By Thom S. Rainer, President of LifeWay Christian Resources With apologies to Gary Chapman for playing on his well-known “Five Love Languages” theme, I asked 24 pastors how a church member might speak to each pastor in his own love language. And though 24 persons do not constitute a massive survey, I was amazed at the consistency of the responses. To fit the theme of five, I determined at the onset that I would only report the top five responses. To my surprise, there was an obvious break between the fifth and sixth most-frequent responses. The five love languages thus were a natural fit. So how can you speak a love language to your pastor? Here are the pastors’ top five responses in order of frequency. I offer a representative response from one of the pastors for each of the five. 1. Books. “I have a limited family budget, so I can’t just go out and buy a bunch of books. One year a deacon gave me a $200 gift card to a Christian bookstore. I was ecstatic! Now the church gives me a $300 book allowance each year. I know it’s not much for the type of books I get, but I sure am grateful.” 2. Encouraging notes. “I treasure every word of affirmation I get. It helps to soothe the pain of the criticisms. I keep all of my notes of … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Wed, 05/08/2013 - 10:21 By Archie England, NOBTS Question: Does the sin of Adam impact all humanity? Did Adam’s sin render all others guilty before each one personally sinned? NOBTS Professor Archie England responds: For the Apostle Paul, Adam’s first transgression caused death to come upon all humanity (Rom 5:12; 1 Cor 15:21). What God emphatically commanded (not eating from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, Gen 2:17), Satan enticingly challenged. Deceived, Eve ate; but, knowingly Adam transgressed (Gen 3:6). By this first act of sin, death resulted and caused all humanity to lose the ability to live physically forever. Consequently, sin and death would reign over all humanity. Except for the miraculous translations of Enoch and Elijah, no person would escape death’s plunge into the grave; no one escapes sin’s grip. Though some deny “racial guilt” – that all bear Adam’s guilt – I’m not at all troubled by the corollary: all bear his judgment. This kind of judgment on one’s posterity surfaces in the Lord’s declaration to Moses: He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generation” (Exodus … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Wed, 05/08/2013 - 10:24 Saeed Abedini By Erin Roach, Baptist Press TEHRAN (BP) – In another effort to force American pastor Saeed Abedini to recant his faith, prison officials in Tehran have placed him in solitary confinement, something the American Center for Law and Justice calls “perhaps his most grave situation since his imprisonment last fall.” Abedini – a U.S. citizen of Iranian descent – has served time in solitary confinement in the past, telling his family it was the hardest time in his life, according to a statement by his wife Naghmeh. He explained that “every hour was like one year and that he was losing his memory and his health was deteriorating quickly,” she recounted. In addition to solitary confinement, ACLJ reported April 29 that Abedini’s severe internal bleeding continues – still going untreated – and now his kidneys are not functioning properly. “We have been able to confirm that the horrible conditions in Evin Prison led Pastor Saeed and a number of prisoners in Ward 350 to sign a letter expressing to prison officials their concern about the lack of medical care received and the threats and harsh treatment facing family members who come to visit,” ACLJ said. The … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Wed, 05/08/2013 - 10:26 Inspired by a “See You at the Pole,” prayer event at Acadian Baptist Center last year, Branch Elementary students Leah Colson and Skylar Hoffpauir have opened the door to revival with prayer at their tiny rural public school in Branch, located in Acadia Parish. By Rachel Ortego, Regional Reporter BRANCH – In his book, The Power of Surrender, Michael Catt writes, “You may be God’s ‘anyone’—the person He will use to open the door and let Him in.  It just takes one to start a revival. Jesus isn’t waiting on the results of a poll or committee meeting. He’s waiting on a person.” Two young ladies have opened that door to revival with prayer at their public school in the tiny rural community of Branch in Acadia Parish. Kevin Colson, pastor of Elizabeth Memorial Baptist Church in Branch, and father to one of the girls, says this little study is sparking a revival, “not the two-week kind,” but the kind that is slowly but surely spreading throughout the town. Inspired by a “See You at the Pole,” prayer event at Acadian Baptist Center last year, Branch Elementary students Leah Colson and Skylar Hoffpauir decided to share a short Bible message and prayer together on Wednesdays at … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Wed, 05/08/2013 - 10:29 Dr. Chuck Kelley talks with NOBTs Trustees while Provost Steve Lemke (left) listens intently. By Gary D. Meyers, NOBTS Communications NEW ORLEANS (BP) – New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary’s trustees approved a new academic division and new degrees during their spring meeting April 17. The board also elected three new faculty members. Trustees voted to move the counseling program from the seminary’s Pastoral Ministries Division and the social work program from the Christian Education Division into a new academic group called the Division of Church and Community Ministries. The division brings together two programs with similar purposes. Ian Jones, professor of psychology and counseling, will serve as chair of the new division. “Counseling and social work are closer to each other than the other disciplines in Christian education and pastoral ministry,” NOBTS Provost Steve Lemke said. “We believe there is a synergism that can develop between the two programs.” While state licensing will be available for graduates in these programs, Lemke said the division’s main focus will be on church-based community ministries – “preparing graduates to serve in ministries such as … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Wed, 05/08/2013 - 10:32 In their