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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Louisiana Baptist leaders hopeful after meeting with Trump

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer NEW YORK CITY – Donald Trump displayed a tremendous amount of humility while coming across as pro-life, pro-Israel and pro-traditional marriage during a meeting today with more than 1,000 social conservatives, one Louisiana Baptist pastor who attended told the Baptist Message. “He was the most humble I have seen him,” said Louisiana Baptist Convention President Gevan Spinney. “He was responding rather than reacting. When [former Gov.] Mike Huckabee led the discussion time with Trump, he seemed really humble just to be there.” Spinney, who is pastor of First Baptist Church in Haughton, said while Trump did reference time spent attending Sunday school as a child he did not come across as overtly religious. “You try to look for things he said to give you hope he’s a believer but he didn’t give us any indication he was,” he said. Spinney said Trump mentioned he potentially could name between three and five Supreme Court appointees as president and that Trump emphasized he leaned pro-life and emphasized religious freedom was a main concern of his. “He said he was tired of Christians being attacked in courts,” Spinney said. “He made a statement that when he became president he was going to … [Read more...]

Best-selling author to headline Louisiana College’s TEACH training and conference

By Norm Miller, Louisiana College communications PINEVILLE - Louisiana College’s annual TEACH training and conference will feature a return visit to LC by Linda Karges-Bone, June 29. An author of 34 books on parenting and education, Karges-Bone’s most recent book “Rich Brain, Poor Brain: Bridging Social and Synaptic Gaps in Schools” is a bestseller that has captured the attention of educators nationwide. She will offer a two-part presentation in LC's Bolton Chapel, June 29, from 8:30 - 11:30 a.m., and then 12:30 - 2:30 p.m. “Having known Dr. Bone for almost three decades as a colleague at Charleston Southern University, I can assure those attending our TEACH program that they will receive more than instruction. Dr. Bone’s approach and content will enlighten the intellect and instill inspiration,” said Rick Brewer, president of Louisiana College. Nancy O. Taylor, headmistress of The Regis School in Houston, Texas, said: "It is a rare opportunity to host a person who can ‘think on her feet’ and field every question sent her way. The range of [Dr. Bone’s] research, contacts, and knowledge is impressive. She impeccably models how to teach as she nurtures and inspires confidence in her audiences." Jamie Norwood, an elementary … [Read more...]

Finals MVP LeBron James on comeback: God doesn’t ‘put you in situations that you can’t handle’

By Michael Foust, Christian Examiner OAKLAND, Calif. (Christian Examiner) – LeBron James had just helped deliver Cleveland its first major sports championship in more than 50 years Sunday night, but he didn't want to talk only about basketball. He had a bigger picture in mind, and it included God. "I gave everything that I had. I put my heart, my blood, my sweat and my tears into this game, and against all odds, .." James said on national TV afterwards, not finishing the sentence but clearly referencing the Cavaliers' historic comeback from a 3-1 deficit against the Golden State Warriors to win the NBA championship. No team had ever bounced back from a 3-1 margin to win the title. "I don't know why we want to take the hardest road. I don't know why the Man above gives me the hardest road, but ... the Man above don't put you in situations that you can't handle. And I just kept that same positive attitude, like, instead of saying, 'Why me?,' just saying, 'This is what He wants me to do.'" It was James' third NBA championship but his first one at Cleveland, where he returned to play after winning two titles with the Miami Heat. In the last three games against the Warriors, James delivered an NBA Finals performance for the ages, … [Read more...]

Happy Fathers Day

Fatherhood calls for many challenges and hardships, which every dad bears with pride and happiness. Your dad has been your first friend who has always been with you, no matter what. He is the one person who has bestowed you with unconditional love and care, without asking for anything in return. When it comes to the relationship you share with your father, there are absolutely no strings attached. He may not show, but he is always there for you, with his unwavering support and assistance. How often do you take out time to whisper a silent prayer to God for the health and happiness of this special person in your life? Most of you would prefer not to answer the above question. This Father's Day, take it as an opportunity to seek blessings for your father, with a special prayer of gratitude. In the following lines, we have listed a few prayers which would rightly convey all what you wish for your dad. Special Prayer for Dad Heavenly Father in your wisdom and love you made all things. I ask, God, bless all the fathers in the world. Strengthen them by your love. Guide them to be good role models and loving to all their children. Help them to be a father like You are. Give them grace and patience to handle situations in a loving … [Read more...]

FATHER’S DAY: Still wanting to call & talk

By Jim Burton ATLANTA (BP) -- On a Thursday night in May 1944, my father, James "Jimmy" Warren Burton, delivered the valedictorian address on the topic of citizenship at the Owensboro High School commencement in Kentucky. "However grave the crises of the future may be," he said, "our country will pass safely through them if at all times it has the support of citizens who are loyal and intelligent and who are skilled in the arts of democratic citizenship." The next day, like scores of other 18-year-olds, he practiced his citizenship by boarding a train for basic training in the Army Air Corps. His destination eventually was Burma, via India, and China where he would serve as a cryptographer encoding and decoding messages for air base commanders. This only child was soon living in tents surrounded by mosquito nets in a land where he knew no one from home. When he eventually returned to Owensboro, the bus arrived early one morning and he took a taxi home without calling his parents. As he looked through the front door, he could see his mother stirring around. After knocking, she asked who was there. "It's me," Dad said, at which point she slung open the front door and ran through the screen door to hug him. My family's stories … [Read more...]

