By Gary D. Myers, NOBTS Communications Director NEW ORLEANS – The first day of a new semester was marred by sadness as New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary’s Leavell College students learned of the death of beloved professor John Gibson. Gibson, 56, died Aug. 24. A memorial service for Gibson will be held in Leavell Chapel on the seminary campus Aug. 28, at 10:30 a.m. The service is a joint effort between NOBTS and First Baptist Church, New Orleans where Gibson’s wife, Christi, served as minister of discipleship and missions. Gibson was discovered at his home on the seminary campus at approximately 5:30 p.m., Aug. 24, by his wife when she arrived home from work. After finding Gibson unresponsive, she immediately notified emergency medical service. EMS workers were unable to revive him, and Gibson was pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of death is still undetermined. Born in Louisiana to a long line of Baptist ministers, Gibson spent many of his formative years in Mississippi where his father served in pastoral ministry. Gibson earned his undergraduate degree from Mississippi College and went on to earn a master of divinity and doctor of theology degrees at NOBTS. Gibson served as youth minister and … [Read more...]
Injunction extended while GuideStone awaits appeal
By Timothy E. Head, Baptist Press DALLAS (BP) -- The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Aug. 21 it would keep in place the preliminary injunction won by GuideStone earlier at the District Court level while GuideStone's appeals it case to the U.S. Supreme Court. The preliminary injunction, which protects certain ministries from providing abortion-causing drugs or devices in their health plan, or face crippling fines, was first issued by a federal judge in December 2013. Upon the government's appeal, a three-judge panel of the Tenth Circuit of Appeals ruled 2-1 to end the injunction. GuideStone, along with co-plaintiffs Reaching Souls International, an Oklahoma-based missions-sending organization, and Truett-McConnell College, a Georgia Baptist institution, appealed the Tenth Circuit's ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court in July. Churches and integrated auxiliaries of churches, including GuideStone, are already exempt from the mandate and its penalties as religious employers. GuideStone's current litigation was sought to protect other ministries it serves, such as children's homes, colleges and other ministries not controlled by a church or association of churches, from the mandate and its penalties. "What this means is … [Read more...]
Protest, what protest? Planned Parenthood protest fizzles
By Staff, Baptist Message BATON ROUGE – It was supposed to have sent a clear and loud message to Gov. Bobby Jindal and the state of Louisiana about Planned Parenthood’s dissatisfaction to proposed cuts to funding for services provided by the organization. The rally, though, did not come close to living up to expectations or hype. Less than 50 people, most of whom were carrying pink, pre-printed signs that read “Don’t Take Away Our Care” and “Stand With Planned Parenthood,” attended the rally, which was staged in a field across the street from the Governor’s Mansion. The group was protesting Jindal’s decision to stop almost $300,000 in reimbursement to Planned Parenthood for health care services. In a statement from the Governor’s office, Jindal said, “Planned Parenthood supporters are welcome to protest.” But in a counter-protest, Jindal’s office set up a movie screen and speakers under a tent and played on a loop the Center for Medical Progress investigative videos of Planned Parenthood employees talking about the harvesting of unborn babies to sell on the open market. “I want to ensure anyone who shows up will have to witness first-hand the offensive actions of the organization they are supporting,” said … [Read more...]
Two South Sudanese pastors banned from travel
JUBA, South Sudan (BP) -- Two South Sudanese Christian pastors released from prison Aug. 5 after eight months' detention have been banned from leaving the country, Morning Star News reported. The two face no additional charges. Yat Michael, 49, and Peter Yein Reith, 36, were preparing to board a plane Aug. 6 with their families when Khartoum International Airport authorities stopped them, according to one of the men's attorneys. Sudan's National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) ordered the ban when the pastors were initially detained -- Yat on Dec. 14, 2014 and Reith on Jan. 11, 2015 -- and gave the orders to the airport personnel, the attorney said. A relative asked for prayer. "They have been prohibited from leaving Khartoum," the relative said, "but we are working now with their lawyer, and your prayers are very needed." The two men had been released after being acquitted of charges that could have garnered the death penalty, being convicted of lesser charges instead and given credit for time served. The attorney clarified that Reith was convicted of "establishing or participating in a criminal organization" (not "breaching the peace" as Morning Star News previously reported), while Michael was convicted of … [Read more...]
GOP debate: social, religious issues prominent
By David Roach, Baptist Press CLEVELAND (BP) -- Abortion, gay marriage and God were among the topics addressed Aug. 6 at a Republican presidential debate in Cleveland involving the top 10 candidates in polls as determined by Fox News. While no candidate expressed support for abortion rights, one -- Ohio Gov. John Kasich -- said the country should not divide over gay marriage. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee criticized the Iran nuclear deal negotiated by the Obama administration last month for not securing the release of four American political prisoners including Pastor Saeed Abedini, though he did not mention Abedini by name. Neurosurgeon Ben Carson invoked the biblical concept of a tithe to illustrate a fair system of taxation. Among the reactions of Southern Baptist commentators was approval of at least two explicit mentions of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, prompting Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary President Paige Patterson to tweet, "Heard more Gospel content in Republican debate than one often hears in some churches." When candidates were asked whether they had received a "word from God" related to their candidacy, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, a Southern Baptist, responded, "I am blessed to receive a word … [Read more...]
