Mission Opportunities and Cooperation

Grace and Peace,

Philadelphia Baptist Church, locations in Deville and Alexandria, recently emphasized to her members, mission opportunities for every member. They displayed as extensively as possible, all the mission endeavors of their church, all the while making sure that each member could and should be involved personally in some mission activity.

As a Southern Baptist Church, they had displays to inform members of their commitment to the SBC's Cooperative Program, the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for the International Mission Board, the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for the North American Mission Board, and the Georgia Barnett State Missions Offering for our beloved Louisiana. Everyone was able to see in this beautiful display the miracle of the Cooperative Program and its stunning impact throughout planet Earth in reaching all peoples with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The "Center" for Baptist work in central Louisiana...the Baptist Mission Center...also provided those members with a view into the work of the association of local churches in Rapides and Grant Parishes. The cooperative nature of SBC churches has tremendous impact locally, and members were able to see what happens for the kingdom when the local churches cooperate through their Association.

Additionally, the church has a very well developed network of ministries and missions in her own communities. Members were able to see in an amazing number of displays, the many ways that a local church can impact the culture surrounding the church by simply meeting needs and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.

But the most creative emphasis of the Missions Fair may have been the first booth that greeted the members as they entered the display area. The most prominent display, was a booth where each member could fill out an application for a United States Passport! Why? Pastor Clay Fuqua explained it with a personal story. A man was putting together a mission trip to a foreign country and inviting people to go with him. Clay told him that he was interested. The man asked him: "Do you have a passport?" Clay admitted that he did not have a passport. The man declared: "Then you're not really serious about going...you don't even have a passport!" Not only did the church provide passport applications, they also had a drawing to pay 100% of the expenses for a mission trip. There were three individuals who are now going to go on a mission trip outside the USA for the first time!! What a great idea!

That Missions Fair that morning was simply...outstanding! Try it in your church!

On Sunday evening, November 20, 2016, three North Rapides Baptist Association churches held a joint worship service. Now, joint worship services are not uncommon, especially among our more rural churches, but I don't see it too often among churches that are over 400 in attendance. But on this night the members of FBC Pineville, Kingsville, and Philadelphia churches assembled together at FBCP to worship as one family. They had a marvelous combined choir of a hundred or more voices, an Orchestra, and a great children's choir. The music was beyond amazing!

The host pastor, Stewart Holloway greeted the crowd and prepared us for what we were about to experience. Later, Kingsville's pastor, Bart Walker shared about the beauty of the Cooperative Program and the upcoming emphasis for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. Then the Philadelphia pastor, Philip Robertson brought a perfectly timed message for this occasion on harmony and joy.

The evening was capped off with a magnificent time of fellowship provided and staffed by the host church. Their gracious hospitality was the perfect way to bring to a close a wonderful evening. A lot of work went into the evening, but I believe it was well worth it all.

Blessings,
Robert Daniel

If I Were the Devil (Spin-Off)

Recently, I saw the following theme on Facebook. In light of the churning social climate in the USA that has become more antagonistic, it seems, toward the Christian world view 

IF I WERE THE DEVIL, I’d get people to love Jesus, but not be a radical in their love for Him. After all, there are many things to love. I would whisper a thought in people’s ears about the Lord not wanting them to miss fun and/or relaxing activities. I’d then get them to gradually place more importance on sleeping late on Sunday’s and thinking of the fun things that seemingly can only be done on that day.

IF I WERE THE DEVIL, I’d get people to watch TV preachers and buy plenty of inspirational books. At first I’d get them to think of this as a way of adding more spiritual things into their lives. Gradually, I’d convince them that if they can hear such great preaching and music on TV, they don’t really need to go to that old traditional institution called church. I’d encourage them to think that just because Christ ordained and instructed them to be faithful to the church; they don’t really need all that. In fact, I’d whisper a thought that they can get all of God they need in nature, by watching TV, or by reading inspirational stories.

IF I WERE THE DEVIL, I’d get families to get really busy with jobs and activities. That way, they would have to consume themselves with making money to afford all the “things” that they need to live the “good life.” I’d tell them that there would be more time for God some other time of life. I’d expend my best efforts and all my resources to simply get families, while still getting a little religion, to make their own selfish needs their priority. In that way, they could convince themselves, that God understands that they have these “needs” and that someday they’ll have more time for Him.

IF I WERE THE DEVIL, I’d get church people to think that the “little” sins of gossip, a critical spirit, and lack of love are just normal things that God probably won't even notice. I’d get a church to become satisfied in thinking they were doing all they need to do, just having regular services, and lots of “eating meetings.” I’d urge them to be satisfied with half-hearted singing, lifeless worship and prayers that are void of tears.

