Before meeting, Southern Baptists took time to spread the love of God in New Orleans   James Dotson North American Mission Board Before meeting, Southern Baptists took time to spread the love of God in New Orleans   The rain might have been torrential, but thanks to covered porches at the Fisher public housing complex in Gretna, teams of lay evangelists still were able to lead more than 300 residents to faith in Jesus Christ early this month.   Those 300 were only part of the more than 1,200 professions of faith recorded during a rain-soaked Crossover New Orleans evangelistic effort prior to last week’s Southern Baptist Convention in the city.   "It’s amazing what God has been doing," said Travis Johnson of Texas. "We just walked door-to-door, because a lot of people were out. We just walked around and talked."   The remnants of Tropical Storm Allison required Crossover participants to be creative and flexible in their efforts. Block parties were moved indoors and French Quarter ministry efforts were somewhat limited by the rain and accompanying sparse crowds. Even so, hundreds of decisions were recorded and nearly 40 churches reported they made significant … [Read more...]

The Cooperative Program took center stage during the report of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee last week. The Cooperative Program took center stage during the report of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee last week.   For one thing, Southern Baptist Convention messengers approved a record Cooperative Program goal of $178.3 million for the 2001-02 fiscal year.   In addition, convention leaders made an impassioned - and reflective - plea for support of the unified giving plan.   The $178.3 million goal was one of only four recommendations presented by the SBC Executive Committee for messenger action. All four were approved easily.   Based on convention policy, the 2001-02 Cooperative Program budget will be the same as final receipts for the 1999-2000 budget, the latest to be completed. The goal for the current year is $168 million, meaning next year’s budget represents an increase of 6.1 percent.   Fully funded, the new budget will channel $89.1 million to the International Mission Board; $40.6 million to the North American Mission Board; almost $38.6 million to theological education, including six national seminaries; nearly … [Read more...]

Southern Baptist Convention messengers elected five national officers last week - three by acclamation and two through ballot votes. James Merritt was granted a second one-year term as convention president by acclamation. Merritt serves as senior pastor at First Baptist Church of Snellville, Ga. Southern Baptist Convention messengers elected five national officers last week - three by acclamation and two through ballot votes. James Merritt was granted a second one-year term as convention president by acclamation. Merritt serves as senior pastor at First Baptist Church of Snellville, Ga. In nominating Merritt for a second term, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President Al Mohler said Southern Baptists have been blessed in recent years by a generation of leaders who have demonstrated the courage and determination necessary to leading a great denomination. "(James Merritt) is a dear friend and a friend to all Southern Baptists," Mohler said. "He is a man of integrity and character." Merritt is the first baby boomer elected to the Southern Baptist Convention presidency. A Georgia native, he has been pastor of the 12,000-member suburban Atlanta church since 1985. During his tenure the congregation … [Read more...]

P>In 1815, not many miles from the Louisiana Superdome, the famous Battle of New Orleans was fought.   In the battle, a collection of American volunteers and recruits commanded by Andrew Jackson defeated twice as many British soldiers to save control of the Louisiana port city and the Mississippi River. In 1815, not many miles from the Louisiana Superdome, the famous Battle of New Orleans was fought.   In the battle, a collection of American volunteers and recruits commanded by Andrew Jackson defeated twice as many British soldiers to save control of the Louisiana port city and the Mississippi River.   "But there was only one problem," Southern Baptist Convention President James Merritt explained last week. "The battle was really not worth fighting. ... The war had ended two weeks earlier when the Treaty of Ghent was signed in Europe."   Therein lies a lesson for Southern Baptists, Merritt said in delivering his president’s address to last week’s Southern Baptist Convention in New Orleans.   "There are battles raging outside of this arena, and we need to be on the frontlines," said Merritt, citing attacks on the institution of marriage, sanctity of life and … [Read more...]

Millions of people in North America are "lost at sea" without a personal relationship with Jesus Christ - and it is time for Southern Baptists to go on a rescue mission to save them. Millions of people in North America are "lost at sea" without a personal relationship with Jesus Christ - and it is time for Southern Baptists to go on a rescue mission to save them.   That was the challenge of the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board to messengers at the 2001 Southern Baptist Convention in New Orleans last week.   "Frankly, my friends, North America desperately needs more heroes - common people with an uncommon commitment to the highest of all calls - the Great Commission of Jesus Christ," said Robert Reccord, president of the convention mission board.   The North American Mission Board report to last week’s convention opened with a song by recording artist Wintley Phipps, titled, "Four Chaplains on the Sea of Glory." It described how four chaplains on a battleship during World War II sacrificed their lives to help fellow crewmen when their ship was hit and there were not enough life jackets to go around.   "Today, North America is awash with people who are lost at … [Read more...]

