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...]
Senior’s project raises money, brings awareness to missions
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...]
In the Bronx Puppy Love Canine pal ‘Proof’ helps missionary care for kids
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...]
EC search team recommends Frank Page
By Staff, Baptist Press NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) – Frank Page, vice president of evangelization for the North American Mission Board, is to be nominated as the next president and chief executive officer of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee, the chairman of that search team has announced. Randall James, assistant pastor of First Baptist Church in Orlando, Fla., said he was thankful for strength and guidance from God in the completion of the assignment. [img_assist|nid=6352|title=Frank Page|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=75|height=100]“Our search team of committed servants of the Lord, which includes six men and one woman, has worked and traveled many long hours since last September in search of God’s man for the job,” James told Baptist Press. “In the face of much lobbying, yet striving to be still and listen to the Holy Spirit, we are unified in our belief that God has indeed revealed to us His man to replace Dr. [Morris H.] Chapman.” A vote on Page’s nomination will be held June 14. If elected, he will succeed Chapman, who will retire Sept. 30 after 18 years in the post. Page told BP he was humbled to be named, and praying about his possible new role. “I’m honored to be considered for … [Read more...]
Silsby story is ‘radically different’ from reports
By Michael Foust, Baptist Press EDITOR'S NOTE: The following article is based on interviews with Paul Thompson, one of the 10 Baptists held in prison in Haiti. In its entirety, it’s about 4,000 words. Read it all as unrestricted content on the internetwww.baptistmessage.com. This article provides just one-quarter of the story. TWIN FALLS, Idaho (BP) – Paul Thompson reads the media accounts describing the journey of him and nine other jailed Baptist volunteers in Haiti who areall now free, and scratches his head. He was there. What he reads is not what he experienced. [img_assist|nid=6353|title=Members of the Baptist volunteer team are shown in hours after their arrest with a number of Haitian children.|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=56] Thompson, pastor of Eastside Baptist Church in Twin Falls, Idaho, was one of those 10 Baptist volunteers who went to Haiti in late January with the goal of taking orphans out of the earthquake-ravaged country and into an orphanage being started in the Dominican Republic. That trip took a disastrous turn Jan. 30 when the 10 were shocked to learn they were being charged with child kidnapping, with allegations swirling that the group had plans to sell the kids into … [Read more...]
POWERFUL MESSAGE First Vidalia drama team’s performances uplifting
By Joey Martin, Special to the Message VIDALIA – When Vidalia First Baptist Church Youth Minister Dusty Carson asked Megan Powell to come up with a drama skit for a church event in January, she had no idea it would lead to a production that would have congregations fixated at the beginning, crying in the middle and standing and cheering at the end. [img_assist|nid=6356|title=Megan Powell watches members of First Baptist Vidalia drama team perform a skit.|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=66]“Dusty asked me to get some kids to do a couple of skits,” Powell said. “A lot of the kids were interested and excited about it and wanted to do some of the skits during church service and it grew from that. We’ve even got a lot of younger kids ready to take the place of the seniors who leave. There’s a lot of participation behind the scenes.” POWERFUL MESSAGE Powell is the wife of First Vidalia Associate Pastor of Worship and Creative Ministries Stephen Powell. “I did drama in high school and always enjoyed it,” Powell said. Powell said each member committed to the project and has honored that commitment. “They have really put everything they have into it and enjoy putting in the time to share the message through … [Read more...]
God creating new movement to penetrate the lostness?
By Rodrick E. Conerly, DOM Baptist Association of Greater Baton Rouge [img_assist|nid=6359|title=Rodrick E. Conerly DOM Baptist Association of Greater Baton Rouge|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=98]Monday morning found Pastor Red Brick in his pick-up on the way to the Association office. Red was puzzled by the Great Commission Task Force’s (GCRTF) report Penetrating the Lostness: Embracing a Vision for a Great Commission Resurgence among Southern Baptists. Red had followed the convention’s efforts to renew a burden for the un-churched and after reading the GCRTF report, he felt he needed to talk with Bro. Vision Nary at the Association office. As he turned into the drive at the Association office, Red found Bro. Nary sweeping the last pink crepe myrtle blooms off the walk in front of the office. After Bro. Nary retired the broom to the closet, he poured Red a cup of coffee. “Bro. Nary,” said Red, “I am not sure about this resurgence report. I realize that our churches could do better at reaching the un-churched, but is our denomination really in such bad shape?” “Red,” said Bro. Nary, “The majority of our churches focus on their membership and are ineffective at reaching the lost. Some 70 percent of … [Read more...]
Read GCRTF report and form your own conclusions
By Robert White, Executive Director Georgia Baptist Convention Due to the great interest, discussion and questions related to the GCR Task Force report and recommendations to the Southern Baptist Convention in Orlando, I am going to use my column, prior to the convention, to speak to the report. There is a lot of misinformation circulating and no small amount of emotion wrapped up in current discussions. I would like to speak to clarify for you some of the most discussed issues in the report. First, please read the report for yourself rather than accept someone’s interpretation of the report. We have all been dismayed by politicians in D.C. voting on legislation when they never even read the bill. You can download the report at the GCR web site, www.Pray4GCR.com. Having read the report, go to the convention and vote your convictions. I have heard the discussion regarding the Cooperative Program. The task force went through some transitions to arrive at the recommendation. First of all, the name of the Cooperative Program does not change. As you read the report you find very strong statements of support for the Cooperative Program as the way Southern Baptists support mission work at home and across the … [Read more...]
God creating new movement to penetrate the lostness?
Rodrick E. Conerly, DOM Baptist Association of Greater Baton Rouge Monday morning found Pastor Red Brick in his pick-up on the way to the Association office. Red was puzzled by the Great Commission Task Force’s (GCRTF) report Penetrating the Lostness: Embracing a Vision for a Great Commission Resurgence among Southern Baptists. Red had followed the convention’s efforts to renew a burden for the un-churched and after reading the GCRTF report, he felt he needed to talk with Bro. Vision Nary at the Association office. [img_assist|nid=6359|title=Rodrick E. Conerly DOM Baptist Association of Greater Baton Rouge|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=98]As he turned into the drive at the Association office, Red found Bro. Nary sweeping the last pink crepe myrtle blooms off the walk in front of the office. After Bro. Nary retired the broom to the closet, he poured Red a cup of coffee. “Bro. Nary,” said Red, “I am not sure about this resurgence report. I realize that our churches could do better at reaching the un-churched, but is our denomination really in such bad shape?” “Red,” said Bro. Nary, “The majority of our churches focus on their membership and are ineffective at reaching the lost. Some 70 percent of our … [Read more...]
Read GCRTF report and form your own conclusions
Robert White, Executive Director Georgia Baptist Convention God creating new movement to penetrate the lostness? Due to the great interest, discussion and questions related to the GCR Task Force report and recommendations to the Southern Baptist Convention in Orlando, I am going to use my column, prior to the convention, to speak to the report. There is a lot of misinformation circulating and no small amount of emotion wrapped up in current discussions. I would like to speak to clarify for you some of the most discussed issues in the report. First, please read the report for yourself rather than accept someone’s interpretation of the report. We have all been dismayed by politicians in D.C. voting on legislation when they never even read the bill. You can download the report at the GCR web site, www.Pray4GCR.com. Having read the report, go to the convention and vote your convictions. I have heard the discussion regarding the Cooperative Program. The task force went through some transitions to arrive at the recommendation. First of all, the name of the Cooperative Program does not change. As you read the report you find very strong statements of support for the Cooperative Program as the way Southern Baptists … [Read more...]
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