During their annual meeting, Missouri Baptist Convention messengers approved motions to escrow $2 million in funding and perhaps sue five state agencies that recently moved to self-perpetuating trustee boards. During their annual meeting, Missouri Baptist Convention messengers approved motions to escrow $2 million in funding and perhaps sue five state agencies that recently moved to self-perpetuating trustee boards.   They also voted to unseat messengers from a church that recently cut ties with the Southern Baptist Convention.   About 2,100 messengers voted overwhelmingly to amend a $19.2 million budget and hold funding for agencies moving to self-perpetuating boards in escrow. The amendment freezes $400,000 for Missouri’s Baptist Home, $200,000 for the Missouri Baptist Foundation, $150,000 for Windemere Conference Center, $450,000 for the Word and Way newspaper, money for four Missouri Baptist College campuses and any funding for agencies that might become self-perpetuating.   The funds are to be held in escrow until trustees of the affected institutions "rescind their actions and reinstate their former charters," the approved amendment states.   All of the affected … [Read more...]

Considerable focus has fallen on the Muslim religion since the terrorist attacks on America, supposedly by members of a fundamentalist sect of Islam.   As a result, many persons have scrambled to learn more about Islam, the fastest-growing religion in the world. Already, there are about 1.2 billion Muslims worldwide - and an estimated 6 million Muslims live in the United States. Considerable focus has fallen on the Muslim religion since the terrorist attacks on America, supposedly by members of a fundamentalist sect of Islam.   As a result, many persons have scrambled to learn more about Islam, the fastest-growing religion in the world. Already, there are about 1.2 billion Muslims worldwide - and an estimated 6 million Muslims live in the United States.   There are four major Muslim groups - Sunni, Shiite, Sufi and the Nation of Islam. However, all share basic elements of faith that differ from evangelical Christianity.   Consider the following areas outlined in a recent mailing from the Southern Baptist International Mission Board:   God ... Christians believe in one God, revealed and experienced as the Trinity - Father, Son and Holy … [Read more...]

Since Sept. 11, routine acts such as waving the flag, pledging "one nation under God" and proclaiming the words "God bless America" have taken on almost worshipful significance. Since Sept. 11, routine acts such as waving the flag, pledging "one nation under God" and proclaiming the words "God bless America" have taken on almost worshipful significance.   But what some find unifying and reassuring, others see as divisive and troubling, a blurring of the line between love of country and religion, with woe to those who do not believe.   The wall between church and state has been temporarily lowered, said Derek Davis, director of the Institute for Church-State Studies at Baylor University. "At times like this, you almost set aside the First Amendment. The excitement and emotion almost trump everything else."   The fervor that makes patriotism an almost sacred duty goes by a variety of academic labels - civil religion, public religion, even democratic faith.   Some scholars distinguish it from authentic spirituality.   "Patriotism sort of becomes a secular religion," said Pauline Maier, author of "American Scripture: Making the Declaration of … [Read more...]

Churches and synagogues are joining the flag-waving and patriotism that have swept the country since the Sept. 11 attacks in Washington and New York City.   Huge flags can be seen outside church buildings and on walls inside worship areas and even on the altar in at least one Boston Roman Catholic church. Churches and synagogues are joining the flag-waving and patriotism that have swept the country since the Sept. 11 attacks in Washington and New York City.   Huge flags can be seen outside church buildings and on walls inside worship areas and even on the altar in at least one Boston Roman Catholic church.   Religious services these days often end with "God Bless America" or other patriotic songs. "We recite the Pledge of Allegiance, sing patriotic songs in the service and present the colors," said the Rev. Keenan Roberts, associate pastor at Abundant Life Christian Center in Arvada, Colo.   In addition, workers hung a huge flag on the side of the church building in late September so it will be visible to motorists. The church also has put red, white and blue floodlights behind the altar. "Christians should be patriotic in the land they enjoy living in," Roberts … [Read more...]

It is not every day that prisoners at Dixon Correctional Institute in Jackson enjoy jambalaya under the huge oak tree on the prison grounds, much less a relaxing two-hour outdoor program of Christian humor, entertainment and inspiration.   But that is just the idea with Operation Starting Line, a national effort by a variety of evangelical Christian groups to reach out to the broader prison population. It is not every day that prisoners at Dixon Correctional Institute in Jackson enjoy jambalaya under the huge oak tree on the prison grounds, much less a relaxing two-hour outdoor program of Christian humor, entertainment and inspiration.   But that is just the idea with Operation Starting Line, a national effort by a variety of evangelical Christian groups to reach out to the broader prison population. The goal is to reach those who likely would not attend chapel meetings and Bible studies that characterize the Christian presence in most correctional institutions.   "Our intent is to try to touch people who aren’t normally touched in the prison," emphasized Gary Pearce, who serves director of chaplaincy for Dixon Correctional Institute and is a Louisiana Baptist.   The … [Read more...]

