Tom Cosat, pastor of tiny Mullen Baptist Church in Montrose, Ill., believes in “The Bridge” (http://thebridge.namb.net). ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) – Tom Cosat, pastor of tiny Mullen Baptist Church in Montrose, Ill., believes in “The Bridge” (http://thebridge.namb.net). Originally, Mullen Baptist Church was a one-room schoolhouse. A year ago, the church’s members decided to step out on faith and add 7,000 square feet for a new sanctuary, classrooms and bathrooms. Cosat’s local associational missions director told him about The Bridge, a North American Mission Board (NAMB) website designed to link projects with SBC volunteers around the country. “I still shake my head and can’t believe it,” says Cosat. “A team of 42 people from three or four Southern states came up and framed the building in four days. A second team came up from Tennessee and did the inside framing for us. “There’s no telling what the man-hours and materials donated were worth and the money we saved. It put us a light-year ahead of where we would have been had we tried to do it all ourselves. It made it affordable,” Cosat continued. “All we had to do was put on the siding. Another team even volunteered to come back and do the drywall. “Thank God for … [Read more...]

The life of a man in the ministry can be taxing to say the least, but what about life for his wife? NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) – The life of a man in the ministry can be taxing to say the least, but what about life for his wife? About 300 ministers’ wives from across the United States and as far away as Japan met at a “Between Us Ministers’ Wives” conference March 12-13 in Nashville, Tenn. The women’s events area of LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention organized the gathering, which preceded a Beth Moore Living Proof Live event for ministers’ wives. One of the best reasons to be there, one wife said, was to see she was not alone. By and large, the ministers’ wives said they were happy to be married to men on church staffs. “I felt like I knew what I was getting into because he was already in the ministry when we got married,” one wife said. “I married the man, but got the ministry along with him.” Chris Adams, LifeWay’s senior lead women’s ministry specialist, described ministers’ wives as special women.  “They deal with all the issues that being married involves, but in a fishbowl,” Adams said. “Then, if they have children, they may feel like the church is looking at her, expecting her to be … [Read more...]

Jennifer Landrith and Rachel Lovingood decided to begin a Bible study for staff wives. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) – Jennifer Landrith and Rachel Lovingood decided to begin a Bible study for staff wives. As they explored possible resources, “too many of them just said what to do,” said Landrith, whose husband, David, is senior pastor at Long Hollow Baptist Church in Hendersonville, Tenn. “[N]ot many of them said anything about how to live as a minister’s wife. We obviously wanted to use the Bible as our foundation, but as we began working, we decided the need was for a Bible study, not an advice book.” Then, said Lovingood, whose husband, Jeff, is student pastor at the church, “When we got into it, we decided if this were good for our ministers’ wives, it’d be good for other ministers’ wives too.” The aim of the Bible study, as Lovingood put it: “To encourage wives with the Word. We want it to be empowering, real and relevant.” The result: “In Our Shoes,” published by LifeWay Resources. Landrith and Lovingood were among the featured speakers at the “Between Us Ministers’ Wives” conference hosted by LifeWay’. One of the key topics Landrith and Lovingood address in the Bible study is the “calling” on the life of a … [Read more...]

Have Southern Baptists said, “Enough!”? Have they reached their potential in reaching a lost world for Christ? Is their work done? GREENVILLE, S.C. (BP) – Have Southern Baptists said, “Enough!”? Have they reached their potential in reaching a lost world for Christ? Is their work done? “I will not accept that Southern Baptists have said, ‘Enough!’” said Paul Chitwood, chairman of the International Mission Board’s trustees. During the March 17-18 trustee meeting in Greenville, S.C., the Kentucky pastor challenged fellow trustees to encourage Southern Baptists to dig deeper and give sacrificially to missions during these difficult economic times. Until giving increases, the IMB’s missionary count will remain in the mid-5,000s, said Chitwood, pastor of First Baptist Church in Mt. Washington, Ky. More will be needed to help reach 1.6 billion people who have little to no access to the Gospel, he said. “We must shout from the rooftops and the mountaintops the news that we cannot grow our missionary force because we do not have the money to do so ... [T]he possibility has now become a reality.” Trustees appointed 89 new missionaries for a total missionary count of 5,569 during their meeting. OFFERING UPDATE IMB … [Read more...]

Despite recent media reports that young adults are running from churches in droves, the beliefs of many younger unchurched people are more connected to historic Christian beliefs than many suspected. NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Despite recent media reports that young adults are running from churches in droves, the beliefs of many younger unchurched people are more connected to historic Christian beliefs than many suspected. More 20-somethings than individuals 30 and older believe in the God of the Bible, the resurrection of Christ and the uniqueness of the Christian God, according to research conducted by LifeWay Research, the research arm of LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. The data showed that younger unchurched people are more open than their older unchurched counterparts to hear more about Christianity – though they do tend to hold negative views of the church. The survey results were released recently in Lost and Found: The Younger Unchurched and the Churches that Reach Them, a new book by Ed Stetzer, LifeWay Research director; Richie Stanley, team leader at the North American Mission Board’s Center for Missional Research; and Jason Hayes, LifeWay’s young adult ministry specialist. According … [Read more...]

