NEW ORLEANS – In what he called his last sermon, Billy Graham offered a message of thanks and encouragement during last weekend’s Celebration of Hope at the New Orleans Arena. By Brian Blackwell Staff writer NEW ORLEANS – In what he called his last sermon, Billy Graham offered a message of thanks and encouragement during last weekend’s Celebration of Hope at the New Orleans Arena. “This is probably the last evangelistic sermon I’ll ever preach,” the 87-year-old evangelist told an overflow crowd of 17,800 people on Sunday. “But it’s been wonderful to be here. Thank you. “I’d like to thank my friends George Beverly Shea and Cliff Barrows for all these years we’ve been together,” Graham continued as he sat on his liftchair that raised him to the wooden pulpit’s appropriate height. “I look forward to a big reunion one day in heaven. God bless you all.” His last visit to the city was a six-week crusade 52 years ago. This time, he delivered a 22-minute message of hope to a city desperately in need of encouragement. Graham said he watched in shock as Hurricane Katrina destroyed New Orleans’ levee system, leaving much of the city underwater. But days later, he said, “we saw the great men and women who … [Read more...]

NEW ORLEANS (BP) – Billy Graham, fielding a reporter’s question about the great lesson that can be learned from Hurricane Katrina, responded, “That there is much more to life than material things.” By Kelly Boggs Editor NEW ORLEANS (BP) – Billy Graham, fielding a reporter’s question about the great lesson that can be learned from Hurricane Katrina, responded, “That there is much more to life than material things.” The 87-year-old evangelist answered the query without hesitation and added, “There is a moral and spiritual strength that is needed not only in New Orleans and the Ninth Ward, but it is needed everywhere. “We are living in a very tumultuous period in history,” he reflected. “With Katrina’s aftereffects and the war in Iraq and all these things going on, if ever the country needs to turn to God it is now.” Graham’s comments came during a March 8 tour of communities in the hurricane-ravaged New Orleans area with his son Franklin. The Grahams were in New Orleans for a two-day “Celebration of Hope” crusade. The elder Graham originally wasn’t scheduled to take part in the March 11-12 outreach but told his son that New Orleans had really been “a burden on my heart” and that he wanted to … [Read more...]

NEW ORLEANS (BP)--Billy and Franklin Graham were welcomed to the sanctuary of First Baptist Church in New Orleans by a standing ovation from pastors, spouses and special guests March 9 for a time of prayer for the Grahams’ March 11-12 “Celebration of Hope” in the hurricane-ravaged city. By Keith Manuel Regional reporter NEW ORLEANS (BP)--Billy and Franklin Graham were welcomed to the sanctuary of First Baptist Church in New Orleans by a standing ovation from pastors, spouses and special guests March 9 for a time of prayer for the Grahams’ March 11-12 “Celebration of Hope” in the hurricane-ravaged city. The still strong voices of George Beverly Shea and Cliff Barrows led the group in worship. Barrows pointed out that the three men, Graham, Shea and Barrows, represent 267 years of collective ministry. Franklin Graham stood behind the pulpit where his father preached in 1954 to lead a month-long crusade in New Orleans at the old Pelican Stadium. David Crosby, First Baptist New Orleans pastor, pulled out a pen and invited Franklin to sign the pulpit that his father and the Graham team had signed in 1954. Franklin Graham mentioned the historic nature of the Celebration of Hope. During the planning for … [Read more...]

WASHINGTON (BP) – Efforts to advance the sanctity of human life, human rights and protection for marriage top this year’s legislative agenda of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. WASHINGTON (BP) – Efforts to advance the sanctity of human life, human rights and protection for marriage top this year’s legislative agenda of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. In a statement released March 14, ERLC President Richard Land and Barrett Duke, the commission’s vice president for public policy, said the following measures will be promoted by the entity in the second half of the 109th Congress: • The Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act, S. 51/H.R. 356, which would require abortion doctors both to inform mothers of the pain an unborn child of 20 weeks or older experiences during an abortion and to offer anesthesia for the baby. • The Child Custody Protection Act, S. 8, which would outlaw the transportation of a minor by a non-parental adult to another state for an abortion when the girl’s home state requires parental notification or consent. • A ban on human cloning for research or reproductive purposes. • The Marriage Protection Amendment, S.J.Res. 1, a … [Read more...]

NEW ORLEANS – In what he called his last sermon, Billy Graham offered a message of thanks and encouragement during last weekend’s Celebration of Hope at the New Orleans Arena. By Brian Blackwell Staff writer NEW ORLEANS – In what he called his last sermon, Billy Graham offered a message of thanks and encouragement during last weekend’s Celebration of Hope at the New Orleans Arena. “This is probably the last evangelistic sermon I’ll ever preach,” the 87-year-old evangelist told an overflow crowd of 17,800 people on Sunday. “But it’s been wonderful to be here. Thank you. “I’d like to thank my friends George Beverly Shea and Cliff Barrows for all these years we’ve been together,” Graham continued as he sat on his liftchair that raised him to the wooden pulpit’s appropriate height. “I look forward to a big reunion one day in heaven. God bless you all.” His last visit to the city was a six-week crusade 52 years ago. This time, he delivered a 22-minute message of hope to a city desperately in need of encouragement. Graham said he watched in shock as Hurricane Katrina destroyed New Orleans’ levee system, leaving much of the city underwater. But days later, he said, “we saw the great men and women who … [Read more...]

