By Bill Warren, NOBTS Thursday night before being crucified, Jesus celebrates a Passover meal with his disciples in Jerusalem, according to the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke). This meal was a longtime tradition as the Jewish people looked back on the event that propelled them out of their slavery in Egypt under the power of Pharaoh and forward into a future that shaped them into the people they were and are to this very day. They became a distinct people in many ways as a result of the Passover event and what followed as they went through the trials and struggles in their wanderings, which culminated in them coming into a promised land. Later, under David, they would make plans for a central worship setting in Jerusalem, with the temple being built by Solomon, later destroyed in 587/586 B.C., and then rebuilt when the time of exile ended, with extensive improvements undertaken by Herod the Great. So Jesus and his disciples gathered in Jerusalem where the temple stood to celebrate the Passover meal and remember how God had freed his people from Egypt. But was it indeed a Passover meal? Some have questioned whether or not the meal that Thursday night was a Passover meal in light of the emphasis in John. … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Thu, 03/28/2013 - 15:17 Fred Luter speaks to African-American pastors and church leaders in North Carolina. By Shawn Hendricks, Baptist Press PLEASANT GARDEN, N.C. (BP) – Speaking to a group of mostly African-American pastors and church leaders, Fred Luter Jr. recently voiced both encouragement and concerns regarding a few issues Southern Baptists face today. Luter, pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans and president of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), spoke at a breakfast that preceded the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina’s 2013 State Evangelism Conference at Pleasant Garden Baptist Church in Pleasant Garden, N.C. The first African-American to be elected as SBC president, Luter talked about everything from Calvinism to pastors standing up against societal pressures on issues such as gay marriage. He also encouraged them to join the 1% Challenge that encourages all Southern Baptist churches to consider a 1 percent-of-budget increase in Cooperative Program giving. “I’ve been a part of [the Southern Baptist] convention for 26 years,” Luter said. “This is not a perfect convention, but ... I would put this convention up to any in the … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Marketing Director PINEVILLE – “When we adopted CCA last July we were stepping into a ministry strictly by faith,” said Doyle Hoychick, pastor of Trinity Baptist. “We had no understanding of what it took to run a school, what impact the school would have on us as a congregation and what impact we could have on the school and Christian education. “That led to the one-year lease, but as a church we have been truly blessed with CCA as a part of our ministry,” Hoychick continued. “The school board, administration and the teachers have been gracious to us and conscious of our other ministries. Knowing this was of God, we took the step for the parents, teachers, staff and community to know CCA has a home at Trinity Baptist Church.” The news of the 10-year lease between church and school is just the latest in a series of positive developments for CCA, which has been at Trinity Baptist since July 2012, a few months after the school relocated from Journey Church. CCA leaders learned in May 2012 that the school did not fit the long-term plans of Journey Church, its original home since 2006. The school’s board of trustees – which includes Hoychick and members of Trinity Baptist – recently approved a tuition … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Thu, 03/28/2013 - 15:21 By Jerry Love, LBF Communications The Bible is clear on the importance of giving. Scripture contains more verses on giving than in any other area of obedience. Some would say that a person’s testimony in giving is a true measure of the strength of their relationship with Christ. Even outside the church there is an understanding that giving is both a reflection of the best parts of who we are and the key to the most important work we will accomplish as neighbors and in our communities. At the Louisiana Baptist Foundation, our belief in the value of philanthropy, generosity and stewardship is much more than philosophical. The following information reveals some very practical and creative ways to give to your church or a favorite ministry.  Some of these methods take advantage of provisions in our tax code and can provide for your family, church and ministry as ways you never anticipated. Outright Gifts The most basic gift is a transfer of an asset directly to the ministry you select. These outright gifts can be made in a number of ways: cash, securities, real estate, or personal property. The most common way to make an immediate gift is by … [Read more...]

By Jerry Love, LBF Communications As you begin to plan your estate including gifts to ministry, consider incorporating some these ideas or concepts in your gift planning. Giving Appreciated Assets Appreciated assets are those possessions which have “appreciated” or increased in value over time. The most common examples of these assets would be real estate, stocks and other securities. If the owner sells this type of asset, capital gains tax is then due on the “profit” or appreciated amount. By donating the appreciated asset to a ministry organization (instead of selling and giving the cash proceeds) the donor can avoid the capital gains tax. Giving appreciated assets can fulfill the charitable desires of the donor while not impeding their normal cash flow. Appreciated assets can be given outright to a charitable organization or they can be used to fund a variety of different gift arrangements. Tithing Your Estate Tithing is a basic Christian tenant of stewardship. Tithing your estate at the end of a lifetime devoted to Christian stewardship and service is an appropriate testimony for believers. Even the faithful lifetime tither may never have tithed on an appreciated asset such as real estate, securities, or … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Thu, 03/28/2013 - 15:28 People on hand for the March 18 presentation at Tall Timbers Baptist Retreat Center prayer walk over the location for the Georgia Barnette Conference Center and Missionary/Volunteer Training Center. By Staff, Baptist Message WOODWORTH – Fund-raising efforts are taking place across Louisiana for the Georgia Barnette Conference Center and Missionary/Volunteer Training Center at Tall Timbers Baptist Retreat Center. The Louisiana Baptist Convention’s missions and ministry team led by John Hebert has made presentations at several WMUs across the state for the $1.5 million project. The plea for financial support spread recently to churches in five Cenla associations. “We thought it would be important to them to be a part of what’s going on at their camp,” Hebert said. “We need a training place for the future of missions in Louisiana.” Information about influential early-day Louisiana Baptists is to be displayed at the center. The 8,400-square-foot center is to have seven small group rooms and assembly areas that can be arranged for up to 400 participants. The March 18 presentation  for 59 people from 21 churches included a prayerwalk tour of Tall … [Read more...]

