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"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Pastor wants more churches to fly Christian flag above the American flag

By K. Allan Blume, Biblical-Recorder SHELBY, N.C. (BP) - North Carolina pastor Rit Varriale wants to see churches fly the Christian flag above the American flag as a biblical statement, reversing flag etiquette that calls for the American flag to be flown in the prominent position. Varriale, as senior pastor of Elizabeth Baptist Church in Shelby, N.C., said the church installed its first-ever flagpole in order to raise the two flags in a special ceremony after morning worship on Sunday (July 5) in which the Christian flag was raised in the higher position -- which prompted interviews by Charlotte-area NBC, CBS and Fox affiliates. "If you stop and think about it, [flag etiquette] is inconsistent with what the Bible teaches us," Varriale said. "We are first and foremost Christians who are called to serve the living God." Varriale said the national motto of the United States, "In God we trust," signed into law in 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, acknowledges there is a Divine Being who is the greatest authority and to whom each person is accountable. "Before our accountability to government is our accountability to God," the pastor said. "So from a Christian perspective, our flag etiquette is completely … [Read more...]

Two churches burned after Nigeria mosque bombing

By Staff, Morning Star News JOS, Nigeria (BP) - The bombing of a mosque by the terrorist group Boko Haram sparked destruction at two churches in Jos, a major city in Nigeria’s north-central state of Plateau. The churches were attacked the night of July 5 amid a week of violence attributed to Boko Haram in which as many as 300 people were killed, both Muslims and Christians. The terrorist group’s stated aim is to impose sharia (Islamic law) throughout the country. An initial bomb was detonated at a shopping complex near the University of Jos while the second blast targeted the Yan Taya Mosque just minutes later, according to a report from a pastor in Jos relayed to Baptist Press. The explosion at the mosque, according to the information received from the pastor in Jos, has been widely seen as direct retaliation against Sheikh Sani Yahaya, who has encouraged Muslims to coexist peacefully with those who hold other religious beliefs. Subsequently, a crowd of Muslims attacked St. Michael's Parish of the First African Church Mission and, near the mosque, the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) Good News Church. The attacks on the church buildings occurred at about 11 p.m. Isaiah Oluwagbayibi, pastor at St. Michael's, … [Read more...]

Cooperative Program 1.5 percent above projection at Fiscal Year three-quarter mark

By Baptist Press NASHVILLE (BP) - Year-to-date contributions to Southern Baptist national and international missions and ministries received by the SBC Executive Committee are 1.45 percent above the year-to-date SBC Cooperative Program Allocation Budget projection, and 1.24 percent above contributions received during the same time frame last year, according to a news release from SBC Executive Committee President Frank S. Page. The year-to-date total represents money received by the Executive Committee by the close of the last business day of June and includes receipts from state conventions, churches and individuals for distribution according to the 2014-15 SBC Cooperative Program Allocation Budget. The $143,051,247.48 received by the Executive Committee for the first nine months of the fiscal year, Oct. 1 through June 30, for distribution through the Cooperative Program Allocation Budget represents 101.45 percent of the $141,000,000.00 year-to-date budgeted projection to support Southern Baptist ministries globally and across North America. The total is $1,752,801.88 or 1.24 percent more than the $141,298,445.60 received through the end of June 2014. The Cooperative Program is Southern Baptists’ channel of giving … [Read more...]

Baylor: homosexuality no longer in conduct policy

By David Roach, Baptist Press WACO, Texas (BP) - Baylor University has deleted an affirmation of heterosexual marriage from its policy on sexual conduct as well as a specific prohibition of "homosexual acts." A university spokeswoman told Baptist Press the revised policy will be interpreted in a manner consistent with the 1963 Baptist Faith and Message, including the 1998 amendment defining marriage as "the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime." Baylor is the world's largest Baptist university and cooperates with the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The BGCT elects 25 percent of the university's board of regents and planned to send Baylor $353,125 this year, according to the convention's 2015 Missions and Ministries Budget. "A review of the sexual conduct policy had been contemplated over the last couple of years," Lori Fogleman, Baylor assistant vice president for media communications, told BP in an email. "These changes were made because we didn't believe the language [of the previous policy] reflected Baylor's caring community. We are pleased with the recent changes to the policy language and that it states more plainly the expectations of the university." The new policy, … [Read more...]

Baptist universities appeal to Supreme Court

By Art Toalston and Bonnie Pritchett, Baptist Press WASHINGTON (BP) - Houston Baptist University and East Texas Baptist University are appealing to the Supreme Court in challenging the Obamacare mandate to provide insurance coverage encompassing abortion-inducing drugs. HBU and ETBU in conjunction with the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty along with Westminster Theological Seminary filed a petition July 8 with the high court in response to a June 22 ruling by a three-judge panel of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals that the mandate did not and, likely, would not "substantially burden their religious exercise." In all, 56 cases involving 140 nonprofit plaintiffs have been filed against the mandate, according to the Becket Fund. Among various cases in the news is a last-minute temporary injunction granted to Little Sisters of the Poor from facing enforcement of the mandate in January 2014. Two other Baptist entities -- GuideStone Financial Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention and Truett-McConnell College in Georgia -- are involved in a separate challenge (GuideStone v. Sebelius), joined by Reaching Souls International, an Oklahoma-based missions organization. A federal district judge's injunction blocking … [Read more...]

