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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Louisiana entities, groups not expected to be impacted by Obama order

By Philip Timothy & Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writers ALEXANDRIA – By relying on God’s providence through the Cooperative Program, Louisiana Baptist entities and charitable organizations are not expected to feel the impact of an Obama Administration executive order like other faith-based groups in the United States. President Barack Obama’s signing of executive order 13671 on July 21, 2014 would force faith-based organizations and charities receiving federal funding or grants to hire LGBT applicants or lose their funding. “God has given the church, not the government, the task of caring for people in need,” said Perry Hancock, president and CEO of the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home. “Therefore, God’s people should be the source for funding His work.” Hancock emphasized the Children’s Home does not accept any type of federal funding, instead relying on gifts from the Cooperative Program and private donors for its funding. “We should be cautious of entering into agreements which limit our sharing of the gospel,” said Hancock. “I come from an evangelical/Southern Baptist faith tradition which emphasizes sharing a verbal witness. We do not want to be in a position where we limit our ability to share the good … [Read more...]

LC’s Division of Business receives 10-year accreditation reaffirmation

by Norm Miller, Special to Baptist Message PINEVILLE (LCNews)-- The Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) reaffirmed on June 6 the accreditation of Louisiana College’s Division of Business. “Achieving ACBSP reaffirmation is a rigorous process,” said Dr. Cheryl Clark, LC’s interim vice president for academic affairs. “Each accreditation standard assesses a college’s ability to perform in critical areas, such as teaching, research, curricula development, and student learning.” “This reaffirmation of accreditation for our Division of Business is a credit to our exceptional faculty who clearly and compellingly teach with a commitment to quality,” she said. “Every one of our professors cares deeply about the college and about making sure that students have a tremendous experience during their years at LC.” First accredited in 1995, LC’s Division of Business is one of the oldest members of ACBSP. “ACBSP’s reaffirmation of accreditation confirms that Louisiana College's business program meets the standards of excellence in the areas of leadership, strategic planning, student and stakeholder focus, measurement and analysis of student learning and performance, faculty and staff focus, and education … [Read more...]

SBC presidents unite, declare stand on marriage

By Baptist Press COLUMBUS, Ohio (BP) -- A coalition of all living former Southern Baptist Convention presidents since 1980 issued a joint statement Wednesday (June 17) declaring they will stand on the biblical truths concerning marriage despite anticipated legal and civil changes to the definition. Pastor Jack Graham called it "the most critical issue of our times -- religious freedom and the very definition of marriage itself." Current SBC President Ronnie Floyd led the press conference and was joined on the platform by former SBC presidents Jimmy Draper, Bailey E. Smith, Paige Patterson, James Merritt, Jack Graham, Frank S. Page, Bryant Wright and Fred Luter. Reading from the statement, Graham said, "The Scriptures' teaching on marriage is not negotiable. We stake our lives upon the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus. We will not accept, nor adhere to, any legal redefinition of marriage issued by any political or judicial body including the United States Supreme Court." The statement, signed by 16 former presidents, was not issued on behalf of the SBC but issued to the SBC, evangelicals and the nation, Graham said. The statement reiterates the long-established SBC stand on homosexuality and same-sex marriage … [Read more...]

Ronnie Floyd unopposed as SBC President

By Baptist Message COLUMBUS, Ohio (BP) -- Arkansas pastor Ronnie Floyd was reelected without opposition to a second term as president of the Southern Baptist Convention June 16 during the SBC annual meeting in Columbus, Ohio. Registered messengers totaled 5,277 messengers at the time. Floyd was nominated by North Carolina pastor J.D. Greear, who said, "God's hand has been upon Brother Ronnie. I believe he is the man God has raised up to lead us for another year." All other SBC officers for the coming year also were elected without opposition. Kansas pastor Steve Dighton, senior pastoral adviser at the Kansas City-area Lenexa Baptist Church in Lenexa, Kan., was elected as first vice president, nominated by Texas pastor and former SBC president Jack Graham. Elected as second vice president was Chad Keck, senior pastor of the Dayton-area First Baptist Church of Kettering since December 2010, nominated by David Starry of Vandalia, Ohio. John L. Yeats, executive director of the Missouri Baptist Convention since 2011, was reelected to a 19th term as recording secretary, nominated by Joshua Hedger of Kansas City, while Jim Wells, strategic partners team leader for the Missouri Baptist Convention, was reelected to a … [Read more...]

Nine resolutions adopted at SBC Annual Meeting

By Baptist Press EDITOR'S NOTE: The full text of the resolutions adopted during the 2015 Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting follows this story. COLUMBUS, Ohio (BP) -- Messengers to the 2015 Southern Baptist Convention adopted nine resolutions -- some on culturally divisive issues -- with almost no opposition. All the resolutions offered in the Tuesday afternoon session (June 16) at the SBC's meeting gained passage by unanimous or nearly unanimous votes. The messengers affirmed biblically based stances on such topics as same-sex marriage, racial reconciliation and the sanctity of human life, as well as religious persecution and pornography. Approved resolutions also called for spiritual awakening and celebrated the 90th anniversary of the Cooperative Program. Prior to the convention, the Resolutions Committee received only four resolutions, an unusually small number. As a result, the committee initiated more resolutions than normal, but committee chairman Steve Gaines said finding topics proved no problem. "There are so many pressing issues morally and spiritually in our nation right now, it really didn't take long to figure that out," Gaines said at a news conference after the committee's report. He … [Read more...]

