By Staff, Baptist Press CRYSTAL SPRINGS, Miss. (BP) – First Baptist Church in Crystal Springs, Miss., has publicly apologized after an African American couple was barred because of their race from holding their wedding at the predominantly white church. “Both the pastor and those involved in the wedding location being changed have expressed their regrets and sorrow for their actions. This wrong decision resulted in hurt and sadness for everyone,” the church said in a statement read at the end of its Sunday (Aug. 5) worship service and posted on its website. The congregation drew negative publicity when pastor Stan Weatherford told the couple he could not perform their wedding at the 150-year-old church because a few members objected to blacks being married there. Instead, Weatherford married Charles and Te’Andrea (Henderson) Wilson at a nearby African American church. “We are seeking forgiveness and reconciliation with our Lord Jesus Christ, Te’Andrea and Charles, family and friends of the Hendersons and Wilsons, our church family, and our community for the actions and attitudes that have recently occurred,” the church said, one week after town leaders, other First Baptist members and various observers expressed … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Wed, 08/15/2012 - 01:00 Discussing Calvinism: During a Q&A at Kentucky Baptist Convention’s conference entitled “Calvinism: Concerned, Confused, or Curious,” Executive Committee President Frank Page answers a question from one of the attendees. Other panelists were: (second from left) Hershael York, Kevin Smith (moderator), Steve Lemke and David Dockery.   By Michael Foust, Baptist Press CRESTWOOD, Ky. (BP) – A panel of four Southern Baptist leaders Saturday (Aug. 4) talked honestly about the division within the convention over the issue of Calvinism while offering suggestions and maintaining that Southern Baptists should and can unite, despite differences. “Baptists for 400 years have disagreed over this issue, and we’re not going to come to some place where we all agree. I think we can come to a place where we all can work together,” said Union University President David Dockery, one of the speakers at a conference sponsored by the Kentucky Baptist Convention. The conference, called “Calvinism: Concerned, Confused, or Curious,” took place at Crestwood (Ky.) Baptist Church. “In the 18th century, there were particular [Calvinist] and general Baptists, but at the … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Wed, 08/15/2012 - 01:00 LC Football   By John Willie, LC Communications PINEVILLE – The faculty and staff are getting ready for another great year at Louisiana College. Student leaders are preparing for more than 330 freshmen to be on campus for the annual Wildcat Welcome Week, Louisiana College’s orientation for all incoming freshman. It’s a time for the freshmen to meet the students and staff they’ll be around for the next four years. The week will introduce students to LC by placing them in groups led by upperclassmen where they will learn the essentials of college life. The Louisiana Collegiate International Academy kicks off this fall with 11 Chinese students and five local students completing their high school degrees. LCIA offers students from around the world the opportunity to accelerate their academic careers in a collegiate campus setting with college-level courses. Students who attend LCIA can potentially earn as many as 50 hours of college credit, fast tracking those students who may wish to pursue a Masters or Doctorate in the future. There are many exciting things happening at your college and it could not be done without the support of our students, … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Wed, 08/15/2012 - 01:00 First Coushatta Groundbreaking   By Staff, Baptist Message HAUGHTON – A softball and van ministry has translated into baptisms and changed lives for the community of Haughton. Michael Reichard, pastor of Koran Baptist Church, said a van ministry that transports as many as 150 children, youth and adults to the church on Sundays and Wednesdays has resulted in some of those people accepting Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. Additionally, a softball ministry that occurs each July provides an avenue for the community to gather, as well as the baptism of some of the participants – four families this summer, the pastor said. GRAWOOD BAPTIST GRAWOOD – Since November 2009 as many as 150 people from Grawood Baptist Church in Keithville have participated in a weekly missions project throughout the Shreveport/Bossier City area. Some of the projects have included feeding the homeless at a local mission, conducting game nights at a children’s hospital and nursing home, serving a meal at a former hotel where homeless veterans live and fellowshipping with the community over a home-cooked meal at Grawood Baptist. Pastor Tom Carlton said the efforts have … [Read more...]

  By Holly Jo Linzay, Special to the Message STATEWIDE – Noisily the children prepared to leave the room after the Bible story, but one little girl lingered. The third-grader had listened intently to the college student during the Vacation Bible School lesson.  Eyes bright with excitement, the child declared she wanted to ask Jesus into her heart. “This is what VBS is all about: souls being saved,” said Carla Johnson, a 22-year-old Northwestern State University student who is a member of the GoLA mission team. For the second summer, Johnson has served on the GoLA team, which was created four years ago as a partnership between the collegiate ministries and evangelism departments of the Louisiana Baptist Convention. This summer, two GoLA teams of six college students each, went to churches throughout the state helping them with their VBS programs. “This summer, the teams were more spiritually ready than ever,” Johnson said. “We let go of who we are, and allowed God to come in and have His way. We were more obedient to God.” By partnering with churches in need of ministry assistance, the GoLA VBS team helps the church reach out to people in their community who may have never heard the Gospel before. The GoLA teams are … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Wed, 08/15/2012 - 01:00   By Diana Chandler, Baptist Press MONTREAT, N.C. (BP) – Billy Graham established a precedent early in his ministry during America’s days of racial segregation by only proceeding with a crusade if blacks and whites could sit together in the audience. Graham’s standard resonated with Fred Luter during a July 26 visit with the evangelist at his home in Montreat, N.C. Graham applauded Luter’s election as the first African American president of the Southern Baptist Convention. “Dr. Graham was really excited about the future of the Southern Baptist Convention, and he was real excited that the convention had elected an African American president,” Luter said. “He’s always been one who believed in the different ethnic groups. There was a time when he wouldn’t even have his crusades in a town if other ethnic groups were not included. He wanted to make it inclusive, so he was really excited about [the election].” While race relations was not the main topic of the informal meeting, Luter said Graham did mention his support of racial equality in South Africa. “[We talked about] when he went to Africa to help end Apartheid there and how he got a chance to … [Read more...]

