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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Goldonna Baptist hosting prayer march for troops battling PTSD

By Message Staff GOLDONNA – Goldonna Baptist Church has teamed up with the non-profit ministry group Faith Comes By Hearing to host a prayer march for American troops and all suicide survivors March 23. The Jericho Prayer March begins at 10 a.m. at Goldonna Baptist, 287 Ash St. Subsequently, the church is selling grilled chicken plates for $7 until 3 p.m. to help the ministry to purchase Bible sticks for members of the military. These devices are the size of a pack of chewing gum and contain an audio version of the entire New Testament and selected Psalms. “One of the reasons soldiers go to the chaplains is due to suffering Post Traumatic Stress Disorder,” said Pastor Jason Womack. “They’re having trouble coping with what they have seen or at times even done and need something real and tangible to help them heal. “These men and women build walls around their problem and oftentimes self-medicate for years,” he continued. “The saddest part is that a lot of these young people go without help or hope until they take their own lives. The members of Goldonna Baptist Church and I want to invite anyone who is interested to be involved in a Jericho Prayer March for the troops and also for all suicide survivors.” For more … [Read more...]

Baptist Global Response launches third annual Well Dig Dare

By Global Baptist Response NASHVILLE –Baptist Global Response, a Southern Baptist humanitarian aid organization, is challenging Southern Baptists to take on its third annual Well Dig Dare. In 2018, BGR supporters raised over $30,000, providing 30 wells for communities in need. In 2019 the organization's goal is increase once again and raise $40,000 for 40 wells and water systems. In conjunction with World Water Day, BGR will launch the Well Dig Dare on March 22. Donors are challenged to raise $1,000, which is about the cost of one well and will have until April 30th to reach their fundraising goal. This year, participants will have access to online resources where they can choose to make a donation or fundraise with others. “Last year, generous friends of BGR provided over 800 total community water systems around the world. This gave clean water to almost 250,000 people!” says Jeff Palmer, BGR CEO. “About 30 of these wells came from partners who participated in the Well Dig Dare program. This year, we would like to provide 40 wells through our 2019 Well Dig Dare initiative. That will give clean water and the hope of living water to almost 8,000 people! It is always a wonderful experience to see a community turn on the … [Read more...]

Seventh Circuit panel rules unanimously to uphold constitutionality of minister’s housing allowance

By Roy Hayhurst, GuideStone Financial Resources A three-judge panel of the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago ruled that the minister’s housing allowance is constitutional under two landmark legal precedents, reversing a lower court’s ruling that declared the minister’s cash housing allowance unconstitutional because it violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. That ruling — issued December 31, 2017 — had been stayed until 180 days after all appeals were exhausted. The same lower court had made a similar ruling in 2013 that was overturned on appeal in 2014. In oral arguments in October 2018 in Chicago, Justice Department attorney Jesse Panuccio defended the housing allowance as constitutional, arguing that it satisfies the requirements of Lemon v. Kurtzman, a 1971 United States Supreme Court decision that articulated a three-prong test for determining whether a legislative act violates the Establishment Clause. He also argued that the provision is constitutional under Town of Greece v. Galloway, a 2013 Supreme Court decision regarding prayers before the opening of a legislative session that suggested that Establishment Clause challenges must be viewed by reference to historical practices and … [Read more...]