By Joe Dupree, Message Staff Writer WOODWORTH - This year's RA camp featured good fun and important lessons in life. During this year's Royal Ambassador (RA) Camp at Tall Timbers, 52 campers from six churches not only got to experience what it was like to be a pioneer but they also got an opportunity to spend some quality time with their fathers and other godly men who come into their lives. The camp, which is for children first through sixth grade, took place June 22-25. "One of the main things we wanted to focus on was Christian men spending time and having fun with these young boys while being a good Christian person," said Mike Collie, Royal Ambassadors state director. "Additionally, it provided an opportunity for the boys to grow in their relationship with Christ." Besides the worship and Bible study, campers also got an opportunity to do archery, shoot BB guns, swimming, bazooka ball, tackle the challenging high ropes course and use the paddle boats there at the camp. "We had a lot of fun," said Collie. "We instructed our boys in shooting and archery. We also played bazooka ball, swam and completed a ropes course." Corey Olivier, BCM director of New Orleans Metro, was the camp pastor for the week. On … [Read more...]
Clear Camps at Tall Timbers
Update on the Georgia Barnette Mission Conference Center
Georgia Barnette Mission Conference Center Update
By Joe Dupree, Message Staff Writer WOODWORTH -- If you have been to Tall Timbers Conference Center in Woodworth recently, you may have noticed some construction going on in the middle of the campus. What is being built between the main offices and the cafeteria is the $1.255 million, 8,400-square-foot Georgia Barnette Mission Conference Center. “The Georgia Barnette Conference Center will be a valuable asset to recapture missions as a primary goal of our work in reaching Louisiana for Christ,” said John Hebert, Missions & Ministry Director “The building will contain an on-site office, coffee bar in a spacious foyer, an assembly area that will seat 280 (400 with wings expanded), and seven conference/training.” "We are very excited about getting this project going," said Robert Woods, Louisiana Baptist Convention's Mission Builder Strategist. "When it is finally finished, it will be a great building for Louisiana Baptists. It's something we've been looking forward to starting and the groups who will be coming to help us build it." The pouring of the concrete slab took place Monday (June 29) and framing of the building will begin July 13 when 45 Kingdom Builders volunteers from Louisiana and Texas come to lend a … [Read more...]
Why judicial appointments matter: SCOTUS legalizes gay marriage
By Will Hall, Message Editor WASHINGTON (Baptist Message) -- Citing “new insights” and “changed understandings” about marriage, the U.S. Supreme Court voted 5-4 that the “Fourteenth Amendment requires a State to license a marriage between two people of the same sex.” The ruling effectively caps the sweeping federal judicial activism that has overturned 26 voter-approved amendments to protect marriage as between a man and a woman (22 of these states were still fighting to preserve traditional marriage). Another 13 states had laws allowing marriage only between a man and a woman, but 10 were facing challenges in federal courts when the decision came down today. Voters in only three states, and the District of Columbia, had approved same-sex nuptials, but another eight state legislatures had passed laws making gay marriages legal. Now, a vote among nine federal justices, split largely along partisan lines, has redefined marriage in all 50 states. Justices Breyer and Ginsburg (Clinton appointees) joined with Justices Kagan and Sotomayor (Obama appointees) to vote for legalizing same-sex marriage. Opposing the move were Justices Roberts and Alito (G.W. Bush appointees) as well as Justices Scalia (Reagan-appointed) and … [Read more...]
‘Love stronger than hate,’ victim’s son says
By Baptist Press CHARLESTON, S.C. (BP) -- Less than 24 hours after his mother died at the hands of an assassin during a church prayer meeting, Charleston Southern University sophomore Chris Singleton stood before television cameras and declared that "love is always stronger than hate." Flanked by coaches and teammates, Singleton, who plays baseball at CSU, thanked his teammates for their "amazing" support and recalled his mother's example of showing love to others. "If we just love the way my mom would, then hate won't be anywhere close to what love is," he said. "My mom was a God-fearing woman. She loved everybody with all her heart." Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, 45, was a speech therapist and women's track-and-field coach at Goose Creek High School outside Charleston. She was one of nine people shot to death June 17 by a lone gunman in the basement of Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in downtown Charleston. Chris Singleton recalled a game in which he was standing in the on-deck circle. He caught his mom's eye, and she told him she was praying for him. "Mom, don't you think I already did that?" he said. His mom replied, "You can never have too much prayer." Answering reporters' questions, Singleton … [Read more...]
