louisiana chapters of Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts the Association of Retarded Persons.   • House Bill 13. The measure would amend the current state law on prayer. Current law establishes the right of students and teachers who wish to observe a brief time of prayer or meditation at the start of the school day. The proposed bill would stipulate that such prayer or meditation be silent.   • House Bill 22. Current law says students attending public elementary or secondary schools cannot be denied the right to participate in voluntary, student-initiated, student-led … [Read more...]

For the week of April 4, 2002 Potpourri   • RUSTON - First church: "Abundant Life: Living Above Your Circumstances" associational women’s conference; April 26-27; cost is $20; Mary Glynn-Peeples, guest speaker; Starla Harbin, music leader; for information, call Andrea Phillips at (318) 2544-5349; Philip Briggs, pastor.   • NEW ORLEANS - New Orleans Seminary: Second annual "Harry Eskew Sacred Harp Sing," April 13, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.; in the Sellers Music Building; includes covered dish luncheon which participants provide; free parking available; for information, call NOBTS music office at (504) 282-4455, ext. 3229.   • DENHAM SPRINGS - Hebron church: The Wilsons in concert; April 7, 6 p.m.; Rob Burns, pastor.   • JACKSON - Judson Retreat center: "Light Maker...Light Keeper" spring women’s retreat; April 26-27; April 15 registration deadline; $35/per person in cabin; $50/per person in motel (2-4 persons in room); Becky Brown and Patti Covington Higginbotham, retreat leaders; to register or for information, call (225) 634-7225; Eugene Morris, camp manager.   • EUNICE - Acadian center: Couple’s retreat; April 19-20; $65/lodgers - $40/commuters; meals included; Marvin and … [Read more...]

Most Christians understand the threat posed by militant Islam, but few are aware of a strain of Hindu radicalism targeting believers in India. Indeed, there is a "well-rehearsed plan for violence" against churches and evangelists in the sprawling sub-continent inhabited by one-sixth of the world’s population, said George Ninan, a South Asia director for Campus Crusade for Christ. Most Christians understand the threat posed by militant Islam, but few are aware of a strain of Hindu radicalism targeting believers in India. Indeed, there is a "well-rehearsed plan for violence" against churches and evangelists in the sprawling sub-continent inhabited by one-sixth of the world’s population, said George Ninan, a South Asia director for Campus Crusade for Christ. "One month ago two of our staff members were beaten up while they were talking to students at the university," Ninan said in an interview with the ASSIST News Service. "They were taken to the police station and the police did the same thing. "These are things that wouldn’t have happened a few years back." However, in recent years, militant groups have arisen that trumpet a Hindu "race" and culture, urging that Hinduism be recognized as the official state … [Read more...]

Shortly after intruders nabbed Gene and Jean Phillips at their missionary residence in Africa, Christians around the world began praying for the veteran Southern Baptist missionary couple, then living in the small country of Lesotho. Shortly after intruders nabbed Gene and Jean Phillips at their missionary residence in Africa, Christians around the world began praying for the veteran Southern Baptist missionary couple, then living in the small country of Lesotho. It was the beginning of the Internet era, which helped news about their kidnapping to spread quickly throughout the world. And the Phillipses say the immediate, worldwide prayer effort culminated in their captors’ sudden decision not to kill the missionary couple but to release them unharmed in a remote area of Africa. Hours after they learned of the worldwide prayer chain on their behalf, the Phillipses were interviewed by a local law enforcement officer, who wrote in his police report: "They were not killed because of prayer." For Gene and Jean Phillips, the abduction was another entry into their diary of times when God literally plucked them from the jaws of devastation and refined them through the African fires blazing around them. "Someone asked … [Read more...]

Anyone who has had two children understands the mother’s dilemma.   Her church is presenting a Broadway musical with a religious message. The six-year-old is mesmerized by music and stage presentations. The four-year-old is not. Anyone who has had two children understands the mother’s dilemma.   Her church is presenting a Broadway musical with a religious message. The six-year-old is mesmerized by music and stage presentations. The four-year-old is not.   Wanting to encourage the older son’s love for the arts as well as provide a special bonding time with him, the mother buys tickets to the production. She buys only two tickets.   The husband understands and goes along. He will stay home with the younger son while Mother takes the older son out for the evening.   Explaining to the younger son why he will stay home while mother and older brother go out will not be so easy.   She could wait until the last minute to tell both children and that would cut down on the hassle time line. Still, she wants the older son to anticipate the evening. Anticipation enlarges the experience.   Monday, Mom puts her plan into action.   "Lane, you and I … [Read more...]

