Week of February 6, 2006 Potpourri SHREVEPORT – Kingston Road church: Rhyme & Reason in concert; love offering accepted; Feb. 18, 6 p.m.; Trey Lewis, pastor. WASHINGTON – Washington church: Fred Luter, guest speaker; Feb. 21, 6:30 p.m. with supper at 5:30 p.m.; Louis Charrier, pastor. LAFAYETTE – First church: “Forever” seminar; Feb. 17, 6-10 p.m.; for couples who are anticipating marriage in the near future or recently married; free; call (337) 233-1774 ext. 3039 to pre-register; Rod Dubois, minister to single adults; Steve Horn, pastor. RUSTON – Calvary church: “Last Chance” drama; Feb. 12-14, 7 p.m. nightly; free admission, nursery and children’s ministry provided; David Hastings, pastor. PINEVILLE – Louisiana College: Louisiana Baptist Convention drama festival; Feb. 24, 6 p.m. – Feb. 25, 4 p.m.; Wesley Brainard and Mad Dogs and Englishmen, featured guests; conference seminars will include acting, ballooning, magic, puppets, mime and video production; $45 per person by Feb. 10; $50 after Feb. 10; $55 at the door; for more information, call (800) 622-6549 or visit www.lbc.org/drama; Joe Aguillard, president. WOODWORTH – Tall Timbers Conference Center: Missions Rendezvous/State Acteens … [Read more...]

ALEXANDRIA – The Louisiana Baptist Foundation’s stocks outperformed the S&P 500 in each of the six time periods measured by its Smith Barney consulting group, trustees were told Jan. 26 at their quarterly meeting. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing editor ALEXANDRIA – The Louisiana Baptist Foundation’s stocks outperformed the S&P 500 in each of the six time periods measured by its Smith Barney consulting group, trustees were told Jan. 26 at their quarterly meeting. A careful look at the portfolio, explained in detail by Lee Morris of Smith Barney, showed LBF stocks have returned 3.25 percent more than the S&P 500 annually for the last three years – 2003, ‘04 and ‘05. “In late 2001, representatives from several Louisiana Baptist agencies selected the Smith Barney Consulting Group to help the LBF hire and monitor equity managers for LBF investments,” said Wayne Taylor, executive director of the Foundation. “Several other state Baptist foundations and the International Mission Board use Smith Barney. A look at the last three-year performance charts proves the selection was right.” The assets managed by the LBF have grown by more than $37 million in the 10 years Taylor has been executive … [Read more...]

BATON ROUGE - Community Bible Baptist Church is starting its fourth mission congregation, but that’s not all. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing editor BATON ROUGE - Community Bible Baptist Church is starting its fourth mission congregation, but that’s not all. The predominantly African-American church has a variety of other local outreach ministries at the same time it works hard to meet the spiritual needs of its members. “I try to get as many laypeople as possible involved,” said Lee T. Wesley, founding pastor of the church that organized in 1988. “I’m not called as a pastor to do the ministry; I’m called to equip the laity.” Because of its involved members and their zeal for starting new congregations, Community Baptist Bible is able to meet the needs of people in the greater Baton Rouge area, the pastor said. Church member Arlene Williams credits the pastor for teaching the congregation how to love people and missions. “Our pastor has a heart for people, a heart for missions. He just has a love for people,” Williams said. “Pastor Wesley has led us to do tent revivals and ministries at the apartment houses near the church. That’s one of the things I like most about our church, how we reach … [Read more...]

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – It’s an 11-hour drive from Birmingham to Houston, but Pastor Fred Luter makes a round trip uncomplainingly twice a month. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing editor BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – It’s an 11-hour drive from Birmingham to Houston, but Pastor Fred Luter makes a round trip uncomplainingly twice a month. That’s where part of his Franklin Avenue Baptist Church congregation is. Another group is in Baton Rouge (five hours from Birmingham) and some have stayed near the devastated Franklin Avenue Church in New Orleans, (six hours from Birmingham). Luter preaches in all three cities at least twice each month. “We’re one church in three cities,” Luter said in a cell phone interview, with a wry grin in his voice. He was driving to his temporary home in Birmingham from a midweek meeting with pastors in New Orleans. “So many people are still displaced.” With these words, Luter’s voice changed to one filled with concern and caring. “I miss the people so much. It’s been real tough on me as a pastor.” Franklin Avenue Baptist held its breath under eight feet of water in the wake of Katrina’s wrath, but it’s beginning to breathe again as members find each other. On Jan. 1 Luter began … [Read more...]

MANSFIELD – The day started like any other that Oct. 23 in 1990. Gary Hobbs was working his usual Tuesday night shift of 3 to 11 p.m. for the Mansfield police department. By Brian Blackwell Staff writer MANSFIELD – The day started like any other that Oct. 23 in 1990. Gary Hobbs was working his usual Tuesday night shift of 3 to 11 p.m. for the Mansfield police department. At 9:20 p.m., Hobbs was accompanying a parole officer to issue a probation warrant for the arrest of Todd Bass. However, Bass resisted the arrest and fatally wounded the parole officer. Bass then fired six shots at Hobbs. Hobbs retaliated, delivering nine rounds. He suffered only a minor wound to his wrist and missed a week of work. The felon was sentenced to life in prison for first-degree murder. Fourteen years later, Hobbs said he reached a point in his life of personal misery and emptiness. He then visited Southside Baptist Church in Mansfield on June 16, 2004. It was the first time Hobbs had darkened the doors of a church building. Four days later, during the Sunday morning service, Hobbs accepted Christ as his personal Savior. “Everything changed from that point,” he said. “It’s amazing how you can walk into a … [Read more...]

