The executive boards of the mostly rural Delta and Ouachita Baptist Associations recently voted to go their separate ways. EAST CENTRAL BAPTIST ASSOCIATION – The executive boards of the mostly rural Delta and Ouachita Baptist Associations recently voted to go their separate ways. Before the action becomes official, however, each association must approve it by a two-thirds majority vote of members gathered at their respective annual meetings in October. Working together since 1981 under the umbrella organization East Central Baptist Association, where Ken Gilmore is director of missions, the executive boards met in a join session Aug. 7 at Ridgecrest Baptist Church in Ridgecrest. They voted unanimously to dissolve East Central Baptist Association and operate independently. A six-person committee – three from either association – was elected and charged with recommending an equitable distribution of assets. Primary assets include the associational office, a vehicle used by the director of missions, and office equipment. Ouachita Baptist Association formed in 1844; Delta, in 1944. The two associations, plus LaSalle Baptist Association, shared an associational missionary (now known as a director of missions) starting in … [Read more...]

Camp USA is one aspect of a 40-year connection between Louisiana and South Korea. Camp USA is one aspect of a 40-year connection between Louisiana and South Korea. In late July, 37 South Korean children and their chaperones visited Louisiana as a part of Camp USA 2007. The two-week activity is sponsored by the Cenla/Korea Missions Partnership and the Korea Baptist Church Development Board – equivalent to Southern Baptist’s’ LifeWay Christian Resources. While in Louisiana, the children attended vacation Bible school, lived with local Baptist families, received English language instruction, learned about American culture and experienced local attractions – such as making the acquaintance of a unique Louisianian native: an alligator. Twelve of the Korean children made professions of faith during Camp USA. The Partnership plans an evangelistic mission trip to Korea in late October. Space available. Call David Cranford, pastor of Tioga First Baptist, for details: 318.640.4760. … [Read more...]

WINNSBORO – Youthquake Mission: Possible sponsored by Deer Creek Association and youth at Temple Baptist  is set for 6:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 24, at Temple Baptist through Saturday, Aug. 25, at 8 p.m. for Franklin Parish students grades 7-12. Registration is $12. The worship leaders are The Carey Amos Band and Jordy Mackaskal, speaker. Wina Elrod is minister to students at Temple church. NATCHITOCHES – First Baptist is to host a Ladies Fall Fellowship at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 8. for ladies from across the District Eight area.  Special guests scheduled are Sheila Breazeale, Bible study leader; Jinny Henson, Christian comedian; Kathy McGrath, pianist; Denise Clayton and Stacy Alford, singers. For information, call 318.352.4090. Deadline for registration is Aug. 25. The registration fee is $10 and will include a catered lunch. Lee Dickson is director of missions. SLIDELL – Grace Memorial Baptist’s senior high youth have scheduled a canoe trip, Saturday, Aug. 25. Bob Heustess is pastor. LAKE CHARLES – John Stagg has compiled a directory of cowboy churches of Louisiana, which is available at www.baptistmissioncenter.com by clicking on the Happy Heavenly Trails link. Praise reports, events or prayer concerns may be posted on … [Read more...]

COMINGS AND GOINGS  Jason Lupo to Lamar Baptist in Delhi as pastor from Greenlaw Baptist in Kentwood. Marty Romero is interim pastor at Bayou L’Ourse Baptist.  Sam Gentry is pastor of First Baptist Belle Chasse. He comes from Missouri. NEEDED  Lake St. John Community Baptist Ferriday has a paid pianist position available. Contact Karl Wilson, pastor, at 318.757.0947 for information.   Calumet Baptist Patterson, Community Baptist Lafayette, Jenkins Memorial Baptist St. Martinville and Northside Baptist Lafayette need pastors.  Judson Baptist Baton Rouge has paid positions available for a maintenance employee and two nursery workers. Call 504.665.5481.  Jefferson Baptist has an opening for a janitorial employee. Call 225.923.0356. CONCERTS AND RELATED EVENTS  BATON ROUGE – The Goodwood Baptist Dulcimer group is to present an evening of music at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 28.  MONROE – Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home Day is scheduled for First Baptist beginning with Sunday school at 9:15 a.m., Aug. 26. Activities will include Matt Hancock, Michael Howell and Brandon White in concert at the 6 p.m. service. Lunch for LBCH children and staff will be served with a watermelon-cutting following the evening … [Read more...]

Think about a director of missions and the image may come to mind of a quiet pastor who answers the telephone during the day and goes home to read at night. JACKSON BAPTIST ASSOCIATION – Think about a director of missions and the image may come to mind of a quiet pastor who answers the telephone during the day and goes home to read at night. That won’t be the DOM of the Jackson Baptist Association in north-central Louisiana. “I’ve had people tell me, ‘If I had a shotgun looking to shoot a preacher, I’d walk right by you,’” DOM Clovis Sturdivant explained.  “That may be a compliment, considering the stereotype that many people have about preachers…that’s not very good.” His grandmother who raised him said, “Be yourself – people will like you or they won’t like you.”  That’s who Sturdivant has been over the years.  “It’s a lot easier to be me than it is to be somebody else,” he said. He continued, “And Clovis Sturdivant is someone who’s going to be involved.   I’ve been a member of the Lions Club and of the Kiwanis Club.  But serving in two parishes, it’s hard to make the meetings and I’ve had to drop out.” He was also one of the disaster relief chaplains for the Louisiana Baptist Convention.  They were down in the … [Read more...]

