By Kevin McFadden, Professor of Christian Studies at Louisiana College   [img_assist|nid=7242|title=Kevin McFadden|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=78|height=100]Many Christians know that Jesus Christ died for their sins but have difficulty seeing how this has any direct bearing upon their daily lives. The goal of this and next issue’s essay is to explain how Paul understood Christ’s death for our justification to make a remarkable difference in the believer’s life. I will be reflecting on Romans 5-8 where Paul explains the results of justification by faith. These chapters are meant to give Christians, who live in a world plagued by sin and death, the hope that God through Christ has secured our freedom from this sin and death.   I must begin by explaining what exactly justification by faith is. Perhaps the easiest way to define this doctrine is by contrasting it with its opposites.   First, justification is the opposite of condemnation. Both are declarations of a courtroom – condemnation is the declaration that a person is evil and guilty; justification is the declaration that a person is righteous and innocent.   This is important, because some have argued that justification means that … [Read more...]

By Bill Warren, Professor of New Testament and Greek at NOBTS Question: What is Palm Sunday all about? Bill Warren responds: Palm Sunday, the Sunday before Easter, marks the beginning of what has traditionally been called “holy week,” the last week in the ministry of Jesus when he was crucified and then resurrected on Easter Sunday morning. The term “Palm Sunday” comes from the use of palm branches as Jesus makes his triumphal entry into Jerusalem after the walk from Jericho up to Jerusalem. The entry itself is a “street play” or “living parable” in the sense that Jesus stages the event to make a point that others should understand: God’s king is entering his city. Jesus and his disciples had walked all the way to Jerusalem, so walking the last part downhill at the Mount of Olives was not going to be difficult, but instead of walking it, Jesus rides down the hill as a display of who he is, namely the fulfillment of the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9 (see Matthew 21:4-5 and John 12:14-15) where the Messianic king will come riding into Jerusalem on a donkey’s young colt. Presented in all four Gospels (Matthew 21, Mark 11, Luke 19, and John 12), the importance of this event for the last week is that it establishes that Jesus is … [Read more...]

By Diana Chandler, Regional Reporter   NEW ORLEANS, La. – New Orleans’ primary crime problem is homicide, with rates 10 times the national average and five times that of comparably-sized cities, according to a newly-released U.S. Department of  Justice report focusing on crime trends here.   As New Orleans civic leaders move to reduce crime in the area, Franklin Avenue Baptist Church Pastor Fred Luter is already tackling the problem by strengthening families in faith.   That was the purpose behind Franklin Avenue’s recent family conference, the first of a planned annual event.   [img_assist|nid=7245|title=Pastor Fred Luter|desc=Franklin Avenue Baptist Church Pastor Fred Luter is trying to strengthen families in faith to help address crime in the area. The church’s inaugural family conference was the first step in his efforts.|link=none|align=left|width=640|height=505]“I believe the family is key to a lot of the things that are happening or not happening in our society,” Luter said. “God created the family before He created the church.”   Luter’s long desire to hold such a conference was strengthened by a killing on the steps of the church on Father’s Day in … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Special to the Message   ALEXANDRIA – Many Christian parents have forgotten that a close relationship with their teenager is the pipeline that carries spiritual impact from them to their child, Richard Ross said during a recent parenting conference at Calvary Baptist Church in Alexandria.   The problem, Ross said, is those parents believe managing their child’s life leads to a positive outcome. Not so! Teens begin to turn their heart back toward their mom and dad when the parents devote quality time to building or repairing a relationship damaged by the angst of being a teenager.   “Our churches are spiritually alive when our homes are spiritually alive,” said Ross, who led the Be Conference the last weekend in March. “At the end of the day the battle is won or lost by what goes on at home.”   [img_assist|nid=7247|title=Richard Ross|desc=Richard Ross, professor of youth ministry at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Forth Worth, Texas, said too many Christian parents have forgotten that a close relationship with their teens is essential.|link=none|align=left|width=640|height=480]About 225 people participated in the event, which was designed to better equip … [Read more...]

By Marilyn Stewart, Regional Reporter   Note: Inmates’ names changed for privacy   ST. GABRIEL – God took them from the dope house to the church house, from death row prisoner to preacher. Now they go back into prisons with the gospel, and take others with them.   Former jewel thief Jack “Murf the Surf” Murphy and the Bill Glass Champions For Life prison ministry presented a “Day of Champions” program recently for the 3,000 men and women at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women and the Elayn Hunt Correctional Center in St. Gabriel.   Louisiana Baptists were part of a multi-denominational team of 250 that shared the gospel in lockdown, hospice, the prison yard, and around the lunch table the last Saturday in March. Including 220 first-time commitments, 560 decisions were recorded.   [img_assist|nid=7249|title=Sharing the Gospel|desc=A college co-ed from Texas, one of 20 from different Texas colleges, shares the gospel with one of the inmates at St. Gabriel during a ‘Day of Champions’ presented by Jack Murphy and the Bill Glass Champion for Life prison ministry.|link=none|align=left|width=640|height=536]“We’re not going out to have church,” Murphy said to participants … [Read more...]