For the week of April 11, 2002 Potpourri • LAKE CHARLES - Trinity church: Carey Associational VBS clinic; April 23, 6-8:30 p.m.; for information call Tammy Gothrup at (337) 527-6882; Steve James, pastor. • RAYVILLE - Woodlawn church: Cooperative Program Celebration Day; April 21, 10:30 a.m.; Preston and Brenda West, missionaries to Honduras, guest speakers; Alan Miller, pastor. • JONESBORO - First church: Associational VBS clinic; April 19, 6-8 p.m.; Suzanne Brown, associational Vacation Bible School director. • FARMERVILLE - First church: Southwestern Singers in concert; April 24, 6:30 p.m.; Roger Johnson, pastor. • NATCHITOCHES - First church: Stage 6 in concert; April 20, 7 p.m.; $2 and a canned good admission fee; Clarence Powell, interim pastor. • LEESVILLE - First church: Greater Vision in concert: April 12, 7 p.m.; also Gospel Lights at 6 p.m.; $10 per ticket; Lanny Turner, minister of music; Mark Brumbaugh, pastor. • COOPER - Cooper church: Associational VBS clinic; April 13, 10 a.m. - noon; Donnis Poe, associational Vacation Bible School director; Allan Barnes, pastor. • DRY CREEK - Dry Creek camp: Spring Bible Conference; April 29-30; Bill Tolar, T. W. Hunt and Steve James, guest speakers; … [Read more...]

Moving a church to a "real" prayer meeting concept is not easy, Chuck Pourciau acknowledges.   Indeed, there are several "musts" that should be observed, added Pourciau, pastor at Broadmoor Baptist Church in Shreveport. He outlined the steps during a seminar at the recent Louisiana Baptist Great Commission Prayer Conference in Ruston. Moving a church to a "real" prayer meeting concept is not easy, Chuck Pourciau acknowledges.   Indeed, there are several "musts" that should be observed, added Pourciau, pastor at Broadmoor Baptist Church in Shreveport. He outlined the steps during a seminar at the recent Louisiana Baptist Great Commission Prayer Conference in Ruston.   During the seminar, Pourciau recounted his church’s move from a typical Wednesday night prayer meeting to a service focused on - and dominated by - prayer.   He urged leaders wishing to follow suit at their churches to:   • Be sure you want to do it.   "This is a level of spiritual warfare where satan will fight tooth and nail, ..." Pourciau explained. "Be sure you want to do it, ... because it’s not for the faint of heart. It’s the front lines of spiritual … [Read more...]

During a recent prayer seminar, Chuck Pourciau asked people to identify what activities usually dominate their Wednesday night prayer meetings.   Two people said more time is spent singing than anything else.   Nine people said their church spends the most time on receiving prayer requests.   Thirty people said Bible study or preaching takes up the largest portion of time. Editor’s Note: The following article is from a seminar presentation at the recent Louisiana Baptist Great Commission Prayer Conference. The Baptist Message will present additional articles from the conference in upcoming weeks.   During a recent prayer seminar, Chuck Pourciau asked people to identify what activities usually dominate their Wednesday night prayer meetings.   Two people said more time is spent singing than anything else.   Nine people said their church spends the most time on receiving prayer requests.   Thirty people said Bible study or preaching takes up the largest portion of time.   Only six people said prayer does.   "The patient is critically ill," said Pourciau, pastor at Broadmoor Baptist Church in Shreveport. "But that’s pretty … [Read more...]

One people group never will hear the good news of God’s love, even if a missionary knocks on their door.   These 30 million people worldwide never will hear because they are deaf. Isolated socially and immersed in a culture radically different from the hearing world, the deaf have little hope of even learning about Christ, much less understanding the gospel and receiving him as savior. One people group never will hear the good news of God’s love, even if a missionary knocks on their door.   These 30 million people worldwide never will hear because they are deaf. Isolated socially and immersed in a culture radically different from the hearing world, the deaf have little hope of even learning about Christ, much less understanding the gospel and receiving him as savior.   However, leaders from the Southern Baptist Conference of the Deaf and Southern Baptist International Mission Board want to change that fact.   They recently met to discuss ways to do so.   During the meeting, the leaders forged a partnership to direct more missionary outreach to deaf populations worldwide.   They also discussed possible creation of a center to prepare Southern … [Read more...]

The Middle East conflict has deep roots and hard-to-find answers The following reflections on the Middle East conflict are from a layperson’s perspective and certainly not that of a government diplomat or academic student of the Middle East. The following reflections on the Middle East conflict are from a layperson’s perspective and certainly not that of a government diplomat or academic student of the Middle East. There is absolutely no claim of any kind as an authority. I write simply as someone who has talked to people on both sides of the Jordan River - leaders of government and people on the street - during five trips to the Middle East, two of which were as a guest of the Israeli and Jordanian governments. With the unrest in Israel growing more and more violent, the following is presented in the hope that it will help readers gain some informal understanding of the conflict raging in the area that Jews and Christians call the Holy Land. Jordan and Israel 23 years ago My first trip to the Middle East was 23 years ago. Technically, Jordan and Israel were still at war, although the actual fighting had stopped, except for some border skirmishes, small guerilla raids and retaliatory strikes. Incredibly, … [Read more...]