The National Day of Prayer

Thursday, May 1st is designated as the National Day of Prayer.



The concept was born in colonial America, when in 1775, the Continental Congress designated a "time of prayer in forming a new nation." The issue created an immediate controversy. Thomas Jefferson (always a champion of separation of church and state) objected, saying that religious groups could designate a day of prayer and meditation, but that it was not the place of the government to do so.

1952 was the year that President Harry S. Truman signed into a law a bill proclaiming a National Day of Prayer. Theoretically, the idea was to set aside a day when people of all faiths would come together for prayer. It was twenty years later, in 1972, when a National Prayer Committee was formed. Later that year, a group called the National Day of Prayer Task Force was formed to schedule events and activities for a National Day of Prayer. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed a bill into law that set The National Day of Prayer to be observed on the first Thursday in May.

Today the National Day of Prayer has basically become a project mostly publicized and observed by evangelical Christians. The NFOP Task Force has national offices in Colorado Springs at the home of James Dobson's Focus on the Family. Dr. Dobson's wife, Shirley, serves as the Task Force's National Chairman. Volunteers around the country organize programs in many cities and towns, with special speakers, patriotic music, and public assemblies and marches. Many of the observations are held in the steps of Municipal Buildings and Court Houses in big cities and small towns alike.

While it is a good thing to call believers everywhere to prayer on this particular day, one day of focusing on prayer is not nearly enough. Prayer is to the soul as Oxygen is to the body. Believers must have contact with their Heavenly Father. Regular contact. He speaks to us through His Word and His Holy Spirit. We speak to Him through prayer. Prayer is not a position of the body. Prayer is a condition of the heart. Paul the Apostle reminds us to "Pray without ceasing". To always be in an attitude of prayer.

Prayer is not a magical formula to get the things we want from God. Prayer is not designed to get the Almighty to see things our way. Prayer helps us to see things from God's perspective. Prayer does not cause God to take our side. Prayer helps us align with His purposes. The old saying is that "Prayer changes things". Actually, prayer changes us!

We might pray publicly, with eloquent speech, and moving language. Or we might pray silently. One might go on his face before his God, or stand with arms outstretched and hands upturned expectantly. Perhaps you pour your heart out to God behind closed doors (as Jesus suggested). Sometimes we are so burdened and overwhelmed that we cannot verbalize the words. Perhaps we can't say anything at all - but the petitions can still go up to God with the aid of His Holy Spirit who "makes intercession for us with groanings that cannot be uttered".

The important thing is that we pray. Earnestly... Often... Persistently... Believing the promises of God. Pray specifically. Pray big! We have a big God. He knows what we need - before we do. He knows what we need - better than we. Yet he encourages us to bring our needs to Him in prayer. Since He has no need of our input, it would seem to me that God designed prayer for our benefit. Are you getting your benefit?

I have often described prayer by using a hand for a pattern. The little finger would represent "Confession". That is what clears the static from the line. Confession brings us into the presence of the Lord and confesses our need for His forgiveness.

The next finger would represent "Thanksgiving". An important component of prayer has us thanking God for his gifts and mercy on our behalf.

The next finger - "Praise", extends past all the others. Praise is somewhat akin to Thanksgiving, but the difference is that thanksgiving focuses on what God has done for us. Praise focuses on Who God Is!

The index finger would represent "Intercession", which allows us to bring the needs of others before the Throne of Grace. We should only bring our personal "Petitions" to the Lord after we have spent time in confession, thanksgiving, praise, and intercession. Our own problems and needs seem much smaller in consideration of the other "four fingers". The thumb of "Petition" helps us grip the needs as we hand them to a loving Father.

Growing one's prayer life should be an ongoing activity in the life of a believer. I want to be a student of prayer, a practitioner of prayer, and a believer in the power of prayer to change my life. The National Day of Prayer will be an important event tomorrow, but prayer is something we must practice on the other 364 days of the year as well.

May 2008 Philippine Mission Team

Pictured here is the team I will be leading to Dumaguete City, Oriental Negros, Republic of the Philippines, on a short term mission trip, May 19-31


Jay Adkins is Pastor of First Baptist Church of Westwego (New Orleans metro area) and he holds an M.Div. in Biblical Languages from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. This will be Jay's second short term mission to the Philippines. He has also done mission work in France. Jay has over ten years experience in the pastorate, leading churches in Kentucky and Louisiana. Jay is vice president of Beacon Ministries and serves on the Board of Directors of the Global Maritime Ministry in New Orleans. He was recently elected as chairman of the Administrative Committee of the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans.

