Jerry Blackmon uses granite as a lead-in, he said. ALEXANDRIA—Jerry Blackmon uses granite as a lead-in, he said. A businessman who installs granite tops into people’s kitchens, Blackmon looks for every opportunity to share the gospel, he said. And now he’s teaching others at Calvary Baptist the same approach. “I don’t like knocking on doors and presenting the gospel,” he said. “I feel like we run into enough folks on a daily basis that the opportunity is there for us to do more than we can get around to. I feel like we should look for opportunities in our work and play and in friendships for folks that don’t know the Lord.” Using granite as a lead-in for spiritual matters isn’t as difficult as it might sound, Blackmon continued. “ I don’t pass up an opportunity to remind people that God made that stuff and how unique it is,” he said. “I use that as a way to begin to talk about spiritual things with customers that I talk with everyday.” On July 15, Blackmon began teaching a course at Calvary that is designed to help others recognize and use everyday opportunities to share the gospel, he said. With material he’s modified from past courses, along with scripture, Blackmon plans to help his students examine reasons … [Read more...]

Sometime in the coming year – and for the first time in history – more people will live in cities than in rural areas. Sometime in the coming year – and for the first time in history – more people will live in cities than in rural areas. The movement of humanity into cities might never reverse. According to demographic forecasters, we face an “urban future,” with all its challenges and opportunities. “As recently as the early 20th century, the vast majority of the world’s people lived in the countryside and practiced subsistence farming,” writes Christopher Flavin, president of Worldwatch Institute. “By 2005,” observes Flavin,  “the world’s urban population of 3.18 billion people constituted 49 percent of the total (global) population of 6.46 billion.” Surpassing the 50-percent urban total, Flavin adds, will mark “a significant milestone on the long road of civilization.” Consider these numbers and projections: n 20 cities or metro areas have populations of more than 10 million. But much of future growth will come in smaller cities (500,000 people and under). n In China, 200 million people (the equivalent of two-thirds of the U.S. population) have migrated from the countryside to cities over the last 10 … [Read more...]

In the course of human history few institutions have been more misunderstood and maligned than the Christian church. Indeed, it would be foolish to insist that the church is perfect, because it is made up of frail and fallible people like you and me. Unfortunately, the criticism being leveled against the church today is not only coming from those outside the church, but from those within. In the course of human history few institutions have been more misunderstood and maligned than the Christian church. Indeed, it would be foolish to insist that the church is perfect, because it is made up of frail and fallible people like you and me. Unfortunately, the criticism being leveled against the church today is not only coming from those outside the church, but from those within. However, those who have a gloom-and-doom attitude toward the church are certainly overstating the case. Surely, the picture is not as bad as some would have us believe. George Bernard Shaw, the Irish dramatist, playwright, and literary critic who at best was a mystic and at worst an atheist, once stated what would happen if the church went out of business for awhile. He proclaimed that it would have “a very salutary effect. It would soon evoke an … [Read more...]

Aren’t you offended? That is the question many evangelicals are being asked in the wake of a recent document released by the Vatican. Aren’t you offended? That is the question many evangelicals are being asked in the wake of a recent document released by the Vatican. The document declares that the Roman Catholic Church is the only true church – or, in words the Vatican would prefer to use, the only institutional form in which the Church of Christ subsists. In the first place, I am not offended because this is not an issue in which emotion should play a key role. This is a theological question, and our response should be theological, not emotional. Secondly, I am not offended because I am not surprised. No one  familiar with the statements of the Roman Catholic Magisterium should be surprised by this development. This is not news in any genuine sense. It is news only in the current context of Vatican statements and ecumenical relations. Thirdly, I am not offended because this new document actually brings attention to the crucial issues of ecclesiology, and thus it presents us with an opportunity. The Vatican document is very brief -- just a few paragraphs in fact. It’s official title is “Responses to Some Questions … [Read more...]

One job of the Louisiana Baptist Foundation is keeping Louisiana Baptists informed and updated regarding tax advantages of charitable giving. One job of the Louisiana Baptist Foundation is keeping Louisiana Baptists informed and updated regarding tax advantages of charitable giving.  I think we are to be “as wise as serpents” when it comes to paying taxes and “render unto Caesar ‘only’ what belongs to Caesar.”  But, in this column I want you to stop and consider if modern day Christians put too much emphasis on the “tax benefit” allowed by the IRS and not enough on God’s command to give.  People pass up opportunities to meet the needs of others: friends, a stranger or even a family member, because no tax deduction exists for that gift.  Technically, the IRS does not allow an income tax deduction for gifts to an individual.  Sometimes attempts are made to donate through a tax exempt organization that the IRS recognizes as a 501c3.  A person will then “encourage” the organization to help the individual they desire to help.  This is an elaborate process to try and circumvent the IRS rules.  Also, individuals may limit their annual charitable gifts based on the deduction limits allowed by the IRS.  Do you think the … [Read more...]

