Pastors and other leaders in the five Baptist associations of what is known as “District Eight” have been working for a year on the 2009 Festival of Hope, set for Sunday, March 22, in and around Prather Coliseum on the campus of Northwestern State University. NATCHITOCHES – Pastors and other leaders in the five Baptist associations of what is known as “District Eight” have been working for a year on the 2009 Festival of Hope, set for Sunday, March 22, in and around Prather Coliseum on the campus of Northwestern State University. Prayer meetings have been taking place at various locations; personal witnessing counselors have been trained by a member of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association; and Fred Lowery, pastor of First Baptist Church, Bossier City, has been prayerfully selected as guest speaker. “Churches all across District Eight are requested to ‘transfer’ their Sunday evening service and be a part of this exciting time of spiritual renewal and evangelistic outreach,” wrote Lee Dickson, director of missions for the DeSoto, Natchitoches, North Sabine, Red River and Sabine Baptist Associations in his March newsletter to churches in District Eight. “As you know, there are many ‘festivals’ in our state, but we need a … [Read more...]

Perhaps unique within the Christian world is the annual Greer-Heard Point-Counterpoint Forum, set this year for March 27-28 in the Leavell Chapel at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. NEW ORLEANS – Perhaps unique within the Christian world is the annual Greer-Heard Point-Counterpoint Forum, set this year for March 27-28 in the Leavell Chapel at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. The forum, established in 2005 at NOBTS with a major gift by Businessman Bill Heard and his wife Carolyn Greer Heard, brings together evangelical scholars and their non-evangelical peers so the seminary family and general public can hear divergent views on the same subject, presented in a conversational tone rather than an acrimonious debate.  “In our culture there really isn’t a place of fair-minded conversation on important issues,” said Robert Stewart, professor of philosophy and theology at NOBTS. Stewart is the director of the forum. “We live in a time of sound bytes and gotcha journalism, and particularly we evangelicals are victims of that. ...  “We need a type of place, a forum, a venue, where differing ideas can be aired in a setting not as confrontational as a debate could be,” Stewart continued. “Our goal is to generate … [Read more...]

“Yes We Can!” is a day devoted to celebrating the abundant life of special needs families. COVINGTON – “Yes We Can!” is a day devoted to celebrating the abundant life of special needs families. A ministry of First Baptist Church of Covington, the four-hour no-cost event Saturday, April 4, is open to all special needs families in Louisiana. For an extra dollop of ministry, Jill Kelly, wife of Hall of Fame Quarterback Jim Kelly, will share the story of their family from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday at the church. (Cost for this: $10.) This the third-annual special needs event for First Covington, which has had one of the nation’s few special needs ministries for the last four years. “My husband and I have a 7-year-old son with significant development and health issues,” said Melinda Robinson, coordinator. “This situation prompted us to start examining what the church community does to reach out and address the needs of these very unique types of families.” Their search led First Covington to start a special needs ministry, called Hands in HAND, which addresses the needs of families with special needs children, as well as adults with special needs. And that led to “Yes We Can,” from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 4 … [Read more...]

“I have a question to offer you. It is contained in three words, DO YOU PRAY?” “I have a question to offer you. It is contained in three words, DO YOU PRAY?” That is how the book A Call to Prayer begins. The classic work is as needed today as it was when it was produced by J.C. Ryle in the 1800’s. Ryle (May 10, 1816 - June 10, 1900) was the first Anglican bishop of Liverpool. According to his contemporaries, he was solidly evangelical in his doctrine and uncompromising in his principles. Ryle was known as a vigorous preacher and faithful pastor. He was also a prolific writer. Ryle’s commitment to doctrine and dedication to principle are on full display in A Call to Prayer. Upon re-reading it recently, I could not help but think how desperately the church in America needs to hear the simple yet profound truths articulated by Ryle. Peppered throughout the book Ryle repeatedly asks the question he posed in its opening: “Do you pray?” It is a fair question for today. Our churches have scores of services, plenty of programs and an abundance of activity, but do we pray? If ever our country and our churches needed to pray, it is now.  Consider the following: Our country is in the midst of significant financial … [Read more...]

We were at a national park by the sea, within eyesight of North Korea and in a rocky area guarded by South Korean soldiers, when an elderly woman came up to me, grabbed my hands in hers, and bowed deeply, several times. PONCHATOULA – We were at a national park by the sea, within eyesight of North Korea and in a rocky area guarded by South Korean soldiers, when an elderly woman came up to me, grabbed my hands in hers, and bowed deeply, several times. “Thank you for many kindness,” she said in halting English, then bowed again, her hands still clenching mine, as if to underscore the importance of what she was saying. “Korea never forget.” She was talking about the Korean War, of course, which I don’t remember, but Korea I will never forget. We were welcomed there, the 38 of us who participated in Reach Missions’ 2007 annual evangelistic crusade to South Korea. This Oct. 21through Nov. 4 will be the 43rd year for what is now an informal partnership between Louisiana and South Korea. The partnership has grown to include a three-week mid-summer Camp USA for elementary school students from South Korea – on hold this year because of global economic conditions – and a July 22 through Aug. 8 English Camp as a church outreach in … [Read more...]