Lary Wimberly, mayor of Hall Summit, stood for four and five hours a day in the Dakota Baptist Intentional Evangelism tent at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally the first week in August. RINGGOLD – Lary Wimberly, mayor of Hall Summit, stood for four and five hours a day in the Dakota Baptist Intentional Evangelism tent at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally the first week in August. He led 12 to 14 people a day to the Lord doing so, despite two artificial hips. “It was amazing to see what God did through him,” said Gary Hahler, pastor of Springhill Baptist in Ringgold, where Wimberly is a member. Springhill sent Wimberly, Hahler and Chris Webb, a welder, on mission to Sturgis. Each of the three men led at least a dozen people to the Lord each day during their four days in Sturgis, a total for the three of at least 65 by the end of the week. “If they didn’t make a real profession of faith, they had the gospel message presented clearly to them,” Hahler said. “It was up to the Holy Spirit to work in these people’s lives. We were just messengers. “One time I was talking with three college kids,” the pastor continued. “Two didn’t care what I was saying, but the third never took his eyes off me. Each one of us had experiences … [Read more...]

Barna poll says spiritual issues not important in raising children CULTURE DIGEST Barna poll says spiritual issues not important in raising children NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) – Although surveys have indicated parents are frustrated with the corrupt culture in which they are trying to raise moral children, researcher George Barna said he is surprised that the percentage of parents who are concerned about their children’s spiritual development is not larger. A recent poll by The Barna Group found four out of 10 Christian parents of children between the ages of 3 and 18 said they do not face any spiritual challenges in their life. “Our studies show that the faith principles and practices that a child absorbs by age 13 boldly shapes their spirituality for the duration of their life,” Barna said in a news release Aug. 6. “Parents have a greater impact on that process than anyone else.” Barna expected the study of exclusively Christian parents with young children to yield a broader emphasis on the challenges related to raising spiritually healthy offspring. He noted the need for parents to live out a vibrant, authentic faith in order for children to see a pattern worth following. “Children rarely embrace spiritual … [Read more...]

First Baptist Church in Dallas elected Robert Jeffress as its newest senior pastor Aug. 12. DALLAS (BP) – First Baptist Church in Dallas elected Robert Jeffress as its newest senior pastor Aug. 12. Jeffress – who is leaving First Baptist Church in Wichita Falls, Texas – replaces Mac Brunson, who left the church in February 2006 to become pastor of First Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Fla. Jeffress attended FBC Dallas growing up. More than 3,000 people came to hear Jeffress preach and at the conclusion of the service voted to call the 51-year-old minister. They voted by standing. The pastoral search committee had recommended him to the congregation one week earlier. “I will pour my life – everything I have – into building this church for the glory of God,” Jeffress said, according to The Dallas Morning News. The pastoral search committee looked at more than 100 individuals before settling on Jeffress, according to a news release from the church. FBC Dallas has been home to several well-known preachers during its history, including George W. Truett and W.A. Criswell. Jeffress has been at FBC in Wichita Falls since 1992 and prior to that served as pastor of First Baptist Church in Eastland, Texas, from 1985-92. … [Read more...]

Following a unanimous vote by FamilyNet’s board of trustees Aug. 7, North American Mission Board (NAMB) trustees Aug. 8 voted unanimously to accept a letter of intent from Charles Stanley’s In Touch Ministries outlining the ministry’s intention to purchase NAMB’s FamilyNet television network. ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) – Following a unanimous vote by FamilyNet’s board of trustees Aug. 7, North American Mission Board (NAMB) trustees Aug. 8 voted unanimously to accept a letter of intent from Charles Stanley’s In Touch Ministries outlining the ministry’s intention to purchase NAMB’s FamilyNet television network. Under terms of the letter, NAMB and In Touch Ministries will work together to evaluate and negotiate the planned sale and purchase of FamilyNet, and finalize details for the sale on or before Oct. 31, 2007. NAMB board of trustees chairman Bill Curtis, pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Florence, S.C., said the sale “will result in two very significant Kingdom events.” “First,” he said, “it will enable NAMB to focus on its primary tasks as the North American missions arm of the Southern Baptist Convention. Second, it will enable FamilyNet to become the network Southern Baptists always dreamed it could be.” Curtis … [Read more...]

After more than 200 years of British rule, India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, hoisted the Indian flag at midnight Aug. 15, 1947. The struggle for independence, which had lasted nearly 30 years, was over. DELHI (BP)--After more than 200 years of British rule, India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, hoisted the Indian flag at midnight Aug. 15, 1947. The struggle for independence, which had lasted nearly 30 years, was over. “People fought for freedom; they fought for what we are enjoying today,” Pooja, a high-caste Hindu, said. Aug. 15, 2007, marks 60 years of India’s independence. Every year, Indians celebrate “Swatantrata Divas,” or Independence Day, for the world’s largest democracy. “We celebrate our freedom from the British; we celebrate the fathers of our nation – Gandhi, Nehru,” said Newesterland, a north Indian. “We are like a free bird,” he said. “We can go anywhere, travel to other states, communicate with different kinds of people.” In a country where fewer than 3 percent of the people are Christians, most Indians do not grasp how the freedom they celebrate is fulfilled only through the blood of Christ Jesus, said Darryl Pogue*, an international Christian serving in India. “The … [Read more...]