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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

SBC NEWS: Charges, Challenges, Changes

By Will Hall, Message Executive Editor BETH MOORE: SBC is misogynistic LifeWay’s top seller of books and Bible studies sparked a social media battle when she announced she would be preaching on Mother’s Day at a large church. A number of Southern Baptist Convention theologians weighed in and Beth Moore fired back, unleashing her discontent even with evangelicals’ support of Donald J. Trump during the 2016 presidential election. One of the first critics to comment was Owen Strachan, associate professor of Christian theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri. Strachan blogged, May 7, that it was against God’s Word and design for “a woman to teach and preach to adult men.” Calling it a “sinful practice,” he added that “to do so is to bring the church body into disobedience against God.” Moore tweeted May 11 that she was “compelled to my bones by the Holy Spirit … to draw attention to the sexism and misogyny that is rampant in segments of the SBC, cloaked by piety and bearing the stench of hypocrisy. ...” and appeared to peg her distress to several high-profile SBC pastors who supported then-candidate Trump. “I had the eye opening experience of my life in 2016. A fog cleared for … [Read more...]

Louisiana Notables

EDITOR’S NOTE: Do you have a Revival, Homecoming, a new pastor, a community outreach or a concert? The Baptist Message would love to share your church news with the rest of the state. It is very easy to do, just send in your information (who, what, where and when) to philip@baptistmessage.com or call 318.449.4345. To get your event in the paper, please submit your information three weeks prior to the event. ON THE MOVE Stephen (wife Crystal) Craver is the  new director to the Shreveport Metro Baptist Collegiate Ministry. Aaron Brewer is the new associate director for the Baptist Collegiate Ministry in New Orleans. REVIVAL Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church, Mount Hermon: Family Crusade, July 7-10. Evangelist: 2TALK42 Ministries. Pastor: Scott Spinks. Philadelphia Baptist Church, Deville: Revive Monday, July 8, 15, 22, 29. July 8: Evangelist: Bob Pittman. Worship: Jason Crabb. July 15, Evangelist: Jerry Chaddick. Worship: PBC Worship Team. July 22: Evangelist: Mike Stone. Worship: PBC Worship Team. July 29: Tarande Greene in concert. Pastor: Philip Robertson. Standard Baptist Church, Olla: Revival, July 14-17, Sunday, 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., Monday-Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. Evangelist: Malcom Ellis. Pastor: Shad … [Read more...]

Louisiana Baptists Executive Director-Elect Steve Horn releases speaking schedule

For a chance to hear newly elected Louisiana Baptists Executive Director Dr. Steve Horn, multiple chances are available around the state. Horn has a speaking schedule through late October: July 8, 6 p.m. - Zoar Baptist Church, Baton Rouge July 21, 8 a.m. - Philadelphia Baptist Church, Deville July 27, 6 p.m. - First Baptist Church, Covington July 28, 9:30 and 11 a.m. - First Baptist Church, Covington August 18, 10:15 a.m. - Mount Vernon Baptist Church, West Monroe August 25, 6 p.m. - First Baptist Church, Pineville September 4, 6:30 p.m. - Bayou Church, Lafayette (Men's night event) September 8, 10:30 a.m. - First Baptist Church, Haughton September 15, 10:30 a.m. - First Baptist Church, Winnfield September 22, 5 p.m. - First Baptist Church, Eunice (Acadia Baptist Association meeting) September 29, 10:30 a.m. - Alto Baptist Church October 6, time TBD - Bayou Church, Lafayette October 7, 6:30 p.m. - Riverside Baptist Church, Watson (Eastern Baptist Association meeting) October 13, 9 a.m. - First Baptist Church, Ponchatoula October 14, 6:30 p.m. - Holmesville Baptist Church, Downsville (Concord Union Baptist Association meeting) October 17, 6 p.m. - First Baptist Church, Broussard … [Read more...]

Tragedy turns to triumph in wake of pastor’s death

By Message Staff TERRYTOWN – Tragedy turned into triumph on the Westbank campus of Celebration Church, a week after its pastor was tragically killed while trying to help a motorist change a flat tire. Dennis Watson, lead pastor of Celebration Church that has campuses in the Baton Rouge, New Orleans and Northshore areas, told members and guests inside a packed worship center on the Westbank campus Sunday, June 23, they have showed their trust in God and love for Pastor Claude Williams and his family. Williams was one of three people who died Sunday evening, June 16, while trying to help a motorist change a flat tire on the upper level of the Westbank Expressway in Marrero. During the service, 15 people turned to Christ, and many more made decisions to accept Jesus as Lord during two memorial services held June 21 and 22. “The Lord tells us we will experience trials and tragedy in life,” Watson said during the June 23 worship service. “The Lord also tells us that He will bring us through our trials and tragedies. To overcome life’s trials and tragedies we must remember who God is and what He is able to do for and through us.” Drawing his message from 2 Corinthians 1:1-11, Watson reminded the congregation that God … [Read more...]

AG Landry praises ruling on Bladensburg Cross

By Staff BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry praised the U.S. Supreme Court’s 7-2 ruling, June 20, that protects from destruction a nearly 100-year-old white cross in Maryland that serves as a memorial to fallen soldiers. “As a veteran, I stand with millions of others in eternal gratitude and respect for our departed’s military service,” Landry shared with the Baptist Message. “Forcing Maryland to remove this veterans’ memorial would have dishonored their sacrifice and created the very divisiveness and hostility toward religion that the Establishment Clause seeks to avoid.” He was part of a group of 28 state attorneys general who joined a lawsuit to aid the American Legion against the effort of the atheistic American Humanist Association to force the dismantling of a 32-foot Latin cross erected in 1925 to honor 49 soldiers of Prince George’s County, Maryland, killed in World War I. Justice Samuel Alito wrote an extensive majority opinion, declaring that the war memorial did not violate the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution in part because it “carries special significance in commemorating World War I.” Citing the “image of the simple wooden crosses that originally marked the … [Read more...]

