By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer
MONROE, La. (LBM) – During the 2021 Louisiana Baptist Pastor’s Conference, Nov. 15, in the North Monroe Baptist Church, Monroe, speakers offered words of encouragement and conviction to pastors.
TITUS WHITE
Titus White, pastor of Grace Community Church, Baton Rouge, spoke during the opening session from Daniel 3:13-14, 25 to urge the crowd to stand firm on the Word of God.
He pointed to the faithfulness of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, who refused to bow to the image of gold made by King Nebuchadnezzar. He said they were brave in the midst of captivity, united in the midst of conformity and safe in the midst of captivity – and their obedience was rewarded.
“God has given them a platform of persecution to stand before men so God could get the glory,” White said. “We’ve got to understand God sometimes puts us in a platform of persecution that God can get the glory out of our lives. They did not bend or bow. They stood firm on the Word of God.”
EDDIE WREN
Eddie Wren, pastor of First Baptist Church, Rayville, reminded pastors they can find peace and joy in Jesus. Preaching from Philippians 4, Wren said if pastors are going to stand firm they must worship, pray and act like Jesus.
“If we are going to stand firm, we have to find our joy in the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords,” Wren said. “We have to find joy in the one who holds us in His hand and is so strong that no one can snatch us from Him.”
Wren said Christians should practice prayer, supplication and thanks[1]giving when worry begins to set in.
“If we don’t go before God with a grateful heart then we need to do a check because something’s wrong,” he said. “We’ve forgotten who He is and who we are. Instead of worrying, we should go to the Lord. When we take our worries to Christ, we are trusting Him; and the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
JAMIE DEW
Jamie Drew, president of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, used 1 Peter 3:13 to challenge pastors to remain anchored in their calling to share the Gospel in a world hostile to the message of Christ.
He said it is an honor to suffer for righteousness’ sake and that Christ followers should love Jesus supremely, share Christ at all times, speak respectfully and keep a clear conscious.
Dew added that while he is saddened by the lack of respect for one another on social media by some who profess to be Christ followers, he is encouraged by the spirit of those he visits each week at church[1]es in Louisiana and across the United States.
“At the end of the day Southern Baptists are kind, they’re faithful, they love Jesus and they love people,” Dew said. “And it gives me hope. The Gospel that we preach is offensive in its own right. The Gospel confronts people where they are and it says, ‘You are a wretch, you are a scoundrel.’ That’s why God says, ‘Don’t add our offensiveness on top of that.’ Always be ready to give a defense of the hope that is within you. Share Christ with people but do it with gentleness and respect.”
STEVE HORN
Louisiana Baptist Executive Director Steve Horn cited 1 Peter 5:5-11 to exhort pastors to be hopeful and stand firm when facing spiritual battles.
Horn said pastors who are in spiritual battles must stand firm against pride and Satan – that they must stand firm in the faith. He also reminded pastors to be humble toward others and God as they fight this spiritual battle against evil forces.
“The ultimate evidence of our trust in Jesus to be our living hope is to act in humility,” Horn said. “As we humble ourselves, we cast our cares upon Him.”
Horn closed his message with a challenge to remain strong in the faith.
“In face of everything culture throws at us, let us be reminded here today this is no time to go wobbly,” he said. “Stand firm.”
WAYLON BAILEY
Waylon Bailey, pastor of First Baptist Church, Covington, cited Jeremiah 1:4-19 to remind pastors they are formed to do God’s work, for the Master and His plan, to proclaim God’s Word and to be faithful and true.
Bailey said Christ followers will be tempted to draw back from the fight, but that they must resist and remember that now is the time not to retreat.
“It’s not time for us to keep our heads down,” Bailey said. “It’s time for us to get our heads up.” Bailey cautioned pastors not to succumb to Satan’s temptations of discouragement, fear and timidity. Instead, he told them, be bold and courageous.
“Somebody will fight against you,” he said. “There’s an enemy who fights against us and certainly he is not harmless. But the enemy will not overcome you because ‘I am with you,’ says the Lord. God’s way is not to take us out of the fight. It is God’s way to lock arms with us in the middle of the fight. Because He does that, we can be faithful and true and obedient unto Him.”
TOMMY FRENCH
Tommy French, pastor emeritus of Jefferson Baptist Church, Baton Rouge, reminded pastors to stand firm in a wicked culture that embraces sin. He said multiple prophesies are being fulfilled and that great tribulations are on the horizon. Therefore, the Church must stand strong and be a bold witness to a world that needs Christ.
“God has called us, the pastors, to teach message of eternal life,” French said. “Your faithfulness to preach that message is the only thing that stands between sinful men and the eternal lake of fire.”
TONY PERKINS
Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, an evangelical public policy ministry, based in Washington, D.C., with offices in Baton Rouge, said if Christ followers want to see His Kingdom advanced in today’s culture, they must be strong in the Lord, be prepared for the conflict, be bold to speak and not remain silent.
Perkins, a former interim pastor of Greenwell Springs Baptist Church near Baton Rouge, Louisiana representative and member of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, encouraged pastors to spend time in prayer and Scripture reading, and not to try to fit in with the culture.
“Are you spending time on a daily basis in your prayer closet crying out to God for your community, for this state and for this nation,” Perkins said. “Are you spending time in his Word other than just sermon preparation? Are you challenging your people to be in the Word of God? We are powerless without the Word of God.”
Despite the challenges the United States is facing, Perkins said he remains encouraged by the men and women of God who feel called to serve in politics.
“One reason I’m encouraged that God is not finished with America is He is continuously calling more and men and women of deep faith to our nation’s capital to serve,” Perkins said. “Men and women who love the Lord Jesus and they are there at great sacrifice to serve because they believe the Lord has called them there. Last time I checked God doesn’t call people to go in when He’s ready to destroy; when He’s finished, He calls them out.”
LANGIAPPE
Elected to lead the 2022 Pastors Conference are: James Doughty, pastor, First Baptist Church, Monroe, president; Ben Hackler, pastor, First Baptist Church, Sterlington, vice-president; and Wes Pierce, student pas[1]tor, Cook Baptist Church, Ruston, secretary-treasurer.
