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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Transgender politics prove ‘the emperor is wearing no clothes’

By Will Hall, Message Editor ALEXANDRIA – The mainstream media are adoring toward Bruce Jenner’s “courageous” transition to “Caitlyn;” schools are introducing curriculum teaching sexual identity is a fluid concept and not a biological construct; and, the U.S. military has announced it is studying “the policy and readiness implications of welcoming transgender persons to serve openly … with the presumption that transgender persons can serve openly without adverse impact on military effectiveness and readiness, unless and except where objective, practical impediments are identified.” Remarkably, this push toward redefining sexual identity as “ambiguous” comes as homosexual activists just won legal recognition for gay marriage from the U.S. Supreme Court. And, ironically, it contradicts what Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote in justifying the majority decision—that “sexual orientation is both a normal expression of human sexuality and immutable” (in other words, “fixed”). Even more incredibly, such social re-engineering is moving ahead in our country despite bodies of scientific research that conclude transsexuality is a psychiatric disease and, particularly with children, often is a transient condition that is best … [Read more...]

Abraham’s altar: Worship must be a priority in our lives

By Steve Horn, President of the Louisiana Baptist Convention and Pastor of First Baptist Church, Lafayette LAFAYETTE – Abraham’s story in Genesis 12 is a model story of what it means to take God at His word and obey. I have always been amazed at Abram’s faith depicted in this account. As I have often summarized about this story, “God said to Abram ‘Get up and go,’ and Abram got up and went.” The part of the story that I want to isolate is not Abram’s journey to the land of Canaan, but instead what he did when he got there. He built an altar. In fact in Abram’s case, we see a series of altars. In Chapter 12, we have two initial altars: 7 Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your offspring.” So he built an altar there to the LORD who had appeared to him. 8 From there he moved on to the hill country east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. He built an altar to Yahweh there, and he called on the name of Yahweh. In chapter 13, we see the indication of additional altars. The first is the return to the altar between Bethel and Ai: 1 Then Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev—he, his wife, and all he had, and Lot with him. 2 Abram was very rich in livestock, … [Read more...]

Planned Parenthood, in new video, prices baby parts

By David Roach, Baptist Press NASHVILLE (BP) – A second undercover video released July 21 by the Center for Medical Progress appears to show a Planned Parenthood doctor negotiating the price of baby parts obtained through abortion and discussing the possibility of varying abortion procedures to harvest intact organs. At one point in the video, a woman identified as Mary Gatter, former president of the Planned Parenthood Medical Directors’ Council, speaks of using “a less crunchy technique” of aborting babies to preserve “more whole specimens.” She also jokes, “I want a Lamborghini,” when negotiating the price of baby parts, though she also says, “We’re not in it for the money” and “we don’t want to be in a position of being accused of selling tissue.” Gatter appears to settle on a price of $100 per “specimen” but says she wants to investigate what other abortion providers are receiving. The video includes text stating it was shot Feb. 6 by investigators posing as a fetal tissue procurement company. David Daleiden, senior investigator for the Center for Medical Progress, told LifeSiteNews CMP’s latest video suggests Planned Parenthood violated federal laws that prohibit profiting from the sale of human remains and altering … [Read more...]

Bosnian immigrant finds more than just the American dream

By Karen Pearce, Message Staff Writer SHREVEPORT – Warmth enveloped Jasmine when she came up from the baptismal waters at Broadmoor Baptist Church. “Everything was warm around me and I was feeling happiness and like finally I’m complete,” she said. “I can say it now aloud.... ‘That’s me, that’s what I am, I am Baptist.’” “I can say it out loud now, ‘That’s me, that’s what I am. I am Baptist,’” Jasmine, a Bosnian immigrant, said after being baptized by Donny Durr, minister of business administration at Broadmoor Baptist Church in Shreveport. Although being Baptist is a common thing in Jasmine’s current home state of Louisiana, it is quite unusual in her home country. She grew up in Bosnia where Islam, Orthodoxy and Catholicism vie for prominence. She was born into a Muslim family -- her grandfather was an imam. But her father was an atheist and her mother was never willing to be labeled. “She always said there is just one God and God will help you. That was her way – to find God, to believe that He’s a savior, He’s a father,” Jasmine said. Her mother’s faith opened the way for Jasmine to seek. Today, Jasmine knows that she has met the true God, Jesus Christ, and she has taken the brave step to publically declare her faith … [Read more...]

Louisiana Notables

ON THE MOVE Larry Sylvest is new as pastor at Lewiston Baptist Church, Kentwood. Scott Spins is new as pastor at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church, Mt. Hermon. Russell Zwerner is new as associate pastor at Victory Baptist Church, Walker. Mark (wife Paula) Norwood is new as pastor at First Baptist Church, Patterson. Kenneth Austin has resigned as senior pastor at Bayou Plaquemine Baptist Church. Nathan Coleman is new as youth director at North Shreve Baptist Church, Shreveport. Kelly (husband Chris) Pyle is new as children’s director at Koran Baptist Church, Haughton. HOMECOMING Turkey Creek Baptist Church, Gilbert: 97th Homecoming Celebration, Aug. 2, 10:45 a.m. The homecoming celebration will take place in the church’s new sanctuary in which the first service was held on July 5. The old sanctuary was destroyed by a fire Dec. 4, 2013. Everyone is invited to attend. Pastor: Kyle Spinks. Ebenezer Baptist Church, Jonesboro: 165th Homecoming, Aug. 9, 10:30 a.m. A meal will follow the service in the Family Life Center. Speaker: Clovis Sturdivant. Pastor: Randy Lee. First Baptist Church, Greensburg: 149th Homecoming and dinner on the grounds, Aug. 9, Sunday school, 9:15 a.m.; Worship services, 10:30 a.m. with dinner on the grounds … [Read more...]

