Click to Login or Sign Up

Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Dew to graduates: Christ, not ministry, is ‘ultimate end’

By Marilyn Stewart, NOBTS communications NEW ORLEANS, La. (NOBTS) – New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Leavell College celebrated 200 graduates Dec. 11 as President Jamie Dew charged them to make service to Christ the true end of all that they do. Eighteen doctoral degrees were conferred during the school’s commencement ceremony, including seven Ph.D.s, a doctor of musical arts, one doctor of educational ministry and nine doctor of ministry degrees. Ninety master’s degrees and 92 undergraduate degrees and certificates were awarded. Dew began his charge to graduates by acknowledging that some might be present in the audience who wondered why their graduate went to the trouble of years’ worth of papers and exams in order to get a degree. While some might see the graduate’s work as the “means” and the degree as the “end,” Dew pointed to the philosopher Aristotle who recognized that “ends” in actuality may be means to yet another end. Dew said the question then becomes, “what is the ultimate end?” “What is that one end, that one good that we seek for its own sake?” Dew asked the audience. “Of all this work that we have done, what is it exactly that we seek? …  It’s important that you understand the answer to that … [Read more...]

Officials focus on Mayfield as recovery and cleanup process begins

By Tom Latek, Kentucky Today MAYFIELD, Ky. (KT) – Search and rescue efforts continue in western Kentucky, where 18 counties were hardest hit by tornadoes Friday night into Saturday morning, continued with at least 50 people reportedly dead. During a press conference in Mayfield on Sunday afternoon, Gov. Andy Beshear broke down some of the fatalities by county. “I know it’s over 10 in Warren County, we’re over 10 and growing in Hopkins County, we have significant loss here in Graves County,” he said. “We’re over 10 in Muhlenberg County, in a town of 100 or so people.  We’re at three to five in Caldwell County.  Those numbers are going to continue to grow, as we’re able to go house to house.” Beshear said they still don’t have an accurate number of casualties at a candle factory in Mayfield, where there were 110 workers when the tornado struck, leveling the building. However, later Sunday, There was some good news that came out. A spokesman for the candle company said eight were confirmed dead and eight remained missing, but more than 90 others had been located. He said many of the employees had gathered in a tornado shelter and after the storm was over left the plant and went to their homes. Of course, the … [Read more...]