Luter among N.O. leaders who met with Bush to discuss future
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| Dinner with the president Fred Luter (right), pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church, dined with President Bush, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin and Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen Oct. 10 in the French Quarter as a 17-member commission discussed plans for rebuilding the city. Luter said he was “thoroughly impressed” with the president’s sincerity. Photo courtesy of the White House |
The group dined with President Bush and his wife, Laura, at the Italian-Creole restaurant Bacco in the French Quarter Oct. 10 and had the opportunity to express their concerns and ideas with the nation’s leader.
Luter told Baptist Press he has known Nagin for years and the mayor has visited his 7,000-member Southern Baptist church several times. Luter believes he was chosen for the commission because of the number of people he represents and because he is a lifelong New Orleans resident.
“Everybody knows I love New Orleans,” he said Oct. 12.
CULTURE DIGEST: Dartmouth student lambasted for esteeming Jesus in convocation speech; Victoria’s Secret displays draw ire
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--His speech has been called “appalling,” “reprehensible,” “an abuse of power,” “disrespectful” and “embarrassing.” What could have drawn such consternation?
Bush: ‘We will not tire or rest until the war on terror is won’
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| ‘Never give in’ President Bush, speaking from the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, again urged Americans to press on in the war on terror, saying, “We will never back down, never give in and never accept anything less than complete victory.” Photo courtesy of the White House |
Bush, speaking from the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington Oct. 6, delivered a speech originally planned to mark the fourth anniversary of the attacks but postponed because of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
CULTURE DIGEST: Moore runs for governor; conservatives urge stance against Air Force policy; churches premiere ‘Left Behind’
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore is making campaign visits throughout the state after announcing he will seek the Republican nomination for governor in 2006, likely setting up a battle between the Ten Commandments defender and incumbent Republican Gov. Bob Riley.
2 Baptist schools among 15 that must change Indian mascots
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Representatives from two Baptist-affiliated colleges say their schools will comply with the NCAA’s decision to ban the use of American Indian mascots and logos by sports teams, although one of the schools is appealing.
Pastor: ‘Amazing’ opportunities to share Christ abound in La.
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| Serving up chow Southern Baptist Disaster Relief workers based at the New Orleans-area First Baptist Church in Westwego have been feeding military personnel stationed in the city in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Many of the troops and others in the community have been receptive to the Gospel. Photo courtesy of Jay Adkins |
“It’s hard to put into words how God is opening up doors for ministry and especially sharing the Gospel,” said Jay Adkins, pastor of the New Orleans-area First Baptist Church in Westwego. “People are receptive. They seem to want to hear anything they can hear to bring peace to their lives.”
CULTURE DIGEST: Ashley Smith gave kidnapper crystal meth, she says in book
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Fans of Ashley Smith, the young woman who was taken hostage by a man charged in the Atlanta courthouse shootings and read him portions of “The Purpose-Driven Life” in persuading him to surrender, were shocked Sept. 26 when news surfaced that she also gave the man some of her crystal methamphetamine and did not immediately tell police.
Rising punk band takes serious its influence on younger fans
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Stellar Kart front man Adam Agee sees the value in the influence factor his "punk pop" band has developed after years of leading worship during youth camps and other church events, and he traces his ability to set an example back to his father’s impact on his life.
Louisiana church steps up to fill void, Texas DR volunteers redeploy
LaPLACE, La. (BP)--For three weeks these Texans and Louisianans gave it their all, serving more than 1 million meals, distributing 11,000 evangelistic tracts and 1,200 Bibles, and seeing at least 45 new professions of faith in Christ. But as another fierce hurricane took aim at their home state, more than 300 volunteers from the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention headed out of Louisiana to turn their attention toward their own families and neighbors.
“We will be transferring the operations of meal preparation over to local Baptist churches to work under the leadership of The Salvation Army,” said Bill Davenport, director of disaster relief for the SBTC.
CULTURE DIGEST: Baylor pulls controversial Starbucks cup; overseas adoptions present extra challenges
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--A controversial Starbucks cup that promotes the homosexual agenda has been pulled from a Baylor University coffee shop after someone commented that such a cup is inappropriate for a Baptist-affiliated university.
