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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Archives for October 2015

First@First speakers share wisdom from a Christian perspective

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE – Northwestern State men’s head basketball coach Mike McConathy is not just about winning games on the court but also teaching young men off the court how to be effective in life. “What’s my job as a coach?” McConathy told those attending the recent First@First Business Leaders Lunch at First Baptist Church in Pineville. “To teach young men how to be effective in everything they do.” Whether in coaching or business, training for life-effectiveness involves two key components, McConathy said. They are communication and paying attention to details. “If we expect a lot of others we’ve got to give a lot,” said McConathy, who has served as coach of the Demons for 16 years. “And I think that we give and we give unconditionally because Christ gave unconditionally for us.” McConathy said he doesn’t ask his players to do something he would not do himself. “My philosophy is if somebody asks me to do it, I’m going to find a way to do it, because they would not ask me to do something if they really didn’t need help,” he said. “A lot of times with God, how frustrating do you think He gets with us because He asks us to study scripture, He asks us to praise Him, He asks us to … [Read more...]

Ways messengers can participate

BOSSIER CITY – This year’s annual meeting of the Louisiana Baptist Convention will be held at First Baptist Church in Bossier City, LA on November 9-10, 2015. In order for a church to participate in the business of the convention, they will need to elect messenger(s) to represent them. Messengers elected by their respective church are then able to register as messengers and participate in the business of the convention. The Credentials Committee oversees the registration process for the annual meeting. Roger Johnson, LBC Credentials Committee Chairman notes that there are five ways that messengers may be certified to participate and vote at this year’s annual convention. The first and simplest way is for messengers to pre-register using the LBC online program, print out their registration card, and bring the card to the annual meeting. Pre-registration in this way allows messengers to be certified within a matter of minutes, Johnson said. Second, if messengers have not pre-registered, bringing a letter from their church on church letterhead stating that they are elected messengers will allow them to register and be certified to vote. Third, a church officer can phone in the names of elected … [Read more...]

Louisiana Baptist Convention Annual Meeting

Bylaw Amendment Change That the Louisiana Baptist Convention meeting at First Baptist Church, Bossier City, November 9-10, 2015 amend the Louisiana Baptist Convention Bylaws, Article III, Section 5, as follows: The Committee on Credentials shall be composed of seven (7) members. It shall supervise the registration and accreditation of messengers to the Convention, and shall manage the application process for congregations desiring to become a cooperating church with the Louisiana Baptist Convention and qualified to send messengers for the first time. It shall recommend to the Convention, when necessary, the disaffiliation of any Louisiana Baptist Convention church that no longer complies with the Convention’s definition of a cooperating church. It shall recommend action to the Convention concerning disputes as to status of persons as messengers. … [Read more...]

Louisiana ACLU accuses Airline High, principal of pushing religion

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer BOSSIER CITY – Northwest Louisiana is the sight of yet another battle for religious freedom in public schools. The Louisiana chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union recently sent a letter to the superintendent of the Bossier Parish Schools, accusing Airline High School of “engaging in a pattern of religious proselytization.” The letter states that prayer boxes with Christian symbols have been established throughout the school and religious messages have been included in newsletters posted on Airline High School’s website. After the letter was sent to Bossier Parish Schools, the ACLU learned information from a source was not entirely accurate. “We had a photograph of those boxes and were told that they were scheduled to be installed the next day, which did not happen,” said ACLU Louisiana Executive Director Marjorie Esman in an email to The Baptist Message. “Our goal is, as it always is, to ensure compliance with the law. I hope you will make clear that the ACLU has a long and proud history of defending the religious rights of all Americans.” The ACLU also states in the letter they understand that Airline High School Principal Jason Rowland has encouraged students to … [Read more...]

Prayer breakfast first step toward a pregnancy care center in Cenla

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer POLLOCK – For nearly two years, Brian Gunter has prayed for a way to minister to hundreds of women struggling with crisis pregnancy who are living in central Louisiana. Now Gunter believes God has answered his prayers, with the possible establishment of a pregnancy care center in the area. “The desire of my heart is to see our Southern Baptist churches in Cenla engage in a cooperative missions effort to share the gospel with these women and to save the lives of their unborn children,” Gunter, pastor of First Baptist Church of Pollock, wrote in a letter mailed to churches in the central Louisiana area. “Southern Baptists are adamantly pro-life and missions-minded. It is time that we practice what we preach because God has called us to save souls and save lives. This is our opportunity to do so.” Gunter said that starting a pregnancy care center allows for Southern Baptists to do what they are known for – carrying the gospel around the world, but closer to home. He said that the problem of the women is not that they are unmarried or pregnant out of wedlock, but rather symptoms of a problem – their need for Christ. Gunter said this pregnancy care center will be used to introduce … [Read more...]

