Submitted by philip on Fri, 05/30/2014 - 10:56 LBC President Steve Horn has called for a day of prayer and spiritual awakening at First Baptist Church, Lafayette. By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer LAFAYETTE – Louisiana Baptist Convention President Steve Horn has called for a day of prayer and spiritual awakening on June 24 at First Baptist Church Lafayette. Horn called the meeting because of what he sees as a growing hunger for a movement of prayer throughout the state, nation and world. “It is my personal prayer this is a day that launches revival and spiritual awakening in our state and takes us off status quo,” said Horn, who serves as pastor of First Baptist Lafayette, where the event will take place. “If that does happen, we will look back at this day as a day that began a mighty movement of God. And we will thank the Lord if it happens. I can’t think of anything bad that can come about when people come to pray together.” Horn emphasized this will be a day for a variety of prayer and not a day for preaching or worship through music. The event will feature times of individual prayer as well as corporate prayer led by various Louisiana Baptists from throughout the state. Some prayers will be unique to … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 05/30/2014 - 10:59 Louisiana College graduates parade into Guinn Auditorium for the 156th annual Spring Commencement ceremony on May 17. One hundred and ninety-nine Louisiana College graduates from 10 states and two foreign countries received diplomas and degrees. By Hannah Boggs, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE – One hundred and ninety-nine Louisiana College graduates received diplomas on May 17 during graduation ceremonies held in Guinn Auditorium on the school’s campus in Pineville. Families and friends of graduates filled Guinn Auditorium and, along with LC faculty and staff, were all smiles during the ceremony which also featured performances by the Voices of LC, and the presentation of an honorary doctorate. “Congratulations to you all,” said LC President Joe Aguillard, who was presiding over his final commencement and the 156th in the school’s history. “I commission you now to go out and change the world for Christ.” Aguillard is stepping down as president on July 31, but will continue in the role of president emeritus and as a professor at the college. Sammy Tippit, who was chosen to give this year’s commencement address, congratulated the class of 2014, saying they had “won the … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 05/30/2014 - 11:03 Louisiana College President Joe Aguillard (left) bestows an honorary Doctorate of Divinity on LBC Evangelism and Church Growth Director Wayne Jenkins (center) as Jenkins’ wife Martha and Vice President of Academic Affairs Travis Wright looks on. By Hannah Fleming, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE – “When I think of Brazil, when I think of evangelism, I think of Brother Wayne,” said Louisiana College President Joe Aguillard  in presenting Wayne Jenkins, the Director of Evangelism and Church Growth for the Louisiana Baptist Convention with an honorary Doctor of Divinity. The presentation was made during spring commencement ceremonies May 17 at Guinn Auditorium in which 199 students received degrees and diplomas. “I was shocked, honored, and humbled; those would be the three things that come to mind on receiving such an honor,” said Jenkins when asked his feelings on getting the honorary doctorate. Aguillard noted Jenkins and his wife Martha, both of whom are LC alumnus, have made numerous contributions to not only the LBC but to Louisiana College as well. Aguillard said the couple has had three daughters, three son-in-laws and five grandchildren attend the college. “Their … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 05/30/2014 - 11:14 Mark Tolbert named director for new Caskey Center for Church Excellence By Frank M. McCormack, NOBTS Communications NEW ORLEANS – New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary has named a director for the new Caskey Center for Church Excellence — Mark Tolbert, professor of preaching and pastoral ministry at NOBTS. Tolbert, who has taught on the main campus since January 2007, previously directed New Orleans Seminary’s Doctor of Ministry program. Tolbert will lead the newly established Caskey Center, an initiative between NOBTS and an anonymous donor to provide free theological education for Louisiana SBC pastors and staff members who are bi-vocational or serve churches with an average worship attendance of less than 250 people. The initial gift of $1.5 million opens the door for up to 100 students to receive as much as $6,000 per year, the equivalent of a full scholarship. Recipients can apply the scholarship to certificate, associate, undergraduate or master’s level study at NOBTS and study in any of the seminary’s delivery systems (main campus, Louisiana extension centers, workshops, conference-based courses, or online). “It was an unexpected honor to have been chosen,” … [Read more...]

By Kelly Boggs, Message Editor “More needs to be done to protect populations from the negative health consequences of alcohol consumption,” a little known individual recently said according to news reports. Who is the person? A) a backwoods Baptist preacher; B) a recovering alcoholic; C) an expert on chronic disease and mental health? If you chose A or B, you are wrong. The answer is C. The person who spoke out on the negative health consequences of alcohol is none other than Oleg Chestnov, who works with the World Health Organization. Chestnov said a recent report “clearly shows there is no room for complacency when it comes to reducing the harmful use of alcohol.” Chestnov warned that alcohol raises people’s risk of developing more than 200 diseases and killed 3.3 million people in 2012. The 3.3 million who died from alcohol-related causes “translates into one death every 10 seconds,” Shekhar Saxena, head of WHO’s mental health and substance abuse department, said according to reports. Chestnov and Saxena were two WHO representatives that answered questions when the health agency issued its “Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health 2014” on May 12 in Geneva, Switzerland. According to the WHO report, some countries have … [Read more...]