While being involved in all of the aspects of the trip, Jay will primarily be responsible for the two day Pastor and Church Leader Seminar, "Practical Helps for Effective Ministry". He will also be the main speaker on both nights of our outdoor crusade in the town of Sibulan.

Joseph Spurgeon is a member and Deacon at Westmoreland Baptist Church in Huntington, WV. This will be Joseph's second mission trip to the Philippines in two years. Joseph is multi talented. He had produced a number of outstanding video projects, and will have the duties of documenting this mission trip. He will be active in house to house evangelism, Bible distribution, and open air assemblies. On his last trip to Dumaguete, he worked hard to help paint the two church buildings we have helped build, and proved to be a great asset in ministering to young people and children. Joseph is the oldest son of Randy Spurgeon, who is the newly appointed Director of Church Music and Family Ministry of the West Virginia Convention of Southern Baptists.

Robby Pearson is a native of South Carolina and serves as Associate Pastor at First Baptist Westwego. He will earn his M.Div. from NOBTS this year. Robby is a native of Spartanburg, South Carolina, and the grandson of NASCAR patriarch, David Pearson, whose duels with Richard Petty are legendary. Robby also has several years of pastoral experience as a staff member and senior pastor in South Carolina churches. While taking part in the other ministries in Dumaguete, Robby will join Jay and I as a facilitator in the two day seminar, and will be a guest speaker one night in the outdoor crusade.

Bobby Wood is also a South Carolina native. Bobby serves as Education Pastor at FBC Westwego, through the "Unlimited Partnership" program that is sponsored by NOBTS, the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans, and the Louisiana Baptist Convention, which pairs outstanding Christian Ed majors with local churches in the New Orleans area that were impacted by Hurricane Katrina. First Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas is Bobby's sponsoring church in partnering with FBC Westwego. Bobby will be involved in witnessing, house to house evangelism, scripture distribution, construction projects, and other aspects of the mission trip agenda. This trip comes at a unique time for Bobby, as he was just married in early April! (I wonder how homesick this newlywed is going to be, halfway around the world from his new bride, Lindsay???)

Billy Cox is making his first overseas mission trip, and he is "rearin" to go. Billy is an active layman in the Brotherhood ministry at First Baptist Church of Westwego. An accomplished carpenter, Billy looks forward to doing some light construction and remodeling work at the New Life Church building in Dumaguete while the seminar is in session in town. He will also be involved in our other ministries and will help us with scripture distribution. Billy is a "Barnabus" type encourager and is not afraid to get his hands dirty working for the Lord.

Daniel Savage has been the Worship Pastor of First Baptist Church of Westwego since January, 2007. Daniel has served as Worship Pastor of Mission Lab on the NOBTS campus, and he worked last summer for LifeWay as worship leader of the M-Fuge project in Mobile, Alabama. This talented young man writes music and plays five instruments. Daniel will lead our worship music in the outdoor crusade and at the two day seminar. He will also be involved in every aspect of music ministry on this trip as well as other areas of our mission. While this will be his first trip to the Philippines, Daniel will be making another overseas mission trip later in the year. Danil is pursuing his Master's Degree at NOBTS, where he also works part time as a barista in the Cafe' New Orleans in the Hardin Student Center on campus.

These two young ladies will also be making their first trips to the Philippines. Janna Johnston (top) and Amanda Lindsey are room mates at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and will also be rooming together in Dumaguete.

Both of these young ladies are active members of FBC Westwego and serve in Music and Children's ministries there. in music ministry in the Philippines, and they will help with the worship duties in the seminar and at the crusade

Amanda and Janna will also be involved with personal evangelism, house to house witnessing, scripture distribution, and we hope they will have ample opportunity to minister to the children in the communities surrounding the New Life Church in Dumaguete and the Mayaposi Baptist Church in the remote mountainous region of Mabinay.

We are blessed with a versatile and diverse team. It is the second largest team, in number, that we have ever taken to the Philippines, and the youngest group by far (Billy and I being the notable exceptions!) This trip promises to be different from any of the other seven short term mission trips that I have taken there since February 2000.

I believe the Lord is planning something wonderful as he prepares our hearts to minister to those precious people in a place I have come to love. Will you join us in prayer that we will see much success for His Kingdom? Who knows what God will do through this effort? Join us in calling on Him.

'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.' Jer 33:3 (NKJV)

Preaching to the Philippians

Finally, I have something in common with the Apostle Paul -


I have preached in Philippi!


