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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Questions we’ve pondered

By Archie England, Professor of Old Testament and Hebrew at NOBTS   Question: Should Christians give their wealth to others who are less fortunate, especially in light of the financial needs of churches and ministry organizations these days?   Archie England responds, with Zechariah 7:14 as the scriptural basis: Zechariah and Haggai ministered to Jews returning from exile. The Persians had allowed them provisions and materials to rebuild their temple and to renew their lands. Hope exuded among the people because they anticipated renewed blessings from God. In fact, they had faithfully participated in 30-day fasts, twice a year, for 70 years. They had prayed for such renewal and restoration!   And, it had finally arrived – only Zechariah challenged them very differently from what they expected. The prophet informed Israel that God’s blessings have a purpose: helping others. Specifically, Zechariah gave that post-exilic community three guidelines to clarify (1) how to enjoy God’s blessings and (2) how to escape the same fate as their ancestors.   First, Israel must make good decisions that are full of integrity. The text literally reads, “judge true judgments.” To judge, here, necessitates … [Read more...]

Aluminum tabs keep popping up for Emma

By Karen L. Willoughby, Managing Editor [img_assist|nid=7925|title=Emma Miller|desc=Emma Miller, 9 and a fourth-grader at Phoenix Magnet School in Pineville, packed 21 gallons of aluminum can tabs Jan. 18 to help the families of cancer patients at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.|link=none|align=left|width=480|height=640]PINEVILLE/BALL – Emma Miller was 6 years old when she started a mission project to help a teenage friend with cancer. She’s now 9, and though her friend appears to be cancer-free, the project continues: Emma collects the tabs from aluminum cans and sends them to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. To date she’s gathered more than 275 pounds, or about 300,000 tabs, her parents figure. “I’ve been so surprised they just keep showing up, and sometimes in large quantities,” said Kristetta Miller, Emma’s mom. “Since the article about it first appeared in the [October 2010 issue of the] Baptist Message, we have gotten them from all over the state.” That article still is available online at www.baptistmessage.com. The tabs provide income used to pay for expenses of cancer patients’ families staying free up to six months at the Ronald McDonald house. “I’m amazed people have … [Read more...]

Childrens Home develops Foster Care & Adoption Network

By Karen L. Willoughby, Managing Editor STATEWIDE – The Louisiana Baptist Childrens Home has found a new way to minister to hurting youngsters across the Pelican state, and also is in the initial stages of expanding globally. With at least 4,500 children in the foster care system in Louisiana, and with just a few more than 2,200 homes certified as foster care providers, there is an urgent need for additional foster parents. There also is a need for a support system for foster parents who deal daily with the effects of children who have been neglected or abused, or whose parents are too ill to care for them, or are in prison. “The state doesn’t have enough foster homes, and where better for those children to be than in godly Christian homes where they can experience God’s love? Our vision is for hundreds of foster children to be in Louisiana Baptist homes,” said Perry Hancock, LBCH president and CEO. LBCH is leading the charge to bring a fresh awareness of the ministry involved in being a foster care provider, and it has developed a church-based foster care network for those providers. “We can help churches envision the ministry and then equip them to minister in unique ways to foster children and their families,” Hancock … [Read more...]

LBF welcomes seven new board members at meeting

Jerry Love, LBF Communications ALEXANDRIA – The Louisiana Baptist Foundation’s Board of Trustees met for their regular quarterly meeting on Jan. 31 at the Louisiana Baptist Building in Alexandria. Because of an unusual cycle in board members’ tenure, the Foundation welcomed seven new trustees for the coming year. Cornelius Tilton, pastor of Irish Channel Christian Fellowship in New Orleans and the LBF Board President for 2012, presided over the meetings. Tilton was elected at the last trustee meeting in October 2011. The Foundation Board started the day with the Investment Committee Meeting. Lee Morris, managing director with Graystone Consulting, along with Mary Ann Akin, senior business consultant, presented the Board with a summary of economic activity from 2011, a forecast of what they expect in 2012 and a review of the performance of the LBF’s portfolio. Morris recapped what he termed as an “interesting” year of events that had impact on the economy and the investment markets. He referenced a timeline that showed the so-called “Arab Spring” and the earthquake in Japan, with economic collapse in the European Union, and the U.S. Congress failing to come to a consensus on anything related to the economy. Despite the … [Read more...]

Q&A: Luter talks about priorities if elected

By Karen L. Willoughby, Managing Editor   NEW ORLEANS (BP) – Two weeks into a church-wide 21-day session of prayer and fasting, Fred Luter came to the conclusion that God wanted him to allow his nomination for the Southern Baptist Convention’s presidency.   After 30 years as a follower of Jesus Christ and 25 years as pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, Luter said he became convinced that God had brought him to such a juncture in his Christian life.   “I wanted to make sure this was not something I was doing out of the flesh, something I was doing out just of popularity, notoriety,” Luter said. “I wanted it to be of God. I prayed about it, and my wife – her relationship with God is just one I truly admire and respect – was praying for me, and others in the church.   [img_assist|nid=7941|title=Fred Luter Q&A|desc=Franklin Avenue Baptist Church Senior Pastor Fred Luter has agreed to have his name placed in nomination for the presidency of the Southern Baptist Convention. Standing behind him is David Crosby, Pastor of First New Orleans. Crosby will nominate Luter for the SBC presidency when the SBC Annual Meeting comes to New Orleans in … [Read more...]