HAUGHTON – First Baptist here is investing in the future by helping its students attend Student Leadership University (SLU) courses conducted throughout the world. HAUGHTON – First Baptist here is investing in the future by helping its students attend Student Leadership University (SLU) courses conducted throughout the world. About 40 students at First Haughton are involved in SLU and have made it as far as the third class, said youth minister Scott Sullivan. SLU offers a total of four classes: 101, 201, 301, and 401. “The [First Haughton] group in 301 have felt led of God to do a revival, scheduled for Aug. 20-21,” Sullivan said.  The students are planning to lead the revival by providing a band, the preaching, testimony, funds, and publicity. They’ve even made a video promoting the event. “SLU has broadened their scope of confidence and increased their spiritual depth,” Sullivan said. Sullivan, who’d heard other youth ministers talk about SLU, didn’t become involved until he received a letter from the North American Mission Board endorsing the program, he said. After checking into it, Sullivan decided to involve the youth at First Haughton. “It came out of my desire to do more than just evangelism,” he said. … [Read more...]

Thirty churches dot the landscape of Natchitoches Parish where this association serves. NATCHITOCHES BAPTIST ASSOCIATION – Thirty churches dot the landscape of Natchitoches Parish where this association serves. Bayous, rivers, lakes, forests, and hills provide plenty of outdoor activities throughout the parish, while the City of Natchitoches, established in 1714, provides history and character to the area. “Natchitoches Baptist Association is filled with missions minded people,” said Lee Dickson, director of missions for the Natchitoches Associaiton. “In addition to local ministries, they have helped build churches in Montana, helped rebuild Katrina and Rita damaged churches across south Louisiana, and provided numerous volunteers in Chile, Africa, Honduras, Mexico, Guatemala, and other locations, with more leaving for Romania in a couple of weeks.” The churches of the association contribute to a number of ministries. In  2006 the association awarded scholarships to four Louisiana College students and one Southwester Baptist Theological Seminary student. Other ministries of the association include Women’s Missionary Union; Clara Springs Baptist Encampment; and the Toledo Bend Resort Ministry.   The … [Read more...]

The Baptist Collegiate Ministry at Northwestern State University provides students with an avenue for spiritual growth that complements their development during their college years, said Bill Collins, BCM director. NATCHITOCHES – The Baptist Collegiate Ministry at Northwestern State University provides students with an avenue for spiritual growth that complements their development during their college years, said Bill Collins, BCM director. For more than 80 years, the BCM at NSU has been serving NSU students. Collins has been director for more than 18  of those years. “What we try to do with BCM is provide services to college students that the university cannot legally provide,” Collins said. “We have three tasks: to reach, connect and strengthen. We’re trying to reach college students for Jesus Christ but also connect them to a local church, and then strengthen them in their walk with Jesus Christ. “We are the link to the college campus for [the 126 churches in the District Eight Baptist Convention]. Through us, any church can access the university. That’s where our operational support base comes from, our local churches.” One way the BCM tries to reach students for Christ is through a program called The Matrix, … [Read more...]

St. Tammany Parish officials have asked Tobey Pitman, executive director of the Brantley Baptist Center in New Orleans, to serve on the North Shore parish’s Emergency Operations Committee. SLIDELL – St. Tammany Parish officials have asked Tobey Pitman, executive director of the Brantley Baptist Center in New Orleans, to serve on the North Shore parish’s Emergency Operations Committee. In addition, Pitman is leading Slidell pastors in carrying out a community assessment, a product of an agreement made in January between the Louisiana Baptist Convention, the North American Mission Board, and North Shore Baptist Association. “I will serve as a volunteer liaison between the EOC and the entire faith-based community of St. Tammany,” Pitman explained. “Disaster planners added the faith-based liaison because they saw firsthand the resources that Southern Baptists and others brought into the region.” The position as liaison can only help the ongoing work of the community assessment, as Pitman makes connections among community leaders and churches. “A community assessment is a ministry tool to help discover and identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and resources for ministry in the community,” Pitman said. Cities … [Read more...]

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