Not Philippi, the Macedonian city of Acts chapter 16, (named for the father of Alexander the Great); but Philippi, the county seat of Barbour County in the hills of northeastern West Virginia. This is the Philippi of covered bridge fame - the one I first learned of in Mrs. Gertrude Stone's West Virginia History Class at Gallaher Elementary School in 1960.

Tuesday evening was the first time I have had the privilege to be in Philippi, and I was there at the invitation of Rev. James Smith, the Director of Missions of the Monongahela Baptist Association. The purpose was to speak at that Association's Spring Semi Annual Meeting, hosted by the Southern Baptist Church of Philippi. This is a group of 23 Southern Baptist Churches scattered over 11 counties (Barbour, Lewis, Mineral, Preston, Taylor, Webster, Harrison, Marion, Monongalia, Randolph, and Upshur). Darrell Clark was also invited to come and offer special music in the service, and I was happy, not only to have company on the 3 1/2 hour drive up and 3 1/2 back, but also to have Darrell actually do the driving. (I tend to sleep much more peacefully when I am not behind the wheel!)

Besides the spring time beauty of that portion of "Almost Heaven" we found the people there to be most gracious and welcoming to two Marshall fans deep in the heart of WVU territory! We arrived in time to enjoy the pre-service spaghetti and meatball feast prepared by the ladies of the Philippi Church. It gave us opportunity to meet and visit with many of the messengers from the churches in the association. I met Rev. Don Ford, who tells me that, at 78, he is the oldest active Southern Baptist Pastor in West Virginia. There were a great number of couples and individuals who had come to do the business of their association, and to have a time of worship and fellowship with their fellow Baptists.

James Smith had issued me the invitation to speak a couple of months ago. He told me that the theme of the Semi Annual Meeting would be "Seize the Moment" and he asked me specifically to share my own testimony of my three and one half year battle with "incurable" cancer, and my love for missions. Jim and wife, Jerilyn, have been serving in northeast West Virginia for the past seven years. They came to the Mountain State after serving in a similar position as Associational Missionary in Macon, GA. Previous to their work in Georgia, they had spent 12 years as full time Southern Baptist Missionaries in Ecuador. My eight short term mission trips to the Philippines are NOTHING in comparison to the dedication of over 5,000 vocational Southern Baptist Missionaries (like the Smiths) who are presently serving Christ, all around the globe.

The Monongahela Association obviously believes in missions. There were reports that spoke of four new church plants in that association. Many of the churches participate in Franklin Graham's "Operation Christmas Child" shoebox Christmas gifts. We also saw evidence of the association's ongoing mission partnership with Russia, as materials were being collected to send to a Russian Orphanage Mission in the next couple of months. This is a group of churches that seem to be practicing what Jesus taught in Acts 1:8 "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." (NKJV)".

There was great congregational music and special presentations by the host church's choir. Darrell sang, "The Anchor Holds" just before my message, and "I'd Rather Have Jesus" at the close of the service. He did an excellent job. My message was entitled "Carpe Diem" (Seize the Day) and the scripture text was taken from John 9:4 where Jesus is quoted as saying, "I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work."
(NKJV) . The gist of the message was, that like Jesus, we each have Important Obligations, ( "I must work the works of Him who sent Me...") ; Fleeting Opportunities, ( "...while it is day..." )
and a Crucial Outlook, ( "...the night is coming when no one can work." )

I was honored to have the opportunity to share with the good people of the Monongahela Baptist Association. My hope is that my message and testimony was half as much an encouragement to them as their example was to me. If you would like to learn more about the work of the various associations of churches that make up the West Virginia Convention of Southern Baptists, just click on this link - http://wvbaptists.com/

Happy Birthday, Benji

Our younger son, Benjamin Scott Adkins turns 32 on Monday, April 21st. He has been a joy to us. Not perfect, of course, but he's been a good son. We are thankful Benji has married a wonderful Christian girl, Leigh Anne, and they have blessed us with two precious grandsons, Will and Asher. Ben is a teacher and coach, and is active in his home church, Rose Hill Baptist Church in Ashland, KY.

Today, on Ben's birthday, I thought I would share a verse with you that I wrote about him thirty years ago!

"Benji"

Little Benji's quite a guy

With curly hair and spirits high;

A bouncy step - variety!

The spice of life for Mom and me.

He's so much like his brother, Jay,

Yet different in a special way.

Those twinkling eyes just seem to tell,

He'll win your heart and do it well!

