LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP) – Is preaching still central to Christian worship? This question is asked again and again as contemporary evangelicalism is observed. How can this be up for question? LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP) – Is preaching still central to Christian worship? This question is asked again and again as contemporary evangelicalism is observed. How can this be up for question? In some circles, preaching has fallen on hard times. An open debate is now being waged over the character and centrality of preaching in the church. At stake is nothing less than the integrity of Christian worship and proclamation. How did this happen? Given the central place of preaching in the New Testament church, it would seem that the priority of biblical preaching should be uncontested. After all, as John A. Broadus – one of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary’s founding faculty – famously remarked, “Preaching is characteristic of Christianity. No other religion has made the regular and frequent assembling of groups of people, to hear religious instruction and exhortation, an integral part of Christian worship.” Yet, numerous influential voices within evangelicalism suggest that the age of the expository sermon is now past. In its place, some … [Read more...]

Have you ever opened the mail and discovered a special invitation to a significant event? Have you ever opened the mail and discovered a special invitation to a significant event? Perhaps it was an invitation to a wedding or graduation or even an inauguration. If it was logistically possible, Patty and I would send every messenger from every church a personal invitation to this year’s Annual Meeting of the Louisiana Baptist Convention. We hope every church will determine to send its full complement of messengers to this year’s Convention. The Lord has done great things among our churches and through our cooperative ministries. We have much to celebrate about the greatness of our God at work through His people. All we have to do is look back over our shoulder to our humble beginnings in 1848 and recognize how God has powerfully used the cooperation of Louisiana Baptists to touch our Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth. While we celebrate, we also have some very important issues to communicate with you about the work that is yet to be done. Like many other places in North America, the lostness in our state is overwhelming and yet we sense a yearning in the heart of our churches for God-breathed revival … [Read more...]

ALEXANDRIA –  Emmanuel Baptist’s Heritage Club is to host Theron Jones of the Central Louisiana Red Cross as guest speaker at the 12 p.m. Friday, Oct. 26, meeting. A First Aid and CPR Training course is set for 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3. Pre-registration is required. Chris Thacker is pastor. BATON ROUGE – A trip to Audubon Zoo in New Orleans is set for Friday, Oct. 26, by First Baptist. Burn Page is pastor.  BATON ROUGE – A Fall Family Gathering was held at Broadmoor Baptist, Sunday, Oct. 21. A Men’s Fall Prayer Breakfast is set for Saturday, Oct. 27. Major Stephen Long of the Baton Rouge Salvation Army is to be the guest speaker. Reservations are needed for the event. Children three years – 5th grade are to participate in the  church’s Trunk or Treat at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 31. All children and adventuresome adults are encouraged to wear non-scary costumes and prizes are to be awarded for best adult costumes. DENHAM SPRINGS – Hebron Baptist is to conduct a “Fall Distribution Blitz” and “Prayer Walk” in area neighborhoods at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 27. Packets will contain a fall festival flyer, Upward Basketball and Cheerleading form and church services/information brochure. Joe Alain is … [Read more...]

Former cottage dad Don Estep sorts through food gathered during the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home’s 2007 Fall Food Roundup. Former cottage dad Don Estep sorts through food gathered during the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home’s 2007 Fall Food Roundup. Between Sept. 17 and Oct. 16, LBCH cottage dads drove across the state to pick up food collected by local churches. This year, 361 churches participated in the food drive. Food collected during Fall Food Roundup is used to feed the boys and girls of LBCH for an entire year. Items still needed are: syrup, cooking oil, ziplock bags, aluminum foil, plastic wrap, dishwashing liquid. “Our children are blessed daily by the efforts of Louisiana Baptists during Fall Food Roundup,” says Executive Director Perry Hancock. “This support helps us meet needs and share God’s love with hurting children. We are sincerely thankful to all who faithfully participate each year.” … [Read more...]

Youth are to take youngsters through a maze in various parts of the church that are to depict earth, heaven and hell. First Baptist Baker produces a fall festival each year for children of the church and community. This year from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 31, the youth are to take the youngsters through a maze in various parts of the church that are to depict earth, heaven and hell. Dennis Allen is pastor; Amelia Pilcher is youth minister. … [Read more...]

