Comedian Bill Maher, whose film Religulous released to DVD in mid-February, is on a crusade against organized religion. Maher believes that a supreme being of some sort exists but that it is nothing like what is being presented by the world religions. Comedian Bill Maher, whose film Religulous released to DVD in mid-February, is on a crusade against organized religion. Maher believes that a supreme being of some sort exists but that it is nothing like what is being presented by the world religions. During a recent interview, Mike Huckabee asked Maher if he thought any good had resulted from religion. Maher answered, “Well, there’s no denying that some good has come about from religion.” Maher admitted that soup kitchens, charities and missionaries are examples of good things religion has done. But he hastened to add that “it comes at a terrible price,” considering evil committed in the name of religion such as suicide bombings, religious wars, the Crusades, burning witches and having sex with children. One can quickly agree with Maher that religious people have done terrible things to others. But one can just as quickly note that even more vile things have been performed by the irreligious. Stalin, Pol Pot, Mao and … [Read more...]

As North American Mission Board trustees looked toward the 2009 Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions, they celebrated news that NAMB’s missionary count topped 5,600 at the end of 2008 and Southern Baptist church plants increased 6 percent over 2007. ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) – As North American Mission Board trustees looked toward the 2009 Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions, they celebrated news that NAMB’s missionary count topped 5,600 at the end of 2008 and Southern Baptist church plants increased 6 percent over 2007. NAMB President Geoff Hammond highlighted the upcoming Annie Armstrong Offering season during the trustees’ Feb. 11 meeting at NAMB’s offices in Alpharetta, Ga. Citing the partners who promote the offering, with a goal of $65 million, Hammond said, “[W]e’re grateful to Woman’s Missionary Union, all the state conventions and local associations, but ultimately it’s the local pastor who must challenge people to contribute.” This year’s Annie Armstrong theme, “Sowing Together For Harvest,” calls Southern Baptists to pray for, give to and ponder together to reach North America for Christ,” he said. Hammond showed a video of eight NAMB missionaries in North America … [Read more...]

The Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee unanimously agreed Feb. 17 to continue to study whether the convention should remain affiliated with Broadway Baptist Church, a historic Fort Worth, Texas, congregation that was involved last year in a controversy over whether homosexual couples should be pictured in a church directory. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) – The Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee unanimously agreed Feb. 17 to continue to study whether the convention should remain affiliated with Broadway Baptist Church, a historic Fort Worth, Texas, congregation that was involved last year in a controversy over whether homosexual couples should be pictured in a church directory. In other business, EC members: n approved a 2009-10 Cooperative Program Allocation budget of $204,385,592 for recommendation to the Southern Baptist Convention during its June 23-24 annual meeting in Louisville, Ky. The proposed budget maintains current allocations to the convention’s ministries, including 50 percent of receipts to the International Mission Board and 22.79 percent to the North American Mission Board. The convention’s six seminaries will receive 21.92 percent. According to the seminary enrollment formula, … [Read more...]

Mound Baptist Church Madison Baptist Association  TALLULAH – The people of Mound Baptist Church are serving God with great enthusiasm, says Pastor Jay Simms. “Our congregation is very privileged with having a great task at hand,” Simms said. This God-given task has to do with Mound Baptist Church’s location. “We’re the only church [near our community’s] five bars and two gambling establishments,” he explained. “We have a very evident mission field. We spend our time reaching out to the community.” One way Mound Baptist members reach out has to do with motorcycles. Simms said two of the bars happen to be biker bars. This gives him and others common ground with local residents. “We have several members who ride, including myself,” he said. He will stop by and chat with the bikers at these bars, and share Jesus with them. “We show people our faith,” Simms said. The church even puts on a motorcycle ride for local residents. In April, church members will host the “Second Annual Rally Around The River” motorcycle ride. “Last year we had 23 bikers,” Simms said. There are 12 people already signed up to take part this year, and he’s expecting a lot more. The entire church gets involved, even the … [Read more...]

Something related to missions education and support is happening this spring for every man, woman, teenager, boy and girl in Louisiana’s Southern Baptist churches. ALEXANDRIA – Something related to missions education and support is happening this spring for every man, woman, teenager, boy and girl in Louisiana’s Southern Baptist churches. “Mission education through WMU – or RAs and Baptist Men – in a Southern Baptist church reinforces the biblical basis of missions, while involving the individual – child, teen or adult – in missions,” said Janie Wise, director of Women’s Missions and Ministry for the Louisiana Baptist Convention. “Through missions education individuals discover that we all can be and are part of missions efforts around the world, even from our home areas.” The biggest event is national in scope: March 1-8 is the Week of Prayer for North American Missions, reflected in the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering. National goal for the offering is $65 million; Louisiana’s goal: $2.1 million. News about it was in the Feb. 19 issue of the Louisiana Baptist Messageand online at www.namb.net. The Acteens weekender took place last weekend, Feb. 27-28. Read more about it in the next issue of the Message. M-Jam – … [Read more...]

