In Venezuela, a mission recently turned tiny church is struggling to start a mission among some of the poorest people in Maracaibo.   Eglesia Bautista Fuente De Arom in Maracaibo, Venezuela, existed for years as a mission until only months ago when the congregation of 35 members constituted into a church. In Venezuela, a mission recently turned tiny church is struggling to start a mission among some of the poorest people in Maracaibo.   Eglesia Bautista Fuente De Arom in Maracaibo, Venezuela, existed for years as a mission until only months ago when the congregation of 35 members constituted into a church.   Now, the pastor and members are working to bring an embryo of a mission into life as a church. They know the process will be long, difficult, trying and require more resources than they now have. Still, they are determined. They know Southern Baptists from North America were just as determined to see their congregation formed and grow.   "These people have nothing," Pastor Antonio Martinez says as he drives his worn-out car through the area known as Paraguachon. "These people make their living by digging through the city dump of Maracaibo, looking for anything they … [Read more...]

Centuries ago, the Christian church closed the canon of its Bible with the book of Revelation and its last verse plea - "Come, Lord Jesus."   Centuries later, the plea remains a Christian heartcry - and the only hope for a modern church and world in desperate need of spiritual awakening and revival. Centuries ago, the Christian church closed the canon of its Bible with the book of Revelation and its last verse plea - "Come, Lord Jesus."   Centuries later, the plea remains a Christian heartcry - and the only hope for a modern church and world in desperate need of spiritual awakening and revival.   "We live in a time when there is only one hope - and that is revival among the people of God," international evangelist and author Sammy Tippit summarized during last week’s Louisiana Baptist Evangelism Conference.   However, Tippit was not the only speaker who cited the need for revival or spoke of the urgency of repentance for modern Christians. That theme was woven throughout the two-day meeting at Louisiana College in Pineville.   This year’s conference attracted persons from across the state, with more than 1,000 people attending each session. In addition, an … [Read more...]

Christians should be "Godly gamblers" if they want to matter, John Avant told Louisiana Baptist Evangelism Conference participants last week.   "If your church hasn’t tried to do something that would absolutely bankrupt the church if it fails, then you have not led your people out on the edge," said Avant, pastor at New Hope Baptist Church in Fayetteville, Ga. Christians should be "Godly gamblers" if they want to matter, John Avant told Louisiana Baptist Evangelism Conference participants last week.   "If your church hasn’t tried to do something that would absolutely bankrupt the church if it fails, then you have not led your people out on the edge," said Avant, pastor at New Hope Baptist Church in Fayetteville, Ga.   Avant told about scuba diving in an area called "The Shark Wall." He recounted how he swam in the waters filled with sharks, over the edge of a coral reef that dropped thousands of feet. Talking about the exhilaration of the experience, he encouraged churches also to"get out on the edge" as well.   "What are you doing in the church that might be dangerous? We need to wake up. It is not about you, it is about God."   Avant said that when persons … [Read more...]

Christians must recover the concept of repentance and realize the root problem of their lives and world lies within, Kerry Skinner warned Louisiana Baptist Evangelism Conference participants last week.   "Our problem today is not ‘out there’ somewhere, ..." said Skinner, an associate with Henry Blackaby Ministries. Christians must recover the concept of repentance and realize the root problem of their lives and world lies within, Kerry Skinner warned Louisiana Baptist Evangelism Conference participants last week.   "Our problem today is not ‘out there’ somewhere, ..." said Skinner, an associate with Henry Blackaby Ministries.   "It’s your own heart."   Jesus made that point clear in Mark 7, Skinner noted. However, a modern world does not like to label sin as "sin" or talk about the need for repentance, he said.   Thus, too many people struggling with a sin problem do not recognize it as such, seeking instead to rename it or medicate it or find a human remedy, Skinner continued.   "We have churches full of sin that everybody thinks they can handle," he warned conference participants.   Even though Jesus made it clear the heart is the source … [Read more...]

Modern Christians must return to "simple, pure devo-tion to Jesus Christ," Sammy Tippit told the Louisiana Baptist Evangelism Conference last week.   "We live in a time when there is only one hope - and that is revival among the people of God," said Tippit, a Louisiana native and international evangelist. Modern Christians must return to "simple, pure devo-tion to Jesus Christ," Sammy Tippit told the Louisiana Baptist Evangelism Conference last week.   "We live in a time when there is only one hope - and that is revival among the people of God," said Tippit, a Louisiana native and international evangelist.   For such a revival to occur, only one thing is required - for persons to return to God, Tippit said.   If that happens, God has promised to heal and revive His people, to come to them and to cause them to grow, he said, noting churches are full of hurting, discouraged people who have fallen away in their intimate relationship with God.   "The worst thing that can ever happen ... is to stop growing in the grace of God," Tippit warned.   The international preacher cited three ways to get back to communion and intimacy with God, … [Read more...]

