By David Roach, Baptist Press BALTIMORE (BP) -- Through hearing a diverse array of speakers -- both in terms of race and age -- Southern Baptist Pastors' Conference President Bruce Frank hopes pastors will attain a clearer vision of God's glory. Hence the theme of this year's gathering: "Show Us Your glory." "You don't want to miss any of it," Frank, pastor of Biltmore Baptist Church in Asheville, N.C., said. "By going and getting coffee or skipping a speaker, you very well could miss exactly what God wants to say to you right then." The June 8-9 Pastors' Conference will feature preaching, worship and prayer to undergird the ministry of pastors and their wives. The sessions at the Baltimore Convention Center will be held prior to the Southern Baptist Convention's June 10-11 annual meeting there. "What I did as I thought about the speakers and the theme was to have guys that have a heart to pour into pastors," Frank said. Speakers for Sunday evening (June 8) at the Pastors' Conference will include Johnny Hunt, pastor of First Baptist Church in Woodstock, Ga.; H.B. Charles, pastor of Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Fla.; and David Platt, pastor of The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Ala. Monday morning … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer MONTES CLAROS, Brazil – In 1984, Wayne Jenkins sensed God calling him to take a team of 10 for street evangelism in Brazil. Never did he imagine 30 years later the vision would grow into one of the largest Louisiana Baptist-led partnership evangelism efforts. Today, Jenkins continues to lead a Louisiana Baptist mission team to Brazil, but on a much larger scale. “It started with a commitment that I sensed God’s leadership to do something internationally,” said Jenkins, who serves as Louisiana Baptist Convention evangelism and church growth director. “The Foreign Mission Board (now International Mission Board) asked if I would consider doing partnership evangelism. “That’s where it started,” he continued. “I thought it meant me and a few others. Now, it has grown to one of the largest international trips in Louisiana.” The team will leave for Brazil on July 18 and return on July 28. Most of the team’s work will take place in Montes Claros, a city of 450,000 in the state of Minas Gerias. While there, the team will participate in street evangelism, Vacation Bible Schools, drama, medical, dental and eye clinics, cooking demonstration classes, sports clinics, deaf work and construction of … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 05/30/2014 - 11:45 Paige Patterson By Kelly Boggs, Editor FT. WORTH, TEXAS – Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary President Paige Patterson recently acknowledged the seminary has permitted a Palestinian Muslim to enroll in the school’s Ph.D. program in archaeology. A statement concerning the student in question was posted on the seminary’s  website on May 16. Following is the entire statement: “Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary President Paige Patterson responded to recent questions regarding a Muslim student studying at the seminary. He acknowledged that a Palestinian Muslim man was allowed to enroll in the school’s Ph.D. program in archaeology. “For several years, Southwestern Seminary has operated a dig at Tel Gezer in Israel,” Patterson said. “During that time we have been joined in the effort by around 20 of our own students and about 60 students from secular schools and religious schools. We have had both Israelis and Muslims. “One of these young men from a Muslim background loved our people and asked to study with us. He accepted the necessity of abiding by our moral code of conduct. He is a man of peace, and we agreed to admit him into the archeology … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 05/30/2014 - 11:47 ON THE MOVE Justin (wife Alisha) D. Clark new as pastor of First Baptist Church, Lake Providence. REVIVAL/HOMECOMING Pisgah Baptist Church, Forest Hill: 125th Anniversary Homecoming Celebration service at 10:30 a.m. on June 29.  Dinner and fellowship will follow. Pastor: Joshua Adams. First Baptist Church, Harrisonburg: 100th Anniversary Celebration, June 28-29.  Carnival & Fireworks, June 28, beginning at 6 p.m. and a special service on June 29, 10 a.m. which includes Karen Peck & New River, followed by a fish fry.  Pastor: Cory Bruce. LAGNIAPPE Clifton Baptist Church, Franklinton: Seeking  a part-time youth minister to our teenagers. The position includes a house and other benefits in the package. Interested parties should email a resume toterryl@cliftonbaptistchurch.org or mail it to Clifton Baptist Church, ATTN:  Youth Minister Search Committee, 27312 Highway 25, Franklinton, LA 70438. Mickey Hudnall is available for supply, interim or pastorate positions. To reach Hudnall, call 318.376.0570. First Baptist Church, New Roads had a special service Sunday, June 1, to celebrate their newly renovated sanctuary. Pastor: Jason McNaughten. Randy McGee, a former … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 05/30/2014 - 11:50 By Jerry Love, LBF Communications ALEXANDRIA – Rolling clouds and angry thunderstorms threatened the area and eventually dampened the grounds, but the spirits of the golfers remained high during the Baptist Golf Fellowship held at OakWing Golf Club on May 12-13. Golfers from all over the state enthusiastically braved impending weather as they met for a good time of golf with food, trophies and prizes thrown in for good measure. The Baptist Golf Fellowship, currently sponsored by the Louisiana Baptist Foundation and the Baptist Message, is a time for pastors and laypersons to come together for a time of recreation, relaxation and light hearted competition around the game of golf. Medalist and Team play occurred on Monday afternoon.  