Submitted by philip on Mon, 12/02/2013 - 14:30 Ten-month-old Graham Deris, grandson of First New Orleans Pastor David Crosby, smiles and hugs his mother Rebekah Crosby Deris’ neck as he shows no side effects from a near fatal accident on Oct. 9. By Marilyn Stewart, Regional Reporter NEW ORLEANS – Four weeks after falling head first into a bucket of soapy water, ten-month-old Graham Deris, grandson of David Crosby, pastor of First New Orleans, was carried into the pulpit in his grandfather’s arms to the joy of the congregation who had stood vigilant in prayer. The near-drowning that brought thousands to their knees is a story the baby is too young to remember, but one he’ll soon never forget. As news of the Oct. 9 accident exploded on social media, friends from Papua New Guinea to Murfreesboro, Tenn. and coast-to-coast began to pray, first in desperation, then with amazement as a full recovery grew certain. One Minnesota friend posted: “I am captivated by your miracle.” Today, as “Baby Graham” continues to improve and life returns to “normal”  – crawling once again and saying “mama”  – other lives will never be the same. “You cannot face losing a baby without some permanent change to your perspective,” Crosby … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Mon, 12/02/2013 - 14:33 Former Muslim Afshin Ziafat prays for students during an invitation time in the Sunday evening session of Youth Evangelism Celebration in Alexandria. Ziafat, who now is lead pastor of Providence Church in Frisco, Texas, shared his testimony and offered other challenging words during several messages at the event. By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA – Former Muslim Afshin Ziafat knows first-hand the cost of following Christ. The son of a prominent and devout Muslim physician who moved from Iran to Houston, Texas, at age six, Ziafat was destined to follow in his father’s footsteps. However, during his senior year of high school Ziafat converted to Christianity – a decision which led to his father disowning him. And just like Ziafat did when he made a decision to choose following Christ over his father’s faith, Christians must be willing to do the same, remembering there is not only a cost but a great reward for becoming a devoted follower of Jesus. “It may not be the life you have for yourself planned out, but it’s the life you want, it’s the life you need,” Ziafat said. “And I didn’t know that when I first became a Christian. I didn’t know that there was … [Read more...]

By Philip Timothy, Managing Editor BATON ROUGE – ‘I Will.’ Defined in the dictionary, ‘I will’ means one deliberately chooses or decides upon a course of action. It is exactly what Wayne Jenkins, director of evangelism and church growth for the Louisiana Baptist Convention, hopes participants will do at next year’s 2014 Evangelism Conference. “The five sessions are really broken into five parts,” Jenkins said. “I will be intentional. I will intercede. I will invest. I will invite. I will impart the word to any and all I see. We will ask people to write down a person’s name and make a commitment. When you combine all of this, you realize this is what the conference is about.” Jenkins, though, hopes the theme and the pledges will grow legs and be used in churches after the conference. “Everybody who enters the conference will receive a booklet,” Jenkins said. “It will contain 10 pages and five commitments and it is our hope churches will use it. A pastor can order additional copies from the printer or he can use just the outer cover and include his own special messages. Either way, this will give a pastor a good five week series.” The two-day event, which takes place at Istrouma Baptist Church in Baton Rouge on Jan. 27-28, … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Mon, 12/02/2013 - 14:36 Participants sign up for the 127 Foster and Adoption Conference at Calvary Baptist Church in Alexandria. More than 150 attended the inaugural event. By Julie Cupples, LBCH Communications ALEXANDRIA – Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home & Family Ministries partnered with Louisiana Family Forum and Calvary Baptist Church in Alexandria to host the inaugural 127 Foster and Adoption Conference on Saturday, Nov. 16. Over 150 enthusiastic participants included current foster and adoptive parents, families interested in foster care and adoption, and pastors and church ministry leaders wanting to learn about orphan care ministries. The general session began with a warm welcome from Dr. Perry Hancock, President of the Children’s Home. Hancock pointed the conference attendees to James 1:27, “Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to look after orphans… in their distress…” Hancock reminded the audience that even though everyone is not called to be a foster parent, all Christians are called to care for orphans. Louisiana Family Forum President Gene Mills shared the story of Davion Only, a child in foster care who asked a local church congregation to help … [Read more...]

By Kelly Boggs, Baptist Message Editor Homosexual activism in America may have started as a movement for toleration. In recent years, however, it seems to have developed into an intolerant campaign to force complete acceptance of a lifestyle many regard as immoral behavior. Most historians trace the homosexual rights movement’s beginnings to what is known as the Stonewall Riots that began June 28, 1969, in New York City. According to the History Channel website, “Just after 3 a.m., a police raid of the Stonewall Inn – a gay club located on New York City’s Christopher Street – turns violent as patrons and local sympathizers begin rioting against the police. “Although the police were legally justified in raiding the club, which was serving liquor without a license among other violations, New York’s gay community had grown weary of the police department targeting gay clubs, a majority of which had already been closed. “The crowd on the street watched quietly as Stonewall’s employees were arrested,” the History Channel report continued, “but when three drag queens and a lesbian were forced into the paddy wagon, the crowd began throwing bottles at the police.... “The so-called Stonewall Riot was followed by several days of … [Read more...]