ALEXANDRIA – The continuing saga of hurricane relief, recovery and rebuild efforts in New Orleans dominated the news pages of the Louisiana Baptist Message in 2006.
ALEXANDRIA –
ALEXANDRIA – The continuing saga of hurricane relief, recovery and rebuild efforts in New Orleans dominated the news pages of the
Louisiana Baptist Message in 2006.
“This was a year that showed the strength and resiliency and the big hearts of Louisiana’s people,” Editor Kelly Boggs said. “It also showed what the Cooperative Program is all about – it’s us, pulling together to accomplish God’s work in ways none of us could do nearly as effectively alone.”
A month-by-month recap of major news and feature articles as they appeared week-by-week in the Messagefollows:
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January: Kelly Boggs launches forward as Message editor; Louisiana Agricultural Fellowship ministers in southern Mexico; Southeastern Baptist Seminary faculty ‘adopt’ New Orleans Seminary faculty; Karen Willoughby named managing editor; Louisiana and Illinois state conventions host ‘grief retreat’ for children victimized by Katrina and Rita; Georgia Barnette giving sets $1.2 million record increase; more than 1,000 participate in 2006 Evangelism Conference; 200 return to NOBTS campus.
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February: Louisiana pastors wives respond to death of Coretta Scott King, widow of Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.’ St. Bernard Parish pastors take steps to expand worship opportunities despite heavily damaged and mostly-destroyed facilities; Pastor Fred Luter preaches in three cities to minister to the scattered flock of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church; New Hope Winnfield burns its note; Louisiana Baptist Foundation posts solid increase, to $112 million; New Zion Shreveport accepts Acts 1:8 Challenge; collegiate evangelism conference draws 800; 150 people participate in disaster relief training conference; destruction saturates New Orleans; Delacroix Hope reaches its Catholic neighbors; Cooperative Program rescues Christian Covenant Church in New Orleans; First Lafayette receives city’s Design and Development Award; W.O. Cottingham retires after 46 years at First St. Rose.
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March: Franklin Avenue leads state with 309 baptisms; Resort Missionary Mary Gore is featured during North American Mission Board’s Week of Prayer; About 150 Acteens gather for annual conference; LBC’s Executive Director David Hankins is commissioned to write first book in new Cooperative Program series; NAMB designates $5 million for Katrina rebuilding and sets up NOAH [New Orleans Area Help] office at Calvary New Orleans; FEMA requests Louisiana Baptists open new kitchen at First Chalmette; Arkansas Baptists make major commitment to New Orleans; Disaster Relief honors Linda Yeager for her role as volunteer coordinator during Katrina; Louisiana college students spend spring break in New Orleans disaster relief and one finds $30,000 inside a wall; Billy Graham visits New Orleans; Celebration Church adds certified trauma counselor to its staff; Baptist centers in New Orleans meeting needs differently than pre-Katrina; Appellate court hears Louisiana College case; About 500 GAs gather for annual M-Jam; LC professors expand lawsuit against college; Canadians help in New Orleans; Texas volunteers work in Bywater area of New Orleans; Joe Aguillard inaugurated as Louisiana College’s eighth president; NAMB trustees develop ‘executive controls’ for agency’s executive director, Bob Reccord; IMB trustees adopt new policies for missionary personnel.
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April: NAMB names James Jenkins “African American Church Planting Missionary of the Year;” NOBTS sails through accreditation visit; Chain saw crew leads 57 to faith in Jesus; Southern Baptists say ‘thank you’ to Katrina First Responders with carnival-type event in New Orleans arena; Derek Wooden receives RA of the Year award from Cal Jones at RA Congress; About 800 participate in 106th annual Missions Celebration; LC trustees update policies; Pisgah Baptist ministers to burn victim; Jamie Womak ministers despite cerebral palsy; Baptist Collegiate Ministry students build 10 storage sheds for Katrina relief during annual Leadership conference; Samaritan’s Purse gives new playground to NOBTS; Bivocational Pastor Gene Gibson leads Beulah Land Baptist to baptize 46 in 2005; Appellate court rules 2005 election of Joe Aguillard as LC president was legal; National African American Fellowship asks New Orleans Pastor Eddie Scott to preach at NAAF annual meeting; NAMB President Bob Reccord resigns in wake of ‘mismanagement’ concerns; Helping Hands of Leesville offers English classes as well as food and clothing ministries; Stats show drop nationally in SBC baptisms for four out of last five years.
