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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Seven salvations, 40,000 meals served highlight first week of LBDR Ian response

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer NAPLES, Florida (LBM) – John Broussard had assessed a house severely damaged by Hurricane Ian when the homeowner asked a simple, yet life-changing question, Oct. 6. “He wanted to know why we were doing this, and I said because we are his neighbor,” said Broussard, a Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief chaplain/assessor from Live Oak Baptist Church, Watson. “I said God sent us here to help our neighbor and that Jesus loves him and wants to come into his life. We prayed with him there as he accepted Christ.” Broussard said throughout the week he witnessed numerous “God moments” that energized the team members and reminded them Christ is at work amid the destruction: --After one homeowner refused help because he thought DR workers were operating a “scam,” team members assessed another home, which planted a Gospel seed for that homeowner to make a decision for Christ; --Two volunteers from the community were moved to tears after Broussard prayed with them about a pressing personal matter in their lives; and --Team members were an answer to prayer for homeowners when they showed up unannounced with badly-needed ice and a cooler. “I prayed before we came that our team … [Read more...]

LBC messengers to consider five resolutions

RESOLUTION 1: ON THANKING GOD FOR THE SUPREME COURT’S PRO-LIFE RULING IN DOBBS V. JACKSON WHEREAS, Scripture reveals that all human life is created in the image of God, and therefore sacred to our Creator (Genesis 1:27; 9:6); and WHEREAS, The Bible affirms that the preborn child is a person, bearing the image of God, from the moment of conception (Psalm 139:13–16; Luke 1:44); and WHEREAS, Louisiana Baptists have historically recognized the sanctity of life in the womb and repeatedly reaffirmed our pro-life ethic, our opposition to the heinous act of abortion, our support for abortion-vulnerable women as well as our commitment to the sanctity of marriage and the health and growth of families; and WHEREAS, Louisiana Baptists have prayerfully sought God’s favor in moving the nation’s highest court to affirm the truth that life begins at conception and that the preborn are worthy of dignity and protection; and WHEREAS, The United States Supreme Court ruled in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization to overturn its harmful decisions in Roe v. Wade (1973) and Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992); which, combined, led to more than 63,000,000 preborn lives lost during the past 49 years; and WHEREAS, The Louisiana … [Read more...]

Key documents filed in McRaney v. NAMB

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor AMORY, Miss. (LBM) – A trio of experts have provided written testimony in McRaney v. NAMB, a lawsuit which claims the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention wrongfully influenced the termination of Will McRaney as executive director of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware. The three documents were filed in response to NAMB’s request that the federal court hearing the case “enter partial summary judgement in its favor,” and together addressed NAMB's claim to be a “supporting organization” of the BCMD (a specific IRS designation) and NAMB's assertion of First Amendment rights in the matter (based on a claimed hierarchical relationship between NAMB and the BCMD). -- Charles R. Lindsay, a Mississippi CPA with 39 years of experience, including leadership with state and national CPA professional organizations, rejected NAMB’s claim to be a “supporting organization” for the state convention, citing, in part, NAMB’s failure to meet IRS requirements for such status, although he conceded that “minimum, relevant information” from NAMB was needed “to make a definite determination.” -- D.C. Sharp, Ph.D., managing director of Econ One Research, an … [Read more...]

McLaurin responds to questions about pro-gay controversies

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Willie McLaurin, interim president and CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee, spoke to the Louisiana Baptist Convention staff, Sept. 28, in the state missions building, Alexandria, the day after presenting a message to the LBC Executive Board during its fall meeting at Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center, Forest Hill. During a break, McLaurin agreed to speak to the Baptist Message, responding to questions about two issues that have generated extended discussion among Louisiana Baptists. The Baptist Message asked for clarification about why the SBC EC extended the contract of the pro-gay law firm to handle the Department of Justice investigation about the SBC EC’s handling of sexual abuse accusations, and what remedies the SBC EC would seek for the pro-gay Guidepost Solutions report which has been shown to have high-profile errors despite costing at least $2.1 million. About extending the Bradley law firm contract: Was there any consideration to asking long-time SBC lawyer Jim Guenther for a recommendation; or to reaching out to Southern Baptist lawyers … rather than continuing with the Bradley law firm, which holds positions … [Read more...]

Messengers to vote on broader definition of ‘cooperating church’

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer WOODWORTH, La. (LBM) – Executive Board members adopted a proposed amendment to the Louisiana Baptist Convention Articles of Incorporation, Sept. 27, that allows a church to contribute solely to state causes and still be defined as a church in cooperation with the LBC. Previously a church was required to support Southern Baptist causes in order to be in friendly cooperation with the LBC. In his report, Louisiana Baptist Executive Director Steve Horn told the Board that 26 of about 1,600 Louisiana Baptist congregations have in[1]structed that their cooperative missions and minis[1]tries contributions must be used only in the state with none of their gifts to be forwarded to the Southern Baptist Convention. The moves by the 26 Louisiana Baptist churches adds to a growing trend among state Baptist convention congregations: -- Earlier this year, the Missouri Baptist Convention adopted a “Plan B” which allows churches to withhold funds from selected SBC entities without withdrawing from CP support altogether, according to the Missouri Baptist Convention’s newspaper, The Pathway. About 217 congregations were choosing to withhold funds from the SBC as late as Aug. 2. -- … [Read more...]

Entity reports offer good news to Louisiana Baptists

By Brian Blackwell Message staff writer WOODWORTH, La. (LBM) – During a Sept. 27 meeting, Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board members approved the 2023 Cooperative Program giving plan and were updated on the ongoing work by the Convention’s four entities. BUDGET APPROVAL Board members approved the business and finance committee’s 2023 financial plan based on Cooperative Program contributions of $17,578,009, a decrease of $48,127, or 0.27 percent. Cooperative Program projections are based on actual receipts from August 2021 through July 2022. The allocation formula for distributing CP gifts between the Southern Baptist Convention and Louisiana Baptist causes remains unchanged, 63.26 percent to support ministries in the state and 36.74 percent forwarded to fund national entities. The budget will be presented to messengers for approval during the 2022 LBC Annual Meeting, Nov. 15, in the facilities of the Calvary Baptist Church, Alexandria. ENTITY REPORTS Louisiana Baptist Foundation President Jeff Steed said in the last 12 months more than $2.2 million in special gifts have been established that benefit churches and other ministries, and that the Foundation’s short-term fund during that same timeframe … [Read more...]