By Roger S. Oldham, Vice-President of Communications with the SBC Executive Committee At a time management seminar I attended some years ago, the leader made a plea that every busy executive must begin each day with what he called “planning and solitude.” The speaker’s premise was that those who disciplined themselves to have a daily quiet time away from the din of the daily bustle were far and away more productive than those who just rushed headlong into each day’s activities. The phrase stuck: “planning and solitude.” How very similar to a phrase I had heard from numerous pastors and Bible teachers: “prayer and solitude.” As I read Scripture, I am struck again and again at how frequently the ideas of prayer and solitude are joined. For example: n Mark 1:35 — “Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.” n Matthew 6:6 — “But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” Other passages draw attention to the effect of quietness, stillness and solitude. n Isaiah 32:17 — “The work of righteousness will be … [Read more...]

By John Bisagno, retired pastor First Baptist Church Houston Missiologists say the church may become unable to fulfill the Great Commission within 12 years. Hundreds of unfunded missionaries wait in Richmond. Pastors are quitting. Churches are closing. Islam is the fastest growing religion in America. Baptisms have spiraled downward for 14 years in a row. Our children are shot down in grade school. Gangs are the new family. Homosexuality is celebrated. Politicians are scandalized. Most marriages end in divorce, while more young adults choose to cohabitate. Terrorism threatens. Answers? The government hasn’t a clue. Do we? You bet your boots we do. Society is comprised of millions of individuals. It can only be changed from the inside out, and nothing changes anything except the transformation of the heart by the unchanging power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Sadly, America seems virtually devoid of Gospel preaching. Jesus was seeker-friendly. He intentionally drew people. He healed them. He fed them. And they crawled on their knees to touch the hem of His garment. With open arms and a great big smile, Jesus said, “Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). If they … [Read more...]

By Jeff Iorg, President Golden Gate Seminary Sports fan that I am, I have been to my share of stadiums and ballparks. For the uninitiated, football is played in a stadium and baseball in a ballpark. The reasons for this make an interesting essay – but not today! I like to arrive early to tour a new facility, noting the architectural and historical accouterments that make every place unique. I also like to try the interesting food offerings that make each place special. Part of the food experience is connected to the vendors – some of the most interesting characters in any stadium or ballpark. Until recently, my favorite vendor is a guy who works at least at two ballparks in Arizona. This fellow has a booming, melodic voice and a signature call hawking his product. He bellows, “Lemonade, lemonade, like grandma made. You know you want it.” And, the way he says it, you do want it! During the 2012 World Series, however, I met another vendor who was equally memorable. He carried his product into our section, set down his case, and shouted, “Alcohol.” Note he did not say “beer” or “wine” or “have a cold one” or “this Bud’s for you.”  He just said, “Alcohol.” This particular vendor cut out all the folderol and high-sounding … [Read more...]

TO THE EDITOR I just read the article in the Baton Rouge Advocate about Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary admitting a Sunni Muslim to work on a Ph.D. at that institution. He is pursuing a doctorate in archaeology. Dr. Patterson, the president of the seminary, said that he worked as a volunteer on an archaeological site in Israel and there would be no reason why he (Mr. Ghassan Nagagreh) should not be admitted as a student. It seems to me that the camel has his head in the tent. Here is a man entering a school that is supported by every Southern Baptist Church in the convention and his theology is contrary to everything Southern Baptists believe and teaches He believes his Allah has no son, which says that Jesus Christ is not the Son of God, he has no relationship with the Holy Spirit, he is not a born-again-believer; he believes in the Koran and the teachings and actions of Mohammad their one and only prophet. The infidels (Christians and Jews) are Islam’s worst enemies and must be wiped out.  Need I say any more. Thomas J. Ayo Retired Southern Baptist Pastor Prairieville … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer MONROE – The first night as a resident of the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home began with fear but ended with hope for Mary Alice Crowell. Seven years old at the time, Crowell was sad and began crying while lying in the bed located in the cottage she would call home. However, comforting words from her house mother quickly changed her mood. “She said that I may be lonely now but I will be happy,” said Crowell, who entered the Children’s Home in 1941 and remained there until 1954. “She said God has given you a guardian angel who will watch over you and you’ll never be alone. And I never have felt alone since.” Crowell, who accepted Christ as her personal Savior and Lord and met her husband while she was a resident of the Children’s Home, said her time there was the best thing to ever happen to her. “I made lots of friends and still have many of those friends today,” said Crowell, who later served on the board of trustees at the Children’s Home. “They are like sisters to me.” Crowell will be among over 200 attending the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home reunion June 6-7. Held every three years on its Monroe campus, the reunion will begin with registration at 4 pm on Friday, June 6, and … [Read more...]