The diverse culture that makes New Orleans so unique will be utilized to the fullest this weekend as hundreds of Southern Baptist volunteers from across the city – from across Louisiana – head to the Crescent City to participate in Crossover 2009. NEW ORLEANS – The diverse culture that makes New Orleans so unique will be utilized to the fullest this weekend as hundreds of Southern Baptist volunteers from across the city – from across Louisiana – head to the Crescent City to participate in Crossover 2009. Beginning tomorrow and going through Saturday, the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans will undertake the biggest evangelistic outreach effort it has ever attempted in the city. While Crossover is more than 20 years old nationally, the Louisiana Baptist Convention began the tradition of conducting an evangelistic emphasis – sharing the love of Christ – prior to its annual meeting in the host city two years ago in Lake Charles. This year’s theme is Recovering, Restoring, Reconciling. “It is without question the biggest evangelistic outreach our association has ever under taken,” BAGNO Evangelism Strategist David Rhymes said. “And it will be unique in terms of its size, scope and strategic focus.” Rhymes and … [Read more...]

Baptist Crossroads, the community redevelopment organization birthed by First Baptist Church of New Orleans just prior to Hurricane Katrina, is expanding its strategy to work alongside residents of the Upper Ninth Ward to revitalize this historic community. NEW ORLEANS – Baptist Crossroads, the community redevelopment organization birthed by First Baptist Church of New Orleans just prior to Hurricane Katrina, is expanding its strategy to work alongside residents of the Upper Ninth Ward to revitalize this historic community. “Baptist Crossroads partnered from the beginning with Habitat for Humanity and Baptist Community Ministries to build 40 affordable homes for qualified, low-income residents between 2006-2007; they since have completed a total of 48 homes and have 17 more in various stages of construction. “However, for a community to flourish, it needs to have more than one type of housing,” said Baptist Crossroads Executive Director Bob Brian. “Currently, we are exploring the possibility of a mixed-income model for our housing development. Research and experience confirm that when housing in a neighborhood better reflects social diversity, the community flourishes and becomes more economically sustainable.” That’s … [Read more...]

Somehow, Dr. Mike Holloway finds time to pastor Cook Baptist Church in addition to all the hours he gives to all Louisiana Baptists as president of the Louisiana Baptist Convention. RUSTON – Somehow, Dr. Mike Holloway finds time to pastor Cook Baptist Church in addition to all the hours he gives to all Louisiana Baptists as president of the Louisiana Baptist Convention. Elected last November to the first term of what at a maximum could be two, 2-year terms, Holloway spends hours each week in a variety of committee and trustee meetings for the LBC and its entities – Children’s Home, College, Foundation and the Louisiana Baptist Message – as well as the SBC entities – New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee, International and North American Mission Boards, the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission and LifeWay Christian Resources. “It was months before I realized I didn’t have to attend all the meetings,” Holloway said with a grin. “When I have a conflict, I send one of the other officers, but I try to make as many as I can.” Holloway said he also tries to be – and is, most weeks – in his pulpit every Sunday morning. His congregation seems to understand. “I think it … [Read more...]

We are having some work done on our house. Most of us have experienced people working or staying in our homes for an extended period of time. The guys who are working are doing a great job and they clean up after themselves, but do you know how much noise jackhammers and saws make? Or how about the constant pounding of a hammer and nail gun and the air compressor? Or how flat Bubba is when he whistles while he works? We are having some work done on our house. Most of us have experienced people working or staying in our homes for an extended period of time. The guys who are working are doing a great job and they clean up after themselves, but do you know how much noise jackhammers and saws make? Or how about the constant pounding of a hammer and nail gun and the air compressor? Or how flat Bubba is when he whistles while he works? So when the last workman exits and his pickup rolls out of the cul-de-sac, I want to collapse in my favorite chair with a cup of coffee and say “Praise the Lord. Patty, listen – this is what peace and quiet sounds like.” Peace and quiet. Our natural tendency is to link the two concepts together and equate peace with the absence of noise or the cessation of activity. When we unpack the words of … [Read more...]