Even though the weather shortened play for the day, enough holes were completed to declare winners.  Trophies were given for the best scores in Super Seniors (70 and above), Seniors (60-69), and Under 60 age brackets with each bracket divided into Ministers and Laymen. After the clouds cleared, the grand champion of medalist play was John Willie of Pineville. First Baptist Church of DeRidder once again took home the team trophy, edging … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 05/30/2014 - 11:56 Winners for the 2014 Spring Baptist Golf Fellowship SUPER SENIOR DIVISION (age 70 & over) Ministers Flight  Name    Score 3rd Place             Milton Wilson     116 2nd Place             Jim Phaup            89 1st Place              Harry Forester    84  Laymen Flight     3rd Place             Bill Bingham        87 2nd Place             Frederick Stephens           87 1st Place              Tony Branham    78 SENIOR DIVISION (age 60 – 69) Ministers Flight 3rd Place             Glen Bourque     89 2nd Place             Bruce Magee      85 1st Place              Billy Wood          82 Laymen 2nd Flight  3rd Place             Wayne Taylor     97 2nd Place             Clyde Pitre           97 1st Place              Jim Loewer         94 Laymen 1st Flight   3rd Place             Mack Truluck      78 2nd Place             Jerry Istre            76 1st Place              Dennis Milsap     76 Regular Division (age 59 & under) Ministers Flight 3rd Place             Jeremy Purvis     89 2nd Place             Mike Thompson 87 1st Place              Steve Masters    81 Laymen 2nd Flight 3rd Place             Mike Loewer      98 2nd … [Read more...]

ubmitted by philip on Fri, 05/30/2014 - 11:59 Medalist and Team play occurred on Monday afternoon. Even though the weather shortened play for the day, enough holes were completed to declare winners. After the clouds cleared, the … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 05/30/2014 - 12:01 Dennis Kim NASHVILLE (BP) -- Dennis Manpoong Kim, pastor of Global Mission Church of Greater Washington in Silver Spring, Md., will be nominated for president of the Southern Baptist Convention during the June 10-11 SBC annual meeting in Baltimore, Texas pastor Dwight McKissic announced yesterday (May 20). "The SBC will not have to compromise integrity, leadership, sound doctrine, CP support, missions/evangelism/discipleship commitment, or any expectation of an SBC President by electing Dr. Kim. His leadership among Maryland Baptists is significant in how he has grown a strong, vibrant ministry outside of the South and he is equipped and uniquely positioned to lead the Southern Baptist Convention in growing in areas and among cultures where we have not traditionally had a strong impact," McKissic, pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Arlington, Texas, wrote in an open letter to Southern Baptists stating his intention to nominate Kim. Kim, who has served as president of the Korean Council of Southern Baptist Churches in America, has pastored Global Mission Church for 23 years. Since March 2013, the congregation -- which has a predominantly Korean membership and is the … [Read more...]

By Tom Strode, Baptist Press WASHINGTON (BP) -- Three Southern Baptist entities have called on a federal appeals court to protect the religious liberty of the convention's health and financial benefits organization. In a friend-of-the-court brief filed May 27, GuideStone Financial Resources received support from sister entities in its challenge to the Obama administration's abortion/contraception mandate. The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC), International Mission Board (IMB), Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and SBTS President R. Albert Mohler Jr. called in the brief for the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver to uphold a lower court's preliminary injunction blocking enforcement of the requirement for the time being. GuideStone and two of the organizations that participate in its health plans filed a class-action suit against a rule issued by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that requires employers to provide for their workers drugs and devices that potentially can cause abortions. In their brief, the ERLC, IMB, SBTS and Mohler say the Bible and Southern Baptist doctrine teach it is a sin to support directly or indirectly the killing of an unborn child through abortion. "Accordingly, … [Read more...]