yearly evaluation of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary President Chuck Kelley, trustees commended his leadership as visionary, noted his achievements and expressed confidence in his leadership into the future. By Gary D. Myers, NOBTS Communications NEW ORLEANS (BP) -- In their yearly evaluation of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary President Chuck Kelley, trustees commended his leadership as visionary, noted his achievements and expressed confidence in his leadership into the future. During the trustees’ April meeting each year, the board undertakes a thorough evaluation of the president’s performance in the previous year. As with all personnel discussions, the discussion takes place in executive session and a brief statement about the evaluation is read into the public record. Trustee chairman David Cranford, pastor of First Baptist Church in Ponchatoula, read the following presidential evaluation statement for the April 17 meeting’s minutes: “We move that the board affirm Dr. Kelley for 17 years of distinguished and visionary leadership as president.” The motion of affirmation was greeted with applause from the entire board. This year, Cranford … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Wed, 05/08/2013 - 10:37 Mae and Matthew By Staff, LBCH Communications MONROE – Since 1899, your Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home & Family Ministries has been providing love, care, and hope in Christ to children and families in need. Thank you Louisiana Baptists for sharing your love and God’s love with the children and families we serve! At the heart of our Christ-centered ministries is a question that is always prayerfully considered: “Where are the children who need us and how can we meet their needs?” The answers to that question are addressing the changing needs of today’s children in our state and in strategic areas of the developing world. Your support of the 2013 Children’s Home Sunday Offering will go far in meeting needs and changing lives! “Where are the children who need us and how can we meet their needs?” Today’s children are abused, neglected, abandoned, and orphaned. Your Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home provides safe, healthy, Christian homes for children of all races and religions. Children from birth to age 21 live in family-style homes on our Monroe campus with cottage parents who provide love, support, and Christian guidance. Special attention is given to each … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Wed, 05/08/2013 - 10:40 LBC President Waylon Bailey By John Kyle, LBC Communications ALEXANDRIA – “Here is an opportunity for us to do something to affect the next generation … and hopefully the Kingdom of God,” said First Covington pastor and current LBC President Waylon Bailey as he opened the President’s 2020 Commission Summit on April 22 in Alexandria. “Let’s don’t do what we can do. … Let’s receive what He has to give. … Let Him show us His way.” Bailey’s challenge from Leviticus 25 set the tone for the more than 400 pastors, staff, lay leaders and spouses from across the state who gathered at Alexandria’s Riverfront Conference Center for the Summit, which marks the half-way point of the 2020 Commission that was launched during the annual meeting of the LBC in November 2012 at First West Monroe. The 2020 Commission – 20 teams of 20 members each – have been asked “to develop and recommend a seven-year strategy for maximizing Louisiana Baptists’ effectiveness in Gospel ministry.” A final report along with recommendations will be presented to the September meeting of the Executive Board. Updates on the work of the various subcommittees can be found at www.LBC.org/2020. Russ Lee, lead singer … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Wed, 05/08/2013 - 10:41 More than 400 members of the 2020 Commission listened to LBC Executive Director David Hankins give his report on “The State We Are In.” By Karen L. Willoughby, Managing Editor ALEXANDRIA – Louisiana Baptist Convention’s Executive Director, David Hankins, reported on “The State We Are In,” during the recent mid-point meeting of the 2020 Commission. After giving the vision and mission statements of the LBC, Hankins reminded the 400 members of the 2020 Commission of their purpose statement: “to develop and recommend a seven-year strategy for maximizing Louisiana Baptists’ effectiveness in gospel ministry.” Hankins’ 35-slide Power Point presentation described trends – upward and downward – in Louisiana. Trending downward: In the years between 2000 and 2010, Louisiana’s population grew by about 60,000 people – to more than 4.5 million. In that same time period (used throughout the presentation), membership in churches affiliated with the LBC declined by about 45,000 people – from 593,000 to not quite 548,000. Baptisms of adults were down by 1,258; of youth, down 420; and of children, down 960. This shows that percentage-wise, we’re baptizing fewer youth and children than we are … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Wed, 05/08/2013 - 10:44 The newly elected State WMU officers and Nominating Committee members stand together to be recognized at the WMU Missions Celebration annual meeting in Ruston at First Baptist Church in Ruston April 6. The theme for the Missions Celebration was “Woven Together.” By Holly Jo Linzay, Regional Reporter RUSTON – Strains of the old-time missionary song, “We’ve a Story to Tell,” filled the sanctuary as 224 people celebrated the fabric of WMU at their 113th annual meeting. Participants at the WMU Missions Celebration event gathered together April 5-6 at First Baptist Church in Ruston to learn about WMU’s involvement in missions in Louisiana and around the world. Rose Toepfer of First Baptist Church in Eunice said she felt challenged to participate in WMU mission work after hearing about the “rich heritage” of the Woman’s Missionary Union and their plans for future works. She said listening to the former WMU state presidents, missionaries and ministers gave her a clear understanding of how WMU with its strands of mission education, work and support are all woven together. “It lights a new fire in me, hearing about the WMU’s legacy and work,” Toepfer said. “I plan to go home … [Read more...]