Cross Church gives $1 million to CP this year
By Staff, Arkansas Baptist News SPRINGDALE, Ark. (BP) -- Cross Church in northwest Arkansas has given $1 million through the Cooperative Program in 2015 -- and plans to do the same in 2016. Ronnie Floyd, Cross Church senior pastor and president of the Southern Baptist Convention, said the church increased its previous pledge of $900,000 to $1 million and is setting its sights to do the same next year. Floyd, in an Aug. 2 email to J.D. "Sonny" Tucker, executive director of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention, said the increase in CP giving is "where I have wanted us to work toward for the past 3-4 years as a matter of stewardship of our church." "Due to us having some monies left from our Greater Things Campaign designated for global missions and relief, we were going to take $100,000 from this account and forward to the Arkansas Baptist Convention this week, along with our final two monthly payments of our budget this year ... August and September ... resulting in our church reaching this goal of $1 Million in this budget year," Floyd said in the email. The check containing the church's August and September CP gifts, plus the additional money, was sent to the Arkansas Baptist Convention on Monday (August 3), … [Read more...]
Gospel, politics addressed at ERLC event
By Tom Strode, Baptist Press NASHVILLE (BP) -- Political engagement by evangelical Christians calls for a witness shaped by the Gospel of Jesus, Southern Baptists were told at a conference Aug. 5 in Nashville. Speakers at "The Gospel and Politics" -- the second national conference sponsored by the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission -- sought to help the more than 630 registrants think about how to approach politics in a changing culture a year before the next presidential election. The conference came a day after interviews of two Republican presidential candidates -- Sen. Marco Rubio and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush -- by ERLC President Russell Moore at the Send North America Conference, an event sponsored also in Nashville by Southern Baptist missions entities. The Gospel calls for a different tone than has been demonstrated sometimes in the past by evangelicals, some speakers said. "I say this respectfully, the era of perceived, white, angry evangelicalism is officially over," said Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference. Impacting culture now "requires a multi-ethnic, kingdom culture canopy that reconciles truth with love," he said during a panel … [Read more...]
Send Conference moves to next steps
By Joe Conway, Baptist Press NASHVILLE (BP) -- As thousands of 2015 Send North America Conference attendees returned to their everyday lives, leaders of the event said the real longterm impact will be measured in the next steps participants take to live out their faith daily. "This is not about a conference," North American Mission Board President Kevin Ezell told attendees at the close of the gathering Tuesday (Aug.4). "It's about God starting a movement. This is something we are committed to for the rest of our lives." As the two-day event drew to a close, the 13,607 participants were encouraged to find their place in the everyday mission of God, and commit to next steps. Registered nurse Madison Roaton decided to tag along for a visit to Nashville when she heard her friends discussing a road trip. She had never heard of the Send Conference. But after the first day she was ready to explore her next steps in missions. "I've been involved in medical missions with my church," said Roaton of New Albany, Miss. She traveled to Ecuador earlier this year and Greece last year on mission. The idea of a life on mission resonated with her. "This has me thinking about connecting what I do with my mission." Others were … [Read more...]
City sued over attempted grab of churches’ land
By Staff, Baptist Press HOUSTON (BP) -- Two African American churches in Houston have filed a lawsuit in response to what they say is an illegal city attempt to seize their property for an urban renewal project. "When we moved into this area, it was considered the highest crime-rate area in the city of Houston," Latter Day Deliverance Revival Church Pastor Roy Lee Kossie said according to a news release from Liberty Institute, the Christian legal organization representing Latter Day and nearby Christian Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church. "People shot first and asked questions later. But we love this community. This is where the Lord called us and this is where we want to stay. We aren't giving up without a fight." Tory Gunsolley, president and CEO of the Houston Housing Authority, told the Houston Chronicle the city wants land owned by the churches as part of a redevelopment effort to include a library and 63-unit housing project. The housing project would replace an apartment complex that had to be demolished because of damage sustained from Hurricane Ike in 2008. The demolished complex could not be rehabilitated, Gunsolley said, because of limitations associated with its proximity to Interstate 10. The city tried … [Read more...]
Planned Parenthood focus of TX senate hearing
By Bonnie Pritchett/The TEXAN AUSTIN, Texas (BP) -- The apparent lack of oversight regarding the donation of human fetal tissue and the possible circuitous implementation of policies overseeing the regulation of Texas' 22 abortion facilities drew focus during the Texas Senate Health and Human Services Committee hearing July 29. Senators sought to determine if state laws were violated following the revelation that Texas abortion providers, particularly Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast (PPGC), may have sold aborted fetal organs for profit. The investigations are in response to undercover videos released by the Center for Medical Progress (CMP), purportedly showing the illegal sale of fetal organs to individuals acting as biomedical company representatives. The HHS committee heard testimony from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, Department of State Health Services (DSHS) commissioners, Texas Health and Human Services Commissioner, and Texas pro-life organization representatives. Planned Parenthood representatives were invited to testify but responded with a letter refusing to appear, with the PPGC president dismissing the hearing as a farce and "political gamesmanship." Sen. Charles Schwertner, HHS Committee chairman, … [Read more...]
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