By Terry Dorsett, NAMB Church Planting Catalyst The other day I was going to visit a friend who was interested in becoming involved in ministry. He gave me the address where I was to meet him, but when I arrived, I could not find the street number. There were buildings with the number right below it and right above it, but the particular street number I was searching for seemed to be missing. After driving up and down the road a couple of times, I called him on his cell phone. It turns out that I had gone to Stevens Street, when I was actually looking for Stephens Street. The two streets sounded the same but, of course, have a slightly different spelling and, it turns out, are on opposite sides of town. I would have never found him at the first address because that address does not exist. We had a good laugh about it when I finally got to the right place. What a difference a couple of letters make. That experience has caused me to think about how important it is to make sure we get our facts right before striking off on some task, journey or line of thought. If we have a faulty premise, it will lead us in the wrong direction and we may never find what we are looking for. Even if the mistake is subtle and sounds right (as in … [Read more...]

By Al Mohler, Jr., President of Southern Seminary Super Bowl XLVIII may have been a bust as a football game, but it was a blockbuster as a cultural event. The telecast attracted a record 111.5 million viewers, making it the most-watched television event of all time. That record will most likely be eclipsed by the next Super Bowl, and the trajectory shows no signs of dissipating. America takes its sports seriously, and Americans take football with the most seriousness of them all. In a real sense, big-time sports represent America’s new civic religion, and football is its central sacrament. The relationship between sports and religion in America has always been close, and it has often been awkward. The “muscular Christianity” of a century ago has given way to a more recent phenomenon: the massive growth of involvement in sports at the expense of church activities and involvements. About 15 years ago, the late John Cardinal O’Connor, then the Roman Catholic Archbishop of New York, lamented the fact that Little League baseball was taking his altar boys away on Sundays. “Why is it religion that must always accommodate?” the archbishop asked. “Why must Little League and soccer league games be scheduled on Sunday mornings? “Why … [Read more...]

By Art Toalston, Editor Baptist Press Without doubt, one of the facts of faith is that we must obey God. Moms and dads, in varying ways, yearn for their children to obey. And we surely marvel at children who indeed obey their parents. Citizens, sometimes grudgingly, understand they must obey the law. And if we think about it, we’re glad for every moment of safety that the law, when obeyed, accords us in our homes, our automobiles and in our communities. But obey God? We tend to accuse God of unilaterally issuing an edict: “Just do as I say.” God is far from the only one, however, with an expectation of obedience in today’s cultural milieu. Pro-choice advocates, though they don’t use the word, strive for the society to obey, or yield to, even laud their beliefs for abortion rights. And yes, those who see the hand of God in all moments of human life also attempt to sway people to their moral ground. The same push and shove to obey, sometimes with civility, is evident among homosexual rights advocates and among those who see a loving God calling humankind to refrain from homosexuality. The tussle for public opinion is evident between proponents of marijuana legalization and those who sorrow over anyone’s flight from reality … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Mon, 02/24/2014 - 13:08 Carl Gulde, pastor of Bethel Baptist Church in Colfax, (left) receives an honorary doctorate from Trinity Theological Seminary President Harold Hunter in a Feb. 16th service at the church. COLFAX – Carl Gulde recently received the highest honor that Trinity Theological Seminary awards. Presented by Trinity President Harold Hunter, the honorary doctor of divinity degree was given to Gulde during a special service at Bethel Baptist in Colfax, the church where he serves. The seminary located in Newburgh, Indiana, has awarded the degree six times since its founding in 1969. Criteria for the degree include a lifetime of record achievement in faithful service to God, extraordinary personal character and nomination by a member of the Trinity Board of Regents. A native of Trout, Gulde’s first pastorate was at Pritchard Baptist in January 1997. He also has served as pastor of Crowville Baptist and Oak Grove Baptist. He has been pastor of Bethel for the last three years. “I’m honored and overwhelmed from receiving this honor,” Gulde said. “I cherish it and will revere the title and will do my very best to live up to expectations of it for the rest of my … [Read more...]

ON THE MOVE Ronnie Chiasson ordained into the Gospel Ministry at Hillcrest Baptist Church, Franklinton. Stephanie Howard new as Children Ministry Assistant at Airline Baptist Church, Bossier City. Bill Treadway retires as pastor of Ida Baptist Church. Chuck Johnson has resigned at Youth Minister at Pine Grove Baptist Church, Livingston.   REVIVAL/HOMECOMING Trinity Baptist Church, Eunice: Celebrated 15th anniversary with former members and friends, Feb. 16 at morning services and Dinner on the Grounds. Speaker: James Spell. Pastor: Alvin Ogea. Fair Park Baptist Church, West Monroe: 65th anniversary, March 9, 8 & 10:30 a.m. followed by Dinner on the Grounds, 1:45 a.m. Pastor: Waymon Warren. Cotile Baptist Church: Revival, March 13-15, 7 p.m. nightly. Speaker: Don Gauthier. 32nd Homecoming/Anniversary Service,  March 16 ,11 a.m. followed by lunch. Gautheir will close out revival that day. 11th Hour will be in concert, 1:30 p.m. A love offering will be taken for the group. Pastor: Johnny Miller. Longview Baptist Church, Deville: Revival, March 16-19. Sunday, March 16 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. March 17-19, 7 p.m. Speaker: Bill Robertson. Worship: Second Chance Trio. Pastor: Robby Poole. Judson Baptist Church, Walker: … [Read more...]

By Jerry Love, Louisiana Baptist Foundation ALEXANDRIA – A new year, new board members and new officers highlighted the quarterly meeting of the Louisiana Baptist Foundation Board of Trustees Feb. 4. The Foundation staff held an orientation session for the six new trustees on Monday prior to the Tuesday ‘s Board Meeting during which they were given the opportunity to understand their role as trustees on the board. Foundation Executive Director  Wayne Taylor began the session by stating the purpose of the LBF, which is to “encourage and assist Louisiana Baptists with estate stewardship and to provide investment and administrative services to the churches and agencies of the Louisiana Baptist Convention.” Taylor also said the trustees’ job is to represent Louisiana Baptists by setting policies for the Foundation’s investment and accounting activities as well as the policies for accepting gifts from donors to Baptist ministries. “Your job, then, is to hold me as the Executive Director accountable for executing the policies you set,” Taylor stated. He encouraged them to confer with one another and to rely on each other’s strengths and expertise as they oversaw  the work of the Foundation. In the first order of business on … [Read more...]

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