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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Louisiana Notables

EDITOR’S NOTE: Do you have a Revival, Homecoming, a new pastor, a community outreach or a concert? The Baptist Message would love to share your church news with the rest of the state. It is very easy to do, just send in your information (who, what, where and when) to philip@baptistmessage.com or call 318.449.4345. To get your event in the paper, please submit your information three weeks prior to the event. ON THE MOVE Johnny Wagner is the new pastor at Colfax Baptist Church, Colfax. He was ordained to the Gospel ministry during an October 6 ordination ceremony followed by a fellowship. He is the fifth generation grandson of Joseph Willis. Kevin Funderburk is the new Pastor for Discipling and Worship at First Baptist Church of Lake Charles. Kevin and family had previously been serving in East Asia. Delmar Bennett has resigned as Minister of Education & Outreach at Florida Blvd. Baptist Church, Baton Rouge. Galen (wife Robyn) Leger is the new music minister at Ellerbe Baptist Church, Shreveport. Trinity Heights: Collin Wimberly has resigned as pastor at Trinity Heights Baptist Church in Shreveport to church plant in Red River Parish. HOMECOMING Mangham Baptist Church, Mangham: Annual Homecoming … [Read more...]

Rendon credits Christ for his success

By Message Staff HOUSTON, Texas – (LBM) Washington Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon may be known for hitting multiple homeruns that helped fuel multiple comeback victories over the Houston Astros in the 2019 World Series, but he credited his faith for helping him remain calm under pressure. In an interview, Oct. 31, on SportsCenter with ESPN personality Scott Van Pelt, Rendon said his faith guided him through a journey that began on a team that started the season 19-31 and ended Oct. 30 with a victory over the Houston Astros in Game 7 of the annual fall baseball classic. Rendon set career-highs in batting average (.319), home runs (34) and RBIs (126) during the regular season, and followed with two home runs and eight RBIs (five in Game 6 alone) in the World Series. “I think I understand that there is bigger things going on in this world,” Rendon told Van Pelt. “And my Savior Jesus Christ gives me that patience and that slow heart rate.” Rendon is a Houston native who attends the First Baptist Church in the off season. Pastor Gregg Matte told Baptist Press that Rendon is "very laid back" and places his trust in Christ no matter the circumstance. "Anthony is a big-time difference maker on the field and … [Read more...]

Church honors outgoing pastor, Ed Jelks, by naming new children’s center in his honor

(Top photo) Nathan Lott, shown with his wife Dawn, daughters Alyssa, Alayna and Brayden, is the new pastor at Ethel Baptist Church, Ethel. He replaces John “Ed” Jelks, who retired July 31 after having served as pastor of Ethel for the past 12 years. (Bottom photo) In a celebration service, Jelks, who served as a Missions Builder, was recognized for his long service to the church and Mission Builders by having the newly completed children’s center named after him. … [Read more...]

Concerns circulate that NAMB’s lawsuit response erodes historic SBC doctrine

By Will Hall, Message Executive Editor NASHVILLE, Tenn. (LBM)—Two disparate figures have circulated concerns raised about legal positions staked out by the North American Mission Board in response to a lawsuit alleging tortious interference by the entity in the ministry of Will McRaney, the former executive director of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware. Morris H. Chapman, former president and chief executive officer of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee and widely recognized for defending the interests of SBC churches, and Robert Downen, a Houston Chronicle reporter who was a major figure in an exposé which negatively portrayed Southern Baptist churches regarding sexual abuse, individually have circulated on social media a report by Baptist News Global that contains allegations that NAMB’s lawyers’ claims in their legal brief is putting Southern Baptists’ cooperative ministries in danger of liability with regard to lawsuits about sexual abuse or personal injury, for instance. At issue is the historic position stated in the Southern Baptist Convention Constitution that the Convention is “independent and sovereign in its own sphere” and that “the Convention will never attempt to exercise any … [Read more...]

Al Mohler explains women cannot be pastors nor preachers

By Will Hall, Message Executive Editor LOUISVILLE, Ky. (LBM)—The discussion of women pastors continues to expand among Southern Baptists with some choosing to make a distinction between “being the pastor” and simply performing the pastor’s function of “preaching.” The latest dustup resulted from comments by noted theologian John MacArthur, pastor of the Grace Community Church and founder of the Master’s Seminary, both in Sun Valley, California, that he made as part of a panel during a “Truth Matters Conference” held in mid-October. Panelists were asked to give a gut reaction to phrases, and MacArthur was given a name, instead, “Beth Moore,” the top selling writer of Bible studies for LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. MacArthur was trite, replying, “Go home,” apparently in reaction to Moore’s Twitter war during the summer against Southern Baptist leaders who spoke out against women preaching in place of the pastor after Moore had announced she was “speaking” at a church on Mother’s Day. MacArthur connected the issue with the #MeToo movement and his observation that feminists wanted power, not equality. In reply to a follow up question on the matter, MacArthur was equally to the point … [Read more...]

