Southern Baptists continue to post bare numerical growth - while Louisiana Baptists reported a largely down year.   Total membership in Southern Baptist churches reached a record 16,247,736 in 2002, an increase of 194,816 persons (1.2 percent) from the previous year. Southern Baptists continue to post bare numerical growth - while Louisiana Baptists reported a largely down year.   Total membership in Southern Baptist churches reached a record 16,247,736 in 2002, an increase of 194,816 persons (1.2 percent) from the previous year.   At the same time, total membership in Louisiana Baptist churches fell from 592,288 in the 2001 LBC Annual to 585,600 in the 2002 LBC Annual. That translates to a loss of 6,688 persons (1.1 percent).   Numbers for both conventions are based on annual church profiles filed each year by local congregations. Figures for Louisiana Baptist churches are compiled in state convention offices. Figures for Southern Baptist churches are compiled by LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention.   As for Southern Baptists:   • The total number of churches grew to 42,775 in 2002, an increase of 441 (1 percent) from the … [Read more...]

For the week of May 8, 2003 Cooperative Program Gifts through the Southern Baptist Cooperative Program totaled $14 million last month, an increase of $43,447 (0.3 percent) from the previous April. For the fiscal year, gifts total $107,173,388, an increase of $1.4 million (1.3 percent) from the same time last year. The total also stands more than $3.9 million (3.8 percent) ahead of budget at this time. Meanwhile, designated gifts totaled $10 million last month, a decrease of almost $2.3 million (18.5 percent) from the previous April. For the year, designated gifts total $111.8 million, a drop of more than $5.6 million (4.8 percent) from the same time last year. New Orleans Seminary New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary officials have announced plans to pursue development of a graduate extension center program in Pensacola, Fla. Currently, the closest graduate extension center is about 130 miles away in Graceville, Fla. Seminary trustees also have approved expansion of the Jacksonville, Fla., extension center program to include graduate-level courses. The seminary operates graduate and undergraduate extension centers throughout the Southeast. Graduate centers are located in Pineville; Shreveport; Clinton, Miss.; … [Read more...]

At just three years old, Amy Baughman found herself completely alone - after the death of her mother, she was left without parents in what seemed a hopeless situation.   Now, 19 years later, Baughman is part of a loving family and is very close to accomplishing more of her goals than she ever thought possible. At just three years old, Amy Baughman found herself completely alone - after the death of her mother, she was left without parents in what seemed a hopeless situation.   Now, 19 years later, Baughman is part of a loving family and is very close to accomplishing more of her goals than she ever thought possible.   With no living family members able to care for Baughman and her five brothers and sisters, the child was placed into a foster home for two years while awaiting a permanent home placement elsewhere.   However, a worker involved in the bus ministry at First Baptist Church of Baton Rouge heard about Baughman’s situation and soon her life began to change.   Through the bus ministry, Baughman and the four younger children in her family were brought to live at the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home.   At the age of five, Baughman was moved to … [Read more...]

Want to see the difference Cooperative Program makes? Look at changed lives   The following pair of stories are part of a series of articles to be published in the Baptist Message regarding the Cooperative Program and how it is at work throughout Louisiana and the rest of the world. Subsequent articles will appear in the newspaper during the year to highlight Cooperative Program missions and ministry work. Note: The following pair of stories are part of a series of articles to be published in the Baptist Message regarding the Cooperative Program and how it is at work throughout Louisiana and the rest of the world. Subsequent articles will appear in the newspaper during the year to highlight Cooperative Program missions and ministry work.   Week in and week out, Louisiana Baptists across the state make donations - unselfishly, on good faith, and without reservation - to the Louisiana Baptist Cooperative Program?   Where do they go?   Do they actually do any good?   As an answer to that question, meet Kevin Celestine, a student whose testimony tells how he turned his life away from heathenism and toward Jesus Christ.   Celestine’s tale identifies one … [Read more...]

Similar to the biblical story of Esther, Rhonda Mann insists God placed her family and the members at East Leesville Baptist Church in the military community "for such a time as this." Similar to the biblical story of Esther, Rhonda Mann insists God placed her family and the members at East Leesville Baptist Church in the military community "for such a time as this."   The seeds of Operation Embrace really began long before the recent war against Iraq, when Mann and her family were living in Oregon. Mann says she knew that her family would be moving to Louisiana and started to ask God for guidance.   "I began to pray that wherever I was going, God would give me a place to minister," she recounts.   Located within 10 miles of Fort Polk, a military base in Leesville, the church has more than 128 active military families.   "We knew the war was soon to start," Pastor Gil Arthur says. "We thought, we can’t sit here and say that we’re in the military community and not be prepared."   When the deployment of troops began, the effect on the church was massive.   "They began to deploy one-by-one, leaving their families here in Leesville," Arthur says. … [Read more...]

