The reality of news is that some stories dominate frontpage headlines, while others face obscurity from repetition or perceived irrelevance.   Despite increased attention in some circles and despite efforts by watchdog organizations such as Compass Direct, the latter is the case for stories related to Christian persecution. The reality of news is that some stories dominate frontpage headlines, while others face obscurity from repetition or perceived irrelevance.   Despite increased attention in some circles and despite efforts by watchdog organizations such as Compass Direct, the latter is the case for stories related to Christian persecution.   Thus, the following is a list that likely will not appear in a local newspaper or a national news magazine. However, from Compass Direct’s standpoint, the following stories represent the key events related to Christian persecution in 2001 - and important story lines to watch in 2002:   Aid workers freed in Afghanistan   The 15-week saga of eight Western relief workers jailed by the Taliban regime in Afghanistan on charges of propagating Christianity captured wider international media coverage than perhaps any other religious … [Read more...]

It may be difficult to remember anything about 2001 except the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11. But there was other news to consider for the year - and important trends to note.   Based on various studies from the past year, George Barna has offered a look at some of those trends, releasing an annual list of vital statistics related to faith. It may be difficult to remember anything about 2001 except the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11. But there was other news to consider for the year - and important trends to note.   Based on various studies from the past year, George Barna has offered a look at some of those trends, releasing an annual list of vital statistics related to faith.   Barna’s list focuses on the most important, most controversial, most surprising and most challenging faith-related insights.   "Based on our on-going assessment of the spiritual climate and religious gyrations in America, these outcomes give a pretty dynamic summary of what happened in the U.S. in its religious life this year," said Barna, president of the California-based Barna Research Group.   "Such lists are always subjective, but the breadth of revelations represented by these … [Read more...]

Following the lead of many other Americans, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary students have taken steps to aid disaster relief efforts in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on this country.   But the efforts have not been limited only to this country and its needs. Following the lead of many other Americans, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary students have taken steps to aid disaster relief efforts in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on this country.   But the efforts have not been limited only to this country and its needs.   In one instance, students at the seminary’s North Georgia campus raised $1,000 to be used in disaster relief efforts in New York City. Students raised the money by using a fireman’s hat as an offering plate.   The hat was passed around in each class at the North Georgia campus and at chapel services. The money then was forwarded to the Georgia Baptist Convention to be used in relief efforts in New York City.   "It was important that each person actually touch the fireman’s hat," said Jason Young, student body president of the North Georgia campus. The hat belonged to Phil Thomas, another student who … [Read more...]

The name of the church was Almighty God Tabernacle, a strange name some might think.   It was late on a Saturday night, and the pastor of this tabernacle sat at his desk at the church, refining the next day’s sermon. He suddenly decided to call home to check on his wife. He dialed the number and listened to the phone ring ... and ring ... and ring.   Surely, he had called the wrong number, he thought. Where else would his wife be on a Saturday night? The name of the church was Almighty God Tabernacle, a strange name some might think.   It was late on a Saturday night, and the pastor of this tabernacle sat at his desk at the church, refining the next day’s sermon. He suddenly decided to call home to check on his wife. He dialed the number and listened to the phone ring ... and ring ... and ring.   Surely, he had called the wrong number, he thought. Where else would his wife be on a Saturday night?   He called the number again and found his wife at the other end of the line. He laughed when he thought about the person he must have disturbed so late in the evening.   Not long after, the pastor received a call from a man who wondered if a phone call had … [Read more...]

First, the bad news - Louisiana Baptists closed 2001 with Cooperative Program receipts lower than the previous year and $1.3 million behind budget.   Next, the worse news - Louisiana Baptists ended the most-recent year with a report showing statewide baptisms had slipped to their lowest level in 12 years.   Finally, the obvious news - something has to change ... significantly.   "We’ve lost our focus on evangelism and on doing the Great Commission," Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Director Dean Doster warned. First, the bad news - Louisiana Baptists closed 2001 with Cooperative Program receipts lower than the previous year and $1.3 million behind budget.   Next, the worse news - Louisiana Baptists ended the most-recent year with a report showing statewide baptisms had slipped to their lowest level in 12 years.   Finally, the obvious news - something has to change ... significantly.   "We’ve lost our focus on evangelism and on doing the Great Commission," Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Director Dean Doster warned.   Year-end figures serve as evidence, Doster and LBC Evangelism Director Wayne Jenkins … [Read more...]

