By Staff, Baptist Press ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) – Churches whose members participated in the pre-Easter GPS (God’s Plan for Sharing) evangelism outreach will be logging results for months to come, but even initial reports received at the North American Mission Board indicate that lives were touched and changed by the effort. An estimated 15 million pieces of literature were distributed in neighborhoods throughout the United States and Canada as Southern Baptists fanned out across their communities the week before Easter. In previous weeks, congregations prayerwalked neighborhoods near their church. The emphasis also included more than 24,000 airings of a NAMB-produced television ad, 7,000 radio spots, print ads, yard signs and banners. The literature and advertisements pointed viewers to a website – www.findithere.com – and a toll-free phone number – 1.800.JESUS20 –with a focus on connecting unchurched people with a local Southern Baptist congregation. From reports received from churches throughout the United States, that’s exactly what happened. “Based on what we’re hearing from our partners in the churches, associations and state conventions, GPS has gotten off to an amazing start,” Frank Page, vice president for … [Read more...]

By Joanne Brechtel, Administrative Editor ARCADIA – The Rolling Hills Ministries grand opening event took place April 16. Bids have been opened for a new Ruston Thrift Store and construction could begin as early as June. TROUT – Ron Nation, pastor of Ebenezer Baptist, and Lucas LaCour, pastor of Mt. Sinai Baptist, recently completed a mission trip to Malawi, Africa, in May. ALEXANDRIA – Calvary Baptist’s “Missions Out of this World” event took place on May 5. A Preschoolers Missions Recognition Service took place in April. SHREVEPORT – Northwest Louisiana Baptist Association reports that World Changers is expecting 200 young people in the area the last week of July and churches are being asked to serve in meeting their needs while the World Changers serve in the community. A Women’s Prison Ministry is in the process of starting again in the Northwest Louisiana Baptist Association. The association is sponsoring a special ministries camp at Camp Bethany Friday, May 14 and Saturday, May 15. Northwest Louisiana Baptist Association reports that 40 association churches prayerwalked during the week before Easter. MANY – First Baptist furnished 200 dozen cookies to nursing home residents. Garage sale and car wash … [Read more...]

By Philip Timothy, Message Staff Writer DEVILLE – For the moment, Stuart Sasser isn’t out to change the world, but he is out to change the way youth are perceived in churches. And then, with their help, he wants to change the world. Minister of students at Philadelphia Baptist Church in Deville, Sasser believes the youth in so many churches today are just “tolerated.” They’re not expected to serve, and the church’s youth ministry is considered nothing more than a “glorified baby-sitting service.” [img_assist|nid=6344|title=Youth lead worship at Philadelphia Baptist Church in Deville|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=75]“For too long, I think we have had low expectations of these students,” Sasser said. “We need to change those expectations, because the youth are very much a part of the working body of Christ. Also, part of the problem is once we have the right attitude of wanting them to step up and be leaders, we then fail at giving them an opportunity or outlet to do so.” With the help of the students at Philadelphia, Sasser hopes to be able to motivate other churches how they can help their youth step up and assume their place within the body. “Wouldn’t it be awesome if we could inspire other … [Read more...]

By Philip Timothy, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE – Camille Perkins needed a topic for her English IV senior project. No problem, she would do it on dance. After all, Perkins, a Pineville High School senior, was captain of the school’s award-winning Dixie dancers, and has been involved in dance and theater throughout junior high and high school. Everything seemed set until last December. “I really thought I had my topic,” Perkins said. “But then I began to learn about missions in church. My church’s mission focus sparked my interest. The more I learned and read, the more my heart became broken. I began to feel a deep urgency to bring more awareness to missions. [img_assist|nid=6349|title=Camille Perkins shows her senior project about missions to Pastor Stewart Holloway and Sara and Terry Iles|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=67]“I really felt God was leading me to do something with my life,” Perkins said. “Then it came to me: I would do my project on missions.” A member of First Baptist Church Pineville, Perkins learned of the shortage of missionaries, the lack of money to send more, and the number of people groups who are unsaved and have not heard the Gospel. “I wanted to find a way to raise money to … [Read more...]

By Carol Pipes, Baptist Press NEW YORK (BP) – Squeezed between the Harlem River and the old Yankee Stadium lies the mostly forgotten neighborhood of Mott Haven. For decades, this South Bronx community has borne the brunt of crime, drugs and poverty in a city known for its luxuriously rich and desperately poor. Mott Haven is a hodge-podge of storefronts, public housing, abandoned buildings and turn-of-the-century brownstones, and recently was ranked by the Daily News as one of the worst neighborhoods in New York City to raise kids – based on statistics for education, crime and health risks such as asthma, diabetes and teenage pregnancy. It’s because of the depth of these problems that the red brick building with the bright green door at Brook Avenue and 141st Street stands out amid similar structures. It’s home to Graffiti 2 Church and Community Ministries, and on this particular Monday morning, the building is quiet. It’s the calm before the storm of activity here every afternoon. As soon as the last bell rings at the elementary school around the corner, some 25 first- through fifth-graders will fill the room for Graffiti 2’s after-school program. Missionary Andrew Mann takes advantage of the quiet to prepare for … [Read more...]