By Bonnie Pritchett/The TEXAN HOUSTON (BP) -- Houston's City Council voted Aug. 5 to put the controversial equal rights ordinance (known as HERO) on the Nov. 3 ballot after a vote to repeal the law failed but not before debate arose over the ballot language. Council members opposed to the ballot language cautioned Mayor Annise Parker the city could find itself again on the losing end of a legal battle over how the city chooses to parse its words for the voters. The vote marked a "dubious" anniversary for HERO opponents. It was one year ago -- Aug. 4, 2014 -- that Parker and then-City Attorney David Feldman called a press conference to declare "invalid" a referendum to repeal the equal rights ordinance, which gives protected class status to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals. On Aug. 5, 2014 petitioners filed a lawsuit claiming Parker, Feldman, City Secretary Anna Russell and the City of Houston overstepped their authority in dismissing the referendum. And on Aug. 5, 2015, Houston City Council, at the direction of the Texas Supreme Court, was forced to accept the referendum petition and vote to repeal the ordinance. Dave Welch, executive director of the Houston Area Pastors Council (HAPC), … [Read more...]
Archives for August 2015
What’s next for America Polygamy?
By Jeff Iorg, President of Golden Gate Seminary MILL VALLEY, Calif. (BP) – Nathan Collier and his “wives” – Vicki and Christine – want to get married. Actually, Nathan and Vicki are already legally married but they live in a polygamous relationship with Christine. They recently went to the Yellowstone County Courthouse in Billings, Mont., to apply for a marriage license under the Marriage Equality Act to become a legal three-some. After some consideration, they were denied by county officials. They then appealed to the Montana attorney general. They were similarly denied. After being denied, Nathan said, “All we want is legal legitimacy. We aren’t asking anybody for anything else. We just want to give our marriage and our family the legitimacy that it deserves.” Sounds familiar. The Colliers are making the same arguments the LGBT community made in their quest to redefine marriage. We will now see if President Obama can evolve on polygamous marriage and the Supreme Court can mysteriously find “equal dignity” for them in the Constitution. Failure to do so would be the height of ethical and legal hypocrisy. Failure to now recognize polygamous marriage will reveal the supposedly legal basis for permitting same-sex … [Read more...]
A Millenial’s awakened hope for SBC
By Paul Dietzel II, member of Jefferson Baptist Church, Baton Rouge BATON ROUGE – One of the most regrettable legacies of the Millennial generation will be the forfeiture of many of the great institutions and traditions bequeathed to us in trust. To be sure, no man-made institution can emerge spotless from strict scrutiny. The institutions serving as agents or as a committee of the whole have been the mechanism whereby great advancements in history have taken flight. Yet, whether it was the Declaration of Independence drafted by perhaps one of the greatest subcommittees in world history (Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman and Robert Livingston can hardly be described as “establishment”) or the means employed in the founding of many of our nation’s colleges and universities, institutions or funding mechanisms can wither over time and drift from their original purpose. As I walked around the Greater Columbus Convention Center for the 2015 annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention, I was struck by the overall focus and unity of a multi-generational group of people determined to make an impact. I inhabit the technology and political sectors and, for better or worse, conventions or … [Read more...]
Warshaw: 101-year old babe in Christ
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA – For 24 years, Lou Warshaw prayed her husband would accept Christ as his personal Lord and Savior. After years of refusing to give up on the hope that one day her husband would become a Christian, God answered her prayers last month when 101-year-old George Warshaw made that decision and followed through with believer’s baptism. “That was an experience I never dreamed I would have,” said Lou Warshaw. “I almost had given up. The devil kept telling me it wouldn’t happen but I kept believing God would let it happen. I think I’m still on cloud nine.” His conversion story began on July 24, 1991, when Lou and George Warshaw became husband and wife. The two were of different faiths; Lou a Christian and George a Jewish non-believer. Even so, George attended Calvary Baptist Church in Alexandria most Sundays with Lou, where she was a member. They sat in the same pew every Sunday for wor ship and then attended a Bible study class afterwards. Throughout the years, Lou and other friends never pushed their faith on George, but rather showed him Christian love and prayed that he would come to know Christ. Recently, George was unable to continue attending Calvary or even … [Read more...]
‘All In’ weekend at Celebration Church is reason to celebrate
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer NEW ORLEANS – Ninety-two people went all in one recent Sunday at Celebration Church’s six campuses in the New Orleans area, participating in believer’s baptism. This “All In” weekend at Celebration Church was scheduled to stress the importance of baptism in a Christian’s life. Leading up to the weekend, Celebration Church staff prepared its members by explaining what baptism is about and the important role it plays in the life of a Christian. Fifteen people were originally scheduled for baptism in the middle of the services but many more came forward at the end of the worship services on July 18 and 19 to take this important step. To ensure those coming forward for baptism were confident in their decision, the candidates went to a counseling room, where afterwards they received a shirt and towel before participating in baptism. Through the first week of August, 384 people have been baptized at the church’s campuses. Lead pastor Dennis Watson believes the church can meet its goal of 520 for 2015 by the end of the year. Statewide, Louisiana Baptists have baptized an average of 11,261 per year since 2002. Prior to that, the average was 13,200, before LifeWay changed its method … [Read more...]
