Submitted by philip on Fri, 10/17/2014 - 11:12 By Kelly Boggs, Message Editor Many pundits believed General Norman Schwarzkopf would parlay his success as the Commander of Coalition Forces in the Persian Gulf War into a political career. However, when the general was asked about his political aspirations following the war that ended in 1991, he responded by saying, “I do not want to be a pawn in a political campaign.” I share General Schwarzkopf’s sentiment. I don’t want to be manipulated by any political campaign. I don’t think you want to either. But here we are in the midst of election season being bombarded with campaign ads. “Winning an election is not about pretty images. It is about being a credible candidate who projects a clear rationale as to why you should win and your opponent should lose,” said political observer Jim Farwell. Candidate A says his opponent, Candidate B, is backed by special interests.  B counters and says A has repeatedly voted against the best interests of his constituents. Candidate A calls B a liar; B insists A is dishonest. The aforementioned characterizes too many campaigns because, as one cynical political insider has quipped, “One thing I’ve learned in grade school has helped … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA – Louisiana Baptists have taken up residency in the social media and online world and don’t plan on moving anytime soon. Over the past two years, the communication team has created a new logo, launched a new website, produced a new-look e-newsletter and established a new social media presence on Facebook, Twitter and recently Pinterest. The driving force behind the change is the desire to be a go-to place for pastors, staff members and lay people are looking for resources that will increase their effectiveness week in and week out, said John Kyle, Louisiana Baptists communication director. “We understand that pastors, staff, and church leaders are looking for resources, ” noted Kyle. “God has brought together a talented team that has raised the creativity and quality of what’s produced and made it available via the most current communication platforms. “There is some good stuff here,” Kyle continued. “If you haven’t checked out what’s available, you owe it to yourself and your congregations to do so.” According to the members of the recently revamped communications team, its reach via these newer visual efforts is quite large, statistically. The new-look e-newsletter is … [Read more...]

ON THE MOVE Kenneth (wife Stephanie) Whitfield new as Family Pastor at First Baptist Church, St. Francisville. Billy (wife Stephanie) Stevens new as pastor at Willow Point Baptist Church, Shreveport. Wilton McMorris new as assistant Pastor/Youth Pastor at Milldale Baptist Church, Zachary. HOMECOMING Bayou Vista Baptist Church, Morgan City: 50th Anniversary, Oct. 25-26, Saturday, Oct. 25, 6-8 p.m. pot luck dinner. Sunday, Oct. 26, 10:30 a.m. dinner on the grounds will follow the service. John Lee, Bayou Vista’s founding pastor, as well the only two other pastors the church has had will be there. Pastor: Steven Kelly. Mound Baptist Church, Tallulah: 56th annual Homecoming, Oct. 26, 10:30 a.m. Speaker: Pat Lostin, former Director of Missions for Madison and Bayou Macon Association. Dinner on the grounds will follow the service. Pastor: Doug Hughes. Greenacres Baptist Church, Bastrop: Homecoming, Oct. 26, 10 a.m. concert featuring Brenda Copeland followed by worship services at 11 a.m. Dinner on the grounds will follow services. Pastor: Tony Campanabe Bluff Creek Baptist Church, Clinton: Homecoming service, Oct. 26, 10:15a.m. Speaker: Matt Chance. Dinner on the grounds will follow the service. Pastor: Joe Baugh. Mulberry … [Read more...]

By Staff, World News Magazine A global network of extremists is working to undercut the rights of LGBT people around the world, according to a Sept. 15 report published by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). According to its website HRC is “the largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans.” The culprits opposing LGBT people, according to HRC, are twelve leaders of pro-family organizations, including legal group Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) and Americans for Truth about Homosexuality (AFTAH). Complete with pencil-sketched portraits, the report lists leaders who are the “most vitriolic American activists promoting anti-LGBT bigotry abroad,” HRC said in a press release. Conservatives liken the report to a hit list. “It’s like the only things missing are the words ‘wanted dead or alive,’” said Peter Sprigg, senior fellow for policy studies at the Family Research Council (FRC). HRC did not respond to requests for comment for this story. Scott Lively, the first activist listed in the report, claims he received death threats following the report’s publication. Lively believes HRC published the list to incite murder against the people named, especially in light … [Read more...]