By Karen L. Willoughby, Managing Editor BATON ROUGE – A group of 250 pastors and other Christian leaders led by Lee Wesley, pastor of Community Bible Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, hand-delivered a letter to the office of Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal March 18 to voice their concerns about Jindal’s plan to increase the state’s sales tax. By 3 p.m. the same day, the group had received a response, and an appointment for March 22 with a member of the team working with Jindal on revamping the tax code. “A sales tax is a regressive tax that negatively impacts the poor and middle-income residents,” Wesley explained in a telephone interview with the Baptist Message. “Several weeks ago I helped convene a meeting in Baton Rouge of religious leaders from across Louisiana. I said to them the faith community cannot stand by and not have a voice on this issue, because it’s going to have a negative impact for years to come.” Of the 250 signers of the letter to the governor, 134 were Baptist and 10 were part of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, including Fred Luter Jr., pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist in New Orleans. Luter signed the letter as a pastor concerned about his church members and the other residents of Louisiana, he … [Read more...]

Arrivals/Departures n Steve (wife Sherri) Gilley, new as associate pastor and minister of senior adults and missions at First Baptist Minden. Pastor: Leland Crawford. n Brian Thurman, new as pastor of First Baptist Homer. Billy Pierce has completed his interim pastorate at the church. n Orvell Bryant, new as pastor of First Baptist Gibsland. n Tom Descant, new as youth minister at Hillcrest Baptist Franklinton. Pastor: Andrew Voss. n Phillip (wife Connie) Hardin, new as associate pastor at Red River Baptist in Benton. n Marc (wife Amanda) Roath, new as outreach pastor at Calvary Shreveport. n Donnie Bradley, new as interim pastor of Beulah Land Baptist in Haughton. n Virgilo Tunon, resigned as pastor of Iglesia Bautista Antioguia. n Bill Lott retires as pastor of Pilgrim Home Baptist in Benton. n The music minister (unnamed for security) at First Baptist Vivian resigns to enter mission field. n Bill Crosby, new as interim pastor of Kingston Road Baptist in Shreveport. n Tony Meinhardt resigned as interim pastor of Northwoods Baptist in Shreveport for an Alabama pastorate. n Roger Tarver resigned as pastor of First Baptist Crowley. n Robert Tyler, resigned after 14 years as pastor of Mt. … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Thu, 03/28/2013 - 15:32 First Baptist Church of Sulphur takes missions – and missions offerings – seriously, as evidenced by this poster designed by the church. Every $150 received for the AAEO results in one more state being colored in. “Using a visual representation of the giving toward our church goal appears to be very effective at communicating our progress and generating excitement as we near our goal,” says Missions Pastor Tom Bruce. By Staff, Baptist Message SULPHUR – First Baptist Church members Love Out Loud locally and across the globe. It’s a “doing for others” ministry that includes the church converting its bus barn into an auto repair shop, helping a widow saddled with a decrepit home, and being aware of missions/ministry opportunities as the Lake Charles area booms with construction and energy-related jobs. This of course is in addition to the giving of more than 10 percent to missions through the Cooperative Program and other missions giving, including seasonal offerings, and other missions-related activity across North America and the world. David Holder is senior pastor. “Many of these laborers [coming in locally] will be here a short time,” said … [Read more...]

By Staff, World News Magazine WNS – Traditional marriage has a unique proponent in Doug Mainwaring, the openly gay co-founder of the National Capital Tea Party Patriots, who lives with his ex-wife to co-parent their two adopted sons. Mainwaring divorced his wife to explore his homosexual desires, but in a piece for Public Discourse he explained how he discovered over the course of a decade that “creating a family with another man is not completely equal to creating a family with a woman.” He also found that “denying children parents of both genders is an objective evil. Kids need and yearn for both.” Mainwaring went on to explain that to do what is best for his children, he moved back in with his ex-wife and has denied his sexual impulses. Rather than feeling repressed, he believes it has led to psychological health and his family’s flourishing. Men who make their homosexuality the dominant aspect of their lives diminish other aspects of their lives socially, familially, emotionally, and intellectually, Mainwaring wrote. “Gay and lesbian activists, and more importantly, the progressives urging them on, seek to redefine marriage in order to achieve an ideological agenda that ultimately seeks to un-define families as … [Read more...]