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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Why the Lord put you in a church

By Joe McKeever "Comfort one another." (I Thessalonians 4:18) A lady who read our blog commented that when she was widowed, her church did not minister to her.  And no, she said, “I did not seek counsel from my pastor.  I sought help from the Bible and the Lord alone.” I’m thinking she was saying that somewhat pridefully. I may be reading it wrong. I replied, “God never intended you and me to handle life’s burdens ‘from the Bible and the Lord alone.’ That’s why He put us in a church when He saved us.” We have to give the pastors and leaders a chance to help us. We should let them know we are in crisis. Then, it’s their responsibility to respond appropriately. But if they do not know, they will do nothing and you will suffer needlessly. I repeat: The Lord intends us to help each other handle these critical passages in life. He does not intend us to life our lives in isolation, just reading our Bible and trying to get sustenance from the Lord. He gives help through His people as well as by the Holy Spirit. And often, it’s through His people that the Holy Spirit ministers best. “Love one another.” “Comfort one another.” “Encourage one another.” Have you read that in Scripture? It’s all through the New … [Read more...]

BAGBR dedicates annex to T.W. & Iris Terral

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer BATON ROUGE  (LBM) – After nearly 10 years of praying and planning, the Baptist Association of Greater Baton Rouge has opened its new Adoniram Judson, Jr. Missions and Ministries Center Annex. Pastors, seminary staff and other Louisiana Baptist leaders from around the state gathered Sept. 9 at the BAGBR office to mark the official opening of the facility that was dedicated in honor of T.W. and Iris Terral. He is a former pastor of Lanier Baptist Church in Baton Rouge and was instrumental in starting the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary extension center inside the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola. Tommy Middleton, director of missions for BAGBR, told the Baptist Message Terral was “due” the honor because of his contributions to Kingdom work in the state. “We stand on the shoulders of T.W. Terral,” Middleton said. “He’s been impacting the work in this area for six decades. His footprint is quite large, spiritually, and he is deserving of great honor.” The facility will house a church planting incubator -- where new church starts can use space for office and worship, a New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary extension center, a pastoral ministry training space, … [Read more...]

In memoriam: Emeritus missionary William H. Ichter, 93

By IMB Staff MINDEN - William Harold Ichter, an emeritus International Mission Board missionary who shared the gospel among the American Affinity Peoples in Brazil, died August 29, 2019. He was 93. Bill was born on Dec. 11, 1925, in Nanticoke, Pa., the oldest son of Harriet Ellen and Harold Lester Ichter. In his teen years, his family moved to Louisiana, and he graduated in 1942 from Bolton High School in Alexandria. During World War II, he joined the U.S. Army. Right before boot camp, he attended a campus revival and surrendered his life to Christ. He served in the European theater and received the Bronze Star and the Combat Infantry badge. After he returned to the United States, he met Jerry Catron at Louisiana College. They were married June 2, 1949, and were married for 69 years until her death Sept. 19, 2018. Ichter received the Bachelor of Arts from Louisiana College and the Master of Sacred Music from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. The Ichters served the Lord in three churches: Emmanuel Baptist Church in Alexandria, La., Istrouma Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, La., and First Baptist Church, Amite, La. After sensing God’s call to missions, they were appointed missionaries and went with their … [Read more...]

4. Skills of a church planter: Create ownership (Part Two)

By John Hebert, Louisiana Baptist Missions and Ministry Team Leader ALEXANDRIA (LBM) – Acts 28 describes the Apostle Paul’s first imprisonment in Rome as a sort of home confinement with a live-in guard and that for “two whole years” he was “able to welcome all who came to see him.” One of the “all” who was with him during much of that time was Timothy, who already was a recognized evangelist and overseer among the churches in Europe and Asia Minor, but he still was growing in spiritual maturity under the tutelage of Paul. They first met on Paul’s second missionary journey and throughout the following 14 years, or so, Timothy progressed in leadership and was sent by Paul to be his representative to Corinth and later to Thessalonica. Finally, Paul sent Timothy to Philippi and told the church there, “I have no one else like him” (Philippians 2:20), acknowledging his extensive personal investment in developing Timothy to serve as a leader. Indeed, Timothy’s path of leadership growth is a prime example of how leaders are developed over time through the passing along of wisdom from leader to follower combined with situational opportunities that allow a follower to test and develop his or her own skills. This time-honored … [Read more...]

Manuel shares good news at LC Great Commission Seminar

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE (LBM) - In a day when fewer young professionals nationwide are attending worship services as consistently as prior generations, Louisiana Baptist young adults are bucking the trend, Keith Manuel said during the C3: Christ, Church, Culture Apologetics Conference in Louisiana College’s Guinn Auditorium, Sept. 9. The C3 Conference is sponsored by LC’s Wayne and Martha Jenkins Center for Evangelism and Missions. “God is doing some great things in and through our Millennials,” he said. “And I believe we can reach this state through the things they love.” Citing a Barna study, Manuel said 47 percent of Millennials (those born between 1981 and 1996) and 27 percent of Generation Z (those born between 1997 and 2012) agree that “it is wrong to share one’s personal beliefs with someone of a different faith in hopes that they will one day share the same faith.” However, during his travels around the state, Manuel said he gathered much hope for the faithfulness of Louisiana Baptist students. Manuel believes the next generation of Christ followers will become passionate about evangelism, participation in mission trips, service to their community and helping the less … [Read more...]

