As I read the April 16 issue of the Baptist Message, the article about Sagemont Baptist Church in Houston immediately caught my attention. As I read the April 16 issue of the Baptist Message, the article about Sagemont Baptist Church in Houston immediately caught my attention. Thanks to this church, and many others, I recently received a grant from Mission: Dignity and it has been a priceless blessing. My husband Daniel and I have served as ministers-missionaries in South Louisiana for 38 years. We served when the monetary pay was very little and retirement was almost unheard of. Dan and I paid a little Social Security in later years when it was an option. With small salary, grants and hard work we were able to see our three daughters earn college degrees. Now, they are all active in their churches. God is faithful! After retirement, Dan had a workshop where he restored and refinished antique furniture and was able to supplement our income. I survived cancer twice. I have also experienced a severe heart attack and a triple bypass as well as other illnesses. Dan has been in fair health until he had a stroke in March of 2008.  He is now bedfast in a nursing home. I am 82 years old and he is 87. The bills … [Read more...]

The 29-year-old pastor of Cross Roads Baptist Church in Farmerville, Andy Johnson, may be young, but he already has a bright future in book writing. FARMERVILLE – The 29-year-old pastor of Cross Roads Baptist Church in Farmerville, Andy Johnson, may be young, but he already has a bright future in book writing. Johnson’s first book, published by AuthorHouse, The Secret is Out! Sex is Biblical!: Rediscovering Marital Intimacy, went on sale April 3 and is available on most major book selling websites, such as amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com. Johnson says he never actually intended to write a book. In November 2008, he began studying Song of Solomon during his quiet time and journaling along on his computer. “Before I knew it I had 25 pages written and the book just took off from there,” Johnson said. After looking at and jotting down marriage statistics and divorce rates, he began to see something significant in the way married couples are living today, the pastor said. In his research Johnson found that 50 percent of first-time marriages, 63 percent of second-time marriages and 74 percent of third-time marriages end in divorce. Johnson was shocked at the alarming statistics and began researching … [Read more...]

Everyone at First Baptist Church in Franklinton has the opportunity to participate in the Acts 1:8 Challenge. FRANKLINTON – Everyone at First Baptist Church in Franklinton has the opportunity to participate in the Acts 1:8 Challenge. Pastor Luther Stanford says he has always had a desire to see all types of people enabled for missions.  “I really wanted a way to offer people to plug into God’s work regardless of their social status, age or ability,” Stanford said. The pastor began in 2005 to explore a missions emphasis on Acts 1:8. It didn’t take him long to realize it was the exact strategy that could involve every person in the church, he said. Stanford and the deacons of First Franklinton decided to ask the church to designate two percent of the church budget to Acts 1:8. “I didn’t want finance to be a factor as to whether someone was able to go on missions,” Stanford said. After restructuring the church budget, in 2006 the structure for Acts 1:8 was built and there was money already put aside for the beginning of the emphasis. The Acts 1:8 emphasis at First Franklinton challenges people in the church to take on missions without being concerned with finances, the pastor explained. “Because of our budget, … [Read more...]

NEW ORLEANS (BP) – A 2008 Pew Forum survey found that 65 percent of Americans believe many religions lead to eternal life – and that 52 percent of American Christians believe salvation can be found in at least some non-Christian religions. NEW ORLEANS (BP) – NEW ORLEANS (BP) – A 2008 Pew Forum survey found that 65 percent of Americans believe many religions lead to eternal life – and that 52 percent of American Christians believe salvation can be found in at least some non-Christian religions. At a time when American belief is shifting toward religious pluralism – the idea that all religions are equal in offering truth – New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary’s annual Greer-Heard Point-Counterpoint Forum addressed the question: “Is Christianity the one true religion?” “The topic is very important given the politically correct, tolerance-laden culture we find ourselves living in today,” said Robert Stewart, director of the Greer-Heard Forum and associate professor of philosophy and theology at NOBTS. “Ultimately we need to take a stand on the clear teaching of God’s Word, which teaches us that Jesus is the only Savior of the world.” Evangelical Christians as a whole are not embracing pluralism, Stewart said, but some are … [Read more...]

NEW ORLEANS – In a bold move to engage the college culture for Christ, the Baptist Collegiate Ministry of New Orleans challenged students recently to rethink their views of pornography by hosting “The Porn Debate” with Las Vegas pastor Craig Gross and former porn star Ron Jeremy. The event coincided with the annual showing of an administration-approved porn movie on the Tulane University campus. The Metro BCM of New Orleans and director Corey Olivier chose the debate model in order to begin a conversation on the issue rather than boycotting the student-sponsored movie. Associational, state and North American Mission Board leaders were consulted as plans were developed. “God has granted us favor on this campus and students are open to dialogue,” Olivier said. “We won’t concede that pornography is anything less than sexual immorality, but we are open to conversations with students about it and other issues that in the majority of our churches are still ‘taboo’ and are not being addressed from the pulpit for whatever reason. It is through those conversations that the gospel can be unleashed and Christ, through the Holy Spirit, can do a work in someone’s life.” Olivier said the BCM has made inroads for the gospel on campus … [Read more...]

