WASHINGTON (BP) – The White House’s claim that so-called conversion therapy for homosexuals should be illegal has sparked replies from Christian ministers and counselors who say President Obama’s position is based on biased research and threatens religious liberty. “This is a tragic example of having a president who is fundamentally opposed to a Christian worldview and making statements that are really shaped more by the worldview of exclusive humanism,” said Eric Johnson, a Southern Baptist Theological Seminary professor who serves as director of the Society for Christian Psychology. The White House’s statement “is reflective much more of the culture wars we’re in the midst of right now than it is based on good science.” In response to a petition that garnered 120,000 signatures, White House senior adviser Valerie Jarrett issued a statement April 8 asserting conversion therapy, also known as reparative therapy, is “neither medically nor ethically appropriate and can cause substantial harm.” The statement affirmed laws in New Jersey, California and the District of Columbia banning state-licensed therapists from using conversion therapy on minors experiencing same-sex attraction and noted that similar legislation has been … [Read more...]
Louisiana Notables
ON THE MOVE Coby (wife Carlee) Norman new as associate pastor at The Gathering Place, Alexandria. Ivory (wife Betty Ann) Jackson new as pastor at North Star Baptist Church (a new mission) in Shreveport. Daniel (wife Grace) Hernandez new as pastor at Broadmoor en Espanol, Shreveport. HOMECOMING Barksdale Baptist Church, Bossier City: The Lord’s Good Hand – Barksdale Baptist’s 75th celebration, April 25-26. Saturday – begins at 11:30 a.m. followed by lunch. Sunday, 9:15 a.m. – noon, a light lunch will follow; 1:30 p.m. – 3 p.m. Testimonies. For more information, call the church office at 318.742.1641. Pastor: Calvin Hubbard. Bonita Road Baptist Church, Bastrop: Homecoming, April 26, 10:30 a.m. Speaker: Marty Black. Music: The Maclanahan Family. Pastor: Casey Johnson. Hebron Baptist Church, Denham Springs: 178th Homecoming Celebration, May 3, 10 a.m. Dinner on the grounds will follow the service. Speaker: Phil Ortego. Pastor: Joe Alain. Mount Hope Baptist Church, Oakdale: 80th annual Homecoming, May 10, 10:45 a.m. with dinner on the grounds and a singing to follow; Revival, May 11-13, 6:30 p.m. nightly. Evangelist: Al Gist. Music: Price Harris. Pastor: Kenny Blackwell. REVIVAL Mooringsport Baptist Church, Mooringsport: … [Read more...]
Atlanta’s Cochran headlines Men’s Freedom Weekend
SHREVEPORT – Kevin Cochran, the Atlanta, Ga., fire chief known for his termination over a book he wrote calling homosexual behavior immoral will be the keynote speaker at a men’s conference this weekend. Hosted by Willow Point Baptist Church, the Men’s Freedom Weekend will feature Cochran who will speak on the freedom he has found in the fire of adversity. Atlanta mayor Kasim Reed fired Cochran on Jan. 6 following publication of his book. Cochran spent his childhood in Shreveport and is a deacon, Sunday school teacher and Bible study leader at Elizabeth Baptist Church in Atlanta. Elizabeth Baptist Church is a member of the Georgia Baptist Convention. The conference, which is free to those attending, starts at 6:50 pm on Friday with the first session featuring Cochran, who also will speak on Saturday. The conference on Saturday begins at 7:30 am with a breakfast and ends at noon. In addition to Cochran’s messages, Broken Vessels of Deridder will lead music. “The purpose of this event is not political in anyway whatsoever,” said Billy Stevens, pastor of Willow Point Baptist. “It is all about Jesus. The content is about Freedom in Christ and helping men find true Freedom in knowing the power of the Gospel, so bring a friend … [Read more...]
Colleges target adult learners with more options, flexibility
Many working adults are highly motivated to return to college. For job seekers a college education can mean the difference between getting hired or not. For those already employed a degree can lead to raises or promotions. The decision to add college classes to an already full schedule of family and work responsibilities is not an easy one, however. That’s why many institutions, including Baptist colleges and universities, now offer more flexible options geared especially toward nontraditional adult learners. Credit by examination is perhaps the most familiar way of earning college credit for prior knowledge. Most people are familiar with the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), developed by the College Board to test mastery of college-level material in 33 subjects including history, literature and math. In recent years other exams also have become widely accepted such as the Excelsior College Examination Program, offering 63 exams, and DSST Subject Standardized Tests aimed at students with military experience and offering 38 exams. Verifying information Education Portal, an online provider of study materials for credit exams, advises students who are considering credit by examination to first make sure their college … [Read more...]
Corley shares Bridge Church’s successful matrix with WMU attendees
BOSSIER CITY – Two words from Christ more than 2,000 years ago still are very much alive today and continue to impact one’s own community, state, nation and world. Follow Jesus. “A call to be like Jesus – to see the world with His heart, through His eyes, to see the possibilities and act boldly in His power,” said Lane Corley, Louisiana Baptists’ church planting strategist and pastor of the Bridge Church in Madisonville. “That’s our challenge and it’s the one our community is waiting for.” In fact, following Jesus may require much sacrifice but yet could be found as close as a believer’s front yard, college campus or office building. But before following Jesus, a Christian must start with getting his or her heart right with God. A heart is one of four symbols the Bridge Church uses for a simple tool to find ways to follow Jesus in its community. And the same matrix can be adopted by any other church, Corley emphasized. In addition to the heart, the other symbols are an eye, lightbulb and finally an arrow. After getting one’s heart right with God, a believer must have his or her eyes open to needs of the world, then have an imagination for the heart and eyes to dream of ways to reach people and lastly an action for a … [Read more...]
