Given the opportunity, Southern Baptists demonstrate again and again a unified commitment to missions. A case in point is the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions. Given the opportunity, Southern Baptists demonstrate again and again a unified commitment to missions. A case in point is the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions.   While giving to the Cooperative Program has slowed in some state conventions, giving to the three major missions offerings - international, North American, state - has remained solid. Word came recently that last year’s giving to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions hit another record. In spite of what seems to be an economic downturn over the last couple of years, giving to the offering last year was 1 percent over the previous year’s. All told, the offering hit $49,560,279 in 2003.   That was last year. What will Southern Baptists and Louisiana Baptists do this year?   The need for missions and evangelism in our homeland has not been greater in recent decades than it is today. For instance, ecumenical ministerial alliances in many Louisiana cities and towns must now ask themselves, … [Read more...]

A handwritten letter from Karen Watson to her pastors is proof the Southern Baptist missions worker was resolved to obey God as he called her to follow him past the comforts of home and into a faraway land where millions need to know him. A handwritten letter from Karen Watson to her pastors is proof the Southern Baptist missions worker was resolved to obey God as he called her to follow him past the comforts of home and into a faraway land where millions need to know him.   The commitment eventually cost Watson, 38, her life. She was one of four humanitarian aid workers who died in Iraq after their vehicle was ambushed March 15.   Larry and Jean Elliott of Cary, N.C., and David McDonnall of Rowlett, Texas, also perished. McDonnall’s wife, Carrie, was severely injured in the attack and remains in stable condition at a hospital in Dallas.   "When God calls there are no regrets," Watson wrote in a letter to Phil Neighbors and Roger Spradlin, co-pastors of Valley Baptist Church in Bakersfield, Calif., where she was a member since 1997.   The letter is dated March 7, 2003. It was written just before Watson left for the Middle East and was meant to be opened only upon her … [Read more...]

David McDonnall was a master storyteller who was willing to die so that others could hear the story of Jesus, close friends said in a memorial service for the slain missions worker last week. David McDonnall was a master storyteller who was willing to die so that others could hear the story of Jesus, close friends said in a memorial service for the slain missions worker last week.   He was an "on-mission Christian all the time," friend Chris McKinney said.   McKinney drew laughter and nods of agreement from the crowd packed into the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary auditorium as he told about a time he and McDonnall were standing in line at Wendy’s.   "All of a sudden, I heard David speaking in Arabic back behind me," McKinney said. "All I could think was, ... ‘He’s found the only Arabic-speaking people in all of southwest Fort Worth and he’s talking to them.’ ...   "Within 30 seconds of being at Wendy’s, David was on mission for Jesus Christ, sharing the gospel with these people who had probably never heard it before."   McDonnall was one of four Southern Baptist missions workers killed in an attack near Mosul, Iraq, earlier this month. He was a … [Read more...]

These days, 83-year-old Carter Hall teaches a FAITH evangelism class at Fairview Baptist Church in Coushatta. But for the former pastor who has served Louisiana Baptist churches for more than 60 years, Hall’s life has mirrored the name of the class he teaches. These days, 83-year-old Carter Hall teaches a FAITH evangelism class at Fairview Baptist Church in Coushatta.   But for the former pastor who has served Louisiana Baptist churches for more than 60 years, Hall’s life has mirrored the name of the class he teaches.   "Faith is a big factor in my life," says Hall, who was presented a plaque last fall by Fairview Pastor Stephen McAbee for his 60 years in the ministry. "Faith in the Lord has been the theme of my life."   Hall says faith brought him through the Depression during his grammar school days.   "We were so poor we didn’t know there was a Depression," Hall recalls.   "We didn’t have to worry about how much money we’d spend because we didn’t have money to spend."   Raised in Walker, he was the fourth of seven children born to George and Addie Hall. His father held a job as a postal service mail carrier, but his paycheck provided little money … [Read more...]

As often happens in other fields, the find of Gabriel Barkay’s career as a biblical archaeologist rose at the intersection of careful calculation and happy accident - the latter provided in his case by a bored 12-year-old helper who whacked the stone floor of an Israelite burial vault with a heavy hammer. As often happens in other fields, the find of Gabriel Barkay’s career as a biblical archaeologist rose at the intersection of careful calculation and happy accident - the latter provided in his case by a bored 12-year-old helper who whacked the stone floor of an Israelite burial vault with a heavy hammer.   His name was Nathan. Too scattered and mischievous to be of much help, he had been dispatched to clean a worked-over corner of Barkay’s dig just outside the old city of Jerusalem, a largely overlooked archaeological site that Barkay thought might yield material for his dissertation.   But the stone floor turned out to be the ceiling of a concealed void beneath. And Nathan’s hammer blow punched through to a repository containing hundreds of vessels of pottery, personal jewelry and other effects untouched for 2,600 years.   Among them was the find of finds - two tiny, … [Read more...]

