By Ronnie Floyd, President Southern Baptist Convention SPRINGDALE, Ark. (BP) – This is the State of the Union season, where our president has already addressed the nation, governors will address their respective states, and mayors will address their respective cities. They will unveil their dreams for today and hopes for tomorrow. Questions worth asking Who is addressing the spiritual state of our nation? Are we really trusting only in governmental powers and processes to heal our land? I love America and believe each citizen needs to be involved in charting the future of our nation. The church has compartmentalized its faith from influencing our nation far too long, just as most of America’s leaders compartmentalize their faith from their politics. Today, our nation has become a product of this sad reality. We need to return to the conviction that a faith worth believing is a faith worth dying for. Our faith cannot be checked at the door like a piece of luggage at an airport. The time is now The time is now for the church to rise up and address the spiritual state of our nation. With compassion, we need to tell it like it is. With hope, we need to share it like we believe it. With fervency, we need to pray like God … [Read more...]

By John Yeats, Executive Director of Missouri Baptist Convention Who wants to come to the end of something and say, “Oops!” Or, “I really messed up!” Or, “If only I had....” Whether you are talking about closing out an event, a career, a year, a life or a chapter in your life, you want to glance back over your shoulder and see that you finished well. Years ago, an author/speaker challenged me to consider my birthdate and the reality of my end date. Then he said, “What are you going to do with the middle?” He went on to say that no matter how you start, be determined to finish well. Several things to know about finishing well: n Finishing well is possible for every follower of Christ. You can rest in knowing that the Father wills us to finish well. One reason finishing well is possible is because the standard of our success is not our family of origin, language or any other unchangeable. Nor is God’s measure of success determined by financial status, ability, giftedness, education or influence. God’s standard of measurement is obedience. Faithful obedience to Christ in all things is the possibility and potential for every believer. At every juncture of life a believer needs to take inventory and ask, “Am I faithfully … [Read more...]

By Zach Cook, Pastor Friendship Baptist Church in Weathford, Texas It only takes a cursory glance at the state of cultural morality here in America can be somewhat disheartening. The Defense of Marriage Act has been labeled unconstitutional and same-sex marriage is being legalized in states all over the nation. If we can be honest for a few moments, we can realize that we now live in a post-Christian culture. The 1950s have come and gone and they aren’t coming back. For someone like me, the pastor of a Baptist church in the Bible Belt in Texas, I hear the alarmists sound the end of Christian influence and the demise of our country. Culturally, it seems Christians have “lost” the battle. What was once considered taboo is now considered normal. There is no absolute truth. One’s gender is no longer determined by physiological make-up but by choice and feeling. God’s Word doesn’t seem to have much place in the public square. Now that we stand on the other side of a failed “moral majority,” there is one question everyone is asking: “What now?” As is often the case, we can find direction for moving forward by studying the history of those who came before us. In many ways, the English Puritans of the late 16th century were … [Read more...]

