by Michael Foust   GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (BP)--Few events in recent memory have caused as much controversy and confusion among evangelicals as the latest book by well-known pastor Rob Bell, who in "Love Wins" denies hell and affirms universalism -- all the while claiming he has done neither.   [img_assist|nid=7203|title=Love Wins|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=67|height=100]Bell's Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids, Mich., is nondenominational, but his books, "Velvet Elvis" among them, are popular among young evangelicals of all denominations and his Nooma videos -- well-produced and thought-provoking -- are used in even the most conservative of churches.   Bell -- a key figure in the emerging church movement -- often has flirted with controversy, such as the time in 2007 when he was asked about homosexuality and danced around the issue, refusing to take a historical biblical stand. Nothing that Bell has written or said, though, has been as controversial as Love Wins. The publisher, Harper Collins, intended to release it on March 29, but moved the date up two weeks after Justin Taylor, a blogger and executive at Crossway book publisher, wrote a critical review of the book's premise. Bell's … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Press   GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (BP) – Rob Bell's latest book, Love Wins, denies key doctrines essential to the Christian faith, Southern Baptist leaders say. Following are a sampling of what leaders at Southern Baptist seminaries are saying about the book: -- Daniel Akin, president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary: "The Bible is clear on the truths of the exclusivity of the Gospel and the eternal nature of both heaven and hell. Jesus, Himself, spoke clearly to these realities and so that should settle the question for all who call Him Lord. He was not ambiguous or opaque concerning the issues as some modern theologians seem to take delight. Further, if Hell is not real and Jesus is not the only Savior, then we have spent billions of dollars and sacrificed precious lives for nothing. Such theological nonsense empties the cross of its power and makes a mockery of the Great Commission text of Matthew 28:18-20, which constitute the final marching orders of our Commander-in-Chief. If I have to choose between the machinations of a modern theological gymnast and the words of Jesus on any issue, I will go with Jesus every time. He can always be trusted. [A] theological revisionist cannot!" -- … [Read more...]

By Erich Bridges, Baptist Press   DALLAS (BP)—Tom Elliff is the right person for the challenging task ahead, according to two men who know just how tough the job of International Mission Board president can be.   Jerry Rankin served as IMB president for 17 years before his retirement in July 2010. Executive Vice President Clyde Meador, who oversees day-to-day operations of the global mission agency, took on the added responsibility of interim president when Rankin retired.   Both think Elliff, who was elected IMB president March 16, has what it takes to mobilize Southern Baptists for international missions in the coming years.   “Tom brings an amazing combination of qualities to the task,” said Rankin when contacted for comment. “He has a deep personal walk with the Lord that inspires and challenges others. His heart for missions grows out of a personal calling. His understanding of mission strategy comes from years of involvement as a missionary, pastor and IMB senior executive team member. He has great communication skills, genuine passion to reach a lost world, the favor and respect of missionaries and IMB staff, and he is well-connected with the churches and Southern Baptist … [Read more...]

By Mark H. Hunter, Special to the Message   BATON ROUGE – The sound of children’s laughter echoes in the large sanctuary of Grace Baptist Church located in mid-city Baton Rouge. It’s a sound that hasn’t been heard here for many years.   [img_assist|nid=7209|title=Grace Baptist re-planted|desc=Grace Baptist Pastor Byron Townsend, formerly the missions pastor at CrossPoint Baptist, believes the inter-church friendship has been a ‘God thing.’|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=71]After booming in the 1950s and ‘60s to more than 400, the church slowly declined as several generations of its children grew up and moved away, until only a small handful of elderly members remained.   Grace’s congregation asked for help last year and CrossPoint Baptist, a thriving church of about 300 on the southeast edge of Baton Rouge, answered with its missions pastor and about 60 of its adults and children.   “This feels wonderful,” said lifelong Grace Baptist member and deacon George O’Neal, 74, as he smiled and looked across the once empty sanctuary – now half-filled with young couples and children on a recent Sunday morning.   “This is the greatest feeling - to see all these … [Read more...]

By Kelly Boggs, Editor   "There's an app for that," is a phrase that is part of many advertisements for the iPhone. Apple, maker of the popular smartphone, has trademarked the expression that conveys an application for most every subject is available for download online via the company's app store. Apple currently offers 134,000 apps, which is short for "applications" and refers to software programs utilized by a smartphone. While thousands of apps have gained Apple's approval, two Christian-based apps have recently been rejected. If you are interested in the Manhattan Declaration or Exodus International, you will find there's no longer an app for either. The Manhattan Declaration, according to its website, "is a 4,700-word declaration that speaks in defense of the sanctity of life, traditional marriage, and religious liberty." As such, the document contains language that opposes "gay marriage." To date, approximately 490,000 people, including many leading Christian leaders, have signed it. Exodus International states on its website that it "is committed to encouraging, educating and equipping the Body of Christ to address the issue of homosexuality with grace and truth." Exodus, often referred to as an … [Read more...]

