By Karen L. Willoughby, Managing Editor   PINEVILLE – The Joseph Willis Institute for Great Awakening Studies was launched Jan. 24 at the 2012 Louisiana Evangelism Conference as a partnership between Louisiana College and the Louisiana Baptist Convention.[img_assist|nid=7876|title=Joseph Willis Institute|desc=Randy Willis, the fifth-great-grandson of Joseph Willis, (center) watches as Evangelist Sammy Tippit (left) presents Louisiana College President Joe Aguillard with a box of documents, DVDs and audio discs containing historical accounts and information on the development of the Baptist faith in Louisiana through the efforts of Joseph Willis.|link=none|align=left|width=640|height=424]   Conceived by Evangelist Sammy Tippit, a Louisiana native, the “JWI” as it is likely to become known, is to educate the present and future generations of spiritual leaders on the historical and biblical principles of the great Christian revivals that have significantly impacted Western civilization, culture and church growth around the world, according to a brochure promoting the Institute.   “Dr. [David] Hankins’ and Wayne Jenkins’ heart at the Louisiana Baptist Convention for revival connects with the heart of … [Read more...]

By Mark H. Hunter, Regional Reporter   [img_assist|nid=7878|title=2012 Life March|desc=More than 3,500 people from across Louisiana participated in the 2nd annual Louisiana Life March on Saturday, Jan. 21, in downtown Baton Rouge. Despite occasional rain, the march stretched for five blocks from the Old State Capitol to the present State Capitol building.|link=none|align=right|width=640|height=422]BATON ROUGE – When Phyllis Clark was pregnant in 1978, she was tired and ill, so her doctor suggested an abortion. She ignored his advice and her son Jeremy, now 34, was born healthy and normal.   “That’s why we marched,” Clark said, after the second annual Louisiana Life March took place in Baton Rouge on Saturday, Jan. 21. “The devil tried to rob me of my son!”   Phyllis and her husband Mike are members of Istrouma Baptist Church in Baton Rouge. “As Christians we need to take a stand for life,” Mike Clark said.   The Clarks joined about 3,500 other pro-life supporters of all races and denominations. They filled five downtown city blocks as they carried banners, sang songs and marched from the Old State Capitol through spotty rain showers.   When they arrived at the state capitol … [Read more...]

By Kelly Boggs, Message Editor As I write this column, I do so with a new mantle of responsibility. On Jan. 23, the Baptist Message Board of Trustee voted unanimously to approve a proposal that will place me over the public affairs work of the Louisiana Baptist Convention. See article on page 8 for more on this. I accept this new capacity because I believe it is needful and necessary. We live in a republic that is predicated upon a participatory democracy. One of the ways we participate is by voicing our concerns to our elected representatives over issues important to us. As Louisiana Baptists, we routinely vote to approve resolutions at our annual meetings. These resolutions represent our collective voice over issues we deem important. One of the tasks in my new capacity is to represent this collective voice before elected officials when they gather in Legislative Session in Baton Rouge. In approaching this task, I reflect on the words of Jesus who said, “You are the salt of the earth … You are the light of the world …” One thing salt and light have in common is that wherever you place them, they have a definite impact. My prayer is that Louisiana Baptists will have an impact on our elected representatives when … [Read more...]

By Andy Johnson, Pastor Crossroads Baptist Church Farmerville, La.   Recently on her OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network) show titled “Oprah’s Next Chapter,” the 57-year- old talk-show icon interviewed the pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas: Joel Osteen, and his wife Victoria.   Lakewood Church is recognized as the largest church in America, meeting in what used to be the Compaq Center in downtown Houston. The building seats more than 16,000.   Among the topics discussed during the interview were televangelist scandals and mega-church business practices as well as the 48-year-old Osteen’s success in authoring several New York Times bestselling books.   But the questions that remain leave me wondering why this church and many like it have become so popular in today’s culture.   One thing that puzzles me is the blatant absence of scriptural references in Osteen’s sermons. In the interview, he addressed this by reflecting on his early days as Lakewood’s pastor.   Joel Osteen’s father was the founding pastor of Lakewood Church. When the elder Osteen died of a sudden heart attack in 1999, the role of preacher was seemingly thrust upon Joel.   Osteen recounted, … [Read more...]

By Argile Smith, Louisiana College   The account of Paul’s journey to Thessalonica in Acts 17 warms and breaks our hearts all at the same time.   A fountain of joy floods our hearts as we read about the way Paul started the church there (17:1-5). As soon as he arrived in Thessalonica, he visited the synagogue and shared the gospel with anyone who would listen to him.   Taking them to the Scriptures, he explained that Jesus of Nazareth was the Son of God, the Messiah promised long ago. Some of them believed what Paul proclaimed, and they received Christ. Along with the Jewish people who listened to him at the synagogue, he shared the gospel with others in the city, and many of them gave their lives to Christ as well.   Gathering people he had led to Christ, Paul established a church. His congregation consisted of new believers who needed to grow so they would become healthy, vibrant, and resilient disciples.   Our hearts break, however, when we read about what happened next (17:6-15). A handful of jealous Jewish leaders who didn’t take Paul seriously got angry when they observed the success of his message. They put their rage to work by stirring up a mean mob that went after … [Read more...]

By Bill Warren, NOBTS   Question: What did Jesus mean in Matthew 16 when he talked about the rock, building his church, and binding and loosing stuff?   Bill Warren responds: In Matthew 16:16-20, after Peter proclaims that Jesus is the Messiah, Jesus congratulates him for this divine insight, followed by the statements related to your question. In verse 18, Jesus declares “you are Peter” (“Peter” in Greek = “rock”), and then says “on this rock I’ll build my church.”   So what is the “rock” Jesus is going to build upon? Is it Peter, or does the Greek word “petros” refer to a small rock versus a large rock “petra” that is the foundation, or is the rock Peter’s confession? In the first century, the word “Peter” (“petros” = masculine) would have been normal for referring to a man, but the word translated “rock” (“petra” = feminine) was the normal word for a rock. Later the masculine form came to refer to a small rock, but that was not a first century common usage.   In other words, Jesus is indeed referring to Peter with both words, but of course he is referring to Peter as one with divine insight into the person of Jesus as the Messiah. But this same Peter in verses 22 and 23 fails to … [Read more...]

By Randy Hales, Special to the Message   GIBSLAND – One hundred and fifty members of churches in Bienville Baptist Association gathered recently at historic Mount Lebanon, where Charles Middleton is pastor, to bring to a climax 21 days of prayer.   Each of the 21 churches in Bienville Association were encouraged to choose a day to pray specifically for a spiritual awakening. All the churches were invited to end the emphasis at Mount Lebanon.   On January 22 they gathered for a season of prayer. God was present! Confessions, prayers, and testimonies brought tears to many eyes.[img_assist|nid=7885|title=Prayer Warriors|desc=One hundred fifty members from 21 churches in the Bienville Baptist Association gather at Mount Lebanon Church to bring to an end 21 days of prayer for Spiritual Awakening.|link=none|align=right|width=640|height=480]   The meeting began with songs of praise and worship. Bob Jameson, chairman of the Bienville Awaken Committee, shared about how the season of prayer would be observed. He said there would be no agenda. We would silently wait in prayer and allow God to move us to confession, prayer, or testimonies as the Holy Spirit directed.   In the silence God … [Read more...]