By Gregory Tomlin, Christian Examiner HOLLYWOOD (Christian Examiner) – If Mel Gibson is able to deliver a sequel to The Passion of the Christ, more than one resurrection may be depicted – one of Jesus on film and, the second, the director's career. Gibson's film about the crucifixion of Jesus in 2004 was a box office smash, earning $612 million worldwide, or 2,000 percent over and above the cost of the film ($30 million). It spawned a series of faith-based films, tapping into an audience that Hollywood knew was there, but neglected in favor of what studios believed was a larger audience who didn't want to see religious content. Now, Randall Wallace, who penned Braveheart for Gibson – a good, but historically less-than-accurate film – is set to write the sequel about the ministry of Christ after the resurrection. There is no word yet on what the focus of the film will be (the early days of the church in Jerusalem, the mission to the Gentiles or Roman persecution of Christians). Wallace, who also wrote Heaven is for Real, is a logical choice for the script. He studied religion at Duke University and is fascinated by the history of the church. He told the Hollywood Reporter that he always wanted to tell the story. To read the … [Read more...]
Archives for June 2016
Evangelism, discipleship remain a mainstay at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Kelley shares in report to SBC messengers
By Message Staff ST LOUIS – Personal evangelism and discipleship remain a vital part of a student’s experience at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, President Chuck Kelley told messengers on Wednesday morning. “We know if you will not become a witness now, you will not likely become one later on,” Kelley said. “We simply have to get the gospel out from behind our pulpits, into the streets and neighborhoods of our cities and communities. That’s where the prospects are. That’s what we teach you to do.” Speaking during the seminary’s report at the Southern Baptist Convention, Kelley said each student is required during their first year, along with 10-12 other students, to meet in a small group with a professor once a week, to practice walking with God together. Additionally, students are required to spend at least one semester witnessing door-to-door in New Orleans. Kelley expressed appreciation for donors who provided scholarships for African-American students and small church pastors in Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi. Those students receiving the scholarships for small church pastors are required to have a gospel conversation at least once a week with someone who is lost. During the past two years, the 250 students … [Read more...]
PHOTO SLIDESHOW: Louisianans at Day 2 of SBC
ST LOUIS - The final day featured the usual business sessions inside the main hall but also afforded the opportunity for Louisiana Baptists to enjoy multiple chances for fellowship. … [Read more...]
10 of 22 motions referred to SBC entities
ST. LOUIS (BP) -- Messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention proposed 22 motions, the most since 2010. Ten motions were referred to convention entities for further study and for a report at the 2017 SBC meeting in Phoenix. The Committee on Order of Business automatically referred three motions to SBC entities and/or the Executive Committee: -- A motion by Lonnie Wilkey of Tulip Grove Baptist Church, Old Hickory, Tenn., to ask trustees of all SBC entities to consider examining their media policies, and if they do not have clearly defined guidelines, to consider establishing a policy that trustee and committee meetings be open to the public. The motion was referred to the Executive Committee and all SBC entities. -- A motion by Victoria Gurgone of Peace Church, Wilson, N.C., for the Executive Committee to consider adding a "veteran" and/or "active duty" option on the online registration form, as well as adding "veteran" and/or "active duty" to SBC name badges. The motion was referred to the Executive Committee. -- A motion by Graham Weaver of Lenexa Baptist Church, Lenexa, Kan., to encourage SBC presidents past and present through LifeWay Christian Resources to write their memoirs. The motion was referred to LifeWay … [Read more...]
SBC resolutions address culture, ministry concerns
ST. LOUIS (BP) -- Messengers to the 2016 Southern Baptist Convention, in addition to repudiating the display of the Confederate battle flag, approved 11 other resolutions on a variety of culture and ministry concerns. Messengers voted on the proposals over both days of the annual meeting, adopting resolutions that expressed compassion for those devastated by the Orlando mass shooting, urged consistent evangelism of unbelievers and encouraged care for refugees. They also passed measures that included calling for the federal government not to discriminate against people who support only the biblical, traditional view of marriage and opposing an effort to require women to register for the military draft. For Stephen Rummage, chairman of the Resolutions Committee, the call for Southern Baptists to evangelize was central to the 10-member panel's deliberations in presenting the 12 measures to the messengers. The resolution on evangelism "might just seem like a standard resolution for an evangelical body such as Southern Baptists to pass," Rummage said at a news conference Wednesday morning (June 15), "but really that is at the heart of everything that we talked about, including what we had to say about the Confederate flag. … [Read more...]