Wardville Baptist Church North Rapides Baptist Association PINEVILLE – Weekdays will often find teenage boys skateboarding on Wardville Baptist Church’s spacious parking lot. On Sundays, vehicles spread out across the space. Perhaps 60 people were present one recent Sunday, several of whom cordially welcomed visitors to the red brick building with a steeple on top. Pastor Terry Horowitz took time in the early minutes of the service to thank several members who had done exemplary work for God in the previous week. The attendance more than doubles the number attending a year ago, but during the 2008 calendar year, 18 people made professions of faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, and 17 of those were baptized. The numbers have increased because people are telling their family members, friends, neighbors and coworkers about Jesus, the pastor said. “Jesus sets the divine appointment and we go with Him to residences, parking lots, afternoon youth organizations and busy city streets,” Horowitz wrote in a recent email. “In spite of our small numbers the Lord Jesus Christ blesses us daily and steps in Himself to be personally responsible for a healing ministry, visiting in homes, teaching individual hearts, and … [Read more...]

COMINGS AND GOINGS -Tim (wife Susie) Hisaw, new as pastor, First Baptist, Tioga. -John Hutchinson, new as interim minister of youth, First Baptist, Sulphur. -J. Russell Devore, resigns as pastor, Glade Branch Baptist, Cravens. -Joe (wife Belinda) Turner, new as senior pastor, Start Baptist, Start. -James Monk, resigns as pastor, Lake Cove Baptist, Ville Platte. -Thomas Worsham, new as youth minister, First Baptist, Minden. NEEDED -Bi-vocational pastor, send resume to Reeves Baptist Church, c/o Michael Parker, 8001 Hwy. 190 E, Ragley, LA 70657. -Part-time youth director, send resume to Port Allen Baptist Church, Attention: Youth Director Search Committee, P.O. Box 437, Port Allen, LA 70767. -Interim or bi-vocational pastor at Gardner Baptist; Boyce; send resume to Pastor Search Committee, 3696 Hwy. 121, Boyce, LA 71409. -Part-time student minister at First Baptist Milton; send resume to First Baptist Church, PO Box 54, Milton, LA 70558 or email judy@fbc.milton.com. -Part-time secretary, send resume to Goodwood Baptist Church, Attention: Personnel Committee, 7125 Goodwood Avenue, Baton Rouge, LA 70806. -Education/youth minister, contact First Baptist Tioga. -Full-time pastor, at Glade Branch … [Read more...]

Vicki Knight has a passion for books and for serving her Lord, she says. Last year, after much prayer, God led Vicki to use her passion to help the boys and girls of the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home. MONROE – Vicki Knight has a passion for books and for serving her Lord, she says. Last year, after much prayer, God led Vicki to use her passion to help the boys and girls of the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home. “Vicki and Richard Knight’s ministry will impact the lives of our children for years to come,” said LBCH President Perry Hancock. It started in early 2008, when First Baptist Church Franklinton began a missions emphasis based on Acts 1:8. The church members got busy and in just a short time, several projects began to take place, usually in nearby New Orleans. “Many of the projects involved rebuilding in New Orleans,” Vicki said. “Wonderful things were happening, but I didn’t feel that was really where God wanted me.” It was when Vicki read about preparations being made at the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home for a grand opening of the new Learning Center that she had an idea.  “As a former teacher and librarian, I thought I would call the librarian of the Learning Center and see if there was anything … [Read more...]

When ministers of education in Louisiana Baptist churches gathered recently at First Baptist Lafayette for the LBREA annual meeting, they heard from two high-powered guest speakers, elected officers for the next year and enjoyed the hospitality of a Cajun meal provided by the church’s cooks. LAFAYETTE – When ministers of education in Louisiana Baptist churches gathered recently at First Baptist Lafayette for the LBREA annual meeting, they heard from two high-powered guest speakers, elected officers for the next year and enjoyed the hospitality of a Cajun meal provided by the church’s cooks. They also voted to do away with annual dues. “I think our biggest goal is to grow,” said Cody Caywood, minister of education at Parkview Baptist in Alexandria, and incoming president of LBREA, the Louisiana Baptist Religious Education Association. “We want to help build camaraderie where we can help each other and help grow our churches.” To that end, LBREA will gather members together at three events during the year: a luncheon before the Louisiana Baptist Convention annual meeting; a fellowship during the annual evangelism conference, and the LBREA annual meeting. The two-day LBREA session started with a short welcome, short … [Read more...]

The Louisiana College Board of Trustees met on the campus of Louisiana College March 16-17. PINEVILLE – The Louisiana College Board of Trustees met on the campus of Louisiana College March 16-17. The 36-member board, Louisiana Baptist representatives from across the state, met to discuss and vote on important issues related to the college. LC President Joe Aguillard reported an increase in enrollment as a result of new programs and the introduction of the Masters of Arts in Teaching Masters Degree. “This semester the enrollment is 1,115, where last year at this time we had 944 students; this is a sign of growth.” Aguillard said. “Typically colleges and universities see a decrease in enrollment from the fall to spring semesters.” All indicators are pointing to an all-time record high enrollment topping 1,430 students next fall, Aguillard added. Regular business included the approval of the budget for the next fiscal year and the approval of the Louisiana College Board of Trustees Distinguished Service Award recipients – Judge Paul Pressler, David Barton and Rod H. Masteller. Other business included voting on candidates for graduation in May and August and candidates who will graduate with the Masters of Arts in … [Read more...]