For the week of January 17, 2002 Briefs Lottie Moon churches The Southern Baptist International Mission Board recently recognized the top 100 churches that gave through the 2000 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions. The top contributor was Calvary Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, N.C., which gave $399,064 through the annual offering. Five other churches gave more than $200,000. One Louisiana Baptist church made the top 100 list. Broadmoor Baptist Church in Shreveport gave $100,348.70 through the 2000 offering, ranking it as the 49th-highest contributor. Chuck Pourciau is pastor. Granberry dedication The Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home recently dedicated a Granberry Counseling Center in Vidalia, marking yet another addition to the statewide ministry program of the agency. The counseling centers work to address individual concerns as well as family issues for Louisiana Baptists and others. The centers also serve as a resource for Louisiana Baptist pastors and churches by providing seminars and retreats on various topics. Fees at the centers are based on income and ability to pay, with all appointments confidential. For more information, persons may call (877) 345-7411 or by visiting the … [Read more...]

Surprised? Americans are giving a smaller percentage of their incomes to churches. If that bit of news from Religious News Service surprises you, you have not been watching the receipts at local churches. In the vast majority of churches, gifts have not kept pace with members’ income. Surprised? Americans are giving a smaller percentage of their incomes to churches. If that bit of news from Religious News Service surprises you, you have not been watching the receipts at local churches. In the vast majority of churches, gifts have not kept pace with members’ income.   According to a study conducted by John and Sylvia Ronsvalle, entitled "The State of Church Giving Through 1999," church members donated 2.58 percent of their income to their churches in 1999. That amount is down 17 percent from 1968 when giving was 3.1 percent.   Admittedly, the larger 3.1 percent is little to brag about, but when one realizes all members of the 29 denominations studied were averaged, the figure looks a tad better. Some folks are giving very well to bring up the average with those who give the most common annual gift - less than 10 dollars.   Perhaps the shocker of the article is that in the depth of the … [Read more...]

Christian ministries inadvertently are becoming purveyors of smut as pornographers "hijack" expired Web sites, either to lure unsuspecting visitors to pornographic sites or to earn a profit by selling the URL back to its original owner at an inflated price.   The Indiana Baptist state newspaper is one of the latest victims of a scheme that has affected various Christian ministries, non-profit organizations, government agencies and political leaders. Christian ministries inadvertently are becoming purveyors of smut as pornographers "hijack" expired Web sites, either to lure unsuspecting visitors to pornographic sites or to earn a profit by selling the URL back to its original owner at an inflated price.   The Indiana Baptist state newspaper is one of the latest victims of a scheme that has affected various Christian ministries, non-profit organizations, government agencies and political leaders.   Six months after the Indianapolis-based paper moved its content to a new Web site - www.scbi.org - it gave up its rights to a former domain name. The day the old URL became available, porn appeared on it.   Registered to a person supposedly living in an obscure location in … [Read more...]

Accidental porn: In the wild world of the Internet, it is becoming more and more difficult to avoid pornography Some 70 percent of American teenagers have "accidentally" encountered pornography on the Internet, a recent poll indicates.   That has many observers concerned. Accidental porn: In the wild world of the Internet, it is becoming more and more difficult to avoid pornography Some 70 percent of American teenagers have "accidentally" encountered pornography on the Internet, a recent poll indicates.   That has many observers concerned.   "Clearly, there is a major failure in adult responsibility when almost three out of four teens report they have accidentally come across pornography on the Web," Morality in Media President Robert Peters said. "But the biggest failure of responsibility lies with federal and state prosecutors who turn a blind eye to obscenity on the Internet.   "If obscenity laws were being vigorously enforced, the last thing hardcore pornographers would want to do is draw attention to their vile wares by engaging in reckless marketing methods. If vigorously enforced, there would also be much less pornography to accidentally stumble … [Read more...]

Looking into a mirror is my second least-favorite viewing, ranking only slightly above photographs that include my likeness.   Honestly, I just do not like having to admit to myself that I am as common looking as I am. Mind you, I do not mind being unattractive; I just do not like being visually confronted with that fact. I have to face it – this face is the only one I have   Looking into a mirror is my second least-favorite viewing, ranking only slightly above photographs that include my likeness.   Honestly, I just do not like having to admit to myself that I am as common looking as I am. Mind you, I do not mind being unattractive; I just do not like being visually confronted with that fact.   I have never forced my school yearbooks upon my disinterested children and said, "Look, that’s your daddy. See how handsome he was then." I don’t say that because they can see. They know homely from handsome. To tell them I was handsome undermines what little credibility I have with them.   I’ll get to the point in a moment.   Now, my brother was handsome. He cut a dashing figure during the 1950s with his greased-up ducktails and white shirts open to his, well, … [Read more...]