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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Operation Christmas Child Collection Week, Nov. 14-21

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptists soon will have the opportunity, through Operation Christmas Child, to share the ultimate gift to children in other countries without ever leaving the state. Formed in 1993 by Samaritan’s Purse, the effort allows churches and individuals to bring gift-filled shoeboxes to relay stations across the country that are then processed and shipped to local partners around the world with a means of reaching out to children in their communities with the good news of Jesus Christ. National Collection Week is Nov. 14-21. Though simple, gifts such as small toys, hygiene items and school supplies bring a smile to children who may be affected by war, poverty, natural disaster, famine, and disease. OCC regional spokesperson Mary Deen, also a member of Journey Church, Pineville, told the Baptist Message the effort provides an opportunity for Christ followers to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to children who may not receive any other gift. “What captivated me when I filled my first box in 1993 was how this allows you to be a missionary in a box,” Deen said. “I can’t go over there and give gifts to children, but I can send a box … [Read more...]

Tippit: Take the prayer challenge!

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer SAN ANTONIO (LBM) – Evangelist Sammy Tippit has issued a prayer challenge based on the Model Prayer that he hopes will spark revival within the hearts of Louisiana Baptists – and it is interactive. The challenge features 13 dramatic monologue videos based on 13 biblical truths in the Model Prayer (Matthew 6:5-15), Tippit said, adding that there is no better example than Jesus’ about how to pray. Participants will receive a link each day throughout the 13-day challenge, giving them access to a brief video and helpful tips about how to pray the biblical phrase for that day. Additionally, each person will receive a section of “Simply Prayer,” a book on prayer by Bill Eliff, directional pastor of the Summit Church, Little Rock, Ark. After completing the challenge, participants will receive a chapter from Tippit’s book, “Praying for Your Family.” Tippit, who was saved at Istrouma Baptist Church in Baton Rouge and ordained at the First Baptist Church in Walker, said the challenge will help each participant develop a deep[1]er prayer life. He offered that that within two days of its release in August, the challenge had produced results, based on messages he has … [Read more...]

SWBTS trustees reveal ‘dysfunctionality’ under Greenway

By Baptist Message staff Modified, Oct. 23, to correct Greenway's service as chairman of the SBC Committee on Order of Business to read "2018-2021."  FORT WORTH, Texas (LBM) – Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary trustees, during a scheduled trustee meeting, Oct. 17-18, candidly addressed multiple “areas of concern” which led to the departure of Adam Greenway as the Southern Baptist Convention school’s ninth, and youngest ever, president. Citing “several patterns” that developed “over time” since 2019, when the then 41-year-old Greenway became SWBTS president, Danny Roberts (executive pastor of North Richland Hills Baptist Church, Texas, and chairman of the trustee board, having served as an SWBTS trustee since 2016, including as chairman of the 2018 search team that recommended Greenway) said “significant financial challenges compounded a growing sense of concern,” which led to Greenway’s resignation, Sept. 22. Roberts, in an SWBTS press release, Oct.18, specifically cited “dysfunctionality amongst senior leadership, budget mismanagement, overspending resulting in hundreds of thousands of dollars of deficits per month and attempts to pass the blame for these matters onto three different chief financial officers … [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...]