Submitted by philip on Fri, 07/11/2014 - 10:42 North American Mission Board church planter Reagan Farris poses with his wife; Beth; daughters, 11-year-old Reece (middle) and 5-year-old Charlieanne and sons, 4-year-old Jude (left) and 8-year-old Asa. He meets in his home on a regular basis with attendees and teaches them new Bible stories and how they apply to their lives. By Tobin Perry, Baptist Press NEW ORLEANS – New Orleans church planter Reagan Farris has a story to tell. It’s not the story of how he ended up in the Big Easy. It’s not the story of how a successful youth minister felt burdened for parents who weren’t discipling their children – because they in turn weren’t discipled. Though he loves telling the story of what God has been doing in his life, it’s the gospel story that Farris can’t stop sharing. Using a similar Bible storying method as international missionaries employ to share the good news in oral cultures, Farris now has gathered close to 30 people in New Orleans – in just a few months time – to hear and respond to the stories of Scripture. “It’s giving narrative to the stories of the Bible, typically chronologically,” Farris said. “Over the stories as you share, you disciple that way. It’s just … [Read more...]

By Kelly Boggs, Editor PINEVILLE – The Louisiana College Presidential Search Committee is seeking input from alumni and other interested parties concerning what qualities the next president of LC should possess. The Baptist Message received an announcement from LC July 1 indicating the Search Committee had established a survey on the Internet site QuestionPro, a company specializing in online research. “To give your input to the Committee,” the announcement stated, “please complete the survey linked below by July 31, 2014.  Your comments and prayers are appreciated.” The survey gives interested parties the opportunity to contribute to the search process by responding to a mix of questions and statements, ten in all. Questions posed in the survey seek to ascertain what participants believe should characterize the next president’s academic background and skill set. Additionally, participants are asked about what type of priorities the next president should focus on. The statements included in the survey ask participants to list what type of experiences the next president should have in his resume and what type of traits would be desirable. Participants are even encouraged to provide names to be considered in the search as … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 07/11/2014 - 10:45 At the start and the end of each day, Royal Ambassador campers gather at the flag pole at Tall Timbers where they learn how to properly raise, take down and fold the American flag after listening to announcements for the day. By Hannah Fleming, Message Staff Writer WOODWORTH – “We’re hoping we’ll have boys come here who don’t have a relationship with Christ and through our services, missionaries and Bible studies they will get to the point where they will be ready to accept Him.” Those are lofty expectations but according to Mike Collie, Royal Ambassadors camp director of Louisiana for campers, very achievable. Collie, who has been director for 25 years and travels the state to numerous conferences and camps such as the RA Congress and Survival Man Camp, believes camps such as the recent RA Camp held at Tall Timbers can help campers obtain those expectations. RA Camp is a week-long camp to help train first through sixth grade boys to become spiritual leaders in this world. At the start and end of each day, campers meet at the flag pole for the raising and lowering of the flag followed by breakfast in the morning, lunch and supper in the evening. In between they attend … [Read more...]

By Kelly Boggs, Message Editor BATON ROUGE – The 2014 session of the Louisiana Legislature was gaveled to a close on June 2. Law makers of The Bayou State vetted and debated more than 1,500 bills, mostly without fanfare or controversy, during the three month assembly. There were, however, some bills introduced of a moral nature that have the potential to impact lives, communities and churches that are worth noting. One of the more impactful pieces of legislation passed during the Legislative Session was House Bill 388, sponsored by Rep. Katrina Jackson of Monroe. Among the provisions in HB 388 was the requirement that a physician performing abortions in an outpatient abortion facility must have admitting privileges within 30 miles of said facility. HB 388 passed the Senate by a vote of 34-3 and the final House vote was 88-5 in favor of the legislation. Governor Jindal signed the bill into law on May 27. Many observers believe this law will hamstring the abortion industry in Louisiana. A somewhat controversial bill that moved under the radar during most the Legislative Session was Senate Bill 654. Sponsored by Sen. J.P. Morrell of New Orleans, the bill sought to clarify the issuance of alcohol licenses to movie theaters while, … [Read more...]

By Ronnie Floyd, SBC President Years ago, the Southern Baptist Convention was looked upon as having a significant influence on American life. When I was a very young pastor attending our annual meetings, I remember how our leaders would talk about the influence our Convention had upon American life, even in determining our nation’s future. If this is true, what happened? I remain very concerned for the present state of America and for our nation’s future. At the same time, my confidence in the Lord, His Word, His Gospel, His Church, and His Kingdom gives me overwhelming hope. Can the 50,000 churches and missions that comprise the Southern Baptist Convention influence the future of America? The answer is a resounding YES! Here are four ways I believe we can influence our nation and its future:   1. We will always be faithful to lift up the authority, truthfulness and infallibility of the Word of God. While some denominations may be drifting away from the truth that the Bible is the authoritative Word of God on all matters, Southern Baptists will continue to stand on the Scriptures. As stated in our Baptist Faith and Message 2000, we believe: “The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God’s revelation … [Read more...]

