ON THE MOVE Harold (wife Brooke) Brown is the new pastor at First Baptist Church, Ringgold. Aaron (wife Sharron) Dickinson is the new pastor at Swartz First Baptist Church, Monroe. Jordan Doyle is the new pastor at Pine Grove Baptist Church, DeQuincy. Larry (wife Sue) Anderson is the new worship leader and music director at Ouachita Baptist Church, West Monroe. Emily Funderberg is new children’s director at Ellerbe Road Baptist Church, Shreveport. Ralph Hines has retired at Ferry Lake Baptist Church, Oil City. Chris Willcutt is new as pastor at Grawood Baptist Church, Keithville. Tom Cole is new as minister of music at Shreve City Baptist Church, Shreveport. Hardy Yeats is new as minister of music at Kingston Road Baptist Church, Shreveport. Calep (wife Robin) Lewis is new as senior adult/associate pastor at Trinity Heights Baptist Church, Shreveport. HOMECOMING Hillcrest Baptist Church, Franklinton: Church anniversary celebration, July 19, 11 a.m. at the Education Building at the Washington Parish Fair Grounds. Attendees will meet in Education Building for a brief program and then proceed to the newly renovated Flower House for a pot luck meal/picnic. Pastor: Andrew Voss. Beech Springs Baptist … [Read more...]
Building a legacy of giving within our churches
By Jerry Love, Louisiana Baptist Foundation ALEXANDRIA – Each of us typically spends our life acquiring “things” to meet the needs of basic survival. We also acquire “things” to satisfy our desires and to make life more comfortable or efficient. These “things” can include a home, household goods and furnishings, some means of transportation, real estate, various types of collectibles, stocks, bonds, – the list goes on. For some these things are very meager. For others it can represent great wealth. No matter what monetary value these things represent, God expects us to care for and use these things wisely for His glory. And unless we can spend our last dollar on the day we die, we will leave something behind that will need to be transferred to another person or entity. Unfortunately few of us put much thought into how to use our “things” to further God’s kingdom. At best we tithe from current income to our church and give occasionally to special offerings. But to be good stewards of the possessions God has entrusted to us, we must plan for the wise use during life and the wise disposition at death of our assets. The Louisiana Baptist Foundation encourages local churches to implement a program to educate … [Read more...]
Disaster relief volunteers lead three to Christ during flood cleanup
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer SHREVEPORT – Two Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers were nearly speechless recently and for good reason. While cleaning out of homes that were damaged by recent floodwaters of the Red River, Freddie Arnold and Ginger McBride witnessed first-hand to others who subsequently accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior there. “It adds a spark of enthusiasm,” said Arnold, a white hat with Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief. “And it encourages everyone to be evangelistic.” Arnold’s conversion experience was with a then-Mormon who worked with a friend from First Baptist Church in Franklinton on a mud-out team. After suffering from overheating, the man stayed behind for a couple of days, which led to a series of conversations about Christ with Arnold and others at the host site of Summer Grove Baptist Church in Shreveport – before eventually converting from Mormonism to Christianity. “He came to tell me he was saved and I told him that was fantastic,” Arnold recalls. “Before he could even get across the room where we were, I heard him call his wife over the phone and others there his news.” Meanwhile, McBride was assessing flooded homes with Virginia Disotell, another … [Read more...]
Rousing patriotic salute at University Baptist packed out
By R.C. Miller, Regional Reporter BATON ROUGE – Randy Gurie isn’t claiming any out-of-body experiences, but he does own up to a vision that eventually filled University Baptist Church’s sanctuary to capacity on July 4th. Because for Gurie, it wasn’t a matter of “seeing is believing.” “For me, it was ‘believing is seeing,’” Gurie says. “From the beginning, I literally saw everything about this program, from the lighting to the music performances.” And it resulted in the community program, “A Patriotic Salute to America.” The red-white-and-blue program featured performances by the Baton Rouge Concert Band, a community choir and a group of soloists that included one by the now retired “Voice of the LSU Tigers” Jim Hawthorne and narration by Louisiana Public Broadcasting President and CEO Beth Courtney. That’s not forgetting performances by the five-member gospel group Celebration, which hosted the event. Gurie and fellow vocalists Kevin Hambrice, Fred Dressel, Lionel Bailey and Trippe Hawthorne have been performing in this group for 20 years. They perform year-round at churches and events in the Baton Rouge area, sometimes traveling around the state and in Mississippi. Those programs have always been made up of … [Read more...]
Iran grants imprisoned pastor Fathi early release
By Diana Chandler, Baptist Press KARAJ, Iran (BP) -- Pastor Farshid Fathi, imprisoned in Iran for his faith since 2010, has been granted a Dec. 10 release from the notoriously brutal Rajai Shahr prison, two years earlier than expected, Elam Ministries has announced. Ann Buwalda, a board member of the Iranian-led ministry that engages in evangelism and discipleship in the Mideast nation, called the early release "positive news which has greatly encouraged Farshid and his family. We join them in praising God for this development and for those who have made it possible." The reason for the early release was not given, but Fathi was informed July 4 of his new release date, and the news was revealed to the public two days later, Elam Ministries reported. Fathi had been imprisoned since his arrest the day after Christmas 2010 at his home in Tehran and was originally taken to Evin prison. In a February 2012 trial, he was convicted of "action against the national security," accused of "cooperating with foreign organizations and evangelism," Elam Ministries said. His original sentence of six years was extended by a year in December 2014 on false charges. He had been injured in an attack by Evin prison guards on April 17, … [Read more...]
