By Staff, Baptist Message NEW YORK – For his entire life, Greg Oden dreamed of directing a choir at Carnegie Hall. He finally got his chance in late May, when Oden and 82 students from the West Monroe High School Rebel Choir performed a 30-minute performance that featured several Christian-themed songs before a crowd of about 2,000. “It took me 52 years to make my Carnegie Hall debut,” said Oden, a member of First West. “It’s just a revered place. I tell all the kids who have been there, that all these great, great performers have come before us. It’s one of those places walking onto the stage that is inspiring.” Five of the six songs the choir sang had Christian themes. These included “Elijah Rock,” “Lamentations of Jeremiah” and “At the Round Earth’s Imagined Corners.” This was the school’s fifth time for the choir to perform at Carnegie Hall, but the first time not to be combined with other choirs, and, the first time Oden was able to direct the group. Other locations where they have performed include 9-11 Memorial in New York, Omaha beach in Normandy, and Papal Basilica of St. Peter in the Vatican. Oden, a member of the First West orchestra, will continue his travels, this time overseas, when he goes to Europe this … [Read more...]
First Baptist Church Arcadia returns to FUGE Camp at Mississippi College
By Andy Kanengiser, MC University News Coordinator CLINTON, Mississippi -- Awesome worship services, a deeper understanding of the Bible and a marathon of fun games were all part of the agenda during a recent FUGE camp at Mississippi College in Clinton, Mississippi. Sizzling temperatures on the Clinton campus in mid-June went with the experience for 42 kids and adult chaperones from First Baptist Church Arcadia. The 157-mile journey from their hometown between Shreveport and Monroe to the Baptist-affiliated university was well worth it, students say. “Not only do you grow closer to our Lord, but you also have the opportunity to encourage others in their faith at different sites around the area,’’ says Madison Hoffman, 18, of Arcadia. “God is evident and moving!’’ “I love being surrounded by new people in my Bible study class,’’ says Sydney Moore, 18, of Arcadia. “Even though we are all different, we can come together with our common love for Jesus! It is such an encouraging time to be surrounded by so many kids my age who are unashamed to admit their faith.’’ An estimated 6,000 children from 15 states utilize the campus in June and July to not only sharpen their sports skills but more importantly step up their Christian … [Read more...]
Senior Adults enjoy Hilltop University at ETBU
By Mike Midkiff, ETBU Public Relations MARSHALL, Texas – It had been more than 20 years since Pastor Aaron Dickinson of Swartz First Baptist Church in Monroe had set foot back on the campus of East Texas Baptist University. On June 1, Dickson, who is in his first year as pastor at Swartz, returned to the campus June 1 and brought a group of senior adults from his church to attend ETBU’s annual senior adult conference, Hilltop University, to enjoy three days of fun, fellowship, worship, preaching, and Biblical teaching focused on revival and renewal. Dickson said his group came to this particular conference because he was looking for a spiritual retreat experience for his senior adults that would be fun and inspiring. “I knew about the Senior Adult Conference when I was a student here at ETBU,” said Dickinson. “I looked the conference up online to see if they were still holding it because I wanted to find a regional event our senior adults could attend. We do not have a conference like this one in Louisiana.” Over 270 campers attended representing 56 difference churches -- with 50 from Texas, four from Louisiana, and two from Arkansas. Brook Wood Baptist Church, Shreveport, First Baptist Church, Bossier, and First Baptist … [Read more...]
Louisiana kids flock to FUGE camps at Mississippi College
Andy Kanengiser, Mississippi College News Bureau CLINTON, Miss. -- One hundred kids from Louisiana’s Greenwell Springs Baptist Church were part of the first wave of FUGE campers building their faith at Mississippi College in early June. Participating in lively worship services, playing fun games, and ministering to folks at Jackson area nursing homes were just a few of the life-changing projects visitors from the Bayou State experienced at the 2016 FUGE camp. “The Holy Spirit was present here – you could feel it day and night,” Elisa Bankston said. She was among 20 parent chaperones from the church near Baton Rouge returning to the Baptist-affiliated University. “The staff did a great job. This is a well-run camp.’’ For a few hours, June 8, students and parents from Greenwell Springs Baptist temporarily left the Clinton campus to share the love of Jesus Christ to the elderly at nursing homes and to encourage foster children. They also delivered the Good News to families at apartments in Mississippi’s capital city and did yard work in the hot sun and took on other tasks as a means to earn the opportunity to spread their message. Coming to one of LifeWay’s Fuge camps for the second straight summer at MC will reap long-term … [Read more...]