FATHER’S DAY: Being there

By Charles Billingsley, LYNCHBURG, Va. (BP) -- I'm one of the lucky ones. I was privileged enough to be raised in the home of a father who loves me and who has stayed faithful to my mom all these years. I have never known the pain of growing up in a broken home, and for that I feel very blessed. My dad is my hero. He's 75 now, and as I reflect on his life, there is one word that describes him better than any other: faithfulness. I'm reminded of his compassion as a father, his power as a preacher, his gentleness as a husband and his integrity as a man. In all things, he has remained faithful. It inspires me to do the same. But not only has my dad been faithful, he's also just "been there." Whether it was a football game to see me play running back in high school, or my first concert as a Christian artist, or my marriage to Shae, or the birth of my children, Dad has been there. I could always trust him and always had a certain level of comfort and confidence just knowing he was present. In 1976, I was 6 years old and my family lived on the road because my dad was a full-time evangelist. We were in the middle of Wyoming when we arrived at a small church for my dad to start a revival meeting. We got there and noticed the church … [Read more...]

I’m Smiling A Lot

By Waylon Bailey, Pastor of First Baptist Covington I’m smiling a lot this week. It’s because I’m seeing so many children who are professing their faith in Christ and following Him in Christian baptism. From Vacation Bible School to children’s Bible classes to parents who are  praying for their children to know Christ and live for him all of their lives, we are seeing many children saved. That makes me smile. It also makes me remember my initial experience with Christ–the time at age 9 when I talked with my mother in our automobile about faith. As you might expect, there are many aspects to that conversation that I don’t remember. There are three parts that I remember vividly. First, I remember taking my spiritual needs to my mother. I smile when children talk with their parents about spiritual things – – from asking questions about God or heaven and hell – – and seek their guidance. It was natural for me to talk to my mother about spiritual things because she had talked to me about spiritual things. Second, I remember her quoting Acts 16:31 to me, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.” Third, I also vividly remember ending the conversation, sitting back in the seat (the backseat of the automobile … [Read more...]

State abortion rates finally drop in 2015 after several years of rising numbers

By Benjamin Clapper, Louisiana Right to Life BATON ROUGE -- The number of abortions in Louisiana decreased by 10 percent from 2014 to 2015, according to preliminary figures provided to Louisiana Right to Life recently by the Louisiana Department of Health. There were 9,311 abortions performed in Louisiana in 2015, down from 10,211 abortions reported in 2014. The number of abortions performed in the state had increased steadily since 2008, when population numbers began returning to pre-Katrina levels. The 2015 figure is the lowest total number of abortions in the state since 2012, when 9,225 abortions were reported. Even with numbers going down, on average, 26 abortions per day were performed in Louisiana in 2015, and Louisiana Right to Life will continue working hard to reduce these numbers until every baby is saved. "While 9,311 abortions is 9,311 too many, we are pleased to see a 10 percent decrease in abortions in 2015," said Benjamin Clapper, executive director of Louisiana Right to Life. "More than two babies per day were saved in 2015 versus 2014! We congratulate the many pregnancy resource centers around the state that help mothers both before and after birth to choose life for their precious babies." Caddo Parish had … [Read more...]

Gibson reportedly wants sequel to ‘The Passion of the Christ’

By Gregory Tomlin, Christian Examiner HOLLYWOOD (Christian Examiner) – If Mel Gibson is able to deliver a sequel to The Passion of the Christ, more than one resurrection may be depicted – one of Jesus on film and, the second, the director's career. Gibson's film about the crucifixion of Jesus in 2004 was a box office smash, earning $612 million worldwide, or 2,000 percent over and above the cost of the film ($30 million). It spawned a series of faith-based films, tapping into an audience that Hollywood knew was there, but neglected in favor of what studios believed was a larger audience who didn't want to see religious content. Now, Randall Wallace, who penned Braveheart for Gibson – a good, but historically less-than-accurate film – is set to write the sequel about the ministry of Christ after the resurrection. There is no word yet on what the focus of the film will be (the early days of the church in Jerusalem, the mission to the Gentiles or Roman persecution of Christians).  Wallace, who also wrote Heaven is for Real, is a logical choice for the script. He studied religion at Duke University and is fascinated by the history of the church. He told the Hollywood Reporter that he always wanted to tell the story. To read the … [Read more...]

Evangelism, discipleship remain a mainstay at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Kelley shares in report to SBC messengers

By Message Staff ST LOUIS – Personal evangelism and discipleship remain a vital part of a student’s experience at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, President Chuck Kelley told messengers on Wednesday morning. “We know if you will not become a witness now, you will not likely become one later on,” Kelley said. “We simply have to get the gospel out from behind our pulpits, into the streets and neighborhoods of our cities and communities. That’s where the prospects are. That’s what we teach you to do.” Speaking during the seminary’s report at the Southern Baptist Convention, Kelley said each student is required during their first year, along with 10-12 other students, to meet in a small group with a professor once a week, to practice walking with God together. Additionally, students are required to spend at least one semester witnessing door-to-door in New Orleans. Kelley expressed appreciation for donors who provided scholarships for African-American students and small church pastors in Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi. Those students receiving the scholarships for small church pastors are required to have a gospel conversation at least once a week with someone who is lost. During the past two years, the 250 students … [Read more...]