ALEXANDRIA - The best way for the Baptist Message to tell the story of what God is doing through His people in Louisiana is to have reporters in every association, Editor Kelly Boggs says. ALEXANDRIA - The best way for the Baptist Message to tell the story of what God is doing through His people in Louisiana is to have reporters in every association, Editor Kelly Boggs says. He has directed Managing Editor Karen Willoughby to develop a group of regional reporters – ideally at least one in each of the state’s 46 associations – to help tell the story. “God is doing amazing things in Louisiana, things that will encourage and bless you – and challenge you,” Boggs said. “With regional reporters, we’ll be able to tell more of those stories better than ever before.” Regional reporters do not need to be professional journalists, Willoughby said; she expects to coach those with an interest in newswriting and a desire to serve God with their writing. “I’ve been training writers via email, phone and fax for at least 10 years,” Willoughby said. “It’s thrilling to me to see how quickly people can improve their writing with a bit of direction, and it’s exciting to think of reporters all around the state using their … [Read more...]

SHREVEPORT - The wife of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who died last week, exhibited all the traits of a pastor's wife should have, said several Louisiana women married to pastors. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing editor SHREVEPORT - The wife of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who died last week, exhibited all the traits a pastor’s wife should have, said several Louisiana women married to pastors. “She was very supportive of her husband,” Prescola Williamson said. She’s the wife of Philip Williamson, pastor of New Zion Baptist Church in Shreveport. “She stood by him in the good times and the bad. ... Mrs. King gave that unspoken message of peace in the face of danger or spiritual warfare.” Mrs. Williamson spoke of the telephone calls Mrs. King answered at the King home - calls filled with rage and hate - and how unfailingly she responded to the caller with dignity and respect, telling them that she would pass on to her husband their message. “Her courage was so strong,” Mrs. Williamson said. “She was always there with her husband. That encourages me, that whenever my husband do things, I need to be there with him, supporting him.” Coretta Scott King was very family-oriented, the pastor’s wife … [Read more...]

NEW ORLEANS (BP) – Pastors in St. Bernard Parish have taken steps to expand worship opportunities in the New Orleans-area parish where Hurricane Katrina sent floodwaters crashing through their sanctuaries Aug. 29. By Keith Manuel Pastor, Calvary Baptist Church, Algiers NEW ORLEANS (BP) – Pastors in St. Bernard Parish have taken steps to expand worship opportunities in the New Orleans-area parish where Hurricane Katrina sent floodwaters crashing through their sanctuaries Aug. 29. Before Katrina, approximately 67,000 people lived in the New Orleans-area parish. Since the storm, the pastors estimated 500 residents have returned to live, but thousands of temporary workers are there. Beginning Feb. 12, Poydras Baptist Church at the lower end of the parish will host one worship service, while another service at the upper end of the parish will be held at a location in Chalmette yet to be determined. Only First Baptist Chalmette and Delacroix Island Baptist churches have had any type of meetings, but neither in their buildings. The Chalmette congregation meets on Saturday mornings in Baton Rouge at Florida Boulevard Baptist Church, along with others from the parish, in services led by Pastor John Jeffries, … [Read more...]

ALEXANDRIA – Since 1965, the Southern Baptist Convention has encouraged its churches to give attention to the issue of race relations on the second Sunday of February. In 2000, the emphasis was changed to emphasize racial reconciliation. By Kelly Boggs Editor ALEXANDRIA – Since 1965, the Southern Baptist Convention has encouraged its churches to give attention to the issue of race relations on the second Sunday of February. In 2000, the emphasis was changed to emphasize racial reconciliation. The shift in emphasis was motivated, in part, by the overwhelming passage of a 1995 resolution on racial reconciliation by messengers at the SBC annual meeting in Atlanta, Ga. The resolution included an apology to “all African-Americans for condoning and/or perpetuating individual and systematic racism in our lifetime…” It also expressed contrition by adding, “…and we genuinely repent of racism of which we have been guilty, whether consciously or unconsciously.” Messengers in Atlanta also affirmed to “hereby commit ourselves to eradicate racism in all its forms from Southern Baptist life and ministry.” While our nation – and the SBC - has come a long way in the area of race relations, I doubt that anyone … [Read more...]

When it comes to experiencing tragedy on a personal level, I am in kindergarten. By Kelly Boggs Editor When it comes to experiencing tragedy on a personal level, I am in kindergarten. Through almost 20 years together, my wife and I have both experienced  relatively good health. As I write this, all of my children are “clothed and in their right minds.” Keep in mind that two of my four kids are teenagers, so the previous sentence could change before I put the final period on this column. I have not had to bury a parent, sibling, or any in-laws. I have experienced no major losses in my life. As a pastor, whenever I was called on to minister in time of devastation or sorrow, I was keenly aware of my tenderfoot status on the trail of tragedy. After only a month in Louisiana, I am reminded anew that I am but a novice when it comes to acute adversity. Rarely a day has gone by that I have not been confronted with the tragedy wrought by the twin terrors, Katrina and Rita. When I talk to a pastor in South Louisiana or read about a church in New Orleans, my response is always the same – stunned silence. Each time that I encounter the scars left by the storms, I am reminded that I have no answers. … [Read more...]