“Fewer people in more churches baptizing less and giving more” is a synopsis of the 2006 statistical summary recently released by the Louisiana Baptist Convention’s business department, when compared with a similar report from 1996. ALEXANDRIA – “Fewer people in more churches baptizing less and giving more” is a synopsis of the 2006 statistical summary recently released by the Louisiana Baptist Convention’s business department, when compared with a similar report from 1996. The 2006 summary reflects totals from the Annual Church Profiles (ACPs) churches sent in last fall. Of the 1,560 congregations affiliated with LBC as of Aug. 31, 2006, all but 195 sent in an ACP. “The ACP is a snapshot of a church’s ‘health’ at a point in time,” said Dale Lingenfelter, LBC business manager. “The information supplied by the churches helps communicate size, participation, and trends. “The ACP also gives a church the immediate benefit of having a legal form of documentation for ‘proof of operations’ that is acceptable to banks and insurance companies. Also, the number of messengers for LBC and the SBC annual meetings is determined by the ACP data.” The totals that follow in this article reflect only the churches that … [Read more...]

From the bayous to the piney woods, associational leaders across Louisiana gathered May 22 at Kingsville Baptist Church. BALL – From the bayous to the piney woods, associational leaders across Louisiana gathered May 22 at Kingsville Baptist Church. At least 240 leaders participated in 15 workshops for training and motivation at the annual Associational Leadership Planning Conference. Lonnie Wascom, North Shore associations’ director of missions, delivered the keynote address. Quoting the famous chef Emril Legasi, Wascom challenged associational leaders: “Let’s take it up another notch!” His message encouraged leaders to refocus the church/association/convention on God’s purposes rather than on unimportant, peripheral activities. “All of us serve in churches with CAVE people,” Wascom said. “You have heard of these CAVE people, the Committee Against Virtually Everything. We must look at everything we do and examine it in light of God’s purpose no matter what the CAVE people say.” The ALPC included 15 workshops by Louisiana Baptist Convention staff or consultants. Workshop titles included: Training for a Louisiana Associational Moral and Social Concerns Committee; Instructions on helping associational leaders build healthier … [Read more...]

Maryland pastor Eric C. Redmond will be nominated for second vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention, a Virginia Baptist leader announced May 18. RICHMOND, Va., (BP) – Maryland pastor Eric C. Redmond will be nominated for second vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention, a Virginia Baptist leader announced May 18. Doyle Chauncey, executive director of the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia convention, said he will nominate Redmond for the post during the SBC’s June 12-13 annual meeting in San Antonio. Redmond is pastor of Hillcrest  in Temple Hills, Md. He and his wife Pamela are parents to five children. Redmond previously was assistant professor of Bible and theology at Washington Bible College in Lanham, Md., and now is an adjunct professor of hermeneutics at Capital Bible Seminary, also in Lanham. He is a trustee at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, and an executive board member of the National African American Fellowship of the Southern Baptist Convention. He also is a member of the Evangelical Theological Society. He is a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary and Washington Bible College. “I can think of no one more qualified or more capable for this … [Read more...]

To the Editor and Louisiana Baptists: Recently, the Vernon Baptist Association and the Alpha Omega Hispanic Mission received grants totaling $35,000 for our Spanish Mission Building; and each month, we receive a supplement to Rev. Jose Us’ salary.  Privately, I have expressed gratitude to the Louisiana Baptist Missions and Ministry Team members and Dr. Hankins for their role in securing these BLESSINGS for us; but it occurred to me that we should thank all Louisiana and Southern Baptists for the help we received. The building grants came from the Louisiana Baptist Convention Church Site Corporation ($25,000) and the Georgia Barnette State Missions Offering ($10,000).  The supplement to Brother Jose’s salary comes from the North American Mission Board and the Louisiana Baptist Convention.  So, every Southern Baptist who gave to the special missions offerings and to a church participating in the Cooperative Program helped us have a ministry to our Hispanic community and a building and equipment in which to meet.  Each will have “fruit abounding to his or her account.”  Phil 4:17.     So, praise the Lord for such a wonderful system; and thanks to each church for participating in the special missions offerings and your faithful … [Read more...]

A couple of years ago I was being interviewed by a newspaper reporter on the subject of “gay marriage.” Somewhere in the midst of our conversation the discussion turned and the reporter said, “You have to admit that there are places in the Bible where Jesus comes across more like a tax- and-spend-liberal who really wants to help the poor rather than a conservative who wants the disadvantaged to help themselves.” A couple of years ago I was being interviewed by a newspaper reporter on the subject of “gay marriage.” Somewhere in the midst of our conversation the discussion turned and the reporter said, “You have to admit that there are places in the Bible where Jesus comes across more like a tax- and-spend-liberal who really wants to help the poor rather than a conservative who wants the disadvantaged to help themselves.” “I don’t know any conservatives that are opposed to helping the poor,” I replied. “We just disagree with liberals on what is the best way to provide assistance to those in need.” Over the next several minutes I explained that of all the conservatives I know, while they want to help those less fortunate than themselves, they do not believe government is the best vehicle to get the job done. When it comes … [Read more...]

