With two-thirds of all Protestant churches having expanded their ministry space or outlets in the past five years, a new study by LifeWay Research shows: NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) – With two-thirds of all Protestant churches having expanded their ministry space or outlets in the past five years, a new study by LifeWay Research shows: -Two of these types of expansion corresponding to higher levels of growth in church attendance: adding a worship service and building new space on site. -Five other types tested reflecting no significant relationship with growth. Pastors, meanwhile, estimate that only 1 in 3 newcomers to their churches are actually newcomers to church in general, according to the research conducted for Cornerstone Knowledge Network, a network of firms founded by Cogun Inc. and the Aspen Group focused on developing building and leadership solutions for churches. LifeWay Research is a division of LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. The study, “Effects of Ministry Space and Outlet Expansion,” was conducted Feb. 16-23, 2009, through a telephone survey of 1,000 pastors of randomly selected Protestant churches. The sample size of 1,000 pastors, according to LifeWay Research, … [Read more...]

African-Americans are far more open than other ethnic groups to receiving information about local congregations. NASHVILLE, Tenn. – African-Americans are far more open than other ethnic groups to receiving information about local congregations. That’s one key insight drawn from a survey conducted by LifeWay Research on behalf of the North American Mission Board (NAMB) as NAMB prepares to launch God’s Plan For Sharing (GPS) throughout North America in 2010. The survey, which was conducted online in December 2008, asked more than 15,000 Americans about their willingness to receive information about local congregations through various channels. The survey asked about 13 different methods churches might use to communicate with prospective attendees. Respondents were segmented into five ethnic groupings: Hispanics, non-Hispanic whites, African-Americans, Asians and mixed/other ethnicities. The research revealed that regardless of the communication channel used African-Americans are at least 12 percentage points more open to receiving information than any of the other groups. The responses from other ethnic groups are within three points of each other in most categories. For example, every ethnic group expresses its … [Read more...]

AVAILABLE -Glenmora Baptist has 91 Baptist Hymnals available; call Chad Foster at 318.452.7373. -CrossPoint Church, Baton Rouge has six “First Place for Health” member’s kits for $70 per kit; call 225.752.2400 or email michelle@crosspointchurch.org. -First Baptist, Leesville has several used baby beds for church nursery to donate to a church or mission; contact Jerry Penfield, 337.239.6535. -Baptist Missions Office, West Monroe has a large assortment of anthems, musicals, etc. for adult, youth and children’s choirs. Call 318.322.6760 or email baptmiss@aol.com orNELBADOM@aol.com. -First Baptist, Vivian has playground equipment available for sale; contact Marsha or Debbie at 318.929.4707. DEATHS -Walter Frank Horton died June 18. He was BCM director at LSU Baton Rouge from 1964 to 1993. His wife Sue can be reached at 216 Hwy 514 E, Enterprise MS 39330. NEEDED -Pastor at Unity Baptist, Pineville; send resume to Unity Baptist Church; c/o Pastor Search Committee, 6509 Magnolia, Pineville LA 71360. HOMECOMINGS -BAKER – First Baptist Homecoming and Patriotic Service 10:30 a.m. Sunday, June 28; fellowship and potluck meal following service; B. K. Miller, speaker; Bud Traylor, interim pastor. -JACKSON … [Read more...]

RAGLEY – Magnolia Baptist: Studio Go Game Show 8:50 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. Monday, June 29 through July 3; Michael Sanford, pastor. BATON ROUGE – Broadmoor Baptist: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Monday, July 13 through July 16; Jarrett Banks, pastor. DERIDDER – First Baptist: Watermelon Festival 5 k Run/Walk & Kids Fun Run 8 a.m. Saturday, June 27; Lindsey Burns, pastor.  LONGVILLE – First Baptist: Boomerang Express Monday, July 6 through July 10; Stuart Graves, pastor. METAIRIE – Lakeside Baptist: Boomerang Express 6:15 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Monday, July 6 through July 10; Adam Gillespie, pastor. NEW ORLEANS – First Baptist: Boomerang Express Monday, July 20 through July 24; David Crosby, pastor. SIMPSON – Simpson Baptist: Boomerang Express Monday, July 20 through July 24; Jeremy Block, pastor. OAK GROVE – First Baptist: VBS Monday, July 13 through July 27;  Carl Gulde, pastor. ALEXANDRIA – Baptist Temple: VBS Monday, July 13 through July 27; James Sample, pastor.  ALEXANDRIA – Emmanuel Baptist: Truth Trek  9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Monday, July 13 through July 17; Chris Thacker, pastor. SHREVEPORT – Pine- croft Baptist: Truth Trek 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. Monday, July 13 through July 17; Cecil Marr, interim pastor. WINNSBORO – … [Read more...]

