The Message plans a special Katrina issue Aug. 31, and a special Rita issue Sept. 29. Please send in your stories and photos about how you survived or served through the hurricanes, and how your life is different as a result. Email: news@baptistmessage.com or mail to PO Box 311, Alexandria LA 71309. The Message plans a special Katrina issue Aug. 31, and a special Rita issue Sept. 29. Please send  in your stories and photos about how you survived or served through the hurricanes, and how your life is different as a result. Email: news@baptistmessage.com or mail to PO Box 311, Alexandria LA 71309. … [Read more...]

Parents: This column addresses a sexual topic of sensitive nature. Parents: This column addresses a sexual topic of sensitive nature. “At 50 percent, we’re talking about a major social norm,” Claire Brindis said. “It’s part of kids’ lives.” The professor of pediatrics at the University of California at San Francisco was not talking about braces or cell phones; she was speaking about oral sex. According to a report released in the fall of 2005 by the National Center for Health Statistics, slightly more than half of American teenagers ages 15 to 19 have engaged in oral sex. That number jumps to 70 percent for 18 and 19 year olds. Another NCHS report, based on the same research, showed that slightly more girls than boys have had intercourse before they turn 20. Also, the number of high school girls who have engaged in casual sexual encounters now equals that of boys. “The data are now coming out and roiling the idea that boys are the hunters and young girls are the prey,” said James Wagoner, president of Advocates for Youth. “It absolutely defies the stereotypes.” The study also found that nearly 11 percent of young women ages 15 to 19 indicated they had some kind of sexual experience … [Read more...]

RICHMOND, Va. (BP) – The sky is falling – again. “Is this how Armageddon begins?” one worried pundit asked about the rapid escalation of combat between Israel and Hezbollah forces in Lebanon. RICHMOND, Va. (BP) – The sky is falling – again. “Is this how Armageddon begins?” one worried pundit asked about the rapid escalation of combat between Israel and Hezbollah forces in Lebanon. The same question arises with every major flare-up in the Middle East because of the region’s volatility and its role in biblical prophecy about the end times. It was asked in 1948, 1967 and 1973 when Israel fought wars for survival with the wider Arab world, and in 1982 when Israel invaded and occupied southern Lebanon. The current Israeli-Hezbollah conflict appears more limited, despite its heartbreaking human toll and its potential to draw in other regional powers. Intensive efforts to end the fighting quickly –- either by military action, diplomatic means or both -– have begun. Yet a sense is growing among some uneasy observers that events in the wider Middle East and beyond are spinning out of control. Among the alarms and warnings from various quarters: Hezbollah wants to draw Israel into a long, costly ground war in Lebanon, … [Read more...]

Frank Page, pastor of First Baptist Church in Taylors, S.C., who was elected as president of the Southern Baptist Convention in June, talks about his views on women in ministry, concerns about narrowing boundaries of theological cooperation, an SBC resolution calling for abstinence from alcohol and the debate on Calvinism. TAYLORS, S.C. (BP) – In 1980, SBC President Frank Page completed a doctor of philosophy degree in Christian ethics at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary with the acceptance of his dissertation, “Toward a Biblical Ethic of Women in Ministry,” which strongly advocated unlimited roles for women in ministry, including serving as church pastors. In an extensive interview with the Florida Baptist Witness, Page said he recanted those admittedly “radical” and “extreme” views shortly after earning his Ph.D., and he has repeatedly asserted his support of the Baptist Faith and Message statement concerning the matter. Page, pastor of First Baptist Church in Taylors, S.C., who was elected as president of the Southern Baptist Convention in June, spoke at length in the interview about his views on women in ministry, concerns about narrowing boundaries of theological cooperation, an … [Read more...]

DALLAS (BP) – GuideStone Financial Resources has released a new online resource, “Planning Financial Support,” for use by church personnel and finance committees in planning staff members’ compensation packages. DALLAS (BP) – GuideStone Financial Resources has released a new online resource, “Planning Financial Support,” for use by church personnel and finance committees in planning staff members’ compensation packages. The presentation, along with a workbook by the same name, are being offered at no charge by the Southern Baptist entity. “Our goal with this new presentation is to help churches provide for their pastors in a comprehensive, holistic manner,” said Chris Elkins, a finanal solutions and services staff member at GuideStone. “Sometimes a church tries to pay its pastor in a lump-sum, or ‘package’ approach,” he explained. “That forces a pastor to absorb ministry expenses into his income, cutting his take-home pay.” The presentation’s launch comes on the heels of the release of the 2006 SBC Compensation Study, which showed the average salary and housing allowance for fulltime Southern Baptist pastors was $49,952, an increase of 7.4 percent since 2004. Income statistics for other … [Read more...]

