MANDEVILLE – A Peruvian pastor with a penchant for soccer led his church plant to combine a community Thanksgiving dinner with a soccer tournament. It brought about 40 people new to Iglesia Cristo Redentor, along with the 70 or so who regularly attend Sunday morning worship. Umberto Medina is pastor of the 2-year-old church plant. He arrived in Louisiana from Peru via northern Mississippi. Francine Mathews is minister of education at the church. She has served since September 2007 under the Unlimited Partnership program of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, but actually has been part of the church plant from its inception. “It was pretty crazy how God worked,” Mathews said. At a First Baptist Mandeville church picnic in 2005, five people realized they all spoke Spanish. Then Katrina hit, and the area was flooded with Hispanic workers. “God placed in us the desire for this new work,” Mathews said. “We started meeting with them for a Bible study in their trailer park, and it just kept growing and growing. We couldn’t fit in a house anymore, and the pastor [of First Baptist Mandeville, Ken Schroeder] said we could use the church as of Mothers Day 2006.” Medina arrived soon after, and now about 70 people … [Read more...]

International Mission Board missionary Eric Reese taps on the interior ceiling light, illuminating the cab of his Chevy pickup. Reese doesn’t need to see inside his vehicle. But after six years of working with the urban poor in the favelas (slums) of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, he knows those outside the cab need to see in. RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (BP) – International Mission Board missionary Eric Reese taps on the interior ceiling light, illuminating the cab of his Chevy pickup. Reese doesn’t need to see inside his vehicle. But after six years of working with the urban poor in the favelas (slums) of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, he knows those outside the cab need to see in. Eric slows the truck to a stop. A man steps toward the open driver-side window and cocks an AK-47. “Calma, calma,” Eric says. “We just finished an evangelistic presentation. We’re just leaving.” When the traficante (drug dealer) steps away from the window and waves him on, Eric, 42, puts the truck in gear and moves. It’s 9:20 p.m. With his truck windows open, Eric can’t mistake the sound of gunshots echoing through the favela as he heads home to his wife Ramona and their two children. With frequent shootouts, prostitution and drug trafficking in the … [Read more...]

Brazil Quick Facts: Full country name: República Federativa do Brasil Area: 8.51 million sq km Population: 175 million Capital City: Brasília People: 55 percent European descent, 38 percent biracial, 6 percent African descent, 1 percent other. Language: Portuguese Religion: 70 percent Roman Catholic; also a significant proportion who either belong to various cults or practice Indian animism Government: federative republic Facts for the Traveler Visas: Passports must be valid for at least six months from date of entry. Visas are required for tourists of many nationalities, including Australia, Canada and the USA; visas are generally granted for a period of 90 days, with one extension of up to 90 days possible. Health risks: dengue fever (The Aedes aegypti mosquito, which transmits the dengue virus, is most active during the day, and is found mainly in urban areas, in and around human dwellings. Signs and symptoms of dengue fever include a sudden onset of high fever, headache, joint and muscle pains, nausea and vomiting. Culture Brazilian culture has been shaped not only by the Portuguese, who gave the country its most common religion and language, but also by the country’s … [Read more...]

“In 2002, I took two men in our congregation to East Asia on a short-term mission trip,” pastor James Law recounted. GONZALES (BP) – “In 2002, I took two men in our congregation to East Asia on a short-term mission trip,” pastor James Law recounted. “From that trip God called one of the men and his wife to the mission field. Within a year, this couple sold their house and vehicles and most of their possessions. They left their adult children and grandchildren, family and friends to take the Gospel to a city with less than 1 percent believers.” Law, of First Baptist Church in Gonzales, La., said the couple has “sown the Gospel and planted many churches and hundreds have come to the Lord through their labor” during their six years of service through the International Mission Board. “When I think of how the Lord used that simple, short-term trip to East Asia, I stand amazed,” Law reflected. “Not only was a bridge built through the local ministry of our church for them to actually go, but when the Lord called them to the mission field, we continued supporting them through the Cooperative Program.” First Baptist supports that couple – and 10,000-plus other missionaries as well as other international and North American … [Read more...]

The snow that lingers longest in my neighborhood is the snow that I rolled up, hauled over, and stacked together to create this trio. METAIRIE – The snow that lingers longest in my neighborhood is the snow that I rolled up, hauled over, and stacked together to create this trio. Even though it turns your yard from white back to green prematurely, the energy used in rolling up the snow actually intensifies and extends your enjoyment of it. These snowmen will be standing at attention in my yard long after the snow on roofs and trees is gone. And so it goes for every holiday tradition, gathering, meal, and decoration. As you invest in your family and relationships on Christmas and throughout the year, you intensify and extend your enjoyment. The things that cost you nothing—no cold hands or wet feet or sweaty brow under your hat—are the things you least appreciate. Christmastime reminds us to invest deliberately, liberally, and consistently in those we love. Turn loose your energy and creativity through this holiday season. Plant a memory of surprise and joy in those around you. God never forgets our needs, our offerings, or our presence. But he loves to forget our sins. Christmas Eve is a great day to get on this … [Read more...]

