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"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Church told flyers are too religious, barred from sharing community events information with students

By Lacey McNeil, First Liberty Institute communciations YERINGTON, Nev. — Attorneys with First Liberty Institute and Lipson, Neilson, Cole, Seltzer & Garin, P.C. (“Lipson Neilson”) have sent a letter to the Lyon County School District in Yerington, Nevada demanding the school district allow its client, Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley, to participate equally in the school’s community flyer distribution program and change its policy to comply with the law. The Lyon County School District allows community organizations from a variety of perspectives to distribute flyers to parents and students about extracurricular events and activities. Yet the school district’s new policy has required Calvary Chapel, a local church, to remove all references to its religious perspective or cease distributing flyers altogether. “We hope the school district will let our client participate in the community information program just like everyone else by ending its discriminatory new policy,” said Stephanie Taub, Counsel for First Liberty. “The First Amendment requires school districts to be neutral toward religion. They may not single out a church’s flyers for censorship, and they may not force a church to scrub the flyers of any religious … [Read more...]

Trinity Western University confident following Supreme Court dates

LANGLEY, B.C. - Following two days of argument at the Supreme Court, Trinity Western University (TWU) is optimistic Canada's highest court will arrive at a decision that supports the freedom of all faith groups and other minorities in Canada. At the Supreme Court today several intervenors supported Trinity Western University by noting that an open and diverse Canada requires making space for different ideas and beliefs. "We are pleased the Supreme Court afforded us the opportunity to have our case heard.  We know the Supreme Court justices will carefully consider the case and we are confident they will decide in favour of a truly free, diverse and pluralistic Canadian society," says Earl Phillips, executive director of TWU's proposed School of Law. Over the past two days the court heard from Trinity Western University, the Law Societies of British Columbia and Ontario, and an unprecedented number of interveners, on whether TWU's law school graduates will be accepted into the practice of law. The court's decision is expected within the next several months. "This case is about more than our law school. It is about freedom for all faith communities and other minorities in Canada," says TWU President Bob Kuhn. "As the BC … [Read more...]

Six simple Christmas outreach ideas for your church

By Lane Corley Here’s a few simple holiday outreach projects that any church, small group, family or individual can afford. I can testify that these make a big impact with a small investment of time and money. 1. Gift cards for ICU waiting rooms. At any given time in your community there are people reeling from traumatic events or devastating illness. Their families can be found in waiting rooms at your local hospital. Pick up a handful of gift cards to the closest restaurants and coffee shops, drop by and give them out with a “Praying for You” card from your church. Offer to pray for anyone you get to talk with. Simple act of kindness can breathe life into someone that is overwhelmed with bad news. If no one is there, give them to the nurses desk and they’ll pass them out for you. These nurses could also use prayer and encouragement. Call ahead and find out when visiting times are so that you know when people are in the waiting rooms. $100 for five to ten gift cards. 2. Care packages for the homeless. If you live in a metro area or near the interstate, you probably get an invitation to serve the homeless everyday at area red lights. “Should I give them money?” is a constant question. Few of us carry cash anymore. Doing … [Read more...]