While Southern Baptists have contributed faithfully to the Southern Baptist World Hunger Fund since the 1970s, hunger ministries in the United States have struggled with increased demand in the past year. While Southern Baptists have contributed faithfully to the Southern Baptist World Hunger Fund since the 1970s, hunger ministries in the United States have struggled with increased demand in the past year. Requests for domestic hunger funds were up 80 percent, while Southern Baptist World Hunger Fund receipts actually declined in that time. Still, in spite of the struggle, nearly 3 million lives were touched in the United States and its territories alone last year, with 13,600 professions of faith directly related to domestic hunger ministries funded by Southern Baptists. "Full implementation of welfare reform resulted in thousands of people entering the workplace, earning wages too meager to meet their family’s basic needs," explained Donoso Escobar, director of hunger ministries with the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board. "The result has been an unprecedented level of requests for funds. At such times, we have been blessed with an opportunity to demonstrate Christ’s love in a very tangible … [Read more...]

Shannon Baker New Orleans Seminary   Three years ago, Doyle Cooper did not sense the fulfillment and purpose he longed for the senior adults at First Baptist Church of DeRidder to experience. Three years ago, Doyle Cooper did not sense the fulfillment and purpose he longed for the senior adults at First Baptist Church of DeRidder to experience.   It was not as if the seniors were inactive. They were involved in the church’s ministries of prayer chains, phone care, luncheons, day trips and a growing Sunday School.   Still, Cooper looked for something more.   He planned a mission trip for them.   The general assessment was clear in the comment of one senior adult after the trip.   "I’ve been sitting on the pew for 50 years - but never again!" the senior said.   Cooper has done his part to help his senior adults fulfill that commitment.   Recently, he took a week off his normal chemotherapy regimen for cancer and led 55 senior adults from the DeRidder church on a fourth missions trip.   This time, the 25-year youth pastor turned senior adult minister led seniors to the inaugural Senior Adult MissionLab at New Orleans … [Read more...]

For the week of June 7, 2001 Potpourri •PRAIRIEVILLE - Broussard Grove church: Jim Richards, executive director of Texas convention, to speak, June 10, 8:45 and 11 a.m.; Nathan Luce, pastor.   •SHREVEPORT - North Shreve church: Moody Adams presents "Men, Mice or Mountain Movers"; June 17, 11 a.m.; Steve Miller, minister of music; Roy W. Davis, pastor. Revivals •MANGHAM - Bethlehem church: June 14-16, 7 p.m.; June 17, 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.; Alan Miller, evangelist; Bill Wilson, music; J. W. Allen, pastor. Ordinations •ELM GROVE - Elm Grove church: Dennis Spearman and Cliff Hudson to deacon ministry; Ed Baswell, pastor. Youth •DRY CREEK - Dry Creek camp: RA camp for boys ages 6-12, July 2-5; Eric Johnson, speaker; Bill and Blanche Wester, missionaries; RA Pioneer Outdoor camp for boys ages 13-18, July 2-5; for information, call the camp at (337) 328-7531; Curt Iles, camp manager.   •EROS - Seeker Springs Ministry Center: camp for girls grades 3-6; June 11-14; cost is $90; for information, call the camp at (318) 249-4495.   •EUNICE - Acadian center: mission camp; (GA-Acteen/RA camp); July 2-6; cost is $85; for information, call the camp at (337) 457-9047; James Newsom, camp … [Read more...]

In case one has not noticed, the mosaic of the American family is changing - and the change presents a daunting challenge to a church more accustomed to ministering within a more traditional format. In case one has not noticed, the mosaic of the American family is changing - and the change presents a daunting challenge to a church more accustomed to ministering within a more traditional format.   The changes should not be surprising - observers have noted the changes for years now. However, there is no denying the starkness of the 2000 census figures recently released.   Fewer than one-fourth of American households (23.5 percent) now are traditional nuclear families - composed of married couples and their children.   By way of contrast, in 1960, the number of Ozzie and Harriet-type households in the nation totaled 45 percent.   Now, American households show an increase in homes composed of unmarried partners, as well as in the number of children living with single parents.   Yes, the number of traditional nuclear families has been declining for years. Still, to say that less than one-fourth of households now fit in that mold is startling. However, one certainly … [Read more...]

