By Kelly Boggs, Message Editor As I write this column, I do so with a new mantle of responsibility. On Jan. 23, the Baptist Message Board of Trustee voted unanimously to approve a proposal that will place me over the public affairs work of the Louisiana Baptist Convention. See article on page 8 for more on this. I accept this new capacity because I believe it is needful and necessary. We live in a republic that is predicated upon a participatory democracy. One of the ways we participate is by voicing our concerns to our elected representatives over issues important to us. As Louisiana Baptists, we routinely vote to approve resolutions at our annual meetings. These resolutions represent our collective voice over issues we deem important. One of the tasks in my new capacity is to represent this collective voice before elected officials when they gather in Legislative Session in Baton Rouge. In approaching this task, I reflect on the words of Jesus who said, “You are the salt of the earth … You are the light of the world …” One thing salt and light have in common is that wherever you place them, they have a definite impact. My prayer is that Louisiana Baptists will have an impact on our elected representatives when … [Read more...]

By Andy Johnson, Pastor Crossroads Baptist Church Farmerville, La.   Recently on her OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network) show titled “Oprah’s Next Chapter,” the 57-year- old talk-show icon interviewed the pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas: Joel Osteen, and his wife Victoria.   Lakewood Church is recognized as the largest church in America, meeting in what used to be the Compaq Center in downtown Houston. The building seats more than 16,000.   Among the topics discussed during the interview were televangelist scandals and mega-church business practices as well as the 48-year-old Osteen’s success in authoring several New York Times bestselling books.   But the questions that remain leave me wondering why this church and many like it have become so popular in today’s culture.   One thing that puzzles me is the blatant absence of scriptural references in Osteen’s sermons. In the interview, he addressed this by reflecting on his early days as Lakewood’s pastor.   Joel Osteen’s father was the founding pastor of Lakewood Church. When the elder Osteen died of a sudden heart attack in 1999, the role of preacher was seemingly thrust upon Joel.   Osteen recounted, … [Read more...]

By Argile Smith, Louisiana College   The account of Paul’s journey to Thessalonica in Acts 17 warms and breaks our hearts all at the same time.   A fountain of joy floods our hearts as we read about the way Paul started the church there (17:1-5). As soon as he arrived in Thessalonica, he visited the synagogue and shared the gospel with anyone who would listen to him.   Taking them to the Scriptures, he explained that Jesus of Nazareth was the Son of God, the Messiah promised long ago. Some of them believed what Paul proclaimed, and they received Christ. Along with the Jewish people who listened to him at the synagogue, he shared the gospel with others in the city, and many of them gave their lives to Christ as well.   Gathering people he had led to Christ, Paul established a church. His congregation consisted of new believers who needed to grow so they would become healthy, vibrant, and resilient disciples.   Our hearts break, however, when we read about what happened next (17:6-15). A handful of jealous Jewish leaders who didn’t take Paul seriously got angry when they observed the success of his message. They put their rage to work by stirring up a mean mob that went after … [Read more...]

By Bill Warren, NOBTS   Question: What did Jesus mean in Matthew 16 when he talked about the rock, building his church, and binding and loosing stuff?   Bill Warren responds: In Matthew 16:16-20, after Peter proclaims that Jesus is the Messiah, Jesus congratulates him for this divine insight, followed by the statements related to your question. In verse 18, Jesus declares “you are Peter” (“Peter” in Greek = “rock”), and then says “on this rock I’ll build my church.”   So what is the “rock” Jesus is going to build upon? Is it Peter, or does the Greek word “petros” refer to a small rock versus a large rock “petra” that is the foundation, or is the rock Peter’s confession? In the first century, the word “Peter” (“petros” = masculine) would have been normal for referring to a man, but the word translated “rock” (“petra” = feminine) was the normal word for a rock. Later the masculine form came to refer to a small rock, but that was not a first century common usage.   In other words, Jesus is indeed referring to Peter with both words, but of course he is referring to Peter as one with divine insight into the person of Jesus as the Messiah. But this same Peter in verses 22 and 23 fails to … [Read more...]

