ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) – The White House, in a report assessing the response to Hurricane Katrina, praised and commended faith-based organizations including Southern Baptists for their quick and coordinated work to aid storm victims in the Gulf states. By Baptist Press staff ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) – The White House, in a report assessing the response to Hurricane Katrina, praised and commended faith-based organizations including Southern Baptists for their quick and coordinated work to aid storm victims in the Gulf states. The 228-page document report, titled “The Federal Response to Hurricane Katrina, Lessons Learned,” said “faith-based organizations ... provided extraordinary services. For example, more than 9,000 Southern Baptist Convention North American Mission Board (NAMB) volunteers from 41 states served in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. These volunteers ran mobile kitchens and recovery sites.” Hurricane Katrina was one of the worst natural disasters in American history -– leaving more than 1,300 dead in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, hundreds of thousands homeless and without jobs, and tens of billions of dollars in damage to homes, businesses and the Gulf Coast … [Read more...]

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) – Drawing from the example of Samson’s loss of strength in Judges 16, Southern Baptist Convention President Bobby Welch warned against squandering the opportunities God has given the convention. By Erin Curry Roach Baptist Press NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) – Drawing from the example of Samson’s loss of strength in Judges 16, Southern Baptist Convention President Bobby Welch warned against squandering the opportunities God has given the convention. “There is great consequence in the traumatic tragedy of unfulfilled potential,” Welch told Executive Committee members in Nashville, Tenn., Feb. 20. He pointed to verse 20, which says Samson “awoke from his sleep and thought, ‘I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.’ But he did not know that the Lord had left him.” Samson had lost his hair and his strength, and the Philistines were upon him. “That must be one of the saddest circumstances imaginable to be out flailing away and the wind of God [is] off your life,” Welch said, adding that a wonderful comeback happened in verse 22 when Samson’s hair began to grow again. Welch, pastor of First Baptist Church in Daytona Beach, Fla., set forth three ways to “rev up a rundown romance … [Read more...]

KENNER – “I didn’t do nothing to do this. Only Jesus did everything,” said David Lema, pastor of Iglesia Bautista Hispana Emmanuel. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing editor KENNER – “I didn’t do nothing to do this. Only Jesus did everything,” said David Lema, pastor of Iglesia Bautista Hispana Emmanuel. He was studying “Experiencing God,” by Henry Blackaby when three men from Brazil stopped by the church in mid-January. They were meeting in a home for Bible study; they asked if they could meet at the church. “I see the hand of God here,” Lema said with his native Cuba in his voice. “For me it is amazing to see this amount of Brazilians around here. This is the blessing of Katrina.” In three weeks the Brazilian congregation has grown to perhaps 70 men, two women and two pastors – one a Baptist; the other, Pentecostal. Only about a dozen in the congregation started out as Christians; six more made professions of faith at the Feb. 4 service. “Right now we are working with them, watching what they are doing, helping as we can,” Lema said. “They need health care but Charity Hospital is closed. ... If the Lord brings the people here, he will give me the avenue to help them.” Lema knows about … [Read more...]

PINEVILLE – Actors, puppeteers, jugglers, magicians and clowns learned how to use their God-given talents to communicate the gospel at the 2006 Drama Festival, Feb. 24-25 at Louisiana College. PINEVILLE – Actors, puppeteers, jugglers, magicians and clowns learned how to use their God-given talents to communicate the gospel at the 2006 Drama Festival, Feb. 24-25 at Louisiana College. Sponsored by the Louisiana Baptist Convention, the conference drew 227 people – including groups from Alabama, Arkansas and Texas. “There is a huge need or desire in the local church to discover new and unique ways to share the gospel,” Kevin Boles, LBC youth ministry strategist, said. “Churches are finding out that drama ministry is a very creative way to reach an unchurched world and they want to do that with excellence.” The festival featured 50 seminars taught by about 25 national and local professional faculty members. The conference also featured worship celebrations led by mime Wesley Brainard and improv and comedy duo Mad Dogs and Englishmen. Boles said a highlight of the conference was the Cafe Showcase after the Friday evening worship celebration. “We allowed local groups to perform in a late night showcase in … [Read more...]

Week of March 6, 2006 Potpourri ZWOLLE – Toledo Bend Resort Ministry center: Workday; March 11, 8 a.m.; projects include yard work, general cleanup, electrical, plumbing and carpentry; bring appropriate tools; for information, call (318) 645-6601; Mary L. Gore, resort manager. SULPHUR – First church: Florida Boys in concert; March 25, 6 p.m.; $10  in advance/$12 at the door; call (337) 527-5231; David Holder, pastor. ALBANY – Old Zion church:  Southern gospel concert featuring The Barleys; March 18, 6 p.m.; Jerry Chapman, minister of music; Bobby Stults, pastor. COLFAX – Bethel church: Hunter and outdoor extravaganza; March 18, 5-8 p.m.; Phil Robertson, known as the “Duck Commander”, guest  speaker;  The  Blake Brothers Bluegrass Band, musical guest; for information,  call  (318) 627-3131; Robert A. Daniel, pastor. SICILY ISLAND – Pine Hill church:  The Southern Plainsmen in concert; March 12, 5 p.m.; love offering accepted; Dennis Hensley, pastor. OLLA – Wildhorse ministry: Trail ride and auction at the Lazy 2M Ranch; March 11, 9 a.m. with lunch at noon and auction to follow; $10 per person for trail ride/ barbecue plate lunch; for information, call Mike or Linda McCartney at (318) … [Read more...]