HOWEVER, I’M NOT THE DEVIL, SATAN IS. And he does not need any help. He is already doing a very good job of convincing people to dilute their devotion to the Lord and to His church. And, he is amazingly effective in keeping us from evangelizing the lost . . . Don’t you think?

Enough of that...after all, Satan is a defeated enemy. Our focus is upon Jesus Christ...with Whom we are more than conquerors! Yes, let us keep our eyes fixed upon Jesus...in all things.

Tonight... the Area Wide Vacation Bible School Clinic will be held at Philadelphia Baptist Church. Bring your workers and come on out for the perfect event to stimulate your efforts for VBS. Great inspiration and training will be the tangible result of coming!

Congratulations to Lee and Gail Taylor upon their 50th Anniversary! Congratulations! Lee is the pastor of the Cedar Grove Baptist Church in Lecompte, Louisiana. 

Blessings,

Robert Daniel, Director of Missions

Big Creek, Central, and N. Rapides Associations

CONDUCT BECOMING...CHURCH MEMBERS

Good Afternoon Central Louisiana Baptists!

"...I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth" (1 Timothy 3:15 NASB).     

In the United States, members of the armed forces can be punished for "Conduct Unbecoming an Officer and a Gentlemen." The standards for conduct in the armed forces are much higher than the normal standards expected of civilians. Violations of these standards are typically characterized by dishonesty, cruelty, indecency, unfair dealings, lawlessness and overall injustice.  Generally speaking, this conduct is of the nature considered to dishonor the officer's position. The main focus is to encourage integrity and honor in the United States Armed Forces. Thus, any type of poor conduct should not be performed by one in the position of a military officer even if though it may not be illegal.

Do the members of a Christ honoring, Bible believing, Bible preaching New Testament Church have a "Code of Conduct" of which they are to be held accountable? Paul, in his letter to Timothy very plainly instructed Timothy in the high standards that were to be applied to those who were in the church at Ephesus. Like those followers at the church at Ephesus, I suppose that Christians today also, have very high standards of conduct. To be succinct, Christians...like officers in the United States armed forces...are held to standards of conduct that are much higher than the normal standards than those expected of people outside the family of faith. So give this some thought. Is there room for improvement...in your conduct? Yes, me too!

I had an experience today that I've just got to share! I was with approximately 25 ministers from various churches in Grant Parish, in a meeting in the Grant Parish Sheriff's Department Conference Room. The subject was the possibility of a building that could be utilized to hold chapel services at the jail. This is a wonderful opportunity! Thank you Lord, for the exciting news and for the obvious concern shared by these ministers to make a difference in our community. May God grant his life-changing Good News to even more people through this emerging ministry.

Blessings,
Robert Daniel    

Good morning Baptists in Central Louisiana!

It was a blessing to be with the good people of Homewood Baptist Church for three mid-week services in October. My prayers are with Pastor Jimmy Koonce in his recovery from a recent medical procedure. During the time that he was away, the Baptist Mission Center and the Louisiana Baptist Convention partnered together in the "Shepherd's Rest" ministry to supply preachers for the services. This ministry is provided in needed situations to assist a church at no cost. I can't tell you what a blessing it is to simply return unto a church a small blessing in light of all the ways our churches have supported the work of Southern Baptists, the Cooperative Program, the Louisiana Baptist Convention and the local Associations. Pastor, if you have a need to be away for a few weeks for a sabbatical, health, or any significant need...give me a call and allow your association an opportunity to be a blessing to you and your church.

This past Sunday and Wednesday, I experienced the privilege of supplying the pulpit at Horseshoe Drive Baptist Church. This opportunity was especially meaningful to me as this church has been such an integral part of my spiritual development.  My family and I were members there during my College and Career Sunday School days. Then as a young married adult, this church provided my first experience as a Sunday School teacher (6th Grade), and in counseling a young fellow as he found the JOY of receiving Jesus as his Lord and Savior! Thank you Lord, for the ministry of our churches in proclaiming the Good News and their investment in the discipleship process of many people...including me!

I hope you have made plans to attend the annual Louisiana Baptist Pastor’s Conference. It will be November 9-10, 2014, at FBC Lafayette. 

