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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Religious liberty resolution moves forward in legislature

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – A resolution to protect pastors from civil and criminal penalties for doing essential ministry during an emergency order has moved forward by a vote of 7-4 out of the House Administration of Criminal Justice Committee. H.C.R. 5, authored by Rep. Danny McCormick, a member of Trees Baptist Church in Vivian, “Suspends the enforcement of criminal penalties relative to religious assembly … as they relate to emergency proclamations and violations of emergency proclamations.” McCormick invited Gene Mills, president of Louisiana Family Forum, and Will Hall, director of the Louisiana Baptist Office of Public Policy, to join him in advocating for the measure before the committee. Hall said the governor’s office was active in seeking inputs from Louisiana Baptists, the largest non-Catholic religious body in the state, during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, regarding the implementation of emergency orders. But he said the resolution offered to de-escalate situations where a conflict might arise from a pastor doing essential ministries during emergency proclamations. “This is a way, by just taking away the penalties, of avoiding escalation in a situation that … [Read more...]

LBC’s Horn, Bridges, Bailey lead prayers with governor

By Baptist Message staff BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – Three Louisiana Baptists were among 10 pastors and other leaders from multiple denominations around the state who led prayers during a special call with Gov. John Bel Edwards on Thursday, May 6. Held on the annual National Day of Prayer through Zoom, Edwards and others prayed for children, teachers, health care and other essential workers; those impacted by a Seacor lift boat that capsized April 13; state and local leaders, including Edwards and his family; Louisianans hurt by the pandemic, hurricanes and winter storms last year; and President Joe Biden and his traveling party as they visited Lake Charles and New Orleans on Thursday. “The National Day of Prayer is a pretty simple recognition that God is in control and we are not,” Edwards said during the opening prayer. “And no matter our station in life, whether you are governor in the sixth year or a pastor, the higher your station in life, the more dependent you are, that I am, that we are, on God. “And I think we know that sometimes (our prayers) match with His plan and sometimes they don’t,” he continued. “But when they don’t, it’s because His plan is perfect and our prayers are not. That should reinforce the need for … [Read more...]

Pastors, morals mocked, but prostitution bill blocked

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – Witnesses mocked the authority of pastors and questioned whether morals should be a consideration for a bill that would have elevated prostitution to legal status. But H.B. 67 was pulled, May 4, by its author, Rep. Mandie Landry (D) of Orleans Parish, when it was clear her proposal did not have majority support on the committee. Bruce Reilly, deputy director of Voice of the Experienced, “a growing network of currently incarcerated people, formerly incarcerated people (FIP) and their loved ones,” according to the group’s website, told the committee “there’s things that are criminalized in our society that are moral and there’s things that harm other people” and argued “there isn’t a victim” in prostitution. “We heard earlier about gambling, which 30 years ago was illegal; and I’m sure some of you have different opinions, morally, about whether gambling is okay or not,” Reilly said. “Maybe your pastors have different opinions about whether it’s okay or not. Things that are legal you don’t have to partake in. You might have a moral opposition to Bama fans living in the state of Louisiana, but the fact is they can live here.” Stacey Lunan, a … [Read more...]

It’s too pristine

By Chuck Kelley Rarely does Hollywood contact a Southern Baptist seminary, but rarely is not never. One day location scouts for a major motion picture to be filmed in New Orleans called NOBTS and asked to tour the campus. They were looking for a place that with a bit of movie magic could be made to look like the United States Coast Guard Academy. As they looked around, the location scouts absolutely loved what they saw. The star of the movie, who was a major Hollywood player, also had to sign off on the location before they could make a formal request to film some scenes within our gates. After looking things over, he overruled the scouts and rejected the recommendation to use NOBTS, saying it was “too pristine,” meaning too unspoiled and fresh. When news of the Hollywood conversation reached the president’s Office, I found it amusing, Upon reflection, I realized how instructive it was for the future facing Baptists. Having lived and worked on the campus for more than four decades, I was accustomed to hearing people speak of how beautiful the campus was and how different it felt when entering our campus from the city of New Orleans. The classic academic quadrangle was designed by A. Hays Town, a legendary Louisiana architect, … [Read more...]

Former Gov. Jimmie Davis to be honored with historical marker at alma mater

By Elizabeth Christian, LC News PINEVILLE, La. (LC News) - Louisiana College will unveil a historical marker in honor of the late two-time governor of the State of Louisiana, Jimmie Davis, in a public ceremony May 7. The musician-turned-politician, Davis served as the governor from 1944-1948 and again from 1960-1964. Perhaps his most lasting legacy, however, is the Grammy-award winning song “You Are My Sunshine,” written in 1940 and named one of the greatest songs of the century by the Recording Industry Association of America. “Gov. Davis is one of Louisiana College’s most famous and successful alumni,” said President Rick Brewer. “We are honored to pay tribute to his lasting legacy as governor and as a prolific songwriter and musician.” Former Louisiana State Sen. Jim Brown and local historians Michael Wynn and Mike Tudor, whose great-grandfather was a friend of Davis, will speak at the unveiling ceremony. Davis graduated from Louisiana College in 1924 with a degree in history and went on to earn his master’s degree at Louisiana State University, before starting a career in music and later politics. Known as the singing governor, Davis often performed for crowds on his campaign stops around Louisiana … [Read more...]

LaSalle Baptist Association rally encourages participants to “man up” for God

  By Craig Franklin, Jena Times JENA, La. – Approximately 200 men were challenged to be spiritual leaders in their homes and communities during the recent “Man Up” rally at the Jena Community Center. Sponsored by the LaSalle Baptist Association, the night featured Southern Gospel Music from Graceway Quartet, messages from Casey Johnson, pastor of Bonita Road Baptist Church in Bastrop, and Rubin Weaver, pastor of Antioch Baptist Church in Farmerville, and a free meal for all participants. The theme was “Not Ashamed.” Event coordinator Daniel Breithaupt, pastor of Midway Baptist Church in Jena, noted this event was a continued effort to engage Christian men with fellowship, corporate worship, and to take their position as spiritual leaders in their homes, churches, and communities. “If there has ever been a time in our nation where we need men to become the spiritual leaders it is today,” Breithaupt said. “Our prayer is that time will encourage you to take your place.” Basing his message off the life of Stephen in the book of Acts, Johnson challenged those present to be men of faith who are filled with power from the Holy Spirit. “Stephen didn’t really take a stand on the day he died, he took a stand … [Read more...]

Ministry assistants gather for encouragement at regional conferences

By Baptist Message staff More than 100 adults and guests met recently for encouragement for the Louisiana Association of Baptist Ministry Assistants’ regional conferences, April 19-22, which was held at four locations. The events, entitled “Affirmed and Encouraged,” featured keynote speaker Rhonda Kelley, associate director of innovative evangelism and adjunct professor at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and breakout sessions dealing with biblical womanhood in today’s culture, gender communication and walking in holiness. Glenda Suggs, ministry assistant for Morehouse and Northeast Baptist Associations, also shared about “becoming your ministry best” and Shana Johnson, support supervisor for the Louisiana Baptists’ business and information services team, spoke about “finding value in ACP reporting.” Associations that hosted the event were Carey Baptist Association office in Lake Charles, CenLa Baptist Association at Kingsville Baptist Church in Ball, Concord Union Baptist Association office in Ruston, and Northshore Baptist Association at First Baptist Church in Ponchatoula. “Our hope was that these four regional conferences would be both affirming and encouraging for church administrative/ministry … [Read more...]