By Staff, Baptist Message SHREVEPORT – Linwood Baptist Church is searching for answers after a fourth incident of vandalism on its property in the past several years. The incident occurred sometime between late Aug. 3 and early Aug. 4 at Linwood Baptist Church. According to Pastor Ed Gonzalez, the person responsible drove through a chain held up by two steel beams on the church parking lot. The result was steel beams that are now leaning, with repair costs estimated to be at least $3,000. Gonzalez said signs are posted warning people not to back into the area that was damaged. Linwood Baptist Church has surveillance near the front of the property but does not have cameras in the back of the parking lot to possibly capture the person who committed the act of vandalism. Gonzalez said the church is unable to pay for repairs and is pleading for someone to come forward with information. Even with the setback, Gonzalez said the church is committed to serving its community. Linwood Baptist Church operates a food bank, clothes closet and area to wash clothes and take a shower to others from the community in need. For more information to help with repairing the damage or if anyone has information about the incident, … [Read more...]
Baptist Foundation trustees wade through busy agenda at meeting
By Jerry Love, LBF Communications ALEXANDRIA – Trustees for the Louisiana Baptist Foundation held their regular quarterly meeting July 28 at the Louisiana Baptist Building in Alexandria. During the morning Investment Committee meeting, the report on the assets under management showed a slight decrease of approximately 0.36 percent during the second quarter. Assets held by the LBF totaled $173,681,670.51 as of June 30, 2015, which is an increase of $4.37 million for the year to date. Jim Prince, chairman of the Investment Committee, presented the performance report for the portfolios managed by the Foundation. The returns for the major components of the LBF portfolio for Q2 of 2015 are as follows: Short Term Fund: 0.48 percent Annualized Yield; Fixed Income Fund: 0.40 percent Total Return and Equity Fund: 2.50 percent Total Return. The Group Investment Fund which is comprised of the segments above returned 1.29 percent year to date. Lee Morris and Susan Taylor from Graystone Consulting were present for the meeting. Morris led a review of the individual managers, noting their performance with respect to the particular sector in which they invest. He stated no changes were recommended for the current group … [Read more...]
More than building and walls: Truck crashes into Erwinville Baptist sanctuary, driver flees scene
By Message Staff ERWINVILLE – Police are searching for the suspect who allegedly crashed a truck into the sanctuary at Erwinville Baptist Church and fled the scene of the accident earlier this month. According to Pastor Tyler Saucier, the vehicle was traveling at 80 mph when it hit the building around 2 am on July 19, causing major damage including to the walls and foundation of the sanctuary. He estimates damage is between $50,000 and $60,000. Saucier lives in a parsonage next to the sanctuary and heard the truck crash into the building. He said the vehicle driven was a maroon Chevrolet extended cab Z71, with significant damage to the passenger side. Even though the sanctuary sustained damage, worship services still took place a few hours later. The church met for services in the fellowship hall, where the congregation that averages 50 for Sunday morning worship will continue to meet until the sanctuary is repaired. Saucier said he wants the driver of the truck to know he is forgiven. “I am more worried about giving him a second chance than making him pay,” Saucier said. “I think God can use of this to make our church realize we are more than just building and walls. “Our worship has been great in the Sundays … [Read more...]
Horn, Walker pray for healing at huge prayer event following theater shooting
By Philip Timothy Managing Editor LAFAYETTE – Two prominent Louisiana Southern Baptist pastors were among the more than 50 pastors who spoke and prayed Wednesday night, July 29, in what is being hailed as the ‘largest prayer event to ever take place in Lafayette.” Steve Horn, pastor of First Baptist Church, Lafayette, and Mike Walker, senior pastor of Bayou Church, in Lafayette, spoke and offered words of encouragement at the inter-denominational gathering, which was attended by more than 3,000 people from 50 churches. The gathering, which was held at the Crossroads Church in Lafayette, came in the wake of the deadly shooting July 23 at the Grand Theater by John Russell Houser during the showing of ‘Train Wreck.’ The drifter from Alabama shot and killed two young women and wounded nine others before taking his own life. Horn and Walker said during times like these there is a need for God. “Wow! Three thousand people are gathering to pray for the families of the victims and our community,” Walker posted to the church’s Facebook page during the event. “I’ve been ministering for more 38 years in this town and there has never been something [the prayer event] of this magnitude,” Walker said. “There is incredible power … … [Read more...]
Prayer events to help Lafayette community to heal following deadly shooting
By Philip Timothy, Managing Editor LAFAYETTE – First Baptist Lafayette is partnering with 34 other local churches to promote two city-wide prayer events tonight and Thursday evening. Tonight’s event – a city-wide prayer service – will be held at Crossroads Church, located at 150 Verona Drive at 7 p.m. while the second will be more of a community memorial service, which is being organized by the Lafayette Consolidated Government and will be held at Blackham Coliseum. These two community events are in response to the tragic shooting deaths of Jillian Johnson, 33, and Mayci Breaux, 21, who were killed by 59-year-old John Russel Houser, an Alabama drifter who opened fire inside a crowded movie theater in Lafayette. On July 23 around 7:30 pm on during a showing of the movie “Trainwreck”, Houser of Phenix City, Ala., got up from his seat at the Grand Theatre off Johnston Street and opened fire with a semi-automatic handgun according to Lafayette Police Chief Jim Craft. Johnson and Breaux, who were sitting in front of him along with nine others where shot killing both of them and wounding nine others who were transported to three area hospitals for treatment. Houser tried to escape by blending into the fleeing crowd after one of … [Read more...]
