Southern Baptist Convention messengers meeting in Indianapolis June 10-11 elected a new president, launched a bold initiative to share the Gospel with every person in North America by 2020, accepted a detailed report from the Executive Committee on the subject of child sexual abuse prevention and adopted a much-discussed resolution on regenerate church membership. INDIANAPOLIS (BP) – Southern Baptist Convention messengers meeting in Indianapolis June 10-11 elected a new president, launched a bold initiative to share the Gospel with every person in North America by 2020, accepted a detailed report from the Executive Committee on the subject of child sexual abuse prevention and adopted a much-discussed resolution on regenerate church membership.  New SBC President Johnny Hunt long has been known among Southern Baptists for his passion for evangelism, discipleship and missions, and those themes dominated his post-election press conference and a brief address to messengers. His election came on the heels of LifeWay’s Annual Church Profile report showing that Southern Baptists in 2007 baptized the fewest number of people in two decades. “I pray that these next two years will be exciting times as we turn the tide and begin once … [Read more...]

Antioch Baptist Tickfaw LaTangi Baptist Association TICKFAW – Lois Oller teaches her Sunday school lesson like a preacher preaches, and she’s been teaching like that continuously for the last 75 years. The 91-year-old Oller began teaching Sunday school when she was only 16. She has pretty much taught all age groups, but she’s taught the seniors adults for the longest period of time. “She is one of the most radiant Christians I’ve ever met,” Charles Bigner, pastor of Antioch Baptist Church, said in describing her. “She is a wonderful, wonderful person. A true gift from God.” While a broken hip suffered after a fall several years ago forces her to use a walker, she hasn’t let that stop her, Bigner said. “She doesn’t let her age slow her down, no sir. I’m 71 and she is way ahead of me. Her mind is very sharp and she always has a smile on her face,” Bigner said. “She is truly a joy to know and be around.” On May 25th, Bigner and members of the church showed their appreciation for her faithful service with a birthday party/special recognition day at Antioch Baptist Church, which is located near Tickfaw.  The special day allowed everyone to celebrate Oller’s 91st birthday, but more importantly to recognize and thank … [Read more...]

COMINGS AND GOINGS -A. L. Palmer resigns as interim pastor at Eden Baptist, Denham Springs. ANNIVERSARIES AND CELEBRATIONS -Crystal McCall of Temple Baptist, Alexandria was crowned queen of the Louisiana Nursing Home Association at its annual pageant recently. -Wanelle Lowe celebrates 53 years as pianist, First Baptist, Pineville. -Leonard and Marjorie Cathcart of First Baptist, Benton celebrate 60th wedding anniversary June 29. -Leo and Marianne Dillabunty of Mooringsport Baptist, Mooringsport celebrate 65th wedding anniversary. -First Baptist Baker Homecoming with potluck lunch noon Sunday, June 22. Dennis Allen, pastor. CHURCH AND ASSOCIATION EVENTS -GLENMORA – Yancy Baptist: Community Singing 6:30 p.m. Friday, June 20. Building Fund love offering. -SULPHUR – First Baptist: Senior Adult Luncheon 11:30 a.m. Thursday, June 19. Warden Burl Cain, speaker. David Holder, pastor. -WINNSBORO – First Baptist: All-Church Dinner Sunday, June 22; FirstKids Pool Party Wednesday, June 25. Harry Boyd Jr., pastor. -WALKER – Judson Baptist: Vacation Bible School Prayer Walk 6:30 p.m. Sunday, June 22.  Merelin McCon, pastor. -JONESBORO – Ebenezer Baptist: Family Fun Night 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 25. Randy Lee, pastor. -BATON … [Read more...]

We must challenge the next generation of Southern Baptists to “go tell the story of Jesus,” Jerry Rankin told messengers June 11 at the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention in Indianapolis.  INDIANAPOLIS (BP) – We must challenge the next generation of Southern Baptists to “go tell the story of Jesus,” Jerry Rankin told messengers June 11 at the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention in Indianapolis. Speaking to several thousand messengers and guests, the president of the International Mission Board urged Southern Baptist leaders to “fulfill the mission” by passing on the missions torch. “What about the next generation?” Rankin asked. “Will we nurture in our children and grandchildren God’s heart for missions, or will they simply emulate the self-centered indifference of our generation? “We are seeing God stir in the children, young people and students of today a passion for missions and [a desire] to make a difference in our world,” he said. Messengers watched a video of a vision trip into the Peruvian Amazon that Rankin made with his 12-year-old grandson Zachary. The pair spent time visiting with Xtreme Team missionaries who worked among a remote tribe known as the Yaminahua. “I wouldn’t … [Read more...]

Geoff Hammond, president of the North American Mission Board, unveiled that National Evangelism Initiative to messengers of the Southern Baptist Convention June 10 in Indianapolis. INDIANAPOLIS (BP) – Geoff Hammond, president of the North American Mission Board, unveiled that National Evangelism Initiative to messengers of the Southern Baptist Convention June 10 in Indianapolis. “Just imagine if every believer in North America started sharing the Gospel and every person heard that Gospel by the year 2020,” Hammond said. As part of NAMB’s report and presentation to the convention, Hammond outlined the broad focus of the initiative that has been developed by the mission board working in conjunction with state and local Southern Baptist leaders with the encouragement of SBC President Frank Page. Prior to the annual convention, Page said he thought the most important part of the meeting would be the unveiling of the National Evangelism Initiative, which he believes “is going to have great benefits as churches come together over the next 10 years to push stronger than ever in an evangelistic direction.” Hammond said the initiative will be “multifaceted and flexible. It can be contextualized for your particular mission … [Read more...]

