By Richard Land, President of the ERLC This election year, 2012, more Americans than usual feel that the country is at a crossroads and that it is in the midst of making an election decision as important to the future direction of the country as has been made in any election since 1860. I can imagine no better way to be prepared to exercise our God-given freedom to vote for the person God would have serve as our congressman, senator, governor or president than to follow the 40/40 prayer guide. The guide begins with seven days of prayer for “personal” revival, followed by six days of prayer for “church” revival and five days for revival among the church’s “leadership.” After starting with individual repentance and holiness, we move on to the church and to the nation and its need for spiritual repentance, revival, renewal and reformation. Then, as commanded by God, we pray for all public officers in the sure and certain trust that the heart of the king is “in the hand of the Lord” and that God “turneth it whithersoever he will” (Proverbs 21:1). Then we pray for “discernment” and “wisdom” to elect the best officials to serve the nation in public office. How better to prepare ourselves to exercise that discernment than … [Read more...]

To the EditorI read with interest the article “Thousands Show Support” (Baptist Message, August 16). It reminded me of a conversation I had a few years ago.My wife and I were visiting my cousin in Maryland. On Sunday morning he and his wife picked us up at our motel and he took us to dinner. On the way we passed a Chick-fil-A. My cousin said “I really admire the owner of that store because he doesn’t open on Sunday. He sticks to his religious beliefs.” I replied, “What about us, Bob”? He wanted to know what I meant.I said, “We are going to eat lunch, so someone is not able to attend church services this morning because of us and those like us.”How many of the thousands of people that showed up to support Mr. Cathy will leave church next Sunday and go to a restaurant, Wal-Mart, a gas station, or some other business to shop for nonessential items. All of these will claim to be Christians, but that are in fact stumbling blocks to many who may want to attend church.I also wonder how many do not attend, nor allow their children to attend, PG-13 or R rated movies, or watch the filth that is shown on TV today under the guise of entertainment.I agree with Mr. Miller’s letter to the editor concerning marriages (Baptist Message, August … [Read more...]

  By Charles L. Quarles, Dean of the Caskey School of Divinity at Louisiana College John Newton wrote the hymn Amazing Grace in 1779. His hymn was more than a theological reflection on the grace that he found described in Scripture; it was a profound expression of thanksgiving for the grace that he had personally experienced. Newton knew that his salvation was entirely a tribute to God’s astonishing grace. Newton expressed this conviction in the title of his autobiography, An Authentic Narrative of Some Remarkable Particulars in the Life of *******. The previous sentence is not a typo. Newton refused to use his name in the title of his own autobiography. In fact, he went to considerable pains to preserve his anonymity in telling his life story. Newton wanted to state loudly and clearly that the amazing account he penned was not designed to promote his reputation, but to prompt others to praise God for His great grace. A comparison of the hymn Amazing Grace with Newton’s autobiography shows conclusively that the hymn is likewise autobiographical. I have previously highlighted the connection of the first and second verses of the hymn to Newton’s personal testimony. The third verse of the hymn is also a description of … [Read more...]

By Bill Warren, NOBTS Question: Why were people in the area north of Samaria not hated like the Samaritans in the New Testament period? NOBTS Professor Bill Warren responds: The division between the Jews and Samaritans is rooted in the time when Solomon’s son Rehoboam heavily taxed the northern Israelite tribes and treated them disrespectfully, resulting in them seceding with Jereboam as their king and thereby creating the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah. As told in 2 Kings 17, when Israel was conquered in 721 B.C., the Assyrians sent people to the Samaria region (the area of the two tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim, mainly) who intermarried with the Israelites, thereby creating a people later considered “half-Jews” by those of Judah. The resulting group came to be called Samaritans, with their name deriving either from the city of Samaria or a word that means “observer of the law,” as Samaritans defined it. The Samaritans opposed the rebuilding of a temple in Jerusalem (Ezra 4), a beginning point for conflict between Jews and Samaritans. The result was that the Samaritans worshipped in their temple on Mt. Gerizim, while the Jews worshipped at the Jerusalem temple, with theological, ethnic, and political differences … [Read more...]