We crawl carefully into the raft. The high quality raft, constructed of super-strong nylon and rubber, is made for safety.   We are a mixed bag of riders - the guide, two young women in their 20s, a young man in his 20s, the young man’s son, who is three years old, and me. We crawl carefully into the raft. The high quality raft, constructed of super-strong nylon and rubber, is made for safety.   We are a mixed bag of riders - the guide, two young women in their 20s, a young man in his 20s, the young man’s son, who is three years old, and me.   We spend the 15 minutes before getting onto the raft securing life-jackets on each of us. They have to fit well, we are told, so if by some rare chance we go into the water, the current will not pull them off. We spend extra time making sure the three-year-old’s is properly adjusted to his small body.   We push the raft off the bank and into the full current of the mountain river. This is a beautiful day, and our anticipation for the ride is high.   The water is cold, really cold. Only thirty miles and 10 degrees Fahrenheit away, the water had been snow and ice. Although this is mid summer, the snow banks high in the … [Read more...]

Southern Baptists spend tremendous amounts of time speaking words,writing words, reading words, defining words, processing words and arguing about words with words. We even spend time, sparse though it may be, listening to words. Southern Baptists spend tremendous amounts of time speaking words,writing words, reading words, defining words, processing words and arguing about words with words. We even spend time, sparse though it may be, listening to words.   The use of words helps fashion part of humankind’s uniqueness. With words, we build a vocabulary, and with a vocabulary, we build a language. With language, we transmit thoughts and information to our present generation and generations to come. No other creature has this gift.   Words are essential in the Christian faith and practice. Genesis reveals that God spoke creation into existence. Through words, He revealed Himself to people, and by words, they recorded that revelation, and with words, they passed the revelation from generation to generation.   The Hebrews understood the power of words. In their concept of life, words once spoken were seen as taking on a life and power of their own. Blessings and curses were powerful acts … [Read more...]

Ask Rory Lee to characterize the nature of Louisiana College - and he presents a lesson on railway transportation.   "We are not a monorail," he says of the Louisiana Baptist school in Pineville. "We are a railroad. We run on two rails. ... If you leave one or the other out, the train won’t run." Ask Rory Lee to characterize the nature of Louisiana College - and he presents a lesson on railway transportation.   "We are not a monorail," he says of the Louisiana Baptist school in Pineville. "We are a railroad. We run on two rails. ... If you leave one or the other out, the train won’t run."   The rails Lee speaks of refers to the school’s commitment to Christian education and academic excellence.   Both are essential to the Louisiana College nature, says Lee, who has served as president of the school for four years.   And suffice it to say, the college is running along both rails quite nicely these days. A quick look at recent achievements bear witness to that fact. Consider:   •Enrollment at the school is nearing record highs. The fall 2000 freshman class was the second largest in school history. Overall enrollment topped the 1,000 mark and marked the … [Read more...]

C. Lacy Thompson LBM Associate Editor   Good seafood. Great music. Intriguing history. Old world architecture. Fascinating street performers. Inviting culture. Interesting residents. Riverboats. Swamp tours. Art. Doughnuts without holes. Horses wearing hats. Good seafood. Great music. Intriguing history. Old world architecture. Fascinating street performers. Inviting culture. Interesting residents. Riverboats. Swamp tours. Art. Doughnuts without holes. Horses wearing hats.   Welcome to the beauty and quirkiness of New Orleans, one of the most charming - and perhaps the most unique - city in the United States.   Unfettered Mardi Gras.   Unrestricted Bourbon Street.   Voodoo.   New Ageism.   Ethnic diversity.   Gambling.   Prostitution.   A "laissez les bon temps rouler" (let the good times roll) approach to life.   Welcome to the challenge of reaching New Orleans for Jesus Christ, where all gospel work is hard.   "Everything we do down there (in New Orleans) is a struggle," admits Larry Black, director of the New Work Division of the Louisiana Baptist Convention.   "I believe … [Read more...]