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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

ARITF reauthorized for another year

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer NEW ORLEANS (LBM) – A year after voting to form a task force to investigate sexual abuse allegations in Southern Baptist churches, messengers to the 2023 SBC Annual Meeting, June 14, extended the Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force another year. Additionally, the task force announced the formation of a new website to help churches keep track of “credibly accused’ individuals and access a toolbox with prevention resources and response information. The page, found on sbcabuseprevention.com, offers resources such as a sample application, sample reference questions, sample interview questions, Fair Credit Reporting Act Summary of Rights and authorization for background check form. Marshall Blalock, chairman of the ARITF and also pastor of First Baptist Church, Charleston, S.C., told messengers that an allegation alone will not place anyone on the list. Rather, he said the “credibly accused” individual will be investigated by a licensed and qualified firm, have the charge or charges reviewed by an independent Christian legal team, and have the opportunity to appeal. “My heart breaks for those young people who have been burdened with this horrible pain,” Blalock said. “So where do … [Read more...]

Saddleback, two other churches disfellowshipped by SBC messengers

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer NEW ORLEANS (LBM) – Messengers voted, June 13, to disfellowship three churches who were found to be "not in friendly cooperation" with the Southern Baptist Convention. The tally of three ballots was revealed the next morning, June 14. During the Tuesday session of the 2023 Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting, representatives from Saddleback Church, Lake Forest, California (three ordained women pastors), Fern Creek Baptist Church, Louisville, Kentucky (female senior pastor), and Freedom Church, Vero Beach, Florida (mishandling of sex abuse allegation), made appeals regarding their respective cases. After each of these speakers, a representative of the Convention responded. Messengers then cast a ballot vote. The results were overwhelming to sustain the disfellowship of each congregation: Fern Creek, 9,700 (91.85 percent) "for" and 806 (7.63 percent) "against" expulsion; Freedom Church, 9,984 (96.46 percent) "for" and 343 (3.31 percent) "against" expulsion; and Saddleback Church, 9,432 (88.46 percent) "for" and 1,212 (11.36 percent) "against" expulsion. BACKGROUND All three congregations were voted out as SBC members in February by the Convention's Credentials Committee … [Read more...]

Crossover, Serve Tour yield 336 decisions for Christ

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer NEW ORLEANS (LBM) – A weekend of block parties, door-to-door witnessing, prayer walks, compassion projects and other evangelistic efforts produced a spiritual harvest of 336 known decisions for Christ, June 9-10. During the North American Mission Board report, June 13, Southern Baptist Convention messengers were told that 84 Crossover and Serve Tour events across Houma, New Orleans and the Northshore had 1,300 volunteers from 21 states. Furthermore, the events drew 12,180 individuals and resulted in 3,487 Gospel conversations. Louisiana Baptist Executive Director Steve Horn (joined on stage by Serve Tour Coordinator Alex Brian, Crossover Coordinator Jacob Crawford, New Orleans Baptist Association Executive Director Jack Hunter, Northshore Association Missions Strategist Don Pucik, Bayou Baptist Association Director of Missions Joe Arnold, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Professor Preston Nix, Louisiana Baptist Evangelism and Church Growth Team Director Keith Manuel and NAMB Send Relief and Send Tour National Project Director Sammy Simmons) said he was thankful for those who helped during Crossover and Serve Tour. “What a blessing this year has been for us to prepare for … [Read more...]

LBC pastor Philip Robertson elected SBC EC chairman

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer NEW ORLEANS (LBM) – Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee members, during a June 12 meeting, elected Philip Robertson, pastor of Philadelphia Baptist Church, Deville, with a second campus in Alexandria, as the next chairman. After two votes (36-35 in favor of Russ Barksdale and 35-35) did not produce a winner by the needed majority, Barksdale of Arlington, Texas, withdrew his name. Robertson said in a news conference after the vote that he was humbled at the confidence his fellow EC members placed in him. “Just to have this opportunity is very, very humbling,” Robertson said. “But also I realize it’s by the grace of God that we are where we are. I‘ve always had a desire to serve as faithfully and effectively as I could. “I think I speak for every [EC member]: We are not looking for extra things to do,” he continued. “So, we value the privilege and the responsibility to serve. I’ve always wanted to do that in the best way that I felt I could, so therefore I allowed my name to be place in nomination and here we are.” Robertson said several individuals approached him about submitting his name for the position. After much prayer he agreed, but only when David Sons, … [Read more...]

NOBTS seminary teams see lives changed during Crossover

By Marilyn Stewart, NOBTS communications NEW ORLEANS (NOBTS) - Sharing Jesus in New Orleans can be as unique as the city itself. In a place filled with people from other worldviews and religions, 25 New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Leavell College students and several faculty members joined Crossover to share the gospel around the city.  Jeff Farmer, NOBTS professor of church ministry and evangelism, led Crossover teams in the community of Christ Baptist Church, Gretna, Louisiana, where he serves also as pastor. Southeastern and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminaries student participated also in Crossover in New Orleans. Farmer noted it was a blessing to serve together with other seminaries. “We have one purpose and that’s to make disciples. We love each other. We have a sweet worship time in learning and equipping, and we’re out to share the gospel,” Farmer said. “And, that’s the SBC.” ‘No one ever asked’ Rachel Darling, a 21-year army veteran, is not afraid of long hours and hard work but the demands of coursework for Crossover in the mornings and sharing the gospel each afternoon had taken its toll. By mid-week, she prayed that God would give her strength, but also encouragement. God answered her … [Read more...]

M.E. Dodd: Father of Cooperative Program was a committed soul winner, SBC leader

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor SHREVEPORT, La. (LBM) – When most mention the name Monroe Elmon (M.E.) Dodd, it likely is in context of his leading the development of the Cooperative Program, the primary funding channel for the cooperative missions and ministries of the Southern Baptist Convention. Some might recall also that he: -- served two terms as SBC president; -- founded the SBC Pastors’ Conference; -- led the historic First Baptist Church in Shreveport, Louisiana, to become the first church in the world to own and operate a radio station; -- chaired the important Convention Lessons Committee (which was formed seven years earlier to ensure Baptist doctrinal purity of graded Sunday school lessons produced for use of all denominations by the International Sunday School Association); and -- drove the establishment of the Baptist Bible Institute, later named the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. But lost in the discussions about his impact on Southern Baptist life is the fact that Dodd was a committed soul winner. To be sure, Dodd’s contribution to the development of the Cooperative Program is no small thing. Since 1925, the first year of the stabilized system of funding for the … [Read more...]

Alabama volunteer team encourages Vintage Church during playground build

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer METAIRIE, La. (LBM) - An Alabama church teamed up with Vintage Church in Metairie, June 9, to build a playground that not only will serve as a recreational gathering place for their community but will become fertile ground to develop relationships for Christ. The playground, built by 15 members of Mount Zion Baptist Church in Brantley and 25 members of Vintage Church, will feature slides, a small merry-go-round, stepping stones and alligator and frog spring riders. Additionally, elm trees soon will be planted and benches, picnic tables and fencing will be installed. Vintage Church Generations Director Nick Perret said his church was encouraged that the Alabama team gave up a portion of their summer vacation to assist them to build what will become yet another outreach arm. The church that averages 200 in Sunday worship also participates each month in food distribution in Metairie and hosts a Hispanic worship service. “For several years we have been wanting to complete this playground so we could have another way to connect with our neighborhood, and when we found out the Alabama team would help us, our church was very excited,” Perret told the Louisiana Baptist … [Read more...]