Note: March 7-14 has been set as the annual Week of Prayer for North American Missions and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions in Southern Baptist churches. The following article relates the story of some of the 5,200 missionaries the offering helps to fund. Note: March 7-14 has been set as the annual Week of Prayer for North American Missions and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions in Southern Baptist churches. The following article relates the story of some of the 5,200 missionaries the offering helps to fund.   Even as a professional athletic trainer and emergency medical technician, Stephanie Smith says she never imagined working the sidelines of a hockey game.   With little knowledge or interest in the rough-and-tumble sport, the cold, icy rink generally epitomized her attitude toward it.   "I grew up in Missouri where hockey wasn’t that popular, and I developed a negative view of the game and those who were involved in it," Smith admits. "I had only attended two games. A fight broke out in the stands at one, and I had beer spilled on me at the other. I mistakenly assumed that most hockey players had made an intentional … [Read more...]

Perry Hancock recently unveiled to Louisiana Baptist Children’s Homes trustees a strategy to promote Seller’s Maternity Home. Located in Tallulah, Sellers Maternity Home is designed to care for single, pregnant women 21 years of age and younger in a Christian environment. Perry Hancock recently unveiled to Louisiana Baptist Children’s Homes trustees a strategy to promote Seller’s Maternity Home.   Located in Tallulah, Sellers Maternity Home is designed to care for single, pregnant women 21 years of age and younger in a Christian environment.   Until now, the maternity home’s only Yellow Page listing has been in Monroe. However, Sellers now will be listed in the Baton Rouge and New Orleans phone books under two categories - crisis pregnancy and abortion alternatives.   In addition to the Yellow Pages listing, Sandra Zeigler, social worker at Sellers, has begun contacting all the crisis pregnancy centers in the state.   Hancock said Zeigler also will contact as many school counselors as possible. "That may sound a little odd, but that’s the first person sometimes to learn about the pregnancies," Hancock noted.   Perhaps the most "visible" part of the strategy is a … [Read more...]

Louisiana College professor C. J. "Prof" Cavanaugh, a longtime biology teacher at the Louisiana Baptist college whom the central Louisiana media called "an icon" died last week in Alexandria. He was 93. Louisiana College professor C. J. "Prof" Cavanaugh, a longtime biology teacher at the Louisiana Baptist college whom the central Louisiana media called "an icon" died last week in Alexandria. He was 93.   The Cavanaugh Hall of Science on the school’s campus was named in his honor as was the Charles J. Cavanaugh Endowed Professorship. Cavanaugh influenced countless students, many of whom became teachers and physicians. He developed and directed an outstanding pre-med program in which ninety-percent of his students who applied to medical, dental and veterinarian schools were accepted.   He taught a Bible study class at First Baptist Church, Pineville, for four decades.   He and his late wife, Eloise Wise Gill Cavanaugh, where married 62 years before her death. They are survived by five sons: Robert, chancellor of Louisiana State University Alexandria; David, a neurosurgeon in Shreveport; William, a dentist in Pineville; Lynn, an executive for a North Carolina textile company; and … [Read more...]

Where is the outrage from the arbitrary defunding of our directors of associational missions by the Louisiana Baptist Convention? The outrage from what I perceive to be the high-handed way that the will of the convention has been circumvented, from the way the Baptist Message has only aired one side of this fiasco? Where is the outrage from the arbitrary defunding of our directors of associational missions by the Louisiana Baptist Convention? The outrage from what I perceive to be the high-handed way that the will of the convention has been circumvented, from the way the Baptist Message has only aired one side of this fiasco?   After reading "Change on the horizon" in the Feb. 5, 2004 issue of the Baptist Message, I have gone from being upset to being outraged. We are being told there is nothing we can say or do that will change things. That is not the Baptist way. I am asking Louisiana Baptists, regardless of how you feel about who funds the directors of missions to recognize what is taking place and to do what we can to bring the convention back to Louisiana Baptists. I am asking the Baptist Message to bring to the forefront the whole issue and the problems that this is causing.   The … [Read more...]

I agree with what Jack Graham said about today’s youth. (Louisiana Baptist Message, Feb. 12, 2004, Page Two) My only problem with the article is what was he doing at the Super Bowl when he should have been in church. What kind of example is he setting for the youth? What kind of "light in the darkness" was he being by enveloping himself in the ways of the world? I agree with what Jack Graham said about today’s youth. (Louisiana Baptist Message, Feb. 12, 2004, Page Two) My only problem with the article is what was he doing at the Super Bowl when he should have been in church. What kind of example is he setting for the youth? What kind of "light in the darkness" was he being by enveloping himself in the ways of the world?   I heard that several churches let out of church so they could have gatherings at homes to have Christian fellowship and watch the game. And I heard those same people express how disappointed they were in what happened at the halftime show and how their children saw everything.   Well, guess what? My children did not see what happened because they were in church with their family where they were supposed to be - not using Christian fellowship as an excuse to stay out of church … [Read more...]