RUSTON – Cook Baptist: Faith Journey to Rogers, Arkansas to do light construction, painting, cleaning, planting, meal preparation set for July 9 – 12; Mike Holloway, pastor. MINDEN – First Baptist:  A Nicaragua mission trip is set for July 11; a Medical/Surgery Mission Trip is set for August 1-7; supplies such as vitamins, Tylenol, Benadryl, Ibuprofen, Hydrocortisone cream, Lamasil cream and Selsun blue are still needed; a Senior Adult workday at Rolling Hills Thrift Store is set for July 31; boxes are now available at the church for the Operation Shoe Box Project; Hope Youth Ranch Mission Project dates are July 9 and August 6; Wayne DuBose, pastor. WALKER – Judson Baptist: Assisted the Eastern Louisiana Baptist Association Builders Mission Project in building the Beulah Land Baptist Church in Bossier City; The “Jesus” film offering is to be collected on June 28; Merelin McCon, pastor. JONESVILLE – First Baptist: Katie McCormack is to participate in a mission trip to Honduras. Gary Norris, pastor. DEVILLE – Philadelphia Baptist: Several members are to participate in a New York mission trip; Philip Robertson, pastor. LAKE CHARLES – Sales Street Baptist: 7th graders through college students are working with World … [Read more...]

About 50 women’s ministry leaders who gathered at Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center one recent Saturday learned that their goal was to “bring women to a place where their lives can be transformed,” said Deb Douglas of First Baptist Bossier City. WOODWORTH – About 50 women’s ministry leaders who gathered at Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center one recent Saturday learned that their goal was to “bring women to a place where their lives can be transformed,” said Deb Douglas of First Baptist Bossier City. “We’re not accomplishing anything for Christ if we’re not seeing lives changed,” Douglas said in the first general session of the Women’s Enrichment Leader Training June 6. “God didn’t call us to be comfortable. He called us to lead women to live out Matthew 27:37-39 – Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and body. It’s an all-consuming love. “And to love others likewise,” the women’s ministry leader reminded her listeners. “That becomes our purpose: [To find the answers to] how to live that out, how to provide an environment in which women are growing.” Douglas spoke of a sea of senior adult women who populate casinos mid-week, bused in on low-cost private charters arranged as an “outing” by the casinos … [Read more...]

The National Collegiate Ministry Division of LifeWay Christian Resources has launched a new Transitions Ministry website to help connect high school seniors with the collegiate minister of the college or university they will attend. BATON ROUGE – The National Collegiate Ministry Division of LifeWay Christian Resources has launched a new Transitions Ministry website to help connect high school seniors with the collegiate minister of the college or university they will attend. The website – www.sbccampusconnect.net – is designed for access by youth ministers, parents, grandparents, Sunday School teachers, church staff members, and high school juniors and seniors. All the information the users provide to the site will be networked to the Baptist campus minister of the college or university the student will be attending. The campus ministers will pass names along to churches with a collegiate ministry in those specific communities. “Transitions” is a term that represents the ministry of Southern Baptist churches to, with, and for juniors and seniors in high school and freshmen in college,” said Steve Masters, Transitions Ministry contract worker for LifeWay. “Our local Southern Baptist churches are losing massive numbers … [Read more...]

What is the connection between Jesus and John the Baptist? And why was Jesus baptized by John? Question: What is the connection between Jesus and John the Baptist? And why was Jesus baptized by John? Bill Warren responds: According to Luke 1:36, Jesus and John the Baptist are relatives since Elizabeth (John the Baptist’s mother) and Mary were relatives. We don’t know if Jesus and John had much contact with each other during their childhood, but John’s recognition of Jesus when he comes to be baptized may indicate some familiarity, although the text itself does not mention this. What we do know is that at least two of John the Baptist’s disciples follow Jesus (John 1:35-40), namely Andrew and most likely John the Apostle.  Also, in Matthew the message that Jesus is proclaiming is the same as what John the Baptist was proclaiming, with the exact same words being used for both in the Greek text: “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is drawing near” (Matthew 3:2 and 4:17).  In sum, John the Baptist and Jesus are members of the same extended family, share some of the same disciples, and have the same basic emphasis on repentance and the coming of the Kingdom of God. The biggest difference between Jesus and John is that … [Read more...]