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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

LBC’s Pastoral Ministry provides counseling, support

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA – The ministry can take its toll on a pastor and his family, leading in some cases to harmful addictions, isolation, separation from a spouse or termination from a church. But those results don’t have to happen, thanks to counseling sessions provided through Cooperative Program gifts and a partnership with Louisiana Baptists’ Pastoral Leadership Team and Granberry Counseling Centers. Through this partnership, up to 10 visits to a Granberry Christian counselor are provided at no cost to senior pastors, church staff members or family members. Through late July, about 45 pastors, staff members or family members had seen a counselor through the service; 84 were seen in all of 2013. Bill Robertson, director of the pastoral leadership team, said he has had numerous conversations with ministers whose marriages and ministries were saved through this counseling ministry. “Granberry provides biblically-based Christian counseling for our people,” Robertson said. “One of the biggest differences is, in the world, they don’t start with a biblical perspective of truth and what it should be. The Bible is the Christian counselor’s guidebook and we prefer their mindset,” he said. “Christian … [Read more...]

The Good News gets the cold shoulder in Portland

By Staff, World News Magazine PORTLAND, Ore. – Liberal groups in Portland, Ore., are taking an evangelical children’s camp to task for talking to the city’s youngest residents about Jesus. The camps, which operate like a traveling Vacation Bible School, have endured protests, negative advertisements in local newspapers, and accusations of being a fundamentalist sect. Child Evangelism Fellowship’s Camp Good News focuses for a week or two in different cities each year. During the school year, the group rents public school buildings to host weekly after-school activities. CEF recently won a Supreme Court case that allowed it equal access to public schools, but the groups arrival in Portland sparked unexpected anger and protests. Protect Portland Children formed to protest the camps. It heavily promotes a book called The Good News Club: The Christian Right’s Stealth Assault on America’s Children. It claims CES is a fundamentalist sect, teaches shame to children, and harms them psychologically with a doctrine of sin. Mississippi Pro-lifers Sue Police for Harassment JACKSON, Miss – Life Legal Defense Association (LLDF) filed suit July 23 against the Jackson, Miss., Police Department, for allegedly violating the First Amendment … [Read more...]

Special Award

Submitted by philip on Mon, 08/25/2014 - 11:01 The town of Washington recently named Louisiana Baptist Pastor Louis Charrier as its Citizen of the Year. The pastor of Washington Baptist Church since its birth in 1994, Charrier (pictured left) accepted a plaque from Mayor Joe Pitre (pictured right) during the town’s July meeting. Washington has a population of 959, with a makeup of 53 percent black and 43 percent white. Pitre allowed Washington Baptist Church to host the town’s workers for a presentation of Billy Graham’s “My Hope” DVD. As a result, three people accepted Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. Every year the church hosts teams from throughout the United States to help the town’s citizens with various projects. Select rating Give it 1/5 Give it 2/5 Give it 3/5 Give it 4/5 Give it 5/5 Give it 1/5 Give it 2/5 Give it 3/5 Give it 4/5 Give it 5/5   … [Read more...]

Louisiana Notables

ON THE MOVE Jeremy (wife Tami) Bullock new as pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, Mangham. REVIVAL/HOMECOMING Red River Baptist Church, Benton: 165th Anniversary Celebration, Aug. 31, 10:30 a.m. Speaker: Wayne Dubose. Music: Richard Beeman. Dinner on the grounds will follow the service. All former members and pastors are invited. Pastor: Don Fletcher. Big Island Baptist Church, Deville: 125th Anniversary, Sept. 7, 10:30 a.m. Lunch will follow the service. Speaker: Sammy Smith. A homecoming celebration will take place after lunch. Pastor: David Gatch. Union Hall Baptist Church, Coushatta: Revival, Sept. 10-12, 7 p.m. Speaker: Craig James. For more information call 318.413.4592. Pastor: Jeff Shows. First Baptist Church, Oil City: 100th anniversary celebration, Sept. 14, 9:30 a.m. Dinner on the grounds will follow the service. Pastor: Jessie Colston LAGNIAPPE Harold Gorden McNabb passed away Aug. 4 in Fort Worth, Texas at the age of 88. A native of Denham Springs, he served as pastor of Hebron Baptist Church in Denham Springs, Pine Grove Baptist Church in Livingston, Spring Creek Baptist Church in Kentwood, Gray’s Creek Baptist Church in Denham Springs, First Baptist Church in Opelousas, Ford Park Baptist Church in Shreveport, … [Read more...]