I guess sometimes it's hard to be

Just two years old - not quite three.

But Benji does his best, you know

To win the spotlight - steal the show.

Each night he meets me at the door,

Same question as the night before;

(Almost as I park the car)

"Daddy bring me candy bar?"

In quiet times I talk to God

And tell Him that I find it odd;

That He's blessed me, 'spite all my sin,

With number two son, Little Ben.

- C.J. Adkins

August, 1978

On Family and Food in The Big Easy

It was nice to spend a little bit of time with our New Orleans family, but it is also great to be back home.

As you can see from the photo at left, Jay and family are alive and well and Linda sure was glad to be with the little guys she hasn't seen since last June. The photo was made on Monday evening (the day we arrived). Jay and Canon (the three year old) had come to meet us at the Seminary's Providence Guest House and had spent part of the afternoon with us there. When Michelle and Quint got out of school they met us at the Texas Roadhouse for dinner. Turns out that would be the only time we would see Michelle and Quint until Thursday after school. Jay had to attend a city council meeting on church business Monday evening but the rest of us enjoyed a meal at Texas Roadhouse and just spending some time together.

I know what you may be thinking. Texas Roadhouse? With all the great places to eat in the Big Easy, why would we go to Texas Roadhouse? The answer is simple. That's Canon's favorite place to eat! We had time to visit some of the other places as well, but that evening was for the kids...

As part of my board of trustee meeting, there is lunch with the Seminary family on Tuesday; a seafood buffet for trustees, faculty and spouses on Tuesday evening; another lunch in Wednesday with students, faculty, and staff, and a "country buffet" on Wednesday evening with the Trustees, Seminary administrators and their spouses in the smaller Creole Room off the cafeteria. One benefit to being a Seminary Trustee, is that one certainly eats well! After a week in New Orleans I'll need to get back in the gym every day for a couple of weeks to try to lose some of the pounds I know I've gained.

New Orleans is famous for a number of things and food is way up there on the list. We had lunch at the Camillia Grille in the Uptown section of the Big Easy. The Po Boy was delicious and the server (a guy named Marvin) was hilarious. He was as entertaining as the food was delicious. Thursday evening we dinned with Jay's family at Copeland's Cheesecake Bistro on St. Charles. It is Linda's favorite. We have been there several times in the past but this was our first visit there since Katrina. The place didn't reopen until this past January, but it is back, and the locals and tourists alike are pleased! The atmosphere is tops, and one can sit in the window booths and view Emeril's Delmonico's down the street, and watch the green Trolley Cars going up and down the St. Charles line.

There are so many great places to eat in New Orleans, that I'll never run out of new treats. I could never afford to eat at some of the places there, but there are so many great restaurants to choose from, there is no danger of ever running out of options. The Cajun and creole food is in abundance and I have learned to love it. Red Beans and Rice is a local favorite, as well as Gumbo, Shrimp, Catfish, Jambalaya, and Crawfish (prepared any number of ways). Oyster Bars abound, and the seafood in New Orleans is the best anywhere. The blackened redfish will make your mouth water.

My personal favorite places to dine are "Mother's" in the central business district, "Cafe Mespero" in the Quarter, and "Snug Harbor", on Frenchman Street in the Faubourg Marigny District. For Po Boys, "Sammie's" and "LaFitte Cafe" (both on Elysian Fields out near Lake Pontchartrain) are hard to beat. Visitors love the Beingnets and Coffee at "Cafe DuMonde". If I lived in New Orleans, I would weigh 400 pounds (or go broke trying).

The best hamburger I have ever tasted is at a place called Port of Call on the corner of Esplanade and Dauphine Street. They serve a cheeseburger and baked potato to die for. I love to have lunch there, but it is not always an easy task. We tried to eat lunch there Thursday, but to no avail. They open at 11:00 AM (sort of). We were there after 11:00 and there were several employees inside milling around but the doors were locked. We asked one of the employees who stepped out on the street when they were going to open up. "I'm not sure" he said. "We're having some issues." Jay tells me that is not unusual for that place. He laughs about a time when he and Robby Gallaty went by for lunch about noon and found the doors locked. A guy with a Port of Call T-shirt was standing by the door, smoking a cigarette.

"Are you open?" Jay asked.

"Not yet" the fellow replied.

"When will it be open?"

"Not sure", the guy shrugged.

"Why not?", Jay asked with some exasperation.

"They had a party in there last night, and we haven't got the place hosed out yet.", he explained.

That's life in the Big Easy!

