The strong but pleasant smell of old leather and parchment fills the rare books room in New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary’s John T. Christian Library. Shelf after shelf of ancient books and documents line the walls of this long narrow room.  NEW ORLEANS (BP) – The strong but pleasant smell of old leather and parchment fills the rare books room in New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary’s John T. Christian Library. Shelf after shelf of ancient books and documents line the walls of this long narrow room. Stepping into the room is a step back in time – into the world of Reformers and the dawn of the printing press. It’s also a step back to the earlier days of the seminary when the library’s namesake, John T. Christian, donated the collection shortly before his death. Because they are so delicate, the books have rarely been seen, much less used. Though closed to the general public, the room has been the site of intense research since February. Last spring Ellen Middlebrook Herron, a Chicago-based scholar specializing in medieval history and rare books, spent four months carefully assessing and cataloging the collection. For years, library workers suspected that the collection was special, if not remarkable. … [Read more...]

Children at the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home are provided with love, the best care, an opportunity for hope, and, foremost, their spiritual needs are taken care of. MONROE – Children at the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home are provided with love, the best care, an opportunity for hope, and, foremost, their spiritual needs are taken care of. On Feb. 15, the children’s home will also be able to better take care of their education needs, because on that day, the home will celebrate the grand opening of its new state-of-the-art learning center. “This learning center will be a real investment in the future of the children,” Perry Hancock, the home’s executive director, said. “It will be the first time in 15 years we will finally be able to bring our multimedia and computer labs, educational library, and tutoring rooms all together under one roof. Right now, they are scattered all over our campus.” Fifteen years ago a fire destroyed the Home’s library, and since that time the children have had to make do. “For the first time in a long time, we will have a true educational resource library,” Hancock said. “The new facility will feature an expanded computer room and a big center room with tables and chairs that seats … [Read more...]

It was Benjamin Spock that told an entire generation of parents to take it easy, don’t discipline your children. Discipline, he said, would warp a child’s fragile ego. Millions followed his advice. However, before his death Dr. Spock made an amazing discovery: He was wrong. He said: COLUMBUS, Ohio (BP) – It was Benjamin Spock that told an entire generation of parents to take it easy, don’t discipline your children. Discipline, he said, would warp a child’s fragile ego. Millions followed his advice. However, before his death Dr. Spock made an amazing discovery: He was wrong. He said: “We have reared a generation of brats. Parents aren’t firm enough with their children for fear of losing their love or incurring their resentment. This is a cruel deprivation that we professionals have imposed on mothers and fathers. Of course, we did it with the best of intentions. We didn’t realize until it was too late how our know-it-all attitude was undermining the self assurance of parents.” Something just as momentous, in my opinion, has recently occurred in the evangelical community. For most of a generation evangelicals have been romanced by the “seeker-sensitive” movement spawned by Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago. The guru … [Read more...]

ALEXANDRIA, La. (BP) – For the first time in my adult life, I have had to find a church home. ALEXANDRIA, La. (BP) – For the first time in my adult life, I have had to find a church home. Everywhere else I’ve gone, I went as pastor. But now I look at the church from the pew instead of the pulpit. On many Sundays, I’ve thought about one particular former church member. He is a vice president for his global company. Only five companies worldwide do what his company does. He talks with major political leaders and meets with the top brass of the Army Corp of Engineers. In his extensive travel, he makes several multi-million dollar deals per year. Yet on Sundays, you might find him cleaning a commode or vacuuming a soiled area of carpeting. When I suggested we should change our terminology to refer to visitors as guests, he was the first to make those guests feel at home. He regularly left his circle of friends as soon as he spotted a guest he hadn’t met. Introducing himself and anyone who was a member sitting nearby, he would engage the guest in friendly conversation. Those who wondered why his Bible study class was growing when other classes were stagnant simply didn’t watch him make a newcomer feel at ease in the … [Read more...]

My son David is a sophomore at Louisiana College. He was recently involved in an automobile accident. My wife and I were pleasantly surprised when Louisiana College President Dr. Joe Aguillard arrived at Rapides Regional Hospital to pray with us. Also on the scene was Jeremy Huffman, David’s cross-country coach at LC. He took quite a bit of time to sit with David at the hospital. Numerous students followed suit.   Additionally, Dr. Aguillard called other LC staff and they began to make arrangements to help David, who had suffered a concussion and a broken foot. The staff could not have been more helpful. Dr. Peggy Pack of Student Development assisted us by discussing the issues David would face and also helped secure a wheelchair (she even offered to drive us to get it!).  The dorm staff at Tudor Hall helped David get into a first-floor room, so he could get in & out more easily.  Brandon Robin, Director of LC’s Baptist Collegiate Ministry, helped arrange students to wheel David around campus. Brandon himself was among the first to personally wheel David over to the BCM where LC students provided fellowship & encouragement as he began his recuperation. I want to publicly thank Dr. Aguillard as well as the … [Read more...]

