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"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Nine resolutions adopted at SBC Annual Meeting

By Baptist Press EDITOR'S NOTE: The full text of the resolutions adopted during the 2015 Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting follows this story. COLUMBUS, Ohio (BP) -- Messengers to the 2015 Southern Baptist Convention adopted nine resolutions -- some on culturally divisive issues -- with almost no opposition. All the resolutions offered in the Tuesday afternoon session (June 16) at the SBC's meeting gained passage by unanimous or nearly unanimous votes. The messengers affirmed biblically based stances on such topics as same-sex marriage, racial reconciliation and the sanctity of human life, as well as religious persecution and pornography. Approved resolutions also called for spiritual awakening and celebrated the 90th anniversary of the Cooperative Program. Prior to the convention, the Resolutions Committee received only four resolutions, an unusually small number. As a result, the committee initiated more resolutions than normal, but committee chairman Steve Gaines said finding topics proved no problem. "There are so many pressing issues morally and spiritually in our nation right now, it really didn't take long to figure that out," Gaines said at a news conference after the committee's report. He … [Read more...]

Christian coffee house to open in Chalmette: Global Café will host “Fourth Fridays” at First Baptist Church

By First Baptist Chalmette, Special to the Message CHALMETTE - Something’s brewing in Chalmette and it’s not your mamma’s coffee!  Global Café, a coffee house located inside First Baptist Church, Chalmette, will host “Fourth Fridays” each fourth Friday of the month. The Grand Opening is on June 26, from 4 – 11 p.m. “Live music from local Christian musicians will be playing from 7-9 p.m.,” shared Tiffany Thomas, Fourth Friday Ministry Coordinator. “Fourth Friday is a great way to unwind,” she added, “Coffee, beignets, music, fellowship with good friends and neighbors.  It doesn’t get any better than this!” In the aftermath of hurricane Katrina when architectural designs were developed for the new First Baptist building John Dee Jeffries, long-term pastor of First Baptist Church incorporated the coffee house concept into the final plans. “Global Café has many functions,” related Jeffries, “with one of its primary purposes being that of a coffee house.  We’re delighted to have Tiffany develop this vision and bring the Fourth Friday concept into fruition.” The theme and motif of Global Cafe is global.  Large scale canvas portraits of people from various nations grace the walls.  A huge map of the world plus … [Read more...]

Key advances reported by SBC seminaries

By Baptist Press COLUMBUS, Ohio (BP) –- Presidents of the Southern Baptist Convention's seminaries noted key initiatives as well as enrollment gains in their reports to messengers June 16 at the SBC annual meeting in Columbus, Ohio. This year, all six seminary presidents presented their reports jointly. After the report, each president introduced the next and prayed over him. Golden Gate Jeff Iorg, president of Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, told messengers that the move to a new main campus in 2016 will be completed debt-free and with two new facilities to serve as anchor campuses on the West Coast. "The [Southern California] facility in Ontario, Calif., is a state-of-art 21st-century educational center with more than 150,000 square feet of usable space," Iorg said. Meanwhile, "The [northern California] facility in Fremont, Calif., will serve 250-300 commuter students in the Bay Area as we continue our historic ministry near San Francisco. We are spending about $45 million to complete these facilities debt-free." As part of its move to new California campuses, the seminary has requested a name change to Gateway Seminary of the Southern Baptist Convention, which received the first of two votes June 16 … [Read more...]

Resolutions beneficial, key leaders say

By Tom Strode, Baptist Press COLUMBUS, Ohio (BP) -- Resolutions adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention offer multiple benefits. That was the response of this year's Resolutions Committee chairman and an SBC ethics leader when asked by a reporter shortly after messengers to the 2015 meeting adopted nine resolutions. In unanimous or nearly unanimous votes during the Tuesday afternoon session (June 16), the convention approved measures on such topics as marriage, racial reconciliation, the sanctity of human life, religious persecution and spiritual awakening. Steve Gaines, who chaired the committee, said he believes resolutions are imperative at the annual meeting even though they are not binding. Others from various perspectives are making statements, Gaines said at a news conference, "and we want to tell them what we believe the Scripture says and what we as Baptists believe." "[I]t's very important for us to do that, to do it in a loving way and yet to do it, [while] speaking the truth forthrightly based on Scripture in love," said Gaines, pastor of the Memphis-area Bellevue Baptist Church. Resolutions encourage Southern Baptists, he said. "When they hear their Southern Baptist Convention, which they've … [Read more...]

Louisiana College TEACH seminar features autistic college grad

By Norm Miller, Special to the Message PINEVILLE – Diagnosed with autism at age 12, Paul Griffin conquered every challenge toward the education that medical and behavioral specialists predicted would be impossible. The child who was told he’d never read nor write earned a degree in sociology from the University of California. Louisiana College’s summer TEACH program is bringing Griffin to its Pineville campus June 25. “I heard Paul speak at Stanford University, and he received a standing ovation,” said Cathy Eschete, LC’s assistant professor of education and director of field experience. “Our community has an incredible opportunity to hear Paul’s moving story.” Griffin states on his website that he “refused to let my diagnosis keep me from achieving my dreams.” He adds that he can help others “have success on the Autism spectrum.” Success typifies Griffin’s presentations, as indicated by comments posted on his site: “Although I’ve known Paul since he was a young boy, I never dreamed he would become the concise and engaging speaker he has become today. He effectively demystifies the autistic syndrome and presents his material, which he in fact has lived, in a powerful biographical presentation that mesmerized … [Read more...]

