By Staff, World News Magazine (WNS) – Male and female students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will be able to live together in on-campus dorms starting next fall. The school’s Board of Trustees unanimously approved the option for gender-neutral housing on Nov. 15, after a student-led lobbying effort. Under the new housing plan, students must choose roommates of the same sex but can share suites or on-campus apartments with students of the opposite sex. The school’s chancellor, Holden Thorp, vetoed the same proposal in February, saying university stakeholders were not convinced the housing option was necessary. In September, UNC junior Kevin Blaybren headed a rejuvenated campaign to sway Thorp and the Board in favor of the proposal. The campaign had the support of campus groups like Young Democrats, the Black Student Movement, the LGBTQ Center and the provost’s committee for LGBTQ life. The campaign used a housing program at UNC-Greensboro that includes coed bathrooms as an example of success for gender-neutral housing. The nationwide push for gender-neutral housing picked up speed in 2010 and now includes 99 public and private colleges, according to the LBGTQ Center at UNC. Schools that have some form of … [Read more...]
Lottie Moon gave her life to answer question, ‘How many can I reach?’
She died on board a ship 100 years ago Christmas Eve – sick, exhausted, brokenhearted over leaving her beloved Chinese friends in their time of suffering. It was a bittersweet end to a long and fruitful life. But it wasn’t the end of Lottie Moon’s story. What is it about this woman that has inspired so many Southern Baptists, for so many years, to give their own lives and treasure to God’s mission? Born into privilege on a pre-Civil War plantation in Virginia, rambunctious young Lottie received the best education money could buy. But the difference between the fine words she heard from adults and the realities of life troubled her. A young, unbelieving Lottie told classmates her middle initial, D., stood for “Devil.” She pulled pranks, missed chapel and scoffed at religion. She was a brilliant scholar, however, and became one of the most educated women of her era. But knowledge alone couldn’t satisfy her soul. She began a search for truth. Lottie’s spiritual struggle came to a dramatic climax one night, sealing her commitment to serve God and others. She witnessed the ravages of Civil War, which destroyed the old society she had known. Matured by the experience, but just as independent as ever, she boldly joined her … [Read more...]
Milestones
Church Events Lakeside Baptist Pineville: “Super Gift From Heaven” at 6 p.m. Dec. 22 and 10:45 a.m. Dec. 23. December 23 Judson Baptist Walker: “The Hope of Christmas” by Celebration Choir at 7 p.m. Dec. 21 and 10:30 a.m. Dec. 23. Live Oak Baptist in Denham Springs: Christmas musical, 10:30 a.m., Dec. 23. Rose Park Baptist in Shreveport: Choir Christmas program, 6:30 p.m., Dec. 23. Westside Emmanuel Baptist Bogalusa: Candlelight service 6 p.m. Dec. 23. Satsuma Baptist in Livingston: “Silent Night! Holy Night!” at 6 p.m. Dec. 23. Old Zion Hill Baptist in Independence: Candlelight Communion at 6 p.m. Dec. 23. First Abbeville: Christmas Cantata, 5 p.m. Dec. 23. First Baptist Chataignier: “Silent Night. Holy Night,” Musical, 10 a.m., Dec. 23. First Baptist Opelousas: “Come See the Lamb”, Drama and Musical, 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., Dec. 23. First Baptist Haynesville: Christmas Eve service, 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 23. First Broussard: Old Fashioned Christmas Sing-along and Storytelling, 9:30 a.m., Dec. 23. Pilgrim Rest Eunice: Christmas Cantata, 10:30 a.m., Dec. 23. Teche Baptist, Breaux Bridge: Christmas Cantata, 10:30 a.m., Dec. 23. Bethel Baptist Colfax: Children and Youth Christmas Program, 6 p.m. Dec. 23. Christmas … [Read more...]
Behind the scenes of live nativities, fireworks displays, musicals and other Christmas traditions at Louisiana Baptist churches
By Brian Blackwell, Marketing Director To say December is a busy month for Southern Baptist churches around the state is an understatement. Fireworks displays, live nativities, singing Christmas trees, candlelight services and musicals are a few of the long-standing traditions of Louisiana Baptist congregations. And behind each note sung and each Christmas tree branch decorated are months of planning by organizers. “Those who volunteer believe they’re doing something of lasting value and they’re willing to get involved,” said Alan Shoumaker, minister of music and worship at Jefferson Baptist Church in Baton Rouge. “It’s an opportunity for the church members to connect and invite their friends. They feel like they’ve invested in something that’s beyond themselves.” For 16 years Jefferson Baptist has presented what Shoumaker said is known as a Baton Rouge Christmas tradition – the Twin Living Christmas Trees. As soon as the last performance ends, leadership starts brainstorming for next year’s event, though preparations are in full gear by August. About 350 people are involved in the production, including an adult and children’s choir, cast, greeters and parking crew. Shoumaker said such preparation is needed to … [Read more...]
Christmas Day Storm Clean-up
Submitted by Brian Blackwell on Fri, 12/28/2012 - 15:30 A Disaster Relief chainsaw team helps members of Forest Baptist Church cut and dispose of a 150-year-old tree at the church. The damage was caused by a storm that passed through many areas of the state on Christmas Day. Photo courtesy of James Avance, pastor of Forest Baptist Church. A Disaster Relief chainsaw team helps members of Forest Baptist Church cut and dispose of a 150-year-old tree at the church. The damage was caused by a storm that passed through many areas of the state on Christmas Day. Photo courtesy of James Avance, pastor of Forest Baptist Church. Select rating Give it 1/5 Give it 2/5 Give it 3/5 Give it 4/5 Give it 5/5 Give it 1/5 Give it 2/5 Give it 3/5 Give it 4/5 Give it 5/5 … [Read more...]
Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers minister to areas affected by Sandy
Submitted by Brian Blackwell on Mon, 11/05/2012 - 16:26 Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers pray Saturday morning, November 3rd, before leaving to minister in areas affected by Hurricane Sandy. Those units consisted of the Louisiana Baptist Convention feeding unit, Mount Olive Baptist Association shower unit and Eastern Louisiana Baptist Association chainsaw unit. Some of the volunteers of the feeding unit have now transferred to cleaning and sanitizing flood homes in Staten Island, NY while nine members returned to Louisiana today. According to LBC Disaster Relief team members, the feeding unit volunteers who returned to Louisiana were not needed because power was restored in the location where they had planned on ministering. The chainsaw and shower units are still providing support there. Select rating Give it 1/5 Give it 2/5 Give it 3/5 Give it 4/5 Give it 5/5 … [Read more...]
‘Cross’ed Off: ‘Painted Posse’ forgives LSU for air-brushing crosses out of photo
Submitted by philip on Wed, 11/07/2012 - 11:02 The Painted Posse is a group of Christian students who paint their bodies with LSU school colors and small crosses for home games. LSU officials sent out this photo of the students in an email about the LSU game against South Carolina on Oct. 13. The crosses on their upper left torso, however, had been digitally removed. By Mark H Hunter, Regional Reporter BATON ROUGE – When someone in LSU's Sports Department airbrushed hand-painted crosses off the bare chests of the "Painted Posse" in a widely distributed photo following the LSU-South Carolina game, it sparked a controversy over political correctness and censorship of university students' religious views. The Posse, a group of Christian students who proclaim their faith by wearing the crosses, had a meeting and asked themselves, "What would Jesus do?" They publicly forgave the university for the incident and are urging everyone to put the incident behind them. That is, until the LSU-Alabama game on Nov. 3. Thousands of fans, clad in LSU purple and gold and Alabama red and white, filled Tiger Stadium -- with some from both sides also wearing crosses to support the Posse and their testimony of faith in … [Read more...]
Annual Meeting to celebrate 200 years
Submitted by philip on Wed, 11/07/2012 - 11:16 By Staff, Baptist Message WEST MONROE – Louisiana Baptists will celebrate 200 years of ministry as they gather for their annual meeting, Nov. 12-13 at First Baptist Church in West Monroe. Former SBC President Johnny Hunt, pastor of Woodstock (Ga.) Baptist, will serve as one of the keynote speakers. Hunt, described as a “passionate and powerful speaker” by LBC Communications Director John Kyle, joins two other noted communicators from Louisiana. Waylon Bailey, pastor of First Baptist in Covington as well as LBC president, and Chuck Pourciau pastor of Broadmoor Baptist in Shreveport, also will address messengers – on Monday evening and Tuesday morning respectively. ‘We have much to celebrate and much to communicate,” LBC Executive Director David Hankins said. “Our desire is for people to walk away grateful for what God has done over the last 200 years, and help them understand they are the key to what God wants to do moving forward.” Highlights on Monday evening include music from LC Voices, a drama with a 200th anniversary focus, a feature spotlighting the ministry of Joseph Willis, challenges from Hankins and Bailey, and a video … [Read more...]
Latest episode doesn’t have to be end for LSU’s Honey Badger
By Kelly Boggs, Editor When college football standout Tyrann Mathieu entered drug rehabilitation after being kicked off the Louisiana State University football team in August for violating the school’s substance abuse policy, I wrote positively about the young athlete. Reports from his family indicated that Mathieu, also known as the Honey Badger, would enter drug rehab in Houston on Aug. 17 and would not return to LSU or any other college for the fall semester. My assumption was that Mathieu would spend the entire semester – at least 16 weeks – seeking to overcome his substance abuse. With that assumption in mind, I stated in a column that Mathieu’s decision to leave LSU in order to overcome his problem exhibited character that would serve him well in life. Sadly, it turns out I was wrong. Shortly after I wrote the column about Mathieu it was announced he was returning to LSU as student for the fall semester. He enrolled for classes on Sept. 4, just 17 days after he had checked into a substance abuse program in Houston. In my mind, the good decisions that had been previously announced had somehow morphed into poor decisions that would come back to haunt the Honey Badger. It seems that is exactly what … [Read more...]
Will Southern Baptists be able to rise to the challenge?
By Tom Elliff, President IMB One billion is a big number. It would take you 37 years to count to one billion at one number a second. Seven billion is an even larger and more significant number. That is the number of people currently inhabiting the globe. In 1804 the world reached its first billion in population. Now we are adding about one billion to our population every 12 years. This is the harvest Jesus wants us to lift up our eyes and see: 7 billion people, 330 million in the U.S. and 6.67 billion outside our borders. Yet over half the world’s population has only a slight chance to hear the Gospel. In fact, 1.7 billion people are likely to die without hearing the name of Jesus! And they are dying! Two people die each second. The equivalent of a city of 150,600 people disappears into eternity every 24 hours. Without Christ they will enter Hell, forever lost. This is why Jesus said the fields are white unto harvest. The simple facts above are why I am so deeply concerned about our Southern Baptist giving through the Cooperative Program and our Lottie Moon Christmas Offering (LMCO) for world missions. Last year’s LMCO was the fourth highest in history, yet the decline in CP giving eclipsed that gain, … [Read more...]
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