At the Blue Bird Cafe, music is king - and queen. The hole-in-the-wall provides seating for fewer than 100 people and is one of the few places outside performance halls where the musical performance is not coincidental. At the Blue Bird Cafe, music is king - and queen. The hole-in-the-wall provides seating for fewer than 100 people and is one of the few places outside performance halls where the musical performance is not coincidental.   They serve food and libation, but one does not go there to eat or drink; one goes to hear music. If music were not of utmost importance, would "Shhh!" be the Blue Bird’s theme? Make noise during a performance and be met with numerous aggravated "Shhhs!" They sell tee shirts with "Shhh!" printed across them.   Most of the music featured at the Bird - this is Nashville - is country. After a meeting in our denominational capital recently, I went to the Bird.   It was "songwriters in the round" night. Four songwriters sat facing one another in the middle of the room and took turns plunking and strumming acoustical guitars and singing their songs. They sang some songs that had made the charts, but mostly, they sang new songs the writers wanted to … [Read more...]

For the week of November 15, 2001 Cooperative Program Gifts through the Southern Baptist Cooperative Program totaled almost $12.7 million last month, about $1.8 million (12.4 percent) down from the previous October. In turn, designated gifts for the month totaled $3.3 million, an increase of slightly more than $1 million (46.3 percent) from the previous October. The totals represent the first month in a new fiscal year for the Southern Baptist Convention. It closed the 2000-2001 Cooperative Program year at the end of September with the second-highest total in history and ahead of the budget goal. However, receipts failed to exceed the previous year, a trend that continued last month. In addition, the October total was more than $2.1 million (85.4 percent) below the monthly budget needs. ‘Bucks for Fire Trucks’ The Louisiana College community is participating in Gov. Mike Foster’s "Bucks for Fire Trucks" program, an initiative to collect donations from Louisiana citizens and businesses interested in helping to purchase a fire truck for the City of New York. Foster’s goal is to raise at least $500,000 to purchase a pumper fire truck to donate. The New York City Fire Department lost a total of 35 trucks and vehicles … [Read more...]

He is explaining that there are 2.5 miles of such walkways connecting every building on the 374-acre Gillis W. Long Center campus. They were built to enable former residents of the facility to move from building to building with minimal difficulty.   Suddenly, the visitor understands why. He is explaining that there are 2.5 miles of such walkways connecting every building on the 374-acre Gillis W. Long Center campus. They were built to enable former residents of the facility to move from building to building with minimal difficulty.   Suddenly, the visitor understands why.   "Wait," he says. "Is this Carville?"   Kirkpatrick nods. "This is Carville."   In years past, the very name was enough to evoke a range of images and emotions. After all, for most of the last century, the isolated Carville facilities housed leprosy patients from around the world.   Now, the Hansen’s Disease Center has moved to Baton Rouge, which lies just a turn and twist upriver. Only a few dozen Hansen’s patients remain on the Carville campus. They have no other place to go.   Thus, after years of giving care and hope and a future to people once considered hopeless, … [Read more...]

As a math major, I believed that the whole is equal to the sum of its parts, until I worked with teams. Then, when I became a coach, I saw that the whole is never the sum of its parts - it’s greater or lesser, depending on how well the individuals work together." These experienced words of wisdom come from Chuck Noll, former coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers when they were consistent Super Bowl champions. As a math major, I believed that the whole is equal to the sum of its parts, until I worked with teams. Then, when I became a coach, I saw that the whole is never the sum of its parts - it’s greater or lesser, depending on how well the individuals work together." These experienced words of wisdom come from Chuck Noll, former coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers when they were consistent Super Bowl champions.   When people form an organization for any purpose, they become some kind of team. They will either focus on their tasks and implement proven teamship principles or frustrate their members by missing their mark.   The Louisiana Baptist Convention is an organization, established primarily, according to Article II PURPOSE, "to provide means through which Louisiana Baptist churches and members … [Read more...]

For the week of November 15, 2001 Potpourri • ALEXANDRIA - Horseshoe Drive church: The Down East Boys, Mark Lanier and The Bennetts in concert; Nov. 16, 7 p.m.; Don Arbuckle, minister of music; Aubrey Whitlock, pastor.   • BATON ROUGE - Goodwood church: The Down East Boys in concert; Nov. 15, 7 p.m.; David Campbell, pastor.   • EUNICE - Acadian center: children’s retreat; Nov. 30 - Dec. 1; John Yates, speaker; for information, call the camp at (337) 457-9047; James Newsom, camp manager.   • FOREST HILL - Calvary church: Brotherly Love in concert; Nov. 18, 6 p.m.; Mike Evans, minister of music; Joel McMickin, pastor. Homecomings • ALEXANDRIA - Twin Bridges church: 30th homecoming/anniversary; Nov. 18; Sunday School, 9:45 a.m.; worship service, 10:45 a.m.; Herb Dickerson, speaker; The Bennetts, music; dinner to follow; Robert Daniel, pastor. Anniversaries • BOGALUSA - Lee’s Creek church: 130th; Nov. 18, 9:30 a.m.; Terry Wilkerson, speaker; Tim Jones and Ric Watkins, music; dinner and afternoon service of worship and praise to follow; Lonnie Thompson, pastor.   • BOGALUSA - First church: 95th; Nov. 18, 10:30 a.m.; dinner to follow; Bob Adams, pastor.   • DEQUINCY … [Read more...]