By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE – Louisiana has been selected as the host state for next year’s Bivocational Small Church Leadership Network National Celebration. Scheduled for June 26-27 at Louisiana College, the theme for the annual conference is “God Has A Plan For You And Your Church.” “I am really excited for the BSCLN National Celebration to be hosted at LC,” said Philip Caples, Vice President of Integration for Faith and Learning at LC and active member of the national organization for bivocational and smaller church pastors. “I have been working with these ladies and gentlemen for over two years, and they love to invest into the lives of ministers. Additionally, having the celebration at LC provides an opportunity for our pastors to learn from other pastors across the United States, which is an absolute blessing as well.” Fred Luter, pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans and former president of the Southern Baptist Convention, will be the keynote speaker. The Blackwell Family will lead worship. Pastors attending the conference will take part in six to eight breakout sessions designed to encourage and train them further. First Baptist Church in Pineville and the Louisiana Baptist … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Mon, 11/17/2014 - 10:50 Louisiana Baptist Convention President Steve Horn challenged and encouraged Louisiana Baptists to maximize their effectiveness for Gospel ministry by getting engaged throughout the state during his President’s Report at the 167th Annual Meeting of the Louisiana Baptist Convention. By Philip Timothy, Managing Editor LAFAYETTE – The challenges ahead are plentiful but early results are proving both encouraging and exciting. Messengers attending the 167th Annual Meeting of the Louisiana Baptist Convention at First Lafayette received their first progress report on the efforts of the President’s 2020 Commission and it was a good one. “This vision is not about us, it is not about our glory,” LBC President Steve Horn said during his report to the convention on the first night of the meeting. “Put simply, it’s all about God’s glory. Our motivation must be that God gets all of the glory. Quite frankly, I don’t really want to be a part of anything if God does not receive the glory.” Horn challenged and encouraged Louisiana Baptists to maximize their effectiveness in Gospel ministry by getting engaged. “If we want to be God’s church – God’s Convention of churches – our heartbeat … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Mon, 11/17/2014 - 11:00 Messengers had the opportunity to cast their ballots on three motions and seven resolutions during the 167th Annual Meeting of the Louisiana Baptist Convention at First Baptist Church in Lafayette. By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer LAFAYETTE – Unhappy with a procedural process, a messenger at the 167th Annual Meeting decried his inability to speak to a motion. Messenger Jay Adkins, pastor of First Westwego, asked to speak after the executive board declined to recommend any action on his 2013 motion about the supposed conflict the Executive Director has on entity boards as ex officio. In 2013, Adkins and messenger Lewis Richerson proposed two motions seeking to remove the ability of the state executive director to vote on convention boards. They were referred to the Executive Committee for study which denied both during the committee’s report on Tuesday, Nov. 11. Adkins attempted to appeal the decision, however, LBC President Steve Horn ruled him to be out of order. Adkins mistakenly thought he would be afforded the opportunity to speak as is the case in the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting however Horn informed him the LBC has no such rules in its … [Read more...]

By Holly Jo Linzay, Regional Reporter ALEXANDRIA – Hearts were stirred at the 127 Conference Nov. 8 at Calvary Baptist Church as the 120 attendees heard first-hand accounts of how fostering and adopting children impact lives. The conference is part of the effort to help families and churches across the state answer God’s call to minister to orphans through foster care, adoption and orphan care ministries, according to Dr. Perry Hancock, the president and CEO of the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home & Family Ministries, which sponsored the event through their Connect 1:27 ministry. “Just listen for the voice of God,” Hancock urged the group in the opening session in regards to what the Lord may speak to them in regards to orphans or foster children. Most of the people attending the conference currently are foster or adoptive parents, but many came to the event to find out how to get started in the process or to start a church ministry for orphan care. “We want to share the message of the need of homes for children and to connect children in need with churches that care,” said Beth Green, LBCH director of church and community ministries. In Louisiana, there are more than 4,500 children in foster care on any given day. … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Mon, 11/17/2014 - 11:04 Louisiana Baptist Foundation Executive Director Wayne Taylor (shown speaking at this year’s annual meeting) updated the committee of implementing new accounting software for the Foundation. By Jerry Love, LBC Communications ALEXANDRIA – The Louisiana Baptist Foundation Board of Trustees met for its regular quarterly Trustees meeting on Oct. 28. During the morning Investment Committee meeting, the various portfolios of the Foundation were reviewed in respect to performance and potential adjustments to asset allocation. Barbara Bell led a review of the financial assets under management. As of Sept. 30, the total assets managed by the LBF are $160,892,180.07 held in 2077 accounts on behalf of Baptist churches and ministries. A suggestion from fixed income manager Weaver Barksdale to allocate more of the portfolio to high yield bonds initiated the meeting’s discussions.  This suggestion was taken under consideration but no action was taken at this time. In reviewing other aspects of the portfolio it was noted that the equity portfolio, although generating a positive return, was trailing its benchmark for the year.  Equities make up a large portion of the overall … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Mon, 11/17/2014 - 11:07 Diz Smith, Dennis Milsap, Jerry Istre and Tony Branham of First Baptist Church of DeRidder once again took home the Team Trophy during the annual Louisiana Baptist Golf Fellowship with a combined scored of 313. Branham also finished as the Grand Champion of Medalist Play with a 74. By Jerry Love, LBF Communications ALEXANDRIA – Two beautiful days greeted golfers for the Fall edition of The Baptist Golf Fellowship held Oct. 20-21 at OakWing Golf Club in Alexandria. Golfers from all over the state were treated to vast amounts of sunshine and nice temps as they met for good fellowship, food, trophies, prizes and 36 holes of golf thrown in for good measure. The Baptist Golf Fellowship, currently sponsored by the Louisiana Baptist Foundation and the Baptist Message, is a time for pastors and laypersons to come together for a time of recreation, relaxation and light hearted competition around the game of golf. Medalist and Team play occurred on Monday afternoon with awards given during the banquet that evening at the Louisiana Baptist Building. Trophies were given for the best scores in Super Seniors (70 and above), Seniors (60-69), and Under 60 age brackets with each … [Read more...]