NASHVILLE (BP) – During October’s Cooperative Program Emphasis Month on the Southern Baptist Convention’s calendar, churches are encouraged to use the “1% Challenge” video as an educational and motivational tool. “The 1% Challenge has been promoted for the last several years across the SBC,” said Michael Stewart, Louisiana Baptists CP and Stewardship Strategist. “It’s a current example of how any increase in gifts can translate into more missions and ministries. If a church doesn’t have a plan to intentionally increase its world-wide missions imprint through CP, the 1% challenge provides a good starting place.” The 1% CP Challenge “is a succinct way to do something more – an understandable way to say, ‘Yeah, we can do that,’” added Frank S. Page, SBC Executive Committee president. “It is understandable, is easily acted upon, and can be done without shifting major sections of a church’s finances.” The month-long emphasis spurs churches to learn about the Cooperative Program and prayerfully consider increasing their contributions to its work. In 2012, 7 percent of cooperating Southern Baptist churches reported they had accepted the 1% CP Challenge in support of missions and ministries led by their state conventions and the SBC, … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 10/31/2014 - 10:10 Pastors and laypeople primarily from central Louisiana gathered Oct. 22 for a special called day of prayer at Tall Timbers Conference Center. Pastors from Big Creek, Central Louisiana and North Rapides associations, along with Louisiana Baptist Convention President Steve Horn, led the prayers. By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer WOODWORTH – Kenny Moore believes revival can come to America but that it must start within the heart of each person. “True revival is when the word of God transforms our hearts,” said Moore, pastor of Carmel Baptist Church in Pineville. “Instead of trying to justify when we do ungodly things, revival needs prayer. And prayer that leads to revival needs humility, and a strong desire to say ‘God is all that I am, is all that I know, I am totally dependent on you.” Moore was among several pastors who offered thoughts and prayers on the special called day of prayer on Oct. 22 at Tall Timbers Conference Center’s Magnolia Room that was attended by about 30 pastors and laypeople. Prayers focused primarily on the needs of the central area of the state, though some attention was given to needs in Louisiana and the nation. Pastors from Big Creek, Central … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 10/31/2014 - 10:07 First Baptist Church Lafayette will host the 167th Annual Meeting of Louisiana Baptists on Nov. 10-11. By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer LAFAYETTE – Messengers to next week’s Louisiana Baptist Convention Annual Meeting will receive a challenge –­­ engage the next generation and every people group. Louisiana Baptist Convention President Steve Horn’s prayer is that messengers will come away from the meeting, having accepted the challenge issued by the President’s 2020 Commission and ready to reach both groups with the gospel. “I want people to come and be inspired and be encouraged,” Horn said. “Obviously we have to deal with business, but I hope people will look past the business aspects of what we do, to fellowship with other believers across Louisiana and be encouraged and be inspired. “We are trying to follow up on the 2020 vision that was started at last year’s convention,” he continued. “I’m hoping to encourage and energize folks going to their church to reach the next generation and people groups among us.” The next generation and every people group were the two audiences identified as being key to Louisiana Baptists evangelistic and missions efforts over … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 10/31/2014 - 10:16 Frank Page, executive director of the Southern Baptist Convention shows how on his first Bible, another boy’s name was engraved on it, because he couldn’t afford a new one and that one had been returned to the store. Page was the featured speaker at the 125th annual Baptist Association of Greater Baton Rouge session held at Woodlawn Baptist. By Mark H. Hunter, Regional Reporter BATON ROUGE – The executive director of the Southern Baptist Convention exhorted the Baptist Association of Greater Baton Rouge to learn from the church of Ephesus and win more souls for Christ. “I have to believe we are in the last days,” Rev. Dr. Frank Page said after reading Rev. 2:1-7, describing Christ’s declaration to the Church of Ephesus, to “repent” and “return to your first love” or else their lamp-stand will be removed. “I believe the Lord is calling his church back to do what we have not done,” Page said during his sermon to the 125th annual session of BAGBR held Oct. 14, at Woodlawn Baptist Church. “I believe He will hold us accountable.” Christ’s message to the Ephesus church and to today’s church is fourfold: a call, a commendation, a condemnation, and a command, Page preached to about 250 … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 10/31/2014 - 10:18 George Guillory, pastor of Glen Oaks Baptist and parlimentarian of Baptist Association of Greater Baton Rouge, poses with Rev. Dr. Frank Page, CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention, at the 125th annual session of BAGBR. By Mark H. Hunter, Regional Reporter BATON ROUGE - Contrary to the conventional wisdom that the Southern Baptist Convention is primarily a “Southern white” organization, almost 10,000 of the SBC’s 46,124 churches are “ethnic” congregations. “We are – by far – the most ethnically diverse convention on the face of the Earth,” Rev. Dr. Frank Page declared to the 125th annual session of the Baptist Association of Greater Baton Rouge held Oct. 14, at Woodlawn Baptist. Page is the president and CEO of the SBC, a title he described as “chief encouraging officer.” Almost 4,000 SBC churches are African-American, almost 3,000 are Latino or Hispanic, over 2,000 are Asian-American and 28 other recognized  fellowships, brings the ethnic total to nearly 10,000, Page said. “People don’t realize that,” Page said. “They still think we are a Southern, white denomination. Those days are long, long, long gone. We are (also) in almost every county in the nation.” The … [Read more...]

By Kelly Boggs, Message Editor The city of Houston’s decision to subpoena pastors’ sermons and other communications concerning a controversial “equal rights” ordinance reflects a misunderstanding of the First Amendment as well as ignorance about rules for non-profit organizations in relation to political activity. Additionally, it shows a complete misunderstanding of the church’s role in society. In May, Houston’s city council passed the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO). The law passed by a vote of 11-6 and included special protections for the LGBT community. Churches helped organize opposition to the ordinance and launched a petition drive to place it on a ballot so Houston residents would have an opportunity to repeal it. HERO opponents submitted 14,000 more signatures than were needed to qualify the ordinance for a ballot. But city attorney David Feldman declared enough of the signatures invalid to prevent a vote on repeal. In response to the city attorney’s decision, opponents filed suit, charging that the city “wrongly determined that they had not gathered enough valid signatures” to qualify for a repeal vote. After the lawsuit was filed, the city issued subpoenas requiring that five local pastors turn over “all … [Read more...]