By Philip Timothy, Message Staff Writer DEVILLE – A spur-of-the-moment decision proved to be the catalyst needed to ignite a revival that engulfed a small central Louisiana community, and in the process has helped to heal an 83-year-old church. As Robby Poole, pastor of Longview Baptist Church in Deville, was fixing the marquee to announce the church’s approaching 4-day revival, God told him to use the word ‘community’ instead of the church’s name on the announcement. [img_assist|nid=6178|title=Revival at Longview Baptist Church Deville turns into a community-wide event|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=67]He did, and what resulted was an overwhelming response from the community and a spiritual movement that, at times, left Poole speechless, emotionally drained, on a spiritual high, and praising God’s power and love. “It was the right word to use at the right time,” Poole said. “Often time people won’t attend because they feel the revival is just for that church. It’s not, of course, but that’s the perception. That one change rang true with the community, and they responded. Because of the vision God gave me, it turned into a community-wide event.” Sister churches in the community embraced the idea of a … [Read more...]

By Karen L. Willoughby, Managing Editor WEST MONROE – What Rodney Ray, a member at First Baptist Church of West Monroe, saw when he attended the funeral of a war veteran became the linch-pin of his new film, Flag of my Father. He saw five pair of hands reach for the flag that had draped over the veteran’s casket, Ray told pastors and other guests at a mid-March preview of the film that includes battle scenes from “Iraq” – which was shot entirely in Ouachita Parish. “The storyline is real, the special effects are incredible, and the acting is intriguing,” said Jerry Price, director of missions for Northeast Louisiana Baptist Association. “The movie presents a solid patriotic theme and provides much-needed encouragement considering our current national situation. “The message of the film centers on the values of sacrifice, commitment, and honor,” Price continued. “Great movie,” said Steve Dozier, superintendent of schools in Union Parish. “I did a lot of looking back at my time in the service and after I came back. I felt it honored the veterans’ service to their country, and explained our loyalty to the flag.” Andy Brown, Sheriff of Jackson Parish, said the film was “very inspiring. The message I got was that God … [Read more...]

By Karen L. Willoughby, Managing Editor STATEWIDE – Churches large and small across Louisiana responded in March to the need of Haitians and to the opportunity of reminding them they have not been forgotten by God nor by Southern Baptists. [img_assist|nid=6183|title=Karen Cupper of First Baptist Zwolle stands in the midst of more than 7,000 "Buckets of Hope" collected in Lafayette|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=67]Louisiana Baptists bought 7,111 five-gallon buckets, filled them with a specific set of supplies, and sent them off to be shipped across the Gulf of Mexico to the people living in the nation that was devastated by a 7.0 earthquake Jan. 12 and hundreds of smaller tremors since. “Even though we are experiencing hard times economically, people still gave above and beyond,” said Gibbie McMillan, LBC’s Disaster Relief director. “From my perspective I am glad I can say I am a Southern Baptist. … Someone asked me what I would be if I was not a Baptist, and I said I would be ashamed, because I believe we are right, in faith, doctrine, and practice.” Louisiana Baptists practiced what they preach when they caught a vision for the simplicity of filling a re-usable bucket with much needed supplies, McMillan … [Read more...]

When the day comes that you realize how very much God loves you, just exactly as you are, it will be the most natural thing to bask in the feel-good warmth of that love. Just as quickly, you’ll realize what His love for you cost God: He had to allow His firstborn son Jesus to be whipped, beaten, ridiculed and hung on a cross to die a very public, excruciatingly painful death, so that you could one day be in Heaven with Him. You’re also going to realize just as quickly that all that suffering and even Jesus’ death was because of all the things you’ve done wrong throughout your life. Jesus paid the ultimate price for you, because He was the only one able to conquer death. If you’re like me, you’ll be incredibly ashamed that your response to God’s wondrous love was to cause Jesus’ pain. You’ll beg God’s forgiveness, and ask Jesus to come and live in your heart, to guide you so you don’t do the things that caused Him all that suffering. Don’t wait – ask Him today! Then tell a Christian friend or local pastor; go to church every Sunday, and read your Bible every day – the New Testament book of John is a good place to start. … [Read more...]

By Glen A. Land, Missions Director Minnesota-Wisconsin Baptist convention OSHKOSH, Wis. (BP) – The report of the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force contains a glaring statistical error based on inaccurate information that was given to them by the North American Mission Board. An article explaining this mistake can be found at http://bit.ly/bsSbvg. It includes this description of the nature of the error: [img_assist|nid=6188|title=Glen A. Land Missions Director Minnesota-Wisconsin Baptist Convention|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=85|height=100]“Page 19 of the Progress Report depicts how Southern Baptist resources are distributed throughout the United States. That data indicates that at the end of 2008 there were 3,515 missionaries serving in the 14 states most often considered to be the area where Southern Baptists are the strongest and only 1,735 missionaries serving in the remaining states across the US. In the GCRTF report the 14 states are depicted in blue and the others in red.” “In actuality, within the US there were 2,573 missionaries serving in the 14 blue states in 2008 and 2,733 serving in the remaining red states. This indicates a disbursement of 48 percent of NAMB missionaries serving in blue states and … [Read more...]

By Jimmy Barrentine Executive Director Baptist Convention of Iowa DES MOINES, Iowa (BP) – There are good people who seem to have the impression that state conventions, especially small ones such as the Baptist Convention of Iowa, are seeking to assure their own future even to the point of placing the fulfillment of the Great Commission at risk.[img_assist|nid=6190|title=Jimmy Barrentine Executive Director Baptist Convention of Iowa|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=70|height=100] The fact is that we are diligently seeking a continued opportunity to collaborate with the North American Mission Board in seeking the fulfillment of the Great Commission. We want to work with the entire Southern Baptist Convention family, but it is our partnership with the North American Mission Board that seems to be most in peril. Before writing us off, releasing NAMB from its cooperative agreement with us, please prayerfully consider the following offers. We offer to continue to help lift and carry “Buckets of Hope.” All across Iowa individual believers and churches have been filling food buckets destined for Haiti. Appointed NAMB missionaries are coordinating the Iowa effort, but all of us are helping to collect and transport those … [Read more...]

FRESNO, Calif. (BP) – To Our Southern Baptist Brothers and Sisters: What an amazing day it is to be Southern Baptists! [img_assist|nid=6192|title=Walter Price President California SBC|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=68|height=100]The challenges before us are greater than ever; the Commission from our Lord is as strong as when He uttered the words to His disciples; and the power of the Holy Spirit is the same today, yesterday and forever. We must recognize that the challenge before us calls for new strategies, new forms, new wineskins. We have heard the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force Progress Report and we would like to respond from way out West. [img_assist|nid=5981|title=Rob Zinn Chairman Executive Board California SBC|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=64|height=100]The argument can be made that we in California are among those who have the most to “lose” potentially from the recommendations. In terms of actual dollar amounts that is probably true. We recognize the huge effect this will have on us here in California. We know that changes will have to be made. With heavy, prayerful hearts we realize the impact and economic challenge this will be to real people – people whom we love and appreciate for … [Read more...]