By CHARLES QUARLES, Chair of Christian Studies, Louisiana College Silent night, holy night, All is calm; All is bright. Round yon virgin mother and child; Holy infant, so tender and mild; Sleep in heavenly peace; Sleep in heavenly peace.[img_assist|nid=6933|title=Charles Quarles|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=75|height=100] This beloved Christmas hymn was written by Joseph Mohr in Germany in the early 1800’s. The organ in his church was broken, so he penned this simple hymn to be sung to the tune of his guitar on Christmas morning. The hymn beautifully depicts a quiet rural 19th century German Christmas. Since the German carol was translated into English, it has become such a traditional part of our Christmas celebration that we may have failed to ask whether it accurately depicts the first Christmas. Does it? I think not. The hymn repeats the refrain "Silent night, holy night." That is only half true. The first Christmas was indeed a holy night when God himself visited the earth in the form of a tiny baby. Nevertheless, the first Christmas was not a silent night. In fact, it was a very loud night, a night when angels shook the countryside with their glorious announcement that the Savior had been born, a night when … [Read more...]

  By ARCHIE ENGLAND, NOBTS professor of Old Testament and Hebrew Question: Who is the son of man in Daniel 7:13? Archie England responds : The term "son of man" occurs 107 times in the Old Testament. The first 12 times (Numbers 23:19; Job 25:6; 35:8; Psalms 8:4; 80:17; 144:3; Isaiah 51:12; 56:2; Jeremiah 49:18, 33; 50:40; 51:43) that it occurs all reflect a meaning synonymous with humanity.   Who is the son of man in Daniel 7:13? 0 … [Read more...]

BY QUINN LAVESPERE, Message Summer Staff Writer       ATLANTA – Horace "Ray" Teal has accomplished a lot in his long life. There are two jobs, however, which Teal can claim to be the benchmarks of his life.   Teal is going strong as he both serves as mayor of the town of Atlanta and pastors at First Baptist Church of Montgomery.   "I’ve been blessed that God has allowed me to do so much in my life and do His work," Teal said. "I’m enjoying living my life and both of these jobs."[img_assist|nid=6936|title=Ray Teal|desc=Ray Teal serves as mayor of Atlanta, La., and he also is pastor of First Baptist Church in Montgomery. He was elected mayor in 1978, a position he has held since, and became pastor of First Montgomery on March 15, 2001.|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=75]   Teal became mayor of Atlanta in 1978 while he juggled jobs as a pastor and schoolteacher. He said he continued to serve in the two other jobs after becoming mayor.   "I started pastoring in 1954 and was preaching two years before that," Teal said. "I was a teacher at Atlanta and Calvin [schools located in Winn Parish]. I became pastor of First Baptist Montgomery on March 15, 2001."   Teal described … [Read more...]

By Joanne Brechtel, Administrative Editor RUSTON – Several men and youth of Calvary Baptist traveled to New Orleans for a mission trip Nov. 19-21. Some remodeling and construction were done for teen challenge. Calvary Ruston participates in the Friendship Families project for international students at Louisiana Tech, with a goal of reaching its approximate 600 international students. Bill Reid is pastor. … [Read more...]

By PHILIP TIMOTHY, Message Staff Writer   RAYVILLE – For more than 40 years, Allen Construction Company of Northeast Louisiana, Inc. has been the go-to company for churches and church buildings not only across Louisiana, but also in southern Arkansas, Mississippi and Texas as well.   Known as church building specialists, the family-owned business located in Rayville is dedicated to the exclusive master planning, construction, and renovation of church facilities. And they have a lot to show for their 40 years of work.   Founded in 1972 by Gordan and Liz Allen, members of Woodlawn Baptist Church in Rayville, this company features a small, dedicated staff: Gordan and Liz, their son Tim and his wife Lindsey, daughter Michelle Bell, Karen Morris and Charles Johnston, Tim’s father-in-law. They also have dedicated and experienced superintendents and a host of professional subcontractors.     … [Read more...]

