By Diana Chandler, Baptist Press NASHVILLE (BP) - A woman identified as a Planned Parenthood executive is shown in an undercover video released July 14 negotiating the sale of baby parts gained through partial birth abortions performed at Planned Parenthood facilities. The nonprofit medical watchdog group Center for Medical Progress (CMP) released the video showing a woman identified as Deborah Nucatola, Planned Parenthood Federation of America senior director of medical services, discussing the PPFA fetal parts business with an undercover investigator posing as a potential buyer at a July 25, 2014, lunch meeting. After the video surfaced, Planned Parenthood defended the action of donating such body parts, but said no monetary benefits are gained, other than the reimbursement of costs incurred in the delivery of the body parts. “In health care, patients sometimes want to donate tissue to scientific research that can help lead to medical breakthroughs, such as treatments and cures for serious diseases. Women at Planned Parenthood who have abortions are no different,” Eric Ferrero, Planned Parenthood’s vice president of communications, said in a press release posted on the PPFA website. “At several of our health centers, … [Read more...]
Archives for July 2015
Clear Camps at Tall Timbers
Update on the Georgia Barnette Mission Conference Center
Baptists not shocked by latest Scout vote
By Tom Strode, Baptist Press WASHINGTON (BP) - The Boy Scouts Executive Committee's approval of gay and bisexual adult leaders disappointed but did not shock Southern Baptist spokesmen -- and prompted one to predict an even greater exodus by Baptist churches from the organization. The Boy Scouts of America announced Monday (July 13) the unanimous vote by its Executive Committee to rescind the across-the-board ban on gay and bisexual employees and unit leaders. The resolution approved July 10 by the committee protects the rights of religious organizations, however, to bar gays from serving as adult leaders. If the BSA's National Executive Board of about 70 members ratifies the resolution July 27, the change will become effective immediately. The Executive Committee's vote followed by two years the Boy Scouts' approval of lifting its prohibition on gay scouts. Ronnie Floyd, president of the Southern Baptist Convention, described the latest decision as "a huge disappointment." "I am saddened that their decision will sacrifice the current and future influence of this organization," he told Baptist Press in written comments. Roger S. Oldham, the SBC Executive Committee's vice president for Convention … [Read more...]
First West hires former Chicago Cubs minor leaguer
By Brandon Rodgers, First West WEST MONROE — First West has announced the hiring of Jericho Jones as its new Pastor to Young Adults. Jericho is not a stranger to Northeast Louisiana. He played college baseball at Louisiana Tech University. Jones was a member of the Chicago Cubs Organization at the minor league level before attending Southwest Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. Jones will oversee collegiate and singles ministry for the multisite church. “I graduated from LaTech in 2010. During my time in Northeast Louisiana several Godly men and women in my life in so many ways,” says Jones. “I’m so excited to be back! Megan and I are blessed to be joining the First West family. I look forward to serving under Michael’s leadership and working towards God’s vision for First West!” The hiring of Jones comes just over a year after Lead Pastor Michael Wood’s hire. From the inception of Wood as pastor, he has preached the importance of First West impacting the next generation of leaders. “While statistics may say that this generation is hard to reach, the opportunity to have Jericho on our team is immensely valuable. We will now be able to be more intentional in our efforts of reaching university … [Read more...]
Louisiana Notables
ON THE MOVE Harold (wife Brooke) Brown is the new pastor at First Baptist Church, Ringgold. Aaron (wife Sharron) Dickinson is the new pastor at Swartz First Baptist Church, Monroe. Jordan Doyle is the new pastor at Pine Grove Baptist Church, DeQuincy. Larry (wife Sue) Anderson is the new worship leader and music director at Ouachita Baptist Church, West Monroe. Emily Funderberg is new children’s director at Ellerbe Road Baptist Church, Shreveport. Ralph Hines has retired at Ferry Lake Baptist Church, Oil City. Chris Willcutt is new as pastor at Grawood Baptist Church, Keithville. Tom Cole is new as minister of music at Shreve City Baptist Church, Shreveport. Hardy Yeats is new as minister of music at Kingston Road Baptist Church, Shreveport. Calep (wife Robin) Lewis is new as senior adult/associate pastor at Trinity Heights Baptist Church, Shreveport. HOMECOMING Hillcrest Baptist Church, Franklinton: Church anniversary celebration, July 19, 11 a.m. at the Education Building at the Washington Parish Fair Grounds. Attendees will meet in Education Building for a brief program and then proceed to the newly renovated Flower House for a pot luck meal/picnic. Pastor: Andrew Voss. Beech Springs Baptist … [Read more...]
