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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Embrace the summer

By Steve Horn As a pastor, I seemed to always face the temptation to dread the summer because of the “summer slump.” The truth is too many times as churches and as leaders we “throw away the summer.” We decide that there are too many distractions, too many vacations, so we must wait for the fall. The problem is that we lose great momentum. So, even though some summer slump in churches is inevitable, I encourage all of us to “embrace the summer.” How do we do that in the church? Resist the notion that you cannot grow this summer. People move in the summer. We have our largest evangelistic outreach of the year in Vacation Bible School. These are opportunities to grow. Raise the Expectations for the summer. Often times, we set up our own failure by low expectations. I encourage us, since we know that there are challenges to the summer, to … Work harder. Set the tone by your own preparation. Seek other ways to stay connected. Reset the Mission of your class, small group, or church. The summer may be just the time to shake things up, try new things, and then be ready for the fall. Rally around something. Have a “summer project.” Just do something. Rally around a cause. People will stay connected … [Read more...]

Port Barre expanding Kingdom boundaries

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PORT BARRE (LBM) – Nearly 150 volunteers from Texas have spent a portion of their summer helping the First Baptist Church in Port Barre to expand its Gospel reach into the community through the construction of a worship center that will accommodate a growing membership. Under the direction of Mike Shumock, who serves as missions builder strategist for Louisiana Baptists and is the coordinator for Baptist Builders, a construction missions group, three teams from Texas are working with Louisiana Baptists to frame, install sheetrock, wire and plumbing inside the 20,000-square-foot facility. Once completed, the structure will house a worship center (with future seating for up to 600), youth room, reception area, nursery and coffee bar as well as restrooms and an education space with nine classrooms. Groundbreaking was held in early January and the new facility is expected to open by Christmas. “It’s been an amazing experience for us,” Pastor Benji Richard told the Baptist Message. “We have heard about groups coming to build other churches, but there is nothing like a first-hand experience. They don’t make it about just building a building but make it about Kingdom work. They have … [Read more...]

SBC NEWS: Charges, Challenges, Changes

By Will Hall, Message Executive Editor BETH MOORE: SBC is misogynistic LifeWay’s top seller of books and Bible studies sparked a social media battle when she announced she would be preaching on Mother’s Day at a large church. A number of Southern Baptist Convention theologians weighed in and Beth Moore fired back, unleashing her discontent even with evangelicals’ support of Donald J. Trump during the 2016 presidential election. One of the first critics to comment was Owen Strachan, associate professor of Christian theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri. Strachan blogged, May 7, that it was against God’s Word and design for “a woman to teach and preach to adult men.” Calling it a “sinful practice,” he added that “to do so is to bring the church body into disobedience against God.” Moore tweeted May 11 that she was “compelled to my bones by the Holy Spirit … to draw attention to the sexism and misogyny that is rampant in segments of the SBC, cloaked by piety and bearing the stench of hypocrisy. ...” and appeared to peg her distress to several high-profile SBC pastors who supported then-candidate Trump. “I had the eye opening experience of my life in 2016. A fog cleared for … [Read more...]

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 Stephen (wife Crystal) Craver is the  new director to the Shreveport Metro Baptist Collegiate Ministry. Aaron Brewer is the new associate director for the Baptist Collegiate Ministry in New Orleans. REVIVAL Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church, Mount Hermon: Family Crusade, July 7-10. Evangelist: 2TALK42 Ministries. Pastor: Scott Spinks. Philadelphia Baptist Church, Deville: Revive Monday, July 8, 15, 22, 29. July 8: Evangelist: Bob Pittman. Worship: Jason Crabb. July 15, Evangelist: Jerry Chaddick. Worship: PBC Worship Team. July 22: Evangelist: Mike Stone. Worship: PBC Worship Team. July 29: Tarande Greene in concert. Pastor: Philip Robertson. Standard Baptist Church, Olla: Revival, July 14-17, Sunday, 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., Monday-Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. Evangelist: Malcom Ellis. Pastor: Shad … [Read more...]

HANKINS: ‘Farewell and thank you’

By David E. Hankins, LBC Executive Director, retired   MANDEVILLE, La. (LBM) -- Greetings, Louisiana Baptists! My official retirement date as your Executive Director has come. Thus, I am writing to bid you farewell and to thank you for the many, many blessings you have bestowed upon Patty and me these last 14 ½ years. You have been faithful friends and fervent prayer partners. You have joined me in a myriad of ministries sponsored by the LBC for the Lord Jesus. You have been kind and forgiving. You have given leadership and followership. What a joy it has been to serve with you! We have moved to Mandeville, Louisiana, near our youngest son and his family. We look forward to a less demanding schedule, to time with grandchildren, and to serving in the local church. I have no career plans (been there, done that) but will preach and teach as the Lord allows. I look forward to continuing participation as a Louisiana Baptist. I believe God has great things in store for LBC.  Your new executive director Dr. Steve Horn is already at the helm. He brings to the office great giftedness, fruitful experience, a wonderful spirit, and a love for Jesus and the church. I have every confidence you will thrive under his … [Read more...]

