By John Yeats, Executive Director Missouri Baptist Convention JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (BP) -- Baptist state conventions are not the church. State conventions are nowhere in Scripture. Only the local church was given by Christ to fulfill the purpose of His Kingdom. Local Southern Baptist churches, though, autonomously have decided to cooperate, and one of the best ways of achieving such cooperation is by affiliating with a state convention. Consequently, state conventions can play a vital role in assisting churches and associations as they fulfill ministries under the direction of Christ. So what are the unique things that state conventions do to help churches and associations carry out their assignments for the Kingdom of God? Here are seven: 1. Sound the trumpet. In Old Testament times, leaders in a particular jurisdiction were given the privilege, the permission and the power to convene the people -- to sound a trumpet and assemble the people for a common purpose. Old Testament prophets were called on to assemble the people. Joel 2:15-16 says, "Blow the trumpet in Zion; set apart a fast, a day of restraint and humility; call a solemn assembly. Gather the people...." In the Book of Acts there are examples of leaders who … [Read more...]

By Penna Dexter, columnist/radio commentator California teenagers who experience same-sex attractions and wish to seek professional help in trying to overcome them can no longer do so. The reason: California Gov. Jerry Brown has signed into law a disturbing bill that prohibits licensed mental health professionals from using what’s come to be called “reparative” therapy in counseling teenage homosexuals who have expressed a desire to change their sexual orientation or behavior. These therapies are intended for those who experience same-sex attraction but want help to change. The bill, known as SB 1172, states that mental health providers who render these services to clients under 18 would be engaging in unprofessional conduct, subject to discipline by their respective licensing boards – meaning, they’ll lose their licenses to practice. California is often on the cutting edge of radical policies. We can hope this one doesn’t spread further. But two New Jersey lawmakers are drafting similar legislation. And members of the group that helped get the law passed in California are helping counterparts in other states with talking points and “expert” witnesses. As he signed the bill, Gov. Brown called reparative … [Read more...]

By Rex Butler, Associate Professor New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary In 1660, a thousand-page tome was published in the Netherlands with a long title: The Bloody Theater or Martyrs Mirror of the Defenseless Christians – “Who Baptized Only Upon Confession of Faith, and Who Suffered and Died for the Testimony of Jesus, Their Saviour, From the Time of Christ to the Year A.D. 1660.” The author, Thieleman van Braght, compiled this book to cast a bright reflection on Christian martyrs, not only those from the beginning of the church, but especially the Anabaptists. Who were the Anabaptists? As suggested by the complete title of the Martyrs Mirror, they were Christians who believed, based upon their study of the New Testament, that baptism was intended, not for infants, but for believers who confessed their faith in Jesus Christ for salvation. The first Anabaptists began baptizing believers in 1525, with persecution by both Catholics and Protestants rapidly falling on them. According to historian Justo Gonzalez, there were more Anabaptists martyred at the hands of other Christians in the sixteenth century than Christians martyred by Roman pagans during the first three centuries of the church (The Story of Christianity, vol. … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Marketing Director RURAL LOUISIANA – Harvest time has come for many farmers in Louisiana. And while farmers are bringing forth their cotton, corn, sweet potatoes and other crops to harvest this month, some rural churches will do the same with large monetary offerings. Known as Harvest Day, Louisiana Baptists will celebrate with worship, prayer, food and a special offering above and beyond church members’ tithes. Jeff Thomas, pastor of Start Baptist Church, said Harvest Day allows believers to give thanks to God for His provision. He explained that believers in the Old and New Testament met regularly to fellowship and gave thanks to God for His blessings, including their crops. “We are reminded in the book of Acts that the people ate together, prayed together and worshiped together,” Thomas said. “And as a result, God added to their number daily those who were being saved. More than any financial goal being reached on Harvest Day, we pray for souls to be saved and lives to be changed by God.” Smart Baptist hopes its members will give an offering goal of $60,000, which will fund a renovation of a children’s worship center. Past harvest day offerings have funded new worship centers and local and … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Wed, 11/07/2012 - 11:37 Memorial Baptist Church and Preschool, and Memorial Baptist Christian School in Metairie, collected all these food items, hygiene products and cleaning supplies for the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home annual Fall Food Roundup. They also donated $850 to support day-to-day needs of the Home. By Marc Eichelberger LBCH Communications. METAIRIE – God works through the annual Fall Food Roundup to bless the children at the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home. Every year, hundreds of Louisiana Baptist churches collect groceries and other needed items to share with the Home. This literally helps to feed our children for the entire year! Sometimes God works in unique and creative ways to provide for the needs of His children and to bless His Friendly competition creates ‘win-win’ for church, school, LBCH Memorial Baptist Church and Preschool, and Memorial Baptist Christian School in Metairie, collected all these food items, hygiene products and cleaning supplies for the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home annual Fall Food Roundup. They also donated $850 to support day-to-day needs of the Home.people in the process. Memorial Baptist Church and Preschool and Memorial … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Wed, 11/07/2012 - 11:39 For decades, Louisiana Baptists have been sharing their groceries with the children living at their Children’s Home. This year was no exception. In fact, it was a near recordbreaking harvest of groceries! “The helpless entrusts himself to You; You are a helper of the fatherless.” Psalm 10:14 Louisiana Baptist churches literally help to feed the children at the Children’s Home for an entire year through their faithful participation in the Roundup. Their expression of God’s heart for His children makes a difference in their lives every day. Perry Hancock, LBCH President & CEO, has this to say: “Our annual Fall Food Roundup is one of the most practical ways our churches demonstrate their love for Christ and for children who cannot help themselves. Thank you Louisiana Baptists so much for sharing your love by sharing your groceries!” Select rating Give it 1/5 Give it 2/5 Give it 3/5 Give it 4/5 Give it 5/5 … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message STATEWIDE – Southern Baptist Missionary Lottie Moon died of malnutrition Dec. 24, 1912, on a ship named the Manchuria. She had given everything, including her own food, to her beloved Chinese people. The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions is named in her honor. The “Manchuria” level of giving to the offering is the highest of four given for per-capita giving, based on average Sunday morning worship attendance. The other levels: Cartersville, Moon’s home town, for churches with a per-capita giving of $25-$49.99; Tengchow, where Moon started her work in China, for churches with a per-capita giving of $50-$74.99; Pingtu, the last town where Moon ministered, for churches with a per-capita giving of $75-$99.99. The Manchuria level is for churches that give $100 or more, per-capita. The following list of the 29 Manchuria-level churches in Louisiana starts with the highest per-capita giving churches,  in 2011, according to the IMB. Fairview Coushatta, Kingston Frierson, Woodridge Shreveport, Sharon Dubach, Bayou Des Glaises Moreauville, Sweetwater Quitman, Emmanuel Shreveport, Belcher in Belcher, Pilgrim Rest Eunice, Woodlawn Iowa, Indian Mound in Greenwell Springs, First Moss Bluff … [Read more...]

