A prayer movement is hitting high school gridirons this fall as Christians in numerous states are joining in a recitation of the Lord’s Prayer immediately following the playing of the National Anthem.   The result is igniting a church-state firestorm. A prayer movement is hitting high school gridirons this fall as Christians in numerous states are joining in a recitation of the Lord’s Prayer immediately following the playing of the National Anthem.   The result is igniting a church-state firestorm.   The movement is in response to a June ruling by the United States Supreme Court that ruled school-sponsored prayer before high school games were unconstitutional.   Now, the American Civil Liberties Union is sniffing around the prayer movement for any involvement by school officials, which would run counter to the court’s ruling.   In turn, the American Center for Law and Justice led by evangelical Jay Sekulow is committing itself to defend any school district that is sued for permitting spontaneous prayer at high school football games.   The prayer movement has been promoted by various groups and individuals, including the National Day of Prayer Task … [Read more...]

'People were incredibly candid,some relating experiences they had never shared before'   A new television special examines in detail the Sept. 15, 1999, shootings at Wedgwood Baptist Church in Fort Worth - and the inspiring testimonies of the survivors. 'People were incredibly candid,some relating experiences they had never shared before'   A new television special examines in detail the Sept. 15, 1999, shootings at Wedgwood Baptist Church in Fort Worth - and the inspiring testimonies of the survivors.   Titled " ... and a time to heal," the one-hour special was produced by the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board and was released this week to ABC network affiliates nationwide. Individual stations will decide local air dates and times.   The Southern Baptist board produces two television programs each year for network distribution as part of the Interfaith Broadcast Commission. The Wedgwood special differs in its intense emotional impact - as well as the personal involvement of several North American Mission Board staffers who are members of Wedgwood.   One of those is Martin Coleman, author of the script and director of the board’s production team. … [Read more...]

The tobacco industry has taken severe hits during the last decade, and deservedly so. This industry has pushed a product that is a killer and a health wrecker. States and individuals have successfully brought charges against tobacco companies because their officials lied about their own studies that show tobacco is highly addictive and deadly. The tobacco industry has taken severe hits during the last decade, and deservedly so. This industry has pushed a product that is a killer and a health wrecker. States and individuals have successfully brought charges against tobacco companies because their officials lied about their own studies that show tobacco is highly addictive and deadly. So why does the liquor industry waltz down the financial avenue of American with immunity from its liability for basically aping the tobacco industry?   Alcohol kills 100,000 Americans a year from disease and alcohol-related accidents. In 1996, 41 percent of all U.S. traffic fatalities were alcohol related, according to an article in TIME, October 1997. Drunk driving kills 17,000 people a year. Some police officials estimate that as high as three of five of all calls they receive are related to alcohol or other drugs. … [Read more...]

The Ile de France team is seeking to reach out to the executive population of the Paris area. This includes leaders and professionals in business, government and universities. The challenge is how to make contact with this segment of society and to involve those who are not active in any religious quest to become active in seeking the Truth of God. The Ile de France team is seeking to reach out to the executive population of the Paris area. This includes leaders and professionals in business, government and universities. The challenge is how to make contact with this segment of society and to involve those who are not active in any religious quest to become active in seeking the Truth of God.   The Paris team plans to reach out by enlisting Christian Americans living and working in Paris to use their contacts to work with their French counterparts as an outreach effort. One approach among several will be to have American conduct home Bible studies with French work associates and neighbors as a way of encouraging religious inspiration.   We need your help. If you are living or moving to Paris, France and are interested in this work, please contact us. If you know of Americans or other … [Read more...]

Re: Letter dated August 13, titled "Absurd Conclusion" and letter dated August 27, titled "Shifting Blame."   These two authors, both pastors, have a strong focus - apparently to define or save the Southern Baptist religion. Re: Letter dated August 13, titled "Absurd Conclusion" and letter dated August 27, titled "Shifting Blame."   These two authors, both pastors, have a strong focus - apparently to define or save the Southern Baptist religion.   I would like to ask all participants in the mainstreamer vs. fundamentalist ideologies: If you were totally focused on doing the Lord’s will, how much time would you have left to participate in a theological battle? Believers should ponder this question: What does an issue so divisive that it pits believers in Christ against fellow believers in Christ have to do with doing God’s will? If you answered either question and do not like your answer, then good. I believe you are headed in the right direction.   In Revelation 2:4, Jesus tells the church of Ephesus, "I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast lost the first love." The members of the church of Ephesus apparently lost their focus, and this verse is a stark reminder … [Read more...]

