Cleveland Indians pitcher Paul Byrd knows what it’s like to be hunted. That’s exactly how he describes his conversion. EDITORS’ NOTE: BP Sports columnist Tim Ellsworth recently visited Florida to do a series of stories on spring training as baseball players get ready to begin a new season. WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (BP) – Cleveland Indians pitcher Paul Byrd knows what it’s like to be hunted. That’s exactly how he describes his conversion. “I came to know the Lord at Louisiana State University,” Byrd said. “I had a guy who was our chapel leader who was affiliated with Campus Crusade for Christ. He was the first time I heard what I call the hardcore version of the Gospel – the exclusiveness of Jesus.” But the first time he heard the message, Byrd thought he was listening to someone from a cult convey a message that sounded ridiculous and extreme. “I had a religious background,” Byrd said. “I just never really read the Bible a lot. From that point on, it was like Jesus just kind of started to hunt me down in my heart. I couldn’t get away from it.” Byrd started reading the Bible and discovered for himself the exclusive claims Christ made – that He alone is the only way to salvation. That there is no … [Read more...]

The chapel at Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home brings new meaning to the term “church family.” MONROE – The chapel at Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home brings new meaning to the term “church family.” Each Wednesday all the residents of the 10 cottages on the 110-acre campus gather in a just-the-right-size chapel with Corinthian columns, gentle sea-green walls, stained glass that illustrates in simple images the life of Jesus Christ, and a sloping floor that gives the sense of bowing before the Lord, who is depicted at the front, in the largest stained glass window – Jesus with the children. “Children should have a place of refuge, and we’re that place,” said Julie Cupples, LBCH communications director. The Children’s Home is “to provide love, care and a positive Christian witness for children and families in need,” according to the LBCH mission statement. “It’s a biblically-based ministry,” said Executive Director Perry Hancock during a recent presentation to new Ambassadors, people assigned to be the local ‘go-to’ person in their association for people with questions about the Children’s Home. “We value the people we minister to. We believe God sends them to us.” Members in Southern Baptist … [Read more...]

This year’s SBC Pastors’ Conference will feature great preaching, but it also will include something many Southern Baptists may not have seen – key leaders opening up to tell how Christ brought them through low moments of their lives. SAN ANTONIO (BP) – This year’s SBC Pastors’ Conference will feature great preaching, but it also will include something many Southern Baptists may not have seen – key leaders opening up to tell how Christ brought them through low moments of their lives. Pastors’ Conference President Hayes Wicker has asked four current or former entity presidents to give personal testimonies in San Antonio about the “valleys” in their Christian walk. For instance, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President R. Albert Mohler Jr. will speak about his time in intensive care last year with a life-threatening pulmonary emboli. Also scheduled to give personal testimonies during the June 10-ll conference are GuideStone Financial Resources’ O.S. Hawkins, former LifeWay Christian Resources President James T. Draper Jr. and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary’s Paige Patterson. “These men are really baring their hearts in a way that is not normally done,” said Wicker, pastor of First … [Read more...]

Cleaning supplies and bath towels are among the top non-edible needs each spring at the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home. MONROE – Cleaning supplies and bath towels are among the top non-edible needs each spring at the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home. “These come in, but in smaller amounts [than food], during the Fall Food Roundup,” said Darrell Washam, LBCH director of development and public relations, when he was showing a group of interested Louisianians around the Children’s Home. “We never have enough cleaning supplies.” Shelves getting bare in the commissary, where consumables are stored until needed, showed every kind – but in small amounts – of push-pump cleaning product imaginable, such as Kaboom, 409, Comet, Windex, and several other surface cleaners, floor cleaners, tile cleaners and other types of cleaning products. The Children’s Home for at least two reasons is particular about the type of bath and hand towels it receives. They request white or beige towels from WalMart. Colored towels and thick, plush high dollar towels don’t work. Same-color towels cut down on sibling squabbling. High dollar towels take longer to dry;  WalMart towels are easier for the kids to … [Read more...]

The Fall Food Roundup is hugely important for the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home, but by mid-May the cupboard’s starting to get a bit bare. STATEWIDE –  The Fall Food Roundup is hugely important for the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home, but by mid-May the cupboard’s starting to get a bit bare. “VBS helps tide us over ‘til Fall Food Roundup,” said Darrell Washam, LBCH director of public relations and development. “Some churches as a mission project have their kids bring canned goods each day to VBS. Some churches send their VBS offerings. It all helps.” Southern staples are high on the list of what’s most needed right now: canned green lima beans, canned black-eyed peas, and barbecue sauce. “By law, we can only receive commercially-canned goods,” Washam said. “We aren’t allowed to use home-canned food.” A nutritionist plans the meals cooked in each of the Children’s Home’s 10 cottages, but variations are possible. Baked chicken might be on the menu, but a cottage might decide on chicken shish kabobs.   … [Read more...]