Horn: Boy Scouts’ decision puts churches in precarious position
By Philip Timothy Managing Editor Despite the strenuous objections of many religious organizations throughout the United States, including the Southern Baptist Convention, the Boy Scouts of America voted to end its blanket ban on gay adult leaders on the evening of July 27 but will allow church-sponsored Scout units to maintain the exclusion for religious reasons. By a 45-12 vote during a closed-to-the-media teleconference, the BSA’s National Executive Board approved the new policy, which takes effect immediately. In a statement on the organization's website, the BSA said "chartered organizations will continue to select their adult leaders and religious chartered organizations may continue to use religious beliefs as criteria for selecting adult leaders, including in matters of sexuality." "This change allows Scouting's members and parents to select local units, chartered to organizations with similar beliefs, that best meet the needs of their families. This change also respects the right of religious chartered organizations to choose adult volunteer leaders whose beliefs are consistent with their own," the statement read. The message BSA’s president, former U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gate,s sent may also have … [Read more...]
What Does Love Have To Do With It?
By Joe Gutherie, Lewiston Baptist Church, Kentwood The recent United States Supreme Court opinion in favor of same-sex marriage was based on the premise that the love between two individuals is the essence of marriage. Everyone from President Obama on down has based their argument for same-sex marriage simply on if two people love each other, then that gives them the right to be married. The day the decision was reached, the pro same-sex marriage contingent proudly waved their banners “Love Wins.” One must now ask the question what is love? And is it the love between two people, or the love for God that is most important? In answering these questions, only one opinion should be considered and that is the opinion of God as found in his Holy Scriptures. God’s first commission to man was to be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, Genesis 1:28. In order to accomplish this mandate according to God’s will, He instituted marriage between one man and one woman, Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh, Genesis 2:24. The formula for marriage, as ordained by God, was leave, cleave, one flesh - only sex between a married husband and his wife is … [Read more...]
26-year-old in faceoff with Planned Parenthood
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (BP) -- A 26-year-old activist with a video camera has moved to the forefront of cultural challengers to the nation's largest abortion provider. David Daleiden and his group Center for Medical Progress are in the process of releasing a much-publicized series of videos he says show Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) senior executives involved in selling baby body parts. The first video, released July 14, showed PPFA Senior Director of Medical Services Dr. Deborah Nucatola admitting to using partial-birth abortions to get intact body parts to sell. Daleiden released a second video July 21 showing another PPFA senior executive -- Dr. Mary Gatter, president of PPFA's Medical Directors' Council -- haggling over the price of body parts and offering to use abortion methods that will not destroy the parts -- what she called "less crunchy techniques." Questions of federal law surround both the sale of fetal tissue as well as abortions involving fetal tissue collection. How did Daleiden get these videos? "We conducted a 30-month-long investigative journalism project," he told WORLD News Service. Daleiden said he spent months networking and building relationships, noting, "You can't just walk in off … [Read more...]
TX Supreme Court: Repeal or vote on Houston ordinance
By Bonnie Pritchett, Southern Baptist Texan HOUSTON (BP) -- The Texas Supreme Court has directed the Houston's city council to abide by its own charter and repeal the controversial Equal Rights Ordinance or put it up to a city-wide vote this November. The city has until Aug. 24 to comply or be compelled to do so by the high court. In a rare move, the Texas Supreme Court conditionally granted a writ of mandamus stating "the legislative power reserved to the people of Houston is not being honored." Last year, Mayor Annise Parker and then-City Attorney Dave Feldman declared "invalid" a referendum to repeal the controversial city ordinance. Petitioners -- a racially and politically diverse group of pastors and civic leaders -- sued, alleging the mayor and attorney manufactured signature requirements in order to defy the city charter mandates. The court agreed with the petitioners July 24, stating the city secretary, not the city council, is obligated to evaluate petitions. Enforcement of the ordinance is suspended. "Simply put, the City Secretary's certification started the process outlined in the Charter for reconsidering ordinances following a referendum petition, invoking the Council's ministerial duty to carry out its … [Read more...]
Johnson: Christians need to prepare for the approaching storm
By Karen Pearce, Regional Reporter BOSSIER CITY – “You are what’s left of Christianity in America.” These sobering words were spoken by Louisiana Rep. Mike Johnson, R-Bossier City, July 20 to a standing-room-only crowd at First Baptist Church, Bossier City, where more than 200 church leaders gathered to learn next steps after the Supreme Court’s recent marriage ruling threatening religious liberty. Johnson said recent polls indicated that Louisiana is the most Bible-literate and most church-attending state in the nation, which leads to greater responsibility. “I really do feel like Louisiana Baptists have a particular responsibility. We shouldn’t take for granted what we have,” he said. “We need to be aware, but not afraid.” His legal organization, Freedom Guard, is ready to assist any organization that comes under fire. “On June 26th, five of the nine-member Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges to usurp the authority of the people and force same-sex marriage on all 50 states by judicial fiat,” Johnson said, expressing the outrage of his fellow conservative legislators as they watched years of hard-earned court victories disregarded and over-ruled. Johnson warned this latest ruling changed the playing field and … [Read more...]
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