A crowd of more than 3,000 teenage girls, collegiate young women, and leaders were challenged July 10–13 to live the “Amazing Life” during Blume, sponsored by national WMU, in Kansas City. KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A crowd of more than 3,000 teenage girls, collegiate young women, and leaders were challenged July 10–13 to live the “Amazing Life” during Blume, sponsored by national WMU, in Kansas City. Taking a holistic approach to serving God and others, Blume was based on Luke 10:27 when Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind. And, love your neighbor as yourself.” All components of Blume, from general sessions to interactive conferences to hands-on missions and ministry projects and more, helped participants have a deeper understanding of this command. During five general sessions, keynote speaker Clella Lee of Fayetteville, N.C., used an analogy to TV reality contest show “The Amazing Race,” and asked the girls to consider what is necessary to live “The Amazing Life.” Her answer, which she and other speakers, including international and North American missionaries, developed over five general sessions, was to live out Luke 10:27. “God … [Read more...]

As Jesse put it from the pulpit the Sunday after we got home to Lamar, Ark., in 46 hours Lamar Baptist Church through the work of our God finished what God wanted done. PECAN ISLAND – As Jesse put it from the pulpit the Sunday after we got home to Lamar, Ark., in 46 hours Lamar Baptist Church through the work of our God finished what God wanted done. With His help we: replaced the roof of Pecan Island Baptist Church, cleaned the remaining cane from underneath the church, replaced the old water line with a new one, built a handicap ramp, painted the front steps of the church, painted the holder for the church sign, cleaned and repaired the fence on the side of the church, built a new portion to the roof between the sanctuary and the fellowship hall so that it would not hold water in the future, finished the molding in the Methodist church where we’d stayed for the week, completely ripped out the flooring in a Baptist member’s trailer – all the way to where you could see the ground – and then replaced the flooring with plywood for the flooring, completely built a roof over a Baptist member’s porch, plus delivered 25 quilts to individuals in the Pecan Island area. This was done with help … [Read more...]

Quail Springs Baptist Church uses its Acts 1:8 partnerships to put a face on the Cooperative Program. OKLAHOMA CITY (BP) – Quail Springs Baptist Church uses its Acts 1:8 partnerships to put a face on the Cooperative Program. Akin to the biblical passage’s spheres of outreach, Quail Springs’ “Judea” is Baptist Temple in Oklahoma City’s inner city; its “Samaria,” the South-Central Baptist Association in Kansas; and, in its global mission, Armenia is the church’s focus. “Our missions partnerships are with Southern Baptists,” Pastor Hance Dilbeck said. “That way, when our people think of the Cooperative Program, they have a connection with real live missionaries.” From its foundational missions giving through the Cooperative Program, Quail Springs is an outwardly focused church by design, the pastor said. In the midst of a major expansion project, the church has chosen to guard its missions fervor by continuing to give 13.5 percent of its regular offerings to missions through the Cooperative Program. “When we as pastors talk to our people about sacrificial giving for Kingdom causes, and then reduce our giving because of other pressing needs, that sends a mixed message,” Dilbeck said. “We as church leaders must practice … [Read more...]

Horses were a part of his childhood; now they are the mainstay of Mark Stagg’s ministry. LAKE CHARLES – Horses were a part of his childhood; now they are the mainstay of Mark Stagg’s ministry. Open Gate Western Heritage Church – a “cowboy church” – meets at 11 a.m. Sundays in the cafeteria of Fairview Elementary School in Lake Charles. It started in March, 2007, at the LSU Agricultural Center and moved to McNeese Horse Farm, before moving to the school in mid-July. The new church grew to more than 65 people in its first four months. In that same time period, six adults were baptized in the pool at Stagg’s home. Among other ways of reaching out to people living in a country culture, Stagg led a trail ride Easter Sunday that closed with a sunset service. “When I was growing up we had horses and cattle at my grandfather’s place,” Stagg said. “I have owned pigs, sheep, cattle – you name it. “But as you grow up, go to college and then enter the ministry, you live in church-owned parsonages and none of that [country culture] is really a possibility. I thought that part of my life was over forever.” Horses, however opened up the door for a witness even when he was serving as pastor at New Zion Baptist Church in Oak … [Read more...]

Apologetics is the proper term for what’s better known as defending the faith. That’s what Ergun Caner has acquired a national reputation for. BERNICE – Apologetics is the proper term for what’s better known as defending the faith. That’s what Ergun Caner has acquired a national reputation for. But on the first of a two-day appearance at Pisgah Baptist, where Jerry Dark is pastor, he told stories about his wife and sons, and his early years in the ministry. And as he did so, he showed his audience how to engage evangelistically with others. Caner, president of Liberty Baptist University in Lynchburg, Va. , used the woman at the well as an example. “Look at this woman and see the world around us,” Caner said. “She was unclean, unloved and isolated. She had five strikes against her.” She was a half-breed Samaritan, female, divorced, immoral and poor, Caner listed. And yet, Jesus talked with her. “The measure of your Christianity is, how many lost people call you friend? How many trust you and will come to you in their tough times? ... We’re supposed to be light, not light bulbs, clustered together; salt, not salt shakers,” Caner preached. The woman went “from being inhibited [because of the five strikes against … [Read more...]