John MacArthur rebukes SBC stance on Critical Race Theory

By Will Hall, Message Executive Editor SUN VALLEY, Calif. (LBM)--During a “Truth Matters Conference” held in mid-October, noted theologian John MacArthur, pastor of the Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, criticized the Southern Baptist Convention for passing Resolution 9 during its annual meeting in June in Birmingham, Alabama. This resolution described two controversial ideologies, Critical Race Theory and Intersectionality, in neutral terms, suggesting that in some cases both have been misused “by individuals with worldviews that are contrary to the Christian faith” to come to wrong conclusions. However, the two theoretical frameworks actually arose from radicals in academia. Critical Race Theory is traced to the Harvard Law School and the founding theorist Derrick Bell who insists that “the law,” for instance, is a power structure based on “white supremacy” and “white privilege.” Meanwhile, the idea of Intersectionality is tied to the UCLA School of Law and Kimberlé Crenshaw, the pioneer of the concept, who developed this abstract idea to help her advance the notion that “privileging of whiteness or maleness” is prevalent throughout society and the cause for the oppression of women of color. The … [Read more...]

Softball player finds family, faith at Louisiana College

By Norm Miller, Louisiana College News PINEVILLE, La. (LCNews)--Samantha Downey is a psychology major from Redondo Beach, California, and was heavily recruited to play collegiate softball. She chose to play for the Lady Wildcats because of the new challenge and a change of scene. Meeting the members of the softball team allayed one apprehension Downey had: “I knew I’d be far from my family, but I’m still going to have family here.” While playing softball, Downey sustained an injury that caused her to reevaluate why she came to Louisiana College. Appreciating the close-knit environment and “homelike atmosphere” of Louisiana College, Downey said her initial visit to the campus inspired her. “I fell in love with LC because of the one-on-one connection students have with professors.” “Before I came to LC, I had no relationship with God. I didn’t even know you could have a relationship with God,” she said. “My mom and dad believed in God but I never knew anything about that.” “And I didn’t understand why things happened,” she said. With a history of bad experiences with churches, Downey had difficulty even entering one. “But when I came here, my best friend -- and she’s my roommate -- she kind of introduced me to Christ. And the … [Read more...]

Louisiana College trustees elect officers; approve scholarships

By Norm Miller, Louisiana College News PINEVILLE, La. (LCNews) – The Louisiana College Board of Trustees unanimously approved two scholarships and elected officers in their Oct. 28 meeting. By unanimous vote trustees elected as chairman, David Jeffreys, associate pastor of Highland Baptist Church in New Iberia; as vice chairman, Michael Evans, pastor of Elwood Baptist Church in Forest Hill; and as secretary, David Lane, pastor of Judson Baptist Church in Walker. The President’s Leadership Award and a STEM to STEAM scholarship were unanimously approved. Based on academic performance and need, the STEM to STEAM full tuition scholarship is limited to five qualified students, total, from the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts or other STEM accredited high schools. “We believe the Arts are no less important than science, technology, engineering, and math are to a holistic liberal arts education,” said Louisiana College President Rick Brewer. “This scholarship reflects our commitment for STEM to become STEAM at Louisiana College and adds our collegial support to what the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts in Natchitoches and other STEM accredited schools are consistently … [Read more...]

Louisiana College honors Hixsons at Founders Day

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) –Louisiana College honored Carroll and Elizabeth Hixson with the unveiling of a historical marker in front of the student center that bears their name during its annual Founders Day celebration Oct. 24. “The Hixsons believed that everyone should have access to a Christian education,” LC President Rick Brewer read from a description on the marker. “Their gift of the Hixson Student Center testifies to the unified hearts, shared convictions and exemplary lives of Carroll and Elizabeth Hixson.” Carroll Hixson was a long-time co-owner of Hixson Funeral Homes, with multiple locations in the state, and served faithfully for 56 years at the First Baptist Church in Lake Charles in various roles that included deacon and Sunday school teacher. His love for Louisiana Baptists eventually led him to serve as a trustee with LC for 28 years, including a stint as chairman. The Hixson heritage traces back to 1907, when his father, J.E. Hixson, was an adjunct professor, according to the LC Office of Communication. In the ensuring years, other family members enrolled as students: Lauren Hixson Philips, an alumna and accountant in Lake Charles; Emma Hixson, a pre-med … [Read more...]

NWLBA honors M.E. Dodd during 50th celebration

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer SHREVEPORT, La. (LBM) – The Northwest Louisiana Baptist Association paid tribute to Cooperative Program father M.E. Dodd during its 50th anniversary celebration, Sunday, Oct. 20. Throughout the evening, Louisiana Baptist and Southern Baptist leaders honored the association with video tributes and statements of appreciation at Summer Grove Baptist Church in Shreveport. NWLBA Director of Missions Lane Moore stood behind the pulpit used by Dodd during his ministry as pastor of the First Baptist Church in Shreveport from 1912-1950 and shared how the legendary pastor helped lead an effort to form the Cooperative Program, Southern Baptists’ main channel of giving to fund cooperative mission causes. Moore recounted how during Dodd’s 1919 SBC Annual Meeting convention sermon, SBC leaders and messengers took up his challenge to increase the Convention’s missions fundraising goal from a previously planned $50 million to $75 million in a difficult post-World War I economy. “Chairman Dodd and his committee went back to work and for several more years revised, re-worked and re-structured a detailed plan that was presented at the 1925 Southern Baptist Convention,” Moore said. “The … [Read more...]