By David Roach, Baptist Press DALLAS (BP) -- Paige Patterson has withdrawn from preaching the convention sermon next week at the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Dallas. As a result of that decision, Austin, Texas, pastor Kie Bowman will deliver the meeting's keynote message. Patterson announced his decision in a June 8 email to SBC President Steve Gaines and said he also is withdrawing as chairman of the evangelism task force appointed by Gaines a year ago in response to a vote of the convention in Phoenix. Patterson was terminated May 30 from his employment at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he had served as president since 2003. The previous week, the seminary's trustees moved him to president emeritus status on the same day allegations surfaced that he mishandled a sexual assault report during his 1992-2003 presidency of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Since late April, Patterson also has been under fire for statements he made in the past about domestic violence and women's physical appearance. "I will not preach the convention sermon as I was invited to do by the 2017 Committee on Order of Business and SBC messengers," Patterson wrote. That decision and his withdrawal as … [Read more...]
Love fund established for family of pastor killed by motorist
By Philip Timothy, Managing Editor FORT JESUP – A love fund has been established for the family of Rev. Matt Haggard at MidSouth Bank in Natchitoches to help with expenses. Haggard was tragically killed Thursday, June 7. Interim pastor of First Baptist Church in Fort Jesup, Haggard was on his daily jog along state Highway 6 near the Fort Jesup Community which is located six miles east of Many, Louisiana, when he was hit by a teenage driver. According to a press release from Louisiana State Police Troop E, troopers responded to the crash on LA Highway 6 at Melody Lane around 6:50 a.m. The release stated the 17-year-old juvenile driver, who was from Many, lost control of his 2004 Cheverolet pickup and exited the right side of the roadway. After exiting the roadway, the vehicle collided with Haggard, as he was jogging eastbound on the westbound shoulder. The 46-year-old Haggard died at the scene of the accident according to Sabine Parish deputy coroner Ron Rivers. “Matt was just a good guy,” said Ron Thompson, Director of Missions for the District Eight Baptist Convention, “He was always smiling. He enjoyed life and celebrated it. And, he was never shy about bragging on his wife April and their two sons. “Matt … [Read more...]
Louisiana Notables
EDITOR’S NOTE: Do you have a Revival, Homecoming, a new pastor, a community outreach or a concert? The Baptist Message would love to share your church news with the rest of the state. It is very easy to do, just send in your information (who, what, where and when) to philip@baptistmessage.com or call 318.449.4345. To get your event in the paper, please submit your information three weeks prior to the event. ON THE MOVE Ben (wife Savana) Alderman is the new youth pastor at Barksdale Baptist Church, Bossier City. Allen (wife Lindsay) Flood is the new youth pastor at Calvary Baptist Church, Shreveport. David Venable is retiring as pastor of Westwood Baptist Church, Shreveport. Joe Jenkins has retired as Pastor of Teche Baptist Church, Breaux Bridge. Jake (wife Diana) Bondurant is the new pastor at Teche Baptist Church, Breaux Bridge. Steve Jensen has resigned as pastor of New Prospect Baptist Church, Dubach. HOMECOMING Johnson Bayou Baptist Church, Cameron: 83rd Homecoming, June 16, 11 a.m. Speaker: J.P. Miles, pastor Choupique Baptist Church, Sulphur. A covered dish luncheon will follow the service. All present and former members are invited to attend. Pastor: Jack Gandy. Philadelphia Baptist Church, … [Read more...]
Disaster Relief urges timely preps for hurricane season
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA (LBM) – With hurricane season officially here, Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief state director Gibbie McMillan said churches and residents of the state must not delay preparations for the next big storm. “For the most part, people live for the moment and what they can see, not thinking about what emergencies might happen,” McMillan said. “Unfortunately, if they don’t take the initiative, they will be unprepared when something major happens. You can’t be ready for every contingency, but we want people to understand that having a plan in place for hurricane season is important.” Hurricane season was off to a busy start even before it officially began June 1. A sub-tropical system developed in the Gulf of Mexico and formed into the first named storm of the year. Alberto produced heavy rainfall and was cited as the cause for multiple deaths. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasts an average to above-average intensity hurricane season for the year, predicting 10-16 named storms with five to nine of these becoming hurricanes -- and one to four of these strengthening into Category 3, 4 or 5 hurricanes that pack winds of more than 110 miles per … [Read more...]