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May: LBC Board revises money plan to give 50 percent of budget excess to Cooperative Program; 20 youth at First Doyline are baptized; First Longville opens ‘field of dreams’ for handicapped; New Orleans remains a city on its knees; Bogalusa names Bob Adams, pastor of First Bogalusa, Citizen of the Year; Jay Adkins, pastor of First Westwego, tapped as candidate for second vice president of the SBC; Perry Sanders, pastor of First Lafayette, retires after 47 years; Indonesians, who have average monthly income of $100, say ‘thanks’ to Louisiana with $854 cash; LC graduates 166; 425 youngsters participate in annual Bible Drill; LC’s Chuck Quarles Ph.D. debunks “The Da Vinci Code” novel.
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June: David Crosby, pastor of First New Orleans, announces his intention (later nixed by Executive Committee) to request the SBC gather in 2008 in New Orleans for its annual meeting; H.P. Tarpley pens book of sermons; LifeWay reopens on NOBTS campus; At least 10 Louisianians tapped for SBC national committees, boards; NOBTS honors Perry Sanders of First Lafayette with establishment of Perry R. Sanders Center for Excellence in Ministry and Chair for Ministry Excellence; Angola prison inmates become prayer warriors for Nepal; Baptist Crossroads, NOAH start summer work thrust; First New Iberia serves Mennonite workers; Port Sulphur Baptist opened distribution center in March; NOBTS graduates 186 graduates, including 21 from Louisiana; Calvary Alexandria ministers in New Orleans; SBC meets in Greensboro, N.C. for annual meeting – coverage extends to two issues; Louisiana College runs out of t-shirts when more than 210 freshmen show up for summer orientation.
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July: LC’s latest lawsuit set for trial at indeterminate date; fire destroys Coliseum Place Baptist in New Orleans, the oldest Baptist building in the city; Connie Smith, pastor of Fellowship Baptist in Dubach, ministers despite his wheelchair; DOM Joe McKeever says God’s people are rebuilding New Orleans; Judson Baptist in Walker honors Ray Covington for 70 years as a Sunday school teacher; SBC President Frank Page tours New Orleans; Northeast Baptist Association lures pro-fisherman Glenn Chappelear to annual bass tourney; staff writer Brian Blackwell leaves for grad school; Joel’s Hope weekend reunites foster children with siblings for country outing; at least 185 participate in annual GA camp; New Orleans carved into 27 zones for clearer ministry focus; Donahue Family Church in Pineville opens school.
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August: Southern Baptists leave Lebanon as strife escalates; Louisianians increase giving to Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for international missions by 3.19 percent; Family Net radio adds Baton Rouge to roster; First New Orleans completes gut-out of 700th home in New Orleans; Workers repair landmark steeple at NOBTS; Rhonda Kelley of NOBTS pens “Raising Moms;” LC expands to Shreveport; First Oakdale hosts abstinence event that draws city’s/schools’ attention; Louisianians lead 1,766 people to Jesus in Brazil; First New Orleans hosts Katrina remembrance gathering; Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home helps locate Katrina-victim grandchild; Anne Graham Lotz speaks in New Orleans; Zion Hill Farmerville celebrates 165th anniversary; Aug. 31 double issue commemorates Hurricane Katrina.
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September: Volunteers needed for New Orleans recovery effort; 9/11 remembrance reminds pastor’s wife of her son; First Oak Grove ministers to skateboarders; Tammy Sharp joins Message staff; Baptist churches in Vernon Parish set crusade for Christ; Katrina continues to exert emotional toll; Louisiana Baptist Builders work hard at First Oberlin; Baptist Press launches Spanish website; Deacon blesses disaster relief volunteers who come to aid him; Susan Hayes of First Gueydan makes quilts and church members pray over each knot as they tie them before giving the quilt to a person who needs one; Sept. 28 double issue commemorates Hurricane Rita.
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October: Children at Jefferson Baptist Baton Rouge lead in the filling of rice bowls for world hunger; North Rapides Baptist Association meets at local lake for joint baptism event; Oct. 19 double issue commemorates statewide response to 2004 hurricanes in southern Louisiana; First Covington gives $200,000 ‘extra offering’ gathered in 2006 for New Orleans rebuilding; Pineville Grace Baptist baptizes 80-year-old who dies three days later.
