By Staff, Baptist Message PINEVILLE – The Third Circuit Court of Appeal ruled on Nov. 6 to uphold an earlier decision by Judge Mary Lauve Doggett of the Ninth Judicial Court to dismiss a lawsuit against Louisiana College. The suit was originally filed eight years ago. Third Circuit Judge James T. Genovese affirmed the legal rational and jurisprudence whereby Judge Doggett had arrived at her decision which ruled in favor of LC’s right to determine the content of its faith and curriculum. Judge Doggett’s original ruling to dismiss a lawsuit brought by four former LC professors was issued on March 27, 2012. Carlton L. Winbery, Fredrick L. Downing, James R. Heath and Connie R. Douglas sued the college in Dec. 2005 alleging loss of academic freedom and infliction of emotional distress. Judge Doggett wrote in her March ruling: “Under the establishment Clause, the consideration is whether the issues which the Court will have to resolve will necessarily turn upon competing interpretations of religion, thus resulting in the Court becoming entangled in an ecclesiastical dispute.” The judge continued, “The ‘Entanglement Doctrine’ provides that a court must decline jurisdiction over a lawsuit when the dispute is so intertwined with … [Read more...]

By Staff, World News Magazine ATLANTA, Ga. – Abortions are on the decline in the United States, though numbers remain shockingly high in New York City, according to a CDC report released over Thanksgiving. The study used voluntary data from 44 states, New York City, and the District of Columbia. The states not included in the study didn’t provide data for each of the ten years. From 2001 to 2010, the number of reported legal abortions in the United States fell by 9 percent. The number of teenagers getting abortions dropped most significantly, probably due in part to the overall drop in teenage pregnancies. For that 10-year period, the abortion rate among teenagers fell about 30 percent. The number of abortions in New York City alone remains incredibly high: 83,750 in 2010. That amounts to 694 abortions for every 1,000 live births. No other jurisdiction approaches that high of an abortion ratio. Other city health reports have shown that almost 40 percent of pregnancies in New York end in abortion. Most shocking in the CDC’s New York numbers: 82 percent of abortions in the city were performed on African-American or Hispanic women. The authors noted that the CDC numbers, because they are voluntary, significantly underreport … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer A group of Southern Baptist pastors have formed a ministry fellowship they view as an alternative to Calvinist-leaning groups. Launched this past summer, Connect316 is a group of like-minded believers committed to promoting the doctrines and principles of the Hobbs-Rogers theological tradition. “E.Y. Mullins, Herschel Hobbs and Adrian Rogers were the three pastor-theologians who served as chairmen of the committees which created or revised the Baptist Faith and Message in 1925, 1963, and 2000,” wrote Malcom Yarnell in an article that appeared in a 2006 issue of SBC Life. Yarnell, Chair of Systematic Theology at Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, continued, “All three of these founding Confessors held views contrary to classical Calvinism.” “Mullins objected to the errors of Calvinists, whose doctrines are based on a ‘false premise’ about God’s character, leading them to proceed ‘by a rigid logic to their false conclusions.’ Mullins concluded, ‘God elects men to respond freely,’ Yarnell wrote. “Hobbs decried the ‘error that election relates to certain individuals, with some destined to salvation and others to damnation.’ Rogers, a well-known opponent of ‘wine and cheese’ … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message ON THE MOVE Brian Gunter is new as pastor at First Baptist Church Pollock. Tyler (wife Allison) Saucier new as pastor at Erwinville Baptist Church, Erwinville. Thomas Aaron Chapman has been ordained to the gospel ministry at Red Oak Baptist Church, Livingston. David Gray new as student minister at First Baptist Church, Haynesville. Stephen Morgan has resigned as minister of youth at Riverside Baptist Church, Denham Springs. Tim (wife Shera) Dye new as pastor from laity at Central Baptist Church, Bossier City. Kenneth Nutt has retired after 58 years of service and was honored on Nov. 24 with a luncheon and a plaque after the worship service Harold (wife Lori) Ashcraft is new as associate pastor/music at Kingston Road Baptist Church, Shreveport. Christopher Paul Lee ordained to the gospel ministry at Ebenezer Baptist Church, Jonesboro. Kevin (wife Kristen) Smith new as interim Pastor at Northwoods Baptist Church, Shreveport   LAGNIAPPE   Mooringsport Baptist Church: Voices of Glory will present “A Branson Christmas” in Mooringsport Dec. 22, 10:30 a.m. Satsuma Baptist Church, Livingston:  “Emmanuel, Celebrating Heaven’s Child” will be presented by the Adult Choir on Dec 22, 6 p.m., … [Read more...]

By David Roach, Baptist Press ATLANTA (BP) – Building from a prayer gathering of senior pastors this fall, a group of Southern Baptist pastors is inviting pastors, other ministers and ministry students to participate in a two-day prayer meeting in Atlanta Jan. 13-14. Labeled “A Call to Pray for Revival and Awakening,” the gathering “is time for us to pray in an extraordinary way, to seek the God of heaven to revive His church and awaken our nation,” Ronnie Floyd, senior pastor of Cross Church in northwest Arkansas, said in a written statement to Baptist Press. Floyd, a primary organizer of a 42-member invitation team, announced the gathering on the meeting’s website, www.praying-pastors.com. Information about the gathering at the Westin Atlanta Airport Hotel also is being disseminated via Twitter using the hashtag #prayingpastors. Each member of the invitation team has committed to attend the event in its entirety, Floyd said on the website. “We had a fabulous response to our Dallas prayer gathering,” he said. “We did not have any plans to do another gathering but wanted only what God wanted. There was a real desire to do something again [and] many who were not able to attend Dallas. “Additionally, there was a cry for it to … [Read more...]

