Seattle can seem like one big paradox.         SEATTLE, WASH. – Seattle can seem like one big paradox.   On one hand, it is the largest city in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. Almost 574,000 people live in Seattle proper, and about 4 million in the metro area.   Seattle – also known as the "Emerald City" because of the lush evergreen trees in the area – has been called the most literate city in the United States. The most recent census found that Seattle has the highest percentage of college graduates of any major U.S. city. Men’s Fitness magazine named Seattle the fittest city in the U.S. The area is home to Microsoft, Boeing and Starbucks. With some 190 different languages spoken, Seattle is a very multiethnic city. Many world religions are represented. It’s a very spiritual city, and more than 80 percent of the residents say they believe in something beyond the physical realm.   At the same time, only about four percent of the 4 million people in greater Seattle are evangelical Christians.   "Seattle has never been a Christian city," says Gary Irby, churching planting missionary for the North American Mission Board (NAMB) and the Puget Sound Baptist Association. "It’s … [Read more...]

KANSAS CITY, MO. – “The Annie Armstrong Easter Offering makes the thing that is impossible among us . . . possible.”         KANSAS CITY, MO. – "The Annie Armstrong Easter Offering makes the thing that is impossible among us . . . possible."   It’s profound and ironic that North American missionary Thira Siengsukon (pronounced See-eng-su-kone) – Chinese by birth, Thai by culture and for whom English is a second language – could so eloquently yet concisely utter just 14 words that so accurately reflect what the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering is all about.   The 57-year-old Siengsukon, director of the Lao School of Ministry at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Mo., is also an Asian missionary strategist and church planter for the North American Mission Board and the Kansas-Nebraska Convention of Southern Baptists.   Born in Bangkok, Thailand as the son of non-Christian, Chinese parents, Siengsukon was raised in the Thai culture, educated in Thai schools and taught the Buddhist religion of his ancestors.   "When I joined an American missionary’s youth program at a chapel near my house, I heard about Jesus and the Gospel for the first time," he said. "I compared Christian … [Read more...]

Women in Zimbabwe are socially inferior to men. They cannot question a man’s decision. They must enter a room on their knees, if a man is present, as a sign of respect. They speak to men only when permission is specifically granted.         PINE – Women in Zimbabwe are socially inferior to men. They cannot question a man’s decision. They must enter a room on their knees, if a man is present, as a sign of respect. They speak to men only when permission is specifically granted.   "As a result, African women do not know who they are in Christ," Sherrie Bumstead, IMB furloughing missionary to Zimbabwe, told the congregation at Pine First Baptist Church, a group that faithfully prayed for her over the last three years.   Bumstead, a nurse, went to Botswana in 2003; and when conditions deteriorated there, she was moved to Zimbabwe. She felt the call to missions while living in New Orleans. She sees medicine as the skill that opens doors to her, allowing her to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. Back in the United States for a year, Bumstead’s mission is to acquaint Southern Baptist churches with her ministry in Africa.   As a female missionary in a male dominated culture, Bumstead cannot lead a man to … [Read more...]

March 2007   1 – Developing a Biblical Process of Discipleship, Istrouma Baton Rouge. LBC contact: Lisa Smith.   1 – Singing Ministers//Womens Concert. Calvary, Alexandria.   3 – Area Keyboard Festival, Broadmoor Shreveport. LBC contact: Teresa Thomason.   3 – M-Jam Xtra for GAs and Children in Action, Louisiana College, Pineville. LBC contact: Judy Fussell.   4-11 – Week of Prayer for North American Missions. LBC contacts: Judy Fussell; Jill Morrow.   8-9 – Louisiana Baptist Ministry Assistants Retreat, Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center, Woodworth. Contact: Debra Hull, Broussard Grove, Prairieville.   13 – Church Building Conference, First Baptist, Opelousas. LBC contact: Lisa Smith.   15 – CANCELLED Bivocational Pastor/Wife Appreciation Banquet, Shreveport. LBC contact: Gary Mitchell.   15-16 – Louisiana Baptist Religious Education Association Annual Conference, Baptist Building, Alexandria. Cost: $25; $30 after March 1. LBC contacts: Beau Colle and Jeannie Maxwell.   22 – CANCELLED Bivocational Pastor/Wife Appreciation Banquet, Monroe. LBC contact: Gary Mitchell.   22-24 – Prayer for Spiritual Awakening Conference, Kingsville Baptist, Pineville. Co-sponsored by Evangelism/Church Growth and Pastoral … [Read more...]

OLLA – A benefit for Wild Horse Ministries is set for Saturday, March 10 at the Lazy 2M Ranch on McCartney Road in Olla. A trail ride is to start at 9 a.m. A meal followed by an auction is to start at noon. And at 3 p.m. is to be a wild horse demonstration by Paul Daily.   Cost for a barbeque plate lunch: $10/person. For more info or to donate an item for the auction, contact Mike McCartney at 318-495-3283.   Bring lawn chairs; camping space available for Friday night. No alcohol permitted.   SULPHUR – A free health fair and Dennis Swanberg Concert for senior adults is set for 2 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 20 at Houston River Baptist Church Family Life Center.   The event – designed to foster good spiritual, physical and mental health – is sponsored by the church’s Silver Beacons ministry for Beauregard, Calcasieu and Cameron seniors.   Registration begins at 2 p.m. Afternoon guest speakers include Roger Gill and Curt Iles. A free "brown bag" supper will be made available to all who register by 3:30 p.m.   FourTold are to perform in concert at 5:30 p.m.; Swanberg at 6:20 p.m. HAYNESVILLE – First Baptist has set a showing of the new film Facing the Giants for 6 p.m. Sunday, March 4, … [Read more...]