When asked to grade the current Louisiana legislative session as far as moral and social issues are concerned, Ken Ward says it is just too early to tell. When asked to grade the current Louisiana legislative session as far as moral and social issues are concerned, Ken Ward says it is just too early to tell.   There are some positive signs and some trouble spots remaining - which means there still is work to be done by concerned citizens, said Ward, executive director of the Louisiana Moral and Civic Foundation.   "In an election year, legislators are being responsive to input from citizens," he said. "Now is the time to be diligent and vigilant, to stay informed and ready to act."   Several key issues have emerged.   Ward noted a number of bills that seek to address problems related to the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages are pending. But he also noted the alcohol industry is demonstrating its considerable clout and can only be offset by outcry from Louisiana citizens.   A key issue related to clergy also has emerged. Several bills are pending that would add clergy to the list of those required to report suspected child abuse. Under current law, … [Read more...]

the Baptist Student Union at the United States Air Force Academy would like to contact the men and women reporting to the academy June 25 and 26. For those arriving June 25, we will meet them at the airport; provide lodging, meals and transportation; and take them to the academy on June 26. For those arriving June 26, the academy buses will meet them, but we would like to know of their coming so we can make contact once they have arrived. The Baptist Student Union at the United States Air Force Academy would like to contact the men and women reporting to the academy June 25 and 26. For those arriving June 25, we will meet them at the airport; provide lodging, meals and transportation; and take them to the academy on June 26. For those arriving June 26, the academy buses will meet them, but we would like to know of their coming so we can make contact once they have arrived.   This is an opportunity to meet smiling faces and make Christian friends before beginning basic training. If pastors, parents, relatives or friends will contact us with names, addresses, telephone numbers and e-mail addresses, we will contact individuals to secure flight arrival times and provide further information.   The … [Read more...]

For the week of May 8, 2003 Potpourri • OIL CITY - First church: North Caddo Youth Rally; May 9-10, 6:30 p.m.; Troy Terrell, guest speaker; Drew Worsham, illusionist; music with Warren Jackson; Russ Atwood, pastor.   • BATON ROUGE - Woodlawn church: "Experiencing God, the Musical;" May 16, 7 p.m.; May 18, 6 p.m.; Michael Wright, minister of music; Tommy G. Middleton, pastor.   • LAKE CHARLES - Sale Street church: "Experiencing God, the Musical;" May 18, 6:30 p.m.; Mel Yorks, minister of music; Eddie Simmons, pastor.   • BETHANY - Camp Bethany: "MayHim" senior adult choir festival; May 15, 9 a.m. till after lunch; $6 per person/includes activities and lunch; to register, call (318) 938-1221; Robert Cole, camp manager.   • LAKE CHARLES - Murray Street church: Tim Couch, Prentiss Miller, Gene Vincent and Judy Landry in concert; May 16, 7 p.m.; Alan Weishampel, pastor. Youth • BLANCHARD - First church: Children’s choir presents "Splash Kingdom," May 18, 6 p.m.; Tracy Fuller, children’s choir coordinator; Steve Moore, minister of worship; James D. Hill, pastor. Revivals • BOYCE - Hotwells church: May 7-10, 7 p.m.; May 11, 11 a.m.; Bill Riddick, evangelist; Joel Cutts, … [Read more...]

aybe it is September 11, maybe it is the war in Iraq or maybe Christian books are getting better at answering the spiritual questions of readers.   Whatever the reason, a recent Barna Research Group report that half of all Americans read Christian books and one-third buy them comes as little surprise to Ken Stephens. Maybe it is September 11, maybe it is the war in Iraq or maybe Christian books are getting better at answering the spiritual questions of readers.   Whatever the reason, a recent Barna Research Group report that half of all Americans read Christian books and one-third buy them comes as little surprise to Ken Stephens.   "I think it would really come as a big surprise to secular book buyers or retailers though," said Stephens, president of Broadman and Holman Publishers, the trade book division of LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. "I don’t think most general booksellers realize there is such a demand for inspirational products."   The January 2003 survey found that 51 percent of American teenagers and 48 percent of adults have read at least one Christian book in the past year other than the Bible. What is more, the survey found … [Read more...]

Momentum is on the side of the pro-life movement in America - but much work needs to be done, a group of pro-lifers agreed during a recent panel discussion.   "(Poll numbers showing decreasing support for legal abortion are) sending a quake of fear into the hearts and a quiver into the spine of the pro-abortion movement," said Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. Momentum is on the side of the pro-life movement in America - but much work needs to be done, a group of pro-lifers agreed during a recent panel discussion.   "(Poll numbers showing decreasing support for legal abortion are) sending a quake of fear into the hearts and a quiver into the spine of the pro-abortion movement," said Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission.   "The battleground is for the people in the middle. ... We are slowly but surely winning the struggle for heart and minds in America (on this issue)."   During the recent discussion at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Land and others pointed to polls showing that youth are more pro-life than their parents; to advances in technology that allow a … [Read more...]