By Staff, Evangeline Baptist Association BROUSSARD – Church Acadiana was launched in a living room in June of 2005 by Andy and Lydia Manning with the prayer and support of the Evangeline Baptist Association and the North American Mission Board. Today, over fifty people gather weekly for worship at Celebrity Theatres in Broussard. And meeting in a movie theatre has its advantages. Two Sundays a year (every April and October), area charities utilize the theatre for their events, attracting hundreds of people. And Church Acadiana takes advantage of the crowds. “We invite all of our members to show up early on those days,” Manning said.  “Wearing matching t-shirts, we give out free refreshments and pass out flyers inviting people to church.  Instead of viewing these events as disturbances, we sensed God telling us that these events were His way of helping us invite the community to church.” Church Acadiana is focused on reaching the lost at any cost. In 2011, the church was experiencing some financial setbacks, even with Manning working bi-vocationally. It was during this time of shortage that God gave the church an impossible vision – raise an additional $8,000 and put on a big day for Easter 2012. “It was a crazy idea that … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 12/20/2013 - 11:11 Fred Luter, pastor of Franklin Ave. Baptist Church in New Orleans and President of the Southern Baptist Convention, was the featured speaker at a recent Louisiana Life March in Baton Rouge. At last year’s March, more than 3,500 pro-life supporters marched five blocks from the Old State Capitol to the current Capitol to show support for life issues. By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer Louisiana Baptists and other pro-life supporters throughout the state will have an opportunity to stand up for the unborn during one of two Louisiana Life Marches later this month. Scheduled for Jan. 18 in Baton Rouge and Jan. 25 in the Shreveport/Bossier City area, the Louisiana Life March is a chance for various denominations and groups to march together across several blocks and pray to declare their opposition to the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion in 1973. The theme for the third-annual Louisiana Life March North in Shreveport/Bossier City is “4,003 Lives Too Many” while the theme for Louisiana Life March South in Baton Rouge is “Adoption: The Power of Possibility.” In addition to an hour-long march, the event also includes nationally-known speakers … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 12/20/2013 - 11:19 Don Wilton, pastor of First Baptist Church in Spartanburg, S.C. By Philip Timothy, Managing Editor He has spent his life investing in others so that they may know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Don Wilton, senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Spartanburg, S.C., will describe what it takes to invest in someone’s life at this year’s Evangelism Conference on Jan. 27-28 at Istrouma Baptist Church in Baton Rouge. In addition to Wilton, other speakers at the Conference include Fred Luter, president of the Southern Baptist Convention and pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist in New Orleans; Burl Cain, warden of Angola State Penitentiary; David Hankins, executive director of the Louisiana Baptist Convention; Fred Lowery, retired pastor of First Baptist Bossier City; Tony Nolan, president of TNT Ministries in Canton, Ga.; former Southern Baptist Convention President Johnny Hunt, Pastor of First Baptist Church in Woodstock, Ga. and Brad Bennett, president and founder of Real Encounter Outreach. “Don is no stranger to Louisiana,” Louisiana Baptist Convention Evangelism Director Wayne Jenkins said, “having taught evangelism at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 12/20/2013 - 11:15 Brad Bennett, president and founder of Real Encounter Outreach, his primary passion in life is sharing the life changing message of Jesus Christ. Bennett also has always had a passion for motorcycles. He will be one of the speakers at this year's Evangelism Conference in Baton Rouge. By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer SPRINGFIELD, Mo. –For Brad Bennett, president and founder of Real Encounter Outreach, his primary passion in life is sharing the life changing message of Jesus Christ. Bennett also has always had a passion for motorcycles. Fortunately for Bennett, he is able to use the two together, performing action sport stunt shows to see as many as 5,000 people accept Christ as their personal Lord and Savior every year. “It’s hard to explain the feeling and impact you have from that,” Bennett said. “It’s an honor and real privilege to be a part of what God does in that way.” Bennett, who is a former professional motocross racer, almost never picked up his bike again after answering the call as a student pastor. However, a vision from God to use his gift as an evangelist and motorcycle rider changed his direction four years later. “I was sensing God was telling … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 12/20/2013 - 11:23 Pastor Bob Braly of Morrow Baptist Church speaks with Roy O. Martin employee Roger Christian. Braly is one of six chaplains that Roy O. Martin Lumber Company in Alexandria make available to its employees in its four locations through a Dallas-based company, Marketplace Chaplains. By Rachel Ortego, Regional Reporter ALEXANDRIA—When Pastor Bob Braly of Morrow Baptist Church “shods his feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace” for his part-time job, he also dons size 12DD steel-toed boots, a neon orange safety vest and a hard hat. Braly is a one of six chaplains that Roy O. Martin Lumber Company in Alexandria makes available to employees in its four locations through a Dallas-based company, Marketplace Chaplains. On his weekly rounds at Roy O. Martin’s MARTCO OSB processing plant in Oakdale in late August, Braly was touching base with employees – providing a listening ear, a cheerful word or comfort to those who needed it.  He feels this ministry/job has a positive and far-reaching impact on employees and their families. “People crave personal connection,” Braly said, “but they are not used to it. There are some people who really don’t think anyone cares about … [Read more...]