By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer HAUGHTON – Gevan Spinney knows the challenges that lie before him as the new president of the Louisiana Baptist Convention. But despite what the future holds, Spinney believes the best days are yet to come for the 1600 churches that make up the state convention. “I see an opportunity and an open door to build upon that which has been battled for in our past,” said Spinney, pastor of First Baptist Church in Haughton. “There are aspects of this position in which I feel inadequate, but I do know who God calls, He will also equip. I am excited to see God’s plan unfold.” Spinney is assuming the role that outgoing LBC President Steve Horn held for two terms. During his term, Horn called for several called days of prayer in different areas of the state and spearheaded a pastor-driven campaign to increase Cooperative Program giving through the Pledge. In Horn’s term, messengers adopted the 2020 initiative that seeks to reach every generation and every people group in the state with the Gospel by the year 2020. The 2020 initiative was a collaborative effort of 20 teams made up of 20 members each that began under the leadership of Waylon Bailey, LBC president before Horn. Spinney … [Read more...]
Baptism at Crosspoint Church
Baptism at Boots N Saddles
Baptism at Progression Church
Contemporary ministry: a lesson from the past
By Dr. Marvin Jones, Louisiana College The training of preachers and pastors has a long-standing tradition within Christianity. Paul’s command to Timothy to “train faithful men” (II Tim 2:2) is an essential for the church’s spiritual health. This tradition of Christian education supporting the Christian church has continued ever since. My brief review of the Apologists and Monasticism will demonstrate the concept of pastor training and pastoral ministries support the health of the church. The review of the Apologists will show that a theologically trained pastor is healthy to a congregation as opposed to a theologically trained monk who provided limited leadership to the church. The Apologists The early church faced intellectual and spiritual challenges from the Roman culture, including attacks on the credibility of the gospel. The Roman strategy was not only to undermine the influence of Christianity but to prove it was spiritually and intellectually dismissive. These polemical battles for Christian truth were often fought in churches by competent pastors. The pastors were known as the Apologists. The Apologists were a second-century product of the Christian church which interacted with its cultural counterpart. These … [Read more...]
Horn looks back on his two years as LBC president
By Philip Timothy, Message Managing Editor LAFAYETTE – His presidency was defined by challenges but tempered by encouragement. Through it all, though, he led the way by example. Over the last two years, Steve Horn, pastor of First Baptist Church of Lafayette, faithfully served Louisiana Baptists as president of the Louisiana Baptist Convention in which he faced significant cultural and financial challenges. But in typical Horn fashion he took each one head on relying on God’s Holy Word and providence. His term officially ended at the LBC’s 168th annual meeting Nov. 10th. “I want to first of all to say thank you Louisiana Baptists for allowing me to serve these last two years,” said Horn. “The greatest blessing I received during this time has been strengthened relationships and some new relationships. “I also want to say thank you for responding to the challenges facing our convention, our state and our country,” he continued. “Many of you responded to my challenge to come and pray with me corporately and individually in 2014. “In 2015, you once again responded by taking ‘The Pledge’ toward increasing giving to the Cooperative Program,” said Horn. “I look with great anticipation to see how God blesses your renewed … [Read more...]
Home for Christmas: Siblings find ‘forever family’
By Robin Cornetet, Kentucky Baptist Convention SHEPHERDSVILLE, Ky. (BP) -- Sam and Stephanie Patterson's long and emotional quest to become parents was finally realized last December when they adopted four young siblings through foster care. "It feels like the greatest Christmas present we could have ever received," Stephanie said of her and her husband's journey. Dec. 18 marks the first anniversary of the adoption of Carrie, now 12, Carissa, 8, Austin, 4, and 3-year-old Kali. The children lived in the Pattersons' home for more than a year while waiting for the Commonwealth of Kentucky to make it official. "We will celebrate that day [Dec. 18] every year in some way," said Stephanie, a music ministry associate at Little Flock Baptist Church in Shepherdsville, Ky. "It's the day they became Pattersons, the day they became part of our forever family and everything was final." The Pattersons' pursuit of parenthood was a rocky one, as the couple struggled with infertility for 10 years. Sam sensed God opening his heart to adoption in watching "the compassion my brother had with his two adopted sons." "The challenges are there, yes, but the rewards are beyond compare." Kentucky's Cabinet for Health and Family … [Read more...]
Your Christmas Eve message
By Joe McKeever A pastor’s Christmas Eve message will have a flavor all its own. Because of the relaxed nature of the evening, the sermon is often directed toward the child in all of us. Hence, the following…. My friend Annette loves to pass along to me her assignments. Her Mississippi church frequently invites her to give a talk on this or that, and she messages for my take on that subject. She uses nothing I do verbatim, but I suspect some of my responses provokes creative ideas in her. Some of the most interesting pieces on our website were instigated by Annette. The other day her message said, “I have to explain the Christmas story to children ages 4-11 in my church. Help!” I began by assuring her that I am not the best one to ask about this. I’m fast approaching birthday number 75 and my youngest grandchild becomes a teenager in February. Furthermore, women explain things to children better than men do. But always eager to assist, I jotted down a few thoughts for her. And that’s when something occurred to me. All the people sitting before the pastor on Christmas Eve will be children. Some will be old children, with white heads (or bald ones), while others will be younger parents and adult singles. … [Read more...]
The Good Shepherd cares for all people
By Billy Graham On that first Christmas night, the angels appeared to shepherds on a hill near Bethlehem. Alfred Edersheim, the great 19th-century Jewish-Christian scholar, wrote in his book The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah that the shepherds and the sheep to whom the angels appeared near Bethlehem were no ordinary shepherds and sheep. The sheep were those bound for the temple sacrifices. The shepherds were outcasts because of their necessary isolation from religious ordinances. And their manner of life rendered legal observances unlikely, if not absolutely impossible. How wonderful that in God’s wisdom and love the angels should appear to them—the doomed and the outcast—that night. Today we can declare to the world that the Good Shepherd cares for all people and wants to give them peace. Christ came on that first Christmas for one great purpose—to die on the cross for our sins. Now God offers forgiveness, inner peace, and eternal life to all who will repent and believe in His Son. This is the Christmas message! Do you know people who need to hear about God’s love and forgiveness? Will you share the true Christmas message with them this year? … [Read more...]
Christmas: to receive is to give
FORT WORTH, Texas (BP) - This poignant beatitude from the lips of Jesus is so typical of the Savior -- "... and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive'" (Acts 20:35). Though not found in the four Gospels, its spirit is seen in Luke 6:38: "Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure -- pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return." These words represent the heart of the Lord with marvelous clarity. Although the greater blessing lies in the right kind of giving, the implication is that to receive is also blessed. The whole ministry of the Lord was wrapped up in giving, and the glory of the Gospel is its testimony to the unfolding of God's gift to man. GIVING & RECEIVING How often have you given or tried to give in a spirit of love and compassion only to be rejected or ignored? There is nothing that cuts so deeply and leaves an ache so painful as spurned giving -- whether it be an object carefully chosen or a deed lovingly planned. Surely God has designed that the receiving of a gift or ministry is a vehicle that will also bless the receiver … [Read more...]
