Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee has a challenge for young adult Christians - whatever one does and wherever one is, do not be a thermostat. Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee has a challenge for young adult Christians - whatever one does and wherever one is, do not be a thermostat.   "A lot of people - particularly in politics - are nothing more than thermometers," Huckabee told young adults gathered for a recent Southern Baptist conference in Dallas.   These "thermometers" take an opinion poll to get the "pulse of the public" and, based on the poll, state the position they are going to take, explained Huckabee, who is a former president of the Arkansas Baptist Convention.   However, God calls people to be like thermostats, moving the temperature to what it should to be, Huckabee explained during the recent Elevate 2004 conference, which is designed to help young adult professional take their Christian faith into the world.   He offered two suggestions for young people seeking to change the climate of the culture.   First, a Christian should stand by their convictions no matter the consequences, Huckabee said. He added that these convictions should be based on the Word … [Read more...]

For the published week of February 12, 2004 LBC finances   Louisiana Baptists got 2004 off to a very strong start as far as convention receipts are concerned. January receipts for all but one area of giving were up significantly from the previous year.   • Cooperative Program receipts totaled $2,105,388, an increase of $146,304 (7.5 percent) from January 2003. The total launches the 2004 budget well, exceeding monthly needs by $272,055 (14.8 percent). The receipts also send a good signal to the convention, which begins 2004 with a reduced budget as a result of a dip in giving the previous two years.   • Receipts for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions totaled $1.7 million last month, an increase of $330,383 (23.7 percent) from the previous January. The Lottie Moon offering is the only avenue of giving not on a calendar year - its runs from June 1 to May 31. Thus, eight months into the offering year, state Lottie Moon receipts stand at $2.8 million, an increase of $443,870 (18.8 percent) from the same time last year.   • Receipts for the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions totaled $103,931 last month, an increase of almost … [Read more...]

While just about everyone in America seems to be talking about marriage and the family being in trouble, every legislature in the country seems to be passing laws that weaken the very premise of marriage and therefore the family, and make getting out of marriage easier. While just about everyone in America seems to be talking about marriage and the family being in trouble, every legislature in the country seems to be passing laws that weaken the very premise of marriage and therefore the family, and make getting out of marriage easier.   Even Louisiana, with its covenant marriage possibility, just passed a law that does away with a waiting period for the three-day waiting period between getting a license and being married in the French Quarter so it can compete with the wedding chapels of Las Vegas. We may be slow to catch up to other states and cities in areas that matter most, but we seem to have no problem staying up in the less desirable areas.   To be certain, in matters of the ultimate human interpersonal relationships or marriages and families, laws cannot determine their quality. No law can make a man be faithful to his wife or his wife faithful to him, nor is there a law that can … [Read more...]

The theme of the 2004 Louisiana Baptist Evangelism Conference hardly could have been missed by participants - it was all about finding purpose. The theme of the 2004 Louisiana Baptist Evangelism Conference hardly could have been missed by participants - it was all about finding purpose.   State convention leaders used the annual conference at Istrouma Baptist Church in Baton Rouge as a springboard for their year-long emphasis on equipping Louisiana Baptists for ministry and evangelism.   The chosen tool for the emphasis is "The Purpose-Driven Life" by Rick Warren, a Southern Baptist pastor and best-selling author. "The Purpose-Driven Life" invites persons to undertake a 40-day study designed to help them understand God’s meaning and purpose for their lives.   The study book has been embraced across the country - and the Louisiana Baptist Convention has partnered with Warren and his church to bring the study to the Bayou State.   Leaders say they hope as many as 750 to 1,000 Louisiana Baptist churches will use the study this year. In an effort to promote the emphasis, leaders organized the recent evangelism conference on the themes of the purpose study.   The … [Read more...]

Rick Warren is convinced "The Purpose-Driven Life" study can do more than just change one’s life. Rick Warren is convinced "The Purpose-Driven Life" study can do more than just change one’s life.   It can change an entire state - even the state of Louisiana - by changing its churches.   "(This purpose-driven emphasis) will change your church like nothing else," Warren said during the recent Louisiana Baptist Evangelism Conference at Istrouma Baptist Church in Baton Rouge.   Warren did not attend the state conference - but he did make his presence known.   Warren addressed each session of the two-day conference via video, speaking specifically about the state convention’s year-long "40 Days of Purpose" emphasis.   Warren is pastor at Saddleback Valley Community Church in Lake Forest, Calif., one of the largest Southern Baptist congregations in the nation. He also is author of "The Purpose-Driven Life." The book urges persons to commit 40 days of study for discovering God’s purpose for their lives.   Louisiana Baptist leaders have embraced the concept, as have many others across the nation. They have made the study the centerpiece of their "40 Days of … [Read more...]