By WILL TUBBS, LC Communications PINEVILLE – On Saturday, Dec. 11, the Louisiana College family gathered in Guinn Auditorium to officially send 139 men and women into the world who have completed their undergraduate or graduate studies. In his commencement address, Justice Jeffrey P. Victory of the Louisiana Supreme Court urged the new graduates to become the embodiment of the Christian walk. "Our country, while she has many strengths, is also in trouble," Victory said. … [Read more...]

COMINGS & GOINGS David (wife June) Trimbur new as pastor at Bayou Rouge Baptist, Evergreen. Jonathan Clark resigns as college minister at Emmanuel Baptist, Ruston, going to Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, as BCM director. NEEDED Bivocational music minister needed at First Baptist Choudrant; send resume to PO Box 217, Choudrant LA 71227; email fbcchoudrant@gmail.com. Full-time pastor needed at Calvary Baptist, Homer; send resume to Pastor Search Committee, 1993 Hwy. 3062, Homer LA 71040; parsonage available. Donation of church van needed at Bethel Metropolitan Baptist, Lake Charles; call J. L. Franklin 337.478.0139. Bus needed at Bethlehem Baptist, Albany; email joerev@bellsouth.net or call 225.567.3666. Interim or full-time pastor needed at Melville Baptist; call Vernon Paxton 337.623.5882 or 337.331.0193; parsonage available. AVAILABLE Andy Johnson available for revivals; call 318.450.1704 or email crossrdsbaptpar@centurytel.net. Richard Whitten available for music ministry; call 318.254.0061. RETIREMENTS FRANKLINTON – First Baptist: Retirement celebration for Joe Baugh, director of missions, Baptist Associations of Southeast Louisiana, was held Dec. 12. ST. FRANCISVILLE – First Baptist: Joe Ratcliff … [Read more...]

[img_assist|nid=6944|title=Mike Canady|desc=LBC Executive Director David Hankins (right) recognizes Mike Canady, his wife Linda, and son Matt during the 2010 Annual Meeting. Canady, the LBC’s Director of Missions, is retiring Dec. 31 after serving in that post for the last 17 years.|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=67]By STAFF, Baptist Message               ALEXANDRIA – Many, La., native Mike Canady on Dec. 31 concludes his service as Director of Missions with the Louisiana Baptist Convention. It’s a post he’s ministered through over the last 17 years.   "Not until we bow before the feet of Jesus will we fully understand all that Mike Canady has done for the kingdom of God," said LBC Executive Director David Hankins. "In his faithful service as an international missionary, as a director of missions, and as the leader of the LBC Missions and Ministry team, Mike has demonstrated great faith, wisdom and a heart for lost people. … [Read more...]

By MICHAEL FOUST, Baptist Press   SAN FRANCISCO (BP) – A panel for the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments Dec. 6 in a high-profile case that could lead to all 50 states being forced to recognize "gay marriage."   The three-judge panel posed questions to both sides for more than two hours and didn’t give much indication as to how or when they might rule, although the questioning did appear to follow each judge’s ideology.   At issue is California Proposition 8, a constitutional amendment passed by voters of that state in 2008 that defines marriage as being between one man and one woman. Its passage reversed a state Supreme Court ruling that had legalized "gay marriage."   … [Read more...]

By DON GRAHAM, Baptist Press                   NORTH AFRICA (BP) – They broke into the church at night to finish the job they’d begun weeks earlier.   Hard-line Islamists wanted to shut down a Kabylie church in North Africa that had recently moved into a largely Muslim neighborhood. Twice they’d successfully stopped services by barricading the church’s doors; they’d even threatened to kill the pastor. But each week the Christians returned to worship.   This time the Islamists poured gasoline over everything – chairs, Bibles, equipment – and set it ablaze. … [Read more...]