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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Iowa caucuses: Southern Baptists ‘highly involved’

By David Roach DES MOINES, Iowa (BP) - Iowa pastor Todd Stiles had a specific prayer for caucus season: "Lord, come quickly, and till then, help me stand strongly." Southern Baptists across the Hawkeye State apparently agreed with the sentiment because many, including pastors, stood for biblical principles during caucus season, campaigning for the presidential candidates they believed would best represent their values. Iowa pastors and state convention staff members spoke for candidates at their respective caucus sites -- in keeping with a unique feature of Iowa's caucus process. Some agreed to serve as delegates to Republican county conventions -- another unique feature of Iowa's process. And at least two Southern Baptist churches allowed their buildings to be used as caucus sites -- one Democratic and one Republican. "Iowa Southern Baptists are engaged and involved," said Stiles, pastor of First Family Church in Ankeny, Iowa. "They're part of that evangelical vote that affects the caucuses so much, and I'm glad about that. I'm glad we are plugged in, connected, vocal and at the same time kind and compassionate." National commentators said evangelical support, which included that of Southern Baptists, was a key … [Read more...]

Abedini praises wife, denies ‘much’ of abuse claim

By Diana Chandler, Baptist Press BOISE, Idaho (BP) - Saeed Abedini denied "much" of what his wife Naghmeh Abedini has alleged of spousal abuse and a pornography addiction in his first statements about their marriage since his release from an Iranian prison, but he praised his wife for advocating for his freedom. "Much of what I have read in Naghmeh's [Facebook] posts and subsequent media reports is not true," he said in a Jan. 30 statement to his hometown newspaper, the Idaho Statesman. "But I believe we should work on our relationship in private and not on social media or other media. Naghmeh wrote this week, 'We are taking personal time to work on very serious personal issues.' I intend to do this hard work in private." Saeed Abedini released the statement days after his wife filed for legal separation in Ada County, Idaho, writing on Facebook that she wanted to guard against Abedini taking the children, 9-year-old Rebekka and 7-year-old Jacob, from Idaho while the couple works to heal their marriage. "I have taken temporary legal action to make sure our children will stay in Idaho until this situation has been resolved," she wrote on Facebook. "In very difficult situations sometimes you have to … [Read more...]

PHOTO SLIDESHOW: Louisiana Baptists Hispanic Evangelism Conference

LAFAYETTE – Carlos Schmidt, organizer of the Hispanic Evangelism Conference held Jan. 22-23 at First Baptist Church in Lafayette, said the event emphasized the importance of “not separating evangelism from discipleship.” Schmidt is a catalytic church planter and strategist for Louisiana Baptists. “God used the conference to remind us we are called to make disciples,” he said, adding that it was important to him the assimilation strategies and systems presented during the sessions “are reproducible” among Hispanic congregations. … [Read more...]

Church retirement plan clarification law good news for GuideStone, Southern Baptists

By Roy Hayhurst, GuideStone Financial Resources DALLAS — Legislation signed into law in December will have a positive impact for both those who participate in and those who operate church retirement plans. Provisions of the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015, commonly referred to as the PATH Act, will allow church retirement plans to include automatic enrollment features in their retirement programs regardless of state wage withholding laws, as well as allow for certain kinds of transfers and mergers between accounts of the same employer. Additionally, provisions addressing counting employees for benefit purposes among certain church-related employers will help distinguish between different kinds of church and denominational governance structures. The legislation — long sought by a broad coalition of large and historic denominational retirement plan providers — took three Congresses to consider before being tacked onto the PATH Act in December 2015. President Barack Obama signed the bill into law on December 18. ”This bill has been a long-awaited and hard-fought bill to pass,” said O.S. Hawkins, president of GuideStone Financial Resources. “We appreciate all who made this bill a reality.” A major “win” in … [Read more...]