Staff changes Ronnie (wife Tabitha) Osborne is new pastor of First Baptist, Ringgold. John (wife Jennifer) Long is new associate pastor/youth at Calvary Slidell, from Fort Worth, Texas. Charles Starnes is pastor. John (wife Candy) Saxon have resigned as associate pastor at First Hammond. Jim Lancaster is pastor. Byron (wife Cynthia) Townsend is new as pastor of music and missions at CrossPoint Baptist in Baton Rouge. Randy Lee has transitioned to pastor of children and administration. Landon Dowden is senior pastor. Seeking staff Full-time pastor needed: Send resume to First Baptist Church, Attn: Pastor Search Committee, PO Box 205, Castor LA 71016. Organist needed at Calvary Slidell.  Please call 985-643-6957. Charles Starnes is pastor. Part-time minister of music needed; small church: Indian Mound Baptist Church, PO Box 275, Greenwell Springs, La. 70739;Contact: imbcinformer@gmail.com or 225-261-8271. Jim Effersonis pastor. First Baptist Church, Farmerville, is accepting resumes for pastor.  Video tape messages are welcomed.  Send to First Baptist Church, Mrs. Una George, Chairman, Pastor Search Committee, PO Box 296, Farmerville LA 71241. Director of Education, part-time to full-time. Broadmoor Baptist, … [Read more...]

Caner refutes ‘Blasphemy Challenge’ – Prompted by the media attention being given to a the "Blasphemy Challenge" website urging people to deny the Holy Spirit, a seminary president has issued a challenge to atheists who want to ask relevant questions about the existence of God. "Our faith is hooked to the God who created all logic and all knowledge," Ergun Caner, president of Liberty Theological Seminary in Lynchburg, Va., said Feb. 7. "I’m telling you lazy Christianity will not change one person. It takes a heart committed to the cross, a mind committed to learn, a mouth committed to stand and speak, and a person committed to the simple act of courtesy in answering honest questions."   The "Rational Response Squad" is behind the Blasphemy Challenge website that urges people -- especially teens -- to submit videos in which they "damn themselves to hell" by stating the phrase "I deny the Holy Spirit." More than 1,000 videos reportedly have been submitted.   Caner said the Blasphemy Challenge is an ideal opportunity to answer the legitimate questions of skeptics while emphasizing the intellectual defenses of Christian theology, according to a news release from the seminary Feb. 8.   "They’re asking questions … [Read more...]

Characterizing the Baptist Faith and Message as a sufficient guide for trustees of Southern Baptist Convention entities, the SBC Executive Committee, during its Feb. 19-20 meeting in Nashville, Tenn., affirmed both the SBC’s trustee system of governance and its confession of faith, in effect suggesting that trustees do well when guided by the BF&M in crafting doctrinal policies.         NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) – Characterizing the Baptist Faith and Message as a sufficient guide for trustees of Southern Baptist Convention entities, the SBC Executive Committee, during its Feb. 19-20 meeting in Nashville, Tenn., affirmed both the SBC’s trustee system of governance and its confession of faith, in effect suggesting that trustees do well when guided by the BF&M in crafting doctrinal policies.   The Executive Committee adopted its statement under an SBC bylaw requiring that the convention’s entities respond to motions referred to them from the preceding SBC annual meeting.   The Executive Committee, in response to a BF&M-related motion at last year’s annual meeting in Greensboro, N.C., stated that it "acknowledges the Baptist Faith and Message is not a creed, or a complete statement of our faith, … [Read more...]

Southern Baptist missionaries in Guinea are asking for prayer after the African country’s president declared martial law last week in response to violent protests against his leadership. More than 100 people have died in the conflict.   CONAKRY, Guinea (BP) – Feb. 21 – Southern Baptist missionaries in Guinea are asking for prayer after the African country’s president declared martial law last week in response to violent protests against his leadership. More than 100 people have died in the conflict.   The International Mission Board evacuated two missionary families who were living in rural areas where violence had erupted. All other personnel in the West Africa region are safe.   Trade unions protesting the president shut down public transportation and many businesses and schools. One of the evacuated missionaries said how thankful he was for safety as his family fled to the border of Sierra Leone.   "As we drove out ... the kids and I held pillows next to the windows just in case rocks were thrown [by the protesters]. God protected us. Not one rock hit our truck," he said. "We arrived exhausted, yet glad that we did not have to remain [in Guinea] one more night with gunfire, mortar shootings and the thought of … [Read more...]

An "On Mission Celebration" (OMC) is coming to a Southern Baptist church near you.         ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) – An "On Mission Celebration" (OMC) is coming to a Southern Baptist church near you.   Over the years, thousands of Southern Baptists have attended OMCs, which were once called "Schools of Missions" in the 1950s and ’60s and World Mission Conferences in the ’70s through 1998.   Today’s OMCs are designed to inspire and mobilize participants to intentionally celebrate God’s activity in the world, anticipate their role in God’s mission and participate by making a commitment to being on mission for God.   With the cooperation and support of local SBC associations and churches, the North American Mission Board’s church relations group along with the International Mission Board will manage and resource nearly 60 OMCs throughout the United States between February and mid-November 2007. The first On Mission Celebration was scheduled for 18 churches in the Adams-Union Baptist Association in Natchez, Miss., Feb. 4-11. Some 70 OMCs took place in 2006.   In some associations, as many as 40 different churches will join together to hold a customized celebration, and dozens of international, North … [Read more...]