C. Lacy Thompson LBM Associate Editor The gospel of Mark tells the story of the four men who carried their paralytic friend to Jesus, only to find they could not reach Christ because of the crowd gathered around him. The gospel of Mark tells the story of the four men who carried their paralytic friend to Jesus, only to find they could not reach Christ because of the crowd gathered around him. As a remedy, the four men tore up the roof of the house where the crowd was gathered and lowered their friend down to Jesus, who both forgave and healed the man in need. It is a story modern Christians must heed if they hope to reach lost people, Philip Robertson said in an address at the 2001 Southern Baptist Pastors Conference in New Orleans. "I cant take a heart thats broken and make it over again," stressed Robertson, pastor at Philadelphia Baptist Church in Deville and current president of the Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board. "I cant take a soul thats sin-stained and wash it white as snow. ... But I know a man who can. And his name is Jesus Christ. And he has the authority to forgive sins. "And he is the … [Read more...]
Pacesetting church
On behalf of FamilyNet, the Southern Baptist television network, I want to commend Dr. David Uth and the First Baptist Church of West Monroe. On behalf of FamilyNet, the Southern Baptist television network, I want to commend Dr. David Uth and the First Baptist Church of West Monroe. This pacesetting Louisiana Baptist church is featured on this months Great Churches of America Series on FamilyNet. Contacts received by the church since the first program aired on June 5 indicate that people are being won to Christ and others are being touched as well. R. Chip Turner Fort Worth, Texas … [Read more...]
Christian responsibility
Re: Kentucky preachers who "experimented" with being homeless Re: Kentucky preachers who "experimented" with being homeless I was never chronically homeless, but from the ages of 12 to 24, I was on the borderline. Too physically ill to work or to have my own place, attempting to make it through school, with a family full of drunks and druggies. More than once I woke hungry on a muddy sidewalk on Sunday morning, walked home for a shower and a change of clothes (no one knew Id been gone); and have my temporarily sober Dad drive me to a Southern Baptist church. Anyone I reached out to, usually ignored me, thought I was lying or said stuff like, if only I were a better Christian, my dad wouldnt drink and my Mom wouldnt hit me. Certain church elements (generally older men) warned me away from foster homes, Al-anon and any sort of support group or psy- chological counseling. The article hit the nail on the head about what it is like out there. Sometimes in summer I was "homeless" for a couple of weeks at a time, and without any sack lunch or any money, Im lucky I dont have AIDS from how I had to survive, lucky I didnt die out there. I am born again and know I cannot lose my Christian salvation, but I left the … [Read more...]
Wonderful resource
This is in response to the article abut the counseling ministry of the Childrens Home. As a recipient of counseling I want to thank them for this much-needed service. This is in response to the article abut the counseling ministry of the Childrens Home. As a recipient of counseling I want to thank them for this much-needed service. I was full of hopelessness and despair. I didnt know how I was going to be able to go on. Then I read in our church newsletter about this new service provided in our area. I called, made an appointment, and found that it was something I could afford. I went every week for awhile, finding only love, acceptance, and the much-needed help. After a year or so, my family and I are being restored and healed. I urge anyone who needs help with some problem that seems too big to handle, to take advantage of this wonderful resource. It will put you on the road to recovery if you really want to work on it! Thank you again for such a great ministry. Name withheld Winnsboro … [Read more...]
Weekly Announcements
For the week of June 28, 2001 Potpourri LAFAYETTE - First church: "His Truth is Marching On" patriotic musical presented by sanctuary choir and orchestra; July 1, 8:30 and 11 a.m.; Luther Burney, minister of music; Perry Sanders, pastor. LECOMPTE - Lamourie church: Bruce and Beth Roach, medical missionaries, to speak July 8, 9:45 and 10:45 a.m.; Joe Kite, pastor. LIVINGSTON - Doyle church: Marty Haggard, son of Merle Haggard, to share testimony and minister in music, during the worship service, July 15, 11 a.m.; Yancy Wilmot, interim pastor. SHREVEPORT - First church: "Hand in Hand" childhood education workshop; July 27-28; registration, 7:45 a.m.; sessions, 8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.; lunch, 12 p.m.; general session and keynote speakers, 12:45 p.m.; sessions, 2 - 4:15 p.m.; Tommy Sanders, speaker, July 27; Ann Parnell, speaker, July 28; for costs, registration or for other information, contact Childhood Education Dept., LBC, at (318) 448-3402 or 1-800-622-6549; Jon Stubblefield, pastor. WEST MONROE - First church: 2001 Single Adult Conference; July 13; supper, 5 p.m.; Big Session 1, 6:30 p.m; 4HIM in concert, 8 p.m.; Dennis Swanberg to speak, 10 p.m.; July 14; … [Read more...]
