Last week’s Baptist Message carried information about an open letter signed by 220 "religious leaders" and sent to the United States president and members of Congress concerning the destructive impact of gambling in this nation.   The letter evoked mixed responses from this editor. Last week’s Baptist Message carried information about an open letter signed by 220 "religious leaders" and sent to the United States president and members of Congress concerning the destructive impact of gambling in this nation.   The letter evoked mixed responses from this editor.   The first was: "Amen! Religious leaders, whoever they are, should be asking lawmakers to address ‘the devastation that gambling has wrought on our children, families, communities and nation.’"   Gambling certainly is not the only acid eating away at the human fiber of our nation, but it definitely deserves any condemnation and correction anyone can muster. One would need to be morally and socially blind not to see what gambling does to multitudes of our people. Just as divorce has directly or indirectly placed its decaying hand on every family in our nation, gambling has now lent its destructive touch to just about … [Read more...]

Brandon Ramsey is about to embark on a 40-foot pole climb. If one safety measure is not taken carefully, it could mean a broken neck or back for the participant.   As the Louisiana Tech University student takes his first step, the instructors-in-training reassure his safety by holding a safety rope (belay) attached to Ramsey and with the words "Trust us, Brandon." Brandon Ramsey is about to embark on a 40-foot pole climb. If one safety measure is not taken carefully, it could mean a broken neck or back for the participant.   As the Louisiana Tech University student takes his first step, the instructors-in-training reassure his safety by holding a safety rope (belay) attached to Ramsey and with the words "Trust us, Brandon."   These are words heard throughout the four-day training for students who will serve as instructors for groups that visit Seeker Springs Ministry Center’s team challenge rope course.   Constructed last April at a cost of $25,000, the course in Eros includes five low elements and seven high elements.   Low elements do not involve the use of safety ropes and are constructed a few feet above the ground.   High elements are 15 feet or … [Read more...]

Dateline: The future - Louisiana Baptist Convention leaders have announced a cutback in the services the denomination offers to its churches throughout the state.   The cutbacks come as the state convention struggles to deal with reduced funding as a result of decreased giving in churches. Dateline: The future - Louisiana Baptist Convention leaders have announced a cutback in the services the denomination offers to its churches throughout the state.   The cutbacks come as the state convention struggles to deal with reduced funding as a result of decreased giving in churches.   They also come as local churches and associations struggle with their own funding. Some churches have reduced services and left construction projects half-finished. Some associations have closed offices and asked directors to work from their homes.   While leaders hope the moves are temporary, others caution the next round of actions could be even more drastic if giving does not increase. "We could see staff members being terminated at all levels," one leader said. "We could see a cutback in bedrock gospel ministries."   Whew - what a nightmare. It sure is a good thing that could never … [Read more...]

A Louisiana Baptist study committee has announced it will recommend that local associations assume total control of director of missions within a five-year period.   "We recommend that total financial and administrative autonomy and supervision of the director of missions be assumed by the local associations," the study committee recommendation proposed last week reads. A Louisiana Baptist study committee has announced it will recommend that local associations assume total control of director of missions within a five-year period.   "We recommend that total financial and administrative autonomy and supervision of the director of missions be assumed by the local associations," the study committee recommendation proposed last week reads.   "This process would be implemented over a maximum period of five years. Each association would work with the state convention to establish a financial phase-out over the five-year period."   The recommendation is scheduled to be presented to the Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board at its September 24 meeting. If approved there, it will be presented to state convention messengers during the annual meeting in … [Read more...]