Shumock on a ‘mission’ to build up church plants
By Philip Timothy, Managing Editor ALEXANDRIA – Mike Shumock knows the day is coming and he wants to be ready. “In the 2020 plan, the vision is to plant more than 300 churches by the year 2020,” said Shumock, the Missions Builder Strategist for Louisiana Baptists. “Since 2013, we are already more than two/thirds of the way toward reaching that goal. “It will not be long before those church plants will want their own buildings,” he said. “And we need to be ready to assist with their building needs.” Shumock plans to mobilize church-based teams, consisting of five to 10 members in different regions of the state through the associations. His regionalized approach would allow associations and churches to better organize resources to help church plants because of close proximity. “It would cut down on the cost, travel, and possibly give teams additional time on the job,” he said. “I am emphasizing associations and churches to organize teams that can meet the needs already here and in the future.” SUCCESSFUL TEST He already has successfully tested his plan. Gulf Coast Baptist Church in Golden Meadow – a two-year-old church plant – needed help remodeling a recently purchased building into a worship center. “We … [Read more...]
Cajun DR team’s kindness helps lead Connecticut couple to Christ
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer SOUTHBURY, Conn. (LBM) – A Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief team’s week in an area of Connecticut devastated by a tornado in May started off on a high note when they saw a married couple accept Christ. Chaplain Fred Hart had just finished handing off a Bible signed by members of the Eastern Louisiana Baptist Association chainsaw team, May 28, when he asked the male homeowner an eternally significant question – “If you were to die this evening, would you know for sure you would go to Heaven?” “He said, ‘I think so’ and I said, ‘We can make sure of that right now,” Hart recalled. “He was very open to the Gospel and after I walked him through the plan of salvation, he prayed right there to accept Jesus as his Savior. His wife was right there beside him and did the same. I cried because this is what we are all about. It’s not about just cutting up fallen trees or mudding out a home, but presenting the Gospel.” Hart was among nine members of the disaster relief team from Louisiana who were in Southbury May 27-June 2. The team comprised members from Live Oak Baptist Church and Amite Baptist Church in Denham Springs, First Baptist Church in Livingston, Judson Baptist Church in Walker … [Read more...]
Churches must abandon 600MHz wireless sound systems
By Diana Chandler, Baptist Press WASHINGTON (BP) -- Churches that haven't updated their wireless sound system may have trouble being heard on any given Sunday, as the federal government is phasing out the 600MHz frequencies many congregations use. The Federal Communications Commission will complete the transition of the 617-652 MHz and 663-698 MHz spectrum bands from wireless microphones and television broadcasts by July 13, 2020, but the transition began in 2017. The frequencies are being transitioned to wireless communicators such as cellphone companies to meet industry demand, and will become unavailable for use by wireless mic systems by the 2020 deadline or earlier, according to the FCC. Violators could face fines or additional criminal penalties, the FCC reported. T-Mobile bought 45 percent of the available 600MHz spectrum during a 2017 auction when the transition began, the company announced, with a purchase price of $7.99 billion. Churches that haven't updated their wireless sound systems in recent years are more vulnerable to sound system failure, LifeWay Christian Resources' Mike Harland told Baptist Press. "Where it would impact churches is if they have wireless equipment that may be a few years … [Read more...]
Excavation efforts continue by NOBTS team, others in Israel
By Gary D. Myers, NOBTS director of public relations June 4, 2018 Juggling three sites has been difficult, but the results have been remarkable. It is very difficult to gather updates and photographs. However, we have begged and borrowed enough photos to update the NOBTS Moskau Institute Flickr page with photos from all three sites – Visit the Page. Tel Gezer The excavation and cleaning work in the water system itself is complete. The tunnel is ready for the Israel Nature and Parks Authority to begin working on a plan which will allow visitors to walk part of the way into the system. Over in Area C, the team is in a race with the clock. As this is the last season at Tel Gezer it is imperative that the team gather as much information as possible to help locate the connection between the water system (Areas A and B), Area C (the wall rooms), and the gate (Area D). As usual, Area C remains very active and continues to provide interesting finds – much of which we cannot discuss until well after the season in complete. Tel Hadid At Tel Hadid the team is working to excavate four squares in the morning and moving to the survey work after our mid-morning breakfast. Both efforts are going well. Click Here to … [Read more...]