Louisiana Baptists Executive Director-Elect Steve Horn releases speaking schedule

For a chance to hear newly elected Louisiana Baptists Executive Director Dr. Steve Horn, multiple chances are available around the state. Horn has a speaking schedule through late October: July 8, 6 p.m. - Zoar Baptist Church, Baton Rouge July 21, 8 a.m. - Philadelphia Baptist Church, Deville July 27, 6 p.m. - First Baptist Church, Covington July 28, 9:30 and 11 a.m. - First Baptist Church, Covington August 18, 10:15 a.m. - Mount Vernon Baptist Church, West Monroe August 25, 6 p.m. - First Baptist Church, Pineville September 4, 6:30 p.m. - Bayou Church, Lafayette (Men's night event) September 8, 10:30 a.m. - First Baptist Church, Haughton September 15, 10:30 a.m. - First Baptist Church, Winnfield September 22, 5 p.m. - First Baptist Church, Eunice (Acadia Baptist Association meeting) September 29, 10:30 a.m. - Alto Baptist Church October 6, time TBD - Bayou Church, Lafayette October 7, 6:30 p.m. - Riverside Baptist Church, Watson (Eastern Baptist Association meeting) October 13, 9 a.m. - First Baptist Church, Ponchatoula October 14, 6:30 p.m. - Holmesville Baptist Church, Downsville (Concord Union Baptist Association meeting) October 17, 6 p.m. - First Baptist Church, Broussard … [Read more...]

Pointing upward

By David Jeremiah EL CAJON, Calif. (BP) -- For half a century, the faithful parishioners of First Church of Christ in Unionville, Ct., had missed their steeple. First built in 1885, it had loomed above the town's center but suffered deterioration and was torn down. Church members wanted to replace the steeple, but the project was too expensive. Then came Verizon Wireless. When the company needed to build a cellphone tower in Unionville, locals worried about the landscape. So the phone company rebuilt the steeple out of steel and fiberglass so radio waves could bounce from antennas hidden inside the structure. Some of the church members hesitated, but agreed with the project. "We thought it would be nice to have a steeple again," said one attender. Centuries ago, it was London's Sir Christopher Wren, an architect, who fine-tuned the image of the steeple. To Wren, a steeple was the finger of God pointing upward. I love steeples for that reason. In enduring fashion, they point toward the heavens and direct the eye upward to our risen Savior. And that's the wonderful message of the church. Pointing upward People, trends and methods may come and go, but one thing endures: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today … [Read more...]

Tragedy turns to triumph in wake of pastor’s death

By Message Staff TERRYTOWN – Tragedy turned into triumph on the Westbank campus of Celebration Church, a week after its pastor was tragically killed while trying to help a motorist change a flat tire. Dennis Watson, lead pastor of Celebration Church that has campuses in the Baton Rouge, New Orleans and Northshore areas, told members and guests inside a packed worship center on the Westbank campus Sunday, June 23, they have showed their trust in God and love for Pastor Claude Williams and his family. Williams was one of three people who died Sunday evening, June 16, while trying to help a motorist change a flat tire on the upper level of the Westbank Expressway in Marrero. During the service, 15 people turned to Christ, and many more made decisions to accept Jesus as Lord during two memorial services held June 21 and 22. “The Lord tells us we will experience trials and tragedy in life,” Watson said during the June 23 worship service. “The Lord also tells us that He will bring us through our trials and tragedies. To overcome life’s trials and tragedies we must remember who God is and what He is able to do for and through us.” Drawing his message from 2 Corinthians 1:1-11, Watson reminded the congregation that God … [Read more...]

Life lessons from Psalm 23

By Waylon Bailey God’s Word is filled with lessons about life. It is one of the reasons the Bible has sold more copies than any  other book in history, possibly over one billion copies. Within Holy Scripture there are multiple passages which draw us closer to God and help us cope with the daily struggles of life. Psalm 23 stands near the top of that list. Here are three amazing lessons which help us with life. First, God wants to guide us as a shepherd guides his sheep, giving leadership and protection. In Israel, shepherds did not drive their sheep; they led them. While we sometimes think of God as demanding and driving, He actually wants to walk with us and lead us in His righteous paths. We all know that life can become difficult and overwhelming, but God leads us with His presence through the deepest valleys of life. Psalm 23 teaches that we can always depend on God. Second, God wants us to enjoy His presence forever. He “prepares a table” for us. Is there any time of the day better than when we sit around a table eating, talking, and laughing? God desires that we have that kind of fellowship with Him. Third, God wants to bless you. The psalm ends in a grand crescendo when the psalmist declares: “Surely … [Read more...]

SEBTS’ Lyon new VP for NOBTS

By Marilyn Stewart, NOBTS Communications NEW ORLEANS (NOBTS) -- New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary President Jamie Dew named Larry Lyon, June 19, the vice president of enrollment, beginning July 1. Lyon, who has served as director of enrollment at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary for eight years, steps into a new position approved by the NOBTS trustees executive committee in their regularly scheduled meeting June 4. Noting that enrollment grew significantly at Southeastern during Lyon's tenure there, Dew said Lyon is "a gifted administrator with proven abilities in the areas of recruiting, retention and completion" and "a proven leader with exceptional strategic instinct and training. I'm excited to see him develop an efficient and effective enrollment strategy for NOBTS." The announcement is Dew's first official action since his election as NOBTS president by the full board of trustees June 5. President Emeritus Chuck Kelley retires July 31 after leading the seminary for 23 years. According to the job description approved by trustees, the vice president for enrollment, as chief strategist and catalyst for all enrollment-related matters, will "drive and direct the institutional strategy" for maximum … [Read more...]