Sunday Evening Session is: 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Monday Morning Sessions are: 8:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Monday Afternoon Sessions are: 1:15 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Also, the Louisiana Baptist Convention Annual Meeting convenes at FBC Lafayette, on November 10-11, 2014. The basic schedule: 

Monday Evening Session   5:15 p.m. – 8:15 p.m.
Tuesday Morning Session   8:20 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Tuesday Afternoon Session   1:45 p.m. – 4:25 p.m.
For more information, click on this link: http://louisianabaptists.org/annualmeeting

I hope to see you there!
Robert Daniel

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Grace and Peace Be Unto You!

Please hear this...Calling all pastors in Big Creek Baptist Association, Central Louisiana Baptist Association, and North Rapides Baptist Association...Your prayers and participation is urgently requested at the "Pastor Prayer Gathering!" 

Theme:    Praying for the churches in the central part of Louisiana and for all Louisiana Baptists
When:     Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Where:   Tall Timbers Conference Center Magnolia Room
Time:      9:30am -- 1:30pm
Cost:      No Cost for this event
Lunch is provided!

There will be corporate prayer, individual prayer, and triplets of prayer. Musical interludes will be provided and several Scripture readings. This is an opportunity to join hearts and prayers for all pastors who have been called to minister in central Louisiana area churches.

No reservation is required...but if you would please let us hear that you are coming. Email me at radaniel933@gmail.com

God Speaking...

Grace and Peace My Friends:

Ever have the feeling that God is trying to get your attention? Well, just such a time in my life is what I hope to share in this post. While it will be hard to get these events to make sense until the end of the story, I do think you'll relate to the story and join me in giving praise to God for His marvelous ways.

Let me set up this story with some preliminaries. On the day of my salvation, March 23, 1962, I had been doing yard work at the West Phoenix Baptist Church, where the Buck and Hazel Daniel family held their membership. I received $10.00 a month to take care of the grounds and a couple of houses that were used for Sunday School classes. Pastor Milton Gage approached me and began to inquire as to my thoughts on salvation and eternity. I fumbled around with a few thoughts, mainly to avoid a serious answer. After he left, I found that I couldn't get my relationship with Christ out of my mind. That very night, during revival services at the church, I asked Jesus to forgive my sins and come into my heart as my Lord and Savior. Only two nights later I was baptized into the fellowship of West Phoenix Baptist Church by pastor Milton Gage.

Fast forward twenty-one years to January 18-19, 1983. God was at work in my heart in a way of which I was not yet aware. By that time, I was a member of the Putnam City Baptist Church in Oklahoma City. I had been persuaded by my friend, Joe Perry, to attend the Oklahoma Evangelism Conference at the First Southern Baptist Church in Del City, Oklahoma, to hear sermons from Junior Hill, Stephen Olford, and...a preacher from Lafayette, Louisiana...Perry Sanders. 

Two things happened that night and then a third thing the next day. The first thing was that the music was lead that night by Brother John Shillington. I was amazed! You see, John was a classmate of mine at Alhambra High School in Phoenix, Arizona...Class of 1968. I had attended that school all the way up to about two weeks into my senior year. At that time my family moved to Alexandria, Louisiana, where I completed my high school days at Bolton High School. At Alhambra, I knew John as a Varsity football player, a man around campus, and a great guy. But, I never imagined that he would one day lead music for the North Phoenix Baptist Church and that he would be the special guest leader for the 1983 Oklahoma Baptist Evangelism Conference!! I thought..."Oh my...God can use people that I know!" The second thing that happened to get my attention turned toward God was that Perry Sanders preached a sermon entitled "A Visit to Heaven," from the 21^st chapter of Revelation. Only one week earlier, his wife Gloria, a victim of cancer, had been memorialized in a funeral service in Lafayette. Perry Sanders, his emotions raw with grief, held his composure together enough to preach the most incredible message I had ever heard. The Spirit of God was palpable in that huge auditorium as Perry spoke of how differently we would approach life if we could truly experience the reality of heaven. I had no idea what God was doing in my life in that incident, but something I couldn't explain was churning deep within my soul...as though God were trying to get my attention. The next day would be undeniable proof in my heart...God was speaking…to me!