Because of need, the annual Disaster Relief Roundtable and training is taking place in two locations early in 2009. LORANGER/RUSTON – Because of need, the annual Disaster Relief Roundtable and training is taking place in two locations early in 2009. It is set for Jan. 23/24 at Living Waters Baptist Assembly in Loranger, for people who live in Alexandria and south, and Feb. 21/22 at Temple Baptist Church in Ruston, for people who live north of Alexandria. “It’s designed to be a time of training and updating,” said Gibbie McMillan, director of men’s ministries and volunteers for the Louisiana Baptist Convention. “We’ll have an appreciation dinner Friday night in both locations, and give special recognition to people who stepped up and went the second mile in 2008.” McMillan said he expects a major turnout at both locations, because Disaster Relief badges expire after three years. “Everyone who was trained immediately after Katrina needs to have their training refreshed in 2009,” McMillan said. Everyone who attends either Roundtable will go through the Disaster Relief “Basic” training, which provides an overview of the what, why and how of Disaster Relief. “The definition of ‘disaster’ is ‘an occurrence that … [Read more...]

I had just finished two assembly programs speaking to the youth about abstinence from sexual activity until marriage and faithfulness in marriage. A teacher, who was heart broken over what she was seeing happening in the lives of her students, began to share her heart with me. “I hear students talk about going to church and then within a few minutes they talk about smoking pot or having sex.”  I had just finished two assembly programs speaking to the youth about abstinence from sexual activity until marriage and faithfulness in marriage. A teacher, who was heart broken over what she was seeing happening in the lives of her students, began to share her heart with me. “I hear students talk about going to church and then within a few minutes they talk about smoking pot or having sex.” This was a public school, but I have found the same problem in Christian settings.  I recently spoke with a youth pastor who was greatly troubled over the fact that some of the youth in his church had fallen prey to the lie that, even though they were involved in oral sex and mutual masturbation, they felt they had not committed adultery because they had not actually had sexual intercourse.  Has the church failed to deal with sin to such an … [Read more...]

I’m an avid LSU football fan. When I received my Ph.D. at the University of Georgia, my professors threatened to recall my degree because I wouldn’t convert to the Georgia Bulldogs. I’m an avid LSU football fan. When I received my Ph.D. at the University of Georgia, my professors threatened to recall my degree because I wouldn’t convert to the Georgia Bulldogs. As a college professor myself, I often upset my colleagues by telling them that if I had to choose between academics and athletics, I would definitely choose athletics. I am joking of course. I know there are some things as important as football – basketball and baseball for instance – particularly when your baseball team just won 20 games in a row.  Seriously, despite my love of football, I do stop often to reflect on what really matters in life. Recently my son, Bret, gave me a book to read which helped me do just that.  It was entitled Season of Life: A football star, a boy, a journey to manhood  (Marx, 2003).  I was particularly pleased because the book had been passed on to him and my son, Bart, by Carl Carver, the vice-president of Lofton Staffing. For those who may not know, Carl was also an outstanding baseball pitcher for the University of North … [Read more...]

It is the smallest of the five Baptist associations that make up District Eight Baptist Convention, but Red River doesn’t let its size or numbers stop it from doing its part. COUSHATTA – It is the smallest of the five Baptist associations that make up District Eight Baptist Convention, but Red River doesn’t let its size or numbers stop it from doing its part. “There are only 12 churches in this association,” said Lee Dickson, director of missions for District Eight for the last 31 years, “but they don’t let it stop. They are doing a lot of great things in the parish, as well as working jointly with our other associations on different projects.” Red River Parish – mainly Coushatta – is home for Dickson, who grew up 10 miles behind the Post Office in Coushatta. “Red River is a very rural parish,” Dickson said. “People here are hard-working and church-going folk.  They have a wonderful giving spirit, and it is evident by the giving of their time and money.” Especially when it comes to projects that helps promote God’s word. Fairview Baptist Church has given more than $100,000 and countless hours to the construction of the new Baptist Collegiate Ministry building at Northwestern State University in … [Read more...]

After a year-long period of observation, Jesus’ disciples were sent out two-by-two to various locales to do the work of Jesus as they testified of their faith in God – His love, His power. After a year-long period of observation, Jesus’ disciples were sent out two-by-two to various locales to do the work of Jesus as they testified of their faith in God – His love, His power.  What was the work of Jesus? The evangelization of the entire world, and that included the supervision of those who were doing the work. For the first seven articles in this series on developing disciples the way Jesus did, go towww.baptistmessage.com and search for “evangelism.” Jesus made a point of meeting with his disciples when they returned from their ‘walkabouts,’ Robert Coleman wrote in The Master Plan of Evangelism. When the disciples were sent out, they knew they would be expected to share their experiences later with the group. Jesus was alert to make experiences teach truth, Coleman wrote. “[E]ven this occasion [Luke 10:18-22] was used to caution the disciples against pride in their accomplishments,” Coleman wrote, which is another way of saying, “As he [Jesus] reviewed some experience which the disciples had, he would bring out … [Read more...]