Re: The Southern Baptist Convention proposal to leave the Baptist World Alliance, beginning in September. Re: The Southern Baptist Convention proposal to leave the Baptist World Alliance, beginning in September.   I wish to applaud those who are willing to stand tall and make difficult decisions. The Southern Baptist Convention leadership has shown that the theology of those we work side by side together with is important. The financing of such organizations, while they demonstrate a callous disregard for God’s Word and his principles, is a sinful waste of his resources.   Most Southern Baptists are biblically conservative and would not allow those who lead the Baptist World Alliance to preach more than once in their churches. Why should we provide the funds to keep them solvent?   Mike Rasberry, Pastor Immanuel Baptist Church Slidell, La. … [Read more...]

I have no doubt when (LBC Executive Director) Dean Doster said recently there had been no secret meeting regarding the future of the associational directors of missions, he was speaking the truth. I have no doubt when (LBC Executive Director) Dean Doster said recently there had been no secret meeting regarding the future of the associational directors of missions, he was speaking the truth. However, he was speaking the truth from his experience. You see, he was at the meeting with five other chosen men. For those, it certainly was not a secret. However, the associations made decisions after their "meeting" that were rendered null and void, and the Louisiana Baptist Convention’s annual meeting was not privy to the "non-secret" meeting. Again, these men would honestly defend their motives and deny the secrecy of their meeting. It all depends on one’s definition of secret. Unless the meeting’s time, place and purpose had been announced to all affected by it, it was a secret.   I was taught as a child that I must avoid even the appearance of wrongdoing. Can anyone deny that, at the very least, this meeting appears to have been a secret? Now, rather than seeking peace and unity, there are some saying … [Read more...]

Late last year, months after the landmark Texas decision striking down anti-sodomy laws, two Utah polygamists filed suit, asking that their relationships with multiple wives be validated by the government. Late last year, months after the landmark Texas decision striking down anti-sodomy laws, two Utah polygamists filed suit, asking that their relationships with multiple wives be validated by the government.   Laws against polygamy are unconstitutional, they said.   "Everyone should be free unless there’s a compelling state interest that you shouldn’t be," lawyer John Bucher argued in presenting the suit.   "The state is not able to show that there’s such an evil to polygamy that it should be prohibited."   As the nation continues to debate same-sex "marriage," some have begun examining the logical extension of its legalization. If the legal benefits of marriage are awarded to homosexual men, then why should they not also be given to others - like polygamists?   "There isn’t a single argument in favor of same-sex marriage that isn’t also an argument in favor of polygamy - people have a right to marry who they love; these relationships already exist; ... we have … [Read more...]

The Federal Communications Com-mission recently overruled its own staff and decided an obscenity for male-female relations violates federal law covering radio and broadcast television. The Federal Communications Com-mission recently overruled its own staff and decided an obscenity for male-female relations violates federal law covering radio and broadcast television.   Last year, Bono, lead singer of the rock band U2, used the word at a live broadcast of the Golden Globe Awards, saying winning an award was "(expletive) brilliant."   After a complaint was filed, the FCC’s enforcement bureau ruled the word did not violate the ban on broadcast indecency. Bono’s use of the word was non-sexual, as well as fleeting and isolated, the bureau said.   After granting a request for a review of the ruling, the five-member commission struck down its bureau’s decision.   It said not only did Bono’s use of the word qualify as profane under the law but other uses of the word would as well.   In its order, the Federal Communications Commission warned broadcasters they are "on clear notice that, in the future, they will be subject to potential enforcement action for any broadcast … [Read more...]

It was a spring tradition when he had been smaller - a backyard Easter egg hunt. This was years ago, when kids actually dyed the hard-boiled eggs - with a little parental help. He remembers that. It was a spring tradition when he had been smaller - a backyard Easter egg hunt.   This was years ago, when kids actually dyed the hard-boiled eggs - with a little parental help. He remembers that.   There are times he still can remember the smell of the dye as it simmered on the old stove, remember the twisted wire holders used to dip an egg into the dye, remember trying to balance the egg so it would not fall.   One or two always did and had to be fished out of the pot with a spoon. And some had to be dipped several times - first in this color, then in that, half in this one, too.   He remembers that.   He remembers the hunt as well.   The kids were closed away so they could not watch the adults placing the eggs in the yard. There, they would wait anxiously, bragging about who would find the most, guaranteeing themselves as the winners.   And the time finally would come when they were allowed to emerge, baskets in hand, "Easter grass" padding the … [Read more...]