By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA – By unanimous vote, trustees of the Baptist Message, the news journal of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, elected Will Hall as editor of the state newspaper and digital media outlet. David Hankins, executive director of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, also named Hall director of the office of public affairs for the state convention. “I am extremely excited about the election tion of Will Hall as the editor of the Baptist Message and director of Public Affairs,” Hankins said. “Dr. Hall’s outstanding credentials, fruitful experience and Christian character will be a blessing to Louisiana Baptists as he leads us to communicate the message of Christ to our churches and our culture.” Message Board Chairman Tim Hisaw expressed similar views on the election of Hall. “We are blessed to have Will Hall come on board to lead the Baptist Message,” said Hisaw, pastor of Tioga First Baptist Church. “When we looked at the candidates, Will rose to the top. The future of the Baptist Message looks bright with Will at the helm.” Hall most recently was executive editor and director of operations for the Christian Examiner, helping launch the digital news service in October … [Read more...]
Pastors respond to SCOTUS on TV, radio & in print
By David Roach, Baptist Press NASHVILLE (BP) -- In the days following the Supreme Court's nationwide legalization of gay marriage, Southern Baptist pastors have taken to television, radio, print media and social media in defense of biblical marriage. Undergirding their public engagement is a long line of Southern Baptist Convention actions underscoring biblical sexual ethics and calling for compassionate ministry to persons with same-sex attraction. "Pastors, this is our opportunity to speak into the media, to write into the media," said Mark Harris, pastor of First Baptist Church in Charlotte, N.C. The Supreme Court majority "tended to play social scientist. They tended to play counselor. They tended to play psychologist," Harris told Baptist Press. "But the one thing they didn't play was theologian," opening a door for pastors to add a biblical perspective to the national discussion. The day the high court's ruling was released, Harris did four television interviews, one on radio and one with The Charlotte Observer newspaper. The Observer also quoted Milton Hollifield, executive director of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. J.D. Greear, pastor of The Summit Church in Raleigh-Durham, wrote a blog … [Read more...]
After 5 years, is there a Great Commission Resurgence?
By Will Hall, Message Editor When the gavel dropped to end the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting in Columbus, Ohio, it also marked the fifth anniversary of “a vision for a Great Commission Resurgence” that was adopted by messengers during the 2010 business sessions in Orlando, Fla. In a nutshell, a blue ribbon task force – named by then SBC President Johnny Hunt, pastor of First Baptist Church, Woodstock, Ga., and led by Ronnie Floyd, pastor of Cross Church, Northwest Ark., who now serves as president of the Convention – developed seven components of a plan “to mobilize Southern Baptists as a Great Commission people” with the goal of “penetrating the lostness” in North America and around the world. Theirs was a daunting task, given the extent of the growing lostness in our country and abroad, and the apparent waning effectiveness of Southern Baptists in sharing the Gospel. But, after so much effort was expended to convince somewhat skeptical Southern Baptists (reports varied on whether the “show-of-hands” vote was 60-40, 80-20 or 3-1 in favor) that these actions were “of vital importance to the future of our denomination” and “key to making immediate progress toward a Great Commission Resurgence,” it is … [Read more...]
SBC resolutions on key issues garner broad consensus
By Tom Strode, Baptist Press COLUMBUS, Ohio (BP) – Messengers to the 2015 Southern Baptist Convention adopted nine resolutions – some on culturally divisive issues – with almost no opposition. All the resolutions offered in the Tuesday afternoon session (June 16) at the SBC’s meeting gained passage by unanimous or nearly unanimous votes. The messengers affirmed biblically based stances on such topics as same-sex marriage, racial reconciliation and the sanctity of human life, as well as religious persecution and pornography. Approved resolutions also called for spiritual awakening and celebrated the 90th anniversary of the Cooperative Program. Prior to the convention, the Resolutions Committee received only four resolutions, an unusually small number. As a result, the committee initiated more resolutions than normal, but committee chairman Steve Gaines said finding topics proved no problem. “There are so many pressing issues morally and spiritually in our nation right now, it really didn’t take long to figure that out,” Gaines said at a news conference after the committee’s report. He illustrated for reporters what he meant by pointing to a few of the resolutions. “When it comes to our nation, when you look back … [Read more...]
SBC seeks awakening, supports marriage
By David Roach, Baptist Press COLUMBUS, Ohio (BP) – Spiritual awakening, the defense of marriage and the preservation of religious liberty were among key themes addressed by messengers at the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting June 16-17 in Columbus, Ohio. The meeting was highlighted by a Tuesday night prayer gathering led by SBC President Ronnie Floyd, at which an estimated 7,000 Southern Baptists spent two hours asking God for a third Great Awakening in America and the global advance of the Gospel. The gathering was watched by an additional 8,000 people online and broadcast on Daystar television. The 5,407 registered messengers – up from 5,294 in Baltimore last year – also took several actions to advance racial and ethnic diversity within the SBC and celebrated nearly 60 missionaries during the first-ever joint missions service of the International and North American Mission Boards. Floyd, who was reelected to a second term as SBC president, called in his presidential address for Southern Baptists to provide spiritual and moral leadership amid a time of crisis in the world that also is “our most defining hour as Southern Baptists.“ Building on Floyd's address, the June 16 prayer time featured intercession led … [Read more...]