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November: Former U.S. President George H.W. Bush speaks at Louisiana College’s 100th anniversary celebration; Eastern Louisiana Baptist Association hosts Jonathan Edwards Conference; Virginia gives $56,000 for New Orleans recovery; Bossier City incubator warms four mission churches; customer objects to Christian music at Leesville ice cream shop owned by David and Teresa McConathy of East Leesville Baptist; Grambling’s new BCM thrives with campus director Reginald Alford; about 200 wives of pastors attend annual Ministers Wives’ retreat; Washington Parish Southern Baptists minister with cold water and more each year at the parish’s annual “Free Fair;” EKG-Louisiana starts as a pilot project in several churches; Bill Rogers, pastor of Grace Baptist New Orleans, earns a DMin at Southern Seminary; “Coping With Life’s Losses” trauma workshops led by Joe Williams are to start in January; Vietnamese Baptist New Orleans copes with dogged persistence; Sophie and Hyland Packard honored for ministry service in Natchitoches; Greater Baton Rouge Association reaches out through prison ministries; Linda Davis of First Baptist Tallullah, ministers by giving “In God We Trust” posters to area governmental and school offices; Message reports results of midterm elections; Circle Baptist transitions from Anglo to African American congregation; About 100 participants attend New Orleans-area library conference; Nov. 23 issue recaps LBC annual meeting.
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December: About 4,100 teens participate in Youth Evangelism Conference and 800 make decisions; Southern Baptists lead in state’s Christmas Child shoe box outreach; Baptist Builder Jeff Woodrich is ordained by Judson Baptist in Walker; At least three Louisiana churches use “snow” as community outreach; First Slidell plans Global Missions event for Jan. 10-14; Jefferson Baptist Baton Rouge celebrates its tenth annual Twin Christmas Trees event; NOBTS announces doctoral fellowship honoring R.S. Magee; Savannah Scharfenstein of First Slidell dies in tragic Christmas parade accident; Since 2002, Highland Baptist in New Iberia has been hosting a Christmas Day dinner at the church for about 150 people, with members as volunteer helpers; 162 students graduate Dec. 16 from NOBTS; Coach Dennis Dunn disciples LC Wildcats; Florida Boulevard Baptist in Baton Rouge hosts Turning Hearts Tour, which is designed to get teens and their parents talking again; First Natchitoches – and many churches statewide – gear up for Upward Basketball and Cheerleading; Keith Manuel joins LBC staff to encourage personal evangelism; chain saw team from Bogalusa-area churches race to Illinois to help in snow storm recovery since Illinois raced to help them post-Katrina.
“This was a year that showed the strength and resiliency and the big hearts of Louisiana’s people,” Editor Kelly Boggs said. “It also showed what the Cooperative Program is all about – it’s us, pulling together to accomplish God’s work in ways none of us could do nearly as effectively alone.”
A month-by-month recap of major news and feature articles as they appeared week-by-week in the
Message follows:
January: Kelly Boggs launches forward as Message editor; Louisiana Agricultural Fellowship ministers in southern Mexico; Southeastern Baptist Seminary faculty ‘adopt’ New Orleans Seminary faculty; Karen Willoughby named managing editor; Louisiana and Illinois state conventions host ‘grief retreat’ for children victimized by Katrina and Rita; Georgia Barnette giving sets $1.2 million record increase; more than 1,000 participate in 2006 Evangelism Conference; 200 return to NOBTS campus.
February: Louisiana pastors wives respond to death of Coretta Scott King, widow of Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.’ St. Bernard Parish pastors take steps to expand worship opportunities despite heavily damaged and mostly-destroyed facilities; Pastor Fred Luter preaches in three cities to minister to the scattered flock of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church; New Hope Winnfield burns its note; Louisiana Baptist Foundation posts solid increase, to $112 million; New Zion Shreveport accepts Acts 1:8 Challenge; collegiate evangelism conference draws 800; 150 people participate in disaster relief training conference; destruction saturates New Orleans; Delacroix Hope reaches its Catholic neighbors; Cooperative Program rescues Christian Covenant Church in New Orleans; First Lafayette receives city’s Design and Development Award; W.O. Cottingham retires after 46 years at First St. Rose.