Coach J.T. Curtis, the all-time winningest coach in Louisiana football history and second winningest in the nation, will be the featured special guest for the second annual Wildcat Football Celebration Saturday, March 7. PINEVILLE – Coach J.T. Curtis, the all-time winningest coach in Louisiana football history and second winningest in the nation, will be the featured special guest for the second annual Wildcat Football Celebration Saturday, March 7. Curtis, an LC alumnus, is the coach of one of the most storied football programs in Louisiana history. Under his tutelage, the Patriots have made 37 appearances in the playoffs and a remarkable 23 state championships. His 464-51-6 overall record that spans a 40-year career trails only Summerville (S.C.) Coach John McKissick, who has 565 wins. The 82-year-old McKissick has coached for 55 years. Curtis will be on campus to help the Wildcats celebrate “A Season of New Beginnings.” Last year, legendary Florida State head coach Bobby Bowden and LSU standout Jacob Hester highlighted the event. The celebration will begin with the National Championship Sponsor Dinner in the Granberry Conference Center, hosted by the senior Wildcat players with Curtis as the honored guest. The … [Read more...]

Twice a year, First Baptist Church of Choudrant sends a mission team to Arizona and New Mexico to minister to the Navajo people who live there. CHOUDRANT – Twice a year, First Baptist Church of Choudrant sends a mission team to Arizona and New Mexico to minister to the Navajo people who live there. Sunday, Feb. 8, saw the kickoff of First Choudrant’s summer mission trip, including reports from the winter team followed by lunch of tacos on Navajo fried bread. First Choudrant began sending teams in June 2002, averaging 30 people – including children, youth and adults – per trip. The church’s mission statement for this ministry is:  “It is our prayer that, through the love and compassion of others, the Navajo people will see the Lord Jesus Christ, will desire Him as ‘King of Kings’ and ‘Lord of Lords’ in their own lives, and will no longer worship ‘creation’ but worship the ‘Creator.’” The team that went in December 2008 carried food, clothing and blankets to the people in need. There were quite a few unplanned opportunities for ministry. One such instance included a battered women’s shelter, team member Carol Mizell said Sunday morning. Before the trip, neither she nor the other members knew it was there, but once … [Read more...]

Leon Cannizzaro Jr., district attorney for Orleans Parish, noted the power of prayer during his first community outreach prayer breakfast, held at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. NEW ORLEANS (BP) – Leon Cannizzaro Jr., district attorney for Orleans Parish, noted the power of prayer during his first community outreach prayer breakfast, held at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. The newly-elected official called together clergy members from across the parish to seek prayer and partnership in his efforts to combat the growing crime problem in New Orleans. About 125 religious leaders convened to hear from Cannizaro Feb. 12 at the event sponsored by Baptist Community Ministries, a foundation launched in 1995 with proceeds from the sale of Southern Baptist Hospital in the city. “I want to thank you for your thoughts, for your prayers and your support,” Cannizaro told the ministers. “People have asked me, ‘What can I do to help you?’ My most basic and standard answer has been, ‘Please pray for me.’ I know we are not going to solve our problems in Orleans Parish unless we go to that higher authority.” Cannizzaro was elected at a low point in public trust in the city’s criminal justice system. He follows an … [Read more...]

New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary students and student families have a new place to “shop” on campus. Best of all, it is a place without price tags. NEW ORLEANS – New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary students and student families have a new place to “shop” on campus. Best of all, it is a place without price tags. On Jan. 30, NOBTS President Chuck Kelley cut the ribbon on the seminary’s brand new S.W.A.P. (Surplus with a Purpose) Shop. The shop is designed to meet immediate needs for seminarians free of charge. Since 1989 the S.W.A.P. Shop has helped students outfit their apartments, clothe their families and make ends meet. The ministry relies entirely on donated items. Hurricane Katrina forced the closure of the S.W.A.P. Shop. The shop’s  original location, flooded by Katrina, was damaged beyond repair. Now the S.W.A.P. Shop is once again open ready to serve the seminary community. Thanks in part to a generous hurricane recovery gift from the Georgia Baptist Convention, a new metal building was built at the rear of campus to house the S.W.A.P. Shop. And with the slumping economy, the reopening could not come at a better time. “The S.W.A.P. Shop is one of my favorite things to reopen after Katrina,” … [Read more...]

A proposal to bring gambling to the Northshore in southeast Louisiana was conspicuously missing from the St. Tammany Parish Council meeting agenda last Thursday, March 5, signaling an apparent victory for religious leaders. COVINGTON – A proposal to bring gambling to the Northshore in southeast Louisiana was conspicuously missing from the St. Tammany Parish Council meeting agenda last Thursday, March 5, signaling an apparent victory for religious leaders. On Friday, March 13, Parish President Kevin Davis in a prepared statement said he is abandoning a controversial proposal to create an entertainment district anchored by a casino barge south of Slidell. He said he began pursuing the project in hopes of generating $8 million to $11 million annually in local revenues from the district that could be used to lower citizens property taxes. “I made it very clear that I could only support this project if it was tied into a reduction of property taxes,” Davis said in the statement. “I am told by our attorneys now there is not a responsible way for this to be done. As a result, I will not continue with the project in its present form.” Davis made the proposal in spite of the fact that in 1996 the citizens of St. Tammany Parish … [Read more...]