By Kathy Ferguson Litton, NAMB consultant for ministry to pastor's wives During a recent spin class I introduced myself to a new, unfamiliar instructor. “Hi, I’m Kathy.” Warmly she says, “You’re Kathy Litton aren’t you?” It’s a reminder that I am often known and observed by others. Not just in a relatively small community but on social media, in my business dealings and on airplanes. I am watched as the pastor’s wife at church, while I am playing racquetball or opening a checking account. What I post or tweet or what’s in my grocery cart does not go unnoticed. None of us respond identically to a ministerial environment. The more private souls despise it. Others have their egos stroked by the attention yet enjoy complaining about their constant celebrity. At times this quirk of our culture can be legitimately painful. Yet, there are a couple of benefits here: I get to put the Gospel on display. And I am made accountable. Can I be a sports fan and not make an idol out of it? Do Ed and I have conflicts and learn to hammer them out for our good? When my son bit kids in the nursery – what was my reaction going to look like? Does my behavior reflect a servant or one who wants to be served? If I lose my cool at the service … [Read more...]
WMU annual meeting celebrates 125th anniversary of organization
Submitted by philip on Mon, 04/21/2014 - 09:13 Ladies such as these enjoyed an afternoon tea that preceded the Louisiana Woman’s Missionary Union annual meeting at First Baptist Lafayette. The tea celebrated the 125th anniversary of WMU. By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer LAFAYETTE – The recent Woman’s Missionary Union annual meeting was not just a time to reflect on missions efforts in the state – it was a time to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the organization as well as the 100th birthday of Girls in Action nationwide. “WMU’s one passion – missions – has been our purpose for these 125 years,” said Janie Wise, Louisiana Baptist Convention women’s missions and ministry strategist. “It has led us to teach the stories of what God is doing around the world, to listen for God’s call, to tell the Good News in every way and to live missional lives that shine for Christ in all we do. Our challenge is to keep that one passion – missions – our one purpose in these next years, to new generations.” More than 230 Louisiana Baptist women participated in the celebration at First Baptist Lafayette, which included a reception honoring the GA anniversary, music, reports, testimonies from Louisiana, North America and … [Read more...]
Louisiana Notables
Submitted by philip on Mon, 04/21/2014 - 09:16 ON THE MOVE Tom Higginbotham new as interim pastor at Don Avenue Baptist Church, Denham Springs. Rick Edmonds from Calvary Baptist, Shreveport to Louisiana Family Forum. Jerome Stockert from Ethnos Baptist Church, Bossier City to Arkansas St. as student pastor. REVIVAL/HOMECOMING Little Pass Baptist Church, Charenton: Revival, April 27-30, Sunday 11 a.m. and 6 p.m; Monday thru Wednesday 7 p.m. Evangelist: Joe Aulds. Music: Little Pass Praise Band. Pastor: Chris Holloway. Horseshoe Baptist Church, Mer Rouge: Spring Revival, April 27-30, 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. on April 27, 7 p.m. for April 28-30. Evangelist: Paul Carter. Pastor: Bob Lonadier. First Baptist Church, Slaughter: Revival, April 27-30, Sunday 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.; Monday-Wednesday 7 p.m. Nursery will be provided. Speaker: Clark Fooshee. Music and Worship: Justen Taylor: Pastor: Basil Wicker. San Patricio Baptist Church, Converse: Revival, April 27-30, 6:30 p.m. Evangelist: Leon Manshack. Pastor: Delman Rogers. Temple Baptist Church, Jena: Revive Us Again, April 27-May 1, 6 p.m. on Sunday and 7 p.m. Monday-Thursday. Speaker: Kenny Moore. Worship: Mark Lanier (April 27 & April 29), East Jena Baptist Church (April … [Read more...]
OKC’s Dilbeck to be 2nd vice president nominee
Submitted by philip on Mon, 04/21/2014 - 09:20 Hance Dilbeck By Staff, Baptist Message WOODSTOCK, Ga. (BP) -- Oklahoma City pastor Hance Dilbeck will be nominated for second vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention in June, a former SBC president, Johnny Hunt, has announced. Dilbeck has been senior pastor of the 4,600-member Quail Springs Baptist Church in Oklahoma City since 2003. "Pastor Hance is a man that loves God and His Word, the church and the nations," said Hunt, senior pastor of the Atlanta-area First Baptist Church Woodstock. "He has a great experience as a leader and pastor, a strong passion for the Great Commission, a sweet love for Southern Baptists and an unyielding commitment to denominational unity." Dilbeck has been in the pastorate 20-plus years. Prior to Quail Springs, he served seven years as senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Ponca City, Okla. "Pastor Hance has particularly demonstrated an unmatched love for the Hispanic population and the Cooperative Program," Hunt said. "Dilbeck is helping to fuel a Hispanic church planting movement." Hunt said Dilbeck has been called the American "Hispanic" pastor by Hispanic church planters. This year, Hunt said, Quail Springs is involved … [Read more...]
ERLC, IMB, GuideStone urge court to uphold minister’s housing allowance
By Tom Strode, Baptist Press WASHINGTON (BP) -- Three entities of the Southern Baptist Convention have called for a federal appeals court to overturn a decision invalidating the ministerial housing allowance. The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) and the International Mission Board (IMB) signed on to a friend-of-the-court brief with a diversity of religious organizations in the important church-state case before the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago. The brief, filed April 9 by the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, urges the Seventh Circuit Court to reverse a federal judge’s November 2013 opinion invalidating the portion of a 1954 federal law that allows clergy to exclude for federal income tax purposes a portion or all of their gross income as a housing allowance. GuideStone Financial Resources, the SBC’s financial and health benefits entity, also signed on to a friend-of-the-court brief in support of the housing allowance. It joined with other denominational benefit boards as part of the Church Alliance, which filed its brief Thursday (April 10). In her November decision, Judge Barbara Crabb of the Western District of Wisconsin ruled that the allowance violates the First Amendment’s prohibition on … [Read more...]