Summer provides a great opportunity to be together and active as a family. Summer provides a great opportunity to be together and active as a family. Summer provides a multitude of opportunities. Students are out of school and looking for things to do. Families go on vacations to a variety of destinations. Every day the malls, beaches, pools, local hangouts, and family rooms with video-game systems are full of students. With so many options for kids, we often fail to keep up with the relationships we have been building with students during the school year. Before you throw in the towel and put those relationships on hold for the summer, consider some ways to keep those relationships going and to reach students and their families as well. Finding things to do is not as hard as you might think. Below are eight fun activities that my family came up with to share with you, with options for all ages. Get wet Whether it’s the beach, the lake, or the local pool, water activities are fun and use all the muscle groups. For a break from traditional swimming, play games with water toys, have races with foam "noodles" or swim rings, or use kick boards to move around. Children of all … [Read more...]
The Counseling Connection
The essence of adolescence is the quest for identity in a transition from childhood to adulthood, dependence to independence. Question: Is it possible to get along with my teenager? Derek Brown answers: The essence of adolescence is the quest for identity in a transition from childhood to adulthood, dependence to independence. This period of self discovery contains substantial pressure from peers and parents along with the additional task of regulating confusing emotions. The shift is difficult not only for the adolescent but also for the parents, who find a quest of their own to maintain structure and sanity in the home. As a parent, be prepared and intentional about how you handle this stage of family development. Some conflict is healthy and expected in this transition to independence. Know that you are still in a position to be a significant influence in your teenager’s life. Your need is not to retaliate or to compete with your child’s friends; rather, to respond with love and understanding. Your teenager will make mistakes. As a parent, this simple truth is hard to accept. Good parents often feel inclined either to spare their teenager of the consequences from bad decisions or to prevent … [Read more...]
Churches merge, build United Baptist Church
Probably the most exciting part of this story is that everybody’s excited! CAMPTI – Probably the most exciting part of this story is that everybody’s excited! There doesn’t seem to be even one grumble-goat complaining about change or loss. How could this be? Pastor Jerry Smelley says it’s a God-thing, and so do the former members of Campti Baptist Church and the former members of Westwind Baptist Church at Black Lake. They’re all now members of United Baptist Church, under construction on Highway 9 halfway between the two former churches. "These were two totally different groups of people who sacrificed equally," Smelley explained. "Two natures of the church; two styles of worship. This had to be the will of the people, to allow God to lead them. "God will bring about what He wants to do," the pastor continued. "That’s the beauty of the thing. God is moving and there’s an excitement around here about that." Two years ago, Campti Baptist didn’t have a pastor or a piano player. Its congregation of about 50 people struggled on with supply preachers and the sounds of their own voices, in their sturdy – but aging – red-brick building with a soaring steeple not far from the small … [Read more...]
Southern Baptists reach out to needy families in Zimbabwe
Southern Baptists are continuing to provide desperately needed relief to families suffering in Zimbabwe’s unprecedented economic disaster. HARARE, Zimbabwe (BP) – Southern Baptists are continuing to provide desperately needed relief to families suffering in Zimbabwe’s unprecedented economic disaster. “The current unemployment rate is reported to be 94 percent and the annual inflation rate was estimated this past October at 2 trillion percent,” said Mark Hatfield, who with his wife Susan directs work in Sub-Saharan Africa for Baptist Global Response, an international relief and development organization. “One expert put the rate in December at 516 quintillion percent – the highest ever recorded.” The country’s new national unity government emerged from a weekend retreat April 6 with a visionary 100-day plan to bring Zimbabwe out of its downward spiral. The agenda focuses on five “clusters” – the economy, security, infrastructure, social services, and interests and rights. The challenge they face, however, staggers the imagination, Hatfield said. The only goods available in stores are priced in foreign currency that ordinary citizens do not have. Those who do have some money in the bank are limited to withdrawals too … [Read more...]
These three families stayed faithful through tragedy
Can I still trust a God who lets the worst tragedy happen? LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP) – Can I still trust a God who lets the worst tragedy happen? For most Christians, that question has to be answered only in theory. But for three graduates of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, it recently became terrifyingly real. Todd Borger, Greg Bruckert and Ron McLain were all serving overseas when their children died suddenly within the last year. Through the tragedies, however, they and their wives committed to remain faithful in their service to Christ. Todd and Timberley Borger were serving in the Pacific Rim, where Todd, a 2002 Ph.D. graduate, taught Old Testament and Bible at a Baptist seminary. On the field, their children Samuel, 11, and Anna, 9, worked with them to penetrate the culture with the Gospel. But in May 2008 the unthinkable happened. Anna and her mother were riding bicycles when they accidentally became separated. Anna then approached a bridge over a creek, but she missed the bridge and plummeted 30 feet into a ravine and died on impact. “All of the memories I have of Anna are fond memories,” said Todd Borger, who serves currently as Pacific Rim visiting professor of missions at Southern. “They’re all good … [Read more...]