March: Franklin Avenue leads state with 309 baptisms; Resort Missionary Mary Gore is featured during North American Mission Board’s Week of Prayer; About 150 Acteens gather for annual conference; LBC’s Executive Director David Hankins is commissioned to write first book in new Cooperative Program series; NAMB designates $5 million for Katrina rebuilding and sets up NOAH [New Orleans Area Help] office at Calvary New Orleans; FEMA requests Louisiana Baptists open new kitchen at First Chalmette; Arkansas Baptists make major commitment to New Orleans; Disaster Relief honors Linda Yeager for her role as volunteer coordinator during Katrina; Louisiana college students spend spring break in New Orleans disaster relief and one finds $30,000 inside a wall; Billy Graham visits New Orleans; Celebration Church adds certified trauma counselor to its staff; Baptist centers in New Orleans meeting needs differently than pre-Katrina; Appellate court hears Louisiana College case; About 500 GAs gather for annual M-Jam; LC professors expand lawsuit against college; Canadians help in New Orleans; Texas volunteers work in Bywater area of New Orleans; Joe Aguillard inaugurated as Louisiana College’s eighth president; NAMB trustees develop ‘executive controls’ for agency’s executive director, Bob Reccord; IMB trustees adopt new policies for missionary personnel.
April: NAMB names James Jenkins “African American Church Planting Missionary of the Year;” NOBTS sails through accreditation visit; Chain saw crew leads 57 to faith in Jesus; Southern Baptists say ‘thank you’ to Katrina First Responders with carnival-type event in New Orleans arena; Derek Wooden receives RA of the Year award from Cal Jones at RA Congress; About 800 participate in 106th annual Missions Celebration; LC trustees update policies; Pisgah Baptist ministers to burn victim; Jamie Womak ministers despite cerebral palsy; Baptist Collegiate Ministry students build 10 storage sheds for Katrina relief during annual Leadership conference; Samaritan’s Purse gives new playground to NOBTS; Bivocational Pastor Gene Gibson leads Beulah Land Baptist to baptize 46 in 2005; Appellate court rules 2005 election of Joe Aguillard as LC president was legal; National African American Fellowship asks New Orleans Pastor Eddie Scott to preach at NAAF annual meeting; NAMB President Bob Reccord resigns in wake of ‘mismanagement’ concerns; Helping Hands of Leesville offers English classes as well as food and clothing ministries; Stats show drop nationally in SBC baptisms for four out of last five years.
May: LBC Board revises money plan to give 50 percent of budget excess to Cooperative Program; 20 youth at First Doyline are baptized; First Longville opens ‘field of dreams’ for handicapped; New Orleans remains a city on its knees; Bogalusa names Bob Adams, pastor of First Bogalusa, Citizen of the Year; Jay Adkins, pastor of First Westwego, tapped as candidate for second vice president of the SBC; Perry Sanders, pastor of First Lafayette, retires after 47 years; Indonesians, who have average monthly income of $100, say ‘thanks’ to Louisiana with $854 cash; LC graduates 166; 425 youngsters participate in annual Bible Drill; LC’s Chuck Quarles Ph.D. debunks “The Da Vinci Code” novel.
June: David Crosby, pastor of First New Orleans, announces his intention (later nixed by Executive Committee) to request the SBC gather in 2008 in New Orleans for its annual meeting; H.P. Tarpley pens book of sermons; LifeWay reopens on NOBTS campus; At least 10 Louisianians tapped for SBC national committees, boards; NOBTS honors Perry Sanders of First Lafayette with establishment of Perry R. Sanders Center for Excellence in Ministry and Chair for Ministry Excellence; Angola prison inmates become prayer warriors for Nepal; Baptist Crossroads, NOAH start summer work thrust; First New Iberia serves Mennonite workers; Port Sulphur Baptist opened distribution center in March; NOBTS graduates 186 graduates, including 21 from Louisiana; Calvary Alexandria ministers in New Orleans; SBC meets in Greensboro, N.C. for annual meeting – coverage extends to two issues; Louisiana College runs out of t-shirts when more than 210 freshmen show up for summer orientation.
July: LC’s latest lawsuit set for trial at indeterminate date; fire destroys Coliseum Place Baptist in New Orleans, the oldest Baptist building in the city; Connie Smith, pastor of Fellowship Baptist in Dubach, ministers despite his wheelchair; DOM Joe McKeever says God’s people are rebuilding New Orleans; Judson Baptist in Walker honors Ray Covington for 70 years as a Sunday school teacher; SBC President Frank Page tours New Orleans; Northeast Baptist Association lures pro-fisherman Glenn Chappelear to annual bass tourney; staff writer Brian Blackwell leaves for grad school; Joel’s Hope weekend reunites foster children with siblings for country outing; at least 185 participate in annual GA camp; New Orleans carved into 27 zones for clearer ministry focus; Donahue Family Church in Pineville opens school.
