Mitch and Christie Schumacher are Mission Service Corps missionaries serving as founders and directors of the High Mountain Equine Outreach in London, Kentucky. A Cooperative Program Missionary Moment LONGDON, Ky. – Mitch and Christie Schumacher are Mission Service Corps missionaries serving as founders and directors of the High Mountain Equine Outreach in London, Kentucky. The Schumachers strive to reach out to hurting individuals by teaching them the correlation between horsemanship and the God-Man relationship. According to Christie, horses by instinct will only follow a herd leader they can respect and trust to lead, protect, and provide for their needs. God has revealed many truths through this relationship about His desire for a God-Man relationship with us. Cooperative Program gifts from churches like yours are ministering to hurting individuals in Kentucky, across North America and around the world who are seeking hope and love. One accomplishment and fulfillment that comes through using our money wisely is in helping the helpless. The offering to missions through the Cooperative Program we give through church helps minister to people in need. … [Read more...]
New churches called vital for Dakotas
The Dakota Baptist Convention has launched an ambitious plan to increase their total number of churches by 15 percent this year toward reaching an ever-growing population of people who don’t know Jesus. BISMARCK, N.D. (BP) – The Dakota Baptist Convention has launched an ambitious plan to increase their total number of churches by 15 percent this year toward reaching an ever-growing population of people who don’t know Jesus. “We have 87 congregations in the two states, and we need to plant more churches because new churches reach more people,” John Guillott, state director of missions and Starting Churches team leader, told Baptist Press. “They baptize more per capita, and new churches develop new leaders and new opportunities for evangelism.” To cement their commitment, the convention’s executive board has adopted a Church Planting Proclamation, acknowledging Jesus’ command to make disciples and the early church’s example of establishing churches as recorded in the Book of Acts. “We believe the command of Jesus to make disciples of all people is intended for the church today as much as it was intended for the church in the first century,” the proclamation states in part. “We recognize that, … [Read more...]
Two white churches welcome black congregation
Hurricane Katrina, blamed for wrecking New Orleans church buildings, homes and other structures, also is being credited with forcing down barriers separating predominantly black and white congregations. BATON ROUGE – Hurricane Katrina, blamed for wrecking New Orleans church buildings, homes and other structures, also is being credited with forcing down barriers separating predominantly black and white congregations. That’s the experience of leaders and congregants of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church of New Orleans and its partner churches in Baton Rouge, Istrouma Baptist and Florida Boulevard Baptist. It’s an experience church leaders want to see continue. “I am constantly amazed at how welcoming both congregations (Istrouma and Florida Boulevard Baptist) have been,” said the Rev. Fred Luter, following a recent afternoon service held for his predominantly black congregation in the sanctuary of Florida Boulevard Baptist. “This is a testimony that there should be no color lines in the body of Christ.” That sentiment is shared by his deacons. “I don’t think we could have been treated any better,” Deacon Olia Rodney said. “The doors have been opened wide to us.” Deacon Winzer Jimerson agreed, … [Read more...]
Relationship’s roots growing for years
It didn’t take Hurricane Katrina to put an African-American pastor behind the pulpits of Florida Boulevard and Istrouma Baptist churches. BATON ROUGE – It didn’t take Hurricane Katrina to put an African-American pastor behind the pulpits of Florida Boulevard and Istrouma Baptist churches. Years before those predominantly white Baton Rouge churches welcomed the Rev. Fred Luter and displaced members of his Franklin Avenue Baptist Church of New Orleans, another prominent African-American minister served as their guest preacher. The Rev. Lee Wesley pastors both the CommunityBibleBaptist Church in Baton Rouge and Plymouth Rock Baptist at Plaquemine. Three years ago, he became the first African American to preach from the pulpit of Florida Boulevard Baptist Church, and he also may have been the first to speak from the pulpit at Istrouma Baptist when he did so six years ago. “The fact that they (Istrouma and Florida Boulevard) opened their doors to Luter’s church is nothing new because relationships between the African-American and white congregations have been building for a long time,” Wesley said. The cooperation “is getting better all the time. It’s a great thing and I think it demonstrates to … [Read more...]
Strong preaching prevails
Powerful preaching from some of the nation’s leading speakers characterized the 2007 State Evangelism Conference. NEW ORLEANS – Powerful preaching from some of the nation’s leading speakers characterized the 2007 State Evangelism Conference. "It was extremely powerful," said Wayne Jenkins, Louisiana Baptist Convention evangelism and church growth team leader. "Many have said it is the best conference they have ever been to. I heard that over and over." The emphasis was on revitalizing existing churches, Jenkins said. "The majority of the people on the program were people who had taken a church and revitalized it," Jenkins said. "Frank Page did that with three churches. James Walker took a church from 170 to more than 4,000. Steve Joiner? From 30 to 400. And even Fred Luter," the evangelism leader continued. "Fred went to an all-white church that was down to a handful and out of it came the great church Franklin Avenue." With Ken Hemphill speaking three times over the five-session event, the Evangelism Conference also helped launch EKG-Louisiana. Louisiana is the first state in the nation to do this model, to assist churches with resources to help them develop a kingdom world view, said … [Read more...]
