Nov. 8 marked the celebration of a trio of special occasions for Blanchard couple Nancy and Ray Tiner. BLANCHARD – Nov. 8 marked the celebration of a trio of special occasions for Blanchard couple Nancy and Ray Tiner. She just turned 90; he just turned 100; they just celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary. On Saturday afternoon, Nov. 8, the couple’s children hosted a reception/birthday party at First Baptist Church Blanchard. Daughter Betty Fulgium with husband Don, and son Stan Tiner with wife Vickie celebrated with more than 100 people, including the Mayor of Shreveport, Cedric Glover, who delivered a proclamation that Nov. 8, 2008, be declared Ray Tiner Day in Shreveport. Blanchard Mayor Johnny Digilormo also sent a proclamation for Ray Tiner Day in Blanchard. The Tiner’s son Stan, daughter Betty, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were a significant part of the celebration. During the reception, friends from long ago as well as recent acquaintances joined the couple in celebrating the three historic events. The Tiner’s pharmacy staff from Wal-Mart were present as was staff from Christus Schumpert Hospital. Other special guests were members of the Mooringsport Domino Club where the couple enjoys … [Read more...]

First Baptist Church St. Tammany Baptist Association COVINGTON – Big things are happening at Covington’s First Baptist Church, said Pastor Waylon Bailey. “We have just established a new capitol fundraising campaign,” Bailey said. They have $6.1 million pledged to build additional classroom space for youth. They hope to begin building sometime next year, and once the project starts, he expects the process to take about a year. During Sunday School, Bailey said they have about 200 youth attending presently. “That’s a big thing,” he said. Plus, they have about 2000 people attend worship and 1200 for Sunday School every Sunday. Bailey has been pastor at First Baptist for 19 years. He has seen God do some amazing things. “It’s been a wonderful pastorate,” he added. He’s seen hundreds of people make decisions for Christ. “We baptize about 100 or 120 people a year,” he said. First Baptist Church Washington Baptist Association BOGALUSA – According to Janice Adams, wife of Pastor Bob Adams, God brought them to the church seven years ago for a very specific mission, peace-making. “Twenty years before there had been 11 ministers and interims,” Adams said. “There was a lot of unstableness.” Adams said … [Read more...]

COMINGS AND GOINGS -Jimmy Case resigns as education/administration minister at Fair Park Baptist, West Monroe. -Gregg Dunn, new as pastor Antioch Baptist, Farmerville. -Jay Hodges, new as minister of music Judson Baptist, Walker.  NEEDED -Part-time minister of music; send resume to Enon Baptist Church, Attn: Minister of Music Search Committee, 14049 Hwy. 16, Franklinton LA 70438. -Minister of Music and Education at First Baptist, 950 Self St., Franklinton LA 70438; call 985.839.3427. AVAILABLE -House available for missionary or pastor in Homer; call 318.789.5780. -Ralph Hines for bi-vocational pastor in Northwest Louisiana or full-time pastorate statewide; call 318.797.4918. ANNIVERSARIES AND CELEBRATIONS -BATON ROUGE – Foster Road Baptist: Renovation Dedication and Annual Thanksgiving Meal 10:15 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 23; Huey Moak, pastor. REVIVALS -PIONEER – New Prospect Baptist: 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20 through Saturday, Nov. 22; 11 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 23; Thanksgiving lunch; Robin Cox, speaker; John W. White, associate pastor. CHURCH AND ASSOCIATION EVENTS -HOUMA – Coteau Baptist: Convoy of Hope at Houma Civic Center 6:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21 and 7 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 22; Thanksgiving Luncheon … [Read more...]

New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary served as a polling place in the presidential election Nov. 4 as numerous voting precincts cast their ballots in the Hardin Student Center, allowing students and faculty to interact with the community from both a personal and civic standpoint. NEW ORLEANS (BP)--New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary served as a polling place in the presidential election Nov. 4 as numerous voting precincts cast their ballots in the Hardin Student Center, allowing students and faculty to interact with the community from both a personal and civic standpoint. “Historically, New Orleans has conducted its elections in small precincts with one or two voting machines per precinct,” Chuck Kelley, the seminary’s president, said. “Nearly all of these were located in homes in the many neighborhoods of New Orleans. “When much of the Ninth Ward and New Orleans East was heavily damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, however, large portions of the city were left without homes or other habitable properties [to host elections].” Local officials decided that the student center, which boasts a large atrium, was a great fit for the surrounding area’s voting needs. Since Katrina, voting machines have been moved … [Read more...]

New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary has launched its Institute for Christian Apologetics and a School for Christian Apologetics to equip believers for the casual and intentional challenges to contemporary Christianity common in today’s culture. NEW ORLEANS   – New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary has launched its Institute for Christian Apologetics and a School for Christian Apologetics to equip believers for the casual and intentional challenges to contemporary Christianity common in today’s culture. “The fundamental purpose why we do this is not to build an institute but to train people to be more effective in carrying out the Great Commission,” said New Orleans professor Bob Stewart, who will direct the institute along with his colleague Mike Edens. Stewart said the institute will offer apologetics training through conferences and events, develop resources for churches and ministers, facilitate an online apologetics journal, and coordinate evangelism trips involving apologetics.  The institute’s first event, “Defend the Faith: A School of Christian Apologetics,” is set for Jan. 11-16.  “We’re going to bring in very good scholars, including Paul Copan, Gary Habermas, Michael Licona and James Walker,” … [Read more...]

