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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Flames of revival evident in stirring of baptismal waters

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ZWOLLE (LBM) – Adelyn Penfield experienced a double blessing during her recent baptism, when both of her grandfathers simultaneously baptized the eight-year-old inside the First Baptist Church, Zwolle, worship center. For Adelyn, the day in late July was “special and unforgettable.” For the two grandfathers, the event marked the first time they baptized a grandchild together, a rarity they do not take for granted. “It’s neat to see your granddaughter coming in there for baptism,” First Zwolle Pastor Jerry Penfield said. “It’s hard to hold back your tears of joy. She was so excited and was fired up, which made us pretty proud grandfathers.” Fellow grandfather Steve Neesley, who recently retired as pastor of the Church at Marksville and is a chaplain for a hospital in Alexandria, said baptizing Adelyn brought back fond memories of leading her to repent for salvation the month before. During his visit to her home in Many, she said she wanted to take that step of faith, Neesley said. “She walked in and said, ‘Paw Paw, I’ve been thinking of getting baptized,’” he recalled. “I asked are you ready to ask Jesus in your heart and she said, ‘Yes.’ She was just ready. I got to be … [Read more...]

Lean budget ahead for Louisiana Baptists’ cooperative missions and ministries in ’18

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer WOODWORTH – Louisiana Baptists will be operating in 2018 with its leanest Cooperative Program budget in 20 years. During a Sept. 26 meeting at Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center in Woodworth, the Executive Board approved the Business and Finance Committee’s 2018 financial plan based on Cooperative Program contributions of $19,507,905, a decrease of $535,426. Cooperative Program projections are based on actual receipts from August 2016 thru July 2017. The allocation formula for distributing Cooperative Program gifts between the Southern Baptist Convention and Louisiana Baptist causes remains unchanged, with 63.26 percent supporting ministries in the state and 36.74 percent forwarded to fund national entities. This equates to $12,340,701 in Cooperative Program funds for Louisiana Baptist missions, a decrease of $338,710 from 2017. “Our churches and our members continue to face difficult financial challenges,” David Hankins, Executive Director for Louisiana Baptists, told the Baptist Message. “The continued energy recession coupled with last year’s floods have significantly impacted our churches and in turn, us. “Congregations have had to adapt and so have we,” Hankins … [Read more...]

GuideStone vows to continue advocating for minister’s housing allowance

By Roy Hayhurst, GuideStone Financial Resources DALLAS, Texas – A federal district court judge ruled Oct. 6 that the minister’s housing allowance, which allows churches to designate part of eligible ministers’ income as a tax-free housing allowance, is unconstitutional. The judge in the case — Barbara Crabb, an appointee from President Jimmy Carter’s administration — made the same ruling in 2013. That ruling was overturned in 2014 by the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago. Both the 2013 case and this year’s case were brought by the Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF). In 2014, the case was dismissed by the circuit court of appeals because the plaintiffs did not have standing to bring the case. “We have monitored this case and its predecessor cases closely and will seek as part of a long-standing coalition of ministerial benefit boards to file a friend-of-court brief on appeal at the appropriate time,” said GuideStone President O.S. Hawkins. “The housing allowance, far from being a government endorsement of religion, as Judge Crabb contends, actually removes government from the equation. Were it not for the housing allowance, the government would be imposing a tax on religious employers and … [Read more...]