Light shines from Charleston after massacre
By Baptist Press CHARLESTON, S.C. (BP) -- The national media spotlight has been on Charleston for several days following the massacre of nine Christians during a Wednesday night Bible study at the predominantly black Emanuel AME Church. A 21-year-old white supremacist, Dylann Storm Roof, joined in the service for about an hour before opening fire on the group. This act of racist hate could have exploded into confusion and violence, but the light from Charleston has shone brighter than the media light that has been on the picturesque South Carolina city. Roof said he chose Charleston "because it is the most historic city in my state. Someone has to take it to the real world, and I guess that has to be me." What Roof soon discovered was that the hate and evil he demonstrated was met with real-world Christians who chose to respond with what seemed like unbelievable love and forgiveness. Chris Singleton, a sophomore at Charleston Southern University and member of the baseball team, felt the pain of the attack. His mother was one of the nine who was shot and killed. Less than 24 hours following her death, he said, "Love is always stronger than hate." Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley said, "If that guy thought in his … [Read more...]
Pre-screenings set for ‘War Room’
By Joe Dupree, Message Staff Writer Sherwood Pictures and the Kendrick Brothers, makers of Flywheel, Facing the Giants, Fireproof, and Courageous, will debut their fifth film, War Room, in theaters across America in late August (Aug. 28). First, though, several select towns in Louisiana will have the opportunity to have a pre-screening of the drama that explores what the power of prayer can do and the impact it can have on people's marriages, parenting, careers, friendships, and everyday life. Tony (T.C. Stallings) and Elizabeth Jordan (Priscilla Shirer) have it all—great jobs, a beautiful daughter, and their dream house. But things are not what they always appear to be. They are about to find their perfect little world start to crumble down as their marriage begins to strain. Tony faces the task of maintaining a successful career while also battling various temptations. On the flip side, Elizabeth resigns herself to increasing bitterness over what her husband is facing. But they are about to face an unexpected twist when their lifes take a dramatic shift when Elizabeth meets her newest client, Miss Clara. Elizabeth discovers Miss Clara’s ‘War Room’ and begins question what that room is all about. She is … [Read more...]
LC’s Division of Business receives 10-year accreditation reaffirmation
by Norm Miller, Special to Baptist Message PINEVILLE (LCNews)-- The Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) reaffirmed on June 6 the accreditation of Louisiana College’s Division of Business. “Achieving ACBSP reaffirmation is a rigorous process,” said Dr. Cheryl Clark, LC’s interim vice president for academic affairs. “Each accreditation standard assesses a college’s ability to perform in critical areas, such as teaching, research, curricula development, and student learning.” “This reaffirmation of accreditation for our Division of Business is a credit to our exceptional faculty who clearly and compellingly teach with a commitment to quality,” she said. “Every one of our professors cares deeply about the college and about making sure that students have a tremendous experience during their years at LC.” First accredited in 1995, LC’s Division of Business is one of the oldest members of ACBSP. “ACBSP’s reaffirmation of accreditation confirms that Louisiana College's business program meets the standards of excellence in the areas of leadership, strategic planning, student and stakeholder focus, measurement and analysis of student learning and performance, faculty and staff focus, and education … [Read more...]
God’s Provision at Acadian Baptist Center
By Joe Dupree, Message Staff Writer EUNICE - Three years ago, the leaders at Acadian Baptist Camp set a goal, actually two goals. The first was to raise $1.4 million to complete much needed renovations to the cafeteria and dorms as well as some much needed maintenance around the Baptist encampment in south Louisiana. The second was to raise that goal to over $2 million. Within a few months of its start, through God’s blessing, the money began to flow into the campaign. It not only surpassed its original goal of $1.4 million but quickly went over the new goal of $2,030,000. As of today for the second campaign, ABC has collected $2.2 million in cash and pledges. The 40-year-old camp is supported by six associations, 80 churches, numerous individuals and companies “Before we got started, we hired a company to interview a hundred of our constituents, board members, campers, local pastors, and supporters to determine what kind of response we might get,” said James Newsome, director of Acadian Baptist Center. “The results showed there was a lot of love for ABC and the ministries we have here. A lot of kids have been saved here at the camp over the years. “So, we decided to look to the future and began a capital … [Read more...]