Submitted by philip on Mon, 08/26/2013 - 10:01 Louisiana Baptist Convention Evangelism Director Wayne Jenkins (left) and another member of the 130-member Louisiana team pray with this young Brazilian boy after he surrendered his life to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The team led 4,400 people to faith on the recent trip to Brazil. By Karen L. Willoughby, Managing Editor MONTES CLAROS, Minas Gerias, Brazil – Serving the Lord sometimes involves walking up and down nine flights of stairs for three days because the hotel’s elevator is broken, as is the hot water heater, which means no hot showers to comfort aching bones. Serving the Lord sometimes means a delayed flight from Alexandria, which means missed connections in Dallas, Miami and Sao Paulo, in turn, only to find at journey’s end a resilient people eager to hear the truth of God’s love for them. Serving the Lord in Brazil this July meant being part of a team of 130 children, teens, adults and seniors who as a group led 4,400 people to faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. “It was a blessed experience because of the spiritual receptivity of the people,” said John Galey, pastor of Poydras Baptist Church in metro New Orleans. Galey was a first-time … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Mon, 08/26/2013 - 10:03 A chainsaw team from Eastern Baptist Association cut down a burned-out tree in fire-ravaged Black Forest, Colo. By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer BLACK FOREST, Colo. – The words of Isaiah 61:3 were the battle cry of Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief teams ministering to hundreds of people who lost their homes from a massive wildfire. “and provide for those who grieve in Zion – to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.” The teams from Louisiana gave physical and spiritual assistance to residents needing hope in a dark time. In the end, many found such hope, with five people accepting Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. “Debriefing times at night were highlighted by ash-out crews telling stories of recovering and returning to home owners, jewelry, coins and heirlooms that were considered lost forever,” said Tom Higginbotham, a member of the Eastern Baptist Association team. “We were able to give out Bibles and [stuffed] bears, and pray with families who were … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer As the Georgia Barnette State Missions Offering approaches, reaching Louisiana continues to be a challenge – not only because of the changing culture, but also due to the changes coming from the North American Mission Board. Under a new agreement with NAMB, money normally given to Louisiana for various missions causes will be redirected to efforts primarily in new-work areas. Specifically this means Louisiana will redirect $50,000 annually for the next seven years for a total of $350,000. What does this mean for missions in Louisiana? “As we redirect NAMB cooperative funds to places outside of Louisiana, these Louisiana mission gifts from Georgia Barnette become increasingly important,” said LBC Executive Director David Hankins. Ministries benefiting from the Georgia Barnette Offering include church planting, missions camps, resort missions, disaster relief, Baptist Builders, Christian vocational service scholarships for Louisiana College, purchasing property for mission churches and a new media outreach, Operation Highways & Hedges. Fellowship Church in Ascension Parish is one of many specific examples where Georgia Barnette gifts are bearing fruit. Since its start in January … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE – Former First West Monroe pastor David Uth is returning to the state, this time as the keynote speaker for this year’s E4 preaching conference. Uth – who is pastor at First Baptist Orlando, Fla. – will present the message “Blessed … It’s Not What You Think” over the course of three main sessions at the conference, scheduled for Sept. 13-14 at First Baptist Pineville. In addition to Uth’s sermons, the conference will also feature breakout sessions on such topics as proven principles for church revitalization, the power of encouragement through preaching, creating a culture of evangelism from the pulpit and how broken preachers can deliver effective sermons. Jana Endris, wife of Matt Endris, pastor of Fairview Baptist in Coushatta, will lead the minister’s wives track sessions. “The conference is valuable for ongoing improvement for a preacher, any preacher,” said Stewart Holloway, pastor of First Baptist Pineville and conference organizer. “Whether you have a seminary degree or not, you can be reminded of things that you already knew and earn things you didn’t know. And the ability to talk with the professors and other preachers and focus on the effective preaching is where … [Read more...]

By Staff, World News Magazine NEW ORLEANS – When the City of New Orleans passed a ban that kept Troy Bohn’s ministry from preaching in the famous French Quarter, the group found an unlikely ally – the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Months after the ministry’s initial run-in with New Orleans police, city council members recently lifted the ban. Raven Ministries has worked on Bourbon Street since 1960. But in October 2011, the city passed a ban on disseminating “any social, political, or religious message between the hours of sunset and sunrise.” Even so, the ministry continued holding “street church” on Friday and Saturday nights. They don’t “chase people,” Bohn said. They set up shop, and talk to people who are interested. Trouble didn’t come until this past September, when police showed up and arrested Bohn and two of his coworkers. Bohn called the ban “a blatant violation of First Amendment speech.” Police gave the evangelists a citation and held them for a couple of hours. Bohn told officers people needed to hear his message and insisted he would be back the next day.  That’s when the ACLU contacted the ministry, and said it wanted to take the case. Bohn said the man on the phone admitted he didn’t agree with the … [Read more...]