By Chester Quarles, Professor Emeritus in Criminal Justice at the University of Mississippi   Before you can develop a strong church security plan, you must complete a risk assessment.  Your local police department's crime prevention unit can be of service here.  They can tell you of crimes in your neighborhood and of crimes against other churches in their jurisdiction.  Knowledge is your first line of defense!   The word risk implies any possibility of loss or attack. To a novice, it seems vague--an elusive term.  "I'm a minister," you might say, "not in the intelligence service."  However, you can quantify the information you need to protect your congregation and facilities.  You can make judgments as to whether your information is very reliable, reliable, or unknown.   Risk assessment is usually historical.  We need to know what has gone before.  We need to know if an incident at another church could happen at ours.  Then we can make a list of the threats and weaknesses which most concern our membership. We can look at crime trends  and  then rate our information by assigning a reliability factor to it.  The police crime prevention unit can help you  prioritize your risks.   There are … [Read more...]

By Philip Timothy, Message Staff Writer   DAYTONA BEACH – How far would one be willing to go to engage in spiritual warfare? One mile, 10 miles, 100, or possibly 1,000?   [img_assist|nid=7214|title=Daytona Bike Rally|desc=F.A.I.T.H. Riders known as “catchers” engage bikers passing in front of their ministry tent to register to win a Harley motorcycle in Daytona Beach during Bike Week in early March. Joni B. Hannigan/Florida Baptist Witness photo|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=66]Ten volunteers from Louisiana FAITHRiders chapters traveled more than 900 miles to join 175 other Faith Riders from 10 states in sharing the Gospel with bikers at the annual Daytona Bike Week March 4-13.   “Daytona has been hosting this bike week for the last 70 years, but this was the first time a ministry effort of this size has been undertaken,” said LBC Evangelism Associate Keith Manuel.   FAITH Riders’ National Director Buddy Newsome said the event, which drew more than 400,000 bikers, was modeled after the Dakota Baptist Convention’s highly successful ministry efforts at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally – set this year for Aug. 8-14, but the intentional evangelism is to span Aug. 3-13.   “The … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message   WOODWORTH – More than 400 first through sixth-grade boys and their leaders are expected to participate at the annual RA Congress, set for April 8-9 at Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center.   On the busy-every-minute schedule: pinewood derby, soapbox derby, RA Olympics, campcraft, and missionaries, plus headliners Combat Team of Tulsa, Okla.   “Children learn and remember the principles the team teaches, but most importantly, many many children have come to know Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior,” said Cheryl Baker, children’s minister at Brookside Baptist Church in Tulsa, Okla., according to the www.combatteam.com website.   Combat Team is a Christian martial arts demonstration team founded in 1997.   “We open our program with an exciting introduction of the team … [and] then explain what COMBAT stands for: Confidence, obedience, motivation, benevolence, attitude, teamwork,” says CEO Brian Bryan, an 8th degree black belt, on the website, “and how it can be incorporated into their lives. …”   High-flying kicks lead to the message that prayer works and God answers prayers. Crushed stacks of concrete demonstrate that no … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message   PINEVILLE – Two central Louisiana ministries are to benefit from the missions celebration and annual meeting of the Women’s Missionary Union, affiliated with the Louisiana Baptist Convention.   Participants are asked to bring items for the Hannah’s Plea crisis pregnancy center, and for the trucker’s ministry at Kingsville Baptist Church.   The statewide WMU event is to start at 2 p.m. Friday, April 1, with registration and a missions/ministry fair that includes a Louisiana prayerwalk at the church. The evening session starts at 6:45 p.m. with an international missionary, representative from WMU SBC, and the Voices of LC.   A reception honoring Glenda Hofius, state WMU president, is to start about 8:45 p.m. The Baptist Nursing Fellowship breakfast starts at 7:15 a.m. Displays and the LifeWay Christian Store will open at 8:15 a.m.   Saturday’s business session, which starts at 9 a.m., is to include a talk by Tobey Pitman, longtime director (until Hurricane Katrina) of the Brantley Center in New Orleans, and a recently retired missionary with the North American Mission Board. Pitman continues to serve on the Northshore in community … [Read more...]