Spurred by a vast reservoir of oil shale and a readiness to share the Gospel, Hazen Christian Fellowship wants to be ready for an influx of workers and their families in western North Dakota. HAZEN, N.D. (BP) – Spurred by a vast reservoir of oil shale and a readiness to share the Gospel, Hazen Christian Fellowship wants to be ready for an influx of workers and their families in western North Dakota. According to a U.S. Geological Survey news release in April, the 25,000-square-mile Bakken Foundation has an estimated 3 to 4.3 billion barrels of technically recoverable oil. A Kiplinger report described the Bakken field as “twice the size of Alaska’s reserves.” About two-thirds of the oil-laden shale is located in western North Dakota, but the formation also extends into Montana and Saskatchewan, Canada. Hazen Christian Fellowship pastor Bob Pittman envisions a hoped-for activities center at the church as an extension of its missions vision. Even so, the vision starts with giving 15 percent of the church’s undesignated offerings to missions, including 10 percent through the Cooperative Program, the Southern Baptist way of combining the efforts and resources of local churches to make a difference in the lives of people across … [Read more...]

RUBY – Too often people are judged by their outward appearances, and not for whom they are,” says Pete Reed of Ruby, “which causes them to feel unwelcome.” RUBY – Too often people are judged by their outward appearances, and not for whom they are,” says Pete Reed of Ruby, “which causes them to feel unwelcome.” Reed knows this only too well, because he has firsthand experience. The 45-year-old Reed, who was baptized early in his life, felt out of place around the very people who had known him his entire life. Over time he, and his family, drifted further and further from all the places – which even included church – that made him feel uncomfortable. “I had been a member of a church earlier in my life,” Reed said. “I grew up not two miles from the church, and I was baptized there when I was young. But I didn’t feel I was saved because of the way they did it.” Cross Branded Cowboy Church, a ministry of Pine Grove Baptist Church, though, was different, Reed says. They accepted him, as he was – a giant of a man with a bad back and knees, and a hunger for the Lord – who loved to make children laugh. Like Reed, Dwayne Rogers, pastor of Pine Grove Baptist and Cross Branded, discovered many of the country boys – the … [Read more...]

Donny Kimball, a member of Emmanuel Baptist Ruston, is onsite in Iowa as Incident Commander – White Cap – for Southern Baptist Disaster Relief. ALEXANDRIA – Donny Kimball, a member of Emmanuel Baptist Ruston, is onsite in Iowa as Incident Commander – White Cap – for Southern Baptist Disaster Relief. No other Louisianian Disaster Relief volunteers are known to be involved yet with flood and tornado disasters across the nation’s midsection. “We’re still on standby,” said Gibbie McMillan, LBC Men’s Ministry/Disaster Relief strategist. “Cedar Rapids and Cedar Falls [both in Iowa] are in bad shape. “However, they’ve pretty much got [feeding people] under control,” McMillan continued. “Meal counts were 6,000 and dropped to 4,000 in one day.” The flood waters still are high – in some cases, 10 feet deep – and the flooding along the Mississippi River is moving south. “Up in Iowa and Indiana the Mississippi is not as deep or wide as it is along the Louisiana/Mississippi border,” said McMillan in explaining why he did not expect the flooding to affect Louisiana. “We have these spillways – gates that can be opened and relieve pressure; they don’t have that up there.” According to The Bridge (to volunteer mission … [Read more...]

Every once in a while, a facility is so good it makes others sit up and take notice. Then, after a closer look, they’re even more impressed. Such is the case with the Acadian Baptist Center. EUNICE – Every once in a while, a facility is so good it makes others sit up and take notice. Then, after a closer look, they’re even more impressed. Such is the case with the Acadian Baptist Center. Hidden away in the heart of Cajun country, this former Baptist school – Acadia Baptist School – provides a wonderful setting on its sprawling 84-acre campus for year-round conferences, retreats, and camps for thousands of campers. “When the school closed it was taken over by Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church and the Home Mission Board, who would eventually transfer the school and facilities to the Louisiana Baptist Convention. It closed in the early ’70s and stood vacant for several years before it finally reopened,” said Camp Manager James Newsom.  “We pretty stay busy just about all year round, but it can get pretty hectic during the summer with all the camps we put on,” Newsom said. Featuring such amenities like seven conference rooms, a full size gym, two worship areas, three dormitories capable of accommodating 400, two dining areas … [Read more...]

African drumbeats will throb across Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center July 14-17 for an anticipated 200 third- through sixth-grade girls. ALEXANDRIA – African drumbeats will throb across Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center July 14-17 for an anticipated 200 third- through sixth-grade girls. They’ll meet a “real, live missionary” who serves in Mozambique, and hear stories about the nation on the southeast coast of Africa that is neighbors with Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Malawi and Zambia. Mozambique is known for its 25 major rivers – including the storied Zambezi that provides access to central Africa. The missionary – in order to maintain the highest level of security the Message doesn’t give the names of personnel with the International Mission Board – will tell the girls about the nearly 21 million people in Mozambique, a nation about six times the size of Louisiana, where the annual income is the equivalent of $700/U.S. and the average lifespan is less than 41 years. The missionary will describe her work and the people she has met in Mozambique, and will let the girls know they can be involved even at their age with missions overseas or in North America. “It is my hope, my prayer, that with this week at GA Camp … [Read more...]