By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer LEESVILLE – To say Lloyd Handorf wears many hats is an understatement. In the 40 years he has been a member of Old Anacoco Baptist Church, he has held just about every role in the church imaginable, from youth director to interim pastor. “There was no doubt God’s hand was in my coming to Old Anacoco,” said Handorf, who serves as music minister. “I always have that clear in my mind. I believe if it is for me to leave for some other place He will be just as clear.” For his service to the church, the Old Anacoco congregation and others who knew him surprised Handorf in a special recognition service. Nearly 225 people attended the day, which included several past members of the church and choir and brother, sister, children, grand-children, nieces, and in-laws traveling from Colorado and several locations in Texas and Louisiana. During his time there, Handorf’s other roles have included deacon, Sunday school teacher, New York and Nicaragua on mission trips, and committee member. He’s even served as Vernon Baptist Association music director and vice moderator. Pat McRae, Handorf’s sister-in-law as well as a fellow member, calls him the heartbeat of the church. “He’s the … [Read more...]
Just how precious is your time?
Emily Dean, NOBTS Adjunct Professor NEW ORLEANS – Growing up in the United States, you often hear the saying, “Time = Money.” In the 20th century this phrase brought up ideas of increased productivity and efficiency. Better use of time equals greater profit. We have even related the value of time to how much money you can command per hour. Today the phrase is also connected to the idea that time is just as or even more valuable than money. Seeing time as a commodity is an idea generational researchers have noted as a cultural paradigm shift beginning with Gen X and younger generations. If you think about time as a commodity, it is the one arena of life where everyone is on the same playing field. Each of us is allotted the same amount every day, 24 hours. For the most part, we have a choice how we spend it. In Psalm 90:12 Moses wrote, “Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts.” Each day, each moment we make a choice how we will spend our time. As I watch how quickly our children are growing up right before my eyes, I am reminded of the importance of investing well. We can either spend our days wisely investing in people and things of eternal consequence, or we can … [Read more...]
Graham: Racism called the world’s greatest problem
By Billy Graham, Christian Evangelist EDITOR’S NOTE: Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) exists to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ by every effective means and to equip others to do the same. Billy Graham was asked in 2006 what he thought was the greatest social problem in the world. His answer, which appeared at billygraham.org, is still applicable today in 2015. Here is the question and Dr. Graham’s answer. QUESTION: What do you think is the greatest social problem in the world today? Some friends and I were talking about this recently, but we didn’t come to any agreement. Whatever it is, do you think churches should be doing anything about it, or is it best left to governments? GRAHAM RESPONDS: I’ve often said that in my view, racism is the biggest social problem that we face in the world today, and I believe it still is. Not only do we have continuing problems with racism in our own country, but racism is a worldwide problem that leads to countless wars and conflicts. It also is at the root of much of the world’s injustice and poverty. Governments have their part to play in solving society’s ills, of course – not just racism, but other social problems as well. We need fair laws that will fight … [Read more...]
Living in the worst of times
By Waylon Bailey, pastor of First Baptist Church in Covington What do you do when you live in the worst of times? I was a preteen and teenager in the 1960s. Those were very difficult times. I remember well the horror of the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, and Martin Luther King, Jr. I lived in the state of Alabama during the Selma march and the turmoil in Birmingham. Those were two tumultuous times. I also saw friends serve in Vietnam and watched the protests on television. Even in those times, we had a feeling that better days were coming. We knew if we could just get through these times we would be better off on the other side. Many, many people feel today we are living in the worst of times in America, but it doesn’t seem that there is something better on the other side. What do you do when you feel you are living in the worst of times? First, you recognize who’s in control. This world belongs to the prince of the power of the air. It is his world and his chaos. But, he’s not in control. The Lord God reigns, and He is in control. God has a plan, and He is working His plan. The Book of Revelation teaches many things. The most important lesson of this great book is that all earthly … [Read more...]
State DR teams fan out to assist flooded areas in NW Louisiana
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer SHREVEPORT – With the raging Red River not far behind where he was standing, property owner Ricky Woodard surveyed the work a Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief team in his Shreveport neighborhood was doing with amazement. Woodard, whose property is less than 100 yards from the Red River, estimates work done by the mud-out team from Zoar Baptist Church saved him nearly a month’s worth of clean-up. “They’re like a bunch of ants coming together and getting things done almost instantly,” Woodard said, with his two grandchildren standing nearby. “I’m so appreciative.” The team worked all day, removing mud and debris inside homes in the neighborhood heavily damaged by the river’s recent floodwaters. Loren Warren, a member of the team from Zoar Baptist Church, said that despite the temperatures that reached the upper 90s, the humidity was a small inconvenience compared to the blessings the team received. “It feels wonderful to be the hands and feet of Christ and help those in need,” Warren said. “I pray that when we are working that the people see Jesus.” Through June 24, teams completed 13 jobs and gave 32 gospel presentations, which resulted in four people accepting Christ … [Read more...]
