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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Patterson: ‘I will not preach the convention sermon’

By David Roach, Baptist Press DALLAS (BP) -- Paige Patterson has withdrawn from preaching the convention sermon next week at the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Dallas. As a result of that decision, Austin, Texas, pastor Kie Bowman will deliver the meeting's keynote message. Patterson announced his decision in a June 8 email to SBC President Steve Gaines and said he also is withdrawing as chairman of the evangelism task force appointed by Gaines a year ago in response to a vote of the convention in Phoenix. Patterson was terminated May 30 from his employment at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he had served as president since 2003. The previous week, the seminary's trustees moved him to president emeritus status on the same day allegations surfaced that he mishandled a sexual assault report during his 1992-2003 presidency of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Since late April, Patterson also has been under fire for statements he made in the past about domestic violence and women's physical appearance. "I will not preach the convention sermon as I was invited to do by the 2017 Committee on Order of Business and SBC messengers," Patterson wrote. That decision and his withdrawal as … [Read more...]

Churches must abandon 600MHz wireless sound systems

By Diana Chandler, Baptist Press WASHINGTON (BP) -- Churches that haven't updated their wireless sound system may have trouble being heard on any given Sunday, as the federal government is phasing out the 600MHz frequencies many congregations use. The Federal Communications Commission will complete the transition of the 617-652 MHz and 663-698 MHz spectrum bands from wireless microphones and television broadcasts by July 13, 2020, but the transition began in 2017. The frequencies are being transitioned to wireless communicators such as cellphone companies to meet industry demand, and will become unavailable for use by wireless mic systems by the 2020 deadline or earlier, according to the FCC. Violators could face fines or additional criminal penalties, the FCC reported. T-Mobile bought 45 percent of the available 600MHz spectrum during a 2017 auction when the transition began, the company announced, with a purchase price of $7.99 billion. Churches that haven't updated their wireless sound systems in recent years are more vulnerable to sound system failure, LifeWay Christian Resources' Mike Harland told Baptist Press. "Where it would impact churches is if they have wireless equipment that may be a few years … [Read more...]

Is America anti-semitic?

By Michael Foust, Christian Examiner NEW YORK (Christian Examiner) – Would you have risked the lives of yourself and your family during World War II to hide Jews from the Nazis? Although a majority of Americans say they would, a third say they would not, according to a new Barna survey that coincides with the DVD and digital release of "Return To The Hiding Place." That film is based on a true story and recounts the heroic efforts of the college students and young adults who helped Corrie ten Boom, a Christian woman in Holland, hide Jews after Hitler invaded the Netherlands. Thirty-one percent of Americans said they would not while 69 percent said they would. To read the rest of the article, click here. … [Read more...]