NEW ORLEANS (BP)--Billy and Franklin Graham were welcomed to the sanctuary of First Baptist Church in New Orleans by a standing ovation from pastors, spouses and special guests March 9 for a time of prayer for the Grahams’ March 11-12 “Celebration of Hope” in the hurricane-ravaged city. By Keith Manuel Regional reporter NEW ORLEANS (BP)--Billy and Franklin Graham were welcomed to the sanctuary of First Baptist Church in New Orleans by a standing ovation from pastors, spouses and special guests March 9 for a time of prayer for the Grahams’ March 11-12 “Celebration of Hope” in the hurricane-ravaged city. The still strong voices of George Beverly Shea and Cliff Barrows led the group in worship. Barrows pointed out that the three men, Graham, Shea and Barrows, represent 267 years of collective ministry. Franklin Graham stood behind the pulpit where his father preached in 1954 to lead a month-long crusade in New Orleans at the old Pelican Stadium. David Crosby, First Baptist New Orleans pastor, pulled out a pen and invited Franklin to sign the pulpit that his father and the Graham team had signed in 1954. Franklin Graham mentioned the historic nature of the Celebration of Hope. During the planning for … [Read more...]

COLFAX – Robert Daniel hopes that duck calls, a bluegrass band and gumbo supper will be the ticket to reach unchurched people in the area. By Brian Blackwell Staff writer COLFAX – Robert Daniel hopes that duck calls, a bluegrass band and gumbo supper will be the ticket to reach unchurched people in the area. Scheduled for March 18 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Bethel Baptist Church in Colfax, the Hunter Outdoor Extravaganza will feature hunting and ATV exhibits, 2003 Louisiana Duck Calling champion Matthew LaPraire, door prizes, the Blake Brothers Bluegrass Band and free gumbo for the first 300 people. “This is an attempt to reach people who don’t go to church at all,” Daniel, pastor of Bethel Baptist Church, said. “It’s a way of letting them know the good news in a slightly different fashion. The target audience is people who like to hunt, fish and do outdoor type activities.” Daniel said the highight of the evening will be Phil Robertson, known as the Duck Commander. Born in Vivian, this nationally-known duck caller has developed a worldwide fan base of fellow duck hunters. A year after he received a patent for his particular duck call, the Duck Commander Company was incorporated. Since 1973, Duck … [Read more...]

In the 1950s, Hank Williams twanged, “Your cheatin’ heart, will tell on you.” In the ‘70s the Eagles harmonized, “You can’t hide your lyin’ eyes.” Most recently, Toby Keith sang, “Just remember when you let it all go, what happens down in Mexico stays in Mexico.” Though the approach is different in each song, the subject is the same -- adultery. By Kelly Boggs Editor In the 1950s, Hank Williams twanged, “Your cheatin’ heart, will tell on you.” In the ‘70s the Eagles harmonized, “You can’t hide your lyin’ eyes.” Most recently, Toby Keith sang, “Just remember when you let it all go, what happens down in Mexico stays in Mexico.” Though the approach is different in each song, the subject is the same -- adultery. Adultery is like a car wreck on a busy street. Though everyone knows something terribly tragic has happened, the urge to stare is difficult for many to overcome. The subject of adultery seems always to creep its way onto the stage of popular culture. Whether the vehicle is music, film or literature, cheating on one’s spouse is a subject hashed and rehashed in every generation. When the movie “The Bridges of Madison County” was in theaters in 1995, a young lady in the church I was pastor … [Read more...]

LAKE CHARLES – Out of state last weekend, but Trinity sent 11 ministry assistants to a day-long conference at Tall Timbers (see article on page 4) and that intrigued me. How big does a church have to be to have 11 secretaries? By Karen L. Willoughby Managing editor LAKE CHARLES – Out of state last weekend, but Trinity sent 11 ministry assistants to a day-long conference at Tall Timbers (see article on page 4) and that intrigued me. How big does a church have to be to have 11 secretaries? Big enough to host “Southwest Louisiana’s largest” Easter egg hunt: 30,000 eggs and at least 100,000 candies to go inside. They even have a special day when folks gather at the church to stuff the eggs! About 1,100 people attend Trinity’s two Sunday morning worship services. They give about 19  percent of their offerings to missions, including $215,400 through the Cooperative Program, $38,557 through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for international missions, and this month they have set a $12,000 goal for the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American missions. Trinity doesn’t just send money. They have at least four mission trips planned for this summer: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, Columbia, Africa and … [Read more...]

WOODWORTH – Hay bales, handcrafts and all manner of livestock – stuffed, of course – combined to set the stage for a “down home” kind of annual gathering for ministry assistant professionals in Louisiana Baptist life. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing editor WOODWORTH – Hay bales, handcrafts and all manner of livestock – stuffed, of course – combined to set the stage for a “down home” kind of annual gathering for ministry assistant professionals in Louisiana Baptist life. The day-long “State Fair” event hosted by the Louisiana Baptist Ministry Assistants fellowship – LABMA – took place in the activities building at Tall Timbers Conference Center, less than an hour south of Alexandria. “It’s a time to get away from the office and hear about new things going on, and to see what’s going on with other ministry professionals,” said Kathy Wallace of Calvary Baptist in Ruston. It was her third year to attend the event, she said. “For me, this event is encouraging and refreshing,” Wallace said. “It’s just good to talk with other women and see they  have similar frustrations, and we can talk here about different ways we can deal with different situations.” The day’s featured speaker was Cindy … [Read more...]