Submitted by philip on Fri, 03/20/2015 - 09:28 By Jerry Love, LBF Communications So let’s pretend for a moment. Pretend that you’ve actually put some thought into creating your estate. In other words you’ve drafted a Last Will and Testament (or a trust of some sort) and executed powers of attorney for financial and health reasons. Now, I know, based on statistics, only about 35-40 percent of you have actually done this. That’s why we’re pretending a bit. As part of the plans you create, you name a person or persons to see that your plans are carried out. This would be attorney-in-fact who pays your bills or makes a medical decisions for you if you’re not able. It would include the administrator of your estate after your death. So you’ve created a plan and named appropriate persons to execute the plan. Now do one more thing – help these folks who have volunteered to help you with your plans! Take time to get organized.  Some of you just tuned out; stay with me.  You don’t have to spend months categorizing and labeling every coat hanger in the closet.  Take a day, a pad of paper and a pencil (or computer), pour a cup of coffee, and make some beneficial notes for your helpers. Income and Expenses – Start with a … [Read more...]

By Jerry Love, LBF Communications In the past several years a relatively new “gift vehicle” has seen more use in providing gifts to Baptist ministry. The Donor Advised Fund offered by the Louisiana Baptist Foundation is designed to accommodate individuals who desire to make donations to one or more charitable institutions in a relatively flexible arrangement. In a nutshell the donor makes a current tax-deductible contribution to a DAF at the LBF then decides at a later date how to distribute the funds to ministry.  The donor may choose to distribute all of the assets or retain part for future distribution or to build a permanent endowment. How It Works Donor establishes account with Louisiana Baptist Foundation by completing the Donor Advised Fund Agreement.  The account can be established in the name of the donor or in honor or memory of another person. Donor contributes cash or securities to the account. Securities are converted to cash (if necessary). Contribution qualifies as an income tax deduction in the year the contribution is made to the account.  LBF provides tax receipt for donation. Donor makes written recommendation at later dates for grants to be distributed to one or more charitable organizations. LBF … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 03/20/2015 - 09:35 First Baptist Church in Bossier City recently held a dedication ceremony for Freedom Fields. Located near the church, these fields host Upward Sports and other events. (From left to right) Espy Moran, Jacob Hester, Scott Moran, John McConathy, Leroy Faith, Bossier City Mayor Lo Walker, David Shanks, First Baptist Bossier Pastor Brad Jurkovich, Jeff Paterson, Mark Rodie, Jarrod Love, Jerry Pipes, and Maj. Gen. Scot Vander Hamm. First Baptist Church in Bossier City recently held a dedication ceremony for Freedom Fields. Located near the church, these fields host Upward Sports and other events. The complex features three collegiate-sized athletic fields that are suited to host football, soccer and lacrosse games. The idea for a sports complex came from the church’s desire to continue its mission to serve families in the community. Jurkovich said members of the church came to him with a desire for something new that would reach all ages, generations, single adults and families. That’s when the vision of Freedom Fields came to life. The Freedom Fields were built adjacent to the First Bossier campus on a piece of property they already owned. Along with three sports fields, … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Press ALPHARETTA, Ga., (BP) – Southern Baptists planted 985 new churches in 2014 – a 5 percent increase over 2013 church starts. “This is very good news as we work toward diminishing the church-to-population deficit that steadily grew larger over the last century in the United States and Canada. It is also good because new churches, on average, reach people for Christ at a higher rate than existing churches,” said Kevin Ezell, president of the North American Mission Board. “These are churches like Mosaic in Alberta, Canada. They launched on Easter 2014 and have already seen 200 people give their lives to Christ, with 40 of them being baptized. “They started giving to the Cooperative Program shortly after they launched,” he said. Southern Baptists also saw 208 new churches affiliate with the convention in 2014. In all, that means 1,193 new congregations were added to the SBC. And there are good reports all over the country: In Ohio 37 churches were planted in 2014, up from 17 in 2013. In New York 42 churches were planted, up from 20 in 2013. In the Northwest Baptist Convention, which includes Oregon, Washington and some parts of Idaho, 27 churches were planted, up from three in 2013. In Louisiana 26 … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 03/20/2015 - 09:40 As Evangelist Sammy Tippit speaks numerous students came forward to the altar at Guinn Auditorium to either pray or make personal decisions. By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE – Revival is sweeping across the Louisiana College campus, student Karen Wagley believes. And a revival March 3-5 was a huge part of that happening. “It really encouraged my heart to see the openness that the students had to worship the Lord, listen to Him, and share from their hearts whether it was confessing sins or listening to encouragement from students that have walked through and have had victory in Jesus name with those same sins or hardships,” Wagley said. “I believe this is one of the strongest ways the Lord helped bring revival to LC’s students, is when the students themselves are willing to stand up and proclaim God’s glory and how good and faithful He is.” This Joseph Willis Symposium featured two services each day and focused on the historical Jesus Movement, a substantial movement of Christianity from the late 1960s to the early 1980s, and the backdrop it provided for evangelistic sermons from three pastors who preached during the revival. Those preaching were John … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message A pastor and layperson are Louisiana’s representatives to the 2015 Southern Baptist Convention Committee on Committees. SBC President Ronnie Floyd announced recently that Stewart Holloway, pastor of First Baptist Church in Pineville, and Diane Nix, a layperson from First Baptist Church in Covington, were among the members of the committee. Floyd, pastor of Cross Church, in Springdale, Ark., announced the appointments in accordance with SBC Bylaw 19, which calls for providing notice to Southern Baptists of the appointees no later than 45 days in advance of each year’s Convention. The Committee on Committees will assemble in Columbus just prior to the SBC’s June 16-17 annual meeting to nominate members of the Committee on Nominations who, in turn, nominate trustees for the boards of SBC entities. SBC Bylaw 19 also provides that the Committee on Committees “shall nominate all special committees authorized during the sessions of the Convention not otherwise provided for.” The Committee on Committees has 68 members, two from each of the 34 states and regions qualified for representation on boards of SBC entities. … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Press BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (BP) – It was a bittersweet celebration for the few remaining members of Andrew Baptist Church as they met once more before handing the building keys, and their evangelism legacy in Bowling Green, to a multi-ethnic church plant a half-mile away. “It has been a time of tears and a time of rejoicing,” said Peggy Sharer, an Andrew Baptist member for more than half a century. A handful of remaining Andrew Baptist members voted last September to disband and give their church facilities to Christ Fellowship Church, a Southern Baptist church with a heart for the city’s low-income and refugee population. Andrew Baptist’s final service was held on March 1. Brian Curtis, pastor at Christ Fellowship, called the decision a “tremendous blessing.” “How many times does another church offer you a building for free?” Curtis asked. Andrew Baptist is located within the very neighborhood Christ Fellowship seeks to minister to and shares a parking lot with an elementary school. Since forming in 2009, Christ Fellowship has leased space in a strip mall alongside a grocery store, a pharmacy and a fast-food restaurant located near the city’s low-income housing project. Sixty-six years ago, Andrew Baptist … [Read more...]