August: Southern Baptists leave Lebanon as strife escalates; Louisianians increase giving to Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for international missions by 3.19 percent; Family Net radio adds Baton Rouge to roster; First New Orleans completes gut-out of 700th home in New Orleans; Workers repair landmark steeple at NOBTS; Rhonda Kelley of NOBTS pens “Raising Moms;” LC expands to Shreveport; First Oakdale hosts abstinence event that draws city’s/schools’ attention; Louisianians lead 1,766 people to Jesus in Brazil; First New Orleans hosts Katrina remembrance gathering; Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home helps locate Katrina-victim grandchild; Anne Graham Lotz speaks in New Orleans; Zion Hill Farmerville celebrates 165th anniversary; Aug. 31 double issue commemorates Hurricane Katrina.
September: Volunteers needed for New Orleans recovery effort; 9/11 remembrance reminds pastor’s wife of her son; First Oak Grove ministers to skateboarders; Tammy Sharp joins Message staff; Baptist churches in Vernon Parish set crusade for Christ; Katrina continues to exert emotional toll; Louisiana Baptist Builders work hard at First Oberlin; Baptist Press launches Spanish website; Deacon blesses disaster relief volunteers who come to aid him; Susan Hayes of First Gueydan makes quilts and church members pray over each knot as they tie them before giving the quilt to a person who needs one; Sept. 28 double issue commemorates Hurricane Rita.
October: Children at Jefferson Baptist Baton Rouge lead in the filling of rice bowls for world hunger; North Rapides Baptist Association meets at local lake for joint baptism event; Oct. 19 double issue commemorates statewide response to 2004 hurricanes in southern Louisiana; First Covington gives $200,000 ‘extra offering’ gathered in 2006 for New Orleans rebuilding; Pineville Grace Baptist baptizes 80-year-old who dies three days later.
November: Former U.S. President George H.W. Bush speaks at Louisiana College’s 100th anniversary celebration; Eastern Louisiana Baptist Association hosts Jonathan Edwards Conference; Virginia gives $56,000 for New Orleans recovery; Bossier City incubator warms four mission churches; customer objects to Christian music at Leesville ice cream shop owned by David and Teresa McConathy of East Leesville Baptist; Grambling’s new BCM thrives with campus director Reginald Alford; about 200 wives of pastors attend annual Ministers Wives’ retreat; Washington Parish Southern Baptists minister with cold water and more each year at the parish’s annual “Free Fair;” EKG-Louisiana starts as a pilot project in several churches; Bill Rogers, pastor of Grace Baptist New Orleans, earns a DMin at Southern Seminary; “Coping With Life’s Losses” trauma workshops led by Joe Williams are to start in January; Vietnamese Baptist New Orleans copes with dogged persistence; Sophie and Hyland Packard honored for ministry service in Natchitoches; Greater Baton Rouge Association reaches out through prison ministries; Linda Davis of First Baptist Tallullah, ministers by giving “In God We Trust” posters to area governmental and school offices; Message reports results of midterm elections; Circle Baptist transitions from Anglo to African American congregation; About 100 participants attend New Orleans-area library conference; Nov. 23 issue recaps LBC annual meeting.
December: About 4,100 teens participate in Youth Evangelism Conference and 800 make decisions; Southern Baptists lead in state’s Christmas Child shoe box outreach; Baptist Builder Jeff Woodrich is ordained by Judson Baptist in Walker; At least three Louisiana churches use “snow” as community outreach; First Slidell plans Global Missions event for Jan. 10-14; Jefferson Baptist Baton Rouge celebrates its tenth annual Twin Christmas Trees event; NOBTS announces doctoral fellowship honoring R.S. Magee; Savannah Scharfenstein of First Slidell dies in tragic Christmas parade accident; Since 2002, Highland Baptist in New Iberia has been hosting a Christmas Day dinner at the church for about 150 people, with members as volunteer helpers; 162 students graduate Dec. 16 from NOBTS; Coach Dennis Dunn disciples LC Wildcats; Florida Boulevard Baptist in Baton Rouge hosts Turning Hearts Tour, which is designed to get teens and their parents talking again; First Natchitoches – and many churches statewide – gear up for Upward Basketball and Cheerleading; Keith Manuel joins LBC staff to encourage personal evangelism; chain saw team from Bogalusa-area churches race to Illinois to help in snow storm recovery since Illinois raced to help them post-Katrina.