For the week of August 8, 2002 Potpourri   • MONROE - Thomas and Reba O’Neal were named Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home Cottage Parents of the Year. The O’Neals have served at the Children’s Home for eighteen years. During that time, they have provided care for more than 130 children, ranging in ages from 4-19; John Williams, executive director.   • WISNER - First church: Nathan Roberts, Christian illusionist, to perform Aug. 12, 7 p.m.; Thomas Peoples, pastor.   • WISNER - First church: Chosen in concert; Aug. 19, 7 p.m.; Wiley McClary, minister of music; Thomas Peoples, pastor.   • WEST MONROE - Northeast Associational "Church Leadership Planning Supper and Workshop," Aug. 22, supper at 6:30 p.m. followed by sessions beginning at 7 p.m.; supper requires reservations made by Aug. 15, call (318) 322-6760; Jerry Price, director of missions; David Uth, pastor.   • SULPHUR - First church: Carey Associational Quartet in concert; Aug. 11, 6 p.m.; Higher Faith in concert; Aug. 18, 6 p.m.; Donald W. Dukes, music minister; David Holder, pastor.   • WEST MONROE - First church: Jennifer Robertson Memorial PraiseFest; Aug. 9, 6:30 p.m.; sponsored by Brothers in … [Read more...]

Robert Nelson has just arrived at the Louisiana Baptist Retirement Center in Arcadia - but he is coming home, in a sense.   "I wouldn’t have imagined when I graduated from Louisiana Tech that I’d be back near my alma mater," says the new Baptist Retirement Center administrator. "God works our paths mysteriously." Robert Nelson has just arrived at the Louisiana Baptist Retirement Center in Arcadia - but he is coming home, in a sense.   "I wouldn’t have imagined when I graduated from Louisiana Tech that I’d be back near my alma mater," says the new Baptist Retirement Center administrator. "God works our paths mysteriously."   A graduate of the Ruston university, Nelson’s first day on the job was July 1. He says that he finally has found his purpose in life.   "It’s nice to get up and know I’ll be getting up in an environment I enjoy and have a purpose," Nelson says. "I’ve found my purpose in life, which is to be a nursing home administrator and be entrusted to care for (the patients)."   His path to this job was an interesting journey.   Raised a Mennonite by his grandparents on a Kansas farm, Nelson says he learned quickly the value of a strong family. … [Read more...]

Fourteen years ago, Leamon Best inherited a Baptist Retirement Center in need of a few improvements.   When he finished his final day as the administrator this past June, Best had more than tripled the value of the facility and added 24 independent suites.   "The business itself is a tremendous challenge," says Best, an ordained deacon at Temple Baptist Church in Ruston, where he has been a member since Jan. 1965. Fourteen years ago, Leamon Best inherited a Baptist Retirement Center in need of a few improvements.   When he finished his final day as the administrator this past June, Best had more than tripled the value of the facility and added 24 independent suites.   "The business itself is a tremendous challenge," says Best, an ordained deacon at Temple Baptist Church in Ruston, where he has been a member since Jan. 1965.   "I’ve always said there are no problems but just challenges. I like to resolve people problems, like dealing with families and staff."   During his tenure, Best says the facility grew from a $2.5 million to a $7.5 million facility.   During those years, the independent living suites were added, the grounds were … [Read more...]

The reporter has joined the team of young people about to go into the streets of Lake Charles to knock on doors and share the gospel.   The day is hot - sweltering, humid, South Louisiana hot.   The van is air conditioned cool for the students and adults scattered across the seats. They include a reporter who is tagging along with a team of three for an article. The reporter has joined the team of young people about to go into the streets of Lake Charles to knock on doors and share the gospel.   The day is hot - sweltering, humid, South Louisiana hot.   The van is air conditioned cool for the students and adults scattered across the seats. They include a reporter who is tagging along with a team of three for an article.   He is talking to the young people, asking their names, where they live and such. One of the teenagers asks if the reporter works for the Baptist association.   "No, the state paper," he responds.   A minute or so later, she follows up on the thought. "So, do you have a personal relationship with God?" she asks.   "Yes, I do," he says.   "Well, I was just wondering," she responds. "You said you didn’t … [Read more...]

For the week of August 8, 2002 Religious freedom bill Two high-profile senators from opposite ends of the political spectrum have come out in support of a proposed law aimed at giving religious freedom a boost in America’s workplaces. U.S. Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) announced their co-sponsorship of the Workplace Religious Freedom Act during a June 26 press conference at the U.S. Capitol. The bill has the backing of a diverse coalition of liberal, conservative and moderate religious leaders. The bill would clear up questions about how far workplaces have to go to protect the religious rights of employees. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 required employers to accommodate the religious practices unless doing so imposes an "unreasonable" burden. A 1977 Supreme Court ruling, however, said that workers can be denied accommodation of any religious practice that creates more than a "minimal" hardship on the employer. Labor groups initially opposed the concept behind the Kerry-Santorum bill, but have dropped their opposition, the senators announced. Homelessness ruling A federal appeals court has ruled in favor of a New York church that has permitted homeless persons to sleep … [Read more...]