WEST MONROE – McClendon Baptist offers English as a Second Language classes at 5 p.m. Sundays. Activities not happening until September: Wednesday night meals, twice-weekly exercise classes, and women’s ministry gardening club. But the praise team, band and their spouses are starting an eight-week study, Hunger for the Holy, by Calvin Miller. Church stats for May 20: 433 in Sunday school; 206 in contemporary worship and 215 in traditional worship. Tithes and offerings: $13,886.72. Rick Crandall is pastor.     HODGE – The Hodge Herald makes note of several missions and ministry opportunities for the people of Hodge Baptist: 1. Hearts of Light needs help filling a playpen for a baby boy due in early June. 2. Members of the church are part of a team from Jackson Baptist Association going to Sioux Falls, S.D. in August. 3. People are needed to lead worship Sunday mornings at Jimmy Davis State Park. 4. Rolling Hills Resort ministry needs help providing for an outdoor Bible school at a recreational area. 5. The Coalition of Christian Churches in Jackson Parish is asking for help buying school uniforms for the 2007-08 school year. 6. Disaster Relief training for those interested in this ministry is set for … [Read more...]

Welcome! Mark Carroll is new as pastor of Burning Bush Baptist in Walker. Kevin (wife Shannon) Inman is new as Baptist Collegiate Ministries director at Louisiana Technical University, from a decade at Ouachita Baptist in Arkansas. David Abernathy to First Farmerville as interim pastor. Royce Dyer to First Farmerville as interim minister of music. Kevin Daniel to Bethel Lillie as pastor. Eddie Schexnaydre to Vienna First as pastor. John Hebert, LBC regional mission strategist, to Sale Street Baptist Lake Charles, as interim pastor. Kelly Boggs, editor of the Baptist Message, to Baptist Temple Alexandria, as interim pastor. Wayne Talley to New River Baptist, St. Amant, as interim pastor. Ivy Butler to New River Baptist, St. Amant, as interim worship leader. Brian Canuteson is new as pastor of Start Baptist in Start. Transitional pastor Bill McCullin is available for a new assignment. Needed Full-time pastor needed. Send resume to Colyell Baptist Church, Attention: Pastor Search Committee, 19524 Hwy. 42, Livingston LA 70754. For information, call 225.698.6243. Part-time Music leader needed at McDonald Memorial Baptist Church in Jonesboro. Please … [Read more...]

Southern Baptist Convention President Frank Page has called on organizers of a planned January 2008 gathering of moderates and liberals to focus less on their plan to “take the microphone away” from conservatives and attend more to spreading the message of the Gospel. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) – Southern Baptist Convention President Frank Page has called on organizers of a planned January 2008 gathering of moderates and liberals to focus less on their plan to “take the microphone away” from conservatives and attend more to spreading the message of the Gospel. Page’s response May 25 comes about a week after former U.S. president and former Southern Baptist Jimmy Carter made a pitch to Southern Baptists to attend the New Baptist Covenant he is organizing with Bill Underwood, president of Mercer University. Bill Clinton, also a former U.S. president with Southern Baptist ties, has described himself as a “cheerleader” for the event. Clinton’s wife, Hillary, a U.S. senator from New York, is a leading contender for the Democrats’ 2008 presidential nomination. Carter invoked Page’s name May 17, saying the SBC leader “has not been negative” in discussions about the gathering. According to one media report, … [Read more...]

Results from a LifeWay Research study of teenagers indicates that many teens are confused about what it takes to get to heaven. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) – Results from a LifeWay Research study of teenagers indicates that many teens are confused about what it takes to get to heaven. More than 1,000 teens were surveyed in January and February 2007 by mail questionnaire. These results are compared to an identical survey conducted in 2005. Each sample consisted of 12- to 19-year-olds. Results show that 69 percent of teens believe heaven exists. Also, a majority strongly agree with the traditional Christian belief in Jesus Christ’s death for their sins as the reason they will go to heaven (53 percent). While many teens believe they will go to heaven because of their belief in Jesus Christ, one-quarter trust in their own kindness to others (27 percent) or their religiosity (26 percent) as their means to get to heaven. Out of the 69 percent of the teens who strongly or somewhat agree they will go to heaven because Jesus Christ died for their sins, 60 percent also agree that they will go to heaven because they are religious and 60 percent also agree they will go to heaven because they are kind to others. That … [Read more...]

In the shadow of the high bank of turns 1 and 2 at the Talladega Superspeedway on race weekend sat 156 RVs that made Richard Alford smile. TALLADEGA, Ala. – In the shadow of the high bank of turns 1 and 2 at the Talladega Superspeedway on race weekend sat 156 RVs that made Richard Alford smile. The RVs – parked neatly in the new Champion’s Corner Overnight Park for the April 29 Aaron’s 499 NASCAR race – constituted the first campsite designated by the speedway as alcohol-free. It was also the first at which a member of Alabama Raceway Ministries (ARM) was asked to serve as a camp host. “Champion’s Corner was a great first-time experience for Alabama Raceway Ministries,” said Alford, director of ARM for the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions. “The people were very receptive to our team being there and continually expressed appreciation for what our team did for and with them there.” Champion’s Corner, one of seven campgrounds with an ARM ministry site on hand during race week, was the only one at which a minister stayed overnight. “This is a relaxed setting. People open up,” said Camp Host Fred Cook, noting that at night when events wind down, some of the best relationship-building time … [Read more...]