People have wanted to respond to God for a long time - but many churches have not provided them the opportunity, Richard Blackaby told Louisiana Baptist Evangelism Conference participants last week.   Instead, too many pastors and church staff members are so busy pushing their own agenda, they push aside God’s, warned Blackaby, president of the Canadian Southern Baptist Seminary in Cochrane, Alberta. People have wanted to respond to God for a long time - but many churches have not provided them the opportunity, Richard Blackaby told Louisiana Baptist Evangelism Conference participants last week.   Instead, too many pastors and church staff members are so busy pushing their own agenda, they push aside God’s, warned Blackaby, president of the Canadian Southern Baptist Seminary in Cochrane, Alberta.   The root problem is that Christians need to become "reoriented" to God, he said.   Referring to Luke 9, Blackaby noted that every time Jesus announced His agenda, the people around Him discouraged Him and explained their own agendas instead.   Blackaby said while Jesus’ ministry was drawing people to God, His disciples’ ministry was sending them away. While Jesus … [Read more...]

For the week of February 7, 2002 Potpourri • EUNICE - Acadian center: men’s retreat; Feb. 22-23; $42/lodgers, $15/commuters, includes meals; Argile Smith, guest speaker; Richard Strahan, music; for information call (337) 457-9047; James Newsom, camp manager.   • SHREVEPORT - Broadmoor church: Christian Performing Arts Festival; Feb. 22-23; $50 per person; Clay and Erin Guiltner and Wesley Brainerd, special guests; contact Julie Woodrum (LBC) at 1-800-622-6549 for more information; Chuck Pourciau, pastor.   • SHREVEPORT - Broadmoor church: "Learning How to Handle God’s Money- God’s Way" financial peace seminar led by David Ramsey; Feb. 23, 12-5 p.m.; $10 per person; for information call (318)868-6552; Chuck Pourciau, pastor.   • LAFAYETTE - First church: Darko, a Christian artist, in concert; Feb. 24, 6:30 p.m.; Perry Sanders, pastor.   • PLEASANT HILL - Clara Springs camp: "SOS Weekend" youth retreat; Feb. 22-23; $30 per person; 7-12th grades; for information call (318) 256-5655; Wade Penfield, Joe Wood, retreat leaders; Randy Festervand, camp manager.   • WOODWORTH - Tall Timbers Conference Center: "Keeping Your Church Out of Court and Conflict" conference; … [Read more...]

For national Woman’s Missionary Union President Janet Hoffman, the challenge confronting the Southern Baptist organization is clear.   "As long as there are persons on this shrinking globe who have never heard the name of Jesus, much less experienced his love; as long as there are local churches needing resources to educate and lead members to be on mission with God For national Woman’s Missionary Union President Janet Hoffman, the challenge confronting the Southern Baptist organization is clear.   "As long as there are persons on this shrinking globe who have never heard the name of Jesus, much less experienced his love; as long as there are local churches needing resources to educate and lead members to be on mission with God; as along as there are missionaries depending on our prayerful and monetary support; as long as there are children and youth to train to be the next generation of missionaries and missions supporters; and as long as the Great Commission remains an imperative, WMU must continue to ‘challenge Christian believers to understand and be radically involved in the mission of God,’" Hoffman recently reminded national and state Woman’s Missionary Union … [Read more...]

Most people probably have seen the bumper sticker that urge - "Practice Random Acts of Kindness."   But many people may not know the words represent more than just a feel-good slogan. Random Acts of Kindness actually is a Denver-based foundation that uses its $5 million annual budget to promote kindness. Most people probably have seen the bumper sticker that urge - "Practice Random Acts of Kindness."   But many people may not know the words represent more than just a feel-good slogan. Random Acts of Kindness actually is a Denver-based foundation that uses its $5 million annual budget to promote kindness.   And it is working.   Random Acts has offshoots in 135 countries, helping schools, churches, civic organizations, bridge clubs and individuals focus their random-acts projects.   The ideas come from the people. The foundation then helps people organize their projects, teaching them how to deal with the media, enlist volunteers and raise money. The materials and advice are free.   The Denver philanthropist who gives the $5 million annually prefers to be known only to Random Acts staff. The foundation’s downtown Denver headquarters makes its only other … [Read more...]

The dark-complexioned man seemed to know what he wanted, but his language kept him from explaining what he needed to others. He wandered from station to station without his paper. In the often confusing rush of the medical crusade in Maracaibo, Venezuela, the paper was essential.   English-speaking and Spanish-speaking medical worker after medical worker tried to help the man find whatever he was looking for, but he spoke only the Guajiro native language. The dark-complexioned man seemed to know what he wanted, but his language kept him from explaining what he needed to others. He wandered from station to station without his paper. In the often confusing rush of the medical crusade in Maracaibo, Venezuela, the paper was essential.   English-speaking and Spanish-speaking medical worker after medical worker tried to help the man find whatever he was looking for, but he spoke only the Guajiro native language.   The Tower of Babel really created a challenge for folks trying to work across language barriers.   On the medical crusade covered in last week’s and this week’s Baptist Message, language became a double barrier. Not only were North American English-speaking folks … [Read more...]