By Staff, Baptist Message WASHINGTON, D.C. – A sharply divided U.S. Supreme Court is hearing oral arguments in an abortion rights case that could have far-reaching implications not only in Texas but also a number of other states including Louisiana. The high court is hearing a challenge to a Texas abortion law, enacted in 2013, that requires doctors who perform abortions to having admitting privileges at nearby hospitals and prohibits clinics from providing abortions unless they meet the standards of outpatient or ambulatory surgical centers. The high court heard the arguments with only eight justices, because of the recent death of Associate Justice Antonin Scalia, a leader of the conservative wing for nearly three decades. Scalia, 79, was found dead Feb. 13. The court's new alignment makes a 4-4 split in this case a possibility. If the court were to divide evenly, it would result in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals' decision upholding the state law remaining in effect in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi. A tie, however, would not establish a precedent and not be controlling in the rest of the country. Benjamin Clapper, executive director of Louisiana Right to Life, issued the following statement March 2 after … [Read more...]
WorldCrafts adds new artisan group and products
By WMU Communications BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — WorldCrafts has partnered with impoverished artisans all over the world, from Myanmar to Kenya to New York, to offer 25 new products this spring. These new products are among more than 200 items featured in the spring/summer catalog that was released Mar. 1. “We are thrilled to introduce 25 new products, a new artisan partner, and a beautiful new catalog,” said Emily Swader, WorldCrafts representative. “Adding new WorldCrafts products and artisans is not only exciting but life-changing when you know each one represents individuals who have, maybe for the first time, the opportunity to earn an income with dignity and hear the offer of everlasting life. It is exciting to see WorldCrafts’ impact grow and expand around the world.” WorldCrafts is honored to welcome Sak Saum in Cambodia as a new artisan group this spring. Sak Saum helps equip former victims of sex trafficking and exploitation in their care with skills, employment and a fair wage in a safe, loving environment. They also seek to pre-empt exploitation by equipping and hiring the most vulnerable in the local community before they fall prey to traffickers. Every Sak Saum product is made by someone who now has skills and works … [Read more...]
Why you pray for revival and it does not come
By Joe McKeever “…you were unwilling.” (Matthew 23:37) 1) We do not want revival. Not really. 2) God does not trust us with a revival, and for good reason. He refuses to arm an enemy, to endow a rebel. There! Those are the answers to the question. Now, pull up a chair and let’s talk about it. It’s that plain and simple: we really do not want a Heaven-sent, life-rearranging revival. We want the results, the good part, but not the upheaval in our personal lives, priorities, and schedules which a Heaven-sent revival would cause. We want our churches filled, the community changed, and the believers encouraged. What we do not want is to be caught up in a spiritual fervor that drives us to resign certain affiliations, stop certain activities, and devote ourselves to lengthy prayer meetings and Bible studies and ministry. We want the harvest without the cost. We want certain aspects of the harvest, but not all. So, God will not force revival on us. We could wish He would. “This is for your own good,” He might say, as He force-fed His good things down our church steeples and into our hearts and homes and fellowships. But no. The Lord has chosen to set His blessings before us and to let us decide … [Read more...]
Prayer vigil planned for March 12 outside Shreveport abortion clinic
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer SHREVEPORT/BOSSIER CITY – Two multi-denominational, pro-life prayer vigils are scheduled for March 12 -- one at a former abortion clinic in Bossier City and another in Shreveport, which is one of only two remaining clinics still perform abortions in the state. The goal of the vigils, according to co-organizer Brian Gunter, pastor of First Baptist Church Pollock, is to bring together different denominations and groups from around the state to pray peacefully for all abortions to end in Louisiana. “My goal is when we get to the Shreveport clinic we would have the sidewalk surrounding the building with a line of people hand-in-hand, shoulder-to-shoulder praying,” said Gunter. “We need to pray the Supreme Court will uphold the Fifth Circuit’s ruling. We need to pray God would change the heart of the doctor performing abortions inside the Shreveport clinic. And we need to pray God would cleanse our state of the blight of abortion.” Chris Davis, director of 40 Days for Life in Shreveport-Bossier, is also an organizer. The first vigil begins at 10 a.m. at 1505 Doctors Drive in Bossier City, the site of Bossier City Medical Suite. At the completion of the first vigil, the group will … [Read more...]
How to raise a missionary
By Paul Watts, Pastor, First Baptist Church, Franklinton This year will mark 13 years since I became a parent. I have grown in my appreciation of the calling to raise Godly children and I’ve been humbled by my own ignorance in all areas related to the accomplishment of this task. I believe with all my heart just as the Lord has given Christina and I three children, He has plans to receive glory through each of their lives. This is not something I gleaned from Scripture alone, but something I have seen modeled in the lives of my own parents throughout my lifetime. When others find out I am a pastor and both of my sisters are missionaries, the questions that inevitably follow are, “Were your parents missionaries?” or, “Was your dad a pastor?” The answer to both is “no.” They are still serving the Lord faithfully through their church, but so are many others. God is the one who calls, but I certainly believe He used them to prepare us to answer that call. I want to share a few of their character traits I believe the Lord would have us pursue as parents seeking to raise children that will impact this world for Christ. Love Jesus: This is where it begins. This is foundational. Your children cannot emulate … [Read more...]