We do not embrace a lifestyle that contradicts the Bible
By Tom Shepard It is a defining, sad statement I must acknowledge that the Supreme Court of the United States has ruled this month that same-sex marriage is legal in all 50 states. I would remind people, and indeed of this country, the Supreme Court did not define marriage, and nor is it entitled to re-define it. Marriage was created by God in the Garden of Eden. This is the same God who created man and woman. God’s decisions are neither up for review nor revision by any man-made court in the land. God makes a clear statement about the definition of marriage in the Holy Scripture: “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). Many mighty nations including the Greek and Roman empires have all disappeared when they walked down the road of blatant rejection of God’s moral absolutes. We need to pray for our nation. If we continue to reject God’s principles and precepts we cannot expect to have His hand on this country. The President made a statement in his gay pride event he hosted in the White House last week. He said, “There has been an incredible shift in attitudes across the country.” What the president does not understand is the … [Read more...]
The legalization of same-sex marriage: A response
By Dr. David Hankins Dear Louisiana Pastors and Leaders, In the days since June 26, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that same-sex marriage is legal in all 50 states, I have read and heard numerous commentaries on the subject and have mulled over what I should write to the Louisiana Baptist family. There is more to think about than can be conveyed in one letter (I hope you are availing yourself of resources being provided by respected Christian leaders) but I offer a few observations about how we should respond: We should grieve. My initial feeling upon hearing the ruling was a profound sense of sadness. I was not surprised by the ruling. It was expected, and was consistent with the rapid acceptance of homosexual behavior in our culture. But it grieves me greatly that America would ratify as a preferred way of life that which is so contradictory to Christ, His Word, and His Church. It is not as though there was a lack of abundant evidence of a growing anti-Christian sentiment in our country before June 26. But the Supreme Court decision felt to me like an official public pronouncement against God. I think I understand how Ezekiel felt when the Spirit showed him the religious leaders of Judah worshipping the … [Read more...]
Bosnian immigrant finds more than American dream
By Karen Pearce, Baptist Press SHREVEPORT (BP) - Warmth enveloped Jasmine when she came up from the baptismal waters at Broadmoor Baptist Church. "Everything was warm around me and I was feeling happiness and like finally I'm complete," she said. "I can say it now aloud.... 'That's me, that's what I am, I am Baptist.'" "I can say it out loud now, 'That's me, that’s what I am. I am Baptist,'" Jasmine, a Bosnian immigrant, said after being baptized by Donny Durr, minister of business administration at Broadmoor Baptist Church in Shreveport. Although being Baptist is a common thing in Jasmine's current home state of Louisiana, it is quite unusual in her home country. She grew up in Bosnia where Islam, Orthodoxy and Catholicism vie for prominence. She was born into a Muslim family - her grandfather was an imam. But her father was an atheist and her mother was never willing to be labeled. "She always said there is just one God and God will help you. That was her way -- to find God, to believe that He's a savior, He's a father," Jasmine said. Her mother's faith opened the way for Jasmine to seek. Today, Jasmine knows that she has met the true God, Jesus Christ, and she has taken the brave step to publically declare her … [Read more...]
A special life: Make-A-Wish Foundation documenting life of special needs child Hendrix Ebert
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer FOREST HILL – Eight-year-old Hendrix Ebert has experienced more setbacks in his young life than most people do in their lifetimes. Born with a condition where the pulmonary veins between his heart and lungs did not work properly, he had open heart surgery at birth. His trachea and esophagus were not attached to his stomach; three bones in each middle ear did not form correctly; he has pulmonary disease, and, he is undergoing a protracted program of speech therapy. Yet, Hendrix is not defined by these difficulties, but by his lovable personality which blesses each person who comes in contact with him. “People lift him up but he does the same for them,” said his mother, Rebecca. “He has this ability to know your need. “So many people want him to feel special, but he makes so many people feel special in return,” she continued. “Hendrix has this incredible zest for life that will touch you for a lifetime.” His story is being chronicled in a documentary, thanks to a request granted by the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Since March, a film crew has followed him at his school, church, recreational spots in Indiana, and most recently at Elwood Baptist Church during Vacation Bible … [Read more...]
Suggested policies for Louisiana Baptist churches on marriage, membership
ALEXANDRIA – Louisiana Baptist personnel have assembled a collection of guidelines for LBC affiliated churches to access to assist them in protecting themselves from liabilities arising from the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling that overturned the traditional definition of marriage as between one man and one woman. These sample policies cover a church’s statement of faith, beliefs about marriage as well as qualifications for and expectations of members, leaders, volunteers and workers. Although each has been thoroughly reviewed, there are limitations explained in the notes at the bottom of this article. Additional resources for pastors and churches are posted on www.LouisianaBaptists.org, including a link to a handbook produced by the Alliance Defending Freedom which offers an Appendix A that contains other sample resources for churches as well for Christian schools and not-for-profit ministries. You may access the ADF handbook “Protecting Your Ministry” directly using this URL: http://www.alliancedefendingfreedom.org/content/campaign/2014/church/SOGI-Handbook.pdf SUGGESTED POLICIES FOR LOUISIANA BAPTIST CHURCHES CONCERNING MARRIAGE & MEMBERSHIP Statement of Faith: This church … [Read more...]
