The Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission declined either to support or oppose an alternative stem cell bill approved by the Senate April 11. WASHINGTON (BP) – The Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission declined either to support or oppose an alternative stem cell bill approved by the Senate April 11. ERLC President Richard Land and biomedical consultant C. Ben Mitchell issued a statement prior to the Senate vote commending the bill sponsors’ efforts to advance ethical research but expressing concern the measure might implicitly affirm the destruction of some human embryos. The Senate voted 70-28 for the Hope Offered Through Principled and Ethical Stem Cell Research Act (S. 30). Known as the HOPE Act, the bill is designed to promote efforts to derive stem cells with the qualities of those found in embryos –- and known as pluripotent cells -- without creating embryos for experimentation or destroying them. Passage of the HOPE Act followed immediately after the Senate’s 63-34 vote for the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act (S. 5), a bill that would provide federal funds for stem cell experimentation that results in the killing of embryos. S. 5 would OK grants for … [Read more...]

Which of the three “B’s” are the best benchmarks on which to judge the health of a Southern Baptist church – buildings, budgets or baptisms? ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) – Which of the three “B’s” are the best benchmarks on which to judge the health of a Southern Baptist church – buildings, budgets or baptisms? Baptisms is the best indicator, according to a new study, because baptisms measure whether churches are reaching the lost – not just moving believers around. The “Church Planting Survivability and Health Study” was conducted by the North American Mission Board’s Center for Missional Research based in Alpharetta, Ga. Richard Harris, vice president of NAMB’s church planting group, described church planting as “one of the best evangelistic tools available to Southern Baptists. The study validates that church plants have some of the most effective ministries because they have to be contextual to the culture without compromising the message if they are to survive.” The research – based on more than 500 completed telephone interviews sampled from 1,000 church plants from 12 denominations and networks – indicates that flourishing new church plants with a higher-than-average number of baptisms during their first four … [Read more...]

International Mission Board trustees rejoiced during their recent meeting in Memphis, Tenn., that the 2006 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering is projected to exceed the goal of $150 million, which would be a record. MEMPHIS, Tenn. (BP) – International Mission Board trustees rejoiced during their recent meeting in Memphis, Tenn., that the 2006 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering is projected to exceed the goal of $150 million, which would be a record. David Steverson, vice president of finance and treasurer for the International Mission Board, reported the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering is projected to exceed the $150 million national goal for 2006. A final report will be released after the May 31 close-out date for the offering receipts. Trustees appointed 49 new missionaries March 21 during a service at KirbyWoodsBaptist Church in Memphis. The latest addition of missionaries brings the total number of overseas personnel to 5,160, including more than 4,000 long-term missionaries on the field. In other business, IMB Personnel Committee Chairman Paul Chitwood said that the ad hoc committees revisiting a baptism guideline and prayer language policy for missionary candidates, both adopted in November 2005, had … [Read more...]

Zach Johnson’s two-shot victory at the 2007 Masters Tournament on Easter Sunday surprised those inside and out of the golf world -- but as no surprise to those who know him, Johnson boldly used the occasion to proclaim his love and faith in Jesus Christ. AUGUSTA, Ga. (BP) – Zach Johnson’s two-shot victory at the 2007 Masters Tournament on Easter Sunday surprised those inside and out of the golf world -- but as no surprise to those who know him, Johnson boldly used the occasion to proclaim his love and faith in Jesus Christ. “Being Easter, my goal was the glorify God and hopefully I did that today,” said the Cedar Rapids, Iowa, native, who attended the same high school as fellow Christian and former NFL MVP quarterback Kurt Warner. Johnson credited his faith in God and the counsel of longtime PGA Tour chaplain Larry Moody of Search Ministry, whose Bible study Johnson attends on a weekly basis, for allowing him to remain calm in the competitive and often chaotic final round. The 31-year-old golfer entered the final round at Augusta National Golf Club two shots behind third-round leader Stuart Appleby and one behind four-time Masters champion Tiger Woods, the heavy favorite in Sunday’s sunny, but cool final … [Read more...]

The annual spring tournament of the Louisiana Baptist Golf Fellowship is set for May 7-8 at the OakWing Golf Club here, on the grounds of the former England Air Force Base. ALEXANDRIA – The annual spring tournament of the Louisiana Baptist Golf Fellowship is set for May 7-8 at the OakWing Golf Club here, on the grounds of the former England Air Force Base. Sponsored by the Louisiana Baptist Message and Louisiana Baptist Foundation, the tournament is open to all Louisiana Baptists and their guests. “We’re excited to bring this year’s golf tournament to Alexandria and the beautiful OakWing Golf Club,” said Editor Kelly Boggs. “Come, join in the fellowship, and bring your friends.” Wayne Taylor, executive director of the Foundation, also had words of welcome for tournament participants. “We’re looking forward to a great day on the links,” Taylor said. “You’re going to be impressed with this course.” OakWing possesses a character all its own, according to its website – www.oakwinggolf.com – which includes illustrations of each hole. The course blends the natural beauty of Louisiana bayous, lakes and towering tree-lined fairways with the challenge of rolling hills and undulating greens. OakWing, a … [Read more...]

