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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

The Mideast: What are uprisings all about?

By Mike Edens, Professor of Theology and Islamic Studies at NOBTS   EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the second but last of a three-part exploration of events in the Middle East by Mike Edens, professor of theology and Islamic studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and an emeritus missionary who served 25 years in the Middle East with Southern Baptists’ International Mission Board.   NEW ORLEANS (BP) – ”What are the uprisings all about?”   This question regarding the Arab world, posed in a theology class I have been teaching in a Southern Baptist church, is complex enough and entails somewhat of a guess on my part. But we need to start with a different question: What is God up to in the Mideast and North Africa?   We believe that the God of the Bible is the author of all humanity, composed of our families, nations, cultures and history. He currently is bringing all things to the proper conclusion according to His judgment and timing.   God is working in various ways to reveal Himself and His will to all people primarily through His church, the Bible and His presence – the Holy Spirit. Also, He increases in every person a hunger which can only be satisfied by a relationship … [Read more...]

Questions We’ve Pondered

By Archie England, Professor of Old Testament and Hebrew at NOBTS   Question: How did Isaiah perceive the future Messiah and the (messianic) age that he would inaugurate?   Archie England responds: Following the powerful portraits of “the servant of the Lord” (Isaiah 42-53), Isaiah drives forward his message of comfort and hope (Isaiah 40). Though the righteous are perishing (Isaiah 57), all they must do is “come, seek, call (upon the Lord), and live righteously” (Isaiah 55:1,6; 56:1f) because the mighty arm of God is bringing salvation (Isaiah 59:1,15-20). Even the nations will witness this light of God (Isaiah 60) and be blessed by the outpouring of His Spirit (Isaiah 61), which Jesus applied to himself, (Luke 4:18f).   What might be the name given to this One sent from God? Well, in Isaiah 2 He’s implicitly the day of reckoning; in Isaiah 4, the branch of the Lord; and in Isaiah 5, the well-beloved tending his vineyard.   In Isaiah 7, he’s revealed as the virgin-born child named Immanuel; in Isaiah 9, the young son who governs and rules from David’s throne, bearing four divine names: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. In Isaiah 11, he’s both “the shoot … [Read more...]

Couple utilizes coffeehouse to help spread the Gospel

[img_assist|nid=7480|title=Hebert's Coffeehouse|desc=Mark Hebert and his wife Terry – on leave from their responsibilities with the International Mission Board in Central Asia – use Hebert’s Coffeehouse in Baton Rouge both as a means of making money and also as a way of sharing the Gospel with others while providing them with coffee.|link=none|align=right|width=640|height=480]By Quinn Lavespere, Message Summer Staff Writer   BATON ROUGE – Mark Hebert and his wife Terry have made the Gospel of Jesus Christ tasteful in more ways than one.   The couple – on leave from their responsibilities with the International Mission Board in Central Asia – use Hebert’s Coffeehouse in Baton Rouge both as a means of making money and also as a way of sharing the Gospel with others while providing them with delicious coffee.   “We want people to come in here and enjoy themselves,” Mark Hebert said.  “At the same time, we feel it necessary to tell them about Jesus.”   The idea for the coffeehouse first occurred to the Heberts about four or five years ago, Mark Hebert said.   “We started thinking about what we’d do once we moved back from overseas,” Hebert said. “About three years ago, I … [Read more...]

First Blanchard plants seeds from its ‘Orchard’

By Quinn Lavespere, Message Summer Staff Writer   BLANCHARD – It doesn’t look like a place that houses a bunch of ministries. Then again, God always did use the humble to bring about the greatest things.   [img_assist|nid=7482|title=First Blanchard's Orchard|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=75]First Baptist Church of Blanchard’s off-campus ministry “The Orchard” has provided tremendous lifeblood for the church in its drive to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with others.   “What God has allowed us to do with this building is just incredible,” said First Blanchard pastor Doug Allen. “It’s allowed for so many opportunities for us to minister to others.”   Allen said The Orchard was given to First Blanchard by God after he and his congregation sensed a need to be actively involved in the community.   “God gave us the opportunity to have and renovate a building that someone in the community provided,” the pastor said. “It now houses a coffeeshop that’s open six days a week and gives out free coffee, a clothes closet that provides free clothing and school uniforms to young children, a tutoring service provided free of cost after school to children, a computer … [Read more...]