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...]

The movie, "The Passion of Christ," has revived a generations-old argument that had just as soon be left in the past. The debate, simply put, is this: Who is more responsible for killing Jesus Christ? Are the Jews more responsible, or the Romans? The movie, "The Passion of Christ," has revived a generations-old argument that had just as soon be left in the past. The debate, simply put, is this: Who is more responsible for killing Jesus Christ? Are the Jews more responsible, or the Romans?   The Hollywood movie - co-written, directed, produced and financed by movie idol Mel Gibson - has caused more media stir and generated more discussion than any "religious" movie in decades, and, perhaps ever. Unlike movies such as "Quo Vadis" and "The Robe," this movie is directly a portrayal of Jesus Christ, and if reviewers are correct, the price he paid for our salvation. Mel Gibson makes no bones about it - the purpose of this world-class movie it to depict the horror of the crucifixion.   The movie focuses upon the last 12 hours of Jesus’ life of earthly ministry, particularly what those who have reviewed the movie say is a graphic display of the crucifixion process.   Jews, who have … [Read more...]

Bow Valley Baptist Church was born to be on mission - and to this point, the Canadian congregation has succeeded in that task. Bow Valley Baptist Church was born to be on mission - and to this point, the Canadian congregation has succeeded in that task.   Just 20 years old, the congregation in Cochrane, Alberta, Canada, has birthed three churches and helped strengthen others. It gives 13 percent of its undesignated offerings to missions, while also stressing local missions.   "We’re part of something much bigger than ourselves," pastor Mel Blackaby emphasizes. "It has impacted the people in our church to see how much we’re connected with others through the Cooperative Program (of the Canadian Convention of Southern Baptists). We’re not about building a big church but, rather, extending the kingdom of God."   Bow Valley is a church of mostly young believers, member Jim Messner says.   "We are active in our church because we care about the people in church and in our community," he notes.   Men’s activities range from whitewater rafting to a "boys and toys" hobby show to volunteering at community events and much more.   It is all part of a much larger … [Read more...]

Churches spend a lot of time and energy - and money - developing and implementing outreach strategies and seeking to motivate members to engage in witnessing. And in the early years of a new century, faced with a largely technological-savvy population, they have learned to put a lot of focus on quality and excellence. Churches spend a lot of time and energy - and money - developing and implementing outreach strategies and seeking to motivate members to engage in witnessing. And in the early years of a new century, faced with a largely technological-savvy population, they have learned to put a lot of focus on quality and excellence.   Even so, they may be overlooking one key avenue of outreach, a recent study indicates.   Simply put, they may not have anyone covering the phones. Indeed, research indicates fewer and fewer do.   In December, Barna Research Group workers sought to contact 3,400 randomly-selected Protestant churches across the nation.   The timing of the study was important. Churches put a lot of emphasis on reaching persons during the Christmas season - and the holidays bring many people to the point of crisis and need that lead them to turn to the church for … [Read more...]

Pro-life legislation helps reduce abortion, a new Harvard-MIT Data Center study indicates. Just ask Louisiana. Pro-life legislation helps reduce abortion, a new Harvard-MIT Data Center study indicates.   Just ask Louisiana.   Parental involvement laws, bans on taxpayer-funded abortions, informed consent laws and partial-birth abortion bans reduce the number of abortions performed in areas, the recently-released study found.   "Those states that adopted pro-life legislation during the 1990s experienced larger reductions in abortion rates and ratios than those states that did not adopt such legislation," the study concluded.   The study said pro-life legislation passed by state legislatures led to a 17.4 percent decline in abortions during the 1990s.   Laws prohibiting taxpayer-funded abortions with the use of Medicaid dollars reduced the abortion rate by about 30 percent, the study showed.   States that passed Right to Know laws informing women of the consequences of abortion saw the rate drop by 22 percent.   "In spite of Roe v. Wade, in spite of activist judges, in spite of often-biased media, the pro-life community is helping thousands … [Read more...]

