By Rex Butler, NOBTS On January 21, 1525, George Blaurock asked Conrad Grebel to baptize him. Following his baptism, Blaurock proceeded to baptize the dozen or so men assembled at the home of Felix Manz in Zurich, Switzerland. This seemingly innocent event marked one of the most significant turning points in the history of the church and was considered so radical in its day that, in less than five years, all three men would be dead as a result of their doctrine of believer’s baptism. Zurich was the site of a major movement of the Reformation, paralleling the more famous one led by Martin Luther in Germany. In 1523, Ulrich Zwingli, pastor of Grössmunster (“the Great Church”) convinced the City Council to abolish Roman Catholicism and adopt his evangelical reforms, which included the authority of Scripture and the denunciation of the papacy, the priesthood, clerical celibacy, purgatory, and the use of images in worship. Zwingli had attracted the following of a group of young students, known as the Swiss Brethren. Included in this group were Conrad Grebel, a son of a Zurich councilman; Felix Manz, an illegitimate son of a priest; and George Blaurock, a former priest. Together, Zwingli and his disciples studied the Bible … [Read more...]

  By Archie England, NOBTS Question: How did the devil fall when he started out in heaven? NOBTS Professor Archie England responds: Ezekial 28:11-18 is the closest explanation that the OT gives as to how a once holy cherub fell: Coupled with Revelation 12:3-17, we can guess that with the fall of Satan, a third of the angelic host was cast with him. So, the short answer to your question is, “pride.” Satan wanted to be “God.” By tempting God’s creation to violate God’s ordinances, Satan believed God would destroy that very creation – and He did! What Satan did not foresee was the great love of God for His creation and, hence, the incarnation: Godhead humbling itself to do for creation what was otherwise unobtainable. Once Satan realized the redemptive plan of God he spared no cost to do away with God’s people or God’s Messiah: Jesus the Christ. At the cross, when Jesus died, Satan perhaps rejoiced at his victory at snuffing out the life of the “life-giver.” Evidently, he couldn’t see three days beyond to the resurrection. All Hell moaned as all creation rejoiced at the resurrection of God’s only Son – creation’s only hope! Until sentient beings (angels and humans) made wrong choices, there was no evil in the created … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Thu, 09/13/2012 - 01:00 BCM Chainsaw team: While other LSU students were tailgating prior to the Saturday night seasoning-opening football game, these young men of LSU BCM’s chainsaw team were serving God and their community. Here the team hooks up a chain around the stump of a tree they cut up after it fell on the playground of Christ Covenant Church in Baton Rouge during Hurricane Isaac.   By Mark H. Hunter, Regional Reporter BATON ROUGE – Hurricane Isaac was still blowing when LSU Baptist Collegiate Ministries Director Steve Masters gathered a group of energetic young men to take a crash course in how to safely operate a chainsaw following a disaster. “We didn’t even have electricity,” Masters said with a laugh. “We watched the DVDs with power from a generator.” As soon as the storm cleared – and while their LSU friends were tailgating prior to the Saturday evening game – the crew cut up a downed tree that fell on the playground of Christ Covenant Church in Baton Rouge. The huge limbs bent some of the equipment and filled the playground with broken branches and leaves. Cathryn Chalis, Christ Covenant’s preschool director, said the children would miss “this huge gum … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Thu, 09/13/2012 - 01:00 Surrounded by water: Flood waters surround Barataria Baptist Church in Lafitte after the passage of Hurricane Isaac. However, the rising floodwater and damage to the church did not deter the congregation from attending worship services on the first Sunday after the storm.   By Marilyn Stewart, Regional Reporter LAFITTE – “Still open for mission and ministry” was what pastor Eddie Painter wrote on the sign he tacked last weekend to the downed steeple at Barataria Baptist Church in Lafitte. It was his congregation’s pledge to serve despite personal loss dealt by Hurricane Isaac. Rising floodwater made the church an island for days, stopping just short of the front door. The homes of several in the 110-member congregation flooded. Worship service went on as scheduled the first Sunday after the storm, though the sanctuary had a gaping hole where Hurricane Isaac had grabbed the steeple. A caved-in roof and other breeches damaged the pastor’s study, the nursery and fellowship hall. “Be prepared to get your feet wet,” Painter messaged to his congregation beforehand through the online social medium Facebook. Residents returned Friday after the water that … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Thu, 09/13/2012 - 01:00 Braithwaite seawall   Braithwaite seawall: Much has been said in the news about the new seawalls that protected New Orleans from Hurricane Isaac’s full impact, and how being on the wrong side of that wall led to Braithwaite being as much as 20 feet under water – and six days later, still being 5 feet under water. This is that seawall, looking toward Poydras Baptist church from the Braithwaite side. While no Southern Baptist churches exist in Braithwaite, internet photos show a St. Andrews Baptist. Poydras Baptist Church received supplies of water, snacks and children’s toys Sunday from Gleaning for the World, a Virginia nonprofit, that Poydras Pastor John Galey said he hopes will show the community the value of aligning with Southern Baptist churches. Braithwaite seawall: Much has been said in the news about the new seawalls that protected New Orleans from Hurricane Isaac’s full impact, and how being on the wrong side of that wall led to Braithwaite being as much as 20 feet under water – and six days later, still being 5 feet under water. This is that seawall, looking toward Poydras Baptist church from the Braithwaite side. While no Southern Baptist … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Thu, 09/13/2012 - 01:00 Gathering for Prayer   Gathering for prayer: (Above) In mid-July for the first time ever, Southern Baptist World Changers, a youth construction missions team, ministered on the Northshore of Lake Pontchartrain. Among many projects, they replaced Jackie Henry’s roof in Covington. During Hurricane Issac, the many-branched crown of a tree covered that roof. A Disaster Relief chainsaw unit led by Lane Corley of the Northshore Baptist Association managed to remove the problem without harming the roof, gutters or windows. “Thanks to these guys, we’re going to be okay,” said Henry’s friend, Guy Spears. The men included Spears in their closing prayer. (Right) Disaster Relief Chaplain James Irvine, a member at Pine Ridge Baptist Church in Melder, reads his Bible between call-outs. “I’m just trying to learn more,” Irvine said. “The more I know, the more I can share.” In mid-July for the first time ever, Southern Baptist World Changers, a youth construction missions team, ministered on the Northshore of Lake Pontchartrain. Among many projects, they replaced Jackie Henry’s roof in Covington. During Hurricane Issac, the many-branched crown of a tree covered that … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Thu, 09/13/2012 - 01:00 DR Chainsaw Teams: The Georgia Barnette State Mission Offering provides funds to train Disaster Relief volunteers for ministry. Volunteers are trained for chaplaincy, chain-saw teams, mud out recovery or feeding, shower and laundry units. These teams serve not only in our state but throughout North America and around the world.   By Karen L. Willoughby, Managing Editor STATEWIDE – The Georgia Barnette State Missions Offering (GBO) is more than just an offering, says David Hankins, Executive Director of the Louisiana Baptist Convention. “It is an intentional effort that focuses our prayers and our resources on missions and ministries in Louisiana,” Hankins said. The Georgia Barnette Week of Prayer for State Missions, Sept. 13-16, provides Louisiana Baptists the opportunity to focus on the spiritual needs of the state’s 4.5 million residents. In honor of 200 years of Baptist ministry in the state, the offering goal is $2 million. Hankins acknowledges that it’s a big goal but adds, “It is exceeded only by the task that lies before us … impacting every person in Louisiana with the Gospel.” The  theme, “Awaken to Joy,” is intended to complement the … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Thu, 09/13/2012 - 01:00 Unloading Supplies at First Covington: No matter the job disaster relief volunteers pitch in to help, such as unloading supplies, cooking a meal, or cutting up downed trees in the blazing heat.   By Karen L. Willoughby, Managing Editor HOUMA, La. (BP) – Despite humidity levels beyond stifling …. Despite delays in the arrival of food and the insulated Cambros for transporting food to American Red Cross distribution sites …. Despite sleeping in less than ideal conditions …. And despite various other inconveniences …. Southern Baptist Disaster Relief-trained volunteers labored, laughed and joked and never once complained – within earshot of a reporter, at least – as Hurricane Isaac left southeast Louisiana and moved north. SBDR volunteers – and church volunteers – gave up their Labor Day weekend to move into action in Covington, Madisonville, Poydras, New Orleans, Central, Baton Rouge, Houma and more. “The eye of the storm was directly over us and hovered over us for 10 hours,” said Randall Gill, leader of a chain saw unit stationed at Coteau Baptist Church in Houma. He’s also pastor of Little Caillou Baptist Church in Chauvin. “We had 70 mph … [Read more...]

By Marilyn Stewart, Regional Reporter NEW ORLEANS – When it comes to marriages in trouble, the heart of the problem is a problem of the heart, said Kirk Cameron, television and film actor and star of the award-winning movie Fireproof, at a recent Love Worth Fighting For marriage conference at First Baptist Church of New Orleans. More than 700 men and women attended the three-hour event where Cameron shared biblical principles for marriage and insights he’s gained from his 21-year marriage to actress Chelsea Noble. “You, and I, without the help of the Holy Spirit, do not have what it takes to make a marriage flourish and work,” Cameron said. Cameron starred in the family sitcom Growing Pains, the Left Behind movie trilogy, and the Way of the Master television series. Fireproof was the highest-grossing independent film of 2008. Love is worth fighting for because marriage is designed by God and ultimately is a way to bring him glory, Cameron said. Cameron shared three principles for marriage with illustrations drawn from Fireproof. Cameron began by asking the audience to name challenges to today’s marriages. Responses included poor communication, stress from hectic schedules and everyday life, and the difficulty of … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message PINEVILLE – Louisiana College has been named the No. 12 “Most Conservative College” in the United States according to Newsweek as part of the magazine’s“2012’s Best Colleges For You;” the periodical’s third annual college rankings report. LC was ranked No. 12 in a list of 25 colleges and universities just ahead of Brigham Young University-Idaho and just behind Harding University of Searcy, Ark. Ave Maria University of Florida was ranked as the most conservative school in America. Some other categories of colleges listed by Newsweek were: Most Stressful, Easiest, Most Rigorous, Most Liberal.” The print edition of Newsweek only listed the top ten in each category. The Daily Beast web site, owned by Newsweek, listed the top 25 colleges in each category. “We count it a great honor to be listed as the twelfth most conservative College in the nation.” said LC President, Joe Aguillard. “Louisiana College is unapologetically passionate about fulfilling our motto: Unchanging Foundations and our mission – to provide liberal arts, professional, and graduate programs characterized by devotion to the preeminence of the Lord Jesus, allegiance to the authority of the Holy Scriptures, dedication to academic … [Read more...]