Louisianians recognized as ‘champions for the faith’
Richard Land did not present the typical agency report to messengers at the recent Southern Baptist Convention in New Orleans. Richard Land did not present the typical agency report to messengers at the recent Southern Baptist Convention in New Orleans. Instead, Land recognized several Louisiana Baptists as "champions for the faith" during his report as president of the Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. "How will our less fortunate neighbors know that we truly love them while we often ignore their struggle with gambling, drug and alcohol addiction, homelessness and hunger?" Land asked during his report. "How will underprivileged children ever know the rich promise of this great nation while they languish in the despair of abject poverty, oblivious to the hope found in the gospel of Jesus Christ? "How will we ever transform families, churches and communities while our nation is held hostage by a contemporary culture of convenience, where the sanctity of human life is wantonly discarded and the very foundation of the family - the covenant of marriage - is crumbling?" The task will be accomplished through the efforts of champions for the … [Read more...]
Host of recent convention motions referred for action
Southern Baptist Convention messengers only acted on three motions during their recent meeting in New Orleans - but they proposed many more. Southern Baptist Convention messengers only acted on three motions during their recent meeting in New Orleans - but they proposed many more. A total of 26 motions were offered. Three that sought to amend wording in the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message were easily rejected by messengers. Most of the others were referred to convention agencies for consideration. Of the proposed motions, six related to the issue of homosexuality. These included requests for: Development of ministry resources for parents who have a homosexual child. (Referred to the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board) Southern Baptist Convention seminaries to work to train students on reaching and discipling homosexuals. (Referred to all six seminaries) A former homosexual to be invited to speak at the 2002 annual convention. (Ruled out of order - but a spokesperson said convention planners would consider the request.) The convention president to write a letter commending President George Bush for not proclaiming June as … [Read more...]
State leaders urge support of Cooperative Program
Louisiana Baptist leaders were urged to commit themselves to support of the Cooperative Program last week - especially in light of a possibly troubling trend in giving. After several years of increased - and record giving - in the state, state Cooperative Program gifts are down in 2001. Louisiana Baptist leaders were urged to commit themselves to support of the Cooperative Program last week - especially in light of a possibly troubling trend in giving. After several years of increased - and record giving - in the state, state Cooperative Program gifts are down in 2001. "Is this a trend?" Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Director Dean Doster at last weeks Executive Board meeting at Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center in Woodworth. "Is there more of this to come? I simply do not have the answer. ... "Im not alarmed at this point, nor do I seek to raise alarm," he emphasized. "But I think we should all be concerned." Doster noted that if the current trend continues, Louisiana Baptists will fail to meet their annual budget. He also pointed out that a survey of figures shows 556 churches gave less through the state Cooperative … [Read more...]
He came to Louisiana looking for work – he found more
Steve Achord Kansas-Nebraska convention Sitting behind the wheel of his aging car, Mike Crowell headed south out of Kentucky toward the Gulf of Mexico. The United States was a month away from celebrating its bicentennial, and Crowell was heading toward the bayous and swamps of Louisiana in hopes of making enough money in the booming oil industry to return to college in September. Sitting behind the wheel of his aging car, Mike Crowell headed south out of Kentucky toward the Gulf of Mexico. The United States was a month away from celebrating its bicentennial, and Crowell was heading toward the bayous and swamps of Louisiana in hopes of making enough money in the booming oil industry to return to college in September. With his freshman year from the University of Kentucky behind him, Crowell hoped a friends advice about high-paying jobs on an offshore oil derrick would be correct, and he could return home with his pockets full of cash and exciting stories to tell his college friends. However, Crowell would return home with something else. The teenager landed in Houma and began his search for a summer job. The summer did not start out well as Crowell found himself sleeping in a filthy, run-down rooming house … [Read more...]
Report cites religious persecution around the world
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom recently issued its second annual report, broadening its policy recommendations to cover 10 countries in which religious freedom is at risk. The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom recently issued its second annual report, broadening its policy recommendations to cover 10 countries in which religious freedom is at risk. "There is a great deal of persecution going on," commissioner Nina Shea said. "There are serious religious freedom concerns that must be addressed around the world. There are also different kinds of regimes and governments, and we need to deal with those in different ways." Last year the commissions report dealt with violations in China, Russia and Sudan. This years report includes those three countries, along with India, Indonesia, Iran, North Korea, Nigeria, Pakistan and Vietnam. It also includes sections on U.S. capital markets and foreign assistance. Not all of the countries treated by the report are equal abusers of religious freedom, commission Chair Elliott Abrams said. "Russia, despite its problems, enjoys a much larger degree of religious freedom than many of the … [Read more...]
