On behalf of the 2009 Ukraine Mission Trip team, thank you for your prayers and financial support that made this year’s mission trip a great success. On behalf of the 2009 Ukraine Mission Trip team, thank you for your prayers and financial support that made this year’s mission trip a great success. We departed on April 13 and returned April 26. During our time on the mission field, God allowed us to be part of His work in many diverse ways: 1. Medical – which included blood pressure and glucose screening, physical examinations, distribution of antibiotics and other medicines to more than 40 people along with providing health education. 2. Ophthalmology – Although we were limited in this area, we were able to fit more than 100 people with reading glasses. Each individual was fitted by having them read from a Russian New Testament. With the gift of vision, they were also given the New Testament that had been used to fit their new glasses. 3. Mentorship – God really sprung this one on us! “It just so happened” that while we were staying at the camp, God had in his plan a divine appointment between us and 20 college students from the United States. These students were on a 12 month mission trip, through which they will … [Read more...]

Pastors and deacons are the two scriptural offices (leadership positions) of the church named in the Bible (1 Timothy 3:1-13) and in the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 (Article VI). Pastors and deacons are the two scriptural offices (leadership positions) of the church named in the Bible (1 Timothy 3:1-13) and in the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 (Article VI).  God intends the persons who serve in these two key church offices to work together cooperatively, not against each other.   In this article, let me suggest eight ways that deacons can enhance the life and ministry of the pastors with whom they serve the Lord and His church. Be a Problem Solver  The group of men described in Acts 6, commonly understood to be the first deacons, was established in order to solve a problem in the Jerusalem church.  There was a perception among the Greek widows that they were not being treated equally with the Hebrew widows.  The first deacons were appointed in order to solve this problem, thus allowing the apostles (who were the pastoral leaders of the Jerusalem church) to focus on the ministry of the Word (Acts 6:1-4).  Good deacons are always problem solvers.  Because they are respected and trusted leaders in their church … [Read more...]

Question: What does God require of His followers? Question: What does God require of His followers? Archie England responds: To answer this question, I raise yet another: What do Deut 30:11-20, Joshua 24:14-28, and Micah 6:8 have in common? God demands total commitment of His followers! Moses framed the demands of the God/Man relationship like this: choose life in order that you may live . . . (Deuteronomy 30:19). Choice, and the right choice at that, emerged as the initial answer to help God’s people understand just what God demanded of them. Moses ordered that they must obey God’s Law (30:10a), that they mustturn . . .with all their hearts to the LORD God (30:10b), and that they must diligently search for and live out God’s word.  Ultimately, Moses associated the “right choice” to the blessings and cursings of Deuteronomy 27-28. To love, walk, and keep the word of God would bring life; anything else, death! Like Moses, Joshua challenged the emerging tribes to choose for yourselves today whom you will serve(Joshua 24:15). The right choice for Joshua and his house was made clear – we will serve the LORD(24:15). Rites (circumcision), festivals (Passover), and racial lineage would no longer be sufficient to escape the … [Read more...]

Duane C. McDaniel, senior pastor of Hawaii Kai Church in Honolulu, Hawaii, will officially step up July 1 to the position of Director of Missions for the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans. NEW ORLEANS – Duane C. McDaniel, senior pastor of Hawaii Kai Church in Honolulu, Hawaii, will officially step up July 1 to the position of Director of Missions for the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans. He follows in the footsteps of Joe McKeever, who retired May 31 after a half-decade of service. Born Feb. 7, 1957, and married to Kathleen Honeycutt McDaniel, McDaniel received a Certificate in Biblical Studies and Bachelor of Science from Capernwray Bible School in Carnforth, Lancashire, England, and Louisiana State University, in Baton Rouge, La. A year after receiving his Bachelor of Science degree, University Baptist Church in Baton Rouge ordained McDaniel. That was  Aug. 1, 1982. McDaniel then attended The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky and Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, Fla., to earn his Master of Divinity and his Doctor of Ministry degrees. McDaniel became pastor of Hawaii Kai Church in 2001.  While under his leadership, Hawaii Kai more than doubled its average … [Read more...]

Nearly all the state’s Southern Baptist churches are hosting a vacation Bible school this summer. Fifty or more did so by mid-June. COUSHATTA – Nearly all the state’s Southern Baptist churches are hosting a vacation Bible school this summer. Fifty or more did so by mid-June. Fairview Baptist Church is a regional rural church in Red River Baptist Association near Coushatta, a small town of about 5,000 people. Fairview traditionally takes VBS seriously, and this year is no exception. “This is one of the best ways to do evangelism as the local church,” said Pastor Matt Indris. “Children are a doorway into homes; when children are reached parents as they take interest in what heir children are doing, become more open to the gospel.” Endris and Deacon Gil Scarborough – a retired fireman who built the house he lives in – together built a 10-foot-long train and 8-foot-high ticket booth for Boomerang Express, a LifeWay Christian Resources VBS curriculum. Suitcases covered with stickers and bound with belts, murals of Australian scenes, and brush huts brought the “Outback” theme even more to light, and the pastor preached on it Sunday morning. “In VBS this week, kids will look at Peter’s life,” Endris preached. “We can … [Read more...]