For the week of May 30, 2002 Potpourri • BROUSSARD - First church: Truth in concert, June 10, 7 p.m.; Jeffery L. Cook, pastor. • COUSHATTA - First church: Concert of Prayer; June 2, 5:30 p.m.; Stan Horton, coordinator; Benny Alford, pastor. • FOREST HILL - Calvary church: Ralph Stapleton, guest speaker; June 9, 11 a.m.; Joel McMickin, pastor. • DEQUINCY - First church: Choir and orchestra present "Changed By the Power," June 2, 6 p.m.; Jared Prewitt, minister of music; Ronnie Burke, interim pastor. • BATON ROUGE - University church: All music worship service with special guest, Earl Taylor; June 2, 6 p.m.; Warren Miller, minister of music; B. Keith Putt, pastor. Youth • EUNICE - Acadian center: Missions camp; boys or girls grades 1-12; July 1-5; registration July 1, 3 p.m.; $87 camp fee; Chip Dickey, guest speaker; to register or for information, call (337) 457-9047; James Newsom, camp manager. • DRY CREEK - Dry Creek camp: RA camp for boys; ages 6-12; July 1, 9 a.m. - July 4, 2 p.m.; Eric Johnson, guest speaker; Ronnie LaLande, music; $80/$25 deposit; to register or for information, call (337) 328-7531; Curt Iles, camp manager. • JACKSON - Judson Retreat center: Girls Missions camp; 1-6 grades; … [Read more...]

Wayne Jenkins regularly does busi-ness with a man who adheres to the Muslim faith.   Meanwhile, Jenkins is a Christian, which means the two men hold very different views related to God and salvation.   Nevertheless, Jenkins speaks of the Muslim believer as somewhat of a friend. Wayne Jenkins regularly does busi-ness with a man who adheres to the Muslim faith.   Meanwhile, Jenkins is a Christian, which means the two men hold very different views related to God and salvation.   Nevertheless, Jenkins speaks of the Muslim believer as somewhat of a friend.   "Do I believe he has the right to believe as he does?" proposed Jenkins, evangelism director for the Louisiana Baptist Convention. "Yes.   "Do I tolerate his beliefs? Yes.   "Am I friendly to him? Yes.   "Do I think he’s all right how he is in terms of faith? No.   "I try to build a relationship with him. I try to share the gospel with him."   Uh oh - Jenkins just messed up as far as the current American culture is concerned.   He did fine up until the last question, when his response branded him as "intolerant" - a view that more and more Americans … [Read more...]

What began 57 years ago as a vision to reach French-speaking individuals with the gospel has grown to a broadcast to more than 150,000 potential French Baptist Hour listeners on 13 stations in Louisiana and worldwide through the Internet. What began 57 years ago as a vision to reach French-speaking individuals with the gospel has grown to a broadcast to more than 150,000 potential French Baptist Hour listeners on 13 stations in Louisiana and worldwide through the Internet.   "It is certain that the uncompromising message of the gospel, presented with love in a non-threatening manner, has broken down walls of religious prejudice, of deep resentment and of intolerance," Louisiana Baptist Convention Language Missions Director Elie Woerner says in a paper presented May 3 to the Louisiana Baptist Convention Historical Association.   "It has slowly, but surely, helped our witness to be heard and heeded by many. ... Most of the results, however, will never be known on this side of heaven.   "Only eternity will tell."   Currently in his 30th year as director of the French Baptist Hour, Woerner says this ministry has changed drastically since the first permanent French radio … [Read more...]

One of the oft-heard comments since Sept. 11 is that Islam is growing so rapidly, it soon will become the world’s largest religion, overtaking Christianity in just a couple of decades.   Many of these projections are traceable to the work of Harvard University scholar Samuel Huntington, who has put forward the idea of a "clash of civilizations." One of the oft-heard comments since Sept. 11 is that Islam is growing so rapidly, it soon will become the world’s largest religion, overtaking Christianity in just a couple of decades.   Many of these projections are traceable to the work of Harvard University scholar Samuel Huntington, who has put forward the idea of a "clash of civilizations."   But a new book about Christianity in the Third World says Huntington and others are missing the true global picture.   Islam is indeed expanding as Christianity loses its force in the Western world, particularly Europe, says historian and religious studies scholar Philip Jenkins, author of "The Next Christendom."   But at the same time, the numbers of Christians are exploding in the southern hemisphere, he reports.   In his Oxford University Press book, Jenkins … [Read more...]