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...]

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...]

By Steve Lemke, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Provost PART TWO of five Can you lose your salvation? This is the second in a series of five articles exploring the biblical teaching that once you are genuinely saved, you are saved forever. In the last issue, we saw that we cannot lose our salvation because salvation is simply not ours to lose. [img_assist|nid=6339|title=Steve Lemke, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Provost|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=75|height=100] God took the initiative in our salvation and He accomplished our salvation, not we ourselves. We did not earn or deserve our salvation; God provided it for us. The second reason that we can be assured in our salvation is that it is based upon a life-changing experience with God. In Ephesians 1, the Apostle Paul is talking about God choosing us from the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4) and predestining us (Ephesians 1:5, 11). Just a few verses later, however, he also speaks of the role of a believer’s faith response to God. Paul speaks first of his own life-changing conversion experience and that of the other early Christians. It was in response to God’s initiative in salvation that we who first trusted in Christ should … [Read more...]

By Bill Warren, Ph.D., NOBTS Professor of New Testament and Greek Question: Why does James say faith and works are both required, but Paul says only faith is required? Bill Warren Responds: On the surface, some have seen James and Paul’s statements as contradictory. James says, “a man is justified by works and not by faith alone” (2:24). Paul, on the other hand, says, “by means of grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is a gift from God, not from works, so that no one might boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). When statements such as these are read, they do indeed look to be contradictory. But let’s look deeper than just at the surface level of these statements. Many overlook the differences in the ministry contexts for James and Paul. James writes to an audience that is almost if not totally Jewish Christian. His ministry challenge is not at all the same as what Paul is facing. James is battling against what I would label “cultural religion,” a problem that tends to minimize the Gospel’s call for holy living and social concern. For some of his recipients, simply being part of the dominant religious culture was enough, so the idea of a transformation of their behavior and character was not … [Read more...]

PINEVILLE – Here are the winners of the 2010 Youth and High school Bible drill, Xtreme Bible Challenge and Speakers’ Tournament held at Louisiana College on May 1. The event is sponsored by the Louisiana Baptist Convention’s Evangelism and Church Growth Department. Linda Aguillard is Louisiana’s Bible drill coordinator. 7TH GRADE BIBLE DRILL There were eight people recognized as winners in four 7th grade groups. They were: Jim Wallace- Parkview, Alexandria;Carlo Sciara-Lakeside, Lake Providence; Thomas Gamble- FBC, Gonzales; Teresa Sharp-FBC, Slidell; Sarah Haines-Heritage, Shreveport; Zachary Araki-Grace Memorial, Slidell; Sadye Dudley-FBC, Lafayette; Abbi Wilson-FBC, Lafayette. 8TH GRADE BIBLE DRILL There were six people recognized as winners in three 8th grade groups. They were: James Daniel Schopp-Fellowship of Central, Greenwell Springs; Andrew Wilks-Trinity, Pineville; John Sledge-FBC, Youngsville; Emily Hinson-FBC, Gonzales; Kristin Grissom- FBC, Lafayette; Samantha Hoover- Grace Memorial, Slidell. 9TH GRADE BIBLE DRILL The first and second place winners of each of the two, 9th grade Bible Drill groups were: Rachel Haines –Heritage Baptist Church, Shreveport; Savanna Whitten- Lakeshore, … [Read more...]

Leo Endel, former Iowa pastor since May 2002 has been executive director of the Minnesota-Wisconsin Baptist Convention, which is considered a “New Work” state convention. It will forward 13 percent of its Cooperative Program gifts to SBC national causes this year. [img_assist|nid=6366|title=Leo Endel, Executive Director Minnesota-Wisconsin Baptist Convention|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=67|height=100]During the 11 years of Endel’s last pastorate, at Southern Hills Baptist Church in Sioux City, Iowa, attendance grew from 35 to around 500. Southern Hills also sponsored three new churches and increased missions giving while undergoing two building programs. When he left, Southern Hills was giving 13 percent through the Cooperative Program, 3.5 percent to the association and 2 percent to local missions, primarily for church planting in northwest Iowa. Endel holds a master of divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, and a bachelor of science in business administration from Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg. He currently is a doctoral student at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Mo.   [img_assist|nid=6367|title=Jimmy Jackson President … [Read more...]