Louisiana entities, groups not expected to be impacted by Obama order
By Philip Timothy & Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writers ALEXANDRIA – By relying on God’s providence through the Cooperative Program, Louisiana Baptist entities and charitable organizations are not expected to feel the impact of an Obama Administration executive order like other faith-based groups in the United States. President Barack Obama’s signing of executive order 13671 on July 21, 2014 would force faith-based organizations and charities receiving federal funding or grants to hire LGBT applicants or lose their funding. “God has given the church, not the government, the task of caring for people in need,” said Perry Hancock, president and CEO of the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home. “Therefore, God’s people should be the source for funding His work.” Hancock emphasized the Children’s Home does not accept any type of federal funding, instead relying on gifts from the Cooperative Program and private donors for its funding. “We should be cautious of entering into agreements which limit our sharing of the gospel,” said Hancock. “I come from an evangelical/Southern Baptist faith tradition which emphasizes sharing a verbal witness. We do not want to be in a position where we limit our ability to share the good … [Read more...]
The Supreme Court has ruled, so how should Christians respond?
By Will Hall, Baptist Message Editor ALEXANDRIA, La. – Already, leaders have made public calls for prayer, and more than one has mentioned possible civil disobedience, too. Churches are phoning their denominations and contacting faith-based organizations for answers about what the ruling means regarding weddings, hiring staff and whether it affects what they can teach and preach on the subjects of marriage and homosexuality. Certainly prayer is a must. Civil disobedience might be in order, too — but who, what, when and where? Until the ruling is applied, it’s hard to know how to marshal such an effort. To be sure, despite Justice Kennedy’s assurances that those with religious convictions “may continue to advocate with utmost, sincere conviction that, by divine precepts, same-sex marriage should not be condoned,” Christians already have seen the many ways governments can force compliance, or else. President Obama’s executive order regarding government contractors means Christians can hold their beliefs about the sanctity of marriage, but Christian-run businesses and faith-based groups need not apply if they don’t hire homosexuals. Likewise, states like Washington, Oregon and New Mexico contain constitutional … [Read more...]
Twenty Philadelphia Baptist youth, chaperones injured in bus crash
By Philip Timothy, Managing Editor DeFUNIAK SPRINGS, Fl. – A 30-passenger bus carrying youth and chaperons from Philadelphia Baptist Church in Deville headed to a Senior High Camp left the roadway and hit a tree Friday afternoon, June 26. The crash was reported at 3:10 p.m. just west of State Road 331 near DeFuniak Springs, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. According to a statement from Walton County Sheriff Michael A. Adkinson, Jr., the accident took place near Exit 35 on I-10 in Walton County, Fla., and 20 were taken to four area hospitals with extensive but non-life threatening injuries. Seven were taken to Healthmark Regional Medical Center in DeFuniak Springs; one was taken to Twin Cities Hospital in Niceville; seven were taken to Sacred Heart on the Emerald Coast in Miramar Beach; and five were taken to North Okaloosa Medical Center in Crestview. The remaining 40 members of the church party were in a second b us and a passenger van that were traveling with the bus that wrecked. They were taken to DeFuniak Springs Community Center for the night. “We are so very thankful for God’s grace,” texted Philadelphia Pastor Philip Robertson. “All of our students and adults that were involved in the bus … [Read more...]
Louisiana, Southern Baptists leaders voice concerns over Supreme Court’s gay marriage ruling
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer WASHINGTON – As expected, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the Constitution does guarantee same-sex couples the right to marry. The 5-4 ruling was handed down Friday morning and means every state, including Louisiana and 12 other states which did not allow same-sex marriage, must stop enforcing the ban. Louisiana Baptist and Southern Baptist leaders such as Louisiana Baptists President Steve Horn and Louisiana Baptists Moral and Social Concerns Chairman David Goza were quick to voice concerns about the ruling. “5-4! There are so many things that I am thankful for in this country. However, this morning, I find myself struggling with the fact that 1 person can make the difference in something that will so drastically alter our country,” Horn, the pastor at First Lafayette, wrote on his blog. “I just heard President Obama declare this is “a victory for America.” I disagree in the strongest way possible. This is not a victory for America. Proverbs 14:34 declares “righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.” (HCSB) Galatians 6:7 says, “Don’t be deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sows, this he will also reap.” (HCSB) We always reap what we sow, … [Read more...]
Bobby Jindal announces he is running for president
By Staff, Baptist Message NEW ORLEANS – Gov. Bobby Jindal still believes in the American dream. “My dad and mom came to Louisiana because they believed in America. And when they got here they found that the legend was true,” said Jindal as he officially launched his campaign June 24 for the GOP presidential nomination. “They found that the people of Louisiana accepted them. And they found that America is indeed the land of the free and home of the brave. “He told me as a young kid that Americans can do anything,” said Jindal. “I believed him then, and I believe it now.” Before a crowd of a 1,000 supporters at the Pontchartrain Center in Kenner, the 44-year-old Jindal told the crowd he was “running for President without permission from headquarters in Washington, D.C." He enters a crowded field as there are 15 others who got in ahead of him with speculation that several others candidates may be joining the race as well. Jindal, who is completing his second term as governor, is no stranger to politics and has quite the résumé as well as a string of accomplishments that would rival most elder statesmen. A Rhodes Scholar, he was named to run the state Department of Health and Hospitals at the age of 25 and was the … [Read more...]