For the published week of February 19, 2004 Potpourri   • BREAUX BRIDGE - Teche church: Faithful Heart in concert; Feb. 22, 6 p.m.; Wayne Lyons, pastor.   • MANSFIELD - First church: Southern Plainsmen in concert; Feb. 29, 6 p.m.; Thumper Miller, pastor.   • ELM GROVE - Elm Grove church: The Bennetts in concert; Feb. 29, 6 p.m.; Eddie DeHondt, interim pastor.   • WINNFIELD - Laurel Heights church: True Heart in concert; Feb. 29, 5 p.m.; fellowship to follow; Margaret Coon, minister of music; Melvin Brunson, pastor.   • BAKER - First church: Rebecca Jones in concert; Feb. 29, 6 p.m.; Dennis Allen, pastor.   • GOLDONNA - Goldonna church: 3rd Annual Family Crusade; Feb. 29-March 3, 6:30 p.m. nightly; 2Talk42 Ministries, evangelist; Doyle McGrew, pastor.   • MONTGUT - Live Oak church: Jamie Womack, guest speaker; Feb. 25, 6 p.m.; Herman Callais, pastor.   • MARINGOUIN - First church: Michael and Eyewitness, special guests; Feb. 29,10 a.m. with covered dish dinner to follow; James Womack, pastor.   • WISNER - First church: "Aim," an associational church leader conference; March 2, 6:30-8:30 p.m.; refreshments served; … [Read more...]

Submitted by Staff on Thu, 02/19/2004 - 02:00 The Southern Baptist North American Mission Board no longer will endorse women to chaplaincy positions that function like that of a pastor. The Southern Baptist North American Mission Board no longer will endorse women to chaplaincy positions that function like that of a pastor. "In the future, the North American Mission Board will endorse only ordained men to the office of chaplain to serve in the military or any place where the role and function of the chaplain would be seen the same as that of a pastor," a recently-approved trustee statement reads. The move primarily will bring an end to endorsing women as military chaplains but also affect a few positions with the Federal Bureau of Prisons and the Department of Veterans Affairs. However, chaplains currently serving will not be affected unless they request a change in the category of chaplaincy in which they serve. North American Mission Board trustees adopted the policy change on the recommendation of a Special Task Force on Chaplaincy Endorsement appointed last summer. The eight-member task force included chaplains, trustees and other Southern Baptists. "I think this sets a clear, concise direction to … [Read more...]

Southern Baptist missionaries witnessed double-digit increases in eight of their 13 categories of work in 2003, including a record high for baptisms. Southern Baptist missionaries witnessed double-digit increases in eight of their 13 categories of work in 2003, including a record high for baptisms.   For the first time ever, missionaries recorded more than 500,000 baptisms.   And while more than 5,000 people groups around the world still have little or no access to the gospel of Jesus Christ, Southern Baptist missionaries and their overseas partners also opened work among 192 new people groups during the most-recent year.   Those new works included the engagement of 146 unreached people groups with a total population of more than 359 million.   The numbers indicate that God’s spirit is moving dramatically, and people are responding to the gospel in an unprecedented manner, emphasized Avery Willis, senior vice president at the Southern Baptist International Mission Board.   Southern Baptist missionaries and their overseas partners baptized 510,357 believers in 2003, a net increase of 76,838 (17.7 percent) and the first time the number of baptisms has passed the … [Read more...]

For the published week of February 26, 2004 New Orleans action   New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary trustees recently concluded a special called meeting of their board by approving establishment of a Cooperative Program Chair of Southern Baptist Convention Studies at the school. Trustees had gathered to discuss the idea of sole membership (see Pages Six and Seven). However, at the end of the session, they voted unanimously to establish the new chair as well. The professor occupying the newly-established chair will be asked to:   • Develop and promote Cooperative Program awareness throughout the seminary family   • Coordinate the seminary’s academic instruction on the Cooperative Program for all students   • Engage in research and writing on he convention and the Cooperative Program   • Attend as many meetings of the SBC Executive Committee and annual convention as possible to observe and promote how the Southern Baptist Convention functions, how the Cooperative Program is promoted and gathered and how it is spent.   Seminary President Chuck Kelley noted the seminaries had been asked to come up with strategies to teach students about the … [Read more...]