For the week of March 7, 2002 Potpourri DRY PRONG - Big Creek Association hosting evangelism rally at Dry Creek Elementary School auditorium; March 10, 6 p.m.; Sammy Tibbit; guest speaker; Herb Dickerson, director of missions.   ALEXANDRIA - during the month of March, Southern Gospel Showcase will be featured on 31 KLAX - ABC at 6:30 a.m.; Mark Lanier and Marcelle Slaughter, showcase hosts; website address is www.southerngospelshowcase.com; Lyndon Marcotte, pastor of Pleasant Hill church in Pollock, website manager.   BOYCE - First church: "True Love Waits Weekend," March 15-16; cost is $12; registration deadline is March 10; for information call Brent or Hannah Romero at (318) 793-4389; Jim Lofton, pastor.   COUSHATTA - Fairview church: Mercy Me in concert; March 7, 7 p.m.; tickets are $16.75; for ticket information call (318) 932-5940; Steven McAbee, pastor.   GONZALES - Central church: Lottie Stephens Association bi-annual meeting; March 12, 7 p.m.; Jay Avance, pastor.   SULPHUR - Maplewood First church: "Clothed in His Splendor" women’s conference; March 9, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Patty Hankins, guest speaker; Carol Womack, music; cost is $10; childcare provided; … [Read more...]

Trustees of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Annuity Board made improvements to programs for retired Southern Baptist ministers during their February meeting in Dallas, Texas.   Trustees affirmed revisions to the guidelines for the Supplemental Assistance and Adopt An Annuitant programs. The programs will be combined into a single ministry and the eligibility guidelines will be modified to allow more retirees to qualify for benefits. Trustees of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Annuity Board made improvements to programs for retired Southern Baptist ministers during their February meeting in Dallas, Texas.   Trustees affirmed revisions to the guidelines for the Supplemental Assistance and Adopt An Annuitant programs. The programs will be combined into a single ministry and the eligibility guidelines will be modified to allow more retirees to qualify for benefits.   Additionally, many Adopt An Annuitant recipients now will qualify for more than twice the benefit they have been receiving. While in the past donors have been asked to give at specific levels, the new program will encourage donors to contribute at any level.   A total of $5,217,655 was distributed through the … [Read more...]

The thought of a church being a principal in a court of law is the last thing most members would even dream possible. One would hope that a church and anyone dealing with a church would conduct their affairs in such ways that legal intervention would never be necessary. The thought of a church being a principal in a court of law is the last thing most members would even dream possible. One would hope that a church and anyone dealing with a church would conduct their affairs in such ways that legal intervention would never be necessary.   The facts, however, indicate what most people would not dream possible is becoming increasingly reality.   In the United States, the church enjoys the protection of the government and its laws. The Constitution of the United States ensures that people enjoy the freedom to believe or not to believe as they wish and to practice the dictates of their faith. But this does not exempt any church from the obligation of following the laws of the land. A church’s freedom to practice its faith basically ends at the point that practice infringes upon the rights of others under the local, state and federal laws.   Churches, regardless of their size or wealth, … [Read more...]

For persons of faith, the assertion that marriage is good for health, wealth and happiness comes as no surprise.   After all, they long have affirmed the central importance of marriage to society.   What may come as a surprise is that the marriage assertion is being made by a panel of social scientists as well. For persons of faith, the assertion that marriage is good for health, wealth and happiness comes as no surprise.   After all, they long have affirmed the central importance of marriage to society.   What may come as a surprise is that the marriage assertion is being made by a panel of social scientists as well.   "Marriage is more than a private emotional relationship," the researchers note in their recent study. "It is also a social good.   "Not every person can or should marry," add the researchers, who based their study on decades of research. "And not every child raised outside of marriage is damaged as a result. But communities where good-enough marriages are common have better outcomes for children, women and men than do communities suffering from high rates of divorce, unmarried childbearing and high-conflict or violent … [Read more...]

Increasingly, churches find themselves in a court of law in Louisiana, so there is a distinct need for information and procedures to keep them out of court.   "You can be in good faith, doing all you can, and though trying to do good things, you can be successfully sued," said Greg Erwin, a Baton Rouge attorney. Increasingly, churches find themselves in a court of law in Louisiana, so there is a distinct need for information and procedures to keep them out of court.   "You can be in good faith, doing all you can, and though trying to do good things, you can be successfully sued," said Greg Erwin, a Baton Rouge attorney.   "You want to stay out of court, because bad things can happen in court. One never knows how decisions are going to be made, and although you think something seems perfectly obvious, you never know what a judge or a jury will rule."   Erwin is Louisiana Baptist Convention attorney and made these comments at a workshop last month on "Keeping Your Church Out of Court." The workshop was held at Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center in Woodworth, and sponsored by the stewardship/Cooperative Program office and business office of the state … [Read more...]