ALEXANDRIA – The Louisiana Baptist Convention recently added two people to its staff: Alberto Rivera and R. Michael Stewart ALEXANDRIA – The Louisiana Baptist Convention recently added two people to its staff. New Orleans pastor Alberto Rivera (wife Romy) was called to serve as the New Orleans Metro regional missions strategist. Rivera is the first Hispanic in North America to serve in this capacity. “The rapid increase in the Hispanic population in the “new” New Orleans clearly justifies the call of Alberto Rivera to lead our church planting and church revitalization ministries in this region and the state,” said Mike Canady, LBC director of missions and ministry. Although Rivera’s position is focused on the New Orleans area, he will also be the state’s consultant for Hispanic outreach and church planting for the whole state. R. Michael Stewart (wife Joanna) was called as the Cooperative Program/Stewardship strategist. Stewart previously served Lake Charles, Trinity, as the minister of evangelism. The Cooperative Program/Stewardship strategist is part of the communications team led by John L. Yeats. “Stewardship directly impacts local church ministries and the Cooperative Program is the method … [Read more...]

HAMMOND – Crossroads Church reaches out in an Acts 1:8 way with the help of the Georgia Barnette Offering for State Missions. Without the Georgia Barnette Offering for State Missions, Crossroads would not be able to conduct some of its ministries. HAMMOND – Six years ago, Chip Wheeler had a God-given desire to connect with a post-modern generation in Hammond. At the time, 95 percent of 18-30 year olds were un-churched in that college community. When the Northshore Baptist Association determined a need to plant a church to reach those young adults, Wheeler knew God was calling him to participate in the effort. The end result was Crossroads Church, which today reaches out in an Acts 1:8 way, with the help of the Georgia Barnette Offering for State Missions. Without the Georgia Barnette Offering for State Missions, Crossroads would not be able to conduct some of its ministries. Each month, the Louisiana offering provides funds for Crossroads. “It’s been an amazing story,” Wheeler said. “The church should have failed but God has been faithful to us.” Membership stands at 80-90, but they average much more in worship services each week. Since last year, the church has grown 120 percent and … [Read more...]

A look at the past provides a roadmap of events leading to the current war raging between Israel and Hezbollah, who are Lebanese Shiites said to be undergirded by Persian Iran, and between Israel and Hamas, who are Palestinian. Both groups call for the complete eradication of Israel. … [Read more...]

As the publisher of a faith-based military news site, I’m well aware that there are some who consider faith and any form of government an oxymoron, but I have to disagree. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) –  Pollsters continue to ask the question, but the result is the same – the majority of Americans still say they believe in God. And, despite the recent attempts we’ve seen by some to take God out of our schools, our pledge and even our national motto, God remains very much a part of our country’s makeup. As the publisher of a faith-based military news site, I’m well aware that there are some who consider faith and any form of government an oxymoron, but I have to disagree. There’s a reason why “In God We Trust” has been around for 50-plus years. In fact, I can think of five: 1. We trust in God because evil still exists. The media went crazy in the days after 9-11 when our president brought the term “evil” to the forefront, talking about the “axis of evil” and those in our world who are, well, evil. Hard to comprehend for people who refuse to believe that someone else could actually want to hurt and harm. After all, the “evil” people can’t help how they feel, right? And who am I to tell them they can’t do that? Let’s … [Read more...]

The Georgia Barnette Offering is the thread that connects disaster relief, prison ministry, seafarers ministry, collegiate ministry, radio ministry, resort ministry, and more, across the state of Louisiana. Note: Leading up to the annual Week of Prayer for State Missions and the Georgia Barnette State Missions Offering (September 17-24), the Message will present reports on ongoing missions work across Louisiana. The Georgia Barnette Offering is the thread that connects disaster relief, prison ministry, seafarers ministry, collegiate ministry, radio ministry, resort ministry, and more, across the state of Louisiana. This year’s $100,000 allocation is designed to spread out and result in thousands of lives changed, just as these ministries have done in the past. Disaster Relief Even before Hurricane Katrina hit, Louisiana’s Disaster Relief unit was deployed to First Baptist Covington, and that was just the start of the outpouring of assistance that rolled over the state as churches and associations responded to the need. To date, no one has sat down and tabulated all that was done, said Gibbie McMillan, new as the LBC liaison with disaster relief efforts from the local church to the national level. … [Read more...]