Editorial & Theological Thought By Erica Wright, Staff Member 121 Community Church, Grapevine, Texas GRAPEVINE, Texas (BP) – I read a tweet the other day that said, “Sometimes the only prayer you can muster is, ‘Help!’” Amen to that. I’m rarely one to nap. Normally my brain doesn’t shut off long enough for me to sleep amidst a day; when the sun is shining, the pressure of productivity and task completion are all too real. I can’t live with time that feels wasted, so naps have just never been for me. But on this particular day, a nap quickly became a necessity. The exhaustion coupled with the cold weather persuaded me with little resistance. As I laid there, I began talking to Jesus. My confessions were real, my frustrations were real and my tears were real. I prayed for something I’ve prayed for every day for a year and seven months. It’s a bold prayer, a specific prayer and an impossible prayer. One that only Jesus can answer. As I prayed, I realized in great humiliation that I didn’t believe for a second that God would answer it. Could He hear me? Yes, absolutely. Was He able to act on my request? Without a doubt. But I didn’t believe He would. Honestly, I still don’t. I confessed my unbelief in that moment, but that didn’t … [Read more...]
Fear not, trust God – One promise beats four global threats
Editorial & Theological Thought By Erich Bridges, IMB Global Correspondent RICHMOND, Va. (BP) – Will a new Cold War begin over the hot war in Ukraine? Will the European Union crumble, sparking another global recession? Will Iran go nuclear? Will the tottering Arab world collapse? Tyranny is cruel, but anarchy may be worse. Ask anyone living in one of the increasing number of failed or failing states around the world as 2015 stumbles toward ... what? “Our age is insistently, at times almost desperately, in pursuit of a concept of world order,” writes Henry Kissinger, chief architect of U.S. foreign policy for Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, in his recent book “World Order.” During tumultuous times, Kissinger engineered Nixon’s historic 1972 opening to China. He also helped craft the détente that eased decades of nuclear-armed tensions with the Soviet Union. Today, however, order and agreement are becoming hard to find. “Chaos threatens side by side with ... the spread of weapons of mass destruction, the disintegration of states, the impact of environmental depredation, the persistence of genocidal practices, and the spread of new technologies threatening to drive conflict beyond human control or comprehension,” … [Read more...]
Platt unveils ‘reset’ of IMB strategy, structure to trustees
LBC & SBC News By Anne Harmon, Baptist Press HOUSTON (BP) – International Mission Board President David Platt proposed streamlining the mission agency’s strategy and structure – in keeping with his desire for IMB to exalt Christ and work more effectively toward accomplishing the Great Commission – during IMB’s Feb. 24-25 trustee meeting in Houston. Trustees unanimously voted to approve the plan. “We want to empower limitless missionary teams to make disciples and multiply churches among unreached people,” Platt said. “We need a strategy that doesn’t cap our number of missionaries merely based upon how much money we have.” Platt noted the IMB operated “in the red” last year, with the agency’s operating expenses exceeding income by nearly $21 million. “Right now our funnel is really small ... such that we’re turning people away,” Platt said. “And what I’m saying, what we know, is that we need to blow open this funnel and create as many pathways as possible for Christians and churches to get the Gospel to unreached people.” IMB must creatively consider how to leverage the avenues God has given for limitless men, women and families to join together on missionary teams to make disciples and multiply churches among unreached people … [Read more...]
Warden Burl Cain mulling possible run for governor
News & Features By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer St. Francisville – Burl Cain, who is the longest-serving warden of any prison in the U.S. and in the history of Angola itself, is mulling over the possibility of running for governor. His name has been mentioned by some in the state as a possible candidate but Cain has yet to committ to whether he will or not. Signs in support of his potential candidacy can be found around Louisiana and the Facebook page “We Want Warden Burl Cain La Governor 2015” has garnered nearly 1,700 likes so far. He said that April 15 is the latest date he would make a decision on whether or not to run. Cain said he has not received an answer from God but is praying about the decision. And he asks for Louisiana Baptists to pray for him as well. “It’s important to serve Him and look for His blessing and direction,” Cain said. “When you are not in God’s will, disaster occurs. No answer would mean I didn’t get an answer and I would stay here at Angola. “Either answer is okay with me because it’s about serving God,” he said. “It’s not about serving self.” Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 Ranking: 1 … [Read more...]
It’s time for participants to register for annual revival at Angola
LBC & SBC News ANGOLA – The annual revival at the Louisiana State Penitentiary is several months away but those wanting to participate in evangelistic efforts there must register by March 25. Every year, around 150 Louisiana Baptists participate in the opportunity to share the gospel with the 6,000 men, one-on-one, who are in the facility. Worship services also are scheduled to take place in the camp chapels on the prison grounds. This year’s revival begins at 3 pm on Friday, April 10 and ends at 3 pm on Saturday, April 11. Dinner on Friday and breakfast and lunch are provided on Saturday. Housing is provided as well in the state police training facility on the grounds to the first 100 men who turn in their Department of Correction clearance forms to the Louisiana Baptists Evangelism Office. Women may attend the worship services but cannot participate in the personal evangelism efforts in the camps. In addition, women must obtain housing in an area hotel. Everyone must complete a new Department of Corrections clearance form, even if participants turned in one last year. Forms must be emailed to Dianne.York@LouisianaBaptists.org or faxed to Dianne York’s attention by Feb. 25 to 318.445.0055. Anyone attending the revival should … [Read more...]