Imagine the scene - just as the check for the meal arrives, so does the last round of drinks.   In most cities, that would mean the diners sit and visit while they finish their alcohol. But this is not most cities.   This is New Orleans - and the diners in question simply ask the waitress for "to go" cups. In less than two minutes, they are out on the streets, headed for their vehicle, alcoholic beverages in hand. Imagine the scene - just as the check for the meal arrives, so does the last round of drinks.   In most cities, that would mean the diners sit and visit while they finish their alcohol. But this is not most cities.   This is New Orleans - and the diners in question simply ask the waitress for "to go" cups. In less than two minutes, they are out on the streets, headed for their vehicle, alcoholic beverages in hand.   That is one of the things that makes New Orleans unique among perhaps every other city in the country. It also is one of the things that makes New Orleans "probably the worst in the country as far as alcohol-related control policies," said Deborah Cohen, author of a recent study of alcohol cities in cities around the … [Read more...]

Growing up in Mexico, Dotty Mobley says she dispised the Hispanics there. That was before she became a Christian.   Now, she is teaching Hispanics in Sunday School at Holly Grove Baptist Church in Wisner, a group she says she "can’t get enough of."   A major part of the church’s Spanish-speaking ministry, Mobley was responsible for starting the Bible Study class. Growing up in Mexico, Dotty Mobley says she dispised the Hispanics there. That was before she became a Christian.   Now, she is teaching Hispanics in Sunday School at Holly Grove Baptist Church in Wisner, a group she says she "can’t get enough of."   A major part of the church’s Spanish-speaking ministry, Mobley was responsible for starting the Bible Study class.   The group, mostly from Catholic backgrounds, has been studying the book of John for a year.   "I chose John because I felt that was a good start for them," Mobley explains. "This was because they were mixed up about who God and Jesus were and needed to know praying to idols won’t get you into heaven.   "I was wanting to get them on the right track."   A year ago, Carl Haring, manager of Haring’s Pride … [Read more...]

I am writing in response to a letter posted by Norman and Dorothy Sutton of Shreveport. In this letter, the Suttons point out scriptures that make it very clear that we are to pray in Jesus’ name. I am writing in response to a letter posted by Norman and Dorothy Sutton of Shreveport. In this letter, the Suttons point out scriptures that make it very clear that we are to pray in Jesus’ name.   I totally agree!   However, is it the mere mention of Jesus’name that the scripture is talking about or the spirit in which we pray? I believe it’s the latter. To simply speak the name of Jesus with no reverence in your heart would be as beneficial as praying in the name of Oscar Mayer.   I see nothing wrong with closing your prayer with a simple "Amen," if you know in your heart that you are praying in the name of Jesus. After all, it is this relationship with Christ that allows us to go directly to God, so how else could we truly pray?   Cody Froelich, Knoxville, TN … [Read more...]

For the week of March 14, 2002 Potpourri • ALEXANDRIA - Southern Gospel Showcase will be featured on 31 KLAX - ABC at 6:30 a.m. through March; Mark Lanier and Marcelle Slaughter, showcase hosts.   • BOYCE - First church: "True Love Waits Weekend," March 15-16, cost is $12; for information call Brent or Hannah Romero at (318) 793-4389; Jim Lofton, pastor.   • KILLIAN - First Church: The Believers in concert; March 23, 7:30 p.m.; tickets $5 in advance/$7 at the door; for information call (225) 695-6581; David Whitehead, pastor.   • LONGVILLE - First church: "On Mission Celebration Conference," March 17, 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.; March 18-20, 7 p.m.; various missionary speakers; Stuart Graves, pastor.   • PRAIRIEVILLE - Dutchtown church: Lottie Stephens Association Winter Bible Study; March 18-20, 7 p.m.; Allan Moseley, study leader; Paul Harris, pastor.   • MINDEN - Webster-Claiborne Association sponsors a Jack Daniels Area Wide Crusade at Minden High School stadium; March 24-27, 7 p.m.; various speakers include Donnie Gay, champion bull rider, Marty Haggard, son of Merle Haggard; Randy Hales, director of missions.   • MINDEN - Emmanuel church: association … [Read more...]

Most ministers’ salary "packages" create a false impression of how much money ministers really take home, Richard Skidmore said.   Thus, it is imperative that ministers and churches plan correctly on compensation matters, stressed Skidmore, a Tennessee Baptist Convention church ministers’ financial support specialist. Skidmore recently spoke at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Most ministers’ salary "packages" create a false impression of how much money ministers really take home, Richard Skidmore said.   Thus, it is imperative that ministers and churches plan correctly on compensation matters, stressed Skidmore, a Tennessee Baptist Convention church ministers’ financial support specialist. Skidmore recently spoke at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.   When John Q. Church Member sees an annual line item of $35,000 for the minister’s salary, the inclination is to compare that salary to someone who works in the secular arena, such as Wal-Mart or Saturn, Skidmore explained during a recent address at the Southern Baptist school.   But when one examines the comparison more closely, the minister really is not making the same, he said.   Indeed, … [Read more...]