By Kelly Boggs, Message Editor News outlets reported incorrectly that a Nebraska school district was planning to prohibit teachers from referencing students as boys and girls or ladies and gentlemen. But the desire to create a genderless society in America does exist. Lincoln Public Schools Superintendent Steve Joel said Oct. 9 that “there’s ‘absolutely no truth’ to news and blogger accounts that his district is mandating that teachers replace the terms boys and girls with gender-neutral terms,” the Omaha World-Herald reported. The superintendent explained that a committee at Irving Middle School obtained materials from a group called Gender Spectrum that included a tip sheet for creating an environment of gender inclusiveness. The World-Herald reported, “Instead of calling kids with phrases like ‘boys & girls’ or ‘you guys,’ the tip sheet said teachers could say ‘calling all readers,’ ‘hey campers’ or ‘could all of the athletes come here.’ Students could be divided into groups assigned names. That way, for example, a teacher could ask ‘all of the “purple penguins” to meet at the rug.’” Superintendent Joel said nothing has been mandated in the Lincoln School District pertaining to gender inclusiveness. “The … [Read more...]

By John Yeats, Executive Director of Missouri Baptist Convention I was shocked when the Wall Street Journal recently ran articles about Southern Baptists and Apple Corporation’s Tim Cook on the same page. Interestingly, Cook’s “coming out” announcement actually was verification of old news. Running a story about Southern Baptists above the fold was a shock. The headline read, “Southern Baptists Soften Tone on Gays.” Really? Unlike the Roman Catholics who change at the whim of a pontiff, Southern Baptists on the whole have changed nothing because our core belief system is based on the unchanging absolutes of God’s Word. At the very least, the Journal headline was misleading. Allow me to list of five simple things to remember about Baptists, especially in the context of the social confusion created by a small minority of American citizens: First, Baptists are people of the Book. The principles of God’s Word are neither for sale nor are they negotiable. That makes Baptists a stubborn lot. While biblical principles are for all people everywhere, embracing the Gospel by faith gives individuals the opportunity to enter a personal relationship with the ultimate Author and Teacher of the Word. As a result, Baptists tend to test … [Read more...]

By Bob Carpenter, Pastor of Cedar Street Church I wish I could remember the name of the brother who greeted me and my family when we worshipped with Shadow Hills Church in Las Vegas. Many years later, I keenly remember the warm, enthusiastic way he took us under his care to find the worship center, receive bulletins and meet a few others before the musicians signaled the beginning of the service. Most surprising was his enthusiastic offer, “Can you join my family for dinner after worship?” I am certain it was apparent that we were just tourists and a family already practicing the faith, yet he still gave us the best welcome I have ever received from a church. I think of him often. He lived Christian hospitality. Here’s the question: “What’s become of Christian hospitality?” Before you dismiss the question with the usual, “Times have changed,” “We’re all too busy,” “We’ve become impersonal,” or “It’s not safe to bring strangers into your home,” consider that hospitality is a command from God’s Word: Romans 12:13b – “... practicing hospitality ...” Hebrews 13:2a – “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers ...” 1 Peter 4:9 – “Be hospitable to one another without complaint.” The word translated “hospitable” or … [Read more...]