In 1991, John Baker approached his senior pastor about the need to help thousands in their area overcome a variety of hurts, habits and hang-ups. Pastor Rick Warren had three words to say to his fellow minister - "go for it!" In 1991, John Baker approached his senior pastor about the need to help thousands in their area overcome a variety of hurts, habits and hang-ups.   Pastor Rick Warren had three words to say to his fellow minister - "go for it!"   Together, they did, creating a Christ-centered recovery program based on the Beatitudes of Jesus.   Since its founding, more than 7,500 people have gone through the Celebrate Recovery program at Saddleback Church in Lake Valley, Calif. In 12 years, more than 150,000 people have participated in the program from prisons, rescue missions and more than 2,500 churches.   President George Bush even recently praised the Celebrate Recovery program as a ministry that does what government cannot - change hearts. Bush’s comments came in a speech to the 11th White House Faith-Based and Community Initiative Conference in Los Angeles.   "It was a recognition I never expected, ..." Baker says of the president’s remarks. "When … [Read more...]

The following unedited letter was submitted by Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Director Dean Doster in response to a request by a group of associational moderators during a March meeting. During the meeting, moderators expressed a need for information and public relations efforts regarding the decision to discontinue funding for associational directors of missions in 2005. The following unedited letter was submitted by Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Director Dean Doster in response to a request by a group of associational moderators during a March meeting. During the meeting, moderators expressed a need for information and public relations efforts regarding the decision to discontinue funding for associational directors of missions in 2005.   The decision to recommend to the Executive Board of the Louisiana Baptist Convention the change in funding and management of the Directors of Missions may have left someone with unanswered questions. As most Louisiana Baptists know, my policy as your Executive Director has always been to follow administrative protocol, give as much information as possible and do what I believe is in the best interest of all Louisiana Baptists.   Since LBC … [Read more...]

Working in the same building with the president of the United States may be a dream for some Americans - but for Louisiana College junior David Stokes, it was a recent reality. Working in the same building with the president of the United States may be a dream for some Americans - but for Louisiana College junior David Stokes, it was a recent reality.   Last fall, Stokes served alongside 69 other college students as White House interns. The interns attended Ivy League, public and small-private universities.   While they served in roles ranging from communications to legislative affairs, Stokes worked for Ruben Barrales, director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs.   "The coolest part was giving tours to constituents," says Stokes. "I would get to tell them about the paintings and history of the White House."   Since Barrales spent a great deal of his time traveling and speaking with groups around the country, Stokes was responsible for his travel arrangements. Stokes researched policies of interest to the various groups as well.   He also wrote articles for his department’s newsletter that was distributed to 13,000 local and state officials throughout … [Read more...]

The decision by our executive director and the Executive Board has precipitated one of the worst polity crises in Louisiana Baptist Convention history. In spite of the explicit vote of the messengers of the LBC regarding the funding of associational directors of missions, they decided to overthrow the vote and go the opposite way. The decision by our executive director and the Executive Board has precipitated one of the worst polity crises in Louisiana Baptist Convention history. In spite of the explicit vote of the messengers of the LBC regarding the funding of associational directors of missions, they decided to overthrow the vote and go the opposite way.   If we allow this to stand, we are well on our way to giving all power and control to the executive director and the Executive Board. Every layperson should take note; the annual convention will become nothing more than religious entertainment because the vote of the messengers will mean nothing.   The executive director took unilateral action against the wishes of the convention. Instead of bringing what he thought was a crisis to the convention, he withheld the information and acted against the convention in January - and the … [Read more...]

The change in the employment of the directors of missions will affect Louisiana Baptist Convention agencies if previous budgeting procedures hold. The change in the employment of the directors of missions will affect Louisiana Baptist Convention agencies if previous budgeting procedures hold.   Churches are being encouraged to "reallocate" Cooperative Program (CP) gifts to the association, so they can assume the employment of their DOMs. The cost of employing DOMs is estimated at about $1.5 million per year. If churches reallocate that much, that will reduce the amount of money that goes to every convention agency, as well as to the Southern Baptist International and North American Mission boards. While, technically, the convention does not budget just by percentages, that has been a defacto practice for years and will not likely change significantly.   If state CP receipts are reduced by $1.5 million, that would mean, based upon previous budget percentages, Louisiana College would receive $204,450 less in the following years, the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home $34,000 less, the Baptist Message $29,100 less, the Baptist Foundation $18,150 less and the general convention $21,600 less. Also, … [Read more...]