The first time I heard Rush Limbaugh on the radio in New Orleans nearly 20 years ago, I was embarrassed. I thought, “What a terrible preacher – yelling and screaming.” Little did I know! The first time I heard Rush Limbaugh on the radio in New Orleans nearly 20 years ago, I was embarrassed. I thought, “What a terrible preacher – yelling and screaming.” Little did I know! In time, I came to enjoy Rush’s rants as much as the next person. He was a first rate showman. He sometimes spoke the truth, but often crossed the line of good taste in the interest of entertaining and making his point. Rush was clearly an egotist of the first order and it was fun to see him drive liberals up the wall. I could never take a full three-hour dose of the man, but it had nothing to do with his political views. To me, Rush’s “preaching” style was unbearable. He got on my nerves. He loved the sound of his own voice too much. It took him forever to make a point. He would begin talking on some subject and interrupt himself to chase a rabbit – then interrupt the interruption. I was one of the conservatives and it irritated me. There’s no telling what the liberals were thinking! My opinion is that Rush Limbaugh has had his day. What made him … [Read more...]

As a first year faculty member at Louisiana College I am enjoying the opportunities I have to interact with a wonderful student body. As a first year faculty member at Louisiana College I am enjoying the opportunities I have to interact with a wonderful student body.  That said, I have to be honest and confess that the transition to Louisiana has not been the easiest, nor has the transition from the pay-scales of the industrial world to those of academia. God, however, has amazing ways of confirming his direction in one’s life, as He has shown me yet again. A recent discussion with one of my students provided the opportunity for Him to remind me of His providence. One of my freshman general chemistry students had recently been reading a book entitled The Science of God by nuclear physicist Gerald Schroeder and had some questions about some of the ideas and theories that are put forth by Schroeder. According to the publisher, The Science of God is written with the aim of educating the reader about the latest scientific discoveries and theories related to the origins of life and the universe, the biblical accounts of these same events, and “how the convergence of the two will inspire you to reconsider both your Scripture … [Read more...]

President Obama kept at least two campaign promises March 9 when he signed a bill authorizing the expenditure of tax-dollars for embryo-destructive stem cell research. President Obama kept at least two campaign promises March 9 when he signed a bill authorizing the expenditure of tax-dollars for embryo-destructive stem cell research. Many have been surprised that it has taken so long for him to follow through on the first promise, the federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. Throughout the campaign, Mr. Obama made it clear that he thought the Bush policy was wrong and, were he elected, he would set it straight. On Aug. 9, 2001, President Bush instituted a policy allowing funding for embryonic stem cell research using already-existing stem cell lines, but forbidding the funding of additional destruction of embryos. Of course, the Bush policy did nothing to limit private research, which went on without hindrance from the federal government. Mr. Obama’s executive order authorizes the National Institutes of Health to determine guidelines for funding research labs, thus effectively keeping another of his campaign promises: job creation. Pumping tax-dollars into embryo-destructive research will mean that every … [Read more...]

It could be considered a new way to do evangelism. BOSSIER CITY – It could be considered a new way to do evangelism. A 90,000-square foot, two-story complex featuring a state-of-the-art fitness center, a full-size gymnasium, martial arts school, kid’s arcade, coffee shop, bookstore, learning center, a counseling center and administrative office, is a rather big evangelism tool, but Pastor Randy Harper, pastor of Bellaire Baptist Church in Bossier City said he believes it can be an effective one. “We are trying to think out of the box,” Harper said. “We believe we can reach more people by allowing the community to use our 30,000 square foot fitness center with its state-of-the art equipment. “We have hired a fitness manager, an assistant, a trainer from the BattleWings football team,” Harper said. “I believe it will enable us to attract and reach more families in south Bossier Parish.” When it comes to evangelism, Harper is no stranger to thinking out of the box. Before becoming Bellaire’s pastor, he effectively used his martial arts skills in his evangelistic efforts as First Baptist Church in Bossier City minister of evangelism and associate pastor for seven years. He holds a black belt in Karate and Kung Fu, … [Read more...]

A bill that would drastically expand federal funding for embryonic stem cell research has been re-introduced in the Senate, but British and Canadian researchers announced a scientific breakthrough March 2 that could change the course of stem cell research and eventually make the ethical debate moot. WASHINGTON (BP) – A bill that would drastically expand federal funding for embryonic stem cell research has been re-introduced in the Senate, but British and Canadian researchers announced a scientific breakthrough March 2 that could change the course of stem cell research and eventually make the ethical debate moot. As detailed in the research journal Nature, the researchers found a safer way to reprogram ordinary human skin cells into embryonic-like stem cells. While a 2007 study by Japanese and American researchers did something very similar, the British and Canadian researchers did it without the use of a virus, which the ’07 teams had used to complete the process. Researchers feared the use of viruses to turn the skin cells into the stem cells could cause cancer in patients. Stem cells are the body’s master cells that can develop into other cells and tissues, and they have the potential for leading to cures for diseases … [Read more...]