By Diana Chandler Regional Reporter NEW ORLEANS – It took longtime homeowner Elsie Clark nearly three years to return home after Hurricane Katrina, but she readily offers praises for the blessing. Were it not for a partnership between Franklin Avenue Baptist Church, where she has attended for 30 years, and Samaritan’s Purse International Relief, the 68-year-old Clark says she might still be displaced in Jackson, Miss., nearly four years after the storm. [img_assist|nid=6375|title=Home renovation completed in New Orleans St. Roch neighborhood through Neighborhood Rebuild Project|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=75]“It’s meant a lot, because I wouldn’t have been able to really come back. I had worked on it some, but it was a long way to go,” said Clark. “They redid my whole house. It was completely destroyed.” Clark is one of 28 home-owners and first-time homebuyers benefiting from the Neighborhood Rebuild Project, a partnership in place since June 2008, to help repopulate an approximate 30-block area of New Orleans’ St. Roch neighborhood. Clark’s home on Eads Street was the first residence completed in the project. “Samaritan’s Purse has been a blessing to this neighborhood,” Clark said, describing the … [Read more...]

LOUISIANA COLLEGE IN FOCUS As we begin summer, it is evident that God has done and is doing magnificent things on our campus. As the only Baptist college in the state of Louisiana, we continue to grow and thrive as a distinctively Christian liberal arts college, grounded in the preeminence of Jesus Christ, the authority of the Holy Scriptures, and academic excellence. Louisiana College graduates are making a difference in our communities as they change the world for Christ. [img_assist|nid=6377|title=The LC Chorale traveled to Taiwan where they performed at several locations in the country.|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=75]The spring semester saw an increase in enrollment with a total headcount of 1,228 which includes both undergraduate and graduate students. This jump in enrollment represents a 10.1 percent increase over last spring. During the spring semester Louisiana College received the largest single gift ever given in the 103 year history of the college and the fourth largest cumulative gift. Other good news included a three percent across the board pay raise for all full-time faculty and staff. [img_assist|nid=6378|title=First graduates of the LC Physical Therapy Assistant … [Read more...]

Karen L. Willoughby, Managing Editor HEFLIN, PINEVILLE – As many as 200 people might crowd into (and outside of) Evangelist Jack and Alice Daniels’ country home the first Friday night of every month, but I was there the Friday before Mother’s Day, so the numbers were not more than 100. In attendance: people from an hour’s drive or more. Most all had been in a revival meeting where Daniels had preached; most had been before to what he calls a “monthly camp meeting,” so they knew he wouldn’t be preaching, but they came anyway. A camp meeting is different from a Bible study or a revival service. First of all, it starts with food – good country cookin’ potluck. Then comes a prayertime, with various people mentioning needs they know of, and praying led by three men. A camp meeting also involves lots of music, including essentially a “mini-concert “ led by whomever was tapped to lead the singing. On the night I was there, it was 18-year-old David Daniels, a courtly young man with a voice that worships God. He’s coming out soon with his second CD. You’ll want to get in line for it. Yes, this is Jack and Alice’s son, but this isn’t “the Daniels show.” Jack has not yet preached at the camp meeting, and the event is in its … [Read more...]

MILESTONES COMPILED By Joanne Brechtel COMINGS & GOINGS Jason Woodward (wife Christy), new as pastor, First Baptist, Boyce. Michael Greene, new as associate minister of music, Temple Baptist, Ruston. Gibbie McMillan, new as interim pastor, St. Clair Baptist, Boyce. Blaine Stafford (wife Tedra), new as pastor Doyle Baptist, Livingston. Shane Mitchell resigns as minister of music First Baptist, Bastrop, going to Crestview Baptist, Lakeland, Fla. Pam Walker, new as interim minister of music/senior adults at First Baptist, Bastrop. Troy Lee, resigns as transitional interim pastor First Baptist, Winnsboro. NEEDED Pastor at First Baptist, Milton; call 337.856.5402. Youth minister at Glenmora Baptist, Glenmora; send resume to Glenmora Baptist Church, Attention: Pastor Fallis Holloway, PO Box 237, Glenmora, LA 71433. AVAILABLE Roger Whittington available for pulpit supply; call 337.461.2597; 318.481.2415 or emailrl.cwhittington@centurytel.net. GRADUATES Elton Taylor Frost, executive pastor of First Baptist, West Monroe, received D. Min. from MWBTS, May 22. REVIVALS HEFLIN - First Friday Camp Meeting: Jack Daniels Ministries 6 p.m. Friday, June 4; Brad Mount, music; David Hanna, … [Read more...]