Adams, Jurkovich blessed to perform 2 ‘special’ baptisms baptisms
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer Baptisms always are special time in the life of a minister, but they were an extra special memory one recent Sunday for two Louisiana Baptist pastors. Josh Adams, pastor of Pisgah Baptist in Forest Hill, and Brad Jurkovich, pastor of First Bossier, not only baptized a higher than average number but each baptized one of their own children. Adams baptized his son Jace on June 14 while Jurkovich baptized his daughter Catherine on July 19. “There’s no greater feeling in the world for a pastor to be in the baptismal waters baptizing others,” Adams said. “But to baptize your own son is emotional and so rewarding for everything you’ve been through.” Jurkovich echoed the thought. “My daughter had gone to kids camp and told me that she got it more now than ever and was ready,” Jurkovich said. “As a dad and pastor, it’s a wonderful moment to share with your church family. For her it was cool to have all of her fifth grader friends there cheering for her.” Embracing baptisms Both congregations have embraced baptisms in 2015. For the past three years, Pisgah Baptist has averaged 10 baptisms. But this year, this congregation that averages 70 on a Sunday morning has baptized 12 … [Read more...]
August 15 dedication planned for new McNeese BCM
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer LAKE CHARLES – Baptist Collegiate Ministry officials at McNeese State University have scheduled an open house for its new building. Scheduled from 2 to 4 pm on Aug. 15, with a dedication service at 2:30 pm, the open house will showcase a building nearly seven years in the making. “It’s been a long process,” said Keith Cating, director of the McNeese BCM. “This gives us an opportunity to reach out to a larger group of students, build relationships with them and hopefully lead some of them accepting Christ.” The new 10,000-sq.-ft. building is nearly double the size of its former structure, which was demolished before construction on the new structure began in late 2013. Among the features of the building is an office suite with four offices, reception area, game room, library, great room, prayer room, kitchen, pantry and a room for its weekly lunch and worship services. Cating said the lunches held once a week are their biggest outreach tool. He estimates they will be able to serve many more than the 250 who showed up in its former structure that was 60 years old. “Over half of those folks who came usually were not believers, so it offered a chance to connect with them,” he … [Read more...]
Louisiana Notables
By Staff, Baptist Message ON THE MOVE Ryan and Katy Newsome James are new as minister of discipleship and student minister respectively at First Baptist Church, Crowley. Both are new positions in the church. Tim, wife Karen, Buford is the new pastor at First Baptist Church, Luling. Steven Kelly, pastor at Bayou Vista Baptist Church, Morgan City, is the Bi-Vocational DOM for the Gulf Coast Association. Stephen, wife Jessica, Jennings is the new associate pastor of music and worship at Colyell Baptist Church, Livingston. IN REMEMBERANCE Ralph Thomas Self, who ministered for more than 60 years, passed away July 8 at the age of 87. He was laid to rest in Memory Lawn Cemetery in Natchitoches. Licensed to preach at the age of 17, he was ordained into the ministry by Troy V. Wheeler in April of 1948 at First Baptist Church in Natchitoches. He served as pastor of various congregations for over 60 years. He is survived by his wife of 62 ½ years, Louise Cox Self; son, Dwayne Self and wife, Tami; daughters, Beth S. Laseter and husband, John, Charlotte S. Pate and husband, Randy, Sr.; grandchildren, Katie and husband, Bill Sargeant, Tiuana and husband, Jamey McDonald, Ashley and husband, Danny Mandolfo and Randy Pate, … [Read more...]
Broadmoor Baptist’s B-groups have transformed members into missionaries
By Karen Pearce, Regional Reporter SHREVEPORT – When Keith Payne left Broadmoor Baptist Church (BBC) to pastor his own congregation three-and-a-half years ago, he had a healthy model of church to follow. But when he returned last year to become BBC’s part-time missions pastor, something dramatic had shifted. In Pastor Chuck Pourciau’s words, they had become missionaries. “When I came back it was just exploding – I was blown away at everything they were doing,” Payne said. “I just had no idea that there were so many places where we had missionaries and where we were getting involved. It had doubled, it seemed, since I had left three years before.” In fact, it had more than doubled. They went from having around 200 people participating in part-time mission trips, to well over 500 as well as multiple local and regional mission partnerships. What happened? B-groups happened “We used to call it Sunday school but realized that didn’t communicate to the modern mind what all it was – it communicated something that only happened on Sunday and something that’s school.” Pourciau said. “We finally just made up a word – B-groups. That’s the first letter of our churches name and what we’re saying is it helps you believe, … [Read more...]
Louisiana Baptist churches seeking to multiply through ReGroup
By Staff, Baptist Message LAFAYETTE – It’s time to ReGroup. That’s the goal of an upcoming conference for Louisiana Baptist churches wanting to multiply but unsure as to why the growth in their congregations is not happening. Scheduled for Aug. 15 at First Baptist Lafayette, ReGroup Conference will focus on four areas of the ReGroup Strategy – sharing the gospel, developing biblical community, helping believes mature spiritually and equipping believers to live missionally. “My goal for the ReGroup Conference is that participants would be challenged and inspired as leaders in the local church to go home understanding that we are called to make disciples,” said Sean Keith, Sunday School and discipleship strategist for Louisiana Baptists. “The churches best strategy to make disciples is through small groups of people like a Sunday School class. We want to challenge every group to: share the gospel with the lost, develop true biblical community in the group, help members to grow spiritually and equip members to serve missionally.” Jeff Iorg, president of Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, is the keynote speaker for the conference. The Matt Papa Band will lead music. The conference also will feature lunch and … [Read more...]
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