”Fireproof,” the latest release from the makers of “Facing the Giants,” will offer churches a unique opportunity this fall to underscore the importance of a biblical view of marriage. ALBANY, Ga. (BP) – ”Fireproof,” the latest release from the makers of “Facing the Giants,” will offer churches a unique opportunity this fall to underscore the importance of a biblical view of marriage. It opens in theaters Sept. 26, but churches already are thinking ahead about ways they can use the movie to help their congregation. Officials with Sherwood Pictures -- which made the film – are emphasizing the importance of Christians watching the movie on opening weekend and not waiting until the second weekend. Leaders of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, Focus on the Family and FamilyLife are urging their constituents to see the film. One website, FireproofMyMarriage.com, offers a host of resources for churches, couples and singles. Following are several ways churches can use the movie and help promote it: n Buying all the tickets for a particular showing. In many such instances, theater owners will allow pastors and church leaders to address the audience before and after the movie if they have … [Read more...]

The more you think about Sunday School, the more important it becomes. STATEWIDE – The more you think about Sunday School, the more important it becomes. It’s the primary in-depth Bible-teaching done in the church. “Preaching is when you get convicted to study the Bible,” said Sean Keith, Sunday School/Discipleship Strategist on the Louisiana Baptist Convention’s Evangelism team. “Bible study is what you do to learn how to live like a Christian, to learn how God wants you to live and to relate to Him and to the other people in your life.” Because of the importance of Bible study to the Christian growth of each individual student, teachers must be as prepared as possible. The regional Sunday School training events taking place across the state this month and into October can help. “There are some new teachers this fall in churches all across Louisiana,” Keith said. “There are some people who have been teaching 35 years or more. There are some people who ask, ‘How can I teach a baby about Jesus?’ and others who say, ‘I don’t think there’s anything I could say to the senior adults they haven’t heard before.’ “There’s something for everyone at the regional Sunday school training provided by the associations, LBC and … [Read more...]

Guest host Bruce Raley of LifeWay Christian Resources is to lead in an Aug. 12-15 Christian education thrust in nine locations across the state. ALEXANDRIA – Guest host Bruce Raley of LifeWay Christian Resources is to lead in an Aug. 12-15 Christian education thrust in nine locations across the state. A Cooperative Program-funded focus, the thrust is for ministers of education, age-specific ministers, associate pastors, bivocational and single-staff pastors, and lay leaders – “anyone responsible for Christian education in their church,” said Sean Keith, Sunday School/Discipleship Strategist for the LBC evangelism/church growth team.  “We’re going to be looking at the present state of Christian education in Louisiana Baptist churches,” Keith said. “This is an opportunity for dialogue among Christian educators,” he added. “It also is an opportunity for networking – meeting someone you can call to bounce ideas off or ask questions of, share experiences.” Stops over the four-day thrust – which are to take place during and after no-host meals – are to be at Calvary Shreveport, First Arcadia, Catfish Cabin Monroe, Shoney’s Restaurant Alexandria, Carey Association Building Lake Charles, First Lafayette, Walker, Woodland … [Read more...]

Next year churches can take their pick – taking kids on a train adventure through Australia or setting up a personalized archaeological dig. Either way, Jesus will be the ultimate destination. NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Next year churches can take their pick – taking kids on a train adventure through Australia or setting up a personalized archaeological dig. Either way, Jesus will be the ultimate destination. The theme of the main VBS line is Boomerang Express: It All Comes Back to Jesus. The Club VBS theme is Truth Trek: Digging for God’s Treasures. Both options give churches the opportunity to connect VBS participants with the truth of the one true God and His only Son Jesus. Boomerang Express With the Boomerang Express: It All Comes Back to Jesus, VBS participants visit Australia, the great Down Under. While exploring the ocean and outback, rocks and reefs, kids will travel across Australia and learn that no matter where you go or what you do, the most important thing in life is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Kids will stay on track as they discover the ever-changing landscape of Peter’s relationship with Jesus from his first introduction to a life fully committed to Christ.  “VBS leaders have been requesting … [Read more...]

The U.S. Olympic Committee has granted Baptist Press a prestigious writer’s credential with access to all accredited venues, and the news service is sending sports editor Tim Ellsworth to Beijing to cover the Olympic Games and related events. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) – The U.S. Olympic Committee has granted Baptist Press a prestigious writer’s credential with access to all accredited venues, and the news service is sending sports editor Tim Ellsworth to Beijing to cover the Olympic Games and related events. “It’s an honor to be recognized by the International Olympic Committee, especially knowing that so many media outlets applied and a good number were declined,” said Will Hall, executive editor ofBaptist Press. “The IOC limited the U.S. to 450 accreditation cards for print media, but more than 15,000 journalists applied.” Ellsworth, who serves as director of news and media relations for Union University, will be in China Aug. 6-16 developing features about 10 or so Christian athletes. He’ll follow their participation in the Games and write articles about their faith and the results of their competitions. “Covering the Beijing Olympics is quite possibly the highlight of my career in journalism,” Ellsworth said. “I’m … [Read more...]