Odds 'N Ends

The NOBTS Board of Trustees meeting finished up with dinner and dessert about 7:30 Wednesday evening. On the academic side, three professors were elected and tenure was granted to four others. We approved several new Certificate Programs and a new Women's Studies Track at the graduate level. This is a beefed up graduate level program to continue the outstanding Women's Ministries program in the undergraduate side. Several new extension centers were approved in Florida and Alabama to join the others that already exist in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida.

NOBTS is seeking innovative ways to bring Seminary Education to anyone in the United States or around the world. The delivery system now includes:

• Traditional on campus degree programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels
  
• Off Campus programs through our hubs and extension centers


• Internet classes (for anyone, anywhere with access to a computer)

The high level of Internet courses that are now offered, came, primarily as a result of Hurricane Katrina. As you know, Katrina hit on August 29, 2005, only one week into the fall semester. The school was devastated and the main campus was shut down for a full year. The administration opened temporary offices in Atlanta. Faculty were spread over six states as they evacuated the campus, and students fled to 23 states. Yet, under the leadership of President Dr. Chuck Kelley and Provost, Dr. Steve Lemke, within just a couple of weeks, EVERY class that had been offered that semester (including Biblical languages) had been posted online, and every NOBTS student was able to continue his or her course of study as long as they could get access to a computer. This was an absolutely monumental task, and one that was not duplicated by any other institution of higher learning in the entire Katrina "strike zone". Graduation was held, on schedule, that December in Birmingham, Alabama. Again, the only college or university affected by Katrina to finish out that fall semester.

The Faculty of NOBTS pulled this off in spite of the fact that everyone of them were literally rendered homeless by the storm. I'm telling all my Southern Baptist friends, that you can be proud of this dedicated group of men and women. One just can't say enough about the dedication of the faculty and staff of this institution! We trustees have ample opportunity to interact with them while we are here, through lunches with them and the students in the Campus Cafeteria. The Tuesday activities always conclude with a large dinner for Trustees with faculty members and their spouses, and there is plenty of time to interact with them and the students all around the campus. This institution is committed to training men and women to fulfill the Great Commission and make an eternal impact on this world for the cause of Christ. Our next generation of church leaders, pastors, missionaries, and Christian educators are being trained here. I wish everyone had the opportunity to see the love, dedication, and vision for World Evangelism that is prevalent at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

Besides the academic matters, Trustees also had t (o approve several recommendations involving financial matters and a host of Building and Grounds issues. As mentioned in my previous post, restoration work is pretty much complete, but there is still a severe shortage of housing for students. This is the number one priority right now. Please pray that we will be able to raise the $7,000,000 needed to build the first of the desperately needed three two bedroom apartment buildings.

This is the first Trustee meeting, Linda has been able to attend with me. Spouses are always welcome to come to the meetings (at our own expense) and several spouses are usually in attendance. On Wednesday, Dr. Rhonda Kelley, who is the wife of Seminary President Chuck Kelley, usually has an activity planned for the wives who are present. Yesterday morning they had prayer and coffee time in the President's home from 9:00 till 10:30 and then went for a "cooking class" at the famous William Sonoma's on Canal Street. Then they were taken for a "taste of New Orleans" at a restaurant on the top of the World Trade Center overlooking the city. They had a great view of the surrounding area, including the Mississippi river which is at flood stage and very near the tops of the levees! The wives who went had a great time of fellowship, and got a really good meal in the process...

Last night, when the Trustee meeting ended, I had the opportunity to have ANOTHER meeting. This one was with the New Orleans area's young men and women who will accompany me and Joseph Spurgeon on our upcoming short term mission trip to the Philippines. This was our last opportunity to get together to answer questions and tie up loose ends before we depart in one month. The group who will be joining us in LA on the evening of May 19th includes, our son, Jay, and several of his seminary friends and church members. Billy Cox is the senior man of the group. Billy is in his 60's and is rearin' to go on his first overseas mission trip. Janna Johnston and Amanda Lindsey are seminary students and members of Jay's church in Westwego. Janna and Amanda will help us in worship time and will work in children's ministry while in the Philippines. Robby Pearson is the third preacher in the group, and he will obviously help us in the seminar and crusade and at other preaching opportunities. Daniel Savage is worship leader at Jay's church and Bobby Wood is his Christian Education minister. Both of these young men will be an asset to our team.

Today is my "vacation" day before we head home on Friday. Jay and Canon will be coming over about 9:00 this morning and we will make a visit to the French Market to pick up a few things Linda wants, and we'll take the usual walk through the French Quarter and probably have some bingnets at Cafe' DuMonde. (how can anyone go to the Quarter and not get a bingnet?)

