NEW ORLEANS - A unanimous three-judge panel of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals issued an emergency stay of the district court's opinion that struck down the state's admitting privileges law. The panel accepted all of the state's arguments that the district court did not follow 5th Circuit precedent; ignored the state's rebutted evidence that more than 90 percent of Louisiana women would still be within 150 miles of a provider; and ignored the secretary's determination that Dr. Doe 2's privileges at Tulane were sufficient. The 5th Circuit in its ruling states that this is a legitimate means to protection for women’s health and safety by granting Louisiana a stay today. It is likely, by granting of this stay, that this law will be ruled constitutional. Louisiana Rep. Katrina Jackson, who authored the legislation, said: "This stay by a unanimous three-judge panel of the 5th Circuit is a victory for the health and safety of women who are harmed by abortion. I am very pleased the Legislature's interest in protecting both women and unborn children is being respected by this court." Dorinda Bordlee, chief counsel of the Bioethics Defense Fund who drafted model legislation for the bill, said: "There is no constitutional right … [Read more...]
Archives for February 2016
Louisiana Baptist disaster relief teams ready to respond following deadly tornado outbreak
By Message Staff A powerful storm ripped through south Louisiana Tuesday (Feb. 23), spawning at least seven tornadoes, damaging many Louisiana businesses and homes, leaving thousands without power and causing two confirmed deaths. As many spent today assessing the damage, Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief Teams are prepping their gear as they prepare to respond as early as Thursday. Southeast regional coordinator Tom Long said individuals are still assessing areas where teams will minister, including Livingston and Assumption Parishes, two areas that sustained significant damage from tornadoes. Currently, teams are on standby. “We haven’t had a major storm recently in the state, but it takes just one event to remind people of a need to reach out and pick up a tarp, work on a chainsaw unit or serve a meal,” Long said. “It’s so important we get our people and churches involved in disaster relief. This is one of the largest ministry arms we have in our convention.” According to the National Weather Service, seven tornadoes touched down in Louisiana Tuesday. The outbreak was caused by a strong low pressure system that moved in from Texas early that morning but was completely out of the state by 9 p.m. The powerful … [Read more...]
Former IMB VP says fired communicators ‘grossly undervalued and maligned’
By Joni B Hannigan, Christian Examiner RICHMOND, Va. (Christian Examiner) – A former high ranking administrator at the International Mission Board cried "foul" in an online posting last week following a statement by IMB President David Platt that 30 communications missionaries let go last month were downsized as the result of their failure to keep current in the digital age. Calling Platt's statement about the team "patently inaccurate," Ken Winter said the team's "stellar efforts have been grossly undervalued and maligned." Winter, who a year ago stepped down as vice president of church and partner services, in a Feb. 19 blog entry in which he spoke fondly of about 200 "gifted and godly" men and women who accepted a "voluntary retirement incentive" offered by the IMB, but had choice words about the suggested deficiencies attributed to the 30 others who were involuntarily "removed." To read the rest of the article, click here. … [Read more...]
NOBTS forum addresses early church view on Jesus as God’s Son
By Marilyn Stewart, NOBTS communications NEW ORLEANS - A noted evangelical-turned-agnostic and a well-known agnostic-turned-evangelical were the featured speakers Feb. 12-13 at the 12th annual Greer-Heard Point-Counterpoint Forum at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Bart D. Ehrman, author of numerous best-selling books including How Jesus Became God: the Exaltation of a Jewish Preacher from Galilee; Jesus Interrupted; and Misquoting Jesus, dialoged with Michael F. Bird, a lecturer in theology at Ridley College, Melbourne, Australia and the editor of How God Became Jesus and author of the award-winning The Gospel of the Lord. The Greer-Heard forum is a venue in which respected scholars of differing opinions dialogue on critical issues in religion, science, philosophy, or culture. It designed to help students and ministers learn to think critically and to be prepared to engage secular society. The forum’s theme, “When Did Jesus Become God?,” posed the question of when and how the early church came to believe that Jesus was the divine Son of God. The title was a play on words of Ehrman’s book How Jesus Became God and the book Bird edited, How God Became Jesus that were released on the same day two years ago by … [Read more...]
LSU Police searching for suspect who allegedly stole three saws from LSU BCM
By Message Staff BATON ROUGE – Theft has struck another Louisiana Baptist ministry, this time at the Louisiana State University Baptist Collegiate Ministry. According to LSU BCM Director Steve Masters, a man walked into one of their buildings on Feb. 19 at 2:30 pm and stole two skill saws and a jig saw. Masters was in his office in the lodge/worship center side when the suspect walked into its chapel, which is a separate building. The tools were used to build a set for the BCM’s summer missions dinner theater. One of the saws and the jigsaw are owned by the BCM while the other saw is owned by a local pastor. The stolen equipment is worth $300. Masters is asking anyone who recognizes the suspect, who was caught on surveillance video, to contact LSU police at 225.578.3231. Campus police are searching for the suspect. “It is discouraging that he was brazen enough to do this while our BCM staff and students were in the building area next door to the Chapel,” Masters said. The incident comes a few weeks after someone stole $20,000 worth of disaster relief equipment from the chainsaw unit for Woodland Park Baptist Church in Hammond and the feeding unit for the Northshore Baptist Association between Jan. 24 and Feb. 5. … [Read more...]
