By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Our state and our nation needs to pinpoint its COVID-19 mitigation efforts to focus laser-like on those vulnerable to its serious effects in order to end the crushing impact of this pandemic on our families, our economy, our education system and our future. A few days ago, I signed a joint letter with other Louisiana Baptist leaders to commit to wearing a mask as a measure for fighting back against the surging disease and to ask other Louisiana Baptists to join us in this simple thing. I truly believe in this initiative as part of the answer to prevent spreading COVID-19 to others. Research shows that wearing masks, socially distancing and sanitizing frequently are good general measures to make a difference in reducing the spread of this disease within the general population. But, I am also convinced by the data from the Louisiana Department of Health that a more aggressive approach is needed to end the hospitalizations, ventilations and deaths in the state – which should be the primary concerns driving public policy in response to the pandemic (and not just the number of cases). In fact, I would argue that the number of cases is only relevant to this … [Read more...]
Which seminary? The first spiritual milestone in our marriage
By Chuck Kelley Rhonda and I met on our first Sunday at Baylor University. We began dating during that freshman year, became an exclusive couple our sophomore year, publicly committed to a serious relationship in our junior year, became engaged in our senior year, and were married in June after graduation. We stayed in college one more year for Rhonda to earn a Master’s degree to qualify for the work she expected to do, while I continued studying philosophy and working in collegiate ministry on our campus. It was in the middle of the summer, forty-five years ago this week, when we faced our first spiritual milestone as husband and wife. The issue was where to go to seminary, our first major life decision we had to make as husband and wife. Rhonda and I began the process in the ordinary way. We prayed about it regularly. We explored the options and talked through them. Fortunately, we both agreed on what appeared to be God’s clear, obvious choice. We would go to Fort Worth, TX to attend Southwestern Seminary. My calling was evangelism, and Southwestern had the most famous evangelism professor in SBC history and a great academic program in evangelism. I was already preaching all over Texas in revivals, conferences, and youth … [Read more...]
The number one way to encourage a pastor
By Joe McKeever There was a time when it was easier to pastor a church than it is today. There was a time when churches running a thousand on Sunday were considered mega. There was a time when churches took what they had in the way of pastoral leadership and pretty much went with it without a lot of complaints. Those days are no more. It’s a different world we live in. People demand strengths and excellence and results from their leaders. They look for power in the pulpit and skills in relationships. They want degrees and winsomeness and it wouldn’t hurt if you looked sharp either. They want to be fed in sermons and challenged in programs. They want input in decisions and no longer hand the keys to the kingdom to the new preacher. What they do not want… –What most do not want is to be embarrassed by the preacher, for their church to become the laughingstock of the community, for the attendance to drop, or for the financial situation to become dire. –If they could, they would like the church to reach the unchurched and make a difference in the poorer section of town, but all the while retaining their church as it has always been. –If they could, they’d like to become a mission-minded congregation where … [Read more...]
Statement regarding George Floyd and the ensuing riots
By Rod Martin and affirmed by Conservative Baptist Network team In the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. For this reason, while strongly affirming due process for all involved, we equally strongly condemn the death of George Floyd and also the rioting in Minneapolis and elsewhere. Every human being is made in the image of God (Gen. 1:27). An attack on any person, whether intentional or merely reckless, is an affront to a holy God. The people of God must stand for innocent life at all times and in all situations. Police brutality is always wrong. It assaults the innocent, and it also endangers the countless good and heroic police officers upon whom we all depend. But likewise, rioting is not protest. Rioting is not protected by the First Amendment. Rioters are not sympathetic figures. Rioters are engaging in a form of domestic terrorism and should be dealt with accordingly. These are not normal criminals — they are rioting to advance a political point, which is not just a crime but an act of terrorism. And their message is simple: give us what we want or die. Civil society cannot long endure such acts — not of police brutality and not of mass violence — both of … [Read more...]
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