I was both inspired and encouraged by the article in the Sept. 7 issue of the Baptist Message which told of the summer missions trip to Wales by the team from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. The pastor of the church in Wales, Rev. Tom McManus, who is, incidentally, a graduate of NOBTS, has shared with me on numerous occasions the great need that exists in Wales, for God’s word to be spread among the people of that tiny country. I was both inspired and encouraged by the article in the Sept. 7 issue of the Baptist Message which told of the summer missions trip to Wales by the team from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. The pastor of the church in Wales, Rev. Tom McManus, who is, incidentally, a graduate of NOBTS, has shared with me on numerous occasions the great need that exists in Wales, for God’s word to be spread among the people of that tiny country. Tom and his family were, first, Southern Baptist missionaries to Wales but chose to remain following their tenure with the Foreign Mission Board. There is a tremendous work at Bethel Baptist church but as in every case, so much more to be done. We’ve been invited many times to travel to Wales to share in the work there, so it was with much joy … [Read more...]

Your editorials regarding worship are right on target. Your term "seeker friendly" explains what far too many churches are doing to reach a pleasure-seeking, self-gratification, non-committal generation. Your editorials regarding worship are right on target. Your term "seeker friendly" explains what far too many churches are doing to reach a pleasure-seeking, self-gratification, non-committal generation. Mankind has never ceased trying to bring God down to our level of communication, rather than rising to where God wants us to be. Rather than elevating worship to please God we bring it down to the nightclub level to please the Saturday night crowd. The words of the songs and choruses have deteriorated to near sentimental mish-mash and weak theology or non-theology. We sing about the sacrifice of praise, but God prefers obedience to sacrifice, and we don’t care to be obedient. We have left the godly "Amen!" in favor of handclapping, a form of approval of the messenger rather than the message and a very disturbing, non-worship form to me. We sing about God being awesome but fail to stand in SILENT awe of His majesty. You recently discussed the word "contemporary," as has Warren Wiersbe in his book, "God Isn’t in … [Read more...]

In November, messengers to the annual Louisiana Baptist convention will be asked to vote on several changes to denominational documents.   As required by bylaws, those changes are presented in this issue of the Baptist Message - and in next week’s issue as well. The changes relate to the charter of the LBC Execuitve Board, the LBC Constitution and the LBC Bylaws.   In November, messengers to the annual Louisiana Baptist convention will be asked to vote on several changes to denominational documents.   As required by bylaws, those changes are presented in this issue of the Baptist Message - and in next week’s issue as well. The changes relate to the charter of the LBC Execuitve Board, the LBC Constitution and the LBC Bylaws.   The changes are as follows:   Proposed amendments to the charter of the Executive Board of the Louisiana Baptist Convention:   Article I, Paragraph 2 now reads: The corporate existence of this corporation shall be for a period of ninety nine years, unless sooner dissolved by a two-thirds vote of this corporation, which vote shall be taken not less than six months after receiving instructions to that effect in writing from the … [Read more...]

Declaring their unity, Louisiana College trustees voted last week to take initial steps toward launching a $34 million capital campaign and constructing additional living accommodations for on-campus students. "There have been repeated expressions of unity on this board," Chair Gil Arthur noted near the end of the upbeat scheduled meeting. "That’s a continuation of things that have happened the last few years and a sign of greater things to come as well." Declaring their unity, Louisiana College trustees voted last week to take initial steps toward launching a $34 million capital campaign and constructing additional living accommodations for on-campus students. "There have been repeated expressions of unity on this board," Chair Gil Arthur noted near the end of the upbeat scheduled meeting. "That’s a continuation of things that have happened the last few years and a sign of greater things to come as well." Trustee O.K. Bailey added later, "God’s favor is on our college right now." During the meeting, trustees also heard a poisitive report from school President Rory Lee regarding fall enrollment and other matters, elected officers for the new year and took several actions related to faculty members. (See … [Read more...]

One could say Louisiana College got off to a good start in the 2000 fall semester - but that would be a little like saying the Summer Olympic Games are just another junior high track meet. It would be a bit of an understatement. One could say Louisiana College got off to a good start in the 2000 fall semester - but that would be a little like saying the Summer Olympic Games are just another junior high track meet. It would be a bit of an understatement. Indeed, Louisiana College got off to a near-record start for the current fall semester, recording its highest enrollment numbers in more than 20 years - and not falling too short of all-time highs. A total of 1,125 students enrolled at the Louisiana Baptist school in Pineville for the fall semester, the highest total since 1980. That translates to a full-time equivalency total of 1,084, the highest mark since 1979. The full-time equivalency number is based on total semester hours that all part-time and full-time students enroll in and serves as a reliable basis for comparing figures from previous years. School leaders understandably are cheered by such comparisons this fall. For instance, breakdowns show: • The total enrollment of 1,125 is the highest … [Read more...]