  By Marc Eichelberger, LBCH Communications MONROE – The Fall Food Roundup for the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home was started in the early 1950s under the leadership of then-superintendent D.C. Black. Black came to the Children’s Home from serving as Minister of Music at First Baptist Church of Monroe. A veteran of World War I, he had been a manager for the American Railway Express and a manager of an automobile repair business before entering the ministry. With his previous leadership experience, Superintendent Black was a good manager of the Home’s resources. He served LBCH from 1946 to 1962. Establishing the Fall Food Roundup was only one of many of Black’s significant accomplishments. Another occurred in 1955, when the Louisiana Baptist Convention Cooperative Program was expanded to include the Children’s Home. Black certainly understood the importance of cooperation. He knew then, what Southern Baptists still know today: Churches working together can accomplish so much more that what one church can accomplish alone. This year’s Fall Food Roundup is a great example.  In just 14 days starting Sept. 10, LBCH cottage dads and staff will drive across the state, stopping at 450 collection points, and picking up … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Tue, 09/04/2012 - 01:00 Camp USA: Camp USA students from South Korea joined with young members of First Baptist Church of Ponchatoula for a week-long music day camp, after which they presented the children’s musical Follow U to the church and community.   By Karen L. Willoughby, Managing Editor CENLA/PONCHATOULA – Seven South Korean children made professions of faith during their Camp USA this summer. This was the eighth year for the three-week, gospel-and-Louisiana immersion by the Asian youngsters, who stay in the homes of members of Louisiana Baptist churches and learn about life in America. “This is truly a cooperative effort,” said Susan Duke of Tioga First Baptist, who coordinates the effort that this year involved 43 Korean children and eight adults. “There were 25 [Louisiana Baptist] churches that were directly involved, and others who were prayer partners with us. We are blessed beyond measure to have this unique opportunity for international missions here in our area.” Camp USA started in Rapides Parish July 20-29. The students and their leaders spent July 29 to Aug. 6 in Ponchatoula, and concluded with three days of sightseeing in San Francisco before their … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Tue, 09/04/2012 - 01:00 Temple of New Life Baptism: New Life Baptist Pastor E.J. Scott (left) prepares to baptize a young boy as part of this congregation’s determined growth.   By Marilyn Stewart, Regional Reporter NEW ORLEANS – “There and Back Again” could describe the short history of Temple of New Life Baptist Church and the ministry of its pastor, Edward J. Scott. Scott and his small congregation probably prefer a snippet from the church motto: “At all costs.” The church recently marked one year at its eastern New Orleans location, its third home since its birth in Dallas four days after Hurricane Katrina landed Scott there. With the dispersal of Scott’s former New Orleans congregation to Dallas, he started Shiloh Baptist Fellowship with 14 members. Three years later, Scott left the growing congregation in capable hands and returned home to New Orleans. Temple of New Life Baptist Church opened in the parking lot of a blighted building at South Galvez Street and Jackson Avenue, and Scott preached outdoors despite wind, rain, heat and cold. The church’s partnership with First Baptist Church of New Orleans provided meals on Wednesdays at nearby Taylor Park and fed … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Tue, 09/04/2012 - 01:00 Award Recipient: James Carson, director of missions in Caldwell, Deer Creek and Richland Baptist Associations, and coordinator of Disaster Relief Chaplaincy for the Louisiana Baptist Convention (left) received the Joel Phillips Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual Disaster Relief Summer Roundtable. Joining him is Gibbie McMillan, LBC’s director of Disaster Relief and Men’s Ministry Strategist.   By Karen L. Willoughbym, Managing Editor DES MOINES, Iowa – For the first time in the award’s five-year history, the Joel Phillips Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to a Louisiana Southern Baptist. James Carson, director of missions in Caldwell, Deer Creek and Richland Baptist Associations, and coordinator of Disaster Relief Chaplaincy for the Louisiana Baptist Convention, received the national award Aug. 14 in Des Moines, at the annual Disaster Relief Summer Roundtable. “I’m elated about the fact he’s been selected,” said Gibbie McMillan, LBC’s director of men’s ministries and Disaster Relief. “He’s been faithful and has done a tremendous work. We have more than 300 chaplains trained in stress management for Disaster Relief in our state, and James … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Tue, 09/04/2012 - 01:00 Iron Man Pastor: Emily and James Lambert enjoy a fellowship at Bryceland Baptist Church, where James is the “Iron Man” pastor.   By Karen L. Willoughby, Managing Editor GIBSLAND – Because of his wife’s health, James Lambert needs to stay near home, but his presence is going to Russia, Romania, East Asia and North Korea, as well as all over the United States and maybe other places he hasn’t yet heard about. Lambert, pastor of Bryceland Baptist Church in Bienville Baptist Association, designs applications – apps – for the iPhone. It’s work he can do to pastor a church that can’t pay its pastor a fulltime salary, and be available as needed to his wife and three youngsters, ages 6, 11 and 12. “It’s amazing what God can do when you’re out in the woods,” Lambert said. “You can reach the world nowadays through the window we call the computer. We can reach the world in our own small way, and it’s important for the spread of the gospel that we take advantage of every way we can.” It was Kevin Ezell, president of the North American Mission Board, who first referred to bivocational pastors as “Iron Men.” Lambert is one of those who pumps iron with his mental … [Read more...]

  By Marilyn Stewart, Regional Reporter COVINGTON – “In 33 years of youth ministry, I’ve never seen what I’m seeing today,” said Tim Elmore, president of Growing Leaders at the recent Friday Forum, which took place at First Baptist Church of Covington, where Waylon Bailey is pastor. The event for the Louisiana Youth Ministers Network took place in cooperation with the Louisiana Baptist Convention’s Evangelism and Church Growth team. The last chance to save the future of Generation iY – children born since 1990 who are growing up “too fast and too slow” – is now, Elmore said. What parents and youth leaders do now will determine what kind of future the iY Generation will have, Elmore said. Seventy participants from more than 15 churches gathered for the two-part diagnosis and prescription. Elmore said today’s youth are characterized by paradoxes: sheltered, yet pressured; self-absorbed, yet generous; adventuresome, yet protected; team-oriented, yet diverse; visionary, yet vacillating from vision to vision; oriented for high achievement, yet high maintenance. A shift occurred in Generation Y, those born since 1984, to produce Generation iY because of the advent of the internet and a saturation of technology such as iPad, … [Read more...]