By Joe McKeever “Return to your rest, O my soul, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you” (Psalm 116:7). Want to see anxiety demonstrated? Get on any highway in the country during morning rush hour traffic. One out of every ten drivers is either running late, in a hurry, under the gun from the boss or the school kids, and taking it out on every other motorist on the road. They’re not wicked, just stressed. They’re anxious. A friend wrote to thank me for an article on depression. “I’m not really depressed,” he said, “but anxious. I have a lot of problem with anxiety.” I could write a book on that subject myself. (A friend, Dr. Larry Kennedy–now in Heaven and a member of the great cloud of witnesses–did just that. I told him he might have thought of a more uplifting title than Down With Anxiety, but he felt the play on words worked.) I’ve been anxious. It seems to go with the job of pastor. Ask any pastor how well he sleeps on Saturday night. Let’s not add to the misery of those battling anxiety by calling them unbelievers. Anxiety may well be the norm for those who live in uncertain times. And yet there is a Scriptural answer for it. Perhaps we should think of anxiety not so much as … [Read more...]
Archives for September 2018
Christian college ‘done’ with ‘just do it,’ nixes Nike uniforms
Feds subpoena millions of NC records in voter fraud investigation
Fasting linked to longevity
There aren’t enough doctors to go around
Reflections on a half century of ministry
By David E. Hankins, Executive Director of Louisiana Baptist Convention I made the decision. I am going to attend the fifty year reunion of my high school graduating class in a few weeks. As I read posts about this event on social media, I think everyone in the class must be having the same questions I do: (1) where did all the time go, and (2) who are all these senior citizens? I am passing/approaching the half-century mark in other areas as well. I preached my first sermon just over fifty years ago. The fiftieth anniversary of my wedding is a few months away as is that of my ordination to the ministry. There is something sobering about measuring life events in segments of fifty years. As I look back on the past half century, I remember the aspirations I had at the beginning. It was my desire that my life and ministry would be faithful, fulfilling, and fruitful. Have I hit the mark? Others (and ultimately God) will be the final arbiters; but I hope that there is evidence of my having lived consistently with these aims. FAITHFULNESS I remember sitting in a restaurant as a high-schooler while my dad had a cup of coffee with a colleague. At one point, the man said, “David, what are you going to be?” My dad answered … [Read more...]
Two Baton Rouge churches join as one to reach community
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer BATON ROUGE – Sherwood Baptist Church was at a crossroads only a year after renovating facilities that had been damaged heavily by the historic flood of August 2016. The multi-ethnic congregation was well-positioned with regard to location, space and amenities to minister to the surrounding neighborhood, but membership had dropped. After months of seeking the Holy Spirit’s direction, Pastor Bruce Worrell was introduced in September to Josh Causey, pastor of Living Hope Fellowship, a predominately Anglo congregation, in Baton Rouge. Following multiple meetings to facilitate a merger, the two churches became one congregation February 25, creating a strong and dynamic body focused on reaching a community ripe for harvest. “Both congregations voted 100 percent to come together and that’s what I call a miracle,” Worrell said. “Before we came together, the group I was left with was a group that, first of all, loved the Lord and they loved the people of this community regardless of an individual’s background or economic status. They wanted to see this lighthouse continue to shine. “They were willing to step out of their comfort zone and move forward with some new ideas and some new … [Read more...]
These precious children
By Perry Hancock, President & CEO of Louisiana Baptist Children's Home If you drive around any town or city in Louisiana you will find children in need. Our state has one of the highest poverty rates for children in America. According to the latest census data, over 300,000 children in Louisiana (29 percent) live below the poverty level. Louisiana is ranked 49th in the nation for overall child well-being and 50th for child economic well-being. In Monroe, the numbers are even more alarming. The poverty rate for children is almost 57 percent, the highest of the seven largest cities in the state including New Orleans. Monroe is not only the most poverty-stricken city in Louisiana but it is the 4th poorest city in the country. The demographics show that children make up the largest segment of those living in poverty. These children have low academic outcomes. They suffer from high rates of social anxiety. They have more health issues than other children. They are more likely to have feelings of depression and despair. Even more disturbing is the fact that these children often have a negative view of God. “If God loves me so much, why doesn’t He do something to help me?” These precious children have great … [Read more...]
Abused as a child, redeemed as a child of God
By Holly Jo Linzay, Regional Reporter LAFAYETTE – Tears glistened in Shermane Reed’s eyes as she recounted the horror of the abuse she experienced as a child, and how the power of God’s healing brought redemption to her life. As a Mending the Soul facilitator and coordinator of the recovery support group at The Bayou Church in Lafayette, Reed has told her story to countless women and men. It is one of sexual abuse as a child, Reed said, and it helps her to connect with other abuse survivors. It was through the ministry of Mending the Soul that Reed was able to find hope and healing. Mending the Soul is a recovery support group that offers hope for those dealing with all forms of abuse. The 15-week study is a personal and specific look at the effects of abuse that brings hope for personal healing and provides deep discipleship. The intense study, Reed said, may be painful at times, but will lead to God’s healing and help individuals find redemptive purposes for the pain. “I grew up in church. My family was very religious. We went to church every Sunday and every Wednesday night prayer meeting. My Dad was very well known throughout the community, and everyone thought he was the perfect family man. But behind … [Read more...]
Crusade bringing hope to LaSalle Parish
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer JENA – The Harvest is coming to LaSalle Parish and churches from the LaSalle Baptist Association with some congregations from other denominations are praying for a bumper crop of souls. “Tomorrow’s Hope GO TELL Crusade” will be held Sept. 23-26 at Jena High School gymnasium with Rick Gage, founder of GO TELL Crusades in Duluth, Georgia, and Scott Camp, founder of Scott Camp Ministries in Fort Worth, Texas, bringing Gospel messages and vocalists, as well as an area choir, sharing about Christ through music. “We as the Christian community have the only hope for man,” said crusade chairman Wayne Davis. “There is a large segment of our population that doesn’t even know there is hope. You can see the hopelessness on their face. But those in our parish who know Christ definitely have the hope of Jesus that we will share with them throughout the crusade, and well after.” The crusade is part of the statewide Harvest campaign to “pray for every home and share with every person” in Louisiana through the end of 2018. Nearly 900 of 1,650 Louisiana Baptist churches have signed up to participate in concentrated prayer and soul-winning activities such as multi-church crusades, … [Read more...]
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