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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

COOB crafts schedule to address SBC controversies

By Message staff ANAHEIM, California (LBM) – Messengers at the 2022 Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting will tackle a long list of convention business June 14-15 in Anaheim, California. Steven Bates, chairman of the committee on order of business and a member of First Baptist, Winnfield, told the Message that messengers should be mindful that only 20 minutes are allotted for the introduction of motions according to the agenda. This year, though, following the report of the Sexual Abuse Task Force (Tuesday at 1:45 p.m.) presented by Bruce Frank, a member of Biltmore Baptist Church, Arden, North Carolina and the task force chairman, there could be a marked increase in discussion as well as additional motions being introduced. Bates’ committee has set aside an hour for the report and discussion. ”I don’t know how much discussion there will be,” said Bates. “Our committee in drafting the agenda has set aside an hour for the report and any discussion. If that is not ample time, then someone must make a motion to get additional time and the agenda can be modified. The problem is we have so many things that must be dealt with that this could push things back some.” The 288-page report -- that can be found on … [Read more...]

LBC’s Horn comments about SBC SATF report

By Steve Horn ALEXANDRIA, La. - I, like many of you, read the report from Guidepost and experienced an array of emotions. We must do better. We must be better. Those affected by sexual abuse deserve better and certainly, our devotion to our Lord demands better. As promised during our Annual Meeting last November, we will seek to listen to, and support, those  who have suffered abuse. In addition, we will be proactive in implementing strategies that endeavor to eliminate all incidents of sexual abuse among our churches. During our May Executive Board meeting, I updated our trustees on what’s been done since our November gathering. We will continue to review the report from the SATF and discern what recommendations can and should be adopted among our convention of churches. I urge Louisiana Baptists to pray this moment brings us to a place of acknowledgment of sin which leads to repentance that makes way for the fruit of repentance. For about a year now, we have been calling people to introspection, consecration, intercession, and decision through the personal revival guide, Change Me. Today, more than ever, we need to be praying, “Search me, God, and know my heart; test and know my concerns. See if there is any … [Read more...]

Rolling Hills opens coffee shop, bookstore

By Message staff RUSTON, La. (LBM) – Rolling Hills Ministries has opened a bookstore and coffee shop. Located eight miles south of its main office in Ruston, the facility has more than 20,000 books for sale and offers fresh ground coffee, espressos, lattes, fresh baked snacks, smoothies and more that can be enjoyed in the store or underneath a porch. Ministry Director John Cowling said the bookstore and coffee shop is the culmination of 17 weeks of Rolling Hills staff and local volunteers working more than 4,000 hours to accomplish a vision that God gave the ministry more than a year ago. The coffee shop and bookstore are funded through donations and sales from its thrift store. “God has blessed us through the generous donations of the people in our community and we are so excited to be able to be good stewards of these gifts and provide a welcoming environment for the community to come together and know that God loves them through the new opportunities this facility will give us,” Cowling said. The bookstore and coffee shop, located at 1103 Farmerville Hwy. in Ruston, is open 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday to Friday and 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday. … [Read more...]