By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor PARIS (LBM) -- Ironically, the deaths of 130 civilians as well as the related stepped up air attacks against Islamic State militants in Syria are both successes for ISIS. On the one hand its strategic objectives have been enhanced by the terror and chaos created within Western nations it considers enemies – France, Belgium, Germany and the United States among them. On the other hand, the severe military response ISIS has provoked fits into the bizarre end time prophecies that are prompting the group to be so barbaric in its atrocities against the countries it has incited. TERRORISM & THEOLOGY Paris was placed under curfew, the first since 1944, after gunmen and suicide bombers coordinated separate attacks targeting restaurants, a rock concert and a sports stadium Nov. 13, killing 130. France’s President Hollande also ordered the country’s borders sealed and lawmakers voted to extend a national state of emergency through at least February 2016. Brussels officials, meanwhile, declared a terror alert Nov. 22, closing schools and putting troops on patrol in the streets while conducting raids (21 arrests so far) to locate suspects connected to the Paris terrorism. The … [Read more...]
LCIW Revival brings freedom to 32 behind bars
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ST GABRIEL – Inmate Chelsea Daigle had decided to follow Christ during one of the revival services at Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women the day before when she went forward with a request. “I want to be baptized tonight,” she proudly exclaimed. For Janie Wise, those words represented a beautiful picture of Christ’s love and forgiveness, a freedom found in a place where many inmates spend many years behind bars. “The tears, joy and the women saying, ‘Thank you, Jesus,’ made this a special weekend,” said Wise, women’s missions and ministry strategist for Louisiana Baptists which co-sponsored the revival at the prison. “The women who followed through with baptism knew what they were doing. It was a step that said to their peers right there, I have decided to follow Jesus.” During four revival services from Oct. 3-4 at the maximum security prison about 10 miles east of Baton Rouge, 32 women made professions of faith and 28 of them were baptized. Approximately 160 volunteers from 28 Louisiana Baptist churches participated in the revival, which included a gift box distribution to the inmates, three worship services on Saturday, a worship service on Sunday and a … [Read more...]
Healing souls in Haiti: October mission trip allows team to minister to Haitians in need
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer HAITI – Lane Howe and his interpreter had just entered the 8 x 10 foot home when they were offered the only food the 28-year-old Haitian woman named Garline had in her entire house – eight bananas. Though she owned very little and had lost 17 family members during a 7.0 magnitude earthquake that devastated the country on Jan. 12, 2010, Garline demonstrated she had all she needed – a relationship with Jesus Christ. The encounter forever etched in Howe’s mind a picture of Christ-likeness, and is a constant reminder of why he and 42 other Louisiana Baptists went to Haiti for a mid-October mission trip. “She had it all figured out and showed me it’s not about the material things that matter,” said Howe, a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Alexandria. “Here was someone who had lost 17 family members and still had some injuries visible from the earthquake, yet she showed me how we are supposed to live our lives – devoted to Christ and excited to have Him in us. “Just like she wanted to share all the food she had, we should be willing and excited to share what we have as Christ-followers,” he continued. “It’s our obligation because Haiti is in need. “How can they hear the Word … [Read more...]
Trustees: Stock markets decline in August, September affects assests
By Jerry Love, LBF Communications ALEXANDRIA – At their final quarterly meeting of 2015, trustees learned the stock market’s decline in late August and September affected the assets under management by the Louisiana Baptist Foundation. Investments During the investment committee meeting Oct. 27, data that was shared about assets under management showed a $9 million decrease in the third quarter, primarily due to market decline in late August and September. Still, assets held by the LBF totaled $164,566,429.39 on Sept. 30, about $3.79 million more than the same date a year ago. Likewise, it was noted that the stock market recovery in the month of October helped to erase most of the losses, with LBC-held assets gaining back about $6 million. Investment Committee Chairman Jim Prince (Aimwell Baptist Church, Aimwell) presented the performance report for the different portfolios managed by the Foundation, and he announced the returns earned by the major components of the LBF portfolio as of the end of this year’s third quarter: Short Term Fund: 0.51 percent Annualized Yield Fixed Income Fund: 1.46 percent Total Return; Equity Fund: -6.46 percent Total Return The group investment fund which comprises … [Read more...]
Hispanic pastors urged to ‘work together’
By Will Hall, Message Editor BOSSIER CITY – California Southern Baptist Convention Executive Director Fermín Whittaker urged pastors and others gathered Nov. 9 to go all in for the Gospel ministry, saying, “We are ambassadors or not; we cannot be 50 percent.” The venerable Southern Baptist leader spoke at the fourth annual Hispanic pastors’ conference conducted during the Louisiana Baptist Convention annual meeting. Cooperation was the common theme among the three sessions, each conducted by Whittaker. Likewise, he offered key advice on the husband and wife partnership in the ministry. “Remember, she is not assistant pastor, she is your wife,” he said, cautioning pastors from putting too much on the shoulders of wives. “I saw a change in my wife when she began to be a woman and not a pastor’s assistant, a woman and not a conference speaker,” he offered. “She began to be a woman, instead of a Sunday school director.” The call of God In the first session, Whittaker spoke on a personal level to the group, encouraging them not to feel inadequate for the task God has called them to undertake. God does not see a person with problems and deficiencies, he said, but He does look for a humble heart. “I have to … [Read more...]
