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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

The Pledge among various reports during first day of LBC Annual Meeting

By Message Staff BOSSIER CITY – The biblical character Nehemiah can tell believers a lot about victory. Burdened that the walls of Jerusalem had been torn down and burned with fire, restoring them despite obstacles he faced along the way became his life mission. And those same problems Israel encountered help Louisiana Baptists see what will keep them from fulfilling the Pledge – a pastor-driven initiative designed to increase Cooperative Program giving – Louisiana Baptist Convention Steve Horn told messengers during the opening night of the LBC Annual Meeting. “As Nehemiah, we have a great work for a great God,” said Horn, pastor of First Baptist Church Lafayette. “When there is a great God and great work, there will usually be great obstacles.” In Nehemiah’s story, Horn said there are five obstacles that will keep Louisiana Baptists from obtaining victory. They are disobedience, disunity, discouragement, personal distractions and doubt. At the end of Horn’s message, messengers had the opportunity to come forward and lay down on the altar decision cards they filled out regarding the Pledge. In addition to a report on the Pledge, the first session of the LBC Annual Meeting included reports from Louisiana … [Read more...]

Pursue personal holiness was message of opening session of Pastors Conference

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer BOSSIER CITY – Brad Jurkovich believes if they are not careful, that pastors can develop a dull heart. When that happens, pastors should do like King David – come to the point where they realize they need God more than anything again. “When our desire is more of everything else but God, then that is when our heart becomes dull for the Lord rather than on fire,” said Jurkovich, pastor of First Baptist Church in Bossier City. “And Pastor, when your heart is dull for God then there will be a lack of passion to live the holy life He is calling you to live.” Preaching from Psalm 51:1-13, Jurkovich told those attending the 2015 Louisiana Baptist Convention Pastors Conference that King David was a man passionate in his praise and worship of God. The author of many of the Psalms in the Bible, David committed a sin with another man’s wife and thus suffered consequences. Much like David did, pastors who are suffering a lack of passion for God should get to the point that they need the Lord. “When you desire God more and more then you will have a heart that hungers for God then His high call of holiness will be a very real passion of yours,” he continued. “In your heart, do you desire … [Read more...]

Conservative columnist accuses SBC leader of seeking liberals’ approval

  By Will Hall, Message Editor ALEXANDRIA  – Conservative political and cultural commentator Ann Coulter has accused Russell Moore, head of the Southern Baptist Convention’s public policy arm of being “desperate for liberal approval” after publication of his editorial in the New York Times which took aim at evangelicals who support billionaire presidential candidate Donald Trump. Moore, president of the SBC Ethics and Religious Liberty Committee, which, broadly speaking, is tasked with representing Southern Baptists’ views in the public square, published an opinion piece in which he alluded to Trump as “a cartoonish TV character.” “Donald J. Trump stands astride the polls in the Republican presidential race, beating all comers in virtually every demographic of the primary electorate,” Moore wrote. “Most illogical is his support from evangelicals and other social conservatives. “To back Mr. Trump, these voters must repudiate everything they believe,” he said. Listing Trump’s known moral failings, Moore was incredulous that “some self-identified evangelicals are telling pollsters they’re for Trump. Worse, some social conservative leaders are praising Mr. Trump for ‘telling it like it is.’” “In the 1990s, … [Read more...]

Louisiana Right to Life responds to state decision to appeal order to keep Medicaid money flowing to Planned Parenthood

By Sandy Cunningham, Louisiana Right to Life In late October, U.S. District Court Judge John deGravelle ordered the state to continue using taxpayer dollars to fund Planned Parenthood. On Nov. 4, the state Department of Health and Hospitals appealed that decision to the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans. Gov. Bobby Jindal announced the appeal, saying the state has the authority to determine which organizations are qualified Medicaid providers, and for multiple reasons "Planned Parenthood is not qualified to do business in our state." Jindal said the state will continue to fight to terminate Planned Parenthood's contracts with Louisiana. In response to the state's decision to appeal the ruling, Louisiana Right to Life Executive Director Benjamin Clapper issued the following statement: "We appreciate Gov. Jindal and his administration for their continued efforts to ensure that Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion business with a history of selling the body parts of aborted babies, does not receive anymore taxpayer money in Louisiana. "As we have shown, there are Medicaid-eligible alternative provider in place in New Orleans and Baton Rouge to provide the services that Planned Parenthood … [Read more...]

Registration ongoing for 2015 Youth Evangelism Celebration in Lafayette

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer LAFAYETTE – For the second consecutive year, the Cajundome is the site for the annual Youth Evangelism Celebration. The largest gathering of Louisiana Baptists each year, YEC is scheduled for Nov. 23-24 and will feature high-energy music, inspiring messages, fellowship and much more. Due to on-going renovations at the Rapides Coliseum in Alexandria, and an unknown date of completion, the Cajundome will be the home for YEC through 2017. The theme for this year’s YEC is Moments, based off Psalm 119:32. This year’s lineup includes: Acton Bowen, a speaker and New York Times best-selling author who has served in the local church, led a city-wide student Bible study in Gadsden, Ala., and was the host of x|roads TV, a worldwide broadcast viewed weekly by millions of teens and adults in every city in America and over 170 countries around the world on network television. Bowen is now co-host of Top3 on the JuceTV Network and a regular contributor on Fox News Channel where he serves as a correspondent on Faith and Religion. Isaac Wimberly, a worship pastor at the Village Church in Texas, is a featured “spoken word” artist. Meredith Andrews & Vertical Church Band, a … [Read more...]