SEBTS’ Lyon new VP for NOBTS

By Marilyn Stewart, NOBTS Communications NEW ORLEANS (NOBTS) -- New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary President Jamie Dew named Larry Lyon, June 19, the vice president of enrollment, beginning July 1. Lyon, who has served as director of enrollment at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary for eight years, steps into a new position approved by the NOBTS trustees executive committee in their regularly scheduled meeting June 4. Noting that enrollment grew significantly at Southeastern during Lyon's tenure there, Dew said Lyon is "a gifted administrator with proven abilities in the areas of recruiting, retention and completion" and "a proven leader with exceptional strategic instinct and training. I'm excited to see him develop an efficient and effective enrollment strategy for NOBTS." The announcement is Dew's first official action since his election as NOBTS president by the full board of trustees June 5. President Emeritus Chuck Kelley retires July 31 after leading the seminary for 23 years. According to the job description approved by trustees, the vice president for enrollment, as chief strategist and catalyst for all enrollment-related matters, will "drive and direct the institutional strategy" for maximum … [Read more...]

La. pastor arrested for rape, church ministers to the hurt

By Staff WESTLAKE, La. (LBM) – Bruce Baker, director of missions for the Carey Baptist Association, said the Bellview Baptist Church in Westlake is asking for prayers of healing for a young girl who was raped by the now former pastor of the congregation. John Ward, 45, who had served at the church since 2012, was arrested June 17 on 10 counts of first degree rape, 40 counts of indecent behavior and two counts of pornography involving a juvenile, according to a news release from the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Department. An anonymous call to the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services’ tip line led to an investigation during which Ward confirmed to detectives that he had been molesting a girl, now 11 years old, for two years. He also told investigators he videoed the girl while she was nude on two separate occasions. Judge Sharon Wilson set his bond at $640,000. “Bellview Baptist Church leaders are cooperating fully with the sheriff’s office in the investigation,” Baker shared with the Baptist Message. “The deacons, in consultation with Carey Baptist Association, unanimously voted to immediately terminate Ward’s employment with the congregation because of his sexual immorality and failure to maintain the … [Read more...]

Memorial services scheduled for Jefferson Parish pastor

Details for the memorial service have been announced for Claude Williams, pastor of Celebration Church’s Westbank campus who was killed Sunday, June 16. According to Celebration Church’s website, the first service will take place Friday, June 21, 11 am at Celebration Church, 2001 Airline Dr. in Metairie. Visitation begins at 9 a.m. A second service is scheduled for Saturday, June 22, 11 am at the First Baptist Church, 508 Second St. in  Nachitoches. Visitation begins at 9 a.m. Williams was one of three people who died Sunday evening while trying to help a motorist change a flat tire on the upper level of the Westbank Expressway in Marrero. According to WDSU-TV in New Orleans, an Impala struck the disabled Yukon driven by Williams and the two other pedestrians, pushing them over the side of the elevated expressway. The driver of the Impala, Todd Williams, 40, of New Orleans, was arrested. An account on the Celebration Church website has been established to help defray funeral costs. Donations can be given at https://celebrationmla.infellowship.com/OnlineGiving/GiveNow/NoAccount. … [Read more...]

Louisiana Baptists among motion makers at annual meeting

By Staff BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Louisiana Baptists offered three motions among 23 presented by messengers during the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting, June 11-12, in Birmingham, Alabama, with the Committee on Order of Business including two among 18 referred to entities or committees and another as part of five ruled out of order. Referred to the Executive Committee: -- A motion by Leroy Fountain of the Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, La., that a comprehensive report be given at the 2020 annual meeting on the progress of 12 recommendations adopted by the SBC in 2011 for expanding ethnic participation in the Convention. The last published information about progress made on the 12 recommendations was included in a 2015 report on racial reconciliation (click here). -- A motion by Pam Richardson of the New Life Baptist Church in Baker, La., to amend the BF&M 2000 Article 6 to state, "While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office and function of the pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture." Her motion adds “and function” to the original statement. -- A motion by Robert Anderson of the Colonial Baptist Church in Randallstown, Md., to add a George Liele … [Read more...]

Pastor Charles Edwards passes away May 6

Reverend Charles Richard Edwards entered heaven on Monday, May 6, 2019 at the age of 91 with his family by his side. Born on February 7, 1928 in Bentonville, Arkansas to Dixon and Essie Young Edwards, he served in the Navy during World War II. Upon returning home he accepted Christ as his Savior and was ordained into the ministry on September 27, 1950 at First Baptist Church in Bentonville. He attended Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas where he met his future wife, Christine Campbell. They married on January 30, 1953. To This union four children were born including three daughters; Charlotte Thibodeaux of Perchville, Cheryl Turner (Timmy) of Richard, Connie Bertrand (Preston) of Eunice and a son, Danny Edwards (Bernadine) of Eunice. He is also survived by ten grandchildren and eighteen great grandchildren as well as many nieces and nephews. Edwards was preceded in death by his parents; Dixon and Essie Young Edwards of Bentonville, Arkansas, his wife of 64 years; Christine Campbell Edwards of Perchville, two brothers; Benny Edwards and Earl “Jack” Edwards of Bentonville, Arkansas, three sisters; Jewell Spurlock of Bentonville, Arkansas, Merle “Tookie” Page of Paragould, Arkansas, Thelma “Happy” Reich of … [Read more...]