By Randy Hales, Special to the Message   GIBSLAND – One hundred and fifty members of churches in Bienville Baptist Association gathered recently at historic Mount Lebanon, where Charles Middleton is pastor, to bring to a climax 21 days of prayer.   Each of the 21 churches in Bienville Association were encouraged to choose a day to pray specifically for a spiritual awakening. All the churches were invited to end the emphasis at Mount Lebanon.   On January 22 they gathered for a season of prayer. God was present! Confessions, prayers, and testimonies brought tears to many eyes.[img_assist|nid=7885|title=Prayer Warriors|desc=One hundred fifty members from 21 churches in the Bienville Baptist Association gather at Mount Lebanon Church to bring to an end 21 days of prayer for Spiritual Awakening.|link=none|align=right|width=640|height=480]   The meeting began with songs of praise and worship. Bob Jameson, chairman of the Bienville Awaken Committee, shared about how the season of prayer would be observed. He said there would be no agenda. We would silently wait in prayer and allow God to move us to confession, prayer, or testimonies as the Holy Spirit directed.   In the silence God … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message ALEXANDRIA – The Board of Trustees of the Baptist Message met in a special session on Jan. 23 and voted to enter into an agreement with the Louisiana Baptist Convention that will place Kelly Boggs over the LBC’s public affairs work. Boggs status as editor of the Baptist Message will remain unchanged. The addition of the new role will see Boggs function in a dual capacity whereby he will continue the public affairs work that John Yeats initiated when he served as the LBC Director of Communications. Yeats began the public affairs work three years ago when he acted as the LBC’s liaison to the Louisiana Legislature. His presence at the State Capitol gave Louisiana Baptists a much needed voice in the public affairs arena. “Dr. Yeats’ time in Baton Rouge convinced me that we need to have a presence at the legislature, if nothing else to push back against the darkness,” LBC Executive Director David Hankins said. “Liberal activists are present in Baton Rouge and aggressively pushing their agenda.” When Yeats heeded the call to become Executive Director of the Missouri Baptist Convention in November, Hankins contemplated the future of the work Yeats had pioneered. “John [Yeats] did a great job as our public … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message   [img_assist|nid=7888|title=John Kyle|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=70|height=100]ALEXANDRIA – John Kyle of Nashville, Tenn., and formerly of Lake Charles, La., was elected LBC Communications Director Jan. 23 by the executive board of the Louisiana Baptist Convention.   The board convened to meet John and Kathy Kyle, and to vote on his selection.   “I think John will take our communications to a whole new level,” said LBC Executive Director David Hankins. “He’s always been on the cutting edge of technology.”   Hankins brought Kyle to Louisiana to serve on his staff as associate pastor when Hankins was pastor of Trinity Baptist Church in Lake Charles.   Kyle led ministry for single adults; he also directed Trinity’s outreach efforts and the church’s media ministry from 1990-99.   Kyle’s media work included directing and producing the weekly worship services as well as writing, directing and producing evangelistic commercials for airing on local stations. He won a prestigious Covenant Award in 1997 for “best spot radio campaign” with “Table for One.”   During the 11 years Kyle served as director of Cooperative Program … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message   ALEXANDRIA – Twenty-one Louisiana Southern Baptists recently received awards for five or more years of self-funded missionary service.   Theme for the Jan. 13 appreciation banquet for the self-funded missionaries was “renewing our focus as missionaries.”   The Mission Service Corps (MSC) missionaries who received service awards for consecutive years of service – five or more – include:   Jim and Ivy Wyble   Baptist Builders – 5 years   Barbara and Michael Kopp   Church Strengtheners/   Truck Stop Ministry – 5 years   Jerry and Sherry Haws   Church Renewal – 5 years   Bill and Joyce Temple   Baptist Builders – 7 years   Steve and Susan Hayes   Baptist Builders – 8 years   Ben and Cherry Blackwell   Lagniappe Sports Hospitality Ministry   9 years   Michael & Karen Sammons   Ray of Hope Ministry   9 years   Charles & Gloria Thompson   Church Strengtheners   9 years   Modie Phillips   Helping Hands Ministry – 15 … [Read more...]

By Karen L. Willoughby, Managing Editor   [img_assist|nid=7891|title=Deep in Prayer|desc=Before each session, people in attendance were invited to gather in small groups to pray and seek God during the annual Evangelism Conference, which took place on the campus of Louisiana College.|link=none|align=left|width=640|height=424]PINEVILLE – Every session, and nearly every speaker, at the 2012 Louisiana Evangelism Conference resulted in streams of people prostrating themselves at God’s altar.   “I think people are hungry for revival, for a fresh work in their life,” said Wayne Jenkins, director of evangelism and church growth for the Louisiana Baptist Convention, after the Jan. 23-24 event that took place in Guinn Auditorium on the campus of Louisiana College.   “More than 30,000 people and more than 500 churches participated in the 21 days of prayer and fasting that took place before the Evangelism Conference,” Jenkins continued.  “I think that played a big part in the response too. People are tired of the same-old, same-old. They want something more, something deeper than the surface religion they’ve been experiencing.”   About 2,000 people participated in one or more of the annual … [Read more...]

By John Willie, Louisiana College Communications [img_assist|nid=7901|title=New Student Housing|desc=n architectural drawing depicts what a student quadrangal located off College Drive on the Louisiana College campus will look like upon completion. The project, which will be in four phases and will help meet the need to house a growing student population.|link=none|align=right|width=640|height=376]PINEVILLE – Louisiana College’s Vision 20-20 exists to carry out the college’s mission to change the world for Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit at home and abroad. The school’s goal is to awaken and train students to “Go and Teach” in whatever field they are called in. As part of this, the LC Board of Trustees recently launched the Joseph Willis Institute For Great Awakening Studies. The mission of the Joseph Willis Institute is to educate the present and future generations of spiritual leaders on the historical and biblical principles of the great Christian revivals that have significantly impacted Western civilization, culture, and church growth around the world. The Willis Institute will be housed at Louisiana College giving pastors, students, educators, researchers and other interested persons access to historical documents … [Read more...]