By David Roach, Chief Correspondent of Baptist Press NASHVILLE – The claim of some pro-choice groups that Scripture does not address abortion would have surprised both Jews and Christians living in the first century. That’s because they were virtually unanimous that the Bible implicitly – though clearly – prohibited the killing of unborn children. Abortion advocates today tend either to deny this fact or remain gladly ignorant of it. For example, Planned Parenthood, America’s largest abortion provider, issued a “pastoral letter to patients” last spring stating, “Many people wrongly assume that all religious leaders disapprove of abortion. The truth is that abortion is not even mentioned in the Scriptures – Jewish or Christian – and there are clergy and people of faith from all denominations who support women making this complex decision.” Of course, the Bible does not contain the direct commandment, “Thou shalt not have an abortion.” But based on passages like Psalm 139:14-16, Jeremiah 1:4-5, Amos 1:13 and others, ancient Jews and Christians believed it was clear God cared for the unborn and regarded abortion a sin. Some may be surprised to learn that abortion existed more than 2,000 years ago, with surgical and chemical … [Read more...]

The 2015 Evangelism conference also will feature a servant evangelism project in which everyone is encouraged to bring clean coats on hangers to be used for the poor and at risk in the Shreveport-Bossier City area. By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer SHREVEPORT – The countdown is on for the 2015 Louisiana Baptist Evangelism Conference. Hosted by Summer Grove Baptist Church on Jan. 26-27, the theme of the event is RESET: a Revitalization Conference. The conference will feature inspiring messages, high-energy music and a servant evangelism project. Former Southern Baptist Convention First Vice-president and past Florida Baptist Convention President Ted Traylor will preach the first message of the Evangelism Conference. The pastor of Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola, Fla., Traylor has a weekly radio and television ministry, At the Heart of Things, that reaches thousands of homes along the Gulf Coast region. Each week his messages are broadcast worldwide through the internet. Traylor has preached extensively throughout the United States in conferences and revivals. Emanuel University in Oradea, Romania has honored Dr. Traylor by placing his name on the chair of Pastoral Leadership. He travels there frequently to preach … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 01/09/2015 - 13:35 A young boy prays with others over Operation Christmas Child boxes on the big collection day for all churches in November. For the 10th straight year, Louisiana exceeded the number of OCC boxes given by its churches. By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer More children around the world will have a very Merry Christmas, thanks in part to a record-breaking Operation Christmas Child collection year. Throughout the year, churches of different sizes and denominations filled shoeboxes for the ministry of Franklin Graham’s Samaritan’s Purse organization. And by the end of National Collection Week – when individuals and churches dropped off their shoeboxes at major collection centers in the United States from Nov. 17-24 – more than 135,500 boxes were collected in Louisiana alone. That’s a 6.5 percent increase from 2013, according to Matt McClelland, Texas/Louisiana regional manager for Operation Christmas Child. “Louisiana continues to support Operation Christmas Child in an amazing way, growing in shoebox numbers each year since 2005, and growing from a total of 13,000 shoeboxes in 1999 to over 135,000 in 2015,” McClelland said. “We are thankful to every church, group, … [Read more...]

ON THE MOVE David McGuffee new as pastor at Lighthouse Baptist Church, Monroe. Jason (wife Laurie) Frazier new as pastor at Woodland Hills Baptist Church, Shreveport. Harrell Shelton new as interim Pastor at Airline Baptist Church, Bossier City. Trey Lewis new as pastor at New Prospect Baptist Church, Dry Prong. Jennifer Maddox new as Children’s Director at Northwoods Baptist Church, Shreveport. Brad Solice new as youth minister at Plain Dealing Baptist Church. Joshua Piper new as youth minister at First Baptist Church of French Settlement.   REVIVAL Loch Arbor Baptist Church, Monroe: Revival, Jan. 18-21. Evangelist: Jerry Chaddick. Pastor: James Myrick Judson Baptist Church, Walker: Revival, Jan. 18-21, Noon on Jan. 19, 20, 21 and 6:30 p.m. every evening. Evangelist: Richard Green. Pastor: David Lane. First Baptist Church, New Iberia: Revival, Jan. 18, 11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.; January 19-21, 6:30 p.m. nightly Evangelist: David Hanna, Music: Price Harris, music. Pastor: Ed Downs. First Baptist Church, Haynesville: Revival, Feb. 1-4, 11 a.m. & 6 p.m. on Sunday; 6 p.m. Monday – Wednesday. Evangelist: Jerry Chaddick. Music: Brad Mount. Pastor: Shelby Cowling.   LAGNIAPPE New Zion Baptist Church, Kentwood: … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 01/09/2015 - 13:40 Brian Ray, standing with his family, has pastored First Baptist Robeline since 2002. He is a bi-vocational pastor, with his secular job at Red River Oil and Gas. By Brian Blackwell. Message Staff Writer ROBELINE – Brian Ray’s full-time job at Red River Oil and Gas takes him to the pipelines and roadways of Louisiana and East Texas most days of the week. Throughout the day Ray may field a call from a church member where he pastors, stop in at a Shreveport hospital visitation or preside over a funeral in Robeline. While juggling both jobs may seem like a lot to handle to some, the pastor of First Baptist Robeline contends he wouldn’t want his life any different. “I don’t view it from the standpoint that they are two separate things,” Ray said. “Whether I am ministering through the pulpit at First Baptist Robeline or in East Texas or Shreveport, I am called to do everything for God. It is something that God has blessed where the two have never conflicted.” A native of Shreveport, Ray remembers as a young boy worshiping with his grandparents and 30 other people on Sunday mornings at First Baptist Robeline. Though he accepted Christ as his personal Savior and Lord at the … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 01/23/2015 - 08:50 Thousands of pro-life marchers stream across the Long-Allen Bridge from Bossier City into Shreveport on Jan. 17 to support the right to life movement during the second annual Louisiana Life March North. Nearly 7,000 people from various denominations, ages and races turned out for the march on a mild January morning. Photo by Douglas Collier/Shreveport Times By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer SHREVEPORT – Some held up colorful signs that read “Stop Abortion Now” and “Defend The Defenseless.” Others just simply walked alongside their spouses, children and friends during the 1.2 mile journey from Bossier City to Shreveport. But despite their method of getting across their emotions, their message was all the same – stand up for those who have yet to be born. Nearly 7,000 people from various denominations, ages and races turned out for the second Louisiana Life March North on a mild January morning. Organizer Mike Johnson was pleased that so many would show up on a Saturday to stand for life. “Our theme this year was inspired by Isaiah 1:17 – ‘Defend the Defenseless’ – and I think today’s huge event was an important step in that regard,” said Johnson, legal counsel … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 01/23/2015 - 08:57 LBC Executive Director David Hankins reflects on the challenges, opportunities and blessings of the last decade. By John Kyle, LBC Communications Director Upon assuming the position of Executive Director on Feb. 1, 2005, David Hankins knew his new responsibilities would present challenges and opportunities – he just didn’t know they would come so quickly as Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated much of south Louisiana during his first year. Hankins was elected unanimously by the Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board to be the Executive Director of the LBC in October, 2004. He officially assumed his duties on Feb. 1, 2005. Prior to returning to Louisiana, where he had pastored Trinity Baptist Church in Lake Charles (1985-1995), he served Southern Baptists through the SBC Executive Committee in Nashville (1996-2004) as vice president of Convention Policy and vice president of the Cooperative Program. Hankins and his wife Patty just celebrated their 46th wedding anniversary and have three grown sons: Andy, a businessman in Lake Charles; Eric, pastor of FBC, Oxford, Miss., and Adam, a surgeon in Mandeville. Their brood of grandchildren has increased from 7 to 11 … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer Editor’s Note: January is human trafficking month.   Kay Bennett believes the power of prayer can transform Interstate 10 from the highest-rated corridor for sex trafficking to one of the least trafficked, one interstate mile at a time. In-10se: Turning Highways Into Lifeways is a ministry of Baptist Friendship House that creates awareness about human trafficking by allowing believers to adopt a mile along Interstate 10, a roadway that stretches 2,460 miles from Santa Monica, Calif., to Jacksonville, Fla. The Federal Bureau of Investigation lists Interstate 10 as the most used US interstate for sex trafficking. So far, prayer partners have adopted 494 of the miles along I-10. “Since human trafficking is the fastest growing criminal industry in the world, it stands to reason that it is one of Satan’s strongest strongholds,” said Bennett, director of the Baptist Friendship House in New Orleans. “The church – God’s children – are truly the ones to fight against this. We can bring into the light what has been in the dark and help prevent human trafficking.” The Baptist Friendship House has developed a prayer guide for which believers may pray for one or all of 10 requests. In … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 01/23/2015 - 09:11 Serving as pastor of Coax Baptist Church in Winnsboro is only one job Paul Perry holds. A funeral director since 1998, Perry’s secular job compliments much of what he does as pastor, whether that be prayer with each family member, comforting a hurting person or preaching a sermon. By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer WINNSBORO – The third song on the order of service at Coax Baptist Church is about to start and the pastor has just arrived inside the sanctuary. However, Paul Perry has a good reason for walking into church after the service has begun. Only 45 minutes earlier, Perry was wrapping up a burial 35 miles south of Winnsboro which he oversaw as director of Gill First National Funeral Home. Though he can’t control some aspects of his secular job – such as when someone buries a loved one or a sudden meeting with a family member whose son just committed suicide – Perry said he has yet to miss preaching a scheduled sermon in the nine years he has juggled both occupations. “I have a church which loves me and is supportive of me working here,” Perry said. “That is the most important thing. The church understands when I have a funeral to conduct, they are the first … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 01/23/2015 - 09:13 Ergun Caner MOUNT VERNON, Ga. – Ergun Caner has stepped aside as president of Brewton-Park College. Speaking to a packed room of trustees and others, Caner informed the board that the suicide of his 15-year-old son, Braxton, was still taking a toll on his ability to lead in his role. Caner said he plans to move back to Texas to continue healing with his wife and 10-year-old son, Drake. “Brewton-Parker College cannot become a healthy, growing and stable college under the leadership of a man who is broken,” Caner said in a statement. “And I am admitting to you that I am broken. I can’t get over his death, and I am not sure I want to. I do know that I cannot muster the fight needed to be the leader of our college. My family and my heart need healing, and you deserve better.” The college originally was informed it had lost its accreditation on June 2014 but regained accreditation later that year after launching an appeals process, administrators were told on Sept. 29 that it would remain an accredited member on probation as additional information was being prepared for reconsideration. Caner became president of the school on Dec. 2, 2013, and six months later the school … [Read more...]