By Karen L. Willoughby, Managing Editor   [img_assist|nid=7623|title=Block Party|desc=Ways volunteers can help: Serving food, registering, witnessing and even face painting for one of the many block parties that will be taking place.|link=none|align=left|width=640|height=424]NORTHSHORE – At least 250 volunteers – and several bovine stock – are needed for the Crossover events that precede this year’s mid-November annual meeting of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, including 60 for the rodeo slated to be one of several non-typical Crossover activities.   More about the rodeo later in this article.   “We have planned Crossover along the entire width of the Northshore Baptist Association,” said Tobey Pitman, Crossover coordinator and NBA community ministries strategist/missionary. “Our churches understand that Crossover is the single greatest opportunity Louisiana Baptists have for a concerted evangelistic thrust every year, and 2011 is our year to be able to plan and implement big.”   First Baptist Church of Covington is the site for the 2011 annual meeting of the Louisiana Baptist Convention on Nov. 14-15. Northshore is a new  association formed by Chappapeela, LaTangi and St. Tammany … [Read more...]

By Kelly Boggs, Baptist Message Editor A California organization gathered at a Huntington Beach, Calif., pier Sept. 17 for the expressed purpose of ripping out pages of a religion’s centuries-old sacred text. It is very unlikely that you are aware this event even took place. A search on Google News revealed that only one newspaper nationwide gave any attention to the event. The Orange County Register ran a modest story Sept. 15 on the planned desecration. The same was true after the fact. If the organization were Christian and ripping pages from the Quran or destroying the book “Heather Has Two Mommies,” it likely would have garnered media attention from sea to shining sea, with the Christians portrayed as insensitive bigots or intolerant censors. Yet the group in question is not Christian, but instead an atheist group – and it is tearing pages from the Bible. Members of Backyard Skeptics, described by the Orange County Register as “a grassroots atheist group,” will gather “to rip out pages with specific passages of the Bible that they say portray immoral biblical law.” I regard the atheist group’s attack on the Bible the same way I view fringe Christian organizations that pull similar stunts. It is nothing more than a crass … [Read more...]

By Andy Johnson, Pastor Crossroads Baptist Church, Farmerville Belieber: Fame, Faith, & the Heart of Justin Bieber hit bookstores in September.  Since the subject is currently a hot cultural commodity the book authored by Cathleen Falsani, an award-winning columnist for the Religion News Service, is likely to sell very well. At only 17 years old Justin Beiber has achieved the lofty status of pop icon. The young Canadian’s style of music was influenced by his close relationship with the recording artist known as Usher. A sure sign of pop culture success, Bieber’s Twitter account recently peaked at 6 million followers. The young singer has clearly taken captive the hearts of youth across America. However, as far as a “figure of faith” goes in American pop culture, let us not prematurely presume that Justin Bieber is the next Billy Graham. In a 2011 interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Bieber, was, and is still, very inconclusive on the issues of morality. On whether premarital sex is right or wrong in God’s eyes, he concluded, “I don’t think you should have sex with anyone unless you love them.” Concerning homosexuality, Bieber said, “It’s everyone’s own decision to do that. It doesn’t affect me, and it shouldn’t affect … [Read more...]

By Quinn Lavesper, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE – For some, abortion is an acceptable choice. For others, it’s one of the most horrible sins against God you could ever commit.[img_assist|nid=7627|title=Hannah's Plea|desc=Hannah’s Plea Director Becky Reynaud in button-up shirt and peer-counselor-in-training Kathy Rogers in “I love VBS” shirt work together for the sake of unborn children and their moms.|link=none|align=right|width=640|height=480] Led by director Becky Reynaud, Hannah’s Plea displays a Christ-like love for the sanctity of life as it attempts to dissuade pregnant women from going through with the choice to abort their children. “We have great love for these women,” Reynaud said. “We don’t want them to make choices that’ll hurt them inside and go against God.” Located in the associational mission offices of the Baptist Mission Center in Pineville, Hannah’s Plea is a pregnancy care center “trying to reach out and extend God’s love to girls who are in unplanned pregnancies or crises and need to talk to someone for godly guidance,” Reynaud said. The center is focusing in a new direction under Reynaud, who became director earlier this year. “Our main thing right now, since we’re just starting, is to find … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Press NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) – Churches and other groups who want to engage hunger issues have a variety of resources available to them. A new item for 2011 is World Hunger 101, a two-hour church-wide event that explores the issue of world hunger. The downloadable event pack from Woman’s Missionary Union includes suggestions about ways to introduce the topic and how to consolidate a full understanding of issues related to hunger. Each age-level session plan includes promotion ideas and hunger project ideas. World Hunger 101 is available for download at www.wmustore.com. A wide variety of resources also can be found at www.worldhungerfund.com, the homepage for the Southern Baptist World Hunger Fund. Among the free downloadable resources available at worldhungerfund.com: n Bulletin inserts, the World Hunger Fund logo, mini-poster ads, videos and a PowerPoint presentation. n Soup can labels to create receptacles for WHF donations. n A mini coloring book depicting real people whose lives are being touched through Southern Baptist hunger ministries. n A drama script that can be used to educate church groups on the Christian mandate to minister to the poor. Among the low-cost items available for order on the … [Read more...]