COMINGS AND GOINGS -Nathan T. Rush (wife Sara), new as pastor First Baptist, Morgan City. -David Theriot (wife Leah), new as pastor Immanuel Baptist, Morgan City. -Scott Breland new as youth minister Little Pass Baptist, Charenton. AVAILABLE -Tim Lee available for supply, interim pastor; call 318.452.4547. -Choir Robes available from Trinity Heights Baptist, Shreveport; call 318.221.2695. NEEDED -Minister of Education/Administration at First Baptist DeRidder; send resume to First Baptist Church, Attention Personnel Committee, 313 West First St., DeRidder LA 70634. ORDINATIONS -DEVILLE – Longview Baptist: Joshua Dean Sikes to the gospel ministry; Robby Poole, pastor. LICENSES -DEVILLE – Longview Baptist: Gerald “Junior” L. Salard to the gospel ministry; Robby Poole, pastor. HOMECOMINGS -PROVENCAL – Harmony Baptist: 140th Homecoming 10:30 a.m. Sunday, June 14; Wayne Hicks, speaker; Randy Olliff, pastor. -SPEARSVILLE – Canaan Baptist: Homecoming 10:45 a.m. Sunday, June 14; Connie Smith, speaker; Tim Post, music; Richard Abel, music. ANNIVERSARIES -FLORIEN – Christian Baptist: 1st Anniversary celebrated Sunday, June 7; Gervis Martin, pastor. DEDICATIONS -DEVILLE  - … [Read more...]

Antioch Baptist Church Concord UnionBaptist Association  FARMERVILLE – Even with new pastor Greg Dunn, Antioch Baptist in Farmerville has not missed a beat. The church stays busy with an average of 300 in attendance each week and many programs and events as well, said Judy Savage, secretary for the last seven years. On June 14, Antioch Baptist will host its first “Sunday in the Park,” an outreach that will hopefully draw the interest of new people in the community. The event will begin at 2 p.m. and will have swimming, volleyball, entertainment and testimonies for people in the community.  “We’re real excited about it,” Savage said. “June is a very busy month for us.” June 14 is also high attendance day for Sunday school. “We try to reach everybody that we can to come to church and we follow the Great Commission,” Savage said. Vacation Bible School is set for the week of June 22 through 26. With success in the previous years, VBS will be held in the evening from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. In July a six-person mission team will be going to Honduras on mission to build houses. As a way to involve the whole church with the mission, a garage sale is planned for June 13 to raise money. Church members will bring items … [Read more...]

Imagine: You’re standing in front of several hundred people, and are asked to give a scriptural response to a question like, "What does the Bible say about learning God’s word?" COVINGTON – Imagine: You’re standing in front of several hundred people, and are asked to give a scriptural response to a question like, "What does the Bible say about learning God’s word?"   You have five seconds to pull the correct verse – Deut. 11:18-19 – out of the hundreds you have memorized, find it in the Bible, and recite it. Could you do it?   "You’re all winners," LBC Bible Drill Coordinator Linda Aguilliard told the dozen students from eight states who competed at the high school level, after they had gone through five grueling tests to gauge their biblical proficiency.   June 19 was the first time for Louisiana to host the National Invitational Tournament; it did so at First Baptist Covington.   Junior and senior high school students from eight states competed in three events over a three-hour time span: Youth Bible Drill, High School Bible Drill, and Speakers Tournament.   Gov. Bobby Jindal via video congratulated the students on their study of the Word of God, and parents on their … [Read more...]

Churches and individuals are invited to answer the Call 2 Fall on Sunday, July 5. The initiative is aimed at praying for the healing of America and declaring dependence on God immediately after celebrating the nation’s independence from Great Britain. WASHINGTON (BP) – Churches and individuals are invited to answer the Call 2 Fall on Sunday, July 5. The initiative is aimed at praying for the healing of America and declaring dependence on God immediately after celebrating the nation’s independence from Great Britain.   "It’s incumbent upon the church to assume the responsibility for where the nation is and leading us forward, not from a political standpoint but from a spiritual standpoint," Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, said. "If the spiritual things are in order, the political things seem to be a lot easier to solve."   Shortly after Perkins announced the multidenominational initiative via conference call with Christian media May 19, more than 3,500 people had clicked "I’m in" on the website Call2Fall.com, which is hosted by the Family Research Council.   Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, participated in the conference call and … [Read more...]

wenty-four Southern Baptists from a broad cross-section of the denomination comprise the new North American Great Commission Task Force set to meet for the first time on Tuesday, June 23, prior to the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Louisville, Ky. ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) – Twenty-four Southern Baptists from a broad cross-section of the denomination comprise the new North American Great Commission Task Force set to meet for the first time on Tuesday, June 23, prior to the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Louisville, Ky. Commissioned by North American Mission Board President Geoff Hammond, the task force is designed to dovetail with the Great Commission Resurgence declaration issued by SBC President Johnny Hunt, who will be kept apprised of the group’s progress. To date, more than 3,700 Baptists have signed Hunt’s call for a return to the Great Commission. "The North American Mission Board joins with our SBC president in this focus and takes this call seriously," Hammond said. "NAMB is called and is in the unique position to mobilize this convention in a Great Commission resurgence." David Hankins, executive director of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, and Fred Luter Jr., pastor of Franklin Avenue … [Read more...]