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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

State conventions, SBC entities facing pandemic-induced cuts

By Margaret Colson USED BY PERMISSION OF THE ALABAMA BAPTIST Numerous Southern Baptist entities, including state conventions, seminaries and national entities and auxiliaries, are implementing budget and staff reductions in response to the economic downturn resulting from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. State conventions were among the first entities to take significant budgetary action during the pandemic. While approaches have been varied, the focus of reducing expenses has been the common factor among state conventions, including the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions and other contiguous state conventions. GEORGIA BAPTIST MISSION BOARD Thomas Hammond Jr., executive director of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, chose what he labeled a “proactive” approach to decision-making when he announced a 43% reduction in mission board expenses, effective April 9. Hammond, in an exclusive interview with The Alabama Baptist, said that, just as the pandemic was beginning to ramp up in Georgia, he called approximately 50 Georgia Baptist pastors to discuss anticipated church-giving patterns. The pastors represented churches of all sizes in varied settings. While some pastors reported giving had increased, many other … [Read more...]

Post-COVID ministry spotlighted by associational leaders

By David Roach USED BY PERMISSION OF THE ALABAMA BAPTIST MCDONOUGH, Ga. (TAB) — As churches seek to navigate the coronavirus pandemic, polling data suggests they are turning to their local Baptist associations for assistance more than any other group. So the Southern Baptist Conference of Associational Leaders (SBCAL) focused its first ever virtual conference on helping churches emerge from COVID-19. Twenty-one percent of Southern Baptist congregations say their association is providing them more help during the pandemic than any other individual or group, according to polling by Gloo, a technology organization partnering with the Barna Group to study churches amid COVID-19. That was the poll’s top response, ahead of the Southern Baptist Convention (18%) and state and local government officials (17%). Conference speakers at the April 30 SBCAL webinar asked associational leaders to consider how they can maintain that degree of influence as the crisis subsides. The pandemic presents Christian leaders with an unprecedented “degree of freedom” to “really inspect your mission and your strategy in this moment,” Brad Hill, Gloo’s head of network and partnership strategy, told the 285 associational leaders in attendance. “It’s … [Read more...]

National Day of Prayer continues, despite COVID-19 world crisis

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM)--The 2020 National Day of Prayer looked different than in previous years with fewer in-person gatherings on Thursday, but the messages of repentance and calls for spiritual renewal remained the same. While most people chose to participate through virtual events, some communities in the state hosted outdoor prayer meetings. Gov. John Bel Edwards on May 1 issued a proclamation allowing outdoor religious events to take place with adherence to social distancing measures. “So far as I can remember this was the first time in over 20 years that I did not participate in person with some kind of gathering on the National Day of Prayer,” Louisiana Baptists Executive Director Steve Horn told the Baptist Message. “However, I was pleased to prepare a 10-minute video challenge for Highland Baptist, in New Iberia, to replace being with them in person as I was scheduled to be. I also participated in online prayer meetings with a group of alumni and friends of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in the morning; the SBC prayer call in the afternoon; and, with my wife, Linett, in an evening prayer meeting sponsored by pray.com. “Though we had to limit our gatherings, I … [Read more...]

NOBTS: ‘God will use this time,’ seminary brothers say

By Marilyn Stewart, NOBTS communications NEW ORLEANS, La. - For Joe and Graham Waller - brothers as well as New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary students - moving to online classes during the stay-at-home mandate is bringing adjustments and lessons. Graham, blind since childhood, continues with his Leavell College classes online, listening to lectures in two classes and logging in for voice lessons via social media. Joe, a doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) student in theology, sees advantages in the all-online format such as a sense of togetherness in classroom discussion now that everyone is online rather than a few joining as distance-learners. Both know the times are filled with uncertainty. For Graham, the isolation brings some loneliness. He misses interacting with others on campus and at his volunteer job at New Orleans' WWII Museum, a favorite pastime that fits with his love of history. For Joe, his on campus job is "on hold." Still, Joe and Graham believe God is at work. "My mom is always saying, 'God doesn't waste anything,'" Graham said. "He's going to use this somehow." Author of the book of poetry "As I Learn to Walk," Joe penned the poem "At The End" weeks before the outbreak, a reminder to … [Read more...]