David Platt Bio

Submitted by philip on Wed, 08/27/2014 - 12:17 International Mission Board President David Platt and his wife, Heather, are seen with their four children (from left): Joshua, Isaiah, Mara Ruth and Caleb. Platt, 36, one of the most passionate and influential voices for missions among evangelicals, was elected Aug. 27 by IMB trustees. The pastor of The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Ala., will take office effective immediately as president of the 169-year-old organization, the largest denominational missionary-sending body among American evangelicals. He succeeds Tom Elliff, 70, who has served as IMB president since March 2011. David Platt is deeply devoted to Christ and His Word. David’s first love in ministry is disciple-making — the simple, biblical model of teaching God’s Word, mentoring others and sharing faith. He has traveled extensively to teach the Bible alongside church leaders throughout the United States and around the world. Atlanta natives, he and his wife, Heather, made their home in New Orleans, until they were displaced by flooding following Hurricane Katrina in 2005. In 2006, David became the pastor of The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Alabama. He was elected IMB president Aug. 27, … [Read more...]

Angola’s success story being adopted by other prisons

Submitted by philip on Fri, 07/11/2014 - 10:35 Faith and the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary have been the key factors to not only the longevity of Warden Burl Cain but also removing Angola’s title of the bloodiest prison in America. Angola’s success story is now being used as a model for other prisons in the United States, who have adopted similar programs. By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ANGOLA – Walk into the museum just outside of the front gate at Louisiana State Penitentiary and one will notice a wall full of photos of all who have served as warden of the maximum security prison at Angola. One of those is of Burl Cain, who has been warden of the prison 55 miles northwest of Baton Rouge since February 1995. But what may be more significant and telling is that the longest any other of Angola’s 14 wardens served was seven years. Most wardens serve at Angola for an average of five years. Cain is the longest serving warden of any in the United States’ prisons. The reason, Cain says, is the atmosphere inside the prison and how faith and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary have been the key factors to not only his longevity but also removing Angola’s title of the bloodiest prison in … [Read more...]

Church planter training parents to spread Gospel story in Big Easy

Submitted by philip on Fri, 07/11/2014 - 10:42 North American Mission Board church planter Reagan Farris poses with his wife; Beth; daughters, 11-year-old Reece (middle) and 5-year-old Charlieanne and sons, 4-year-old Jude (left) and 8-year-old Asa. He meets in his home on a regular basis with attendees and teaches them new Bible stories and how they apply to their lives. By Tobin Perry, Baptist Press NEW ORLEANS – New Orleans church planter Reagan Farris has a story to tell. It’s not the story of how he ended up in the Big Easy. It’s not the story of how a successful youth minister felt burdened for parents who weren’t discipling their children – because they in turn weren’t discipled. Though he loves telling the story of what God has been doing in his life, it’s the gospel story that Farris can’t stop sharing. Using a similar Bible storying method as international missionaries employ to share the good news in oral cultures, Farris now has gathered close to 30 people in New Orleans – in just a few months time – to hear and respond to the stories of Scripture. “It’s giving narrative to the stories of the Bible, typically chronologically,” Farris said. “Over the stories as you share, you disciple that way. It’s just … [Read more...]

LC Presidential Search Committee seeking input

By Kelly Boggs, Editor PINEVILLE – The Louisiana College Presidential Search Committee is seeking input from alumni and other interested parties concerning what qualities the next president of LC should possess. The Baptist Message received an announcement from LC July 1 indicating the Search Committee had established a survey on the Internet site QuestionPro, a company specializing in online research. “To give your input to the Committee,” the announcement stated, “please complete the survey linked below by July 31, 2014.  Your comments and prayers are appreciated.” The survey gives interested parties the opportunity to contribute to the search process by responding to a mix of questions and statements, ten in all. Questions posed in the survey seek to ascertain what participants believe should characterize the next president’s academic background and skill set. Additionally, participants are asked about what type of priorities the next president should focus on. The statements included in the survey ask participants to list what type of experiences the next president should have in his resume and what type of traits would be desirable. Participants are even encouraged to provide names to be considered in the search as … [Read more...]

RA Camp teaches campers about building a relationship with Christ

Submitted by philip on Fri, 07/11/2014 - 10:45 At the start and the end of each day, Royal Ambassador campers gather at the flag pole at Tall Timbers where they learn how to properly raise, take down and fold the American flag after listening to announcements for the day. By Hannah Fleming, Message Staff Writer WOODWORTH – “We’re hoping we’ll have boys come here who don’t have a relationship with Christ and through our services, missionaries and Bible studies they will get to the point where they will be ready to accept Him.” Those are lofty expectations but according to Mike Collie, Royal Ambassadors camp director of Louisiana for campers, very achievable. Collie, who has been director for 25 years and travels the state to numerous conferences and camps such as the RA Congress and Survival Man Camp, believes camps such as the recent RA Camp held at Tall Timbers can help campers obtain those expectations. RA Camp is a week-long camp to help train first through sixth grade boys to become spiritual leaders in this world. At the start and end of each day, campers meet at the flag pole for the raising and lowering of the flag followed by breakfast in the morning, lunch and supper in the evening. In between they attend … [Read more...]