2050’s biggest challenges – from risk to friendship
RICHMOND, Va. (BP) – The number of Muslims in the world will nearly match the number of Christians by 2050. That’s the main headline from “The Future of World Religions: Population Growth Projections, 2010-2050,” a Pew Research Center study released this month. If current population trends continue, the report says, Muslim ranks will increase by 73 percent (to 2.8 billion) – more than twice the growth rate of Christians, who will expand by 35 percent, to 2.9 billion. Total world population is projected to reach 9.3 billion by mid-century. Other projections for 2050: n Hindus will increase by 34 percent to nearly 1.4 billion. n Four of every 10 Christians will live in sub-Saharan Africa. n India, although remaining majority Hindu, will become home to more Muslims than any other country, topping Indonesia. n Atheists, agnostics and others who affiliate with no particular religion will decline as a share of the world population, even as they increase in numbers and influence in North America and Europe. It’s important to keep two things in mind about this study (and others like it). First, it’s more a demographic survey than a religious one. Muslims are increasing primarily because of fertility rates and young populations in … [Read more...]
Only in Christian life do we gain to lose and lose to gain
EL CAJON, Calif. (BP) – If you follow the trends in our media, you might begin to think that the road to happiness is paved with material possessions. But that is contrary to the teachings of Jesus. Life is more than materialism, more than fleeting and temporal satisfactions, more than pleasure and power and popularity. Speaking to His disciples, Jesus said, “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26). The dividing point When Jesus spoke those words, it marked the dividing point in His teaching ministry. For many months, He had been demonstrating His identity through messages and miracles. He wanted His disciples to understand that He was the Messiah, the Promised Deliverer. He had preached with great authority. He had healed the sick and even raised the dead. He had quoted Old Testament prophecies and fulfilled the requirements of the Law. His presence was electrifying to the people of Israel, but even His own family was confused about His identity. At that critical moment, Jesus took a break from the crowds and led His disciples on a backpacking expedition to the far north of Israel, to the regions of Mount … [Read more...]
God give us more than we can handle to show His power
God will never give you more than you can handle. I’m sure many, if not all, of us have heard this said before. Maybe we have even said it ourselves. This is often the “go to” reply to try to comfort anyone who is going through a difficult situation, has suffered some sort of loss, or has a major decision to make. I can’t help but wonder though, is this true? Does this align with what we see in scripture? Is it true that God will never give us more than we can handle? Abraham was put into a situation he could not handle when he was promised that he would be the father of many nations. The age of Sarah and Abraham made it virtually impossible for them to be able to have any children naturally. An important detail in being the father of many nations is that you need to be able to produce offspring! They further proved their inability to handle the situation by showing a lack of faith in the promise of God. God had promised that an heir would come through Sarah. Knowing the impossibility of this, they tried to take matters into their own hands and Abraham had a son with Sarah’s servant; a decision that would have consequences for generations to come, including our present time. It is clear they were dealing with something they … [Read more...]
People, churches, stewardship & CP working together
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (BP) – Our nation once rode the wave of expansive optimism and blessed economic prosperity. Now we appear to be trying to find our place in line with the long list of mediocre economies that were corrupted by greed, injustice and violations of biblical conscience. Yet, in the scheme of things we are still immensely blessed in comparison to the rest of the world. According to GlobalRichList.com, U.S. income of just $2,000 per month places you in the top 2.24 percent of the wealthiest people in the world. That is $12.50 per hour compared to the average laborer in Zimbabwe who makes only 53 cents per hour. In a year an American worker might make $24,000. It would take the average laborer in Zimbabwe 23 years to make the same amount. Historically, our nation’s birth and prosperity demonstrated to the world the importance of freedom of conscience and personal responsibility. These are two high values in the Word of God that are worthy of acceptance by every citizen. To echo the words of the Lord Jesus when He spoke the parable of the talents to His followers, “Everyone to whom much is given, of him much will be required” (Luke 12:48 ESV). The Lord Jesus didn’t make this statement to simply fill the room with … [Read more...]
Moore: Racial reconciliation a matter of spiritual warfare
NEW ORLEANS – In the turbulent wake of racial tensions from recent situations like Ferguson, Mo., Russell Moore, Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission president, said at a one-day preaching event in New Orleans that it is not enough for Christians of different races to simply get along for the sake of missions and evangelism, though both are vital. Racial reconciliation must be a matter of spiritual warfare, Moore said. Moore spoke at a recent Preach the Word conference, hosted by Franklin Avenue Baptist Church and presented by the New Orleans Baptist Association, on kingdom, culture, and mission, and addressed how pastors can effectively and faithfully preach the gospel in light of each. “What Dr. Moore talked about today was incredible, it was on time, it is needed, it was convicting, but it was also inspirational,” said Fred Luter, Jr., Franklin Avenue Baptist Church pastor and former Southern Baptist Convention president. “It gave me hope that racial reconciliation is possible within the body of Christ.” Neither achievement nor heritage is enough to bring someone into God’s kingdom, Moore told a full room of African-American, white and Latino pastors, and their wives, at a dinner concluding the event. Moore drew from … [Read more...]
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