By Bob Stith, Founder of Family and Gender Issues Ministries FORT WORTH, Texas (BP) – For centuries evangelicals have been relatively united in their belief that homosexual behavior is not God’s best for His children. Exodus International, founded in 1976, provided support to ministries advocating that view through personal counseling, support groups (many sponsored by churches) and in the broader culture. In 2012, however, some in the leadership of Exodus began sending mixed messages about the possibility of overcoming homosexual desires. A few of the leaders returned to homosexuality, stating that a gay identity was God-given. Others have argued that a “deeper understanding of grace” means that accepting a homosexual identity will not affect one’s relationship with God. Several very confused people have since contacted me with questions about efforts to defend homosexuality within a biblical context. One person asked if he had been unnecessarily resisting something that really isn’t forbidden. The common thread of such questions leads back to humanity’s original temptation by Satan: “Has God said?” And then his subtle follow-up statements: “God is just holding out on you. He doesn’t want you to know something that will make … [Read more...]

By Chuck Kelley, President of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary NEW ORLEANS (BP) – This may seem like a silly question, but do you know who Southern Baptists are? When asked that question, many people will think in terms of our theology and doctrine. We believe in the inspiration and inerrancy of Scripture. We are a people of the Book and, therefore, we read it, preach it and seek to follow its teaching as we live our lives. We are theologically conservative and hold to a distinctive Baptist theology. Another way to address the question is to look at our mission. Who are we in terms of what we do? We answered that question at the first meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention in 1845. After voting to create the SBC, messengers also voted to create a Foreign Mission Board and a Board for Domestic Missions. The glue that has always held us together is a common passion to call all the peoples of the world to a saving faith in Jesus Christ. The Great Commission is our DNA, literally. The glue that has always held us together and formed the basis of unprecedented levels of cooperation between completely autonomous churches is a common passion to call all the peoples of the world to a saving faith in Jesus Christ. More … [Read more...]

To the Editor While reading the recent Baptist Message with its informative and inspiring articles, I was appalled to learn of the Henna project being discussed with such enthusiasm on college campuses UNO and ULM and endorsed by our Baptist Collegiate Ministry. The idea of tattooing as described- even lasting only a few months -rather than permanently, astonished and saddened me. The notion that this is an ideal way of engaging girls in faith based conversations and even “afternoon sessions that lasted for hours to tattoo and discuss very familiar Bible stories and ways Jesus encountered people” is incomprehensible to me. In today’s culture this tragic practice of inking entire arms and bodies, has gained epic momentum as we witness our student athletes and young men and women going about their daily activities. Reading, “on the campus rarely a day goes by that the associate director of BCM on the ULM campus, doesn’t put a henna tattoo on a student, and as a result, allows for conversations to be shared about life,” makes me want to say WHAT??!! This project originated with “international students” for this henna tattoo originated thousands of yrs ago with the eastern world so why for heaven’s sake do we want to embrace it … [Read more...]