The North American Mission Board (NAMB) will launch the pilot of a new 30-minute TV program, “On Mission Xtra” (OMX), on Weds., Nov. 26, at 9:30 p.m. (EST) on the FamilyNet television network. ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) – The North American Mission Board (NAMB) will launch the pilot of a new 30-minute TV program, “On Mission Xtra” (OMX), on Weds., Nov. 26, at 9:30 p.m. (EST) on the FamilyNet television network. Twelve more “OMX” episodes are currently in production by NAMB, and are scheduled to be delivered in January to FamilyNet.  Atlanta-based FamilyNet – operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week – is seen in more than 30 million TV households in more than 200 markets via cable systems and broadcasters in the United States. According to NAMB, “On Mission Xtra” will be a dynamic blend of missionary features, studio interviews and profiles of people who are reaching North America with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  “From adventures to heart-warming stories, On Mission Xtra will inspire you to look at your own mission field with a new perspective, and will challenge you to take part in God’s mission,” said Brandon Pickett, NAMB’s communications team leader and OMX executive producer. Pickett added, “it will be exciting … [Read more...]

In a commentary Oct. 28, R. Albert Mohler Jr. noted the tragic irony surrounding the falling out between the Crystal Cathedral’s Robert H. Schuller and his son Robert A. Schuller, which has led to the son’s removal as host of the “Hour of Power” television ministry. In a commentary Oct. 28, R. Albert Mohler Jr. noted the tragic irony surrounding the falling out between the Crystal Cathedral’s Robert H. Schuller and his son Robert A. Schuller, which has led to the son’s removal as host of the “Hour of Power” television ministry. “In 1982 the elder Schuller published a ministry manifesto known as ‘Self-Esteem: The New Reformation,’” Mohler wrote at albertmohler.com. “In that book, mailed free to thousands of pastors, Schuller argued that the evangelical church had lost sight of the true message of the Gospel – a message of self-esteem. He castigated expository biblical preaching and called for a therapeutic gospel. “... The main thrust of the book was a call for a ‘new Reformation’ that would replace the Gospel as preached by the churches with a new message of self-esteem to be preached by ‘missions’ for God. Along the way, Schuller redefined both sin and salvation, abandoning biblical definitions for those he found in … [Read more...]

A new version of the Bible is printed on eco-friendly recycled paper with a biodegradable linen cover and soy-based ink in an effort to promote environmentalism among Christians. A new version of the Bible is printed on eco-friendly recycled paper with a biodegradable linen cover and soy-based ink in an effort to promote environmentalism among Christians. “The Green Bible,” released in October, highlights more than 1,000 passages on the goodness of creation and God’s charge to mankind to care for it, according to a report in USA Today. Each of those passages is in green ink, sort of like the words of Jesus in red letter editions. “The first chapter of Genesis is grass green; so are big chunks of Psalms and Gospel passages in which Jesus considers the lilies of the field and keeps his eye on the sparrow,” Cathy Lynn Grossman wrote for USA Today. According to the book’s publishers, the Green Bible will equip and encourage people to see God’s vision for creation and help them engage in the work of healing and sustaining it. Published by HarperOne in the New Revised Standard Version, The Green Bible features essays by conservationists and theologians where other Bibles would feature study notes. Among the … [Read more...]

The summer of 2008 will long be remembered in Cedar Rapids both for the 500-year flood that swamped the Iowa city and for the flood of compassion and cooperation provided by Southern Baptist churches across the country. CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (BP) – The summer of 2008 will long be remembered in Cedar Rapids both for the 500-year flood that swamped the Iowa city and for the flood of compassion and cooperation provided by Southern Baptist churches across the country. “This past summer was extraordinary,” said Dan Wiersema, pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church, where about 130 people attend Sunday morning worship. “Our parking lot became the official disaster relief site for feeding units and mud-out units. Volunteers assisted by our members prepared more than 120,000 meals. We slept as many as 60 in our facilities, and teams from several states completed mud-out jobs for 50 home-owners in an area less than a mile from our church. “This [flood] definitely was an object lesson for the Cooperative Program,” Wiersema noted. “We were greatly blessed, our community was greatly blessed and church members could see in a fresh way the cooperative efforts of Southern Baptists and the blessings that flowed from that.” Today the church is … [Read more...]

“Thank you” may not be the most profound thing you will hear or speak today. The person you direct those words to – let’s be honest – will not find them the most rewarding of utterances they receive throughout the day. In our society, they’re rather routine. “Thank you” may not be the most profound thing you will hear or speak today. The person you direct those words to – let’s be honest – will not find them the most rewarding of utterances they receive throughout the day. In our society, they’re rather routine. However, and this is what keeps us coming back to reminding ourselves to give thanks, the absence of those two words creates a deafening silence that may wound good people who have served well. Thanksgiving can be trite or it can be a treasure. How we give it, the way we speak it, the smile on our countenance, and the sincerity in our voice, these infuse it with authenticity or diminish its worth. Though I have the gift of eloquence and can move great audiences with the force of my words and have not thanks, I am become a self-righteous prig and an insufferable elitist. Though I give the gift of great sacrifice and cause institutions to erect buildings in my honor and have not thanks for what others gave to … [Read more...]