LC convergence media department shines again at NRB Convention
By Al Quartemont NASHVILLE (LCNews) – The Louisiana College Department of Convergence Media completed another successful year at the National Religious Broadcasters Convention by winning several awards in the annual iNRB student competition. Highlighting this year’s performance was a third straight first-place finish for LC’s 24-Hour Digital News Challenge team. The team consisted of Steven Maxwell (Fairview), Gracie Carson (Pineville), Addyson Baden (Pineville) and Todd Ryals (Pensacola, Fla.). The team had 24 hours to create a seven-minute news block highlighting the news surrounding the NRB convention. Maxwell, a senior, was the lone returning member from the 2015 DNC team, and his leadership played a key role in the win, as Carson, Baden and Ryals were all making their first trips to Nashville to compete. “I was really proud of our whole team,” Maxwell said. “They really stepped up and surprised me, considering they had never done this competition before. We’re just really proud and honored to carry on the tradition that Wildcats Media began three years ago here at NRB.” Maxwell, along with junior Hannah Fleming (New Iberia, Louisiana), also took first place in the Television News – Studio Production category of … [Read more...]
ETBU Announces Louisiana Educational Advantage Program (LEAP)
By East Texas Baptist University communications MARSHALL, Texas (2/27/16) – Students from Louisiana are eligible for a $1,000 scholarship to attend East Texas Baptist University in Marshall, Texas. ETBU President Dr. J. Blair Blackburn announced the creation of the Louisiana Educational Advantage Program (LEAP). The program offers students from Louisiana a $1,000 scholarship to attend the Christian university for the 2016-2017 academic year. The LEAP program will provide $4,000 over four years to help a student from Louisiana to attend ETBU. Eligible Louisiana students may also qualify for scholarships up to $15,000 annually through ETBU's Academic Excellence Scholarship and Christian Leadership Scholarship programs. ETBU President Dr. Blackburn stated, “I’m a proud native of Minden, Louisiana, and I love my home state! I am thrilled to announce the creation of the Louisiana Educational Advantage Program. We are located just across the border and we welcome students from Louisiana to enroll at East Texas Baptist University in order to prepare for the calling and career God has for their lives. We believe God calls each of us to serve our local community and we would love for students from Louisiana to step across the border … [Read more...]
Louisiana Baptist disaster relief teams work on eight homes in LaPlace, Reserve
By Message Staff LAPLACE/RESERVE – Since early Thursday, Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief teams have completed work in LaPlace and Reserve on eight homes, tarping the roofs and removing debris and cutting down tree limbs, according to Billy Puckett, director of community ministry at New Orleans Baptist Association. Puckett is also coordinating Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief efforts in St. John the Baptist Parish. Two chainsaw teams, one tarp team and three assessor teams that include a chaplain with each assessor team are working the area. Puckett said they will continue their effort at least through the weekend. At which time, they will determine if will still be needed since many other organizations are coming to the aid of storm victims. Puckett said the unity portrayed by the faith-based community and the residents of St. John the Baptist Parish has been evident, not just in work on homes but in a prayer service held at Percy Hebert Building in LaPlace. More than 100 people attended the service. The various denominations are rotating days and times of feeding the community, Puckett said. “This community is very familiar with disaster relief,” Puckett said. “A lot of neighbors who didn’t receive any damage are … [Read more...]
New Louisiana law causes three clinics to close
By Staff, Louisiana Baptist Message BATON ROUGE - Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry and State Rep. Mike Johnson (R-Bossier City) both applauded the unanimous decision by three judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit Feb. 23 to issue a stay of a federal district court opinion that had declared unconstitutional Louisiana’s statutory requirement each physician who performs outpatient abortions must have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital. The law, named The Unsafe Abortion Protection Act of 2014, was challenged in federal court by state abortion providers before its effective date. The case, June Medical Services, LLC and Bossier City Medical Suite, et al., v. Gee, was litigated in a six-day bench trial last summer. Seven months later, Judge John W. deGravelles ruled in favor of the abortion providers, concluding that the law was unconstitutional on its face and must be enjoined. The state then sought a stay of the ruling pending a full appeal. “Our emergency request for a stay of the lower court’s ruling on Act 620 was granted by the Fifth Circuit today,” said Landry in a news release. “I applaud the Fifth Circuit’s decision to halt the erroneous ruling and allow Louisiana’s pro-life … [Read more...]
Celebration Church accepting donations for those affected from Tuesday’s tornadoes in south Louisiana, state disaster relief teams mobilized
By Message Staff LAPLACE – The River Parishes campus of Celebration Church is collecting donations for those affected by Tuesday’s powerful tornadoes that ripped through southeast Louisiana. The biggest immediate needs for tornado victims in LaPlace according to Checkerz Williams, pastor of River Parishes campus of Celebration Church, are tarps and cleaning supplies. Among the items needed are gloves, yard rakes, all-purpose cleaner, bleach, Clorox wipes, mops, brooms, five gallon buckets and yard trash bags. All donations can be dropped off today at the church, located at 3400 US 51 in LaPlace. Ten tornadoes hit Louisiana on Tuesday according to the National Weather Service, including four EF-2 tornadoes that were responsible for significant damage in Convent, LaPlace, Paincourtville and Livingston Parish. Thursday, the National Weather Service said the four EF-2 tornadoes packed winds of 111-135 miles per hour. The Convent tornado destroyed more than 100 structures at the Sugar Hill RV Park, causing two confirmed deaths and injuring 30 more. The LaPlace twister destroyed or severely damaged more than 200 homes in several subdivisions. LaPlace is located just 25 miles west of New Orleans while Convent is 50 … [Read more...]
