by Gary D. Myers, NOBTS Communications NEW ORLEANS -- God's plan for reaching the world involves raising up and sending out "ordinary people" in the power of the Holy Spirit, Southern Baptist Convention President J.D. Greear said at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Sept. 13. "The measure of success for any church ought not be its seating capacity" but "its sending capacity," Greear said during a chapel sermon drawn from Acts 7. Greear, pastor of The Summit Church in Raleigh-Durham, N.C., and church leaders emphasize the sending out of "ordinary people" as an essential aspect of the call to follow Jesus. As a result, the church has sent out 1,016 people to 248 Summit-sponsored church plants and to other ministries. Greear said Summit reaches a high percentage of college students, Millennials and young professionals, leveraging their enthusiasm, skill and mobility for the Gospel. Summit challenges students to consider serving for two years in one of its church plants after graduation. "We tell them unashamedly, 'Give us two years and we will transform the world with you,'" Greear said. Greear challenged believers to adjust their understanding of the call to ministry. Rather than "something a few sacred … [Read more...]

By Marilyn Stewart, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary NEW ORLEANS -- New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary President Chuck Kelley urged students and faculty to keep Scripture at the center of their lives during the Sept. 6 convocation marking the official start to a new academic year. Drawing from the exhortation in Joshua 1:7-8 to meditate on Scripture, Kelley said, "It doesn't matter who you are or how long you've walked with Jesus, it doesn't matter how well you know the Word, if you don't 'keep it in your mouth,' if you don't keep it as the center of attention, you will not be faithful in doing what God wants you to do." Joshua, in following Moses as the leader of the Israelite nation, was instructed that success would come if he remained faithful in meditating on God's law, Kelley said. Meditation, Kelley noted, is not "emptying your mind and thinking of nothing." Unlike the practice of Eastern religions, meditation instead means to "keep a conversation with God's Word all the time," Kelley said. Many versions translate the passage as God's law should be "always on your lips" or "shall not depart from your mouth." Kelley explained that believers are made into Christ's likeness when Scripture remains a … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff BOSSIER CITY – David Bailey, a special agent with the U.S. Capitol Police, does not consider himself a hero, but he saved the life of Louisiana native and House Majority Whip Steve Scalise during a firefight at a practice last year for the annual Congressional Baseball Game in Washington, D.C. Bailey, who was injured in that June 14 incident, was at the First Baptist Church in Bossier City, Aug. 26 of this year and shared during the fourth annual “Honor Our Heroes Sunday” how his faith enabled him to overcome some resulting difficulties. He was joined in the program by former Air Force Staff Sgt. Spencer Stone, and they as well as local police, firemen, military and first responders were honored during the service and at a breakfast and lunch on the church grounds. Ernie Haase and Signature Sound, a Southern Gospel quartet, provided special music. “God gave me gifts, and I want to be able to use them,” Bailey told the 2,000 members and guests gathered inside the worship center at First Bossier. “Whichever way I need to use them, whichever way I have to use them, I will use them. I’m glad I’m in this position. I never would have thought this 10 years ago when I applied to join the … [Read more...]