For the week of August 14, 2002 Florida voucher ruling Despite a court ruling overturning Florida’s three-year-old voucher program, Gov. Jeb Bush and other state officials appealed the Aug. 5 ruling. Florida Circuit Judge Kevin Davey of Tallahassee ordered an immediate halt to a program offering state-funded scholarships, which students may use to pay for tuition at private religious schools. The scholarship program is intended to provide educational alternatives to children in chronically failing public schools. Florida’s Constitution says, "No revenue of the state or any political subdivision or agency thereof shall ever be taken from the public treasury directly or indirectly in aid of any church, sect, or religious denomination or in aid of any sectarian institution." Davey said the voucher program violates "the clear mandate of the people as enunciated in the constitution." Fewer than 50 students received vouchers last year, but parents of 702 children have notified the state that they expect to take part in the program this fall. Pakistani school shooting Gunmen who attacked a boarding school for the children of Christian missionaries and diplomats in Pakistan Aug. 5 left a note saying the assault was in … [Read more...]

Franklin Graham, son of Billy Graham and the president and CEO of his father’s evangelistic association, continues to discover that speaking one’s convictions about Islam without receiving severe public criticism gets more and more difficult.   Nothing has placed Islam on the modern-day front-burner of America’s religious and philosophical consideration as did 9-11. Franklin Graham, son of Billy Graham and the president and CEO of his father’s evangelistic association, continues to discover that speaking one’s convictions about Islam without receiving severe public criticism gets more and more difficult.   Nothing has placed Islam on the modern-day front-burner of America’s religious and philosophical consideration as did 9-11. The hijackers/murderers said Islamic convictions motivated their terrorist acts. Their words and actions not only called for but demanded examination of Islam as would have happened to Christianity if a group bombed the Saudi Arabia capital and said they did it in the name of Christ. If Moslems can show that only severely misconstruing the teachings of Mohammed could have given rise to the terrorist acts of 9-11, then they could and should fully distance themselves from … [Read more...]

Melissa Motley dropped out of high school when she became pregnant with her first child. She married and then had two more children, but within a few years her marriage dissolved.   "I just felt like nobody cared about me," Motley says, even though she pulled her life together enough to earn her GED. Then a friend suggested she visit the Christian Women’s Job Corps site in Marshall County, Ala. Melissa Motley dropped out of high school when she became pregnant with her first child. She married and then had two more children, but within a few years her marriage dissolved.   "I just felt like nobody cared about me," Motley says, even though she pulled her life together enough to earn her GED. Then a friend suggested she visit the Christian Women’s Job Corps site in Marshall County, Ala.   "I needed some computer skills but didn't know where to get them," Motley explains. "But I got more than just computer skills at CWJC.   "I realized that I am more than nothing," she continues. "God put me here for a reason, and I will be somebody someday by the grace of God."   Motley plans to transfer to Jacksonville (Ala.) State University after her initial studies at … [Read more...]

Nestled in the heart of Acadiana are the remains of a man known as one of the movers and shakers of bringing the gospel to South Louisiana. A native Alabamian, St. Clair H. Bower came to the Bayou state when only a few Baptist churches existed in Acadiana.   His story is chronicled in the self-published book "Bower on the Bayou." Nestled in the heart of Acadiana are the remains of a man known as one of the movers and shakers of bringing the gospel to South Louisiana. A native Alabamian, St. Clair H. Bower came to the Bayou state when only a few Baptist churches existed in Acadiana.   His story is chronicled in the self-published book "Bower on the Bayou."   "These 56 years in Louisiana have been good ones," said Bower in his autobiography. " ... As I look back over these 56 years, I feel that God has always put me at the right place at the right time."   The oldest of seven children, Bower spent his early years in Troy and Ozark, Ala. His first job was selling newspapers.   "When I was 10, my father told me that if I ever had anything I would have to work for it, as he made a small salary and had a house full of children," said Bower. "So I went to work selling … [Read more...]

Two associations that are heading up a Cenla/Korea Mission Partnership are looking for participants to help with an urgent need for volunteers. Louisiana Baptists have a long-standing relationship with the South Korean mission.   The Korean Home Mission Board and the Korea Baptist Mission have requested 10 teams consisting of a preacher and "two or three other team members," to conduct Partnership Evangelism Crusades, October 20 through November 2 of this year, according to Charles Lowry who is heading up the partnership. Two associations that are heading up a Cenla/Korea Mission Partnership are looking for participants to help with an urgent need for volunteers. Louisiana Baptists have a long-standing relationship with the South Korean mission.   The Korean Home Mission Board and the Korea Baptist Mission have requested 10 teams consisting of a preacher and "two or three other team members," to conduct Partnership Evangelism Crusades, October 20 through November 2 of this year, according to Charles Lowry who is heading up the partnership.   "Each team would conduct two four-night crusades," according to Lowry. "Preparation and training of the Korean pastors and leaders will be done … [Read more...]