“There are five ways messengers can be certified to vote at this year’s annual convention” Nov. 13-14 at Trinity Baptist Lake Charles, said Marcell McGee, LBC Credentials Committee Chairman. ALEXANDRIA – “There are five ways messengers can be certified to vote at this year’s annual convention” Nov. 13-14 at Trinity Baptist Lake Charles, said Marcell McGee, LBC Credentials Committee Chairman. Elected messengers can choose one of the following options, McGee said. First and best, messengers can pre-register using the new online system, print out their registration cards, and bring them to the annual meeting. By pre-registering, messengers can be certified within a matter of minutes, McGee said. Second, if messengers have not pre-registered, bringing a letter from their church on church letterhead stating that they are elected messengers will allow them to register and be certified to vote. Third, a church officer can phone in the names of the elected messengers. Two more: verification by a fellow church member; meeting of the credentials committee. Without properly registering, messengers cannot vote at the annual meeting, McGee said.   … [Read more...]

The sins of America are many. Among the most blatant are: an insistence on the right to kill pre-born humans, the protection of pornography and the acceptance by many that perversion is normal and healthy. While these and other moral failings are signs the United States is far from healthy, a more subtle sign could be just as telling. The sins of America are many. Among the most blatant are: an insistence on the right to kill pre-born humans, the protection of pornography and the acceptance by many that perversion is normal and healthy. While these and other moral failings are signs the United States is far from healthy, a more subtle sign could be just as telling. In his book When Nations Die, historian Jim Nelson Black cites 10 warning signs of a culture in crisis. Among the trends that indicate a society has stopped making history and is in the process of becoming history is “the loss of respect for tradition.” Tradition links generations together by calling attention to significant events and people. It is a form of remembering. Tradition commemorates not only the past, but also how the past impacts the present. Tradition is one generation passing the baton of history to the next. When … [Read more...]

The population of the United States soared past 300 million in October, with no signs of declining anytime soon. RICHMOND, Va. (BP) – The population of the United States soared past 300 million in October, with no signs of declining anytime soon. Only two other countries contain more than 300 million people: China and India, with more than 1 billion each. Like those two giants – and unlike most of Europe and other “developed” countries – the U.S. population continues to climb. Our young nation took nearly a century and a half (until 1915) to reach a population of 100 million. It had doubled a little over a half-century later, in 1967. The 300-million mark was reached less than 40 years after that, and demographers project we will hit 400 million by 2043. Natural increase (more births than deaths) explains much of the annual growth in population, according to the Population Reference Bureau. But immigrants account for about 40 percent of the growth. Foreign-born people in the United States now number more than 35 million, ranging from unskilled laborers to highly skilled professionals and international entrepreneurs. Non-Hispanic whites account for just over half of the population … [Read more...]

For the first time since 1998, Southern Baptists have a presence at the 5,000-student Grambling State University, located five miles west of Ruston in Lincoln Parish. GRAMBLING – For the first time since 1998, Southern Baptists have a presence at the 5,000-student Grambling State University, located five miles west of Ruston in Lincoln Parish. “We are really evangelizing the campus,” said Reginald J. Alford, Baptist Collegiate Ministries director at Grambling. “We have grown up to 150 students on a regular basis.  There have been more than 100 rededications and born-again experiences. To sum it up, there’s a revival on campus.” Alford, who is in his first semester as BCM Director at Grambling, said  students meet every Tuesday night for Bible study in sessions led primarily by student leaders and occasionally by local pastors or Alford himself, who attended New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and spent one year as the BCM Director at Alabama State before coming to Grambling. In addition, Alford meets with student leaders – about  10 – every Monday. “God just worked everything out,” Alford said of his experience at Grambling so far. “It was already set up. The leaders were … [Read more...]

Editor’s note: Tobey Pittman, project manager for Operation NOAH Rebuild, is in the habit of writing one of the following vignettes a day. Rebuilding hope In the heart of the city there are those who have lost heart. Thirty-seven years of living washed down the drain – at least that is how Jean Hebert saw it. His house was half gutted. He was still hoping to salvage a few  pieces of expensive furniture that had been underwater for days. He had worked hard for all that he had and did not want to let go. No one had the heart to give him the bad news: it had to go. Jean recounted how he had raised his family in this house. His son, who is now his neighbor, chimed in, “That was my room there; my sister was there; my parents here. We had a lot of fun growing up here.” Jean hardly remembers the fun – he only experiences anger when he goes into this shell of a house. Jean is asking Operation NOAH to  help him rebuild his house. It is a big project. The bricks and sticks needed for Jean’s house are easy compared to the renewal needed for his heart. Many people have not coped well with their losses. Some languish in despair. The greatest contribution your rebuild team makes in … [Read more...]