The steeple that served as a beacon of hope in the city of New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina once again graces the top of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary’s Leavell Chapel. NEW ORLEANS (BP) – The steeple that served as a beacon of hope in the city of New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina once again graces the top of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary’s Leavell Chapel. Workers from Campbellsville Industries completed the installation of the new steeple on March 29, 19 months to the day after Hurricane Katrina. The three-day installation process culminated with the placement of the 46-foot spire, and a small crowd of seminary students, professors and staff members cheered as the crane operator gently eased the last section into place. In the days following Hurricane Katrina, seminary officials worked diligently to restore power and illuminate the steeple. Their desire was to offer a symbol of hope in a hurting city. In October 2005, the illuminated steeple provided the lone point of light in a sea of darkness -- the only light for miles. While the aluminum-clad steeple suffered only minor external damage, Katrina weakened the internal steel structure. Last July, seminary officials … [Read more...]

Three deaths and seven illnesses beset a 25-member Georgia mission team on a construction missions assignment here recently. NEW ORLEANS – Three deaths and seven illnesses beset a 25-member Georgia mission team on a construction missions assignment here recently. Walter Hill Jr., a retired electronics engineer, died April 7 at a New Orleans hospital following a heart attack. He was 77. Two other members of the First Baptist Church of Lakeview in Rossville, Ga., were called home by the deaths of close family members. And seven members of the team were downed at various times during the week by a virus. Despite all, the team kept on, rewiring and replumbing the gutted worship center of Edgewater BaptistChurch in New Orleans’ Gentilly neighborhood. “Quitting was not an option,” said Max Parris, pastor of First Lakeview in Rossville. “The team knew that God had brought them to a city that really needed light.” Team members concurred. “We went there to minister, but we were ministered to by the wonderful people at Gentilly and Edgewater Baptist Churches who cared for us and comforted us,” Dianne Godfrey said. Jay Schroder, Edgewater’s construction project coordinator, said that “despite all the difficulties, … [Read more...]

The second writing conference sponsored by the Louisiana Baptist Message – Get Published! – informed and inspired an audience of at least 70, which was more than twice the number who attended last year’s inaugural writers’ conference. ALEXANDRIA – The second writing conference sponsored by the Louisiana Baptist Message – Get Published! – informed and inspired an audience of at least 70, which was more than twice the number who attended last year’s inaugural writers’ conference. Cheryl Turner, a Eunice resident who attended the Message’s first writers’ conference last year, returned for more this year. Invited to tell her story to the conference participants,Turner said she was so inspired by last year’s conference that she began a monthly newsletter she’s maintained for a year, growing a readership of about 300 people. “It was [at the conference] that I met other women from all over the state who shared my passion for ministering to women,” Turner wrote on her website, sparrowsnestministries.com. “I also had the privilege of meeting and talking to Karen Willoughby, Kelly Boggs…Carolyn Curtis, and [others]. It was after hearing their testimonies and receiving their advice that I was encouraged to begin this … [Read more...]

In a 5-4 decision, the court upheld the federal ban on the grisly procedure known as partial-birth abortion. The U.S. Supreme Court building is a monumental structure, an identifiable edifice that is striking not just for its architecture, but also for the process of justice that it represents. The symbolism of its entryway façade with the words “EQUAL JUSTICE UNDER LAW” is timeless. The nine justices now serving in this prominent landmark issued a ruling on April 19 that is no less monumental. In a 5-4 decision, the court upheld the federal ban on the grisly procedure known as partial-birth abortion, with Roberts, Scalia, Thomas, Alito and Kennedy forming the majority and Ginsburg, Stevens, Souter and Breyer expressing dissent. Observers had guessed the composition of the conservative and liberal blocs that formed, except that Kennedy was viewed as an unknown, a moderate jurist who could decide either way. Writing the majority opinion, Kennedy decidedly established a new direction for the court, emphasizing a remade perspective on abortion restrictions by underscoring the state’s valid interests in “respect for life, including the unborn.” To be sure, Kennedy was clear to reaffirm the Roe v. … [Read more...]

God loves rascals. It is not just something that God did a long time ago with a man named Jacob. He wrestles with us today to bring us sinners to himself. The story of the patriarchs is told in a magnificent way in the first book of the Bible. Genesis contains fifty chapters of adventure and inspiration, the record of the legacy of faith and of faithful men. As the Bible gives these accounts, it does not do so through the lenses of rose-colored glasses.  We read in the record both of the virtue and the vice of these who founded our faith. That is especially true of the life of Jacob – the third in the trilogy of our founding fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. We know that Jacob was born a twin. His parents, Isaac and Rebekah, prayed for twenty years that God would give them an heir.  Finally, God answered their prayers, and gave them not one but two heirs – he gave them a double blessing, so to speak.  You who have gone to the hospital to bring home your little bundle of joy and have brought home two bundles of joy know that double blessing can have some complications.  That was certainly the case in the birth of these twin boys. Jacob and Esau were, without a doubt, “un-identical” twins. I remember an occasion … [Read more...]