Ralph Tone, Phoenix-based church partner for LifeWay While ministering as a missionary in Argentina, I had the privilege of facilitating prayer vigils in the province of Buenos Aires. These prayer vigils would sometimes last all night. But it’s not necessary to pray all night to have a powerful prayer vigil. You can start with a one- or two-hour vigil in your Bible study, church or even better, in union with another local church. Like no other book in the Bible, Acts provides a dynamic picture of what God can accomplish through His praying church. In chapter 2, the church waited on God for power. In chapter 4, the church prayed for boldness to proclaim the Gospel in the face of mounting political and religious opposition. Acts 12 shows the church in constant prayer for the wellbeing of Peter, their imprisoned leader. And chapter 13 reveals united prayer as the God-ordained context for launching new ministry initiatives. Are any of these first century prayer concerns relevant to the church today? Does the 21st century church need heaven-sent power? Does the church need boldness to remain true to its calling against contrary social and political currents? Are church and denominational leaders in need of prayer? What about … [Read more...]

By Reggie Bridges, Pastor of Temple Baptist Church in Ruston After the smoke of spent fireworks disappear and red, white and blue paraphilia is formally retired after Fourth of July activities, I often step back and assess our church’s involvement in a so-called “patriotic” service. Such introspection has taken on new meaning this year as I read articles, blogs, and tweets that denounced any expression of patriotism within church life. With measured guilt, I sifted through these indictments of churches (and their pastors) that violated God’s Word by allowing any celebration of our freedom and recognition of veterans. As I finished reading these perspectives, I felt that I had committed idolatry, or at the very least, I was theologically deficient for allowing such a service. Many who expressed disappointment in patriotic services were well-respected, learned people who appeared to have theology and reason on their side. I was all but convinced that I should join the ranks of the liberated, theologically robust reformers who cast off such expressions in our churches – but then I decided to work through these issues for myself instead of following the commonly accepted tweetology of my generation. Is a patriotic service … [Read more...]

By David Jeremiah, Pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church A century ago, the average person’s social network probably consisted of less than 50 family, neighbors, church members and co-workers. Today, your social network can consist of hundreds, even thousands, of people. They can live anywhere in the world, speak a different native language, and be of a different religion. The only thread that ties you together is a similar interest in, well, anything – or nothing at all! Your network might consist of “friends” – a friend of a friend of a friend as well as people who actually are your close friends. You rarely communicate face-to-face; you do it all digitally via social networking sites. I believe online social networks were a phenomenon waiting to happen. In the first decade of widespread personal computer use (the 1990s), relationships suffered as people isolated themselves in front of a computer screen and surfed the Web. Just in time, social networking turned an inherently isolating tool, the computer, into a vehicle for reestablishing and widening our relationships – our social networks. We’ve come out of our digital shells and are manifesting our God-given social capacities in a new, networking sort of way. To … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 07/11/2014 - 10:58 Forty-eight LSU students spent their Spring break on a mission trip to Colorado with the Baptist Collegiate Ministry to clean up tons of debris resulting from last September’s catastrophic floods along the Little Thompson Creek from Estes Park to PInewood Springs to Berthoud. More than 20 projects were completed and tons of forest debris was pulled from the creek bed so when this year’s snow melts there won’t be more flooding. By Mark H. Hunter, Regional Reporter PINEWOOD SPRINGS, COLO. – Saint Manson was 1,400 miles away from his sea-level New Orleans home and about 7,000 feet high in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains but despite the thin air, the athletic LSU freshman spent five strenuous days chopping tree branches with an axe and carrying them up out of a flood-damaged creek bed. “I think it was pretty awesome being able to help people,” Manson, 19, a petroleum engineering major, said. “I enjoyed working and getting debris out of the river.” Manson was one of 48 LSU students who, instead of partying away their Spring Break, served Colorado flood victims on the latest LBC/SBC and Baptist Collegiate Ministry Disaster Relief mission. For two days a team of students mudded … [Read more...]

By Hannah Boggs, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE – It is specifically tailored for incoming freshmen at Louisiana College and the response, this year, has been tremendous. Available for both incoming freshmen and transfer students, Front of the Line is to not only help incoming freshmen enroll at LC but also to start off their college careers on a positive note. And it is not only for new students but for their parents as well so the transition from high school to college is a little easier. The school held three events this year beginning in April and finishing with the final one on June 21. More than 200 first-time freshmen took advantage of the opportunity to get their classes and schedules set up the way they wanted at the times they wanted. “Front of the Line is relatively new,” said Byron McGee, director of enrollment management. “This is only our third year.” Up until recently, Louisiana College had held a similar, but longer event, as freshmen would come in on a Thursday, stay overnight, and leave the following day. “It was a combination of not only pre-registration but a lot of team building,” McGee said. “It was meant to get the students acclimated to the college so when our students left, they not only had their … [Read more...]