After the amazing Tuesday night services, I thought of something humorous that would bring me back to First Southern Del City the next day…a yearbook with blank signature pages. I and My family had left Phoenix, while my senior year was barely underway. I had taken senior pictures and ordered my yearbook but then I moved. So, my Class of 1968, Alhambra High School year book was mailed to me. I had a yearbook but no signatures! Now, suddenly, here was John Shillington, an Alhambra High classmate in town. At last, I could get someone to sign my yearbook! So, Wednesday morning, I went back to the Evangelism Conference...with my yearbook...ready to get it signed by John. Regrettably, I discovered upon my arrival, that John had completed his part of the meetings and had left for Arizona. Even though I was disappointed, I decided to stay for the morning services. The auditorium was totally packed with over 4,000 attendees and I was forced to stand in the back for awhile. I saw that a few people were leaving so, seizing the moment I hurried down the nearest of about a dozen aisles, hoping to find a solitary seat. I was all the way down to the third row from the front before I saw a vacant seat. I sat down in the seat one person in from the aisle. We were soon given this instruction: "Introduce yourself to a person next to you and pray with them." I turned to the gentleman next to me by the aisle, and he eagerly clasped my hand and said: "Hi, my name is Milton Gage." I was stunned! I finally looked closely at the man I had providentially sat next to in this auditorium of over 4,000 people and realized who he was. I stammered out a barely intelligible: "Yes, You Are!" Then, regaining some composure, I exclaimed: "Brother Milton, I'm Robert Daniel, and you led me to Christ twenty-one years ago at West Phoenix Baptist Church!" Well, if you can imagine, we had the grandest of reunions...totally unexpected, but beautifully wonderful! 

Was God getting my attention? Yes! Although I couldn’t sort it all out right then, I knew that each of those experience was a divine encounter with God. I had wondered: “Could God use someone like me?" and He answered by showing me an old friend from the same school I attended…a guy much like myself…who was in the ministry. I heard a sermon and experienced the closeness of the Holy Spirit like never before, and I realized that "God moments" can come and that…just maybe…I shouldn't be so quick to brush aside the nudging of God's Spirit. Finally, as if to confirm my personal relationship with God, He orchestrated the most incredible reunion by setting me down in a seat next to the godly pastor who led me to the Lord...twenty-one years earlier...a thousand miles away...in the midst of multiple thousands of people!

Oh, what a Savior! Oh, how sweet the closeness of the Lord to His children. How individually He knows and leads us!

Dear God...You still have my attention! Does He have yours?

Blessings,

Robert Daniel

VBS and Other Things

Grace and Peace,

Whoosh...that sudden vibration in the atmosphere was the signal that Vacation Bible School is a-happening!! Here are the ones I know about that are going on right now:

Calvary Baptist, Alexandria
New Christian Life Fellowship, Alexandria
Riverview Baptist Church, Alexandria
Alpine First Baptist, Pineville
First Baptist, Pineville
HIS Church, Pineville
Kingsville Baptist, Pineville
Lakeside Baptist, Pineville
Philadelphia Baptist, Deville
Trinity Baptist, Pineville
Bethel Baptist, Colfax
Colfax Baptist, Colfax
Summerfield Baptist, Colfax
And...
First Baptist, Dry Prong...scooped everyone by holding their VBS the last three nights of May and the first night of June!!!

More churches will begin VBS the second week of June and there will be others will be conducted all throughout the Summer months of June, July, and August. Check our Baptist Mission Center Facebook page and website for more VBS news in the coming days.

Sunday before last, I had been scheduled to supply preach for Brother Jimmy Koonce at Homewood Baptist Church, a lovely church that is nestled back off Rapides Avenue in Alexandria. However, I was unable to answer the "bell" due to a back injury that I sustained on Saturday. Thankfully, Brother Aubrey Whitlock was able to "supply" for the supply preacher and provide the messages at the morning and evening worship services at that fine church.  While I do regret not being with those fine folks, I surely needed that time for recuperation.

Yesterday, I was back at full throttle, physically at least, and was able to supply preach for Brother Dennis Snoddy at Cloverdale Baptist Church. I have always been quite impressed with the location of Cloverdale and the unique sign that soars above the treetops and can easily be seen from Hwy 28 West. If you turn the opposite direction from Wal*Mart at the traffic light, you'll be on Cloverleaf Blvd for just a block or so before turning left on Skylark Drive, where the church is only a few hundred yards ahead. Linda and I thoroughly enjoyed the excellent music from the three keyboard instruments and the energetic congregational music. My message was from the book of Revelation that morning and was inspired by incidents in my life that occurred at the Oklahoma Evangelism Conference in 1983 (I'll share more about that life-changing experience in the next blog). I am always blessed to supply preach for our pastors and I humbly appreciate the opportunities to tell the congregations how much their church is appreciated and valued in the kingdom work taking place every week here in the central parishes of Louisiana. 

Blessings,
Robert Daniel, Director of Missions
Big Creek, Central, and North Rapides Baptist Associations