John Wilks lost the argument and gained a great life, he says. PINEVILLE – John Wilks lost the argument and gained a great life, he says. A Cajun by birth, the steelworker moved to Pineville 15 years ago from Sunset, near Lafayette, for his version of the American dream. “I wanted to find the right woman and raise a family and live happily ever after,” Wilks said in a recent interview in the home he shares with his wife of 14 years and two half-grown sons. “I figured that would take two incomes.” He met a girl – not the right one – but one night in conversation she told him how she became a Christian, and he made the same choice, even though he’d gone to a Catholic church all his life to that point. He bought a house because his father told him to not throw away his money on rent, and the girl next door – an elementary school teacher – brought over blueberry muffins as a “welcome to the neighborhood” gift. She was a Christian, pretty, college-educated, and her choice of a career showed she liked kids, he mentally tallied. With both their incomes, they’d have a good life, he figured. No way, she said. “God told me not to start that trap of being in a two-income family,” said Debbie Wilks. She had grown up in … [Read more...]

STATEWIDE – State Bible Drill season is  here for fourth- through sixth-graders. Following the annual Bible Drill Training Retreat in January, churches hosted local Bible Drills. Contestants with fewer than 12 mistakes advanced to the associational Bible Drills. Those with fewer than eight mistakes advanced to the State Bible Drill. State Bible Drills are taking place April 27 at Summer Grove Shreveport and First Gonzales; April 28 at First Monroe and Williams Boulevard Kenner; April 30 at First Covington and First Moss Bluff, Lake Charles; and May 2 at Louisiana College. The National Bible Drill takes place Friday, June 19, at First Baptist Covington. Those with fewer than four mistakes at the state level are eligible to compete at the National Bible Drill. High school students are to gather May 1-2 at Louisiana College for Youth State Bible Drill events, also including Xtreme Bible Challenge and Speakers Tournament. LC offers scholarships for the top three Youth Bible drill winners. The high school national competitions also are June 19 at First Baptist Covington. “Bible Drill is a fun way to study the Bible,” said J.D. Marcle, a fourth-grade student and member at First Pitkin. “You can learn about God, … [Read more...]

Question: I feel so stressed out! I am unable to accomplish enough. I am overwhelmed at work and home, and now I have started having really bad headaches and even pressure in my chest. Help! Do you know what may be wrong in my life? Question: I feel so stressed out! I am unable to accomplish enough. I am overwhelmed at work and home, and now I have started having really bad headaches and even pressure in my chest. Help! Do you know what may be wrong in my life? Megan Clunan answers: Yes, you are experiencing some level of negative anxiety in your life. Those thoughts, sentiments and experiences are all too common among individuals today. According to current statistics, “anxiety is the most common mental illness in the U.S. today, affecting over 40 million adults in the United States.” Anxiety disorders cost the U.S. more than $42 billion total each year; that’s almost one third of the country’s $148 billion total mental health bill. In fact, more than $22.84 billion of the costs associated with the repeated use of health care services is sought out by people who are experiencing the physical side effects of anxiety. Individuals who experience physical symptoms of anxiety often mislabel what they are experiencing as … [Read more...]

Jesus shocked and surprised many of His listeners when He proclaimed our obligation to “render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s.” Jesus shocked and surprised many of His listeners when He proclaimed our obligation to “render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s.”  Nearly 2000 years later, the nature and extent of Christian involvement in the political process is hotly debated, but I think we can all agree that there are two aspects of Christian involvement in our government that are not debatable. First, since we live (by the grace of God) in a constitutional republic, the duty and obligation of every Christian citizen is to cast an informed ballot on Election Day.  This flows logically both from the mandate of our Savior and from the teachings of the Apostle Paul in Romans chapter 13. Frank Wright NRB The backbone of our system of government is our electoral process.  The vitality of that process is, in large measure, determined by the strength of voter participation.  Yet, sadly, voter participation in elections has been declining precipitously in recent years.  All this stands in sharp contrast to the enormous price people pay to cast a vote in other countries whose freedoms are less well … [Read more...]

The National Day of Prayer Task Force’s mission is to communicate with every individual the need for personal repentance and prayer, mobilizing the Christian community to intercede for America and its leadership in the seven centers of power: Government, Military, Media, Business, Education, Church and Family. The National Day of Prayer Task Force’s mission is to communicate with every individual the need for personal repentance and prayer, mobilizing the Christian community to intercede for America and its leadership in the seven centers of power: Government, Military, Media, Business, Education, Church and Family. Our Vision and Values In accordance with Biblical truth, the National Day of Prayer Task Force seeks to: Foster unity within the Christian Church Protect America’s Constitutional Freedoms to gather, worship, pray and speak freely. Publicize and preserve America’s Christian heritage Encourage and emphasize prayer, regardless of current issues and positions Respect all people, regardless of denomination or creed Be wise stewards of God’s resources and provision Glorify the Lord in word and deed Who We Are and What We Do The National Day of Prayer is an annual observance held on the … [Read more...]