f the elegant setting were any indication, the women attending the 2006 Ministers’ Wives Retreat at Tall Timbers knew they were in for a weekend of royal treatment. FOREST HILL – If the elegant setting were any indication, the women attending the 2006 Ministers’ Wives Retreat at Tall Timbers knew they were in for a weekend of royal treatment. Perhaps a dozen walnut rocking chairs with satin-like fuchsia-colored cushions beckoned participants to relax and enjoy their retreat from daily ministry cares. “The Gifts” theme from I Peter 4:10 was carried out visually with a wide assortment of various sized boxes wrapped with gold and glitter. “It was a wonderful weekend to get away and be with people of similar backgrounds and a time to focus on what God is doing and how He is speaking to me,” said Lesley Free, wife of Todd Free, associate pastor of worship and discipleship at Calvary Ruston. Julie Woodruff of Hendersonville, Tenn., was worship leader for the event attended by at least 200 women from across the state. “Playing the role of minister’s wife was one thing, but when the scripture Jeremiah 29:11-13 unlocked the door to my spiritual growth, my motive for ministry changed,” Woodruff … [Read more...]

At what is billed as the world’s largest free fair, Southern Baptist volunteers offer the world’s most valuable free gift. FRANKLINTON – At what is billed as the world’s largest free fair, Southern Baptist volunteers offer the world’s most valuable free gift. For many of the 93 years that the Washington Parish Free Fair has been in existence, Southern Baptists from the area have offered fair goers a free glass of ice water or a cup of coffee in Jesus’ name. While the volunteers quench the fair goers’ physical thirst with their free beverages, it is the spoken testimony and the written tract that are given with the drinks that offer the world’s most valuable free gift. “I can’t tell you what a thrill it was to meet so many people and share Jesus with them,” Michelle Amacker, a volunteer at the coffee booth said. “When they asked me what they owed me for the coffee, I would tell them, ‘You don’t owe me any money. The only thing I ask is that you take the time to read this little book.’ I would give them a tract that included the plan of salvation.” “I had so much fun,” she added. “I plan to go back every year. Just let me know what time our church is supposed to cover the booth and I’ll … [Read more...]

NEW ORLEANS – A large, insulated mug, 2007 pocket calendar, phone card and a Bible or New Testament are to be given to seafarers who connect with Global Maritime Ministries here during the month of December. “Seafarers often have very little to claim as their own,” explains Philip Vandercook, executive director of the center established by his father, John Vandercook, about 50 years ago. “A simple thing like a mug is something they can keep in their cabins for their personal use,” Vandercook said. “The calendar is small enough for them to carry in their pockets; each calendar also includes a complete plan of salvation and a list of other evangelical port ministry centers around the world.” The phone cards will enable the seafarers to call their families, and a Bible or New Testament will be given to them in their heart language, the better for them to understand what God has to say to them, Vandercook said. “We hope to distribute 1,000 gifts this year,” he continued. “We need people to provide the gifts and Bibles.” A signed Christmas card and $8 will provide one gift for one seafarer, not includiing the Bible they also will receive. “We’re really looking forward to holding … [Read more...]

The Louisiana Baptist Convention began pilot-church training sessions Oct. 30 for a new strategic initiative called EKG-Louisiana. The new endeavor – Empowering Kingdom Growth-Louisiana – is a trilogy of special emphases designed for the local church to implement one after another, within a calendar year. SHREVEPORT – The Louisiana Baptist Convention began pilot-church training sessions Oct. 30 for a new strategic initiative called EKG-Louisiana. The new endeavor – Empowering Kingdom Growth-Louisiana – is a trilogy of special emphases designed for the local church to implement one after another, within a calendar year. Ken Hemphill, Southern Baptist’s Empowering Kingdom Growth national strategist, explained to church leaders from the pilot churches that “EKG is not a program but a passion. “At its heart is a desire for revival and thus it is based on prayer and dependent on God’s power,” Hemphill said. “EKG is a divine passion with a clear and comprehensive strategy.” LBC Executive Assistant Beau Colle led a team of trainers in EKG-Louisiana at Shreveport, West Monroe, Baton Rouge, Mandeville, Opelousas and Pineville the first nine days of November. “Our goal is that EKG-Louisiana will … [Read more...]

Despite losing three of his most precious valuables – his wife, his church, and his city – Pastor Bill Rogers, 76 and coming up on his 30th anniversary as pastor of Grace Baptist, is set to receive his Doctorate of Ministry Dec. 8 from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky. NEW ORLEANS – Despite losing three of his most precious valuables –  his wife, his church, and his city – Pastor Bill Rogers, 76 and coming up on his 30th anniversary as pastor of Grace Baptist, is set to receive his Doctorate of Ministry Dec. 8 from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky. On Sept. 15, 2004, Rogers and his wife returned from an out-of-town trip, said Les Scharfenstein, brother-in-law to Rogers and a deacon at Grace Baptist. After pulling into their driveway, Pastor Rogers entered the house to open it, while his wife checked on her flowers outside. When Pastor Rogers came back down, she had fallen and was not breathing. EMT’s were not able to revive her. “It almost killed me for a while,” said Pastor Rogers, who said he suffered intense loneliness after his wife’s death. “We had been married 51 years. But thank God everybody’s blessed me and helped me.” Rogers, who … [Read more...]