Submitted by philip on Fri, 12/20/2013 - 11:32 Brad Moore By Brad Moore, Financial Coach/Counselor As I have watched Fox News over the past few weeks, I have become increasingly concerned regarding the effect Obamacare might have on the average American family.  As a result, I decided to call a few insurance agent friends of mine. What I found was disturbing, especially because part of my work involves helping people budget effectively. Before Obamacare, a Blue Cross plan for my family of five would cost approximately $900. After Obamacare kicks in, however, the agent informed me that I could expect a monthly premium of anywhere from $1500-$1800. As soon as I heard this I knew that I needed to let my clients as well as other believers know that there are other possibilities, available only to the church. In 1981, the first healthcare sharing ministry, Christian Healthcare Ministries was formed. Years later, Samaritans Ministries and Medishare followed suit. A healthcare sharing ministry consists of members who share a common set of religious beliefs and share resources to pay for one another’s medical expenses in accordance with those beliefs. Currently, the total membership of the three ministries previously … [Read more...]

By Jeff Iorg, President of Golden Gate Seminary The longer a person leads, the more susceptible they are to discouragement, cynicism, and bitterness.  Frankly, losing hurts.  It’s hard when evil prevails. No matter how hard we preach, teach, and counsel – some people still make horrible choices that destroy relationships, families, and churches.  No matter how much we strategize, sinful people can undermine our best efforts. Political systems, governing authorities, and corporate practices all bear the taint of sin and sometimes seem to conspire against spiritual progress.  When these forces align, it’s tough to maintain faith. When a ministry organization loses money or people or influence because of unjust practices, it’s easy to just give up.  Why try when the deck seems stacked against us? We must maintain faith in God’s promises and strive for the best, believing that over a lifetime God’s ways produce positive results.  The only problem is, sometimes they don’t.  That admission may shock you. As a Christian leader, you might expect me to claim otherwise.  The fact is God’s people are sometimes thwarted, not just in their lifetimes but for several generations (remember 400 years of slavery in Egypt?). Spiritual forces, … [Read more...]

By Rex Butler, NOBTS Throughout the tapestry of church history countless threads of Christian suffering, persecution and martyrdom are woven. This observation should not surprise or dismay us, for Jesus himself warned his disciples about the end times: “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name…. But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matt. 24:9-10, 14 NASB). The Greek word behind “testimony” is marturion, the root word of which is martus, or “witness.” A martyr, then, is one who witnesses to his or her faith in Christ even unto death. For the past two years, various writers from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary have contributed a series of articles about Christian martyrs, both men and women, to the Baptist Message. One of the lessons learned from the stories of these heroes is that during periods of persecution the early church not only survived, but also thrived in at least three ways. First, the martyrs’ testimony spurred the growth of the church. In the words of Tertullian, “The blood of the … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer SUNSET – Lee Ray Darbonne  walked into his office during the first week as pastor of First Baptist Church, Sunset when he noticed piles of informational cards filled out by those who had visited there, some of whom had not been reached out to in years. Darbonne viewed the situation not as a discouragement but as a golden opportunity for the congregation to grow from its regular attendance of basically one family. Not long afterwards, Darbonne spent an entire day in early July calling those whose names were listed on the cards, as well as some former members who had not returned to the church in a while. Darbonne estimates the number of calls was around 70. Two and a half months later, Darbonne has seen fruit, with around 40 in attendance. That number includes seven who joined one Sunday, giving their lives to the Lord, including two mothers and their daughters – a day that still gives the bi-vocational pastor chills. “Out of the 26 who were there on that Sunday, seven joined one-by-one,” said Darbonne, who also works as Regional Director for FEED Ministries, (“Faith Employees Employment Data”) in his secular job. “People are getting excited and that excitement hasn’t … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 12/20/2013 - 11:44 Members of the State Champion Northeast Baptist Knights are (from left) T. J. Roberts, Micah Landry, Jared Trichel, Noah Landry, Logan Bass, Dustin Whitehead, Noah Navarro, Cooper Randol, Jacob Lowrey, Parker Wold, Zach Smith, Garrett Harrison, Trusten Sinkey, Chris Moody, Drew Wallace, and Angelo Battaglia. Coach Tyler Albritton was the coach. By Philip Timothy, Managing Editor WEST MONROE – Losing one’s star quarterback at any time in the season can be problematic. Losing one in a semifinal win can be demoralizing. When All-State quarterback Noah Navarro broke his tibia in two places on the first drive of the game, Northeast Baptist School in West Monroe not only lost a proven field general but the team’s top offensive playmaker. Before going down, the junior had combined for 2,709 yards in total offense – 945 yards rushing and 1,764 yards passing, 298 points, and had the Knights in the semifinals of the 8-man Association of Christian Educators of Louisiana football conference playoffs. “Losing Noah was tough,” Northeast Coach Tyler Albritton, a ULM graduate, said. “He was not only a big part of our offense, but he was a big part of our team. I really felt bad for … [Read more...]