LifeWay study reveals pastors’ ministry priorities
Ask 801 Southern Baptist pastors to name the critical ministries of their churches and their responses will vary by church size, according to an online survey from LifeWay Research. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) – Ask 801 Southern Baptist pastors to name the critical ministries of their churches and their responses will vary by church size, according to an online survey from LifeWay Research. The online study, titled “Critical Ministries and Their Leadership,” asked the pastors to identify their priorities in ministry and the challenges they face in finding effective leadership for key ministries. When pastors of all sizes of churches were asked to list up to five ministries in their order of importance, the largest group (24 percent) identified evangelism/outreach as the most important. The next six ministries identified as most important were Sunday School/Bible study/small groups (17 percent); worship/specific worship services (13 percent); preaching/proclamation/preaching (10 percent); children/youth (9 percent); discipleship/spiritual growth/mentoring/counseling (7 percent); and prayer/prayer ministry/prayer groups (5 percent). However, when the five most frequently mentioned ministries were compiled, children/youth … [Read more...]
NAMB appoints new missionaries in Louisiana
ALPHARETTA, Ga. – The North American Mission Board has appointed two new missionaries in Louisiana. Jerrid and Tammy Rohner will serve in Roseland, La., where Jerrid has been named as a church planting missionary pastor. He will continue to serve as lead pastor/planter at Cross-Point Church in Roseland. He is also owner of R & R Lawn Care in Roseland. A Roseland native, Rohner earned a B.A. in Christian Ministry at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in New Orleans. The Rohners are the parents of two children: Carla, 17, and Devin, 11. … [Read more...]
Milestones
COMINGS AND GOINGS -Mark (wife Alexis) Isbell new as youth minister, First Baptist, Coushatta. NEEDED -Part-time youth minister at St. Clair Baptist; send resume to 940 St. Clair Rd., Boyce, LA 71409 or e-mail pwillis@stclairbaptist.org. -Pastor at Pineville Park Baptist; send resume to Pastor Search Committee, Pineville Park Baptist Church, 22455 Hwy. 28E, Pineville LA 71360. -Part-time minister of youth. Send resumes or inquiries to Pineville Park Baptist Church, Youth Search Committee, 2455 Hwy. 28E, Pineville LA 71360 or to tom.lott@pinevillepark.org. -Full-time pastor at Martin Baptist, Martin; send resume to Brandon Hillman, 3160 Hwy. 507, Coushatta LA 71019; send email to bhillman1744@yahoo.com. This corrects email address that was posted in the April 16 issue. The Message apologizes for the error. ANNIVERSARIES AND CELEBRATIONS -MINDEN – Emmanuel Baptist: 50th Anniversary Celebration 10:30 a.m. Sunday, May 3; Matthew Cate, pastor. -PINEVILLE – Wardville Baptist: 65th Anniversary Homecoming Celebration 9:45 a.m. Sunday, May 17; Pine Ridge Quartet in Concert; 10:45 a.m. worship service; Terry Horowitz, pastor. REVIVALS -GILBERT – First Baptist: Revival 7 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday, May 3-6. … [Read more...]
State’s first motorcycle ministry to be commissioned at Pine Grove Baptist
In 2002, two couples at First Baptist Church at the Mall in Lakeland, Fla., took a step of faith as they established a motorcycle ministry called F.A.I.T.H. Riders. LIBUSE – In 2002, two couples at First Baptist Church at the Mall in Lakeland, Fla., took a step of faith as they established a motorcycle ministry called F.A.I.T.H. Riders. It just seven short years, the ministry has grown and spread across the country as teams of dedicated believers commit to the cause of Christ and to sharing the Gospel on and with their motorcycles to any who will listen. The ministry has expanded to more than 70 churches, with more chapters getting ready to be born across the United States – chapters of motorcycle riders and others passionate about sharing F.A.I.T.H. through Christian fellowship. On May 3, the ministry expands into Louisiana with an evening commissioning service at Pine Grove Baptist Church in Libuse. “I’m excited about a new ministry that God is allowing us to be a part of. We will have the privilege of commissioning the first F.A.I.T.H. Riders chapter in Louisiana,” said Dwayne Rogers, pastor of Pine Grove Baptist. “This is a wonderful evangelistic motorcycle ministry. One of the main differences between … [Read more...]
Landscapes
Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans METAIRIE – In the first quarter of 2009, the Celebration congregation has: -Had its weekend worship attendance grow by 10 percent, even though the church had to deal with challenges like Mardi Gras, time-change weekend, Spring festivals in the region, and more; -Received 184 new membership candidates into the Celebration family; -Had an additional 206 people make professions of faith in Jesus Christ; -Had hundreds of teens participating in midweek youth services and school Life Groups; -Experienced an upswing in member/attendee giving during the worst economic recession in the United States in the last 70 years; -Had a number of newer people commit to giving above their tithe to support our A City Transformed: Investing In Eternity projects; and -Witnessed a significant number of people becoming leaders and strong disciples of Jesus. Also, Celebration’s Easter attendance in 2009 included more than 1,100 more people than the number who attended the 2008 Easter services, more than 3,300 in all, at all campuses combined. Celebration is finally ready to begin the rebuild of the Airline Drive Campus, Pastor Dennis Watson reports. “Devastated by the waters of … [Read more...]
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