Will Massachusetts begin offering marriage licenses to same-sex couples next month - as the state courts have demanded? Probably so - but then again, who knows? Will Massachusetts begin offering marriage licenses to same-sex couples next month - as the state courts have demanded?   Probably so - but then again, who knows?   Massachusetts legislators recently passed a compromise constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage while legalizing civil unions, step one of a long three-step process.   The action created confusion as advocates on both sides of the issue expressed frustration - and as top state officials found themselves at odds about how to proceed now.   The amendment passed three times. However, it still must be passed again in the next legislative session before going to voters, which would be 2006 at the earliest. That would be some two years after the Massachusetts court decision legalizing same-sex marriage is to take effect next month.   However, following the legislative action, Gov. Mitt Romney said he would ask the court to delay its decision.   Conversely, Attorney General Thomas Reilly said he would not seek such a delay in … [Read more...]

How do we know Christ was raised from the dead? That is not an unreasonable question because the Apostle Paul took great pains to answer it in his first letter to the church at Corinth. How do we know Christ was raised from the dead?   That is not an unreasonable question because the Apostle Paul took great pains to answer it in his first letter to the church at Corinth.   In the 15th chapter of 1 Corinthians, verses 5-9, Paul lists firsthand witnesses to the resurrected Christ: "And that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; and last of all, as it were to one untimely born, He appeared to me also." (NAS)   Paul apparently did not see the need to add Christ’s appearances of the first morning of the resurrection to the women and two disciples. Paul also seems not to think it necessary to add the account of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus.   Historians add other facts that are certainly on the side of the reality of the resurrection. Authors have written their proof of the … [Read more...]

For the week of April 15, 2004 French Rally   The annual Louisiana Baptist French Rally has been set for April 30 at First Baptist Church of Gray. The rally is set to begin with a meal at 5 p.m. and will include singing and a worship service, followed by fellowship. Retired Louisiana Baptist Pastor Claude Fontenot is scheduled as guest speaker. Freddie Rodrigue is host pastor for the event.   Unborn victims law   Federal law now recognizes an unborn child as a victim when he or she is harmed or killed in a crime against a pregnant woman. President George Bush signed the Unborn Victims of Violence Act into law April 1. Federal law has not treated an unborn child as a victim when he or she dies as a result of an assault against or murder of the mother, even though 29 states have laws that recognize the illegal killing of an unborn child as murder in at least some cases. "This omission in the law has led to clear injustices, ..." Bush said before signing the bill. "As of today, the law of our nation will acknowledge the plain fact that crimes of violence against pregnant woman often have two victims." Pro-life advocates applauded the president’s action. "This is a significant step … [Read more...]

A promise from God is good anytime, anywhere, for anyone to whom that promise is given. That poses a major "problem" for the purveyors of a "gospel of prosperity." A promise from God is good anytime, anywhere, for anyone to whom that promise is given. That poses a major "problem" for the purveyors of a "gospel of prosperity."   A "gospel of prosperity" simply put is this: If you love God, and are obedient to Him, He will pour out financial prosperity upon you. If the financial blessings of God are not pouring upon you, you are doing something wrong to impede their flow, or you simply do not understand and practice the formula(s) to get them flowing.   Just about every preacher, man or woman, who depends upon television for his or her livelihood preaches a gospel of prosperity. And, this false gospel even finds its way into pulpits that never see the light of a television camera.   Want a new house... A new car... A new boat... All your bills paid... Enough money to do anything you want? All you have to do is work the formula of a gospel of prosperity of choice.   Name it and claim it. Speak your ownership. Bind the demon that is keeping you from your … [Read more...]

Much has been written and discussed about how many people are rejecting - or sometimes re-interpreting - the gospel message these days. In a time of "fashion-your-own-religion" and "whatever-works-for-you philosophies," it is a concern. Much has been written and discussed about how many people are rejecting - or sometimes re-interpreting - the gospel message these days.   In a time of "fashion-your-own-religion" and "whatever-works-for-you philosophies," it is a concern.   However, Alan Streett has an additional concern - about the disregard evangelicals themselves are showing the true New Testament gospel these days.   "If Jesus and the apostles walked the earth today, one wonders if they would recognize the gospel being preached by most American evangelicals," said Streett, chair and professor of evangelism at Criswell College, in Dallas.   Indeed, the central focus on the New Testament gospel is largely absent from the message being presented by many American evangelicals, Streett maintained.   In short, no one is talking about the kingdom of God.   "While the kingdom of God was the central theme of all gospel preaching in the New Testament, it has … [Read more...]