Luter among past SBC presidents releasing a joint statement on same-sex marriage

By Staff, Baptist Press COLUMBUS, Ohio - Past Southern Baptist Convention presidents - including Fred Luter, pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans - along with current SBC President Ronnie Floyd have released a joint statement on same-sex marriage. The full text of the statement follows along with the names of the former SBC presidents who have endorsed it: As Southern Baptist Christians, we are committed to Biblical faith and ethics. As a result, this body of Believers stands on the authority of Scripture and God’s Truth as central to our lives. What the Bible says about marriage is clear, definitive and unchanging. We affirm biblical, traditional, natural marriage as the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime. The Scriptures’ teaching on marriage is not negotiable. We stake our lives upon the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus. Consequently, we will not accept, nor adhere to, any legal redefinition of marriage issued by any political or judicial body including the United States Supreme Court. We will not recognize same-sex “marriages”, our churches will not host same-sex ceremonies, and we will not perform such ceremonies. While we affirm our love for all … [Read more...]

At AVANCE, Hispanics hear Ronnie Floyd, David Platt

By Keila Diaz, Florida Baptist Witness COLUMBUS, Ohio (BP) -- In a night marked by worship, fellowship and workshops, Hispanic Southern Baptist pastors and leaders from across the United States came together for AVANCE 2015 prior to the Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting. The June 14 gathering began at 5 p.m. with worship led by Julio Arriola from Cross Church in northwest Arkansas, followed by a dinner and featured speaker SBC President Ronnie Floyd. David Platt, president of the International Mission Board, also addressed the group. After the dinner, the IMB, the North American Mission Board and LifeWay Christian Resources hosted workshops. The evening concluded with an informational session from the new Hispanic Leadership Network. Floyd, speaking to some 200 Hispanic Baptists, with translation by IMB Hispanic mobilization leader Jason Carlisle, started his message by quoting Romans 13:11, which states in part, "already it is time for you to awake out of sleep: for now is salvation nearer to us than when we first believed." "This is the moment God wants to do a mighty work" in America and beyond, Floyd said at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. Reaching the United States and other nations for … [Read more...]

WMU elects Linda Cooper as new president

By Baptist Press GROVE CITY, Ohio (BP) -- Woman's Missionary Union elected Linda Cooper of Bowling Green, Ky., to serve as national WMU president during the second day of their Missions Celebration and Annual Meeting, June 14-15, at First Baptist Church of Grove City, Ohio. Cooper, a member of Forest Park Baptist Church, will replace Debby Akerman, who has served as president for five years. In her final presidential address, Akerman thanked those present at the meeting for the opportunity to serve WMU. "Contrary to what some might think, you are not sitting in circles with your hair of blue simply reading missions articles," she said. "You are praying for our missionaries as the day begins; going out in active community missions to the many places where the hurting are found. You are going out through relationship building and steady witnessing to the up-and-out as well as the down-and-out. And you are leading missions teams to go across North America and to the nations of the world." Between the two days of the meeting, some 500 people attended to hear how missionaries and ministry workers live out the year's theme, "All for You," through wholehearted surrender, sacrifice and service. Capt. Michael Coleman, a U.S. … [Read more...]

Humility, intimacy urged at Pastors’ Conference

By Baptist Press COLUMBUS, Ohio (BP) -- Pastors and churches must humble themselves and pursue a closer walk with God if they want to experience His peace, joy and purpose, speakers said at the 2015 Southern Baptist Pastors' Conference in its first two sessions June 14-15. The conference, focusing on the theme "He Must Increase" from John the Baptist's statement in John 3:30, precedes the Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. Speakers in the Sunday evening and Monday morning sessions included: Dean Fulks, lead pastor of LifePoint Church in Columbus, Ohio, in the opening message of the conference June 14, used the story of Jonah to illustrate the need for pastors to live with repentant hearts. Sometimes pastors may mistakenly believe that God is waiting for them to step out of line so He can clobber them, Fulks said. But a biblical picture is found in Romans 2:3, where Paul writes that God's kindness is what leads to repentance. "God will be glorified by my life. God will be glorified by your life," Fulks said. "Either through my joyful obedience or through my rebellious disobedience ... God will be glorified." As God didn't give up on Jonah, Fulks said He … [Read more...]

Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief teams may begin work in flooded areas of Shreveport/Bossier later today

By Message Staff Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief teams are expected to begin work on homes impacted by flooding in the Shreveport/Bossier area later today. Larry Cupper, a Disaster Relief Regional Coordinator as well as the SB Louisiana Incident Commander for the Red River flood who is handling operations in the area, said 65 volunteers are meeting at Eastwood Baptist Church, in Haughton, LA., on this morning, before departing later in the day to begin mudouts of homes that were affected by floodwaters of the Red River. Cupper said in the next three weeks, teams will work on between 125 and 150 homes. "None of this could happen without the volunteers from our Southern Baptist Church members," Cupper said. The mudout, feeding, assessors, chaplains, shower and laundry units will work Monday to Saturday. A childcare unit under the direction of Stanley Staham, director of missions at Baptist Associations of Southeast Louisiana, also will help while the flood affected families are trying to get assistance. "Our childcare volunteers and unit will be ministering to their children and helping keep their minds off of the devastation of a flooded home so the parents can seek assistance this Saturday at the Bossier … [Read more...]