Lightning struck a cabin about noon Monday, May 11, at Camp Bethany, starting a fire that raced through the building in a matter of minutes. SHREVEPORT – Lightning struck a cabin about noon Monday, May 11, at Camp Bethany, starting a fire that raced through the building in a matter of minutes. The cabin was empty of guests, and no one was injured in the lightning strike or fire, said Camp Manager Robert Cole. As noon neared, Melinda Mendenhall, bookkeeper, was the only one in the office, everyone else was at lunch.  The impact of the lightning strike reverberated through the office, she said. She could tell it hit something; she just didn’t know what. “I looked out to see if I noticed anything unusual, but I didn’t,” Mendenhall said. A few minutes after the boom sounded, some of the cleaning staff came to tell Mendenhall they could smell smoke. Originally they thought the office might be on fire, because the smell seemed so close, Mendenhall said. When they investigated, they saw the fire raging in a cabin behind the office. She said they immediately called 911, but by the time the fire department arrived, flames were rolling out the sides of the building. The fire demolished half the cabin and smoke damage … [Read more...]

With the goal of finding ways Southern Baptists “can work more faithfully and effectively” together in fulfilling the Great Commission, messengers to the convention’s annual meeting June 23-24 gave the green light to a task force to examine the denomination for one year and report back to the 2010 annual meeting in Orlando Fla, which will be held June 15-16. LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP) – With the goal of finding ways Southern Baptists “can work more faithfully and effectively” together in fulfilling the Great Commission, messengers to the convention’s annual meeting June 23-24 gave the green light to a task force to examine the denomination for one year and report back to the 2010 annual meeting in Orlando Fla, which will be held June 15-16. Debate over the proposed Great Commission Task Force and an Internet document dubbed the “Great Commission Resurgence Declaration” had dominated pre-convention talk, with some Southern Baptist leaders backing it and others expressing concern. In the end, though, the 8,700-plus messengers at the annual meeting overwhelmingly supported the task force via a motion that gave Southern Baptist Convention President Johnny Hunt authority to appoint the panel – something he did on the meeting’s final … [Read more...]

On the second day of the Southern Baptist Pastors’ Conference at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville June 22, speakers exhorted pastors to lead with “One Love,” “One Spirit” and “One Purpose.” LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP) – On the second day of the Southern Baptist Pastors’ Conference at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville June 22, speakers exhorted pastors to lead with “One Love,” “One Spirit” and “One Purpose.” Passionate, funny, pleading – speakers at the annual Pastors Conference referred to the Great Commission, tertiary issues, humility, and accountability. The pastors also elected officers for the 2010 Pastors’ Conference in Orlando, Fla.: Kevin Ezell, pastor of Highview Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky., president; Jimmy Scroggins, pastor of First Baptist Church, West Palm Beach, Fla., vice president; and Ben Mandrell, pastor of Englewood Baptist Church, Jackson, Tenn., secretary-treasurer. ONE LOVE Mike Landry, pastor of Sarasota (Fla.) Baptist Church, pointed to the Book of Jonah for a lesson on maintaining the same love of Christ the Apostle Paul mentioned in Philippians 2:2. A lack of love, Landry said, turns a Christian into a judge as displayed in Jonah, judging the people of Nineveh and … [Read more...]

A bread loaf bank for missions made its debut during the Woman’s Missionary Union report at the annual meeting. LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP) – A bread loaf bank for missions made its debut during the Woman’s Missionary Union report at the annual meeting. The bank, a new resource for the World Hunger Offering, will replace the plastic, disposable rice bowls previously used by churches to collect funds, Wanda S. Lee, WMU’s national executive director, told messengers. “Southern Baptists have demonstrated concern for the hungry throughout our history, and food banks and hunger projects are vibrant ministries in many of our churches,” Lee said. WMU, an auxiliary to the Southern Baptist Convention, introduced the bank as a resource to encourage giving to the World Hunger Fund, established by Southern Baptists in 1974. WMU is working on the project in partnership with the North American Mission Board, International Mission Board, the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, LifeWay Christian Resources and Baptist Press. Kaye Miller, WMU’s president, said the banks, manufactured by a Southern Baptist family, are reusable and affordable and “serve as a visual reminder to help those who do not have enough food to eat.” They can be … [Read more...]

People visit the Louisiana College (right) and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (below) Booths at the 152nd annual Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Louisville, Ky. … [Read more...]

Dale Lingenfelter, head of business at the LBC, helps out with registration during the SBC annual meeting. … [Read more...]

Patty Hankins, wife of Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Director David Hankins, chats with Tonya Hancock, wife of Perry Hancock, Executive Director of the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home, at a breakfast sponsored by the Louisiana entities. … [Read more...]

Robert Daniel, pastor of Bethel Baptist Church in Colfax, browses through the LifeWay Bookstore while at the 152nd annual meeting in Louisville, Ky. … [Read more...]

Corbin Carpenter sensed he needed to get up and sprint to the fence to escape the 2,000-pound bull bucking and gyrating in the arena in Farmington, N.M. at the National High School Finals Rodeo on July 25, 2008. Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked. John 5:8-9 (KJV) JONESVILLE – Corbin Carpenter sensed he needed to get up and sprint to the fence to escape the 2,000-pound bull bucking and gyrating in the arena in Farmington, N.M. at the National High School Finals Rodeo on July 25, 2008. He couldn’t. Laying flat on his back, his head hurt where the bull had kicked him in the back of the head after throwing him. The bull had also left a perfect hoof impression on his thigh when it stomped on him. He knew he was in trouble … serious trouble. “I just laid there on my left side. I tried to get up. I tried to move but I couldn’t. There was a little burning sensation on the back of my neck but I couldn’t feel anything else. I didn’t know what to think,” Corbin said, “but I wasn’t worried because the Lord told me everything was going to be all right. I knew it wasn’t good but the good Lord would see me through it.” People rushed … [Read more...]

More than a half hour before the event is supposed to start, cars begin to fill the parking lot. PELICAN – More than a half hour before the event is supposed to start, cars begin to fill the parking lot. As the volunteer cooks and workers steadily scurry back and forth with last-minute preparations, some of the early arrivals slip into the air-conditioned cool of the dining hall and find a table. Most, though, gather under the front porch. A lucky few sit and rock in the handful of rocking chairs lining the porch, while others stand in the shade visiting or greeting a steady flow of newcomers. There are hugs, handshakes, backslaps and plenty of smiles to go around as friends, neighbors, and acquaintances gather for the monthly fish fry at Clara Springs Baptist Encampment. “We started the fish fry in March of last year,” Camp Director Jack ‘Bubba’ Mills said, “and it has been a tremendous success. We [Clara Springs] are located in the middle of the five associations that make up District Eight and we get people from the surrounding area as well as all five associations. “People love it. They not only come to eat, but they also come for the fellowship and to listen to one of the many wonderful Gospel music groups … [Read more...]