  NEW ORLEANS – Eleven Louisiana Baptists were part of history on Dec. 14. The master’s and doctoral level students were awarded degrees as part of the largest graduating class in the history of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. During historic commencement ceremonies on the campus of the 96-year-old school, 254 students received degrees. In addition to associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees, the seminary awarded first-time graduate certificates in women’s ministry, bi-vocational ministry, church leadership, Greek studies and pastoral ministry. Three students also were the first to receive a master’s of theological studies degree. NOBTS President Chuck Kelley spoke to students about the importance of learning beyond the classroom and how they can carry the message of hope to a lost world, according to a news release from the school. Master of Arts in Christian Ministry Gerolyn McCurdy, Shreveport Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Counseling Katherine Swetledge Arnold, Walker Master of Divinity Josh Jordan, Covington Master of Divinity  with Specialization in Christian Education Ty Wells, Hammond Master of Theology Phil Weaver, Hammond Doctor of Ministry Tom Carlton, Keithville; Jeffrey L. Ingram, … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 12/20/2013 - 11:49 Steve Horn, recently elected president of the Louisiana Baptist Convention and pastor at First Baptist Lafayette, delivered the commencement speech at Louisiana College’s 155th commencement. PINEVILLE – Steve Horn, recently elected Louisiana Baptist Convention President and Pastor of First Baptist Lafayette, delivered the commencement address and 108 students received degrees at Louisiana College’s 2013 fall commencement on Dec. 14. The commencement ceremony which took place in Guinn Auditorium on the campus was the 155th at Louisiana College. The mission of LC is to provide liberal arts, professional, and graduate programs characterized by devotion to the preeminence of the Lord Jesus, allegiance to the authority of the Holy Scriptures, dedication to academic excellence for the glory of God, and commitment to change the world for Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. Among the degrees bestowed on graduates from five states and two foreign countries included 26 bachelors of arts, 12 bachelors of science, 21 bachelor of science in nursing, four masters and two associates in pastoral ministry and 49 masters of arts in teaching. Louisiana College President Joe Aguillard … [Read more...]

Just a few days before Christmas, eight Louisiana Baptists received an early gift – a degree from either Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary or Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Five from Louisiana were among the 167 who graduated from SWBTS, while three from the state were part of a graduating class of more than 150 from SEBTS. Both commencement ceremonies occurred on Dec. 13. At SWBTS, 136 students received a master’s degree, 17 earned a doctoral degree and another 16 were awarded undergraduate degrees. Louisianans earning a Master of Divinity were Patrick Coker of Calhoun, Jason Kees of Anacoco, Louis Rosenthal of Alexandria and Logan T. Williams of Baton Rouge. Receiving a PhD was Gregory E. Trickett of Shreveport. SWBTS President Paige Patterson delivered the commencement message before awarding degrees from the School of Theology, School of Church and Family Ministries, School of Church Music, School of Evangelism and Missions, the College at Southwestern and the J. Dalton Havard School for Theological Studies. Meanwhile, at SEBTS, 130 students received their master’s or doctoral degrees, and 25 students graduated with associate or bachelor’s degrees. Among those were Oakdale’s Anna Ruth McGee received a … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 12/20/2013 - 12:02 Naghmeh Abedini, testifying before a congressional subcommittee Dec. 12, tells of her family’s anguish since her husband, U.S. pastor Saeed Abedini, was imprisoned in Iran in June 2012. By Benjamin Hawkins, Baptist Press WASHINGTON (BP) –Less than two weeks before Christmas, Naghmeh Abedini testified before Congress on behalf of her husband, U.S. citizen and pastor Saeed Abedini, who has been imprisoned in Iran since last June because of his Christian faith. “My husband is suffering because he is a Christian,” Abedini said when she addressed a subcommittee hearing of the House of Representatives’ Foreign Affairs Committee on Dec. 12). “He is suffering because he is an American. Yet, his own government ... has abandoned him. Don’t we owe it to him as a nation to stand up for his human rights, for his freedom? “Not all Americans are Christians, but every American – regardless of their belief – needs to be reassured and know that our government will take decisive action to protect us if our fundamental rights are violated,” Abedini added. Although this was Naghmeh Abedini’s first time officially to testify before a panel of the House of Representatives, she already has … [Read more...]

ON THE MOVE Earnest (wife Sandra) Little new as pastor Crossroads Baptist Church, Marthaville. Mel Campbell is new as pastor at Frierson Baptist Church from Memorial Baptist Chapel, Elm Grove. Matt Robertson is new as youth minister at Culbertson Baptist Church. Hardy Yeatts is new as associate pastor from retirement at Bethany Baptist Church, Bethany. Lucas (wife Ashley) LaCour new as pastor at Alpine Baptist Church Cliff Ford, youth minister at Oil City First Baptist, receives ministry license. Wayne Dubose is new as interim pastor at Vivian Baptist Church. Jim Lancaster is new as pastor at Beech Springs Baptist Church, Quitman. Tony Dick has resigned as pastor at Trinity Baptist Church in Oak Grove and Bobby Bates is the new interim.   REVIVAL/HOMECOMING   Washington Baptist Church, Washington: Revival, Jan. 10-12, 6 p.m. on Jan. 10-11 and 11 am. on Jan. 12. Evangelist: Lyndon Longoria. Worship: Mackey Willis Family. Concord Union Baptist Association Evangelism Rally, Jan. 26, 6 p.m. Crestview Baptist Church, Farmerville. Message: Argile Smith. Concord Union Baptist Association Evangelism Rally, Feb. 9, 6 p.m. First Baptist Church, Ruston. Message: David Hankins.   LAGNIAPPE   Jeff … [Read more...]