Leaning on a cane and gripping the hand of his wife, Southern Baptist missionary Charles Beaty listened to staccato applause swell into a standing ovation. Leaning on a cane and gripping the hand of his wife, Southern Baptist missionary Charles Beaty listened to staccato applause swell into a standing ovation.   The Beatys came to the 2001 Southern Baptist Convention to challenge pastors and church leaders to go to the mission field. But they also had another reason for coming - Charles Beaty is dying of cancer and is seeking someone to take his place as a missionary in North Africa.   "Is the Lord calling you to go to the people who have no voice?" Beaty asked. "Then my challenge is to go and not wait, because we are not promised tomorrow."   As part of the Southern Baptist International Mission Board report at last week’s convention, a video depicting the Beatys’ ministry played on large screen projectors. The couple then offered a challenge and prayer for church leaders who may feel led to participate in missions.   "My challenge to you is to continue to go and to answer the call when (God) calls you," Beaty told messengers, who later held hands and prayed for the … [Read more...]

The old joke says – often with good reason – that wherever there are two Baptists, there are sure to be three opinions. However, Southern Baptists proved the cliche wrong last week, approving nine resolutions without so much as a moment of discussion or a sign of dissent. The old joke says – often with good reason – that wherever there are two Baptists, there are sure to be three opinions. However, Southern Baptists proved the cliche wrong last week, approving nine resolutions without so much as a moment of discussion or a sign of dissent. Southern Baptist Convention Resolutions Committee Chair Danny Akin admitted that was "pretty unusual." But he also said he thought it showed Southern Baptists "are very much of one mind on the issues (the resolutions address)." The issues presented to messengers at the 2001 Southern Baptist Convention were not the headline-making one of the past – but they did focus on current and ongoing concerns. Messengers addressed those concerns in easy fashion. The whole process took less than 15 minutes, making a second session for considering resolutions unnecessary. In addition to a traditional statement of appreciation for convention organizers, the resolutions … [Read more...]

C. Lacy Thompson LBM Associate Editor A trio of efforts to make wording changes in the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message were defeated easily by Southern Baptist Convention messengers last week. A trio of efforts to make wording changes in the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message were defeated easily by Southern Baptist Convention messengers last week.   The efforts were among 26 motions presented by messengers during last week’s annual meeting - and the only three proposals to be considered on the floor of the convention. The other 23 motions were referred to convention agencies or ruled out of order by officials. (The Baptist Message will review some of those proposals next week)   All three motions related to the Baptist Faith and Message sparked debate - but the outcome was not close, with each one falling well short on show-of-ballots votes.   In each instance, messengers were opposed from the convention platform by members of the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message committee.   In the first instance, Fred Malone sought to amend the Baptist Faith and Message article on the Lord’s Day. Malone is pastor at First Baptist Church of Clinton.   The final passage of the … [Read more...]

Southern Baptists must rescue the American family from the precipice of peril, the first report from a convention task force asserts. Southern Baptists must rescue the American family from the precipice of peril, the first report from a convention task force asserts.   "Families will not be rescued simply because we hope so," warned Tom Elliff, chair of the Southern Baptist Council on Family Life. "Families will not be rescued because we think God owes it to us. Families in America - and families in our convention - will be rescued because we decide to do something about it."   The Council on Family Life is designed to help Southern Baptists do just that, noted Elliff, pastor at First Southern Baptist Church of Del City, Okla. The council was formed last year and charged with making recommendations to the convention in 2002.   However, it offered a preliminary report at last week’s Southern Baptist Convention, one of several instances that the issue of families arose during the annual meeting. Messengers to the convention also approved a strong resolution on covenant marriages - and several speakers alluded to the need to address the peril facing the family.   "We believe … [Read more...]

Ending a human life will likely not bring "closure" for the victims of the the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrall Federal Building in Oklahoma City. Ending a human life will likely not bring "closure" for the victims of the the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrall Federal Building in Oklahoma City.   United States citizens riveted their attention to the execution of Timothy McVeigh. The crime McVeigh fomented and committed in Oklahoma City was one of the truly gripping tragedies in the history of our nation’s internal affairs.   We can hardly believe that one man could callously take the lives of 168 fellow citizens, three of whom were pregnant, whose worst offense on that day was being in a federal office building.   For three years, the media presented the graphic images of mangled, often dead, bloody bodies coming from the building Timothy McVeigh decimated that day. For three years, we heard from the people whose lives were torn by either direct contact with the explosion or having a loved one severely injured or killed in the massive explosion or by working amidst the rubble to extricate bodies, some dead, some barely alive.   Timothy McVeigh was quickly captured, then … [Read more...]