Week of March 6, 2006 Yemeni executed for 2002 missionary killings SAN’A, Yemen – The Yemeni gunman who killed three Southern Baptist medical workers in 2002 was executed by firing squad last month. Abed Abdul Razak Kamel was shot in the central prison of the southern Ibb province as judicial officials observed, Yemen’s Saba state news agency reported. Kamel was convicted for the Dec. 30, 2002, shooting deaths of Jibla Baptist Hospital director William Koehn, physician Martha Myers and purchasing agent Kathleen Gariety. A pharmacist was seriously wounded but later recovered. Kamel admitted in court to coordinating the attack with Islamic militant activist Ali al-Jarallah. Al-Jarallah was executed Nov. 27 for plotting the medical workers’ deaths and for assassinating a prominent national politician. Yankees donate money to SBC church NEW YORK – The New York Yankees, though just in spring training, stepped up to the plate to assist a Bronx church and its soup kitchen after a break-in. The Yankees, whose stadium also is in the Bronx, presented a check for $20,000 to Daniel Dupree and Greater Universal Baptist Church recently to cover losses the church sustained during last month’s burglary. The … [Read more...]

NEW ORLEANS – Nearly 200 students from eight colleges and universities in Louisiana chose to do missions work during their Mardi Gras break. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing editor NEW ORLEANS – Nearly 200 students from eight colleges and universities in Louisiana chose to do missions work during their Mardi Gras break. Led by Baptist Collegiate Ministries campus directors and organized by Linda Osborne for the Louisiana Baptist Convention’s Collegiate Ministries team, 185 students Feb. 25-27 first tackled the New Orleans Mission, a Christian-based homeless shelter, before swarming out around the city to do brush, shrub and tree removal and house gutting in connection with the disaster relief ministries of First Baptist Church in New Orleans. “I felt like this was not only my state, it was the least I could do,” said Hope Stevens, from the University of Louisiana at Monroe BCM. She spoke during a break from the ceiling board removal job she’d been helping with on the third floor of the mission that before Katrina had been housing 300 men a night. The building had not been flooded, but the hurricane tore the roof off the building, explained Ron Gonzales, executive director. Continual rain for … [Read more...]

ALEXANDRIA – Last week, the Baptist Message reported tentative figures for the churches known to have baptized the most people in the 2004-05 church year. (Some records were lost or destroyed as a result of the hurricanes and levee breaches.) ALEXANDRIA – Last week, the Baptist Message reported tentative figures for the churches known to have baptized the most people in the 2004-05 church year. (Some records were lost or destroyed as a result of the hurricanes and levee breaches.) The Louisiana Baptist Convention evangelism team listed the top 10 in each of four categories: 1000+ members, 500-999 members, 125-499 members, and less than 125 members. Listed below are the top 10 churches in each of the four categories – known to have led in baptisms this past year. Congregations with 1,000 or more members: 1. Franklin Avenue Baptist Church, New Orleans – 309. 2. First Baptist Church, West Monroe – 279. 3. Donahue Family Church, Pineville – 218. 4. First Baptist Church, Bossier City – 212. 5. East Bayou Baptist Church, Lafayette – 149. 6. Bellaire Baptist Church, Bossier City – 148. 7. Celebration Church, Metairie – 145. 8. Trinity Baptist Church, Lake Charles – 144. 9. First Baptist … [Read more...]

WESTBANK, British Columbia – For 10 years now, North American missionaries Kevin and Alicia Madden have lived 2,200 miles away from Kevin’s birthplace, Washington, Ga., but their home and hearts are firmly rooted in Canada. By Mickey Noah NAMB staff writer WESTBANK, British Columbia – For 10 years now, North American missionaries Kevin and Alicia Madden have lived 2,200 miles away from Kevin’s birthplace, Washington, Ga., but their home and hearts are firmly rooted in Canada. Madden is a church planting missionary and senior pastor of The Potter’s House Community Church in Westbank BC, a community of 30,000 people, located about four hours from Vancouver. The Maddens are among more than 5,200 missionaries in the United States, Canada and their territories supported by the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions. The 2006 Annie Armstrong Easter Offering’s goal is $56 million, 100 percent of which is used for missionaries like the Maddens. Louisiana’s goal is $1.7 million. “We are so blessed by the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering,” says Madden.  “As part of the Canadian Convention of Southern Baptists, we work very closely with the North American Mission Board. The funds from … [Read more...]

ALEXANDRIA – State leaders recently honored 150 Louisiana Baptist disaster relief volunteers during an appreciation supper at the Baptist Building in Alexandria. By Brian Blackwell Staff writer ALEXANDRIA – State leaders recently honored 150 Louisiana Baptist disaster relief volunteers during an appreciation supper at the Baptist Building in Alexandria. Among those receiving awards was Linda Yeager, who was presented with a certification of appreciation for her role as the state disaster relief volunteer coordinator. “I have enjoyed working with all the staff at the Louisiana Baptist Convention,” Yeager told the Baptist Message. “I have started many long-lasting relationships with the volunteers. “Working with the missions and ministries team and assisting the victims of these disasters has been a rewarding and fulfilling experience.” Since she assumed her role  Aug. 31, Yeager has scheduled certified Southern Baptist disaster relief volunteers for numerous feeding and shower units stationed in Louisiana. Yeager also has assisted in: • Scheduling volunteers for the Katrina/Rita Response Call Center located in the Baptist Building; • Matching teams interested in doing missions work in the … [Read more...]