ALEXANDRIA – Louisiana Baptists are invited to submit names of nominees for service on state convention boards and committees and to submit resolutions for possible consideration for the 2014 Louisiana Baptist Convention. The Louisiana Baptist Committee on Committees is beginning its work to nominate persons to serve on various state convention committees. Currently, 19 nominees are needed for service on committees on Credentials, Louisiana Baptist History, Moral and Social Concerns, Nominations, Order of Business and Resolutions. Committee on Committees Chair is Carl Gulde. In addition, the Louisiana Baptist Committee on Nominations is beginning its work to fill vacancies on state boards. At this point, 18 nominees are needed to serve on the Convention Executive Board and as trustees of Louisiana College, the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home and Family Ministries, the Baptist Message, and the Baptist Foundation. The Committee on Nominations chair is Richard Blue. As in previous years, persons should submit names of nominees and the committee or board for which they are being nominated. Submissions should include information on the nominee’s church membership and current employment. Nominations should be submitted no later … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 06/27/2014 - 13:20 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Taxpayer dollars could soon pay for sex reassignment surgeries for elderly or disabled Americans on Medicare, thanks to a ruling earlier this month from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The agency’s Departmental Appeals Board lifted a three-decade-old ban on using Medicare funds for transsexual surgeries. The decision means the government considers the surgeries medically necessary and effective treatment for some individuals who do not identify with their biological sex. The policy reversal came in response to a request from 74-year-old Army veteran Denee Mallon to have Medicare pay for genital reconstruction. Mallon, from Albuquerque, N. M., was born a man but has been diagnosed with “gender dysphoria,” a state of distress about one’s biological gender. Medicare denied Mallon’s request for surgery two years ago, but today the appeals board overturned that decision. Gender reassignment surgeries vary by type and scope: For men, they can involve castration and genital reconstruction. For women, they can involve mastectomy and the implantation of a prosthetic. The cost of transsexual surgeries range from $7,000 to $50,000, according to the … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 06/27/2014 - 13:22 Thom Rainer, president of LifeWay Christian Resources, gives a report June 11 during the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting saying “LifeWay is thriving and using all its proceeds to advance Great Commission ministries.” He also spoke about the decision to sale Glorietta. BALTIMORE (BP)-- During his report at the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Baltimore, LifeWay Christian Resources president and CEO Thom S. Rainer introduced an initiative to help churches start 100,000 new small groups, honored two longtime Southern Baptist leaders, and explained LifeWay’s decision to sell the Glorieta Conference Center in New Mexico. “LifeWay Christian Resources is committed to make more of a difference today than we did yesterday, and to be more effective tomorrow than we are now,” Rainer told messengers. In response to a messenger’s question, Rainer relayed a report he’d received from Glorieta 2.0, the Christian camping ministry that bought the conference center from LifeWay last year. Attendance at the center is up this year, he said, and “literally tens of thousands will be reached for the Gospel.” John Yarbrough, a messenger from First Baptist Church of … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 06/27/2014 - 13:24 Louisiana College students on a mission trip to New York City went to combat human trafficking, but discovered suffering and brokeness that exists in the city’s large homeless community. By Hannah Fleming, Message Staff Writer NEW YORK CITY – A homeless woman stands alone on the streets of New York City, her frail body, frantic motions, and slur of words described her vulnerable state of being. A victim of a 1989 car crash, she became homeless after losing her job. She has been diagnosed with HIV and experiences massive headaches due to her previous car wreck and the current struggle to get back on her feet. “I got hit by a car 25 years ago and then I lost my job,” the woman said. She opens up to a group of Louisiana College students, sharing her story of struggle after struggle, with almost no hope in sight. But her story is not the first in a city with a population of 8.3 million people. New York City is a place filled with similar stories of those without jobs, without money and without hope. In fact, New York City is a big city filled with people without jobs, without money, and without hope and a recent trip by a team of LC Baptist Collegiate Ministry students … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 06/27/2014 - 13:26 Randy Carruth By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer A series of revivals 40 years in the making involving hundreds of Native American pastors is closer to fruition and the location will be none other than at Louisiana Baptist churches. “It’s one of those God things,” said Randy Carruth, director of I Am Able Ministries of Forest Hill. “God has been at work among the Native Americans for many years and finally the dream for revival among them is starting to really take shape. And to think God would use Louisiana in the process is pretty amazing.” Scheduled for the spring and fall of 2015, the Louisiana All Nations Revivals will be the result of decades of prayer and become closer to fulfilling a dream that Henry Blackaby, writer of the Experiencing God series, said he received from God to spark worldwide revival through Native Americans. Those plans were announced recently by Carruth and the Louisiana Baptist Convention partnership missions division. The first series of revivals in the spring will bring Native American pastors to preach in at least 300 Louisiana Baptist churches. A second series of revivals in the fall will involve African-American pastors preaching upon … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer FARMINGTON, N.M.– Christmas may be six months away but a group of Louisiana Baptists are making plans to deliver joy to children living on a Native American reservation. Their hope is their trip becomes a larger ministry of Louisiana Baptists during the next Christmas season. Organized by Open Door Missions of Ruston, the mission trip to the Navajo reservation in New Mexico consisted of distributing Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes, blankets and clothes to the children, following a special Christmas program where the gospel was presented. Of the approximately 650 children that attended on those December day and night gatherings, 34 accepted Christ as their personal Savior and Lord. Another 65-70 made professions of faith on two other summer trips by Cook Baptist and other LBC churches. Treasurer Lavelle Spillers said seeing God’s love on display there is worth every dollar spent and mile traveled. “We love being able to take the gifts to the children, many of whom would not get anything for Christmas if it were not for the many generous Christians and churches who work with Open Door Missions each year,” said Lavelle Spillers, treasurer of Open Door Missions. “However, the … [Read more...]