Speakers urge pastors to pursue a higher calling in their ministry
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer BOSSIER CITY – Brad Jurkovich believes if they are not careful, pastors can develop a spiritually deadened heart. “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 spoke to those attending the 2015 Louisiana Baptist Convention Pastors’ Conference about how King David’s dulled heart led him to sin. Much like David at one time, 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 more of God than anything else? Because out of your heart will flow everything else. Out of your heart will flow a desire to live for God and seek to live the Holy Life He has changed you and called you to be. For those pastors with such a dull … [Read more...]
IMB Commissioning service highlights a world in need
By Marilyn Stewart, Regional Reporter NEW ORLEANS – In a moving service focused on God’s faithfulness in a world dangerous and desperate without Christ, thirty-five International Mission Board missionary candidates were commissioned by IMB trustees at First Baptist Church, New Orleans, Nov. 8. The event came at the end of the annual IMB board of trustees meeting held this year on the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary campus and coincided with the annual NOBTS Global Missions Week. During the week, IMB personnel spoke in the NOBTS chapel, classes, and in focused breakout sessions. John Edie, IMB board of trustees chairman and member of Second Baptist Church in Springfield, Mo., introduced to the near-capacity crowd the “next wave” of Southern Baptist missionaries and noted the board’s unanimous approval of their appointments. He then turned to the appointees. “What I never cease to be amazed at is the look in your eye when you tell me you are going to the farthest, most remote, most difficult places in the world. And there’s no fear,” Edie said. “The reason is because of the One we serve, the One who’s still in charge.” Addressing the appointees’ family members in attendance, Edie said, “I assure you that in … [Read more...]
Horn challenges, encourages messengers to take ‘The Pledge’ for God’s great work in Louisiana
By Philip Timothy, Message Managing Editor BOSSIER CITY – Is this the best Louisiana Baptists can do? THE PLEDGE Louisiana Baptist Convention President Steve Horn believes not and is asking every church in the state to take ‘The Pledge’ – a pastor-driven initiative designed to increase Cooperative Program giving in the coming months. ‘The Pledge’ is a plan challenging churches giving less than 3 percent to the CP to move to 5 percent; churches giving between 3 and 8 percent are encouraged to increase by 2 percent; and churches giving between 8 and 9.9 percent to go to 10 percent. Churches already giving 10 percent of their undesignated receipts through the Cooperative Program will be thanked and encouraged to consider a 1 percent increase or simply reaffirm a commitment to their current level of giving. In his report to the convention, he informed messengers Nov. 9 at First Baptist Church in Bossier City, on the progress the initiative, unveiled May 5, has made so far and challenged those who had not taken ‘The Pledge’ to do so now. “Just across the river from where we are tonight was a pastor named M. E. Dodd, well-known as the architect of the Cooperative Program,” said Horn. “At the 1919 SBC, an SBC … [Read more...]
At Revival Life Church, it’s out with the old, in with the new
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer HOUMA – Dexter Gaspard isn’t your typical pastor. Wearing gages in his ears and covered with tattoos, Gaspard can be found from time to time riding a skateboard with the teenagers, playing a bass guitar or talking about the eggs that are laid from chickens he raises in his backyard. But every Sunday, Wednesday and pretty much the rest of the week, Gaspard is busy ministering to a homeless man, preaching a message from inside Revival Life Church’s worship center or sharing the gospel with residents of a halfway house, many who live a life of drug use and alcohol that were once common for him. He’s quick to point out this past life is something he now uses to relate to the people he’s trying to reach. “A lot of them tell me later on when they’re clean that I understand where they are coming from,” said Gaspard, pastor of the south Louisiana church. “They tell me that helped them open up to share problems. They know I won’t give them a textbook answer; mine is from experience. “Growing up I knew there was a God,” he continued. “I was just mad at Him. I thought I was dealt a bad hand in life. After I got saved, I realized all that was prepping me to become a minister. Now, … [Read more...]
Louisiana Notables
ON THE MOVE Brent Shoalmire is new as pastor from laity at Oak Hill Baptist Church, Plain Dealing. David Savage has resigned as pastor at New Ebenezer Baptist Church, Castor. Nancy Huey is the new children’s minister at First Baptist Church, Calhoun. Johnny (wife Penny) Miller is the new pastor at Downsville Baptist Church. Marcelle Ronquille is the new pastor at Bosco Baptist Church, Monroe. Craig West resigned as pastor at First Baptist Church, Monroe. Daryl Purpera is the new pastor at First Baptist Church, Central. IN REMEMBERANCE A.L. Palmer of Ponchatoula passed away Oct. 28 at the age of 93 following a brief illness. Memorial services were held on Oct. 31 at the First Baptist Church of Ponchatoula. He served as a “Seabee” in the United States Navy during World War II. After the war he was a welder before entering the ministry. From 1986 into 1988, he served as pastor of First Baptist Church of Opelousas. In March of 1988, Palmer, a native of Perrysville, Ohio, retired from full-time ministry and relocated to the Hammond/Ponchatoula area. He then began a very active and fruitful 27 year period of ministry as an interim pastor, supply preacher and mentor to younger pastors. He preached in over 100 … [Read more...]
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