Then at 1:30 this afternoon, Jay and Robby, Vernon Henson, and I have a tee time for my first round of golf since July 4th last year! Linda will be taking care of Canon until Michelle and Quint get out of school. The whole family should be able to get together for one last dinner tonight. There is a crawfish boil on campus tonight, and I would like to go, but I don't think you could drag Linda there with a team of wild horses.

I am certainly looking forward to getting back home. It's nice to get away every now and then, but I do have responsibilities that God has given me at Westmoreland. This week has been a time of work but also a time of refreshing that I believe will help me perform those duties with more energy than before. I also want to thank Rick Weber for filling in at the Wednesday evening service for me, and to thank Charley Dygert and Darrell Clark for taking care of some hospital visits I would have done if in town. Thanks guys!

The Economic Impact of Hurricane Katrina on NOBTS

Today was the first full day of the semi annual meeting of the New Orleans Baptist Seminary Board of Trustees. The various committees (Investments, Buildings and Grounds, and Instructional) had their individual committee meetings, discussing recommendations we will make to the full Board of Trustees tomorrow. One of the things seminary President, Dr. Chuck Kelley did with each particular committee, was to share the "Executive Summary of The Economic Impact of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary".

This report was created by Dr. Kelley to present to the SBC Executive Committee this past February. I will not try to recreate the full report here, but I think my readers would be interested in hearing some of the basic information. The photo at left shows the main gate of the Seminary campus on Gentilly Boulevard. The flood waters were about four feet deep at the front corner of the Seminary after Katrina's storm surge hit on August 29, 2005. The campus slopes gently downward toward Lake Ponchartrain, and as a result, the back side of the campus was under 15 feet of water. Officials opened up the campus for one week in October, so faculty, staff and students could salvage whatever they could, then the campus was closed for a complete renovation until August of 2006. Here are the basics of the final report on Katrina:

Total recovery cost from Hurricane Katrina on the NOBTS campus is $75,000,000.

Insurance reimbursement totalled $33,483.

Gifts from Southern Baptists were $12,300,000. ($6,000,000 of that amount came in an emergency gift from the Cooperative Program)

The state of Louisiana donated $1,951,000 toward faculty salaries.

The Bush/Clinton Fund (that you saw advertised so many times on television) gave exactly $0.

(FYI, according to Dr. Kelley, NOBTS was the only institution of higher learning in the Katrina "strike zone" that did not receive a dollar from the fund set up and publicized by the two ex-presidents)

The "Total Cost of Recovery" includes:

• Physical restoration of the campus


• Relief and assistance provided to the students, faculty and staff


• Operating the Seminary without the main campus for a year


• Loss of normal income streams, some of which are not back yet.

Obviously the disaster impacted the NOBTS annual budget, but the administration must be praised for doing all that was possible to keep the "per student costs" at one of the lowest levels of all the Seminaries in the United States.

Nationally, the average cost per student in Seminaries is $35,000.

Among SBC Seminaries the average cost per student is $14,000 (this difference is primarily due to the generosity of local Southern Baptist Churches in their gifts to the SBC Cooperative Program.)

The really amazing figure is the the "Pre Katrina" cost per student at NOBTS was $7,000! Even after the devastating losses due to the Hurricane, NOBTS still boasts the lowest cost per student at $9,000. We Southern Baptists can be thankful for what God has done for our theological students.

Dr. Kelley says that the greatest challenge the Seminary faces today is to replace the 92 two bedroom apartments that were destroyed and demolished after Katrina. There are now more students than there is housing. The Building and Grounds Committee has proposed three new buildings to replace those lost housing units, but it will be a long time before those kind of funds can be raised. Plans are underway now to try to build the first of those three, two bedroom apartment buildings, but the cost will be in the neighborhood of $7,000,000. We are praying that God will provide that amount through His people across the SBC. If you would like to help, gifts may be sent to the Office of Development, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, 3939 Gentilly Boulevard, New Orleans, LA 70216.

There are many, many other needs, that we do not have time or space to mention here. I would be happy to provide you with the full written report if you would like a copy. It is truly an eye opener. Just contact me at pastoradkins@verizon.net if you would like a copy, or if you would like more information. It is wonderful to see what God has done through His people to bring this great Seminary back from the brink of destruction.

As Joe McKeever, the local Director of Missions, says, "When you pray for New Orleans, pray big!"