By Jeff Iorg, President of Golden Gate Seminary MILL VALLEY, Calif. (BP) –Tucked within an otherwise humorous Super Bowl ad by T-Mobile was a supposedly comedic line when a woman handed a newborn to his mother, “Sorry, it’s a boy.” The line sounded like a thunderclap to me when I first heard it. The growing cultural bias against boys – really all traditional aspects of maleness – is pervasive, but usually communicated more subtly. This was a far more blatant statement than I anticipated in a Super Bowl commercial. Even if it was supposed to be a comedic line, it was “hostile humor” making a profound point about our culture’s rejecting of boys, men and masculinity. If you think I am overreacting, consider what would have happened if the woman would have said, “Sorry, it’s a girl.” Every feminist leader, including every elected official who caters to their lobby, would have been outraged. There would have been boycotts, calls for apologies and resignations, and pledges of sensitivity training for those responsible for the ad. The outcry would have been loud and long! This commercial stood in contrast to another Super Bowl ad about doing things “like a girl” – which of course honored girls for their efforts and sought to build … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Mon, 02/23/2015 - 13:56 The praise team from First Baptist Church Pineville lead worship at the annual Kaleidoscope Conference Feb. 7. More than 270 women were challenged to pour themselves out in service to God at the Cooperative Program-fueled event sponsored by the Louisiana Baptist Convention Women’s Missions & Ministry. By Holly Jo Linzay, Regional Reporter “For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race. I have kept the faith.” II Timothy 4:6b-7 PINEVILLE – God is calling us to live sacrificially and to pour ourselves out in service to Him. “There is nothing more exciting than to be poured out for God. There is nothing better than to be in the center of God’s will,” Jaye Martin, the keynote speaker, told the women gathered at the Kaleidoscope conference. More than 270 women were challenged to pour themselves out in service to God at the Kaleidoscope conference Feb. 7 at First Baptist Church in Pineville. In order to be “poured out” for the Lord, Martin said, “We must give ourselves in service and sacrifice. But God only uses a clean vessel.” Kaleidoscope is a Cooperative … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Mon, 02/23/2015 - 13:58 Nearly 700 students worshipped during the main sessions of the Collegiate Evangelism Conference. By Brian Blackwell. Message Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA – Robby Gallaty presented students with a challenge – close their eyes and wonder about a life without sight. “Imagine if you were born into this world blind, do you know what that would be like?” Gallaty said to 675 students during the Collegiate Evangelism Conference. “That’s the world Bartimaeus came into.” Citing Mark 10:46-52, Gallaty challenged the students to do as Blind Bartimaeus did to receive eyesight – walk by faith and not by sight. To do this, Gallaty said students can do three things found in this passage. They are we should not be discouraged by the crowd, we should discard the cloaks in our life and we must surrender everything to Christ. Though Gallaty has never succumb to literal blindness, he told the students of the first 26 years of his life when he was spiritually without sight. A regular attender of church as a child and teenager, Gallaty said he was very religious but did not have a relationship with the Lord. Once he was on his own as a student at William Carey College in Hattiesburg, Miss., … [Read more...]

By Jerry Love, Director of Planned Giving ALEXANDRIA – The Louisiana Baptist Foundation Board of Trustees met for its regular quarterly Trustees meeting on Feb. 3. This is the first of four meetings for the Board for this year. The majority of board members are returning, continuing in the first term commitment or finishing a second 3 year term.  The Trustees welcomed its only new member for this year, Terry Shirley of DeRidder. Shirley has served the Foundation board in the past from 2002 through 2007. During the morning Investment Committee meeting, the various portfolios of the Foundation were reviewed in respect to performance and potential adjustments to asset allocation. Barbara Bell led a review of the financial assets under management.  As of December 31, 2014 the total assets managed by the LBF are $169,367,256.31 held in 2099 accounts on behalf of Baptist churches and ministries. Over the past ten years the assets held by the foundation have increased by 63.5% from $103,575,660 at the end of 2004. Lee Morris of Graystone Consulting, the LBF’s investment consultant, was present for the meeting and delivered his performance summary as well as general expectations for the coming year. Morris began his comments by … [Read more...]

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 failed back in August, will indeed be … [Read more...]

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...]

Submitted by philip on Mon, 02/23/2015 - 14:15 The LBC's Church Planting Director James Jenkins listens intently to Lee Wesley, pastor of Community Bible Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, during the recent meeting of the Every People Group Task Force on how Louisiana Baptists can reach various ethnicities around the state. By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA – The Every People Group Task Force met recently, continuing charting a plan on how Louisiana Baptists can reach those of various ethnicities in the state. James Jenkins, church planting director for Louisiana Baptists, said the charge of the task force is three-fold: ● Evaluate the ethnic diversity in Louisiana and its implications for Louisiana Baptists, ● Create avenues for input and involvement in LBC life by non-Anglo leaders and congregations, ● Lead Louisiana Baptists in effective engagement with ministry among all people groups in the state. The task force was appointed as a result of the President’s 2020 Commission, which was affirmed by messengers during the 2013 LBC Annual Meeting in Alexandria. The President’s 2020 Commission report was crafted collaboratively by 400 Louisiana Baptist pastors, leaders, staff members and laypeople working in 20 … [Read more...]