By Virginia Burkett, Member First Baptist Church in Many “They cling to deceit…  The pen of the scribes has mishandled the law….  ‘Peace, peace,’ they say, when there is no peace. Are they ashamed of their loathsome conduct?  No they have no shame at all.” Christians, Jews, and many Muslims recognize these words of warning from the prophet Jeremiah. The lawgivers of our Nation have made it legal to murder unborn children in the womb, though our Constitution states that all Americans have the right to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Our lawmakers have denied this unalienable right that we have as a people, and as individuals, to live. When does a child become a human being?  A human being is a person from the moment of conception. No scientist or doctor will tell you otherwise. Life does not begin at 3 months in the womb, but laws of this land that have been passed since 1973 and upheld by our highest state and federal courts allow the killing of people under the age of three months in the womb – up to six months in many states.   We call this detestable practice “abortion.” We deceive ourselves with the killing of thousands of young of our Nation every day, with over 55 million total deaths since … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 01/23/2015 - 09:31 Kimberly Myers, international collegiate ministry coordinator for the UNO BCM, interacts with a student while drawing her a Henna tattoo. She came away encouraged by the reception her students got. She said the BCM plans to do another such Henna event this Easter. By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer NEW ORLEANS – Caroline Fontenot chose to spend her lunchtime on the University of New Orleans campus recently not eating a sandwich with friends but rather making tattoos on fellow students with the mindset of reaching them for Christ. As each student sat down with Fontenot throughout the afternoon, she conversed with the students about the story of the woman at the well as she made the artwork that covered their arms that depicted the biblical story. By the end of the three-hour time period, Fontenot made tattoos for eight girls and shared about Christ and the UNO Baptist Collegiate Ministry, which sponsored the event. Fontenot said that though UNO can be closed to the idea of Christianity, the campus is art-focused. So combining the two seemed to be very effective. “Most of the conversations were just friendly conversations about classes, but some of the girls were … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message ALEXANDRIA – College students and those soon to be are invited to the annual Collegiate Evangelism Conference, set for Feb. 6-7 at Calvary Baptist Church in Alexandria. “What sets CEC apart from other conferences is the incredibly quality of the program personalities,” said Mark Robinson, director of the Louisiana Baptist Convention’s Collegiate Ministries team, host of the Cooperative Program-sponsored event. “The worship leaders, speakers and venue is always amazing, but the distinguishing factor has historically been the quality of seminar teachers. “Students get seminary-level training condensed into a short 24-hour conference,” he continued. “I am so thankful for the teaching and leadership people that we have at our Seminary, Louisiana College and churches around the state.” Robby Gallaty, senior pastor of Brainerd Baptist Church in Chattanooga, Tenn., and a New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary graduate, will be the main speaker. Radically saved from a life of drug addiction on Nov. 12, 2002, Gallaty is the founder of Replicate Ministries whose main goal is to educate, equip and empower believers to make disciples. Leading music will be Jon Shirley. He is worship leader, pastor, disciple … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message PINEVILLE – Nearly 300 women will be challenged to pour themselves into Christian service during the upcoming Kaleidoscope women’s conference. Keynote speaker Jaye Martin of Houston, Texas, will base her messages off that topic, found in 2 Timothy 4:6-7. “Our desire is that women will be equipped to impact our world for Christ,” said Janie Wise, Louisiana Baptists women’s missions and ministry strategist. “We are to pour ourselves into serving God, which she will speak to. She wants them to have the equipment at hand, ready to go.” The event, set for Feb. 7 at First Baptist Church in Pineville, includes lunch in its $35 per person cost. However, the deadline to register is Jan. 30 for the Cooperative Program-funded event. During the worship sessions, Lisa Pierre of Houston, Texas, will lead music. She is making her second trip to Kaleidoscope, which she led music for in 2006. Breakout sessions during Kaleidoscope have been arranged in the areas of spiritual growth, personal development, family and methods. A complete listing of breakout sessions as well as registration information can be found at http://louisianabaptists.org/kaleidoscope. … [Read more...]

ON THE MOVE Charles Hugonin new as pastor at First Baptist Church, Cameron. Gil Arthur new as pastor at First Baptist Church, DeQuincy. Jered Thomas new as pastor at First Baptist Church, Lake Arthur. Brandon Smith new as pastor at First Baptist Church, Raceland John (wife Donna) Sparks new as pastor of Antioch Baptist Church, Florien. Pat Lofton new as interim pastor of Forest Baptist Church.   REVIVAL 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.   IN REMEMBRANCE John Lewis Gilbert of Hammond passed away at age 92 on Jan. 11 in a Hammond health care facility. Born in Shreveport, he graduated from Hammond High, Mississippi College and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Gilbert served over 65 years in the gospel ministry.  He was pastor at numerous churches in Mississippi, Louisiana and North Carolina, and served as Director of Associational Missions for Southern Baptists in New Orleans (North Shore), Shreveport (he was the first DOM in the newly formed Northwest Association in 1969) and the Florida Parishes. In 1982 he was recognized by the Southern Baptist Home … [Read more...]

December 2014 doctoral graduates of NOBTS from Louisiana include (from left to right) Lee Myers, doctor of ministry, minister of students at Airline Baptist Church in Bossier City; Ron Thompson, doctor of ministry degree, assistant to the coordinator of missions and ministries at the District Eight Baptist Convention in Natchitoches and Craig West, doctor of educational ministry degree, pastor of First Baptist Church of Monroe. Graduates are pictured with NOBTS President Chuck Kelley (center, right). NEW ORLEANS – New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary hosted its fall commencement ceremony Dec. 13 in Leavell Chapel on the school’s main campus. NOBTS President Chuck Kelley was the featured speaker. Of the some 250 students who received undergraduate and graduate degrees, the following master’s and doctoral level graduates of NOBTS boast ties to the State of Louisiana: Ronald Harold Thompson of Natchitoches received the doctor of ministry degree. Thompson is the assistant to the coordinator of missions and ministries at the District Eight Baptist Convention in Natchitoches. Craig Matthew West of Breckenridge, Texas, received the doctor of education ministry degree. West is pastor of First Baptist Church of Monroe. Jieun IL … [Read more...]

DENHAM SPRINGS – Farmers and missions enthusiasts from across the state will gather to learn how missions and agriculture work together during the Agricultural Missions Fellowship Annual Meeting. Scheduled for Jan. 31 at Amite Baptist Church, topics include the challenge to feed earth’s growing population, agricultural missions needs in Bosnia, Haiti and Uganda and agricultural missions’ importance. For more information contact Gene Baker at 225-665-6515 or bakergene@att.net. … [Read more...]