By Kelly Boggs, Message Editor Designated giving for any organization that depends on donations from individuals and/or businesses is a double-edge sword. While designated gifts do have their place in a non-profit organization, they can also be the death knell, especially for a church. Designated money, for the uninitiated, is money specified to only be spent for that which the giver has designated. If the money is spent in other ways, it is not only unethical it is also illegal. At some point during the modern church era congregations embraced the concept of a unified budget. Members were encouraged to give money to a general fund which was then dispersed according to a budget approved by the church. All I have ever known is a unified budget process. That said, I have had to deal with individuals who wanted to designate their gifts and give only to particular ministries. Each time someone wanted to designate their gifts, I would listen to the reasons. I would then explain that while they were certainly free to designate their money, I asked if they would prayerfully consider not specifying where their gifts could be spent. I explained that if everyone designated their money the church could effectively become … [Read more...]

By Paige Patterson, President of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary FORT WORTH, Texas (SWBTS) – Many are aware that Dr. David Platt was not my choice for the presidency of the IMB. But the presidential selection committee has assured us that at the end of the intercessory road, Dr. Platt is God’s choice. Platt will be confirmed by the Board, so he is the next president of the IMB. Therefore, it is time for a burial. All critics beginning with me, must bury our reservations and get on our knees in behalf of this talented young man who now assumes this role. Throughout his first year in office, all Southern Baptists owe David Platt ten things just as we would any duly elected Southern Baptist agency head. 1. Prayer for his family’s protection. An assignment like the International Mission Board is hard on anyone’s family but especially on the family’s young children. The entire Southern Baptist family ought to pray not only that God will protect Dr. Platt and his family but also that they will be infinitely blessed by the experience. 2. Thanksgiving to God for the presence of a young leader who has obviously garnered the hearts of the younger generation and who will have the opportunity to lead them to a commitment to … [Read more...]

By Bart Barber, Pastor First Baptist Church Farmersville, Texas The International Mission Board recently announced that Dr. David Platt is the new President of the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. I had opposed his election. He now has my support. Here’s why: 1. According to our system, I had my say. The trustees had the opportunity to give full consideration to the questions that I raised. I trust that they did so. I do not regret having raised these concerns, but I respect our system of polity. I freely acknowledge that the trustees had access to more information than I had. More of them favored his election than opposed it. 2. The very critique that I made of Platt requires that I support him now. This is the way that our system is supposed to work. You engage yourself in the process. You advocate vigorously for your point of view. Together we Southern Baptists come to a decision. Unless the decision is so bad that we cannot follow Christ and abide by it, we coalesce around the decision that we’ve made and we move forward for the sake of our Great Commission task. From the bottom of my heart I urge any of you who have talked about cutting your CP support if Platt were elected not to do … [Read more...]

By Michael Foust, Editor, writer who blogs on parenting, fatherhood at michaelfoust.com I remember my first big-time football game as if it were yesterday. I was 13, sitting beside my dad and a friend in a huge stadium. The game, though, didn’t go as I had hoped, and a loss seemed certain — when something amazing happened. With only four seconds left, my team’s kicker booted a 51-yard field goal that tied the game, and we all went wild. It was a college game and there was no overtime back then, but we rode home feeling as if our team had won the Super Bowl. I also remember the birth of my first child as if it were yesterday. I was 36, standing in the delivery room with the doctor and nurses all around, minutes after midnight. Then something amazing happened. I heard a tiny, helpless, sweet cry, followed by a booming voice from the doctor: “It’s a boy!” They placed my son under the warmer and I saw him up close for the very first time. He was full of life, looking all around, squirming from head to toe. It was the most precious sight I had ever seen. My wife and I drove home two days later, feeling as if we’d won, well, the Super Bowl. I’ve been to quite a few football games in my life while spending far more money than I … [Read more...]

By Joe McKeever, Retired Pastor, Author New Orleans “A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough” (Galatians 5:9). Take care of the little things. In art, the difference between mediocre and masterful is often attention to details. In wartime, attention to the little things can mean surviving. I wonder if Goliath thought something like this in that millisecond before he expired: “This cannot be happening; a giant like me; a champion of warriors – massive and mighty, undaunted and undefeated – taken down by a kid with a rock in a sling.” Up in your state penitentiary you will find quite a number of good guys, people with impressive credentials and strong convictions and good records of achievement.  However, mixed in with their outstanding accomplishments was leaven: a single habit they could not control, a friendship out of bounds, a secret vice, a weakness. At this moment, the Christian community is discussing a prominent pastor for whom the world was his oyster, as the saying goes. He was a star among the ministerial heavens.  He built a great church, wrote popular books, was in demand for every program and conference.  And now, look at him, felled by such a little thing. No one is more shocked than he.  “How could … [Read more...]