In the past few months, I have been reminded of the battle our children face in a culture that is moving farther and farther away from Christian values. In the past few months, I have been reminded of the battle our children face in a culture that is moving farther and farther away from Christian values. One night as I flipped through the television channels trying to find something of value, I saw several programs for children that promoted arrogance, violence, and profanity. Recently I read an article about “affluenza,” a social virus infecting most middle-class children in America. The result is a child who is consumed with consuming. Two weeks ago I encountered a 16-year-old girl who was being pressured by her father to have an abortion. Just a few days ago I talked with a fourth-grader who had been introduced to Darwinian evolution in a way that challenged everything we are teaching him at the Children’s Home. And finally, I read of a high school student who gave God credit for his success in a yearbook profile. Without the student’s permission, school officials replaced “God” with “others” before publishing the yearbook.  Obviously, Christian parents today face a great challenge as they seek to cultivate … [Read more...]

Baby boomers have long taken the rap for being the most selfish generation of Americans ever, but we finally have some competition. Baby boomers have long taken the rap for being the most selfish generation of Americans ever, but we finally have some competition. Our children and grandchildren are coming up fast in our rearview mirrors, and they’re about to leave us in their dust when it comes to narcissism and self-absorption. I’m not just talking about the little thugs and thugettes who run amok in stores and restaurants while their clueless parents ignore them. I’m talking about at least some of the intelligent, ambitious young adults graduating this spring from American colleges and universities. Too many celebrity commencement speakers are telling them what they’ve heard for years from parents and others: “You are special. The world revolves around you. The future belongs to you.” In other words, they’re being sold a bill of goods by their indulgent boomer elders, who should know better by now. The world doesn’t revolve around 20-somethings any more than the sun revolves around the earth. Why are we telling them so? It shortchanges them and cripples the mission of the church, which needs a new generation … [Read more...]

A story came across my desk recently with some very disheartening news: “According to the Annual Church Profile,” it said, “baptisms last year dropped from 371,850 to 364,826” in the Southern Baptist Convention. A story came across my desk recently with some very disheartening news: “According to the Annual Church Profile,” it said, “baptisms last year dropped from 371,850 to 364,826” in the Southern Baptist Convention. What has happened to the churches of the SBC? Southern Baptists have long been known for our evangelistic efforts, so why is it that we continue to report a decline in baptisms? These are very pertinent questions, especially when one considers that last year Southern Baptists highlighted the work of evangelism and baptism by means of the “Everyone Can” campaign. Could it be that we have somehow misplaced our priorities as a denomination? Have we inserted some substitutes in the slots where evangelism & baptism used to belong? I’m very concerned that indeed we have. That begs the question: What influences have we allowed to push us towards a neglect of genuine outreach and discipleship? I fear we have borrowed some from the “Vineyard” movement, the self-identified “community of churches” that … [Read more...]

Here, diversity is the key word as downtown Baton Rouge meets urban sprawl, which gives way to farm lands and eventually to swamp water. BAPTIST ASSOCIATION OF GREATER BATON ROUGE – Here, diversity is the key word as downtown Baton Rouge meets urban sprawl, which gives way to farm lands and eventually to swamp water. The challenge in such a landscape is to minister to the equally diverse population. The association known as BAGBR – Bagbar– is responding to the challenge with church revitalization and church starting efforts, Executive Director Roddy Conerly says. “We have a mixture of the populations from the entire world in the greater Baton Rouge area,” Conerly said. Part of that mixture can be attributed to the enrollments at Louisiana  State University and at Southern University, where students from all over the world attend, he said. Some of the diversity is a result of the area’s attractions, including the Mississippi River and the casinos it supports, as well as the downtown area of Baton Rouge, the swamps south of the city, sporting events at the two universities, as well as fishing, and industries such as petroleum, sugar cane farming, and crawfish.   “The rapid growth of the greater Baton Rouge area … [Read more...]

Got a hurt, hang-up or habit holding you back? Meet the ultimate Higher Power and discover healing. BATON ROUGE – Got a hurt, hang-up or habit holding you back? Meet the ultimate Higher Power and discover healing. Celebrate Recovery (CR) at Istrouma Baptist Church seeks to free believers and unbelievers alike from addictive, compulsive and dysfunctional behaviors by promoting the ultimate Higher Power: Jesus Christ.   “Istrouma gets more members through that one ministry than anything else,” said Rodrick Conerly, executive director of the Baptist Association of Greater Baton Rouge (BAGBR). “It’s very effective in helping people and getting them to have the proper relationship with Jesus Christ.”  “CR originated with the Saddleback Church in California,” wrote Istrouma’s associate pastor, Ron Lambe, in a recent email. A Christ-based ‘12-step’ program of recovery, CR offers a safe environment, along with acceptance, instruction and accountability, to people dealing with chemical and emotional addictions. At Istrouma, participants meet 52 weeks a year, from 6-9 p.m. on Friday evenings Though CR is based on Alcoholics Anonymous, there are several key differences, the pastor continued. Primarily, CR is Christ-centered … [Read more...]