GREENWELL SPRINGS – David Vitter, Tony Perkins and Michael Johnson will be the featured speakers for a noon pastor’s luncheon Aug. 19 at Greenwell Springs Baptist Church near Baton Rouge. Pastors, along with a church member that could potentially provide leadership for a Culture Impact Team in the local church, are invited to attend the luncheon to learn how to equip and unite Christians for the truth of God and to turn our nation back to God. All three speakers are leading conservative figures in the ongoing battle to help turn the culture and country back to God. Known as a conservative reformer, Vitter (R-LA) is now in his 10th year in the Senate after being elected to his first term in 2004 and overwhelmingly re-elected in 2010. Vitter’s Senate voting record is consistently conservative. Perkins is President of the Family Research Council, a Christian think tank, public policy and lobbying organization based in Washington, D.C. since September 2003. He was also involved in the 1998 founding of Louisiana Family Forum. He hosts an online program, Washington Watch Daily on FRC Radio. Johnson is chief counsel of Freedom Guard, Inc., a newly formed legal ministry dedicated to defending the Body of Christ in Louisiana and the … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 06/27/2014 - 13:32 On June 8, Plain Dealing Baptist Church honored Sue Moore for serving as a church organist and pianist for 62 years, the last 16 at Plain Dealing. They also honored Jack Gore for serving as their pianist for 45 years. The church gave them both plaques commemorating the occasion and the Louisiana Baptist Convention also honored them with plaques marking this special occasion. Pictured (from left) at the special occasion was Pastor James Hill, Jacqueline ‘Jack’ Gore, Sue Moore and music director Norma Anderson. Select rating Give it 1/5 Give it 2/5 Give it 3/5 Give it 4/5 Give it 5/5 … [Read more...]

ON THE MOVE Larry Baldridge licensed to the Gospel Ministry and Chaplaincy at Catahoula Lake Front Community Church, St. Martinville. Pastor: Louis Charrier. Philip Casper is new as pastor at Central Baptist Church, Springhill. Ronnie Osborne is new as pastor at Heflin Baptist Church, Heflin.   REVIVAL/HOMECOMING Salem Baptist Church, Plain Dealing: Homecoming: Celebrating 170 years, July 13, Services at 11 a.m. followed by lunch at noon and singing at 1:30 p.m. Speaker: Ben Jordan (Salem pastor in 1970). Music: Main Street Connection. Pastor: Larry Earhart. New Hope Baptist Church, Independence: Recharge Revival event, July 13-20. Speaker: Bishop Innocent Mabuza from Swaziland. Pastor: Steven Campbell. First Baptist Church, Zwolle: Summer Revival, July 13-16. Speaker: Bob Utley. Worship: Craig Forque. Pastor: Jerry Penfield. Lone Star Baptist Church, Hineston: Lone Star Community Cemetery Incorporated Homecoming, July 13, 10 a.m. Speaker: Chad Longino. Temple Baptist Church, Ruston: Marvelous Mondays, July 14, 21, 28, and August 4. Speakers: Bill Hardin, Rob Futral, Steve Horn, and Junior Hill. Each Monday there will be a meal at 5 p.m. and service will be held at 6 p.m. Pastor: Dr. Reggie … [Read more...]