Submitted by philip on Thu, 03/13/2014 - 14:10 Russell D. Moore, ERLC president, posted on Instagram this picture of the crowd gathered Wednesday (Jan. 22) at the March for Life rally in Washington. By Tom Strode, Baptist Press WASHINGTON (BP) -- The survival and growth of the pro-life movement are remarkable, some of its leaders said as the United States reached the 41st anniversary of the Supreme Court's legalization of abortion nationwide. Right-to-life advocates applauded their movement's continuing response to Roe v. Wade, the Jan. 22, 1973 decision that struck down all state bans on abortion. "Forty-one years ago, if you had asked someone, 'What will the pro-life movement look like in the year 2014?,' they probably would have replied back, 'Are you kidding? There won't be a pro-life movement in 2014,'" said Russell D. Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC), in a statement for Baptist Press. "And yet, today I watched thousands of people march down the streets of our nation's capital to protest laws that dehumanize and destroy living human persons," said Moore, who participated in Wednesday's March for Life, which is the centerpiece of pro-life activity each … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Thu, 03/13/2014 - 14:12 Debby Akerman, president of national WMU, issues a challenge to "raise the bar" for missions involvement in her address during WMU’s board meeting at Shocco Springs Conference Center in Alabama. By Julie Walters, WMU Communications BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Raising the bar of missions involvement was the challenge woven throughout national WMU's board meeting at Shocco Springs Conference Center in Talladega, Ala. National WMU President Debby Akerman said in her address, "With Jesus' words in Mark 8:34, 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me,' the bar was raised for those following Jesus." "For the disciples He had called, as well as those who were the unnamed, not yet committed faces in the crowd, Jesus raised the bar of discipleship to a level that would now require wholehearted surrender, sacrifice and service," Akerman told state WMU executive directors and staff, state WMU presidents, and national WMU staff. "A level that would connect the Great Commandment to love God with all your heart, soul and mind and your neighbor as yourself, to the Great Commission, to go into all the world to teach all nations," she said … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Thu, 03/13/2014 - 14:14 Frank Page, president of the Southern Baptist Convention's Executive Committee, speaks during a chapel service at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. By Frank McCormick, NOBTS Communications NEW ORLEANS (BP) -- Frank Page, speaking at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, cited "seismic pressures" within the Southern Baptist Convention that must be overcome for the advancement of the Great Commission. Page, president of the Southern Baptist Convention's Executive Committee, was on the seminary campus in early February for a trio of appearances to engage and encourage students and ministers. In a segment of the online interview series "Conversations," Page spoke about the state of the SBC and acknowledged some challenges. "Last year I worked real hard with Calvinist and non-Calvinist leaders. I think some of that pressure was relieved, because godly men and women from both sides of that issue said, 'We have got to start talking to each other and not at each other,'" Page said. "That's very positive, but the reality is we still have pressure points." Page said other pressure points include issues like "How do we do church in the 21st century?" and "How do we … [Read more...]