Arizona Supreme Court rules in favor of Christian artists

By Will Hall, Message Executive Editor PHOENIX (LBM) — The Arizona Supreme Court has ruled in favor of Christian friends who serve homosexuals among the clientele of their calligraphy and hand-painting business, but ran afoul of a city ordinance by refusing to honor same-sex weddings with their artwork. State law prohibits businesses from discriminating, but does not include homosexuality as a protected class. However, Phoenix is one of four Arizona cities that passed ordinances that offer special rights regarding sexual orientation and do not allow exceptions for religious convictions with regard to providing services for same-sex weddings. Consequently, the owners of the Brush and Nib Studio, Joanna Duka and Breanna Koski, faced fines up to $2,500 and six months in jail for each day they refused to comply with the ordinance with regard to using their talents to create wedding invitations for same-sex couples. The Arizona Supreme Court voted 4-3 that the Phoenix measure was coercive, stating in the majority opinion that “an individual has autonomy over his or her speech and thus may not be forced to speak a message he or she does not wish to say.” The court cited the precedent of the federal First Amendment in making … [Read more...]

RESEARCH: Students who delay dating are better adjusted than peers

By Will Hall, Message Executive Editor ATHENS, Ga. (LBM)—Researchers with the College of Public Health of the University of Georgia have found that “non-dating” adolescents are less likely to exhibit depression and are rated above their peers in social skills and leadership ability. The importance of the study is embedded in statistics that show 56 percent of girls and 49 percent of boys who are 15 years old report having had at least one special romantic relationship in the previous 18 months. The study involved nearly 600 sophomores who were compared as four groups with regard to dating (low, increasing, high, frequent) to see how they “differed on emotional, interpersonal, and adaptive skills,” using teacher observations in the three areas and student self-reports (positive relationships, depression and suicidal ideation). The data showed that “adolescents who were not in a romantic relationship had good social skills and low depression” compared to peers who dated. … [Read more...]

Democratic Party chooses ‘godless’ over ‘God-fearing’

By Will Hall, Message Executive Editor SAN FRANCISCO (LBM) — The Democratic National Committee has passed a resolution praising the religiously unaffiliated while at the same time condemning people of faith who do not support a liberal political agenda. In the “Resolution Regarding Religiously Unaffiliated Demographic” the DNC cited the growth of the number of religiously unaffiliated among Democrats, calling the demographic “the largest religious group within the Democratic Party,” and praising the fact that they “share the Democratic Party’s values, with 70% voting for Democrats, 80% supporting same-sex marriage, and 61% saying immigrants make American society stronger.” Meanwhile, in the same resolution, the DNC denounced those who use their “religious views” to define their “morals, values, and patriotism” and rebuked anyone who believes “religious liberty” protects these views against the competing views of the LGBT community and other opposing groups. The resolution was championed with the DNC by the Secular Coalition of America, a group that lobbies for atheists, agnostics and humanists. … [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 Colt Waagner, David Ray Robertson, Dustin Cunningham were licensed to the gospel ministry during the final night of the Hot August Night Revival at Old Zion Hill Baptist Church, Independence. Pastor: Gary Dennis. Jay Foster is the new interim pastor at Bethsaida Baptist Church, Ida. Ren Watkins has left Broadmoor Baptist Church, Shreveport as middle school minister for First Baptist Church, Moss Bluff. Michael Sanders is the new pastor at West Lake Baptist Church, Doyline. David Martin has retired from Hopewell Baptist Church, Spearsville. John Rushing is the new pastor at Sardis Baptist Church, Farmerville. HOMECOMING Glenmora Baptist Church, Glenmora: 125th Homecoming Celebration, September 27-29, Friday, 6:30 p.m. Speaker: Todd Burnaman; Saturday, 6:30 p.m. Speaker: Neil Treme; … [Read more...]

Nuts and bolts faith

By David Jeremiah EL CAJON, Calif. (BP) -- Dotting the landscape of the rural communities north of Charlotte, N.C., are dozens of the most high-tech companies in the automotive industry. First, there are the home facilities of NASCAR's elite racing teams. Then there are the shops of smaller companies that support those teams by making and servicing the vast inventory of parts and tools needed to build and race a modern stock car. The NASCAR team shops are tens of thousands of square feet of space kept in eat-off-the-floor states of cleanliness. There are rooms and racks full of parts and tools. But NASCAR races are held all over the country. So how do the teams get the cars -- and the vast inventory of parts and tools needed to service them -- to the racetracks several dozen times each racing season? Answer: the hauler. A NASCAR hauler is an 18-wheel behemoth that serves as a traveling shop for the NASCAR teams. The cab has room for two drivers who swap five-hour shifts as the trucks roll non-stop to the tracks. And the trailers are as spotless and well-organized as the shops which send them out every week. Open the back doors of a hauler and you see two levels. In the upper level are two race cars -- the primary car … [Read more...]