LifePoint Church asks for urgent prayers following two shootings that have left Marksville community hurting

By Message Staff MARKSVILLE – The pastor of LifePoint Church is asking for urgent prayers after two shootings just blocks away from each other has left the community of Marksville hurting. One of the incidents – a nine-hour standoff -- involved several members of his church while the other, which took place the night before, saw a 6-year-old autistic boy tragically killed. “Pray for our community,” said LifePoint Pastor Jacob Crawford said. “It is hurting and in shock. “Pray for the family involved and also the officers who risked their lives,” he said. “We are trying to minister to all those affected and are asking for your prayers.” The incident, which directly affected Crawford’s church members – the police officers who responded and the suspect’s mother, a member of the church for the last eight years -- happened Wednesday morning, when members of the Avoyelles Parish Sheriff’s Office, Marksville police, Moreauville police and Simmesport police responded to a shooting on Addison Street in Marksville. According to KALB News Channel 5, the suspect, Will Lachney, stole a shotgun from a hunter, returned to the Marksville Housing Authority with the weapon. A neighbor saw him and called the Marksville Police … [Read more...]

Louisiana Baptist and State Rep. Mike Johnson addresses adultery and policy issues in governor’s race

  By Will Hall, Message Editor ALEXANDRIA – Louisiana State Rep. Mike Johnson has weighed in on the governor’s race, comparing and contrasting U.S. Senator David Vitter with State Rep. John Bel Edwards on the issues, but also bluntly addressing the “very serious sin” Sen. Vitter admitted to in 2007 when his phone number was found in a list of the infamous “D.C. Madam.” FORGIVEN In a post titled “Louisiana for Liberty,” Johnson reminded “Christian friends” that Vitter “had asked for forgiveness, worked towards restoration, and sought reconciliation.” “He was forgiven by God and his extraordinary wife, they saved their marriage, and they are faithful believers,” Johnson wrote. “They have a truly inspiring Christian testimony.” Moreover, Johnson assured evangelical voters “that David Vitter is already privately assembling an incredible group of some of the most wise and widely-respected pastors in our state, from multiple Christian denominations, to serve in a spiritual advisory capacity once he is elected.” He added his endorsement that “A leader who recognizes such a need is precisely the kind of leader we want.” TWO “GOOD MEN,” TWO DIFFERENT VISIONS Although going to lengths to vouchsafe for … [Read more...]

FBC Minden blesses NOBTS students, families with gift cards

By Marilyn Stewart, NOBTS communications NEW ORLEANS – Coinciding with its “every member a missionary” focus and Cooperative Program emphasis this month, First Baptist Church Minden, donated gift cards totaling nearly $5,400 to international women students and to the homeschool community at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Leland Crawford, pastor, and wife Rose Crawford delivered the cards along with canvas school bags filled with school supplies for each of the 93 homeschooled children while visiting the seminary campus for the Oct. 14 fall trustee meeting. Leland Crawford, an NOBTS alumnus, currently serves as a trustee. Eleven countries – South Korea, Egypt, Romania, India, Colombia, El Salvador, Brazil, Taiwan, Argentina, Burkina Faso and Haiti – were represented at a reception for trustee wives and international students and international student wives hosted by Rhonda Kelley, president’s wife. “My international friends and I were super excited and thankful for the gift cards. They were such a blessing and came at the right time,” Tone said. “We praise God for always providing.” The 218 “Cards of Blessing” marked the third year First Minden has provided gifts to students. The gift cards were valued at … [Read more...]

Trustees approve 5-year strategic plan; learn of record enrollment

By Gary D Meyers, NOBTS communications NEW ORLEANS — New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary trustees approved a five-year strategic plan for the seminary and voted to establish a new extension center in Columbus, Ga., during their fall meeting. Seminary President Chuck Kelley also shared news of the record enrollment of 3,952 students. In his report to trustees, Kelley recounted the ways in which God provided for the seminary following Hurricane Katrina. In the 10 years after the storm NOBTS has witnessed the restoration of the campus and the launch of numerous new programs and scholarship initiatives, he said. For Kelley, the most exciting post-Katrina news came at the end of this summer when he learned of the record-setting enrollment of students during the 2014-2015 school year. Kelley said the Katrina experience helped the seminary learn to be a more resilient institution. Defining resilience as “the ability to continue when normal dramatically changes,” Kelley listed four keys to NOBTS resiliency: a comprehensive curriculum (featuring both traditional and distinctive programs); multiple delivery systems (main campus, extension, online, mentoring, travel courses); enhanced fundraising efforts; and a faculty … [Read more...]

Election Night Surprises

Houston residents vote down LGBT equal rights measure...   And elsewhere in the country: Pot legalization loses big in Ohio COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio voters rejected a ballot proposal Tuesday that would have legalized both recreational and medical marijuana in a single stroke — a vote-getting strategy that was being watched as a potential test case for the nation. Failure of the proposed state constitutional amendment followed an expensive campaign, a legal fight over its ballot wording, an investigation into petition signatures — and, predominantly, a counter campaign against a network of 10 exclusive growing sites it would have created. It was the only marijuana legalization question on the 2015 statewide ballots. About 65 percent of voters opposed the measure, compared to 35 percent in favor. McAuliffe and Bloomberg Gun control flop in Virginia Republicans retained their 21-19 majority in the Virginia Senate on Tuesday, prevailing in a more than $43 million off-year election battle with Democrats for control of the General Assembly. With Republicans easily maintaining their 2-1 edge in the House of Delegates, the apparent victory by Glen H. Sturtevant in a key Senate race in the Richmond area … [Read more...]