y Laura Landry, Baptist Press NEW ORLEANS (BP) -- Women who desire to reach other women with the Gospel must know the truth, teach the truth and live the truth, speakers at the Women's Leadership Consultation said. The conference rotates between the six Southern Baptist seminaries, and this year it was hosted by New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. "The purpose of the consultation is to provide inspiration and training for women in leadership positions in local churches," coordinator Rhonda Kelley, adjunct professor of women's ministry at NOBTS, said. "It is exciting to see so many women called by God to minister to other women. God is at work in the lives of these women who are committed to the truth of His Word," Kelley said. The theme of this year's conference, "TRUTH: Hang Life on It," unified the messages of three keynote speakers as they addressed women leaders from the greater New Orleans area and other states. Lisa Pierre of Houston led the women in worship throughout the conference along with NOBTS students Jennifer Hoover, Joy Pigg, Stephanie Brutlag and Lauren Waggoner. The consultation Feb. 6-8 kicked off with a worship rally, which drew more than 300 women, including 50 from Women at the Well, a women's … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Tue, 03/18/2014 - 15:41 Former LC Vice President Chuck Quarles By Kelly Boggs, Editor ALEXANDRIA – Alexandria’s daily newspaper has made public a recording, released to it by former Louisiana College Vice President for Integration of Faith and Learning and Dean of LC’s Caskey School of Divinity Charles L. “Chuck” Quarles, revealing apparent contradictions by Louisiana College President Joe Aguillard. The 3 minute and 18 second recording, which was secretly recorded by Quarles, was placed on The Town Talk’s website on March 8. The voices heard on the recording are of Quarles, who was Dean of Caskey at the time, Aguillard and the school’s CFO Randall Hargis. The date for the recording, according to The Town Talk, was in late May or early June of 2012. No date was indicated on the recording the newspaper made available on its website and the Baptist Message was unable to verify a time frame. The Town Talk headline for the report was: “Tapes appear to contradict Louisiana College Aguillard’s claims on Tanzania.” The recording by itself is not all that revealing. However, when comments made during the recording are juxtaposed with statements made on other occasions it raises questions and, like … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Tue, 03/18/2014 - 15:44 Michael Johnson, Senior Vice President, Chief of Staff at SACS By Kelly Boggs, Editor PINEVILLE – After enduring two years on warning status, Louisiana College had its accreditation reaffirmed by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) this past December. However, the accrediting agency recently indicated it will open a new ‘investigation’ on the school, according to a report by Alexandria’s daily newspaper, The Town Talk. While there is no reference to an investigation into LC on the SACS website, the Baptist Message contacted Michael Johnson, senior vice-president and chief of staff at SACS, to confirm the reality of an investigation. “It is standard policy for us to look into unsolicited information we receive about member institutions.  Recent articles would fall into that category,” Johnson said in an email response to the Message. The “recent articles” referenced by Johnson seem to be allegations that recently surfaced that LC officials had submitted documents to the educational accreditation agency that contained forged signatures and other inconsistencies. The submissions were alleged to occur during 2011-2012 while the school was on warning … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Tue, 03/18/2014 - 15:46 Former LC Vice President Tim Johnson By Kelly Boggs, Editor PINEVILLE – A lawsuit filed by Timothy L. “Tim” Johnson claims Louisiana College President Joe Aguillard retaliated against the former LC executive vice-president because he filed a whistle-blower complaint against the president. The suit, which was filed on March 11 in the 9th District Court in Alexandria, names Aguillard and LC as defendants. In his lawsuit, Johnson says he filed a whistle-blower complaint, per LC’s policies, against Aguillard “On or about Dec. 9, 2012.” The complaint, according to the suit, was due to the LC president’s failure to meet the college’s expectations of “high standards of business and personal ethics.” The lawsuit indicates that in Johnson’s complaint, in which he alleged, that on Dec. 2, 2012, Aguillard mislead the LC Board of Trustees concerning a pledge from the Cason Foundation for construction of a building on the Pineville campus which was to be shared by the Caskey School of Divinity and a proposed law school. Johnson’s lawsuit claims the LC president had received a letter from the Cason Foundation on Oct. 12, 2012, “specifically stating that they were not going to … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 03/21/2014 - 09:36 Dr. Gerrit Dawson of Baton Rouge proclaims the Aaronic blessing on the crowd of 1,100 to close the 50th annual Louisiana Governor’s Prayer Breakfast. By Mark H. Hunter, Regional Reporter BATON ROUGE – Former presidential contender and Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee left politics aside and instead preached a sermon about prayer and heaven to more than 1,100 people packed into the Crowne Plaza Hotel’s Premier Ballroom for the 50th Annual Louisiana Governor’s Prayer Breakfast on March 12. The breakfast’s theme was, “Prayer, the place to begin…” a topic Huckabee, also a Southern Baptist pastor and FOX news commentator, said he appreciated. “Prayer is often that thing we turn to only after everything else we’ve tried has ultimately failed,” Huckabee said. “Why is it we go to God last instead of first?” “I’m not here today to be political,” Huckabee admitted, then expertly mixed evangelical theology with his dry humor throughout a half-hour sermon. Someone asked him, he said, “Are you one of those narrow-minded Baptists who think only the Baptists go to Heaven?” and he said, “Goodness no, I’m more narrow than that - I don’t think all the Baptists are going to make it to … [Read more...]

By Kelly Boggs, Editor About this time a year ago Louisiana College was mired in controversy and nothing has changed today. In the words of Yogi Berra, the famed New York Yankee, “Its déjà vu all over again.” After the public release of leaked documents from confidential trustee meetings, secretly taped conversations, lawsuits and legal drafts, LC and its president, Joe Aguillard, are once again in the eye of a hurricane of controversy. The Town Talk, Alexandria’s local newspaper, has been at the forefront of the reporting on recent revelations concerning LC. The Baptist Message has sought to keep pace so Louisiana Baptists could be informed on the issues. As in the past, the Baptist Message has tried our best to only report on what was known to be fact. One of my favorite movies is “A Few Good Men.” The film in which two young Marines are accused of murder when a hazing incident goes wrong and a member of their platoon dies. Daniel Kaffee, a young naval officer with a penchant for plea bargining, is assigned to defend them. Early in the movie, Lieutenant Kaffee, played by Tom Cruise, wonders if he should bother to defend the pair.  “Do you believe they have a defense?” Lieutenant Commander JoAnne Galloway, portrayed by Demi … [Read more...]

By Chad Mills, Pastor at Airline Baptist Church, Bossier City As I write this my favorite football team, the Dallas Cowboys, has announced it has released a great defensive player named DeMarcus Ware.  The owner of the team said it was in the best interest of both the player and the team. Sometimes it is in the best interest of teams to part ways with athletes, employees to part ways with employers and even ministers to leave churches.  Those are tough decisions that require much prayer. I have watched from a distance the controversy taking place within the Louisiana Baptist Convention.  I now feel compelled by love, and by Christ, to offer what I hope will be viewed as a voice of reason. I do not have an agenda or a vendetta.  I don’t have an axe to grind, or as they say in the country,” I don’t have a dog in this hunt.”  I recognize by voicing my opinion I may be dismissed by both “sides” of the current controversy. However, I do not believe I can remain silent any longer.  I want what is best for the cause of Jesus Christ, our Baptist image, and for Louisiana College. What are lost people reading in the newspapers about Louisiana College these days?  Not record enrollments or academic achievements, instead they read about … [Read more...]