LC and Rapides Parish School Board strike dual enrollment agreement

By Norm Miller, LC Communications PINEVILLE - The Rapides Parish School Board voted July 7 to partner with Louisiana College to allow qualified high school students to enroll at the college in up to six hours of college courses per semester. “We are pleased almost beyond words with this development,” said Dr. Rick Brewer, president of Louisiana College. “We are grateful for the cooperation of board president Keith Breazeale and all the board members, and for their unified vision of advancing the educational quality and content for local residents. Louisiana College is elated to be a part of that equation.” Dual enrollment permits qualified high school juniors and seniors to enroll in college courses that, when successfully completed will apply to the students’ high school and college credit hours simultaneously. Limited enrollment for high school sophomores may be available, but will require the high school principal’s recommendation. Dual enrollment will be available to homeschooled students whose curricula meet Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education requirements. “The academic and economic benefits of our agreement are remarkable,” Brewer said. “Those benefitting the most from this include … [Read more...]

First West hires new executive pastor

  First West hires new executive pastor WEST MONROE – First West has a former Tennessee executive pastor to the same position. Formerly at First Baptist Church in Collierville, Tenn., Tim Spencer was hired as the new executive pastor of First West, the church announced on July 5. As executive pastor, Spencer will oversee the daily operations of First West, as well as provide leadership to its staff and various ministries. Spencer, who has been married to his wife Suzy for 21 years, said his family is excited about the future at the Northeast Louisiana Baptist Association church. “What a blessing to join the incredible work and ministry God is doing at First West,” Spencer said in a news release. “Suzy and I are excited about working with Lead Pastor Michael Wood and entire leadership team to share God’s love in Northeast Louisiana, New Orleans and the world. We are praying for great things. Things that only God can do. We have the faithful expectation that First West will be energized for Christ-centered worship, community and service.” Spencer has served at First Baptist Collierville since June 2000. In addition to executive pastor, Spencer has served as associate pastor of worship as well as leading key … [Read more...]

Georgia Barnette Mission Conference Center Update

By Joe Dupree, Message Staff Writer WOODWORTH -- If you have been to Tall Timbers Conference Center in Woodworth recently, you may have noticed some construction going on in the middle of the campus. What is being built between the main offices and the cafeteria is the $1.255 million, 8,400-square-foot Georgia Barnette Mission Conference Center. “The Georgia Barnette Conference Center will be a valuable asset to recapture missions as a primary goal of our work in reaching Louisiana for Christ,” said John Hebert, Missions & Ministry Director “The building will contain an on-site office, coffee bar in a spacious foyer, an assembly area that will seat 280 (400 with wings expanded), and seven conference/training.” "We are very excited about getting this project going," said Robert Woods, Louisiana Baptist Convention's Mission Builder Strategist. "When it is finally finished, it will be a great building for Louisiana Baptists. It's something we've been looking forward to starting and the groups who will be coming to help us build it." The pouring of the concrete slab took place Monday (June 29) and framing of the building will begin July 13 when 45 Kingdom Builders volunteers from Louisiana and Texas come to lend a … [Read more...]

Police seek additional information on former New Orleans youth minister accused of sexually abusing juveniles

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer NEW ORLEANS – Investigators are seeking any additional information on a former youth minister arrested on allegations of sexually abusing two teenage boys. Ryan Rodgers, who was a youth minister at several churches in Jefferson, Orleans and Plaquemines parishes, turned himself into authorities the morning of June 26. Rodgers is accused of touching two teenage boys in appropriately while they were sleeping, according to a press release from the New Orleans Police Department. The victims informed detectives that Rodgers woke the boys and fondled them. They told Detective Stephanie Taillon this went on for more than a year. Taillon learned Rodgers bought the victims underwear and made them pose in front of him. Most of the encounters occurred inside Rodgers’ Baronne Street apartment in New Orleans, the press release said. Detectives believe Rodgers assaulted other victims as well and are asking anyone who is a victim to contact Taillon at 504.658.5733. When the news first broke, some media outlets implied Rodgers had an ongoing affiliation with New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, identifying him as a youth minister with the seminary. However, according to Kelley, these … [Read more...]

LC’s Brewer to bi-vocational pastors: ‘Act justly. Love mercy. Walk humbly.’

By Norm Miller, Louisiana College Communications PINEVILLE --  Rick Brewer, president of Louisiana College, keynoted the June 26 afternoon session of the Bi-vocational and Small Church Leadership Network National Celebration, held June 26-27 on LC’s campus. Prior to his remarks, Brewer invited the Blackwell Trio -- who had opened the meeting -- to join him around the piano in an impromptu mini-songfest. “I want to share with you a few words of challenge and commitment,” Brewer later said, referring to Micah 6:8 as “a summary statement for those of us as Christ followers.” Brewer quoted the verse: “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” “If we could just simply do those things daily, what an impact we would have on the world around us,” Brewer said. “To act justly. You know what that means: do the right thing … be men and women of integrity … be a peacemaker. Do the things that bring about healing.” Loving mercy means to be merciful, “to extend acts of kindness, random acts of kindness” and practice the “Golden Rule -- to treat people even better than you would expect to be treated -- to leave places … [Read more...]