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"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Judge rules in favor of Louisiana College in Obamacare lawsuit

By Philip Timothy, Managing Editor PINEVILLE – A federal judge has ruled in favor of Louisiana College in its 2012 lawsuit filed against the contraceptive mandate in the Affordable Care Act, which is commonly called Obamacare. Obamacare requires non-exempt employment-based group health plans to provide cost-free coverage for all contraceptive methods approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Four of those methods may prevent a fertilized egg from attaching to the uterine wall, which LC officials said opposes the religious beliefs of the college. The suit, which was filed in February 2012, stated the ACA’s contraceptive mandate violated the school’s religious freedom. The school believes as a matter of faith that human life begins at conception, or when an egg becomes fertilized. Judge Dee Drell agreed with the college and ruled earlier this month the law’s mandate went against the school’s religious beliefs to participate or facilitate access to abortion or ‘abortifacient’ drugs, as it refers to them. Drell ruled in favor of Louisiana College in the suit based on the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. “In the present case, Plaintiff (LC) has established a sincere religious belief that it cannot provide coverage for, … [Read more...]

Annual Youth Explosion impacts, transforms many

Submitted by philip on Mon, 08/25/2014 - 10:56 Timothy Ateek of Vertical Ministries was the speaker at this year’s 5th Annual Youth Explosion. By Hannah Boggs, Message Staff Writer JONESBORO – It was a four-night, energy-filled event in which the Holy Spirit showed up and showed out. A ministry of  North Central Baptist, Shady Grove Baptist Associations and area churches, the 5th Annual Youth Explosion is designed as a regional event with a high-energy evangelistic thrust says Michael Brakefield, First Jonesboro student minister and event coordinator. “Bringing together students from across north Louisiana right before school begins gives them a sense of urgency to get to their campus and share Christ,” Brakefield said.  “I think this event is worth all the time and effort because of the decisions that are made.” Having just completed its fifth year, the annual event has seen more than 400 decisions during that time. And while it did not draw the big crowds of previous events, the Youth Explosion was still considered successful. “Our numbers were down a little but it’s progressing,” said Brakefield. “A lot of people have come to the event during the past five years and even more know about it, which is why we … [Read more...]

LC’s H.O. West Fieldhouse getting new floor, bleachers

By Philip Timothy, Managing Editor PINEVILLE – Louisiana College’s H.O. West Fieldhouse is getting some much needed TLC. Thanks to the generosity of a private donor, contractor Gentry and Holder Floors Inc. of Shreveport has already begun work on replacing the lower set of bleachers and putting down a new floor. The cost of the project is $300,000. “They started tearing out the bleachers at the end of July,” said Louisiana College athletics director Dennis Dunn. “And they are now removing the floor. They have given us Nov. 1 as the target date for completion of the job.” Dunn said the basketball teams would practice in the Henry Walden Gym until the renovation work is completed. “They don’t open the season until mid-November. The first home game is not scheduled until Nov. 17,” said Dunn, “so we feel we have enough of a cushion between the completion date and the start of the season.” The Wildcats and Lady Cats both begin their seasons on Nov. 14 on the road. The men will square off against UL-Lafayette in Lafayette while the women travel to Lake Charles to face McNeese State. The first home game will be on Nov. 17 when Centenary squares off against the Lady Cats. Dunn said one of his top priorities after being name the … [Read more...]

LBC’s Pastoral Ministry provides counseling, support

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA – The ministry can take its toll on a pastor and his family, leading in some cases to harmful addictions, isolation, separation from a spouse or termination from a church. But those results don’t have to happen, thanks to counseling sessions provided through Cooperative Program gifts and a partnership with Louisiana Baptists’ Pastoral Leadership Team and Granberry Counseling Centers. Through this partnership, up to 10 visits to a Granberry Christian counselor are provided at no cost to senior pastors, church staff members or family members. Through late July, about 45 pastors, staff members or family members had seen a counselor through the service; 84 were seen in all of 2013. Bill Robertson, director of the pastoral leadership team, said he has had numerous conversations with ministers whose marriages and ministries were saved through this counseling ministry. “Granberry provides biblically-based Christian counseling for our people,” Robertson said. “One of the biggest differences is, in the world, they don’t start with a biblical perspective of truth and what it should be. The Bible is the Christian counselor’s guidebook and we prefer their mindset,” he said. “Christian … [Read more...]