Your living sacrifice
By Dr. Jeffrey Farmer FIRST-PERSON -- On Wednesday, Feb. 4, a good friend and fellow pastor had a heart attack and died. Terry was 42 years old and a hard worker. His church was a smaller membership church with a significant debt issue. Terry may have had some health issues, but appeared to be fine aside from carrying a bit of extra weight. While all details surrounding his death are not well known yet, it appears as though the contributing factors of extra weight and stress had a significant impact. For me it serves as a reminder of three significant biblical principles for ministry. First, we must remember that we are not our own. Jesus Christ has bought each of us with the price of his blood. This means that we are to serve as Christ commands, not as we see fit. This is important to remember when we consider our lifestyle. Romans 12:1 says, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” As Christ-followers in general, and specifically pastors, we are to present the best body we possibly can for God’s service. This means taking care of our health in all aspects of life. Second, it is very easy for a … [Read more...]
Why the Cooperative Program for Baptists?
By Lili Rose Tullos Editor’s Note: Lili Rose Tullos is a graduate of Louisiana College and a retired Louisiana school teacher. In the early nineteen hundreds, Milton and Mary Hall felt the call to minister in St. Landry Parish. Graduates of Mary Hardin Baylor University in Texas, the couple knew little about the culture of south Louisiana except it had almost no Baptist ministry. Milton pastored First Baptist Church in Opelousas and then seeing the need for Baptist work along the winding Bayou Courtableau, moved to minister to the French population in this remote and rural area. Then tragedy struck. The great flood of the century, better known as the Great Mississippi flood of 1927, caused widespread destruction along the rivers and tributaries in numerous states along the Mississippi River, but especially in Louisiana. It was to become the most destructive river flood in the history of the United States. The flooding, due to the lack of dams and protective measures, completely destroyed the land and displaced thousands of Louisiana families. The young Texas mother with seven children watched as all their possessions floated down the bayou. It was mentally devastating and she had to enter a nearby … [Read more...]
Webinar at LC challenges Christians to engage culture
By Norm Miller, LC communications PINEVILLE - Louisiana College’s inaugural Christ, Church, and Culture seminar drew 58 students. Dr. William Osborne -- associate professor of Biblical and Theological Studies at College of the Ozarks -- keynoted the Feb. 4 Webcast, discussing how Christians can engage a post-modern culture. “Dr. Osborne gave some great insight on the many ways Christians engage culture today and explained how we ought to witness in this post-Christian culture,” said LC student Chet Broussard. “I really enjoyed hearing from him.” Dr. Russ Meek -- LC’s assistant professor of Christian Studies -- established the Christ, Church, and Culture seminar to help students integrate faith and culture by thinking Christianly about various issues Christians face in an increasingly post-Christian society. “The purpose of this first meeting was to introduce the concept of engaging culture as a Christian,” Meek said. “Future events will focus on specific topics and areas of culture that Christians can and should be engaging.” LC student Allison Glass said she enjoyed hearing about the church’s role in reaching culture. The March 10 seminar features Matthew Soerens, the US Church Training Specialist for World … [Read more...]
GIVE A GIFT
The Louisiana Baptist Foundation exists to encourage and assist individuals with gifts that support the work and ministry of churches, institutions and organizations affiliated with the Louisiana and Southern Baptist Conventions. “Give A Gift” was developed, with the cooperation of the Baptist Message, to illustrate how the LBF assists Baptists with gifts to Baptist ministries. A submission form for Give A Gift is available in each issue of the Message. A link to an on-line form is also available below. Each month the Foundation will draw a name, at random, from the submissions received through the on-line form and submissions received by mail. The person whose name is selected will have the opportunity to direct a $1000.00 gift from the Foundation to the Louisiana Baptist church, ministry or organization they choose. The name of the ministry receiving the gift will be published in the following issue of the Message. The rules: Completely fill out the form found in the Message (or CLICK lbfinfo.org/give_a_gift/ to fill out the online form.) Mail to: GIVE A GIFT, c/o Louisiana Baptist Foundation, P.O. Box 311, Alexandria, La 71309 A name will be drawn at random from the month’s submissions on the last … [Read more...]
A disruption in church that defeated Satan
By Jamie Stephens, Regional Reporter BASTROP – Pastor Andy Myrick said his church was excited to be disrupted by a determined cancer patient’s third attempt to be baptized after two previous failed efforts due to his illness last month. “This was the best disruption in our church we have ever had,” Myrick tearfully said, “I was on cloud nine! When Lee Barnett walked out of our church after his baptism, there was not one dry eye. Satan tried to stop him from accomplishing what he wanted to do the previous two times, which was getting baptized at Oak Hill Baptist Church.” Oak Hill’s pastor shared his beliefs about how prayer, determination, and faith in Christ can defeat Satan’s attempts to destroy the accomplishments of God’s children. Lee accomplished his goal for baptism Jan. 24, then joined the Lord through the gates of Heaven Jan. 27 following a coma from his lengthy battle with cancer. Lee’s funeral was on Feb.1, but he left an important message and testimony for those he loved. “I want my wife and grandkids to know the Lord,” he told Myrick before he went home. Myrick described Lee to be distant from everyone and that he never attended church since he was a kid. He said Lee’s wife, Mary, did not attend … [Read more...]
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