When Robert Coleman spoke at Summer Grove Baptist Church about Jesus’ strategy for evangelizing the world, he started by reminding his listeners what they had to tell people about: SHREVEPORT – When Robert Coleman spoke at Summer Grove Baptist Church about Jesus’ strategy for evangelizing the world, he started by reminding his listeners what they had to tell people about: “Jesus died for our sins and rose again,” Coleman said. “It’s the resurrection that brings us back to the reality: The one who sends us has overcome the world. He has all authority. … When you turn to Jesus, it’s the beginning of a new, whole life.” Those with this new, whole life tell others, and they tell others, and they tell others. “Through the process of multiplication – one telling another; both telling others – everyone someday will have the opportunity to hear the gospel,” Coleman said. “The methods depend on the circumstances; the basic truth holds us together.” Coleman, Distinguished Professor of Evangelism and Discipleship at Gorden-Conwell Theological Seminary in Massachusetts, wrote The Master Plan of Evangelism (MPE) – now in its 101st printing, with more than 3 million copies sold – to describe the principles of Jesus’ strategy for … [Read more...]

The 2020 Vision for the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans was a year in development. NEW ORLEANS – The 2020 Vision for the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans was a year in development. It takes into account changes in the association since the area was keelhauled by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.  These changes include a decreased population, decreased number of churches, increased needs in the churches, as well as a scaling back next August of the North American Mission Board’s presence in the city, plus the impending retirements next April of Joe McKeever, BAGNO’s director of missions, and Freddie Arnold, church planting/disaster relief/church education strategist. Read more about this in the Nov. 13 issue of the Louisiana Baptist Message. For now, while you’re in New Orleans for the 2008 annual meeting of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, take time to tour the city and pray about what God would have you do here. Maybe it’s to partner with a New Orleans church to help them get back to full strength. Maybe it’s to indicate your interest in serving as director of missions. For now, see www.bagnola.org for the 2020 Vision, or the DOM’s (and four other’s) job descriptions.    … [Read more...]

November 2008 1-2 – Womens Missions and Ministry Prayer Walk, New Orleans from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Meeting place is Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans. For more information, call Women’s Missions and Ministry at 318.448.3402, 800.622.6549, or email them at WMM@LBC.org. 2-9 – Royal Ambassador Week. 3 – Baptist Women’s World Day of Prayer. 6 – RA Council Meeting, Baptist Building, Alexandria 6-8 – Literacy Missions Training at First Baptist Church of New Orleans. For more information, call Anna Palmer 985.795.8494 or anna@fbno.org; Joe Cannon  985.373.2939 or esl4him@bellsouth.net. 7-8 – Louisiana Kaleo, NOBTS 7-9 – Crossover New Orleans 9 – Royal Ambassador Day 10 – Pre-Convention Executive Board Meeting, FBC, New Orleans 10 – Pastors’ Conference, Leavell Chapel NOBTS 10-11 – Louisiana Baptist Convention, FBC, New Orleans 11 – BiVocational/Smaller Church Pastor/Wife Breakfast, New Orleans 11 – LBC Retiree/Widow Luncheon, New Orleans 11 – SWBTS Alumni Luncheon at First Baptist Church in New Orleans. 14-16 – National Church Renewal Journey Conference at Tall Timbers Conference Center. Featured speakers will be David Hankins, Executive Director of the LBC; Jim Burton, Team … [Read more...]

In previous articles we examined the procedure for setting up a minster’s compensation that allows the least amount of taxes to be paid while at the same time allowing the minister to keep as much money as possible in his pocket. In previous articles we examined the procedure for setting up a minster’s compensation that allows the least amount of taxes to be paid while at the same time allowing the minister to keep as much money as possible in his pocket.   Let’s now consider an item that seems is to be confusing to many church financial committees – the housing allowance. In order to understand the details of the housing allowance, we must first look at how the IRS defines “housing allowance.”  The IRS states that housing allowance is salary.  It is not additional money given to a minister.  It is money that is contained in the salary amount, but identified for housing. The IRS also states that housing allowance money is dollars actually spent out of the minister’s pocket.  If the church pays someone other than the minister for utilities, rent, or upkeep, the minister may not use those dollars as housing allowance and still receive a tax break for those dollars. This concept also applies when a church budget is … [Read more...]