By Jason Hiles, Professor of Christian Studies, Louisiana College   The words of the angel spoken to shepherds long ago continue to remind of the wonder and majesty of Christ’s birth among men. “Fear not,” he proclaimed, “for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11, ESV).   While we marvel at the grace of God in revealing such wonders to lowly shepherds, we must not lose sight of the fact that the angel’s words were recorded for our sake. The shepherds heard this message firsthand and traveled to see the Christ-child with their own eyes.   But what was written in former days in the Scriptures was written for our instruction (Romans 15:4) so that we too may learn of God’s mercy and rejoice in this good news.   At times it is difficult to rejoice in the good news of Christ’s coming. The cares and concerns of this world multiply rapidly during the holidays and press us on every side, making it virtually impossible to focus attention on the Savior who came in the form of a humble child.   His arrival was barely noticed on the first Christmas and is … [Read more...]

By Archie England, Professor of Old Testament and Hebrew at NOBTS   Question: What does the Old Testament say about genocide?   Archie England responds: God first created all things, then destroyed it all during Noah’s time. Genesis 6-9 details how the just Creator became a wrathful annihilator. The evil thoughts and deeds of humankind so displeased God that His holy nature demanded a just response: death to all sinners. The moment(s) for mercy had passed. The only grace to prevail was toward Noah, his family, and selected animals. Though Noah had found favor with God, he was not sinless. Sadly, within the eight people spared, the “leaven” of sin remained, re-emerging rapidly.   By a catastrophic flood, God indeed wiped out all life, except for what survived within the ark or below in the turbulent waters. From our human perspective, this is “genocide – the systematic and widespread extermination or attempted extermination of an entire national, racial, religious, or ethnic group” (American Heritage Dictionary).   God’s act of worldwide destruction, however, issued from His Holiness. No longer would God tolerate humanities’ appetite for iniquity. Genesis 15:16 alludes to such a view of … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Special to the Message [img_assist|nid=7820|title=Prison Revival|desc=Franklin Avenue Pastor Fred Luter, who delivered his message on a chilly Friday evening, reminded the inmates that they face a battle they must overcome on a daily basis.|link=none|align=right|width=640|height=480]PINEVILLE – The potential for hope and change that exists inside the walls of J Levy Dabadie Correctional Center is incalculable, says Keith Manuel, evangelism associate in the Louisiana Baptist Convention’s evangelism and church growth team. Manuel, who visits many prisons throughout the state each year, says he knows the inmates have committed crimes from theft to capital murder. But he also realizes that with the message of the gospel, those men and women who may believe they have little hope could instead have a bright future through a life-changing decision to follow Christ. “I am praying for a great movement of God at Dabadie prison,” said Manuel of the prison where most sentences are two years in length. “If the message of the gospel penetrates their hearts and they return home with a growing relationship with Jesus, their homes are changed, their families are changed and their communities are changed – forever.” Recently … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message PINEVILLE – To meet the needs of an ever increasing student population, Louisiana College officials have broken  ground on a new apartment-style housing project on the campus. Located near the corner of Cross and College Drive, the $2.1 million complex will be the second structure that is part of a planned quadrangle of state-of-the art student apartments with a courtyard and study areas. Tudor Construction Company of Alexandria will be handling the construction. “The building will consist of a 45-unit, apartment-style living facility,” LC Board Chairman Marc Taylor said in a school press release. “The apartments under construction will help to relieve the overcrowding and will help the college in accommodating its rapidly growing student population.” With the College’s on- campus housing at maximum capacity, the school began the 2011 fall semester with 49 students housed in rented rooms at the Fulton Hotel in Alexandria. Louisiana College experienced another record enrollment (1,557 students) again this semester, having welcomed the largest first-time freshman and transfer classes (410 students) in the College’s 106- year history. In the first five years since Joe Aguillard was named President by … [Read more...]