To the Editor I thought Mr. McKeever’s article, “Here’s my candidate for hypocrite of the year” [Baptist Message, Aug. 14], was outstanding and should be read by every Baptist. There is one other one I think is important and I would like to relate a story about it. In my younger days I was an avid football fan.  More specifically I was an LSU fan. While stationed in Vietnam, I would get up early in the mornings to listen to a football game on Armed Forces Radio.  If it was an LSU game that was even better.  All of the guys in my outfit knew of my love of football. One Sunday afternoon I walked in on a conversation that five of the young troops were having concerning going to church.  One of them asked me when I had last attended church, and I replied “I went to chapel this morning.” He began to tell me that he and his buddies did not believe one had to attend church to be a Christian. I asked them if they thought I was an LSU fan.  Their reply was, “of course.”  I asked them if there was an LSU game played less than a mile from the compound and admittance was free and I did not go, would they think I was a fan.  Their reply was, “probably not.” I said, “The Chapel is less than a mile away and it is absolutely free, so … [Read more...]

By Bob Stith, Founder of Family & Gender Issues Ministry, Southlake, Texas It has been over 60 years but I still remember Jimmy. My family was going through a time of turmoil and a long string of moves necessitating yet another new school. I don’t remember the name of any other classmate nor the name of my teacher, so why do I remember Jimmy so vividly? Jimmy was a bully. I was his target on only a couple of occasions and I was always conscious of his presence. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 160,000 kids stay home from school every day for fear of being bullied. In this era of technology-fueled openness, we’re learning that bullies are not as rare as many have believed and that their mayhem may be more lasting than just the fading bruises of childhood encounters. A number of young people have taken their lives as a result of having been bullied, including several in the Dallas-Fort Worth area where I live. Many of those who have taken their lives struggled with same-sex attractions. On March 29, 2007, 17-year-old Eric Mohat was told by a classmate that he should “go home and shoot himself” – the last in a long line of bullying incidents the boy had been subjected to at his high … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 09/05/2014 - 10:59 Pastor Lonnie Tucker and wife Frankeya with the help of Church Planting Director James Jenkins have planted Still Water Baptist Church which is located in New Orleans along the I-10 corridor. Still Water is one of 30 churches expected to be planted in 2014. By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer John Hebert isn’t a physician but he has diagnosed the condition of Louisiana Baptist church planting as extremely healthy. So far this year, 22 churches have been planted through the end of August, thanks in part to support from the Cooperative Program and the Georgia Barnette State Missions Offering. Hebert expects that total to rise to 30 by the end of 2014. Last year, 16 new churches were planted in the state. Those new church starts in 2014 have reported 223 baptisms and 1,084 professions of faith. “Our churches and associations have a healthy appetite for planting churches at this time,” said Hebert, missions and ministry team leader for Louisiana Baptists. “They are on board with the vision and enthusiastic about reaching their communities for Christ. It’s the healthiest appetite for church planting I have seen in this state since I began ministry here.” Hebert, who … [Read more...]

By Hannah Boggs, Message Staff Writer Christianity has had an instrumental role in the founding of this country despite what some would want us to believe. It was and still is deeply intertwined in the makeup of these United States. For 10 days in late July, a select group of students and young leaders from Louisiana had the chance to witness firsthand the origins and locations of America’s founding. Thirteen Louisiana high school and college students were given the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of the founding fathers and tour historical sites on the American Heritage Tour sponsored Louisiana Family Forum. Traveling by van, the group went to such places like Washington, D.C., Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore and New York where they had the chance to walk through landmarks, museums, monuments and memorials “Each of these students brought a unique insight to the table, and each student took away fresh ideas and vision for how they can impact their generation,” said Ruth Flores, Louisiana Family Forum event coordinator. “This trip is a hands-on experience, visiting the places that some of the most courageous men and women shared their vision for this great nation. It is time that we too stand up and lead our generation … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 09/05/2014 - 11:02 Sixteen-year-old Matthew Davidson uses his musical gifts at Ellerbe Road Baptist Church in Shreveport as well as around the state. An award winning singer, musician. he and his band encourage students to live for Christ. By Hannah Fleming, Message Staff Writer SHREVEPORT – Sixteen-year-old Matthew Davidson is not your average teenager. This award-winning vocalist and guitarist is rapidly becoming known for his musical talents as well as his uplifting lyrics which seems to touch people’s lives. The Shreveport native began his music career “eight years ago and simply fell in love with it.” As an eight-year-old, he took his first acoustic guitar lessons. Several years later (2007) he won his first electric guitar from the James Burton Foundation’s guitar show. By 2010 he had started his own band (The Matthew Davidson Band) and they began recording their songs and music. Davidson’s parents recognized his musical gifts early in his career and have been very supportive. They search for opportunities for him to perform as well as places he can serve. “When he first started we knew he had a talent,” said Ella Davidson, his mother. “It is always exciting and fun to see him … [Read more...]