‘Word and deed’ healthcare missions leading many to Christ

By Mark Kelly, Baptist Press RICHMOND, Va. — All over the world, International Mission Board’s health care missionaries are living out “word and deed” Christian faith, and people are responding with decisions to follow Jesus — some of them in places where the good news of God’s love is only just now arriving. During the Global Medical Alliance meeting June 1-5 near Richmond, Va., a steady stream of reports illustrated the wide variety of ways Southern Baptists merge proclamation of the gospel with demonstration of God’s love for suffering people: n In West Africa, as the Ebola epidemic exploded, IMB workers focused on raising awareness and teaching prevention techniques in Liberia, Togo and Mali. About 424,000 people were reached through a combination of fliers, TV spots, speakers, hand-washing stations, music concerts and food distributions. Thousands heard the good news and more than 200 professed faith in Christ. n In South Asia, a Vacation Bible School offering from First Baptist Church of Lafayette, purchased health and hygiene items that could be shared with terminally ill patients, along with health lessons and Bible stories. The distribution gave believers access to communities where they had been unwelcome before, … [Read more...]

Landry’s short-lived retirement opens the door to planting churches

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer MANSURA – The retirement years may bring about visions of spending time at the grandchildrens’ home, traveling around the country in an RV or catching catfish for an entire day at an area lake. However, for Norris Landry, retiring meant one thing – planting a church in a community with little evangelical presence. “I was comfortable and everything was great,” said Landry, who retired as pastor of Hessmer Baptist Church last December to serve as a church planter at Point of Life Community Church in Plaucheville. “But I was uncomfortable that I wasn’t doing what God wanted me to do. I don’t know if I will ever retire. As long as I am able to, I will serve.” Landry, who learned to speak the French language as a young boy growing up in Pierre Part, felt called to reach Cajun country with the gospel while attending classes in 1980 at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and serving as pastor of First Baptist Church in Head of Island. A year later, Landry began serving as pastor of Loreauville Mission Church, a mission of First Baptist Church in New Iberia, while co-pastoring five miles away at Coteau Holmes Mission. He remained there until Hessmer Baptist Church called Landry to serve … [Read more...]

Churches coming together for the Kingdom

By Joe Dupree Message Staff Writer FOREST HILL – A helping hand from a sister church help make Vacation Bible School one to remember. More than 20 teenagers and adult volunteers from Kingsville Baptist Church in Ball helped to Forest Hill Baptist Church with its VBS recently. "I believe this is one of our best VBS's we have had here," said George Marshall, pastor of Forest Hill Baptist Church. "Our people have really come together and having Kingsville help was such a blessing to us." Averaging 30 children throughout the week, Forest Hill Baptist began each day with worship rally where the children sang songs and watched a video on the day’s lesson. After worship, there was Bible study before the children rotated between crafts, recreation, snacks and missions. Throughout the week, in the evening, the teens and college students from Kingsville would be there helping Forest Hill teach the children about Jesus and showing, by example, what it meant to come together for the sake of the gospel. "This is what it's all about. Larger churches helping smaller churches," said Marshall. "When a church comes to help with VBS, it's really great for us." And the congregation at Forest Hill didn’t mind sharing their … [Read more...]

Lafayette Louisiana Baptists urge prayer after deadly movie theater shooting

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer LAFAYETTE - Louisiana Baptist pastors in Lafayette are urging prayers after a deadly shooting in a movie theatre happened in their hometown late Thursday evening. Around 7:30 pm Thursday during a showing of the movie “Trainwreck”, 59-year-old John Russel Houser of Phenix City, Ala., the alleged shooter, was sitting alone when he 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. Two people sitting in front of him were killed, one at the theater and another later at an area hospital, according to KLFY-TV in Lafayette. Authorities identified the victims as 21-year-old Mayci Breaux and 33-year-old Jillian Johnson. Nine others were transported to three area hospitals for treatment. Since the shooting, two of the wounded have been released. The rest remain hospitalized, including one with critical injuries. Col. Michael Edmonson of the Louisiana State Police said, Houser was "a drifter who just happened to be in this theater and just took two beautiful lives," He said Houser was apparently acting alone. Craft said Houser had parked his car near the theater's exit door … [Read more...]

GuideStone appeals to SCOTUS over abortion mandate

By Roy Hayhurst, GuideStone Financial Resources DALLAS (BP) -- GuideStone Financial Resources has filed an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court against the government's contraceptive mandate that will require certain ministries served by GuideStone to provide abortion-causing drugs and devices in their employer health plans or risk crippling fines. GuideStone, along with churches and integrated auxiliaries of churches, are exempt from the mandate and not at risk of penalties. For certain religious employers other than churches and their integrated auxiliaries, however, the government has argued that it offers an "accommodation" to religious employers who object to the mandate. Harold R. Loftin Jr., GuideStone general counsel, said the Southern Baptist entity "has, from the filing of our case, objected to the so-called 'accommodation' because the government is attempting to rewrite the terms of GuideStone's plan" to use the plan "to provide access to drugs and devices GuideStone believes to be impermissible. In addition, the government's regulations attempt to require certain of GuideStone's religious employers to take actions that facilitate the delivery of abortion-inducing drugs and devices to our participants and their … [Read more...]