By Mark H. Hunter, Special to the Message   SHREVEPORT – As a 12-year-old boy growing up in Shreveport, James Michael “Mike” Johnson  wanted to be a firefighter just like his dad. That is, he did until his father was nearly killed in an explosion.   [img_assist|nid=7252|title=Michael Johnson|desc=Louisiana School Law School Dean Michael Johnson wanted to be a firefighter before his father, who was a firefighter, was involved in a near-fatal explosion. The near-tragedy altered the course of Michael Johnson’s life.|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=67]“That altered the course of our lives,” Johnson said in a recent interview. Instead of becoming a firefighter, he became an attorney specializing in defending individuals and groups in religious and free speech cases.   As dean of Louisiana College’s Judge Paul Pressler School of Law, Johnson, 39, will help a new generation of students practice law from a biblical, conservative, Constitutional world view.   The Baptist school earlier this year purchased the former Federal building in downtown Shreveport and classes are scheduled to begin August 2012.   “We really believe that it is important to acknowledge our Judeo-Christian … [Read more...]

By Kelly Boggs, Editor   HOUSTON – Mike Huckabee was the featured speaker at the first public fund raising event held by the Louisiana College Judge Paul Pressler School of Law.   [img_assist|nid=7254|title=Gov. Mike Huckabee|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=67]The former governor of Arkansas and host of the Fox News Channel program “Huckabee” addressed more than 150 people who gathered at the prestigious River Oaks Country Club in downtown Houston, Texas, on March 29.   Though many pundits believe Huckabee will throw his hat into the ring as a Republican presidential candidate for 2012, his remarks to those who had come with an interest in LC’s new law school were politics-free.   Huckabee indicated that his presence at the fund raiser was two-fold. One, because of his relationship with Judge Paul Pressler, the school’s name sake, and two, because he sees a need for the type law school LC is starting.   “I am here because of my affection for Judge Pressler,” Huckabee said.  “I wanted to be here to honor one of the most significant individuals in U.S. Christian history.” He added, “When Paul Pressler saw his denomination drifting from its historic, biblical roots he … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message   COMINGS & GOINGS   Kenneth Crumbley has resigned as pastor of St. Matthew Baptist Church in Oakdale after 51 years of service.   Jimmy Sasser has retired as pastor of Bethel Livingston. Special services are planned for April 17 to honor him and his wife.   L.B. Canterbury, in the ministry for 53 years, has retired as pastor of Old Union Shongaloo, where he has served since 2005.   Tim Richardson is new as minister of music at Walker Baptist.   Scott Scallan is new as pastor of Shiloh Bernice.   Tommy Gray is new as pastor of Southside Ruston.   Buddy Boatright is new as pastor of Camp Creek Spearsville.   Marcelle Ronquille is new as interim pastor of Pleasant Hill Ruston.   J.L. Williams has resigned as pastor of Sardis Baptist.   Chad Hebert is new as pastor of Calument Patterson.       Needed/Giving   Mt. Hope Oakdale seeks part-time Youth Minister. Send resumes to Mt. Hope Baptist Church, PO Box 544, Oakdale LA 71463; or call 318.335.8200.   Faith Baker seeks pastor. Send resumes to Anita Westbrook, 5580 Rush Road, Slaughter LA … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message   Rachel Morgan of Philadelphia Baptist Church in Deville has a senior project she’d like your help with.   “I want to motivate the people of the church to be kind,” Morgan emailed. She’s looking for 2,000 reported acts on kindness to be listed on mysimpleactofkindness.org.   “When you do the kindness, ask the people to go to the website,” Morgan wrote. “On it, the Gospel is presented as well as stories of acts that have been done.   “My project ends at the end of April. I just want the Christians to be a kinder people: it is a true way of witness.”   Ken Hansen, a member of First Bossier City, is involved with a truckers ministry out of Grand Rapids, Mich.   “I work with four truckstops here, supplying special truckers’ Bibles in displays for truckers to pick up,” Hansen emailed. Churches statewide could do as he does, he said: Buy a case of 44 Truckers New Testament NIV for $78 from HMI Ministries, and put up a display for free Bibles at area truck stops.   “The first step is get permission from truckstop manager,”  Hansen wrote. “The display is free. You can see it on the … [Read more...]

By Karen L. Willoughby, Managing Editor   BALL – Missions is reaching out with God’s love to people across the street, down the block and around the world, heard the nearly 230 people who registered for the 2011 WMU Missions Celebration and Annual Meeting.   The event took place April 1-2 at Kingsville Baptist Church in Ball. It included missionaries from Louisiana, North America and across the globe. Featured ministries included, among others, Kingsville’s truckers ministry and the North Rapides Baptist Association’s two ministries: Hannah’s Plea pregnancy center, and Main Street Mission to the homeless and struggling in Pineville.   A ministry fair Friday afternoon and during an extended break Saturday morning helped familiarize WMU participants with these and other ministries, including Baptist Nursing Fellowship, Cast the Net of volunteer opportunities, and more.   [img_assist|nid=7260|title=WMU Officers|desc=After serving a maximum of four, one-year terms as Louisiana WMU President, Glenda Hofius of Broadmoor Shreveport passed the gavel to incoming President Salli Perry of Calvary Monroe. Re-elected (at Hofius’ left) were Margaret Freeland of First Gueydan as vice president for her … [Read more...]