Angola expanding NOBTS extension center building
Headlines By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ANGOLA – New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary is running out of room at its extension center building at the Louisiana State Penitentiary and is expanding. Since early February, construction has been ongoing for the Joan Horner Center of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. A concrete slab was poured and two weeks later inmates began their 24-hour, six days a week work on the 11,000-sq.-ft building, made possible by a $300,000 donation. Warden Burl Cain said when the building is dedicated with a target date of April 18, to coincide with the weekend of the Angola Rodeo, it will provide much needed breathing room for what has become a growing program and cramped workspace for the seminary students there. “What Louisiana Baptists have done is sustain the seminary which has changed lives, so thank you Louisiana Baptists,” Cain said. “This allows us to get away from the internal part of the prison. By having our own building we have a complete separation of church and state.” Once complete, the new building that is located not far from the current structure will house a computer lab, large classroom that will seat 160 students, two small classrooms, a religious library, … [Read more...]
Trustees unanmiously select Rick Brewer as LC President
Headlines By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE – For the past 28 years, Rick Brewer has called Charleston Southern University home. But on April 7, Brewer will write a new chapter in his collegiate administrator life when he becomes the 9th full-time president of Louisiana College -- two others have served as interims. Trustees of the college unanimously voted for Brewer during a special called meeting on March 5 to guide the college. Calling it a job that wasn’t even on his radar until a few months ago, Brewer said the opportunity to become the college’s new president was clearly a thing of God. “We believe this is an answer to prayer,” Brewer said during a press conference following the board meeting. “We believe God has been in this from the very beginning. “In fact, He was working here before we knew it,” he continued. “He was working in our life before (trustees) knew it. He brought it all together. “I want to challenge the faculty, staff, students, alums, and other persons or constituent groups in the state that love Louisiana College to leave the past in the rear view mirror and get on board with what I believe will become the finest days Louisiana College has ever seen.” When Brewer arrives on the Pineville … [Read more...]
Among younger Southern Baptist there is a rising invovlement
LBC & SBC News By Tom Strode, Baptist Press NASHVILLE (BP) – Southern Baptists appear to be defying the prevalent notion that young adults are abandoning the American church – at least by one measurement. Attendance by younger generations reached a 10-year high at the Southern Baptist Convention’s 2014 meeting in Baltimore, according to an annual survey of attendees. The survey, conducted by the SBC Executive Committee, showed nearly one-fourth (24.68 percent) of attendees were younger than age 40. That surpassed by more than 4 percentage points the previous best for the age group, recorded in 2013. The 2014 survey also showed 10-year highs for SBC attendees who are under 45 (33.44 percent, a gain of more than 3 percent over the previous high in 2013) and under 35 (15.93 percent, again an increase of more than 3 percent over the earlier high, which came in 2012). Though not a scientific sampling, the dramatic upswing in younger-generation participation at the SBC annual meeting since 2005 – especially during the last three years – reinforces what he has “noticed anecdotally,” said Southern Baptist entity head Russell Moore. “The hand-wringers are wrong,” said Moore, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. … [Read more...]
Louisiana Notables
Lagniappe ON THE MOVE Emily Carpenter new as children’s director at First Baptist Church, Jonesboro. Everett Geis, Sr. new as transitional pastor at Ringgold First Baptist Church. Seth Ott has resigned at Youth Minister at Watson Baptist Church, Denham Springs. HOMECOMING Fair Park Baptist Church, West Monroe: 66th Anniversary, March 8, Pastor: Waymond Warren. REVIVAL Palestine Baptist Church, Bogalusa: Harvest Day, March 1, 10:45 a.m. Evangelist: Joe Aulds. Pastor: Fred Brumfield. First Baptist Church of Head of Island: Revival, March 1-4, 10:45 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Sunday; 6:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday. Evangelist: Marvin Wilson. Worship: The Wilsons. Pastor: Rocky Brown. New Covenant Church, Denham Springs: Messages on repentance, holiness and biblical revial, March 1-4, 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., Sunday; 6:30 p.m., Monday through Wednesday. Speaker: Richard Owen Roberts. Pastor: Keith Zachary. Faith Baptist Church, Bastrop: Revival, March 8-11, 10:30 a.m. March 8; 7 p.m. nightly March 9-11, Evangelist: Joe Aulds. Pastor: Bodie Spicer. Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church, Covington: Revive This Nation, March 8-11, 6:30 p.m. nightly. For more information, call 985.892.1242. Speaker: Jonathon Beames. Pastor: Lonnie Thompson. Crockett Point … [Read more...]
Houston verdict leaves both sides claiming victory in case
LBC & SBC News By Baptist Press HOUSTON (BP) – In a Feb. 13 verdict that left both sides claiming victory, a Houston jury handed down a decision in a lawsuit against the city and administrators for their dismissal of a petition by a coalition of pastors and civic leaders opposed to the city’s Equal Rights Ordinance. Though the jury – in a 10-2 verdict – found nearly 2,500 forgeries among the 54,000 voter signatures, they dismissed the city’s allegations of fraud. With no definitive winner revealed by the verdict, the decision will not be finalized until 152nd District Court Judge Robert Schaffer issues his judgment. Schaffer was out of town and did not preside over the reading of the verdict. Following the verdict lead defense attorney Geoffrey Harrison claimed the verdict as a win for the defense and Mayor Annise Parker, who championed the ordinance as a “personal” issue. Defendants in the lawsuit are Parker, former Houston City Attorney David Feldman, City Secretary Anna Russell and the City of Houston. “If the court’s ruling follows the jury’s verdict this will be a complete and total vindication for the city,” Harrison told reporters following the verdict. “And the petition, which we declared … [Read more...]