By Pam Ford Davis, Special to the Message   [img_assist|nid=7823|title=Comfort Corner Community Center: A helping hand|desc=Donnie Linson is bivocational pastor of Goodwill Baptist Church in Oak Grove, which has as one of its ministries the Comfort Corner community center, a place where spiritual and physical nourishment, plus more, are freely offered to those with needs.|link=none|align=left|width=640|height=476]OAK GROVE – Jeanne Donahue felt God’s prompting. She was encouraged by others to bring comfort and tangible assistance to the downhearted, who struggle to survive in an economically deprived area. God placed a dream in her heart, fanned the flames into a vision, and birthed the now debt-free Comfort Corner ministry in Northeast Louisiana.   Donahue has been an active member of Goodwill Baptist Church since 1984.   “God is teaching me how to hear Him, lean on Him and to surrender to His will in and through His ministry,” Donahue said.   Ask Donahue how such a complex outreach came about, and see her tear up as she recalls its beginnings in 1990: As a new decade arrived, the Lord began a new work in the rural community of Goodwill, La., some 20 miles east of … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message   [img_assist|nid=7825|title=2011 Cottage Parents of the Year|desc=Steven and Faith Smith|link=none|align=right|width=640|height=616]MONROE – Steven and Faith Smith, cottage parents at Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home were named 2011 Cottage Parents of the Year.   The award, which is voted on by the entire campus, is based on the cottage parents’ total contribution to the ministry over the past year.   High school sweethearts Steven and Faith, LaSalle Parish natives, already knew they wanted to work with children as teenagers. Although the young couple, married in 1990, could not have children of their own, they knew God had a plan for their lives involving young people. Since then, the Smiths have touched the lives of countless boys and girls around the world.   After participating in several mission trips overseas, the Smiths realized they could help children full-time right here at home. They began their service at Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home & Family Ministries in 1998. The Smiths were already very familiar with the ministry because Faith’s parents, C.H. and Debbie Boyd, had served as cottage parents at the Children’s Home for several … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message   [img_assist|nid=7827|title=Bell Ringers|desc=About 125 members of Temple Baptist Church in Ruston hung “jingle bells” on the doors of every home in Ruston, – about 10,000 homes – and prayed for each as they did so.|link=none|align=right|width=640|height=640]RUSTON – More than 125 members of Temple Baptist Church spread out in early December across the town of about 10,000 housing units.   Each was given an area of about 100  homes. The members placed a “jingle bell” on the doorknob of each home, and as they did, they prayed for the people who live there.   “We prayed again this year for their awakening,” said Loy Seal, minister of education for the last six years at Temple Ruston, where Rick Byargeon is pastor. “This is the fourth year in a row we’ve done this.   “We’re thrilled that we can pray over every house in Ruston,” Seal said. “And to couple that prayer this year with the Awaken emphasis – we’re estatic to be able to do this for the city of Ruston.”   Members reported back that they had seen previous year’s bells hanging on some of the doors, as if the Christmas use of them had become a tradition for the family. One member reported that when … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message   ARRIVALS/DEPARTURES   Ron (wife Lauren) Ball: new as pastor of New Sharon Baptist in Husser, from Roxie Baptist Church in Roxie, Miss.   Joseph Ott, new as youth minister at Don Avenue Baptist in Denham Springs. Pastor: David Taylor.   Ken Spivey, new as interim minister of music at Don Avenue Baptist in Denham Springs. Pastor: David Taylor.   Jodie Williams, retires as music minister for 33 years at Temple Ruston. Pastor: Rick Byargeon.   Don Bassett, new as pastor of Mt. Calvary Independence.   Jared Flynn, new as worship minister at First Lacombe.   Jonathan (wife Amy) LaFleur, new as BCM director at Nicholls, from associate pastor of music and discipleship at Mulberry Houma.   Tim LaFleur, retiring after 20 years as BCM director at Nicholls.   Matt Taylor resigns as pastor of Conway Farmerville.   Jill (husband Claude) Crocker, new as children’s director of Gray Jefferson.   Danny Richardson, new as education director at Gray Jefferson.   Chanin (wife Mandy) Barker, new as music minister at Cross Point Bossier City.   Jacob Adaway, new as youth … [Read more...]

By Mickey Noah, Baptist Press   ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) -- If the North American Mission Board's Send North America evangelistic church planting initiative is to succeed, it must include thousands of bivocational pastors who are willing to plant churches.   "We must leverage the laity to plant churches," said Aaron Coe, NAMB's vice president of mobilization, "and we need to do it through a bivocational church movement.   "There are thousands of men sitting in church pews listening to their pastors each week who more than meet the qualifications for being pastors and church planters. We need to mobilize them to be involved in church planting if we're serious about the Great Commission," Coe said.   NAMB church planting leaders and members of the SBC-wide Bivocational and Small Church Leadership Network (BSCLN) have begun to explore ways for bivocational pastors to become involved.   Ray Gilder, the BSCLN's national coordinator from McMinnville, Tenn., and a retired bivocational pastor himself, describes a bivocational as a pastor who has another source of income over and above his church. Gilder says an SBC church running a weekly attendance of 100 or less probably has a … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Press   [img_assist|nid=7831|title=SBC Study|desc=|link=none|align=right|width=291|height=640]NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) -- The majority of Americans have a favorable impression of Southern Baptists, according to a recent LifeWay Research study. However, 40 percent of respondents have an unfavorable view of the denomination; more than a third strongly assume an SBC church is not for them; and the negativity is higher among the unchurched.   The LifeWay Research study was conducted in September 2011 after Bryant Wright, president of the Southern Baptist Convention, appointed a task force to consider a possible name change for the 166 year-old convention.   The study indicates a segment of Americans have unfavorable opinions of Southern Baptists in comparison to other faith groups. However, with 53 percent being favorable toward Southern Baptists (including 15 percent very favorable), both sides need to be considered, said Ed Stetzer, vice president of research and ministry development at LifeWay Christian Resources.   "On one hand it does look like the SBC has higher negatives than other faith groups -- and the unchurched numbers are particularly disconcerting," Stetzer said. … [Read more...]