 WEST MONROE – This year’s annual meeting of the Louisiana Baptist Convention is to take place Nov. 12-13 at First Baptist Church of West Monroe – known informally as “First West.” In order for members of Louisiana Baptist churches to participate in the business of the LBC, they need to be elected by their church to serve as messengers, who then are able to vote their conscience on matters of convention business. The Credentials Commit­tee oversees the registration process for the annual meet­ing. Joe Alain, LBC Creden­tials Committee Chairman, notes that there are five ways messengers may be certified to participate and vote at this year’s annual convention: The first and simplest way is for messengers to pre-register using the LBC online program, print out their registration card, and bring the card to the annual meeting. Pre-registration in this way allows messengers to be certi­fied within a matter of minutes, Alain said. Second, if messengers have not pre-registered, bringing a letter from their church on church letterhead stating that they are elected messengers will allow them to register and be certified to vote. Third, a church officer can phone in the names of elected messengers. Fourth, verification by a fellow … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Wed, 11/07/2012 - 11:44 Members of the group Testify lead worship during the Louisiana Baptist Convention’s 2009 Annual Meeting. After 18 years of service to the Lord, the group will perform their final concert at First Baptist Church of West Monroe on Nov. 17. By Robert Lemoine, Regional Reporter WEST MONROE – Touching the masses through worship. The group Testify, whose musical genre is a blend of Southern Gospel, Adult Contemporary, and Praise and Worship, will perform their final concert on Nov. 17 at 6 p.m. at First Baptist Church of West Monroe after 18 years of service to the Lord. Since the group started in 1995, they have gone through some member changes, over­come personal doubts, and traveled across a large portion of the United States perform­ing. Kenneth Swanner, one of the founding members, said, “It was God’s plan from the start. Our [Kenneth and Brent Swanner] dad was president of the Executive Board for Louisiana Baptists and doors were opened.” Brent and Kenneth along with Daniel Steele started the group. In 1997, Daniel left the group and was replaced by Nathan Thompson. A couple of years later, in 1999, Landon Thompson replaced Nathan and has … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Wed, 11/07/2012 - 11:48 Prayer makes a difference, men involved in Bible study at First Baptist Church of Ville Platte have learned.They gather strength from each other’s walk with the Lord “as iron sharpens iron.” By Rachel Ortego, Regional Reporter VILLE PLATTE – When First Baptist Church of Ville Platte increased its adult Sunday school by 64 percent in less than four weeks time in October, director Neil Ortego was pleased, but not surprised. “With only 38 percent of our adults being discipled through traditional Sunday School, I began praying for a way to increase participation in small groups to 100 percent,” Ortego said. “After five years of prayer and research God gave me the solution through a book written by Nelson Searcy called, Activate: An Entirely New Approach to Small Groups,” Ortego continued. “When we turned traditional Sunday school on its head, with a new methodology, name, place and purpose, class numbers exploded from 75 to 125 literally overnight.” First Baptist’s Sunday School attendance, sandwiched between the two morning services, had been hovering around the same number for years. New church members were visiting but not staying. Teacher burnout … [Read more...]