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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Leading Louisiana’s congressional delegation, Johnson, Abraham vote to protect the Sanctity of Life

By Message Staff WASHINGTON, D.C. – Five of Louisiana’s six members of the U.S. House of Representatives have voted in favor of the Pain-Capable Unborn Protection Act, which prohibits any person from performing or attempting an abortion after the 20-week period. During a vote Oct. 3, H.R. 36 passed by a vote of 237 to 189, largely along party lines. Voting in favor of the bill were Louisiana Republicans Ralph Abraham, Garret Graves, Clay Higgins, Mike Johnson and Steve Scalise. The lone no vote from the state’s delegation to the House of Representatives was Cedric Richmond, a Democrat from New Orleans. The piece of legislation now goes before the Senate for consideration. President Donald Trump has already voiced his support of the bill. Following the vote, several members of Congress from Louisiana released statements including two Louisiana Baptists, Abraham, a member of Alto Baptist Church and a medical doctor, and  Johnson, a member of First Baptist Church in Bossier City. “As a doctor, I believe in defending life at all stages. I've heard a child's heart beat at six weeks old,” Abraham said in a written statement. “Babies can feel pain at 20 weeks; to abort them is a cruel practice that must end. The … [Read more...]

NOBTS celebrates 20 years of women’s ministry, honors Rhonda Kelley

by Marilyn Stewart, NOBTS Communications NEW ORLEANS -- Celebrating 20 years of a women's ministry program and its impact around the world, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary honored Rhonda Harrington Kelley, wife of NOBTS President Chuck Kelley, for her integral role in the NOBTS program. The presentation in chapel Sept. 26 was followed by a luncheon in Kelley's honor where the Rhonda Harrington Kelley Scholarship benefiting women in academics was announced, with details forthcoming. Dorothy Kelley Patterson, wife of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary President Paige Patterson and Kelley's sister-in-law, praised her in remarks at the luncheon. "She is in the Titus 2 tradition a spiritually mature woman, a spiritual mother to many women in this room and to countless others, not only on the campus now but scattered throughout the world," Patterson said. NOBTS offers women's ministry certificates at the undergraduate and graduate levels, an undergraduate minor in women's ministry and concentrations in women's ministry with graduate degrees. A ministry wife certificate is also offered. Women from across the nation and as far away as Kodiak Island in Alaska, Canada and Ghana are enrolled. A … [Read more...]

Why Did God Allow This To Happen?

By Greg Laurie, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship They call it “The Mandalay Massacre”. A 64-year-old man armed with more than 10 rifles shot and killed 58 people in what is being called “the largest mass shooting U.S. history.” Hundreds more were wounded. The question that comes to mind at a time like this is. . . Why? Why did God allow such a horrible thing to happen? A Barna Poll asked, “If you could ask God one question and you knew He would give you an answer, what would you ask?” The most common response was, “Why is there pain and suffering in the world?” If you are sharing the gospel, it won’t be long before someone asks, “How could a God of love allow tragedy, pain, and suffering?” C.S. Lewis said that the “problem of pain is atheism’s most potent weapon against the Christian faith.” More people point to the problem of evil and suffering as their reason for not believing in God than any other. It is not merely a problem; it is the problem. So, why does God allow tragedy? If God can prevent such terrible tragedies, why does He allow them to take place? Here’s the classic statement of the problem: Either God is all powerful but not all good, and therefore He doesn’t stop evil—or He’s all good but … [Read more...]