Since the Louisiana Baptist Convention is composed of human beings, it is possible that we can make mistakes. Since the Louisiana Baptist Convention is composed of human beings, it is possible that we can make mistakes.   The people in our convention are godly people who want to see the kingdom of God advance in the state. Even though our motives may be right, we can still make mistakes. One such mistake is the way we dealt with directors of missions at the 2002 convention. What was done was an honest effort to bring the directors of missions under the control of the local associations. Although this goal may be worthy, its implementation is going to turn out to be a nightmare.   The financial burden on the local associations in the state is going to be such that: (1) some of our local associations will not be able to field a full-time director of missions and (2) Cooperative Program money needed to fund our Louisiana Baptist Convention and Southern Baptist Convention will be cut.   The way we have done things called for local associations to cluster to allow a director of missions to be used to the maximum potential. It just makes sense to continue this … [Read more...]

For the published week of February 12, 2004 Potpourri   • HEBERT - Welcome Home church: Common Ground in concert; Feb. 22, 6 p.m.; Bill Gueringer, pastor.   • ZACHARY - Milldale church: February Bible Conference Camp Meeting; Feb. 16, 6:45 p.m. - Feb. 19; Bob Pitman, Herb Reavis, Malcom Ellis, Sonny Holland, Jerry Chaddick and Philip Robertson, guest speakers; free meals; for information or reservations, call (225) 654-8168 or (225) 654-5065; Jimmy Robertson, pastor.   • DENHAM SPRINGS - Hebron church: Felix Snipes, Christian illusionist, to perform; Feb. 13-14, 7 p.m.; Feb. 15, 8 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.; Rob Burns, pastor.   • WEST MONROE - Highland church: Adult choir presents "Just Beyond," Feb. 22, 6:30 p.m.; Stan Taylor, minister of music; Gordon "Skip" Dean, pastor.   • JENA - Fellowship church: Layman’s Soul Winning Rally; Feb. 24, 6:30 p.m.; Alan Miller, guest speaker; Brad Mount, music; Randy Ray, pastor.   • RIDGECREST - Ridgecrest church: Women’s Conference; Feb. 28, 8 a.m. registration - 2:30 p.m.; Billie Smith, guest speaker; free admission; Preston Holder, pastor.   • EUNICE - Acadian center: " Wild at Heart" men’s … [Read more...]

Pirates not only ruled the Caribbean at the box office last summer - they have continued to ravage the music industry, including the Christian segment. Pirates not only ruled the Caribbean at the box office last summer - they have continued to ravage the music industry, including the Christian segment.   Illegal compact discs and Internet downloads are pushing people out of work and driving creativity and variety out of the Christian music industry, insiders insist.   Christian music sales fell for the first time in two years, and piracy is largely to blame, said John Styll, president of the Gospel Music Association. Although he does not have solid numbers of Christian music downloads from file-sharing sites on the Internet, he said several factors indicate large amounts of activity.   For one thing, many songs from Christian artists appear on peer-to-peer file-sharing sites, where people can trade electronic files. Also, recordable compact discs outsold music CDs by a two-to-one ratio last year in America. Sales of MP3 players that play digital files jumped 56 percent.   Couple these facts with the decline in Christian music sales and the connection is obvious, Styll … [Read more...]

Christian music is big business a look at the annual sales numbers for the burgeoning industry show that very well. However, music insiders argue it is a ministry as well. Christian music is big business a look at the annual sales numbers for the burgeoning industry show that very well.   However, music insiders argue it is a ministry as well.   Although sales figures fell last year, the industry remains strong, accounting for close to 50 million sales a year.   Artists like Jars of Clay, Michael W. Smith, dc talk and Steven Curtis Chapman each have sold between 5 million and 8 million albums during their respective careers. Kirk Franklin and Sandi Patty each have sold 11 million. Amy Grant tops the list of Christian artists at 24 million units sold.   Today, contemporary Christian music is sold nationwide by mainstream retailers as well as Christian bookstores.   Both the companies that produce the music and the artists themselves get more than heavenly rewards for their efforts. The Gospel Music Association estimates Christian music generates about $900 million in sales annually.   Christian artists typically get between 8 percent and 20 percent of the … [Read more...]

For the published week of February 19, 2004 NOBTS preview   New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary has scheduled a Preview Weekend for prospective seminary students on March 4-6, 2004. Preview weekends are designed to provide students the opportunity to experience seminary life first-hand. Prospective students will tour the campus; meet faculty and staff; and learn more about admission requirements, degree programs, cost of attendance, financial aid, scholarships, housing, student organizations, and other information about seminary life. Scheduled activities include opportunities to attend classes, a special chapel service, meetings with professors, a reception and a dinner on the town. Registration is set to begin March 4 at 4:30 p.m. Students must pre-register by February 26. The cost is $25 per person, which includes two nights lodging and five meals. Call 800-662-8701, ext. 3303 or visit www.nobts.edu/enlistment/preview.shtm.   Missions video   A video update on the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board’s efforts to reach the United States and Canada is available as a free Internet download. The segment is intended for use during Southern Baptists’ North American … [Read more...]