Louisiana Notables
ON THE MOVE B.K. Miller is new interim pastor at Cypress Baptist Church, West Monroe. HOMECOMING Richey Baptist Church, Deville: 71st homecoming celebration, July 5, 10 a.m. - noon. Dinner on the grounds will follow the service. Speaker: Former pastor Bob Galloway. Pastor: Grady Dodge. University Baptist Church, Lake Charles: 50th anniversary celebration with an open house, July 11, 2-4 p.m. Refreshments will be served and all former pastors and members are invited to attend. For more information call 337.480.9410 (Monday-Wednesday from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.). Pastor: Carlys Beard. 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. LAGNIAPPE Randy Bowman is seeking interim, bi-vocational or pastorate position preferable in the southern portion of Louisiana. Please call 337.441.9637. First Baptist Church, Lafayette: Ice Cream Fellowship, July 5, 6 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Bring your ice cream, cookies and brownies beginning at 5:30 p.m. Judging will … [Read more...]
LC’s Division of Business receives 10-year accreditation reaffirmation
By Norm Miller, Louisiana College Communications PINEVILLE –The Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) reaffirmed on June 6 the accreditation of Louisiana College’s Division of Business. “Achieving ACBSP reaffirmation is a rigorous process,” said Cheryl Clark, LC’s interim vice president for academic affairs. “Each accreditation standard assesses a college’s ability to perform in critical areas, such as teaching, research, curricula development, and student learning.” “This reaffirmation of accreditation for our Division of Business is a credit to our exceptional faculty who clearly and compellingly teach with a commitment to quality,” she said. “Every one of our professors cares deeply about the college and about making sure that students have a tremendous experience during their years at LC.” First accredited in 1995, LC’s Division of Business is one of the oldest members of ACBSP. “ACBSP’s reaffirmation of accreditation confirms that Louisiana College’s business program meets the standards of excellence in the areas of leadership, strategic planning, student and stakeholder focus, measurement and analysis of student learning and performance, faculty and staff focus, and education and … [Read more...]
Antioch Baptist Church enjoys time at FUGE Camp at Mississippi College
By Andy Kanengiser, Mississippi College Communications CLINTON, Miss. – Antioch Baptist Church kids and parents enjoyed every mile of the journey to a FUGE Christian camp at Mississippi College. Worship services, quiet moments for Bible study, sports, fellowship time and much more were a real blessing for the church delegation from Farmerville, Louisiana. The annual June trip to the 5,000-student Baptist-affiliated university in Clinton was the sixth for parent chaperones like David C. Byrnes. He calls it his best one yet. “We love coming to Mississippi College because of its location and the facilities are great,’’ Byrnes says. “The camp pastor was awesome and we had two kids get saved.’’ Seventeen children and seven parents were part of this summer’s contingent from Antioch Baptist Church. Well-known for its Louisiana Watermelon Festival in late July and fun adventures to go fishing, boating and swimming at D’Arbonne State Park, Farmerville is sandwiched between Monroe and Ruston. So, the trip for the Louisiana church delegation is a quick two-hour and 15-minute ride on I-20 to the Clinton, Miss. campus. Once they get off the bus, they see a Clinton campus that’s steeped in history. Founded in 1826, … [Read more...]
Resolutions, nominees for Louisiana Baptist posts sought
ALEXANDRIA – Louisiana Baptists are invited to submit names of nominees for service on state convention boards and committees and to submit resolutions for possible consideration for the 2015 Louisiana Baptist Convention. The Louisiana Baptist Committee on Committees is beginning its work to nominate persons to serve on various state convention committees. Currently, 17 nominees are needed for service on committees on credentials, moral and social concerns, nominations, order of business and resolutions. Committee on committees chair is Jay Johnston, First Covington. In addition, the Louisiana Baptist Committee on Nominations is beginning its work to fill vacancies on state boards. At this point, 19 nominees are needed to serve on the Convention’s Executive Board and as trustees of Louisiana College, the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home and Family Ministries, the Baptist Message, and the Baptist Foundation. The committee on nominations chair is Philip Robertson, pastor of Philadelphia Baptist Church, Deville. As in previous years, persons should submit names of nominees and the committee or board for which they are being nominated. Submissions should include information on the nominee’s church membership and current … [Read more...]
Churches should take proper child safety security measures
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer The innonence of a child must be protected at all costs. Fortunately, the expense can be minimal and the investment will reap dividends for churches that take proper child safety security measures. That’s the consensus among children’s ministry staff the Baptist Message talked to regarding this sensitive yet important matter. “It’s much less expensive to put these things in place than for a church to have a lawsuit or have their insurance removed,” said Carrie Moreau, children’s ministries coordinator at Sale Street Baptist Church in Lake Charles. “Isn’t it better to be prepared than not prepared? The benefits far outweigh the cost.” Though an improper incident involving an adult and child has never occurred at Sale Street, not taking action was something the church could not afford. Their first step was researching what steps other churches had taken. Since the church was undergoing a building renovation, Sale Street instituted security measures in the construction process. Those included installing large windows on each classroom door, placing locks on all storage closets and making a check-in/check-out station. At the check-in/check-out station, parents of children … [Read more...]