‘We need You, Lord’: Baptists plead for national revival
ST. LOUIS (BP) -- At times they raised their hands. At times they gathered together in groups of two to three. And at times thousands of messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention knelt at their chairs on Tuesday night (June 14) as they pleaded with God to bring national revival and spiritual awakening to America. In one of his final acts as SBC president, Ronnie Floyd led the convention in an evening of prayer during its annual meeting in St. Louis. "From this moment on, it will not be about personalities on the stage. It will be about Jesus, all the way," said Floyd, who has focused much of his two-year presidency on urging Southern Baptists to pray for spiritual awakening. "We're about to give Him praise. And from this moment on, I'm going to ask you to give Him your all. What if this were your last night on this earth? Wouldn't you want to give it all to Jesus and be ready?" Floyd noted that Southern Baptists had thousands at First Baptist Church of Orlando who were, at that time, praying desperately for their city. "Orlando is a lot more desperate tonight than they were before this tragedy," Floyd said. "But why should it take a tragedy to make us desperate for God?" Praying for spiritual leaders Matt Chandler, … [Read more...]
Unity drove decision for presidency, Gaines says during SBC Presidential press conference
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ST LOUIS – Speaking to members of the media in his press conference, newly elected Southern Baptist Convention President Steve Gaines shared how God brought about unity before a planned third vote for president Wednesday morning. Just moments before, Gaines and candidate J.D. Greear stood on the same stage to announce news that came as a shock to many in the crowd of more than 7,000 – Greear was stepping aside in the name of unity. The announcement was met with the majority of the crowd standing to applaud the decision. “If the devil was trying to divide us, he failed and he failed miserably,” said Gaines, pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, Tenn. “The Lord Jesus Christ gave us unity in a great way.” Gaines and North Carolina pastor J.D. Greear had garnered the most votes in a three-person race with First Baptist New Orleans Pastor David Crosby, but neither won a majority in the first round Tuesday morning, forcing a run-off. In the second round of voting, Gaines received 49.96 percent of the votes compared to Greear’s 47.80 percent, but 108 votes were considered illegal because the wrong ballot was used or an indistinguishable mark was made. Another run-off election was … [Read more...]
Seeking unity, Greear withdraws from race, Gaines wins SBC presidency
ST LOUIS (BP) -- In an effort to help bring unity following a close vote, North Carolina pastor J.D. Greear announced Wednesday he withdrew from the race for president of the Southern Baptist Convention during the SBC's annual meeting in St. Louis. SBC President Ronnie Floyd recognized Greear and Tennessee pastor Steve Gaines so they could address the convention at the start what was to be a third vote for president at the end of the June 15 morning session. However, before any ballots could be cast Greear announced to the convention that he was withdrawing his name from consideration after he prayed last night and believes "we need to leave St. Louis united. "I've said from the beginning it is tricky to lead the SBC," Greear said. "I've spent a good amount of time praying and I believe for the sake of our convention and our election we need to leave St. Louis united. ... We are united by a Gospel too great, and a mission too urgent, to let a lesser message stand in our way. "I am respectfully withdrawing my candidacy as president and asking you to join me in electing Steve Gaines as president," Greear said, adding that Gaines had considered "doing the exact same thing in reverse." Gaines said "there's no way God is not doing … [Read more...]
VIDEO: Louisiana Baptist reflects on special prayer service during SBC
ST LOUIS - A packed room full of Southern Baptists cried out to God for spiritual awakening Tuesday night. Throughout the evening at this National Call To Prayer, pastors from around the U.S. and even Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma prayed for a variety of issues. Among the Louisiana Baptists attending was Janie Wise, a member of FBC Pineville and women's missions and ministry strategist for Louisiana Baptists. "What verberated in my mind all night long was those final words - pray, pray, pray," Wise said. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dUSpLgb1KQ&feature=youtu.be … [Read more...]
PHOTO SLIDESHOW: Louisianans at SBC Annual Meeting
Louisiana Baptists turned out in full force for the first day of the Southern Baptist Convention. More than 200 messengers registered for the meeting, which included voting on various offices, motions and resolutions, inspiring messages, a special prayer service and a number of fellowships. Look for more photos later of the second day of the SBC Annual Meeting. … [Read more...]
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