  By Staff, LBC Communications More than an offering...Georgia Barnette State Missions Georgia Barnette is more than an offering. It is an intentional effort that focuses our prayers and our resources on missions and ministries in Louisiana.  In honor of 200 years of Baptist Ministry in the state, the goal this year is $2 million.  It’s a big goal, exceeded only by the task that lies before us: impacting every person in Louisiana with the Gospel.  To view the videos or download resources, go towww.GeorgiaBarnette.org. When will awakening begin? “It’s going to begin when enough people are transformed so that we change the culture. We’ve got to change the culture and it won’t be changed by the statehouse. It has to be changed through individual people getting their lives transformed by the Lord Jesus Christ.” – John Bud Trailer  There’s still time to lead your church through the 21 Days of Prayer. Several are doing so in conjunction with the beginning of the school year and others are planning to begin 21 days prior to the election. Check out the Awaken Facebook page (facebook.com/AwakenLouisiana) or visit LBC.org/Awaken for more information and resources. It’s Time for an Awakening in Louisiana!  Igniters for … [Read more...]

  By Jerry Love, LBF Communications ALEXANDRIA – Despite market volatility in recent months, positive return numbers greeted the Trustees of the Louisiana Baptist Foundation at its regular quarterly meeting July 31 at the Louisiana Baptist Building in Alexandria. Travis Morehart of Shreveport chaired the morning Investment Committee, Wayne Hunt of Houma headed the Operating Committee, and Board President Cornelius Tilton of New Orleans presided over the afternoon meeting of the full Board of Trustees. The morning started with the Investment Committee hearing a report on the LBF investment returns from Lee Morris of Graystone Consulting. The current investment environment continues to be one of low rates and low return, Morris said. Despite swings in the stock markets the LBF portfolio is doing well thus far this year. The Group Investment Fund, which is the strategy used to invest the majority of the endowment funds held by the Foundation, has gained 5.41 percent since the beginning of the year, exceeding its benchmark by 80 basis points or .8 percent. The LBF Fixed Income Fund outpaced its benchmark by 2.92 percent, with a total return year to date of 4.05 percent. The Equity Fund returned a total of 6.15 percent … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Wed, 08/15/2012 - 01:00 Senior event: For 35 years, so far, First Baptist Church of Minden – east of Shreveport on I-20 – has hosted what they informally refer to as “summer camp for senior adults,” although its official name is “senior adult revival and mini chautauqua.” About 325 seniors from 21 churches participate in a 3-day event that this year included David Ring as speaker, Argile Smith, Ph.D., as Bible teacher, and Jim Bob & Louverl Griffin as musicians.   By Karen L. Willoughby, Managing Editor MINDEN – With little fanfare but amazing attention to detail, First Baptist Church of Minden hosts an event each summer designed to minister to senior adults from across Northern Louisiana. They’ve been leading what officially is known as a senior adult revival and mini chautauqua – “chautauqua” meaning “a summer school or educational meeting held in the summer,” according towww.dictionary.com. It’s named after the lake in upstate New York where it first took place. “We call it summer camp for senior adults,” says Bill Crider, pastor of that age group at First Minden, where Leland Crawford is senior pastor. People from 21 churches participated this early … [Read more...]

  By Staff, Baptist Message ARRIVALS/DEPATURES n Billy (wife Tommie) Pierce, new as interim pastor of First Baptist Homer. n Temple Baptist Ruston, Jeremy Asher, new as Minister of Music. Pastor: Rick Byargeon. n Nathan Jernigan, new as minister of music and outreach at Mulberry Baptist in Houma. Pastor: Steve Graves. n Alan Miller, new as transitional pastor at Alto Baptist in Alton. n Joshua Currie, new as associate pastor at Trinity Natchitoches. Pastor: George “Butch” Rogers. n Boomer (wife Abbie) Cates, new as minister of youth at Crockett Point Baptist in Crowville/Winnfield. Pastor: Joe Senn. n Rickey (wife Patsy) Robertson, new in June as pastor of Coldwater Baptist in Hagewood. n Josh (wife Ashley) Currie, new as associate pastor and youth director at Trinity Baptist Natchitoches. Pastor: George Rogers. n Tom Williams, resigns as minister of music and education from Ebenezer Baptist in Jonesboro. Pastor: Randy Lee. n Wayne Gray resigns as pastor of First Baptist Ferriday. n Wayne Sistrunk, new as pastor of Evergreen Baptist in Bernice. n Bob (wife Suzanne) Jameson resigned as pastor of First Baptist Gibsland to be assistant director of the Jerusalem Prayer Center in Israel. n A.R. “Pete” (wife Kathy) … [Read more...]