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By Karen L. Willoughby, Managing Editor
WEST MONROE – Messengers to the 165th meeting of the Louisiana Baptist Convention were reminded that they were “the key” to what God is going to do during the next 200 years of ministry in the state.
A brass key in the shape of the state of Louisiana was given to every person present Nov. 12 in the worship center at First Baptist Church, better known as “First West,” where John Avant is pastor.
David E. Hankins, executive director of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, directed distribution of the keys as part of the 200th anniversary of Baptist ministry in the state, which took place during the Monday evening session of the LBC’s 165th annual meeting, where 703 messengers representing 267 churches were registered.
“You are the key to our future,” Hankins said. “It is our calling to reach Louisiana with the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.”
With a theme of “Refresh: Awaken and Go,” the two-day event was designed to continue the “Awaken – It’s Time” thrust that started at last year’s annual meeting to point Louisiana Baptists toward revival and spiritual awakening that would start locally and spread nationally. Hankins reminded his listeners of the 21 Days of Prayer for repentance that leads to revival that began last January. To date, more than 550 churches have participated, and a new 21 Days of Prayer, authored by Louisiana pastors, is slated to start in January.
Hankins also reminded his listeners of the parish-wide prayer meetings – most often at courthouses – in each of Louisiana’s 64 parishes, which culminated in a prayer meeting April 29 in front of the state capitol in Baton Rouge.
“So, has all this activity produced an awakening? No,” Hankins answered his own question. “We’ve heard good reports but I think all of us would agree that the widespread awakening we long to see, that we need to see, has yet to occur.
“We know we cannot schedule an awakening,” Hankins continued. “We cannot program it or demand that God send it, but we can continue to prepare ourselves, pray, and plead with God to send one.”
The messages of each of the speakers reinforced the need for repentance, prayer and God-directed action. Other reports showed the activity of God’s people across Louisiana over the last year, and plans already set to go forward in 2013. (See related articles.)
Steve Lemke, NOBTS provost and professor of philosophy and ethics, led three sessions of Bible studies. The first was on the need for pastors to be refreshed physically and spiritually. The second, on the need for God’s people to be awakened to a bankrupt culture and a church that isn’t shining brightly enough to attract people. The third, that the Christian life is a journey to be filled with doing good while giving a witness of Jesus. “’As you go’ starts at home,” Lemke said, referring to the Great Commission of Matt. 28:19-20.
In his president’s address, LBC President Waylon Bailey, pastor of First Baptist Church of Covington, spoke from Revelation 2: 12-17 on the lack of purity in God’s people, and on the 1904-05 revival in Wales, which started (after years of prayer) with young people confessing and dealing with all known sin, obeying the Holy Spirit immediately, and proclaiming Jesus Christ.
Chuck Pourciau, pastor of Broadmoor Baptist Church in Shreveport, brought the convention sermon from Acts 11:19-26. “It’s really all about missions,” Pourciau preached. “Every member is a missionary.”
Johnny Hunt further unpacked the concept of living life as a missionary. Hunt, pastor of First Baptist Church in Woodstock, Ga., and a former SBC president, brought the final message Tuesday afternoon from Luke 14.
“Have a Kingdom life table,” Hunt said. Invite non-Christians to share a meal, and use the opportunity to share the gospel, Hunt explained. “People aren’t being saved because they’re not hearing the gospel.”
During times set on the program for business, Bailey was re-elected by acclamation to a second, one-year term. Richard Blue, pastor of Walker Baptist Church in Walker, was elected by acclamation as first vice president. Dwayne Monk, pastor of New Hope Baptist Church in Choudrant, was elected second vice-president with 57.3 percent of the vote in a congenial race with Bert Langley, longtime director of missions in Evangeline and Gulf Coast Baptist Associations.
Messengers approved without discussion a $21,627,235 Cooperative Program budget for 2013, up $87,375 from 2012. LBC plans to send 36.74 percent – or $7,945,846 – of that income from churches to the SBC Executive Board in Nashville, Tenn., for SBC missions and ministry through the Cooperative Program, up from 36.49 percent — $7,859,895 – last year.
The LBC will retain 63.26 percent of Cooperative Program dollars from churches, for mission needs in Louisiana, and 50 percent of income that exceeds the budget. “We do not calculate shared ministries,” said LBC Business Manager Dale Lingenfelter.
In other business, the LBC Executive Board approved a minor bylaw change, and declined to recommend a motion presented in 2011 that nominees for LBC president “must be a member of a church which contributes at least 7.5 percent” through the Cooperative Program.
“We believe it is not the wisest course of action to codify a required percentage,” according to the Executive Board’s printed response, on page 14 of the Book of Reports. Among four stated reasons for declining its recommendation, the Board noted its objection to “Implying the required threshold percentage is the new goal for everyone, thus encouraging minimum, rather than maximum giving.”
The Board also noted, “It is not too much to suggest that, without the Cooperative Program, the Louisiana Baptist Convention would be reduced to a mere fellowship of churches with no sustained joint-ministry enterprises.”
The LBC Executive Board did recommend a statement noting five expectations of LBC officers be attached as a footnote to the LBC Constitution, including “A commitment to cooperative missions, especially mission endeavors of Louisiana and Southern Baptists as evidenced by strong congregational support of the Cooperative Program.”
After some discussion, a slate of six resolutions was passed by messengers, including taking action objecting to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette offering a LGBT – lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender – minor course of study. The other resolutions expressed appreciation for hospitality and assistance related to the annual meeting and Crossover; voiced concern regarding protecting religious liberty; opposed any attempt to frame same-sex marriage as a civil rights issue or to legalize same-sex marriage; commended the use of a “Sinner’s Prayer” in evangelism; and encouraged church members and churches to practice financial responsibility according to biblical principles.
The 2013 annual meeting is to be Nov. 11-12 at the Riverfront Convention Center in Alexandria. Bill Dye, pastor of North Monroe Baptist Church, is to bring the annual sermon. Stewart Holloway, pastor of First Baptist Church of Pineville, is the alternate. Benji Harlan, LBC church music strategist and NOBTS professor of church music, is to lead in worship. Fred Guilbert, minister of music at Philadelphia Baptist Church in Deville and chair of the Louisiana College division of fine arts and media, is the alternate.