Christian coffee house to open in Chalmette: Global Café will host “Fourth Fridays” at First Baptist Church

By First Baptist Chalmette, Special to the Message CHALMETTE - Something’s brewing in Chalmette and it’s not your mamma’s coffee!  Global Café, a coffee house located inside First Baptist Church, Chalmette, will host “Fourth Fridays” each fourth Friday of the month. The Grand Opening is on June 26, from 4 – 11 p.m. “Live music from local Christian musicians will be playing from 7-9 p.m.,” shared Tiffany Thomas, Fourth Friday Ministry Coordinator. “Fourth Friday is a great way to unwind,” she added, “Coffee, beignets, music, fellowship with good friends and neighbors.  It doesn’t get any better than this!” In the aftermath of hurricane Katrina when architectural designs were developed for the new First Baptist building John Dee Jeffries, long-term pastor of First Baptist Church incorporated the coffee house concept into the final plans. “Global Café has many functions,” related Jeffries, “with one of its primary purposes being that of a coffee house.  We’re delighted to have Tiffany develop this vision and bring the Fourth Friday concept into fruition.” The theme and motif of Global Cafe is global.  Large scale canvas portraits of people from various nations grace the walls.  A huge map of the world plus … [Read more...]

Resolutions beneficial, key leaders say

By Tom Strode, Baptist Press COLUMBUS, Ohio (BP) -- Resolutions adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention offer multiple benefits. That was the response of this year's Resolutions Committee chairman and an SBC ethics leader when asked by a reporter shortly after messengers to the 2015 meeting adopted nine resolutions. In unanimous or nearly unanimous votes during the Tuesday afternoon session (June 16), the convention approved measures on such topics as marriage, racial reconciliation, the sanctity of human life, religious persecution and spiritual awakening. Steve Gaines, who chaired the committee, said he believes resolutions are imperative at the annual meeting even though they are not binding. Others from various perspectives are making statements, Gaines said at a news conference, "and we want to tell them what we believe the Scripture says and what we as Baptists believe." "[I]t's very important for us to do that, to do it in a loving way and yet to do it, [while] speaking the truth forthrightly based on Scripture in love," said Gaines, pastor of the Memphis-area Bellevue Baptist Church. Resolutions encourage Southern Baptists, he said. "When they hear their Southern Baptist Convention, which they've … [Read more...]

At AVANCE, Hispanics hear Ronnie Floyd, David Platt

By Keila Diaz, Florida Baptist Witness COLUMBUS, Ohio (BP) -- In a night marked by worship, fellowship and workshops, Hispanic Southern Baptist pastors and leaders from across the United States came together for AVANCE 2015 prior to the Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting. The June 14 gathering began at 5 p.m. with worship led by Julio Arriola from Cross Church in northwest Arkansas, followed by a dinner and featured speaker SBC President Ronnie Floyd. David Platt, president of the International Mission Board, also addressed the group. After the dinner, the IMB, the North American Mission Board and LifeWay Christian Resources hosted workshops. The evening concluded with an informational session from the new Hispanic Leadership Network. Floyd, speaking to some 200 Hispanic Baptists, with translation by IMB Hispanic mobilization leader Jason Carlisle, started his message by quoting Romans 13:11, which states in part, "already it is time for you to awake out of sleep: for now is salvation nearer to us than when we first believed." "This is the moment God wants to do a mighty work" in America and beyond, Floyd said at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. Reaching the United States and other nations for … [Read more...]

WMU elects Linda Cooper as new president

By Baptist Press GROVE CITY, Ohio (BP) -- Woman's Missionary Union elected Linda Cooper of Bowling Green, Ky., to serve as national WMU president during the second day of their Missions Celebration and Annual Meeting, June 14-15, at First Baptist Church of Grove City, Ohio. Cooper, a member of Forest Park Baptist Church, will replace Debby Akerman, who has served as president for five years. In her final presidential address, Akerman thanked those present at the meeting for the opportunity to serve WMU. "Contrary to what some might think, you are not sitting in circles with your hair of blue simply reading missions articles," she said. "You are praying for our missionaries as the day begins; going out in active community missions to the many places where the hurting are found. You are going out through relationship building and steady witnessing to the up-and-out as well as the down-and-out. And you are leading missions teams to go across North America and to the nations of the world." Between the two days of the meeting, some 500 people attended to hear how missionaries and ministry workers live out the year's theme, "All for You," through wholehearted surrender, sacrifice and service. Capt. Michael Coleman, a U.S. … [Read more...]

Humility, intimacy urged at Pastors’ Conference

By Baptist Press COLUMBUS, Ohio (BP) -- Pastors and churches must humble themselves and pursue a closer walk with God if they want to experience His peace, joy and purpose, speakers said at the 2015 Southern Baptist Pastors' Conference in its first two sessions June 14-15. The conference, focusing on the theme "He Must Increase" from John the Baptist's statement in John 3:30, precedes the Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. Speakers in the Sunday evening and Monday morning sessions included: Dean Fulks, lead pastor of LifePoint Church in Columbus, Ohio, in the opening message of the conference June 14, used the story of Jonah to illustrate the need for pastors to live with repentant hearts. Sometimes pastors may mistakenly believe that God is waiting for them to step out of line so He can clobber them, Fulks said. But a biblical picture is found in Romans 2:3, where Paul writes that God's kindness is what leads to repentance. "God will be glorified by my life. God will be glorified by your life," Fulks said. "Either through my joyful obedience or through my rebellious disobedience ... God will be glorified." As God didn't give up on Jonah, Fulks said He … [Read more...]