The Good News gets the cold shoulder in Portland

By Staff, World News Magazine PORTLAND, Ore. – Liberal groups in Portland, Ore., are taking an evangelical children’s camp to task for talking to the city’s youngest residents about Jesus. The camps, which operate like a traveling Vacation Bible School, have endured protests, negative advertisements in local newspapers, and accusations of being a fundamentalist sect. Child Evangelism Fellowship’s Camp Good News focuses for a week or two in different cities each year. During the school year, the group rents public school buildings to host weekly after-school activities. CEF recently won a Supreme Court case that allowed it equal access to public schools, but the groups arrival in Portland sparked unexpected anger and protests. Protect Portland Children formed to protest the camps. It heavily promotes a book called The Good News Club: The Christian Right’s Stealth Assault on America’s Children. It claims CES is a fundamentalist sect, teaches shame to children, and harms them psychologically with a doctrine of sin. Mississippi Pro-lifers Sue Police for Harassment JACKSON, Miss – Life Legal Defense Association (LLDF) filed suit July 23 against the Jackson, Miss., Police Department, for allegedly violating the First Amendment … [Read more...]

Special Award

Submitted by philip on Mon, 08/25/2014 - 11:01 The town of Washington recently named Louisiana Baptist Pastor Louis Charrier as its Citizen of the Year. The pastor of Washington Baptist Church since its birth in 1994, Charrier (pictured left) accepted a plaque from Mayor Joe Pitre (pictured right) during the town’s July meeting. Washington has a population of 959, with a makeup of 53 percent black and 43 percent white. Pitre allowed Washington Baptist Church to host the town’s workers for a presentation of Billy Graham’s “My Hope” DVD. As a result, three people accepted Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. Every year the church hosts teams from throughout the United States to help the town’s citizens with various projects. Select rating Give it 1/5 Give it 2/5 Give it 3/5 Give it 4/5 Give it 5/5 Give it 1/5 Give it 2/5 Give it 3/5 Give it 4/5 Give it 5/5   … [Read more...]

Louisiana Notables

ON THE MOVE Jeremy (wife Tami) Bullock new as pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, Mangham. REVIVAL/HOMECOMING Red River Baptist Church, Benton: 165th Anniversary Celebration, Aug. 31, 10:30 a.m. Speaker: Wayne Dubose. Music: Richard Beeman. Dinner on the grounds will follow the service. All former members and pastors are invited. Pastor: Don Fletcher. Big Island Baptist Church, Deville: 125th Anniversary, Sept. 7, 10:30 a.m. Lunch will follow the service. Speaker: Sammy Smith. A homecoming celebration will take place after lunch. Pastor: David Gatch. Union Hall Baptist Church, Coushatta: Revival, Sept. 10-12, 7 p.m. Speaker: Craig James. For more information call 318.413.4592. Pastor: Jeff Shows. First Baptist Church, Oil City: 100th anniversary celebration, Sept. 14, 9:30 a.m. Dinner on the grounds will follow the service. Pastor: Jessie Colston LAGNIAPPE Harold Gorden McNabb passed away Aug. 4 in Fort Worth, Texas at the age of 88. A native of Denham Springs, he served as pastor of Hebron Baptist Church in Denham Springs, Pine Grove Baptist Church in Livingston, Spring Creek Baptist Church in Kentwood, Gray’s Creek Baptist Church in Denham Springs, First Baptist Church in Opelousas, Ford Park Baptist Church in Shreveport, … [Read more...]

David Platt Bio

Submitted by philip on Wed, 08/27/2014 - 12:17 International Mission Board President David Platt and his wife, Heather, are seen with their four children (from left): Joshua, Isaiah, Mara Ruth and Caleb. Platt, 36, one of the most passionate and influential voices for missions among evangelicals, was elected Aug. 27 by IMB trustees. The pastor of The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Ala., will take office effective immediately as president of the 169-year-old organization, the largest denominational missionary-sending body among American evangelicals. He succeeds Tom Elliff, 70, who has served as IMB president since March 2011. David Platt is deeply devoted to Christ and His Word. David’s first love in ministry is disciple-making — the simple, biblical model of teaching God’s Word, mentoring others and sharing faith. He has traveled extensively to teach the Bible alongside church leaders throughout the United States and around the world. Atlanta natives, he and his wife, Heather, made their home in New Orleans, until they were displaced by flooding following Hurricane Katrina in 2005. In 2006, David became the pastor of The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Alabama. He was elected IMB president Aug. 27, … [Read more...]

Angola’s success story being adopted by other prisons

Submitted by philip on Fri, 07/11/2014 - 10:35 Faith and the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary have been the key factors to not only the longevity of Warden Burl Cain but also removing Angola’s title of the bloodiest prison in America. Angola’s success story is now being used as a model for other prisons in the United States, who have adopted similar programs. By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ANGOLA – Walk into the museum just outside of the front gate at Louisiana State Penitentiary and one will notice a wall full of photos of all who have served as warden of the maximum security prison at Angola. One of those is of Burl Cain, who has been warden of the prison 55 miles northwest of Baton Rouge since February 1995. But what may be more significant and telling is that the longest any other of Angola’s 14 wardens served was seven years. Most wardens serve at Angola for an average of five years. Cain is the longest serving warden of any in the United States’ prisons. The reason, Cain says, is the atmosphere inside the prison and how faith and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary have been the key factors to not only his longevity but also removing Angola’s title of the bloodiest prison in … [Read more...]