By Will Hall, Message Editor BATON ROUGE – Democratic gubernatorial contender John Bel Edwards decided not to join U.S. Senator and Republican gubernatorial contender David Vitter on stage at the historic Jefferson Baptist Church in Baton Rouge Nov. 12 for a debate organized to elicit the candidates’ views on a host of faith and family issues as the two men continue to campaign down to the wire in the race for governor. It was the second night in a row Edwards was a no show. The previous evening he snubbed an audience at the historically black Southern University, even though a regional news outlet described the campus as an Edwards-friendly setting. Vitter not only showed up for the Southern University event, but took on some pointed questioning from the host, not backing down when pressed about using the word “thug” in a campaign ad. Vitter stood his ground and said the word was not racist, and, apparently some of the students agreed with him, according to a report in The Baton Rouge Advocate. The New Orleans Times-Picayune, meantime, reported Edwards was attending a meet-and-greet event of about 200 supporters at the home of Barbara Anne Eaton, a prominent Baton Rouge realtor, at the time of the Southern … [Read more...]

By Will Hall, Message Editor NEW ORLEANS – Although State Representative John Bel Edwards skipped out on the family and faith forum Nov. 12 which would have allowed panelists to question him directly about how his claim to be against same-sex marriage would translate into public policy, The Baptist Message has found sources which show Edwards supports transgender rights, and plans to pursue policies granting special rights to lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders. Edwards already is on record  as fighting against  HB707, The Marriage and  Conscience Act, proposed this spring by State Representative Mike Johnson (R-Bossier City), who is an active member of First Baptist Church in Bossier City. In a post on LouisianaforLiberty.com, Johnson identified Edwards as the legislator who “led the dramatic charge to stop my religious liberty bill and get it killed” in committee. The proposed measure would have codified protections for Christians and others who hold the conviction that marriage can only be the union of one man and one woman, and prevented the state from forcing any government employee or official to act in contravention to their beliefs about marriage. The bill also would have kept Louisiana agencies from … [Read more...]

  By Message Staff BOSSIER CITY – With a decrease in baptisms across the Southern Baptist Convention and the reality that the International Mission Board is cutting back its missionary force, SBC President Ronnie Floyd believes he knows what the No. 1 need is for Louisiana. “We need the power of God upon our churches and upon our ministries,” said Floyd, pastor of Cross Church in northwest Arkansas. “We have too many pastors and churches that are contented to go forward, doing ministry without the power of God.” Speaking to messengers during the final session of the Louisiana Baptist Convention Annual Meeting at First Baptist Church in Bossier City on Nov. 10, Floyd said he is convinced Southern Baptists are drifting away and moving away from the mission of God. “When we move away from the mission of god, you also move away from the power of God,” he said. “And when you move away from the power of God, you don't have a heart to move toward the mission of God.” Floyd's urgent words closed the final day of the LBC Annual Meeting, which featured a Bible study, reports from state entities, a message by Kirk Jones of Fellowship Church in Prairieville, election of next year's officers and high-energy music. A … [Read more...]

By Message Staff BOSSIER CITY – The biblical character Nehemiah can tell believers a lot about victory. Burdened that the walls of Jerusalem had been torn down and burned with fire, restoring them despite obstacles he faced along the way became his life mission. And those same problems Israel encountered help Louisiana Baptists see what will keep them from fulfilling the Pledge – a pastor-driven initiative designed to increase Cooperative Program giving – Louisiana Baptist Convention Steve Horn told messengers during the opening night of the LBC Annual Meeting. “As Nehemiah, we have a great work for a great God,” said Horn, pastor of First Baptist Church Lafayette. “When there is a great God and great work, there will usually be great obstacles.” In Nehemiah’s story, Horn said there are five obstacles that will keep Louisiana Baptists from obtaining victory. They are disobedience, disunity, discouragement, personal distractions and doubt. At the end of Horn’s message, messengers had the opportunity to come forward and lay down on the altar decision cards they filled out regarding the Pledge. In addition to a report on the Pledge, the first session of the LBC Annual Meeting included reports from Louisiana … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer BOSSIER CITY – Brad Jurkovich believes if they are not careful, that pastors can develop a dull heart. When that happens, pastors should do like King David – come to the point where they realize they need God more than anything again. “When our desire is more of everything else but God, then that is when our heart becomes dull for the Lord rather than on fire,” said Jurkovich, pastor of First Baptist Church in Bossier City. “And Pastor, when your heart is dull for God then there will be a lack of passion to live the holy life He is calling you to live.” Preaching from Psalm 51:1-13, Jurkovich told those attending the 2015 Louisiana Baptist Convention Pastors Conference that King David was a man passionate in his praise and worship of God. The author of many of the Psalms in the Bible, David committed a sin with another man’s wife and thus suffered consequences. Much like David did, pastors who are suffering a lack of passion for God should get to the point that they need the Lord. “When you desire God more and more then you will have a heart that hungers for God then His high call of holiness will be a very real passion of yours,” he continued. “In your heart, do you desire … [Read more...]