By Marilyn Stewart, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary communications PHOENIX (BP) -- Fred Luter, pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, said he began his ministry as a street preacher who didn't know anything about the Southern Baptist Convention. Luter, a former SBC president, was one of four pastors who gave a "Common Ground Testimony" to encourage those in ministry during the SBC Pastors' Conference meeting in Phoenix June 11-12. "I was raised as a National Baptist," he said. "Someone asked me if I would be interested in submitting my resume to Franklin Avenue Baptist Church. I put in my resume, but I was scared. I had never pastored; I wasn't ordained; I hadn't been to seminary yet. But a congregation of 50 people asked me to be their pastor." Luter told the audience he was convinced that if they were faithful in four areas, God would bless their ministries. "First, be faithful to God," he said. "God called you to ministry. Whatever you do in life, make certain you are faithful to God. When you stand in the pulpit, be faithful to God who called you." Second, Luter said, pastors should be faithful to God's Word. "Preach it, teach it and live the word of God. If people are saved, it … [Read more...]

By Message Staff UPDATED 2:45 p.m. 6/14 Elected officials, Louisiana Baptist pastors and others continued to offer prayers of support Wednesday afternoon, June 14, for Louisiana congressmen Steve Scalise, who was in critical condition after undergoing surgery for injuries sustained when a gunman opened fire on the House Majority WHIP earlier in the day. "Join with me and my family as we pray for Rep Scalise's quick and complete recovery," said Louisiana Baptist Convention President Gevan Spinney, who is also pastor of First Baptist Church in Haughton. U.S. Rep. Ralph Abraham said in a statement released to the Baptist Message that he and his wife, Dianne, are praying for Scalise's recovery and thanked law enforcement officers for their acts of bravery. “Since May, someone has threatened to shoot Rep. McSally in the head; someone tried to run Rep. Kustoff off the road with her car; and now a man seemingly attempted to assassinate several members of Congress at a baseball practice," said Abraham, a member of Alto Baptist Church. "I know we’re a divided country, but Americans do not settle political disagreements with violence. No matter how divided we might be in our opinions, we absolutely cannot … [Read more...]