1,200 walk in first-ever Cenla Louisiana Life March

ALEXANDRIA/PINEVILLE - Around 1,200 united on Saturday morning to give central Louisiana a message - all life is priceless. The first-ever Cenla Louisiana Life March began on the Louisiana College campus and continued through Pineville on Main Street before crossing over the Red River at the Jackson Street Bridge before ending with a post-march rally at the Alexandria Riverfront Amphitheater. Other Louisiana Life Marches have taken place in Baton Rouge and Shreveport, most recently simultaneously on Jan. 23, but this was the first time such an event was held in the central part of the state. Brian Gunter, pastor of First Baptist Church in Pollock, was among the speakers at the march. He challenged the crowd to become a part of various pro-life causes. "You can be a part of this too," he said. "Will you go with me? Let's speak for those who cannot speak." The Louisiana Life March was a chance for different denominations, ages and ethnic and racial backgrounds to march together and pray to declare their opposition to the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion in 1973. The theme for this year’s march is “Life Is Priceless.” According to the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, … [Read more...]

PHOTO SLIDESHOW: Louisiana Baptists 2016 Evangelism Conference

Wayne Jenkins and Charles Billingsley shared moving testimonies of thankfulness with those attending Louisiana Baptists 2016 Evangelism Conference, their stories epitomizing the messages of God’s power and grace presented throughout the program. Impromptu testimonies of God's faithfulness, music by national recording artists Mark Lowry and Charles Billingsley and multiple times of individual prayer highlighted Louisiana Baptists 2016 Evangelism Conference. Held Jan. 25-26 at First Baptist Church Lafayette, the event drew between 2,000 and 2,5000 people and ended with 500 people coming forward at the end to make a commitment to lead at least one person to Christ in 2016. … [Read more...]

PHOTO SLIDESHOW: African-American Fellowship at Evangelism Conference

The African-American Fellowship met on Jan. 25 between sessions of the Louisiana Baptists 2016 Evangelism Conference. Ken Weathersby, vice president for convention advancement for the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention, was among the speakers. Weathersby planted the first African-American Southern Baptist Convention Church in Louisiana in 1988. Today, the Louisiana Baptist Convention is planting 10-plus African American churches every year in Louisiana. He now serves as vice-president of the Executive Committee of the SBC. … [Read more...]

Baton Rouge marchers brave the cold to honor the unborn

By Mark H. Hunter, Regional Reporter BATON ROUGE - A cold wind whistling through downtown skyscrapers, could not discourage a crowd of 1,500 to 2,000 pro-life Louisiana residents from declaring “Life is Priceless” and marching five blocks from the Old State Capitol to the new Capitol in the 6th annual Louisiana Life March. One of a kind in the state until 2014, this Baton Rouge event was joined last year by “Life March North” in Shreveport (held this year the same day, Jan. 23). A third march was added for 2016 in Alexandria, Jan. 30. All three events protest the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion in all 50 states. Since then, more than 58 million children have been aborted, pro-life advocates report. Tommy Middleton, director of missions for the Baptist Association of Greater Baton Rouge, said prior to the march that it was important for Baptists to participate in events like this because, “it is a Biblical concern. “The Bible is an advocate for life,” Middleton said. “Our voice should be clear and known within the community.” Cold temperatures may have discouraged some from marching in Baton Rouge. However, winter storm “Jonas” turned back more than 400 Catholic … [Read more...]

‘Life is Priceless’ marchers undaunted by winter’s chill

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer SHREVEPORT — Bone-chilling temperatures may have kept the numbers down but it could not dampen the enthusiasm at the third annual Louisiana Life March North in Shreveport/Bossier. A crowd of 6,000 – men, women and children of all ages and denominations – joined together for the 1.2 mile walk that started at the Louisiana Boardwalk in Bossier City and ended with a post-march rally at Festival Plaza. A large contingent led the procession with a “Louisiana Life March” banner. Others held up signs proclaiming “Life is Priceless” and “Life is a gift from God,” or urging to “Stop Abortion Now.” The theme of the event—held Jan. 23, the same day as a similar one in Baton Rouge—was “Life is Priceless.” Organizer Mike Johnson was pleased that so many would endure the 32 degree weather to take a stand for the unborn. “We were delighted by the thousands of folks who braved the cold today to make this important stand for life,” said Johnson, a state representative and legal counsel for Louisiana Right to Life. “It was a great event, and a tremendous opportunity for all of us to reach out a renewed hand of compassion again and raise more awareness about this critical issue. We can save … [Read more...]