Where once they talked about Christmas, now it’s going to be Easter before renovation of the Baptist Collegiate Ministries Center at Louisiana State University is complete, project leaders say. BATON ROUGE – Where once they talked about Christmas, now it’s going to be Easter before renovation of the Baptist Collegiate Ministries Center at Louisiana State University is complete, project leaders say. An anticipated outpouring of help has not materialized, despite telephone calls asking for volunteers made by an LBC intern this summer to pastors of at least 70 churches in the greater Baton Rouge area, and despite pleas mailed to BCM alumni. “We work with whomever comes to help, whenever they can work it in their schedule to help,” said Jim Wyble, codirector with Steve Hayes of the LSU BCM project schedule to help,” said Jim Wyble, co-director with Steve Hayes of the LSU BCM project. Work goes on throughout each day, and each evening until dark, Mondays through Fridays. If volunteers show up to help on Saturday, so do the project directors, but often just until noon. “Everybody needs a break,” Wyble said. Mike Saverio, retired shift supervisor at Borden Chemical and a member at Dutchtown Baptist in Dutchtown, works … [Read more...]

Southern Baptists have a love/hate relationship with statistics. Southern Baptists have a love/hate relationship with statistics. On one hand, it is one imperfect way we have of evaluating ourselves. How are we doing as churches, individually and in cooperation? Part of that story is expressed in the measure of people and money. On the other hand, it is an imperfect measure. There is also the real danger that we’ll consider numerical success more thorough than it is. And then there is the real struggle with reporting and interpreting our numbers honestly. We need our numbers even as they vex us. I think the guy who considers good numbers to be the whole story is a bit like Bigfoot – he’s probably out there but most of us will hear more of him than we see. A contrary, and also mostly legendary, beast is the sophisticate who “doesn’t do numbers” in order to give the illusion that he cares about people instead. Everyone “does numbers” in at least some informal way. Yet those two legends are invoked quite often when we begin to talk about the need to measure our resources. Each side cites the extreme view to justify their own convictions for or against the reporting of our stats. God seems to be a pretty committed counter. … [Read more...]

The levee I walk along daily is a ribbon of green along the lakefront, a linear park inhabited by osprey, mosquito hawks, ducks, pelicans, seagulls, purple martins, and schools of mullet rushing and leaping toward the shore as redfish and trout feast on the slow swimmers. The levee I walk along daily is a ribbon of green along the lakefront, a linear park inhabited by osprey, mosquito hawks, ducks, pelicans, seagulls, purple martins, and schools of mullet rushing and leaping toward the shore as redfish and trout feast on the slow swimmers.   This linear park used to feature shaded benches in small groves of trees. These the Corps of Engineers has removed to protect the levee from the deep gouges that trees toppled by storms can inflict.   I noticed recently that a live oak growing near the levee at West End was being sliced and diced. I could see a number of these beautiful trees on the lake side of the levee slope, and I wondered if they were all destined for the burning.   Nothing is more important to the health and well-being of our city than well-built and well-maintained levees – that’s for certain. We live out our lives, working and playing, behind hundreds of miles of these government levees, and the whole lot … [Read more...]

LAKE CHARLES – First Baptist Gillis has light fixtures to give to a sister church.  There are 10 ceiling mounted that have 5 bulbs each, (4 regular size bulbs and 1 large bulb) and 4 side mounted fixtures (2 regular size bulbs).  These fixtures are rectangular in shape and can be picked up at the church, 678 Topsy Road, Gillis, Lake Charles, 337.855.9414. DERIDDER – A Youth Trail Ride is being sponsored by Hilltop Baptist at 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 25, at 1998 Pippin Wilcox Road between Junction Community and Knight Community. Call 337.825.8974 or 337.462.2122 for information. HOMER – The fifth annual Teacher Appreciation Breakfast for Claiborne Parish teachers is scheduled for 8 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 19 at the Family Life Center of First Baptist. James Simeon is pastor. DENHAM SPRINGS – Riverside Baptist Salt and Light Ladies Ministry is collecting children and adult Christian books/videos in good condition to place in the library. Call 225.664.1278 for information. Larry Hubbard is pastor. ZACHARY – First Baptist has scheduled an eight-week study which will explain foundational beliefs outlined in the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message, their biblical basis and the importance of sharing a common Christian perspective. Call … [Read more...]

Comings, Goings Lee Myers, minister of youth and activities, has resigned First Baptist Baton Rouge. Jared Prewitt, minister of music and senior adults, has resigned First Baptist Bastrop. Dusty Lindsey, minister of students and activities has resigned First Baptist Bastrop. Melissa Harris is new as director of student ministries at Horseshoe Drive Baptist Alexandria. Roger Sullivan is new as interim pastor of Broadmoor Baptist Baton Rouge. Mike Scott resigned as pastor of Woodland Hills Baptist Shreveport. Rusty Grant is new as pastor of Edgewood West Monroe. Brett Campbell is new as pastor of First Baptist Zwolle. Needed Jenkins Memorial Baptist St. Martinville needs full-time pastor. Send resumes to Betty T. Borel, Church Clerk/Pastor Search Committee, 1056 Lou Gauthier Rd., St. Martinville LA 70582 or email to btborel@aol.com (stating “Resume” in “Subject”)or call 337.394.4468 for information. Pianists are needed at Lakeview Baptist, Mt. Gilead Baptist, and Oil City in Northwest Association. Full-time church secretary is needed at Riverside Baptist Denham Springs. Call 225.664.1278 for information. Larry Hubbard is pastor. Eastwood Baptist Haughton needs a full-time assistant childcare … [Read more...]