The passing of retired professor J. (Judge) Hardee Kennedy has reminded me again how fortunate I was to be at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary when giants like him were on the faculty. The passing of retired professor J. (Judge) Hardee Kennedy has reminded me again how fortunate I was to be at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary when giants like him were on the faculty. There could not have been a great seminary without great professors. I had the privilege of studying under Frank Stagg, Ray Robbins, J. Wash Watts, Penrose St. Amant, Olin Strange, Clayton Waddel, Plunket Martin. These giants taught me how to think, not what to think.   I am grateful for them.   Roy Remont Hot Springs, Ark. … [Read more...]

The recent action taken by the executive director and the executive board of the Louisiana Baptist Convention concerning the directors of missions in our state concerns me. The recent action taken by the executive director and the executive board of the Louisiana Baptist Convention concerning the directors of missions in our state concerns me. I agreed that the associations need to assume financial responsibility for their director of missions. However, the manner in which this is being done may set a dangerous precedent that will have unforeseen results in our future.   At the annual meeting of the Louisiana Baptist Convention in November 2002, messengers duly elected by the churches of the LBC voted in a majority ruling for the state to continue to pay for the directors of missions’ salaries out of the Cooperative Program gifts being sent to the state. Now, for a small group of people to overturn what clearly is the stated will of the convention is both troubling and unwise. This decision should be brought to the convention for ratification or for disapproval during this year’s annual Louisiana Baptist Convention meeting.   Sometimes, the right thing can be done the wrong way. As we study … [Read more...]

Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee members voted 62-10 last week to recommend that the denomination sever all ties with the Baptist World Alliance. Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee members voted 62-10 last week to recommend that the denomination sever all ties with the Baptist World Alliance.   The recommendation now goes to convention messengers in June. If approved there, the 99-year relationship between the two entities will end a few months later.   The action had been recommended by a convention study committee, which has said the alliance has grown too liberal for the convention. Alliance leaders have denied the convention’s charges.   In addition to severing ties, approval of the recommendation in June will mean the loss of $300,000 a year in funding for the alliance. Last year, the convention had dropped the funding from $425,000 a year.   The Southern Baptist Convention is the largest member body and biggest contributor to the Baptist World Alliance, which represents 43 million Baptists.   However, relations between the two entities have been strained in recent years. In addition to theological concerns, convention leaders were … [Read more...]

Differing views: Southern Baptist leaders say they have a perfect way to tie convention entities to the denomination however, New Orleans Seminary trustees view the solution as a threat to historic Baptist polity Differing views: Southern Baptist leaders say they have a perfect way to tie convention entities to the denomination however, New Orleans Seminary trustees view the solution as a threat to historic Baptist polity   For most people, it could be a single, uninspiring line in a news story - to be read, shrugged over and forgotten with the turn of the page.   "The Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee formally has requested trustees of the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary to amend its charter and make the convention the sole member of its corporation."   Big deal, right?   Well ... actually, yes.   When Executive Committee members voted almost unanimously last week to make their request of the seminary, they were taking yet another step in a process that has been underway for more than six years.   They also did so after almost two hours of discussion and presentations, including a time of pointed questions.   They did so … [Read more...]

For the week of February 26, 2004 Potpourri • WALKER - Walker church: "Stressed Spelled Backwards is Desserts" Women’s Conference; March 12, 5:30-9 p.m.; March 13, 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m.; Cindy Townsend, guest speaker; $10/includes Friday supper and Saturday pastries/luncheon; child care provided; to register or for information, call (225) 665-8368; Richard Blue, pastor. • BELLE CHASSE - First church: Carillon Handbell Choir from the University of Southern Mississippi in concert; Feb. 29, 3:30 p.m.; Freddie Williford, pastor. • WOODWORTH - Tall Timbers conference center: "Dare to be a Danielle" Fellowship of Louisiana Baptist Secretaries Retreat; March 11, 9 a.m. registration - March 12, noon; Joe McKeever, keynote speaker; Rocky Maddox, music/entertainment; Glenda Suggs, Jared Peoples, Cindy Townsend, Barbara Bailey and Charlotte White, speakers; 2 per room/$75, 3-4 per room/$70, 1 per room/$95 and commuter/$35; costs include conference and meals; for information, call Patti Yeatts at (318) 865-5613 or nlba@bellsouth.net; to register, call Ruth Hernandez at (318) 448-3402 or (800) 622-6549 ext. 282; Sam White, camp manager. • EUNICE - Acadian center: Couple’s Retreat; March 12, 6 p.m. registration - March … [Read more...]