By David Roach, Chief National Correspondent for Baptist Press According to a recent newspaper report, only 8 percent of British men attend church regularly, though 53 percent identify themselves as Christians. And the situation is similar in other Western nations, with more than 40 percent of U.S. evangelicals not attending church weekly and more than 60 percent of American mainline Christians not attending weekly, according to Pew data. In short, millions who consider themselves Christians limit their church attendance largely to holidays, weddings and funerals. If you’re among these millions, please give church another chance. By getting involved, you’ll discover that what you once viewed as a chore is actually a blessing. Here are 10 reasons why: 1. Church involvement is evidence that you’re a Christian in the first place. It also helps keep you from abandoning the faith. According to the author of Hebrews, the antidote to developing an “unbelieving heart” that leads you “to fall away from the living God” is to “exhort one another” (Hebrews 3:12-13) – an activity that occurs most prominently in the church. 2. Gathering with a church encourages believers to love others and do good deeds (Hebrews 10:24-25). 3. A church is … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Mon, 05/19/2014 - 10:20 SBC President Fred Luter By Staff, Baptist Message NEW ORLEANS – It was called ‘the most significant event to happen at the time in the history of the Southern Baptist Convention’s history by Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary president Daniel L. Akin. On June 19, the Southern Baptist Convention, in a historic vote, elected Fred J. Luter Jr., senior pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans as the convention’s first African-American president by acclamation. He was unopposed and received a lengthy standing ovation from the more than 8,000 messengers who crammed into the Earnest P. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans as recording secretary John Yeats cast the convention’s official ballot. “It is my high honor to cast this historic ballot of the convention for Dr. Fred Luter as president of the Southern Baptist Convention,” Yeats said. Nominated by close friend David Crosby, pastor of First Baptist Church, New Orleans, Luter succeeded Bryant Wright of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta, Georgia. Now, almost two years later, Luter is just weeks away from completing his term as president but he is still busy trying to accommodate requests … [Read more...]

By Philip Timothy, Managing Editor WOODWORTH – First, they tackled the agenda and then the questions. At its annual spring meeting on May 6 at Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center, the Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board dealt with a number of agenda items which dealt with reports from board committees and LBC entities to responding to a pair of motions made at last year’s 2013 annual meeting. Randy Johnson, chairman of the Administrative Committee, led off the reports to the board by giving  the committee’s response to two motions made by Lewis Richerson, messenger, Woodlawn Baptist Church, Baton Rouge and Jay Adkins, messenger, First Westwego, during the 2013 annual meeting in Alexandria. In his motion, Adkins contended the LBC was in direct violation of its own charter and bylaws by allowing its executive director, a ‘salaried employee’ to serve as a voting member on any of the convention’s four boards of trustees. Richerson’s motion addressed changes regarding voting privileges the Executive Director currently has on the boards. Regarding  Richerson’s motion, Johnson said the committee gave this summation, “The role of the Executive Director as a voting member of the Convention committees, the Executive Board, … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Mon, 05/19/2014 - 10:27 Fifty eight people representing 14 churches – seven of which were Louisiana Baptist – participated in a noontime prayer walk around the city of Many on May 1. By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer DEVILLE – In a day when God is being removed more and more from American public life, Ricky Belgard believes Christians unifying to proclaim they are one nation under God is more important than ever. “Tonight we are unifed together with one voice, united in prayer to the Lord our God,” said Belgard, prayer minister at Philadelphia Baptist. “We do not come to lift up a church or a denomination, not pastors or people. We come to lift up the hope of the nation, we come to lift up the hope of our homes, we come to lift up the only hope that can bring you peace. His name is Jesus. Amen.” Belgard was one of nearly 20 ministers of different denominations who came together for a National Day of Prayer event at Philadelphia Baptist on May 1. Attended by around 200 people, the special nighttime service included music, recitation of the pledge of allegiance, presentation of colors by the Youth Challenge Color Guard and prayers for various segments of the country, including families, … [Read more...]