Employing ‘The Bridge,’ Nicholls BCM experiencing decision after decision

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer THIBODAUX – Before the fall semester began, the Baptist Collegiate Ministry leadership at Nicholls State University was praying for at least one student to come to a saving relationship with Christ. By the end of September, they had gotten much more – 19 to be exact. “It’s pretty wild,” said Nicholls BCM President Zach Vorenkamp, a senior from Houston, Texas. “The Lord is really moving. If it’s anything we are doing, it’s being intentional – sharing the gospel and creating disciples.” The catalyst for the growth began when BCM Director Conan Sherlin and his wife, Christy, and a friend of the BCM attended a national conference for BCM directors. It was there they were led to discuss with the leadership team at Nicholls a vision to share Jesus with students through the gospel appointments method. Gospel appointments begin with someone in leadership connecting with a first-time visitor to the BCM, asking for a phone number with the intention of sending a text and invitation to coffee within 48 hours. Then, two BCM members – one experienced and one just learning – sit down with the individual and explaining the gospel using the Bridge illustration. Through this method, the BCM … [Read more...]

Louisiana Notables

ON THE MOVE Jonathan (wife Amy) LeFleur is the new associate pastor of youth and administration at Mulberry Baptist Church in Houma. Jason (wife Becky) Shawley is the new associate pastor of students at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Albany. HOMECOMING Colyell Baptist Church, Livingston: 164th Homecoming and Fall Revival, Oct. 25-28, homecoming, Oct. 25, 10:30 a.m. A covered dish lunch and fellowship will follow the service. Revival, Oct. 25, 6 p.m.; Monday-Wednesday, 7 p.m. Speaker: Lynn Rodrigue. Music: Jim Richardson. Pastor: Bill Holifield. Parhams Baptist Church, Jonesville: Homecoming, Oct. 25, 11 a.m. Dinner on the grounds will follow the service. Speaker: Tony Ganey. New Elizabeth Missionary Baptist Church, Shreveport: 40th anniversary celebration, Oct. 25, 10:30 a.m. The theme for the occasion is, “God’s People Laboring in the Building of His Kingdom,” Psalm 127:1. Speaker: Gilbert Ross. Pastor: Danny R. Mitchell, Jr. Eastside Baptist Church, Rayville: Homecoming, Nov. 1, 10:30 a.m. Lunch will be served after service. Revival: Nov. 2-4, 6 p.m. The Crusaders will be in concert and worship. Pastor: Chris Crawford. Woodlawn Baptist Church, Woodlawn:  66th Homecoming Celebration, Nov. 1, 10 a.m.  Speaker: … [Read more...]

FIRST-PERSON: Why theology matters

By Matt Capps, Pastor, Fairview Baptist Church, Raleigh, NC RALEIGH, N.C. (BP) -- Have you ever heard someone in your church dismissively say, "Theology isn't for me" or "I don't think theology is important; we just need to love Jesus and love people"? While I understand the sentiment behind these statements, as a pastor it grieves me. Though many people in the church see theology as an abstract academic discipline with no bearing on the day-to-day Christian life, theology is inescapable. Simply put, every Christian is a theologian. Every Christian, by definition, knows God, thinks about God and makes statements about God. The very word "theology" means a word (logos) about God (theos). Christian theology is simply talking about God in a distinctly Christian way based on the Scriptures. And if everyone is a theologian, the central question becomes: Is his or her theology distinctly Christian? Recent findings give cause for concern. True theology points to God LifeWay Research recently studied the theological knowledge of 3,000 adult Americans. The study focused on key theological areas of the faith and revealed several areas where many Americans differ from historic, orthodox Christianity. Almost half (45 … [Read more...]

Sunrise CEO: Appeals court ruling a ‘win’

By Robin Cornetet, Kentucky Today MOUNT WASHINGTON, Ky. (BP) -- The U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals has sent a case involving a Kentucky Baptist children's ministry back to federal district court for further review in a move the group's chief executive officer describes as a win for the non-profit ministry that serves hundreds of abused and neglected kids. "This case has been going on for 16 years and Sunrise is ready to turn the page," Dale Suttles, chief executive officer of Sunrise Children's Services, said. "We have 750 kids who have faced some of the most terrible things imaginable. We need to focus instead on making a difference in their lives." A three-judge Sixth Circuit panel, in a 2-1 decision, vacated a 2013 ruling singling out Sunrise for monitoring by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Americans United for Separation of Church and State Oct. 6. The panel questioned whether the 15-page settlement, agreed to by the plaintiffs and the state, but not Sunrise, was fair. Sunrise attorney John Sheller argued in the appeal that the burden of extra scrutiny by the ACLU and Americans United imposes unique reputational harm. The Sixth Circuit judges did not indicate whether the lower court's ruling was … [Read more...]

Church of Lucifer to open in the heart of Bible Belt

By Gregory Tomlin, Christian Examiner SPRING, Texas (Christian Examiner) – The first "Greater Church of Lucifer" will open later this month in a Houston suburb and just in time for Halloween, organizers of the venture have said. According to organizer "Jacob No," a nom du guerre, the church will open in an aged house in Old Town Spring to offer people a different kind of "church experience." "We do not have a preacher. We do not have somebody saying this is the way it has to be, that you have to live this way," No told Houston's KPRC, but without facing the camera. "We're giving a platform for people to explore themselves with ultimate freedom, to be able to look in the mirror and say I understand you better." The church insists it is not a Satanist church – that is, a church that worships Satan – because they are imitating, rather than worshipping Lucifer, the traditional name ascribed to the angel that rebelled against God and took a third of the angels with him. To read the rest of the story, click here. … [Read more...]