Sowing the seeds for ministry opportunities, women from Louisiana and Alabama state Women’s Missionary Union partnered together to prayer walk in New Orleans Oct. 27. NEW ORLEANS— Sowing the seeds for ministry opportunities, women from Louisiana and Alabama state Women’s Missionary Union partnered together to prayer walk in New Orleans Oct. 27.  More than 70 women concentrated their prayer walking efforts in Zone Six, a section of the city adopted by Alabama Baptists.   “God is clearly working in the hearts and lives of His people. This is an extraordinary time on our city that calls for extraordinary prayers,” David Rhymes, evangelism strategist, Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans (BAGNO) said.   The prayer walk marked the fifth organized walk in the city, where LBC state WMU and Women’s Ministries have worked along-side BAGNO to cover sections of the city.  While anyone is welcome to join Louisiana in “Prayer Walk New Orleans 07” this is the first prayer walk where two state conventions partnered together to cover an entire zone. “Through prayer we under gird, support, encourage and celebrate all that we do in Christ’s name.  Prayer walking completely exemplifies what it means to ‘pray without ceasing,’” … [Read more...]

Beauregard Christian Women’s Job Corps site was one of two CWJCs honored with site awards at the Live the Joy of Missions WMU Conference, Oct. 17-20, at Immanuel Baptist Church in Little Rock, Ark. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Beauregard Christian Women’s Job Corps site was one of two CWJCs honored with site awards at the Live the Joy of Missions WMU Conference, Oct. 17-20, at Immanuel Baptist Church in Little Rock, Ark. The awards were made possible by the Christian Women’s Job Corps/Christian Men’s Job Corps Endowment managed by the WMU Foundation. The award will enable Beauregard to expand its current ministries and continue to reach out to women in need. CWJC is a ministry of national WMU that seeks to equip women for life and employment through a Christ-centered, holistic approach. Each CWJC site is created and operated by a woman who has heard and responded to the call of God to invest her life in other people. Site coordinator Mary Koehn accepted the award on behalf of Beauregard CWJC. Her site will use the award money to upgrade its computer lab. “This is important because being able to use a computer is a marketable skill sought after by participants and draws them to us,” Koehn explained. Koehn started Beauregard CWJC in … [Read more...]

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tonya Hancock, a homemaker from Monroe was elected in June by messengers at the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention to serve on the board of trustees of LifeWay Christian Resources. Hancock attended her first board meeting Sept. 10-11 at the LifeWay headquarters in Nashville, Tenn. NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tonya Hancock, a homemaker from Monroe was elected in June by messengers at the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention to serve on the board of trustees of LifeWay Christian Resources. Hancock attended her first board meeting Sept. 10-11 at the LifeWay headquarters in Nashville, Tenn.  Hancock and her husband, Perry, are members of First Baptist Monroe. Hancock has served a variety of administrative roles at the local church, associational, state and SBC level, and served for 10 years as administrative assistant to the provost of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. LifeWay’s 57 trustees come from a wide range of vocations. More than half are pastors or staff ministers. The current board also includes a director of missions, a basketball coach, an evangelist, and Frank Page, the president of the Southern Baptist Convention. LifeWay’s full board meets twice a year.   … [Read more...]

DEVILLE – Longview Baptist’s Annual Thanksgiving Pig Roast is set for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 21. Robby Poole is pastor. COLUMBIA – Welcome Home Baptist is to host a community Thanksgiving service at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 14 . C. R. Martin, speaker; Bill Gueringer, pastor. MANY – The annual community Thanksgiving service is set for 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 18 at First Baptist. Steve Kelly is pastor. PINEVILLE – Tioga First Baptist is to host a churchwide Thanksgiving meal, Sunday, November 18 following the morning worship service. David Cranford is pastor. PINEVILLE – Pineville Park Baptist’s 6th annual Thanksgiving feast is set for 4 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 18. Greg Carroll is pastor. BOGALUSA – First Baptist’s churchwide  Thanksgiving dinner, Sunday, Nov. 18, following worship. Bob Adams is pastor. BLANCHARD – First Baptist is to host a community Thanksgiving service at 6 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 18. James D. Hill is pastor. DEVILLE – Philadelphia Baptist’s churchwide Thanksgiving dinner is set for 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 18. A holiday program of Secret Santas for adopted seniors is to begin Sunday, Nov. 25 and a Revealing Dinner is set for Sunday, Dec. 9. Philip Robertson is pastor.  PINEVILLE – A Louisiana College … [Read more...]

It has been over 56 years since the Louisiana State University Baptist Collegiate Ministry was built at its present location, so it was about time for a little renovation. Well, make that a lot. BATON ROUGE – It has been over 56 years since the Louisiana State University Baptist Collegiate Ministry was built at its present location, so it was about time for a little renovation. Well, make that a lot. The facility was in desperate need of a new roof, electrical and plumbing work, and a new heating and air conditioning. It also needed to expand to meet the growing number of students, who utilized the facility. It was a major renovation with a major price tag – $1,836,977. A capital campaign, which was started in 2002, has raised $1,623,816.38 so far, which leaves $213,160.62 left to complete the project. The BCM has raised over $811,908.19 from alumni, parents, churches, and current students and the Louisiana Baptist Convention has pledged up to $900,000 in matching funds to assist with the project. “We’ve asked for prayer to help raise the remaining funds,” said Masters. “We have come a long way both with the money and the work. There is still plenty of work to do, especially on the interior. They still have to put … [Read more...]