On Aug. 15, an 8.0-magnitude earthquake 90 miles outside of Lima, Peru, shook the countryside and left approximately 33,000 people without shelter and food. RICHMOND, Va. (BP)--On Aug. 15, an 8.0-magnitude earthquake 90 miles outside of Lima, Peru, shook the countryside and left approximately 33,000 people without shelter and food. Baptists immediately came to their aid. Missionaries on the ground and others from the United States gathered to feed and comfort the Peruvians. Wayne Brinkley of the Southern Baptist International Mission Board set up community kitchens to feed families in a city a few hours from Lima. A preliminary relief team assessed needs in the earthquake areas to bring relief to smaller communities. Within days, a system to feed thousands through World Hunger Funds was in place and Southern Baptist volunteers were in place to assist in this effort. On the other side of the world a few days later, another disaster occurred. The area around Bihar, India, was caught off guard in what was called the severest flood in living memory. Once again, World Hunger Funds allowed Southern Baptists to respond rapidly. Southern Baptist missionaries and local believers surveyed the flooding conditions, then quickly … [Read more...]

Planned Parenthood may be a household name in this country but for none of the right reasons in the eyes of knowledgeable pro-lifers.  WASHINGTON (BP) – Planned Parenthood may be a household name in this country but for none of the right reasons in the eyes of knowledgeable pro-lifers. The Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) describes itself as “the nation’s leading sexual and reproductive health care advocate and provider.” Planned Parenthood promotes itself as the protector of women and their rights. It says it desires for every child to be a wanted child. Hollywood celebrities and leading politicians laud its services, which are underwritten by more than $300 million in government funds annually. To pro-life advocates, however, Planned Parenthood is the United States’ No. 1 abortion chain, producing more than a quarter of a million dead babies in a year. It is a leading policy advocate for abortion rights without restrictions. Its clinics sometimes, if not often, cover up the sexual abuse of underage girls who seek their help. If a child is unwanted, PPFA typically promotes abortion, not adoption. Now, federal and state office holders, as well as enterprising pro-lifers outside government, are … [Read more...]

A new law has made Missouri the first state to ban Planned Parenthood from teaching sex education classes in public schools.  WASHINGTON (BP)--A new law has made Missouri the first state to ban Planned Parenthood from teaching sex education classes in public schools. The legislation’s enactment gave permanent status to the Missouri Alternatives to Abortion Services Program, allowing schools to emphasize abstinence during sex education classes. The law also prevents any personnel affiliated with abortion clinics from teaching sex education classes. Gov. Matt Blunt, R.-Mo., signed the bill into law at Concord Baptist Church in Jefferson City on July 6, saying in a written statement, “All life is precious and needs to be treated with the utmost dignity and respect. “Abortion providers like Planned Parenthood should not be supplying our students with information about sexual health,” Blunt said. “This vital legislation ensures that our children get the information they need from their teachers, parents and physicians.” Jim Sedlak, vice president of the American Life League, applauded Missouri’s action, saying in a news release, “The elected officials in Missouri understood the conflict of interest that exists when … [Read more...]

Erin Oquindo received 99 pairs of shoes and 154 pairs of socks last year for her 9th birthday. FRANKLIN, Tenn. (BP) – Erin Oquindo received 99 pairs of shoes and 154 pairs of socks last year for her 9th birthday. All of which she promptly gave away. No, Erin isn’t unusually finicky about footwear, nor does she harbor an orthopedic obsession. What she does have is a heart for service. When Erin invited friends to her birthday party, she told them she didn’t want gifts for herself, but asked them to bring shoes and socks to donate to the Dallas-based charity Shoes for Orphan Souls. “She didn’t feel like she needed anything, but she knew other people that did,” said Robin Oquindo, Erin’s mother. “She never thinks about herself; it’s the way she’s always been – it’s just the way God made her.” It is also just one of many mission projects in which Erin has participated. Braided pigtails and smudged Puma sneakers give every indication that Erin, who celebrated her 10th birthday in September, is an average girl excited about reaching “double digits.” But ask her about her extensive charity work, and her dark eyes reflect fond memories of mission projects that outnumber those of people many years her senior. “It … [Read more...]