The North American Mission Board has appointed David Meacham to the newly-created position of senior strategist for associations. Prior to his new appointment, Meacham served as NAMB’s senior strategist for church planting. ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) – The North American Mission Board has appointed David Meacham to the newly-created position of senior strategist for associations. Prior to his new appointment, Meacham served as NAMB’s senior strategist for church planting. In naming Meacham to the new position, NAMB President Geoff Hammond stated his commitment to ensure greater thinking from Baptist associations throughout the mission board and a higher visibility of associations and their mission efforts. “I believe associations are an important part of Southern Baptist cooperative missions,” said Hammond, himself a former associational director of missions in northwest Arkansas. The appointment of Meacham to the newly-created job reflects not only Hammond’s associational experience but follows a NAMB-initiated “think tank” meeting in April during which NAMB/associational relations was discussed and redefined. The session was attended by NAMB representatives, associational missionaries, several state executive directors and … [Read more...]

On 08/08/08 at eight minutes past 8 p.m., the summer Olympics will begin in Beijing, China, fully in tune with Chinese tradition to the tiniest detail, even to its kickoff time. BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (BP) – On 08/08/08 at eight minutes past 8 p.m., the summer Olympics will begin in Beijing, China, fully in tune with Chinese tradition to the tiniest detail, even to its kickoff time. Eight is the number of prosperity and fortune in China. And in a lot of ways, the Olympics have brought just that. “It’s a matter of national pride that they are able to host this worldwide event. To them, in many ways, it is a coming out party,” says Joyce Glover, a representative of the International Mission Board’s East Asia region. “It’s showing the world they can do it, that they can meet global standards.” China’s “coming out” is from a 20th century rocked with turbulence. During that time, China staggered backward, beset by 40 years of war and political turmoil. And after the Communists seized power in 1949, the country groaned under another 40 years of calamitous government policies and crushing brutality, according to U.S. News & World Report. On the heels of that unrest, some have dubbed the current era “China’s century,” a … [Read more...]

It was an outpouring of support from a small, rural community that simply hasn’t been seen in more than 50 years. Churches, school officials and members of the community working hand-in-hand to insure Buckeye High School would be ready for the new school year. DEVILLE   It was an outpouring of support from a small, rural community that simply hasn’t been seen in more than 50 years. Churches, school officials and members of the community working hand-in-hand to insure Buckeye High School would be ready for the new school year. This story began two years ago when parish and local school administrators asked the churches in the community to help promote the need for a bond issue to pay for the replacement of the 45-year-old school. The community churches, which included four Baptist churches – Holloway, Longview, Philadelphia and Unity, – hosted town hall-like meetings promoting the need for the new high school. “We could never have passed the bond issue had not all the churches in the community come together to support it,” school board president E.L. Paulk said. “Support like this is truly unprecedented in this day and time.” The project, though, ran out of money six months before the school was completed. “We had … [Read more...]

A new DVD showcasing the need for and benefit of agricultural missions was produced and is being made available by the Louisiana Baptist Agricultural Missions Fellowship. HOMER – A new DVD showcasing the need for and benefit of agricultural missions was produced and is being made available by the Louisiana Baptist Agricultural Missions Fellowship. Music, narration and more than 200 photos tell the story of Southern Baptist agricultural missions, which started in the 1950s. That’s when the first agricultural missionaries were appointed by the SBC’s Foreign (now International) Mission Board. “Agricultural missions is the best-kept secret of the Southern Baptist Convention,” said Nelson Philpot PhD, president of what informally is known as Louisiana Ag Missions. He’s also a retired research professor and research center administrator with the LSU Agricultural Center, and professor emeritus at LSU. “The goal of producing the DVD was to enhance awareness about the realities of world hunger and poverty, as well as give emphasis to simple proven solutions to those problems, whereby people are empowered to help themselves,” Philpot explained. Ag missions in Louisiana is moving to the next level with the development of … [Read more...]

Imagine: You’ve been sent by God to a town new to you, where you don’t know anyone, to start a church. WOODWORTH – Imagine: You’ve been sent by God to a town new to you, where you don’t know anyone, to start a church. Day one. You arrive. Now what? Geoff Hammond, president of the North American Mission Board, has been there, done that, and made plans to talk about it at the annual Connections conference for church planters, set for Aug. 25-26 at Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center. Pastors of churches participating in the EKG/Acts 1:8 process, along with pastors of churches sponsoring new works, associational directors of missions and interested others are invited to join with the 75 church planters starting churches across Louisiana, to hear from Hammond and others about  reaching people in their own culture and people group, being innovative, and meeting spiritual needs in a diverse, mobile environment, leaders say. Connections was designed by the Missions and Ministry team of the Louisiana Baptist Convention to showcase tools church planters can use to help establish healthy churches; shed light on solutions to difficult situations; and provide a way to help churches connect with church planting. The … [Read more...]