Building a legacy of giving within our churches
By Jerry Love, Louisiana Baptist Foundation ALEXANDRIA – Each of us typically spends our life acquiring “things” to meet the needs of basic survival. We also acquire “things” to satisfy our desires and to make life more comfortable or efficient. These “things” can include a home, household goods and furnishings, some means of transportation, real estate, various types of collectibles, stocks, bonds, – the list goes on. For some these things are very meager. For others it can represent great wealth. No matter what monetary value these things represent, God expects us to care for and use these things wisely for His glory. And unless we can spend our last dollar on the day we die, we will leave something behind that will need to be transferred to another person or entity. Unfortunately few of us put much thought into how to use our “things” to further God’s kingdom. At best we tithe from current income to our church and give occasionally to special offerings. But to be good stewards of the possessions God has entrusted to us, we must plan for the wise use during life and the wise disposition at death of our assets. The Louisiana Baptist Foundation encourages local churches to implement a program to educate … [Read more...]
Disaster relief volunteers lead three to Christ during flood cleanup
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer SHREVEPORT – Two Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers were nearly speechless recently and for good reason. While cleaning out of homes that were damaged by recent floodwaters of the Red River, Freddie Arnold and Ginger McBride witnessed first-hand to others who subsequently accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior there. “It adds a spark of enthusiasm,” said Arnold, a white hat with Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief. “And it encourages everyone to be evangelistic.” Arnold’s conversion experience was with a then-Mormon who worked with a friend from First Baptist Church in Franklinton on a mud-out team. After suffering from overheating, the man stayed behind for a couple of days, which led to a series of conversations about Christ with Arnold and others at the host site of Summer Grove Baptist Church in Shreveport – before eventually converting from Mormonism to Christianity. “He came to tell me he was saved and I told him that was fantastic,” Arnold recalls. “Before he could even get across the room where we were, I heard him call his wife over the phone and others there his news.” Meanwhile, McBride was assessing flooded homes with Virginia Disotell, another … [Read more...]
Rousing patriotic salute at University Baptist packed out
By R.C. Miller, Regional Reporter BATON ROUGE – Randy Gurie isn’t claiming any out-of-body experiences, but he does own up to a vision that eventually filled University Baptist Church’s sanctuary to capacity on July 4th. Because for Gurie, it wasn’t a matter of “seeing is believing.” “For me, it was ‘believing is seeing,’” Gurie says. “From the beginning, I literally saw everything about this program, from the lighting to the music performances.” And it resulted in the community program, “A Patriotic Salute to America.” The red-white-and-blue program featured performances by the Baton Rouge Concert Band, a community choir and a group of soloists that included one by the now retired “Voice of the LSU Tigers” Jim Hawthorne and narration by Louisiana Public Broadcasting President and CEO Beth Courtney. That’s not forgetting performances by the five-member gospel group Celebration, which hosted the event. Gurie and fellow vocalists Kevin Hambrice, Fred Dressel, Lionel Bailey and Trippe Hawthorne have been performing in this group for 20 years. They perform year-round at churches and events in the Baton Rouge area, sometimes traveling around the state and in Mississippi. Those programs have always been made up of … [Read more...]
Iran grants imprisoned pastor Fathi early release
By Diana Chandler, Baptist Press KARAJ, Iran (BP) -- Pastor Farshid Fathi, imprisoned in Iran for his faith since 2010, has been granted a Dec. 10 release from the notoriously brutal Rajai Shahr prison, two years earlier than expected, Elam Ministries has announced. Ann Buwalda, a board member of the Iranian-led ministry that engages in evangelism and discipleship in the Mideast nation, called the early release "positive news which has greatly encouraged Farshid and his family. We join them in praising God for this development and for those who have made it possible." The reason for the early release was not given, but Fathi was informed July 4 of his new release date, and the news was revealed to the public two days later, Elam Ministries reported. Fathi had been imprisoned since his arrest the day after Christmas 2010 at his home in Tehran and was originally taken to Evin prison. In a February 2012 trial, he was convicted of "action against the national security," accused of "cooperating with foreign organizations and evangelism," Elam Ministries said. His original sentence of six years was extended by a year in December 2014 on false charges. He had been injured in an attack by Evin prison guards on April 17, … [Read more...]
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