By Jerry Love, LBF Communications ALEXANDRIA – The Trustees of the Louisiana Baptist Foundation (LBF) met on April 29 for their regularly scheduled quarterly board meeting at the Louisiana Baptist Building in Alexandria. In what proved to be a quiet meeting, the Investment and Operating Committees met during the morning hours. During the investment committee meeting, reports were heard from the staff on the returns of the assets under the management of the Foundation. Barbara Bell, Controller/CPA, along with Executive Director Wayne Taylor reviewed the returns for the first quarter of 2014. After a somewhat rocky start for the investment markets early 2014, the LBF funds are reflecting positive returns thus far.  The year-to-date returns are as follows: Short Term Fund:  0.42%  Annualized Yield Fixed Income Fund:  1.43% Total Return Equity Fund:  0.24% Total Return Group Investment Fund:  1.45% Total Return During the discussion Bell mentioned the recent practice of direct purchase of bank certificates of deposit by the Foundation to enhance the performance of the Short Term Fund. In addition to the assets managed by institutional investment managers, the accounting staff has purchased 72 CD’s, (approximately $15 … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Mon, 05/19/2014 - 10:31 Former Louisiana College standout Patrece Carter-Spivey has been selected as the new head coach for the Lady Wildcats. She was introduced at a recent press conference. By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE – Louisiana College has chosen one of its own for the next head women’s basketball coach. Patrece Carter-Spivey, a guard for LC from 2000 to 2004, was hired recently to lead the school’s women’s basketball program. She replaces Jason Tinsley, who left in April to become head men’s basketball coach at Northeastern State in Tahlequah, Okla. Spivey said returning to LC is like coming back home and she said that she hopes to build upon the tradition of the program. “I want to be able to give these young ladies if they will give me an opportunity to experience some of the things I experienced,” Spivey said. “LC is a small-town school with big-time dreams and I want to be a part of that.” During her time at LC, Spivey averaged 22 points a game during her all-conference season of 2003 to 2004. A member of the 2012 LC Athletic Hall of Fame, Spivey finished her career with 1,698 points and 681 rebounds. Other accolades separate from LC included playing … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE – Dennis Dunn is now pulling double duty at Louisiana College. The head football coach of the school for the past seven seasons, Dunn was named athletic director in April. He will remain as football coach and replaces Darrell Payne, who stepped down as athletic director after three years to return to practicing law in Cincinnati, Ohio. “We are sad to see Darrell leaving the LC family but we are excited to see what Dennis will do with his new position as athletic director,” said Argile Smith, who will be serving as interim president June 1. “The decision to appoint Dennis was one that was carefully thought out between Dr. Aguillard and myself. We simply could not imagine a better fit for our Athletics program at Louisiana College.” Dunn has led the Wildcat football program to a 45-23 record in his past seven seasons as head coach. In his tenure at LC, Dunn has seen an amazing 93% graduation rate from his players, one of the highest such marks in the country. In 1992, Dunn took over at Evangel Christian Academy and turned the Eagles into one of the most successful high school programs in the nation. During his 14 years at Evangel, his teams won 14 district championships, nine … [Read more...]

ON THE MOVE   Michael (wife Abby) Wood new as lead Pastor at First Baptist Church, West Monroe. John (wife Jackie) Bodine new as education/missions pastor at Cypress Baptist Church, Benton. Max (wife patty) Hutt new as music minister at Mooringsport Baptist Church. Tommy Hicks new as pastor at Antioch Baptist Church, Tickfaw.   REVIVAL/HOMECOMING   New Hope Baptist Church, DeQuincy: Revival, June 1 – 8, 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Sundays, 6:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday; Evangelist: Bill Britt; Music: Mackey and Gale Willis; Pastor: Roland Hebert. Mt. Gilead Baptist Church, Vivian: 154th Anniversary, June 1, 10 a.m. Speaker: Terry Douglas. Music: Marlon Sharp and the Cowboys at the Cross. A covered dish lunch will follow in the Family Life Center. Pastor: William H. Treadway. Ebenezer Baptist Church, Homer: Community Revival, sponsored by the Claiborne Parish Ministerial Alliance, May 25-30. It will feature pastors and choirs from around the area.   LAGNIAPPE   Vernon Chevallier, retired Director of Missions for Carey Association, passed away April 30 at the age of 84. Funeral services were held May 9 at Johnson’s Funeral Home in Lake Charles. Frank Gutierrez, 79, passed away March 9. Funeral … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Mon, 05/19/2014 - 10:39 Willy Rice By Staff, Baptist Press BALTIMORE (BP) – Willy Rice, pastor of the Tampa-area Calvary Baptist Church in Clearwater, Fla., will be nominated for president of the Southern Baptist Pastors’ Conference, according to an announcement by fellow Florida pastor Jimmy Scroggins. Scroggins, pastor of First Baptist Church in West Palm Beach, stated in a May 5 announcement to Baptist Press: “It will be my great privilege to nominate my friend, Dr. Willy Rice as president of the Pastors’ Conference of the Southern Baptist Convention. Willy has served as the Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Clearwater, Fla., since 2004. Under his leadership this historic congregation has experienced renewed health and significant growth in every area. Calvary averages more than 3,500 people attending multiple services on two campuses. Calvary is annually recognized as one of the leaders in missions giving and baptisms in the state of Florida. Outreach magazine has listed Calvary as one of the 100 fastest growing churches in America.” Scroggins said Rice “understands and rejoices in the rich history of the SBC, but Willy pastors in a major metropolitan area and his church embodies the … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Mon, 05/19/2014 - 10:40 Jared Moore By Staff, Baptist Press NASHVILLE (BP) – Jared Moore, pastor of New Salem Baptist Church, in Hustonville, Ky., will be nominated for president of the Southern Baptist Convention during the June 10-11 annual meeting in Baltimore. In a May 5 blog post announcing his willingness to be nominated, Moore, the current SBC second vice president, stated he wants to represent rural Southern Baptists. Moore will be nominated by Paul Sanchez, pastor of Willow Baptist Church in Brooksville, Ky. “I was saved in a rural Southern Baptist Church, and I’ve primarily served rural Southern Baptists ever since,” Moore wrote. “Where I live now, the nearest gas station is 7 miles away. My church is a small church made up of about 60 people. They’re a loving, caring, godly group of people. Some of the godliest people I’ve met in my ministry worship here ... I want to represent Southern Baptists like the ones I serve on a daily basis who may not have the opportunity to attend the convention or serve at the convention level.” Moore is the second announced nominee for SBC president, joining Arkansas pastor Ronnie Floyd. The 33-year-old Moore noted he will accept the nomination … [Read more...]