By Michael Foust, Writer Nashville, Tenn. One of the greatest moments as a father is walking into the house and seeing your smiling children jump in joy at your mere appearance. My youngest son, at 19 months, will blare out “Daaaaad!” at the top of his lungs, often winning the “loudest” and “biggest smile” contest. His brown-eyed twin sister, just as excited, will run to me, ponytail swaying back and forth, wanting me to pick her up and kiss her. And my eldest son will squeeze me tight, excitedly telling me about the frog he caught that day or the unidentified bug he trapped. Those are the moments when you want to stop time and treasure, forever. Then there are those not-so-great moments when you mess up as a father. Once, I sent my eldest son to his room when I misunderstood the situation and he in fact had done nothing wrong. Another time, I failed to follow through on a promise I had made to him. Still another time, I raised my voice when it wasn’t warranted. As parents, we have several biblical roles. One is to rear our children in a loving home and to teach them to obey, thereby preparing them for a life of obeying a holy God who loves them even more. Another role, though, is to model for them the life of a Christian. … [Read more...]

To the Editor   Many Christian publications use the term “gay” as a synonym for homosexuality. Phrases such as “Gay marriage” and “gay rights” appear frequently. Christians should thoughtfully consider using the proper term “homosexual” in their discussion of this subject. The word “gay” means “joyful”, “carefree” or “happy”. The last decade of the 19th century was “The Gay Nineties” due to the perception of this an era as a time of prosperity and freedom. Restaurants, radio shows, popular songs, movies, books, and even works of art and television programs incorporated the word “gay” as a way to recall the nostalgia of this period of American history. A generation of parents named their daughters “Gay” and the word was even used by men as a shortened form of “Gabriel”. By the 1960s, the word “gay” became a synonym for homosexuality.  According to a June 1976 article from The Times, the term was preferred as an alternative to some of the derogatory terms for homosexuality. So, a word that originally described a happy, carefree person was now synonymous with homosexuality simply because it sounded less offensive. Since then, if we are to believe the polls, homosexuality has slowly become more acceptable. As … [Read more...]

By Archie England, NOBTS Question: Why is Abigail, the wife of the wealthy businessman Nabal, praised for going behind her husband’s back, defying his publicized intentions, and concealing her actions (until it suited her)? Archie England reponds: Let’s examine 1 Samuel 25 for the answer. Nabal was a wealthy rancher, managing large herds of sheep and goats. Such wealth, however, doesn’t fit the story’s beginning because his name indicates that something is amiss. It means, “foolish.” Nabal was obstinate and foul in business dealings (25:3). His wife, Abigail – whose name means, “my father’s joy” – however, is described as his opposite: She’s stunning and smart. As the story rapidly unfolds, Nabal roughly addresses David’s emissaries (who arrived on a festive day seeking supplies), berating David’s name and family; and, he gives them nothing! Two different reports occur next. First, David’s emissaries inform David of the insults. Second, a household servant informs Abigail of Nabal’s folly. Abigail gathered up a large load of festival provisions (25:18) and hurried to meet David. By God’s providence, they met, and she graciously entreated him to forgive the foul Nabal – foolish people do foolish things. Not only did Abigail … [Read more...]

By R. Albert Mohler, Southern Seminary “It is hard to think of any other profession which it is so near to impossible to leave.” That is the judgment of Richard Dawkins, perhaps the world’s most famous living atheist, as he welcomes unbelieving pastors to join the Clergy Project, a group designed to help unbelieving pastors make their way out of the ministry. Apparently, some are not moving out very fast. The Clergy Project, Dawkins explains, “exists to provide a safe haven, a forum where clergy who have lost their faith can meet each other, exchange views, swap problems, counsel each other – for, whatever they may have lost, clergy know how to counsel and comfort.” Dawkins, who once held one of the world’s most coveted academic posts, has now reduced himself to addressing small gatherings of atheists and celebrating a motley crew of pastors who have abandoned the faith – even if some have not abandoned their pulpits. The Clergy Project’s own statement is blunter, describing itself as “a confidential online community for active and former clergy who do not hold supernatural beliefs.” Most people, believers and unbelievers alike, are no doubt in the habit of thinking that the Christian ministry requires supernatural beliefs. … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Mon, 08/26/2013 - 10:15 Tennessee evangelist Brent Gambrell was the featuredspeaker at this year’s PreTeen Invasion 3.5 sponsored by the Louisiana Baptist Convention at Louisiana College. By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE – Brent Gambrell believes heroes of the Christian faith such as evangelist Billy Graham are fast becoming a rarity and that students could fill those shoes if they are willing to take a bold stand for Christ in their world. “Where is the next Billy Graham going to come from, if not from this generation?” Gambrell told about 750 youngsters and adults during the recent PreTeen Invasion 3.5 at Louisiana College. “I won’t be the next Billy Graham but I hope someone in this room will be.” Gambrell – an evangelist from Cleveland, Tenn., who regularly travels to Haiti for missions trips – challenged the students to put aside their reputation and spend time with those the world deems as the less desirable. When that happens, Gambrell said, the world takes notice and desires a relationship with Christ. “Jesus is saying follow me now,” Gambrell said. “Don’t wait.” Youth from 51 churches heard Gambrell’s message at PreTeen Invasion 3.5, a Cooperative Program-funded … [Read more...]