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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

More than a building

By David Jeremiah EL CAJON, Calif. (BP) - We all say it: "Let's meet at the church." Somewhere along the way we began referring to "the building where the church meets" as "the church." The early church started meeting in homes and in the temple court in Jerusalem (Acts 2:46). But today, the church convenes in a variety of locations. Some congregations meet in converted storefronts while others assemble in beautiful buildings. But they all serve the same purpose: They are a place for us to gather and worship the Lord. Hopefully all Christian congregations will remember that the building is not "the" church. The first-century church proved beyond a doubt that buildings are not necessary for the church to grow and prosper and change the world. Are buildings convenient? Yes. They provide a central place for the true church of Jesus Christ to meet for worship, instruction, celebration and ministry. Just as it's nice to have a home in which to invite friends, so a church building should serve as a "home" to the community. Church membership: An option or not? Far too many Christians have decided that church affiliation is optional. That is not a biblical idea, but a worldly one. And it parallels the lack of … [Read more...]

Hancock celebrates fast track to foster parent training through Children’s Home

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer WOODWORTH, La. (LBM) – Prospective foster parents through the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home will soon enjoy access to a fast track for earning needed training. “With more than 4,000 children in Louisiana’s foster care system and only 2,200 foster homes, Louisiana Baptists have a great opportunity to make an impact on the next generation through foster care,” Children’s Home President and CEO Perry Hancock told the Baptist Message after the Executive Board meeting May 7 at Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center. A barrier interested foster parents have faced is the amount of time needed to earn certification. Training requires 4 to 8 weeks to complete. That amount of time will now be reduced to just two weekends, beginning this fall. Louisiana Baptist churches will host a full day of training on a Saturday and a half day Sunday afternoon. Dates and locations will be announced soon. Through its Connect 1:27 Foster Care and Adoption ministries, the Children’s Home also provides home studies for foster and adoption certifications, seminars for churches to develop foster care and adoption ministries, and ongoing training to enhance care skills. For more information, contact … [Read more...]

Juggling meets missions at M-JAM

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALGIERS/WOODWORTH – Jesse Joyner amazed the many children and adult leaders who attended the recent M-JAM conference, using his juggling skills to encourage them to share Jesus. “Everybody has a different gift and talent,” he said. “That’s the beauty of being a part of the body of Christ. We all represent different talents and gifts to do things God has called us to do in this life. "Think about your talents and hobbies,” he continued. “God made each and every one of you different and unique and special so you can share the Word of God through the special way God has called you.” More than 500 children and adult leaders met separately at two locations to learn how to be “set free” by Christ. The event at Connect Church in Algiers, March 30, and the Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center, May 4, allowed participating first-through-sixth graders and their leaders to attend the Missions Jamboree nearest them. The day-long event featured IMB missionaries, a clear presentation of the Gospel, and people who serve in different areas of compassion ministries. All activities and messages centered around the theme “Set Free,” based on John 8:36. “I always have a wonderful time … [Read more...]

Latest storms batter Southwest Louisiana, Louisiana DR chainsaw teams flock to help clean up damage

By Message Staff VILLE PLATTE – Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief teams are sending a number of chainsaw teams to Ville Platte, one of several towns, impacted by the latest round of storm-spawned tornadoes that roared through much of southwest Louisiana Sunday, May 19. According to Louisiana Baptist state Disaster Relief Director Gibbie McMillan, chainsaw teams from Boyce, Breaux Bridge, Lake Charles and Walker will meet Tuesday, May 21, at the First Baptist Church in Ville Platte to coordinate a response plan. They will then disperse into the community to work on 40 homes damaged by the storm. Other trained and untrained disaster relief volunteers can also meet at First Baptist Ville Platte to help with the response. The response is expected through Saturday. The National Weather Service confirmed eight tornadoes touch down in Louisiana Sunday, two in Mamou and Ville Platte; three in Beauregard Parish as well as heavy flooding while another one was reported in Allen Parish. As of noon Monday, May 20, approximately 500 customers in Evangeline Parish remain without power following Sunday morning’s storm that left an estimated 22,000 customers across Cleco’s service territory without power. According to Cleco, … [Read more...]

LED light can damage your eyes, health

The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety has published a 400-page report warning that “exposure to an intense and powerful [LED] light is ‘photo-toxic’ and can lead to irreversible loss of retinal cells and diminished sharpness of vision,” according to an article published by the Agence France-Presse. Even chronic exposure to lower intensity sources can “accelerate the [aging] of retinal tissue” and cause a loss of vision and contribute to “age-related macular degeneration,” the study concluded, with the AFP adding that LED lighting is set to “top 60 percent” of the general lighting market next year. Noting the proliferation of cellphones and other devices with backlit screens, the report said these “do not pose a risk of eye damage” because of the low luminosity of the light. But it cautioned that when used at night or in a dark setting, such gadgets can “disturb biological rhythms” and so disrupt sleep patterns. Prolonged exposure to the lowintensity light can also lead to headaches and fatigue. With regard to general lighting, the French government agency recommends use of “warm white” LED bulbs. As for backlit devices, the agency said to avoid viewing LED screens before … [Read more...]

Diet drinks cause weight gain in youth

By Will Hall, Message Editor A study has found that children and teens who drank diet beverages typically consumed an extra 200 calories a day, which adds up to an extra pound of fat every 17.5 days. Surprisingly, the daily calorie intakes of youth who consumed diet drinks were the same as their peers who drank the sugary or “regular” versions of the same sodas or other beverages. The findings published in the journal Pediatric Obesity did not reveal why artificial sweeteners appear to cause increased calorie consumption. However, the authors suggested “physiologic mechanisms” could be causing the “augmentation of insulin levels” and changing the “reward response” in the brain, among other altered functions. Regardless, the researchers said the results from studying the beverage consumption of more than 7,000 adolescents from 20112016 are important because of the high incidence of obesity combined with the related risks of type 2 diabetes, heart problems, and cancer among U.S. youth. A recent American Heart Association science advisory concluded that “at this time, it is prudent to advise against prolonged consumption of LCSB by children.” The authors further stated that “the use of other alternatives to … [Read more...]