For the week of May 29, 2003 Toledo Bend ministry While many are getting away for the stresses of everyday life with a relaxing trip to the lake, workers at Toledo Bend Baptist Resort Ministries are beginning their busiest work season - summer. It is their job to be sure that the vacation-goers not only have a good time at the resort but encounter God’s love and the gospel message. The resort ministry was established in 1972 and is funded by Baptists in District Eight, the Louisiana Baptist Convention and the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board. During the summer months, the ministry has plenty of family- and children-oriented activities for local residents and vacationers alike. Youth groups from across the state and southern part of the country come in to help the ministry with backyard Bible clubs and family evening programs. In addition to those programs, the ministry is seeking ways to extend its efforts into the more than 30 marinas, parks and housing projects in the area. One plan is to provide a Bible for every home in the area. "But we don’t know when we’ll have the supplies or the man power to do it," said Ashley Chance, a ministry assistant. For more information on the Toledo Bend Resort … [Read more...]

The Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home experienced a milestone last week with the election of Perry Hancock as the Louisiana Baptist Convention agency’s executive director. The Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home experienced a milestone last week with the election of Perry Hancock as the Louisiana Baptist Convention agency’s executive director.   The children’s home in Monroe has long been the focus of the affection of Louisiana Baptists. There seems to be no other agency that captures the hearts of Louisiana Baptists more than this one that was created to care for children in need of a home.   Louisiana Baptists have been consistently generous with the home. In addition to supporting the home through the Cooperative Program ($550,000 budgeted last year), Louisiana Baptist individuals and churches give generously directly to the home in the form of endowments, memorials, gifts to the fall food drive, gifts for other needed supplies, volunteering, clothing and more. This is certainly as it should be, especially considering the children’s home accepts no government funding.   For many grassroots Louisiana Baptists, the children’s home is their image of the Louisiana Baptist Convention … [Read more...]

When waves of Christian students surged to Waikiki and its beaches, hundreds of people heard and saw the gospel.   By the end of their time there, six people had made professions of faith and the students had experienced the challenge and joy of taking their faith to the streets. When waves of Christian students surged to Waikiki and its beaches, hundreds of people heard and saw the gospel.   By the end of their time there, six people had made professions of faith and the students had experienced the challenge and joy of taking their faith to the streets.   "God worked," says Rob Lockridge, Christian activities director at Hawaii Baptist Academy in Honolulu.   The evangelistic effort was part of Christian Emphasis Week, an annual program at the school. The week features chapel services, seminars and student ministries.   At one chapel service, the number of students responding to an altar call overwhelmed the 22 island youth ministers who had come to help.   "God’s hand descended on the school in an incredible way," Lockridge says. "People’s spiritual ears were being opened up, and they could really just talk to God."   One eighth-grade … [Read more...]

More than 1 billion Chinese people have yet to hear of the love and saving power of Jesus Christ - such as the girl pictured above - a fact Southern Baptists want to begin changing with a focused day of fasting and prayer on June 8. More than 1 billion Chinese people have yet to hear of the love and saving power of Jesus Christ - such as the girl pictured above - a fact Southern Baptists want to begin changing with a focused day of fasting and prayer on June 8.   "Praying for so many people may seem daunting, but the power of united prayer is immeasurable," said Randy Sprinkle, prayer strategy director for the Southern Baptist International Mission Board.   Scattered throughout the world, from China, to Malaysia, to Mexico, and even Paris, the Chinese people represent distinct ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Indeed, 55 million Chinese live outside China in countries across the globe. Meanwhile, within the country, almost one-fourth of the people are under the age of 15.   The largest people group in the world, the Han, reside in China and number 1.16 billion. The Han make up 20 percent of the world’s population - but less than 5 percent are Christians.   Meanwhile, … [Read more...]

Baptist Retirement Center trustees approved a slightly-increased bud-get for their agency last week, while receiving updates on progress being made at the facility.   Trustees also approved a bylaw change they say is designed to help promote the Arcadia-based nursing facility more among Louisiana Baptists. Baptist Retirement Center trustees approved a slightly-increased bud-get for their agency last week, while receiving updates on progress being made at the facility.   Trustees also approved a bylaw change they say is designed to help promote the Arcadia-based nursing facility more among Louisiana Baptists.   The financial health of the retirement center has been a source of recent concern.   A financial crunch hit in 2002 as a result skyrocketing malpractice insurance costs. That necessitated termination of some employees and cutbacks at the home, including shortened workweeks for some staff.   In January, trustees announced a three-year window had been set for establishing the center’s financial stability. The plan included making the facility a Medicare provider, which allows it to offer more services and provides increased funding.   Last week, … [Read more...]

Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home trustees last week unani-mously elected seminary associate professor/dean Perry Hancock as the agency’s new executive director.   "God showed us this was the man - no doubt in our minds," said Lindsey Burns, pastor at First Baptist Church of Winnfield and chair of the home’s search committee. Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home trustees last week unani-mously elected seminary associate professor/dean Perry Hancock as the agency’s new executive director.   "God showed us this was the man - no doubt in our minds," said Lindsey Burns, pastor at First Baptist Church of Winnfield and chair of the home’s search committee.   "We believe he will be able to build on the legacy of the home ... and continue to take us on. ...   "He’s the guy for a time like this."   Hancock, 46, comes to the children’s home from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, where he has served as dean of graduate studies and associate professor of discipleship, occupying the Broadmoor Chair of Discipleship.   "It is evident that this is where God wants us to be, ..." Hancock said, standing with his wife, Tonya. "We feel blessed, and we are excited to … [Read more...]

For the week of May 29, 2003 Potpourri • SHREVEPORT - Pinecroft church: The Crusaders in concert; June 8, 10:45 a.m.; Marty J. Wright, pastor.   • GONZALES - Central church: The Morrison Heights Junior Choir, directed by John Langoworthy, in concert; May 30, 7 p.m.; Jay Avance, pastor.   • WINNSBORO - New Zion church: Pastor Appreciation Day; June 1, 11 a.m.; Alan Miller, guest speaker; Tommy Basco, pastor. Youth • JACKSON - Judson camp: Summer camps available; Boys’ Mission Camp (1st-6th grades) - June 16-20; Girls’ Mission Camp #3 (1st-6th grades) - July 21-25; Girls Mission Camp #4 (1st-6th grades) - July 28-Aug. 1; all camps begin with registration from 9-10 a.m. on Monday and end with short program at 9:30 a.m. on Friday; $120 per person/includes t-shirt and concessions, $15 horseback riding fee; must pre-register by calling (225) 634-7225; Eugene Morris, camp manager.   • MINDEN - Harris Assembly: Summer camps available; Girls Mission Camp (1st-6th grades) - June 9-12; Children’s Camp (boys/girls ages 8 through 6th grade) - June 16-19; both camps begin with 1 p.m. registration on Monday and end with evening program on Thursday; $75 per person; for information or to register, … [Read more...]

Southern Baptist theological seminaries are facing a crisis of funding - and Chuck Kelley has a solution.   An annual offering for the seminaries should be established - and the discarded capital needs budget of the convention should be re-established, said Kelley, president of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Also, the percentage of Cooperative Program funds that the six seminaries receive each year should be increased from 21.4 percent to 22 percent. Southern Baptist theological seminaries are facing a crisis of funding - and Chuck Kelley has a solution.   An annual offering for the seminaries should be established - and the discarded capital needs budget of the convention should be re-established, said Kelley, president of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Also, the percentage of Cooperative Program funds that the six seminaries receive each year should be increased from 21.4 percent to 22 percent.   "Something must be done if the (Southern Baptist) seminaries are going to be healthy and affordable in the 21st century," Kelley said in a recent "white paper" published at www.baptistcenter.com.   "The physical condition of the campuses and the low … [Read more...]

Success with mice has scientists believing that someday they will be able to create human eggs in the laboratory - thus allowing homosexuals to have "biological" children and creating a host of ethical concerns.   As reported in the journal Science, researchers have used mouse embryonic stem cells to create mouse eggs. The eggs were created from both male and female cells - indicating males have the biological capacity to produce eggs. Success with mice has scientists believing that someday they will be able to create human eggs in the laboratory - thus allowing homosexuals to have "biological" children and creating a host of ethical concerns.   As reported in the journal Science, researchers have used mouse embryonic stem cells to create mouse eggs. The eggs were created from both male and female cells - indicating males have the biological capacity to produce eggs.   If duplicated in humans, homosexual couples theoretically could attempt to have their own biological child - with one man supplying the sperm and the other man supplying the laboratory-produced eggs having his biological material. A surrogate mother would be necessary to carry the baby.   Such a concept … [Read more...]

Tran-si-tion, n.1. movement, passage, or change from one position, state, stage, subject, concept, etc. to another; change . . . Tran-si-tion, n.1. movement, passage, or change from one position, state, stage, subject, concept, etc. to another; change . . .   The Louisiana Baptist Convention is undergoing transition. Last week, Dean Doster, announced his retirement as executive director of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, effective at the end of this year. Earlier, Rory Lee announced his departure in May of this year from the presidency of Louisiana College to head up the children’s home work of the Mississippi Baptist Convention.   Only a year or so ago, Perry Hancock became executive director of the Louisiana Baptist Children’s home. And the Louisiana Baptist Convention is taking the rare step of actually selling one of its agencies - the Louisiana Baptist Retirement Center - and redirecting the proceeds from that sale.   In a few years, only folks with good memories will be able to recall which Louisiana Baptists agencies there were and who their executives were in 2004!   The retirement, move and recent election of these three men means that the leadership of the two … [Read more...]