Special to the Message [img_assist|nid=7631|title=Mike Walker|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=72|height=100]LAFAYETTE – Mike Walker, pastor of East Bayou Baptist Church, Lafayette, is to be nominated for the position of president of the Louisiana Baptist Convention during the LBC’s 2011 annual meeting, according to a press release distributed by Mike Hollway, pastor of Cook Baptist Church in Ruston. The LBC Annual Meeting is set to meet Nov. 14-15 at First Baptist Church in Covington. Walker, who has been pastor of East Bayou for more than 27 years, is described in the press release as a “man with a heart for the lost.” Among the accomplishments listed the release are leading “his church through strategic changes that have transformed East Bayou from a mission, birthed through the ministry of Emmanuel Baptist Church, to the vibrant ministry center it is today.” Advances made at East Bayou during Walker’s tenure include launching multiple worship venues, building a strong Celebrate Recovery program and implementing a comprehensive ministry to families to help guide parents in building strong families, the release indicated. According to the release, Walker has led East Bayou to plant churches throughout south Louisiana. Among … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message [img_assist|nid=7633|title=Jack Hunter|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=75|height=100]NEW ORLEANS – The 107 churches and missions that comprise the New Orleans Baptist Association elected Jack Hunter Sept. 21 as its executive director of missions. Hunter has served as interim executive director since the death of Duane McDaniel in May. “This action was taken in the executive committee business session Wednesday, Sept. 21, after appropriate notice, prayer, and discussion,” said David Crosby, chairman of NOBA’s administrative committee and pastor of First Baptist Church of New Orleans. “The executive committee supported the recommendation of the administrative committee in voting by two-thirds vote to suspend the rules, foregoing the formal search process,” Crosby continued. “The motion to elect Jack Hunter as our new NOBA executive director surpassed the required three-quarters majority.” Hunter, a native of New Orleans, has worked as an attorney since 1978. In 2009, he joined the NOBA staff to assist then-Executive Director McDaniel with strategy development. “Our Baptist community is highly blessed to live and serve in the greater New Orleans area,” Hunter said. “NOBA’s strategy of church planting, … [Read more...]

By Tammi Reed Ledbetter, Special to the Message   GRAPEVINE, Texas – Bible drill and speakers’ tournament participants will rely on either the King James Version or Holman Christian Standard Bible when they compete next spring in regional and statewide competition.   The decision to drop the New International Version as one of the options resulted from concern that the 2011 NIV translation features extensive gender-neutral language left over from the controversial TNIV, published in 2005.   This shift in translation principles sets a potentially dangerous precedent in biblical interpretation, said Kenneth Priest, Southern Baptists of Texas Convention church ministries associate, who announced the decision in a letter to Texas pastors.   Louisiana Baptist Convention and Georgia Baptist Convention leaders indicated they also are removing the NIV as a translation used in Bible Drill and Speakers’ Tournament.   After studying press releases from the NIV’s Committee on Biblical Translation and consulting with Southern Baptist scholars and the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, a recommendation was made against using the new NIV.   The 2011 NIV is an updated … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message   PINEVILLE – Louisiana College appears in the D3football.com top 25 for the first time. The Wildcats are currently ranked No. 19 in the poll released Sept. 26 by the consummate web site for NCAA Division III football.[img_assist|nid=7636|title=Darnell Williams|desc=Louisiana College senior wide receiver Darnell Williams works for extra yards in LC’s 52-17 win over No. 23 Mississippi College.|link=none|align=right|width=640|height=424]   Colleges and universities that compete in DIII athletics participate in the NCAA subdivision, which is defined by being non-scholarship. Players competing at the DIII level do not receive athletic scholarships.   LC broke in the D3football.com poll by virtue of its 3-0 start that includes convincing wins over Millsaps College and conference rival Mississippi College. The Wildcats beat Millsaps in the second game of the season 56-0 and defeated MC 52-17 on Sept. 24.   The Wildcats opened the season with a win over Belhaven University of Jackson, Miss. Belhaven competes in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and, as such, is able to offer athletic scholarships. LC outscored Belhaven 32-24 in the drenching rain of … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message   ARRIVALS/DEPARTURES   Charles Marceau: new as pastor at Big Cane in Big Cane/Morrow.   Myron Turner: new as music minister at Oak Grove Eros.   Rayland Trisler: new as interim pastor of Oak Ridge Baptist in Oak Ridge.   Freddie (wife Elaine) Arnold: new as interim minister of education at First Livingston.   Lavelle Spillers: new as pastor of Pleasure Point Homer.   Needed/Giving   Coldwater Baptist Church needs fulltime or part-time minister. Send resume to 6558 Hwy. 6, Natchitoches, LA 71457. Call 318.352.3251 or 318.355.1777.   Ed Baldwin is available for interim, supply, bivocational or full-time pastorate in Central Louisiana. Call 337.378.4823.   Bayou Baptist Association churches without pastors: Little Caillou, South Lafourche, First Raceland, First Thibodaux. DOM: Joe Arnold. 985.868.7352.   Northeast Louisiana Baptist Association churches without pastors: Bethel, Jerusalem, M cClendon, Parkview. DOM: Jerry Price. 318.537.9548.   Morehouse Baptist Association churches without pastors: Antioch, Cherry Ridge, Collinston, Grace, Horseshoe, Oak Hill, Riverside, White … [Read more...]