Bible drillers get “skilled and thrilled”
More than 180 people registered for the state’s first Bible Drill Training Retreat at Tall Timbers Conference Center the weekend of Jan. 19. WOODWORTH – More than 180 people registered for the state’s first Bible Drill Training Retreat at Tall Timbers Conference Center the weekend of Jan. 19. "Bible Drills skills and thrills" is a longtime slogan. Last year’s state winner for the Speaker’s Tournament, Phillip Vincent, was on hand during the weekend to help give pointers to this year’s youth. Involved in Bible Drill since fourth grade at First Baptist Lake Charles, Vincent is a freshman at Louisiana College. "He is the epitome of what Bible Drill does for preparing kids for leadership," said Linda Aguillard, state Bible Drill consultant. Vincent won the Speaker’s Tournament all three years that he competed, which landed him a scholarship to the state’s Youth Evangelism Celebration the first year, a scholarship to LC the second year, and the chance to represent the state at nationals the third year. "I think that you spend so much time with the scripture that you develop a desire to learn more," he said of his experience with Bible Drill. "The Bible is yes, a historic account, but it is very pertinent to … [Read more...]
Broadmoor Shreveport leads Louisiana in missions giving
About 1,700 people participate in Sunday worship services at Broadmoor Baptist here. Together they gave more than $1.1 million to missions in 2006. SHREVEPORT – About 1,700 people participate in Sunday worship services at Broadmoor Baptist here. Together they gave more than $1.1 million to missions in 2006. "We’ve just always been mission-minded and supported missionaries and missions efforts," said Donny Durr, minister of business administration. "We know that’s why God continues to bless us." Broadmoor’s giving starts with 10 percent of undesignated offerings – $510,250.12 – to missions through the Cooperative Program, Southern Baptist’s acclaimed way of financing global missions. Receipts for the Lottie Moon Offering for International Missions totalled $202,067.09. Hands-on missions is a passion of Pastor Chuck Pourciau, Durr said, so 2 percent of the budget is designated for ‘Missions Participation.’ This totalled $98,000 in 2006, parceled out for individuals involved in mission endeavors locally, statewide, throughout North America and across the world. "The task before us is to use the abundant resources He has provided to accomplish the mission He has given us, the Great … [Read more...]
Bible drill is a discipleship tool
Bible Drill grounds students in scriptures, say program leaders here. ALEXANDRIA – Bible Drill grounds students in scriptures, say program leaders here. Bible Drill is a discipleship training tool for students in fourth through twelfth grades, said Linda Aguillard, LBC’s Bible Drill state coordinator. Bible Drill is designed to help students increase their knowledge of the Bible, develop skills in locating Bible books and key passages, memorize the names of the books of the Bible in order as well as Bible verses and key passages, while also learning to apply the Bible to their lives, she explained. In Youth Bible Drill, seventh to twelfth graders also learn to use scripture references to document basic beliefs and ethical convictions. Bible Drill rotates through three color-coded cycles, one cycle per year. This year, students are using the blue cycle. The most important goal of Youth Bible Drill is to learn to use the Book of Life to make a difference for today and tomorrow, the promotional material on Bible Drill said. Also included under the umbrella of Bible Drill is the Youth Speaker’s Tournament for youth in grades 10 through 12 who are active members of youth training … [Read more...]
Elizabeth Luter speaks of restoration
Elizabeth Luter lost everything in Katrina except her trust in God. Despite the dispersion of her spiritual family, the destruction of her home and car, and the devastation of the church where she and her husband had ministered for years, she has nothing but praise for God. PINE – Elizabeth Luter lost everything in Katrina except her trust in God. Despite the dispersion of her spiritual family, the destruction of her home and car, and the devastation of the church where she and her husband had ministered for years, she has nothing but praise for God. "God has not allowed me to cry or mourn over Katrina," she told a group of women gathered at Pine First Baptist Church to hear her speak on the Highway to Holiness at the 6th Annual Women’s Conference. She said that God has met their every need, even as they have been vagabonds, sleeping on her daughter’s futon and traveling from place to place, ministering to their displaced congregation. Luter said preparation for this conference was a growing experience for her. God stretched her understanding of the spiritual path that leads to holiness and helped her to understand that we all have to travel that path alone. Ultimately it is our personal relationship … [Read more...]
Scholars to argue about death of atheism
Is atheism facing its demise? Oxford theologian Alister McGrath thinks so. NEW ORLEANS – Is atheism facing its demise? Oxford theologian Alister McGrath thinks so. The 2007 Greer-Heard Point-Counterpoint Forum of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS) to be held February 23-24 on the seminary campus, will address the question of "The Future of Atheism." At the forum, McGrath, Oxford University professor of historical theology, prolific evangelical Christian apologist and author of The Twilight of Atheism, will present his case in dialogue with Daniel C. Dennett, university professor and Austin B. Fletcher professor of philosophy of Tufts University, who will defend an atheistic position. The Greer-Heard Forum provides a venue in which an academically recognized evangelical scholar can engage a non-evangelical scholar on current issues in faith and culture. McGrath holds Oxford University doctorates in both molecular biophysics and Christian theology and has published numerous works on Christian theology and its relationship to the natural sciences. His three-volume work, A Scientific Theology, explores the contributions of science and theology to each other. As a former atheist, McGrath has a passion for … [Read more...]
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