Presidential election, Confederate flag resolution highlight SBC
by David Roach, Baptist Press ST LOUIS (BP) -- The election of Steve Gaines as president on the third ballot and a historic repudiation of the Confederate battle flag were among the highlights of the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting June 14-15 in St. Louis. The convention’s resolution on the Confederate battle flag capped an emphasis on racial reconciliation throughout the meeting that included the election of a 2017 Committee on Nominations with 25 percent of its members drawn from ethnic minority groups and a panel discussion on “racial unity in America” featuring Jerry Young, president of the historically African American National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. The unofficial total of 7,321 registered messengers – up from 5,407 last year – on to praying for awakening in America, listened to a panel discussion on “pastors and the church in American politics today” and addressed on multiple occasions whether Baptists should support Muslims’ right to build mosques in the United States. When registered guests, exhibitors and others are included, the count of those at the annual meeting was tallied, as of June 15, at 11,581. Presidential election On the second ballot, neither Gaines, pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church … [Read more...]
Who’s Who of Southern Baptists on Trump Advisory Board
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer NEW YORK CITY –Donald Trump unveiled his Evangelical Executive Advisory Board June 21 and its membership has a strong Southern Baptist presence. Nearly one-third of the board membership is made up of individuals who affiliate with the SBC. Among those serving are Jack Graham and Ronnie Floyd, who served as SBC president in 2003-2004 and 2014-2015 respectively; Jay Strack, president of Student Leadership University and the guest speaker during Louisiana College’s May commencement; David Jeremiah, pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church in El Cajon, Calif.; Robert Jeffress, pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas; Richard Land, former president of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission; and Jerry Fallwell Jr., president of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va. In a news release published on the campaign website as well as in an e-mail to his supporters, Trump said the 26-member Evangelical Executive Advisory Board will lead a much larger Faith and Cultural Advisory Committee that will be announced later this month. He added that those selected were not asked to endorse Trump for president as a prerequisite for serving on the team that includes a mix of … [Read more...]
COMMENTARY: Democrats, LGBT activists’ sinister plan to crack down on Christian schools
By Todd Starnes, Fox News LA MIRADA, Calif. (Christian Examiner) -- If California Democrats have their way, Christian colleges and universities will no longer be allowed to require students attend chapel services or require them to profess a relationship with Jesus Christ. Senate Bill 1146 would close a loophole that lawmakers say allows Christian universities to discriminate against students based on their gender identity, gender expression or sexual orientation. "All students deserve to feel safe in institutions of higher education, regardless of whether they are public or private," said Senator Ricardo Lara, the author of the legislation. "California has established strong protections for the LGBTQ community and private universities should not be able to use faith as an excuse to discriminate and avoid complying with state laws." The legislation has already passed the Senate and is expected to clear hurdles in the Assembly. Thus far, Lara has refused to compromise with the state's Christian colleges and universities. "No university should have a license to discriminate," he said in a statement. READ THE FULL STORY AT FOXNEWS.COM! … [Read more...]
ROSE LANDRY LONG UPDATE: Long family expresses heartfelt-gratitude for prayers during ordeal
By Staff, Baptist Message Lifted up by the prayers of thousands from across Louisiana, the nation and even the world, Rose Landry Long’s family sought God’s intervention. Doctors at MD Anderson did what had previously been said could not be done -- they removed a large tumor from her brain. When Rose Long, the wife of State Sen. Gerald Long, first learned of the diagnosis, she knew she was facing the battle of her life. The Long family did the only thing they knew to do … they put the situation in God’s Hand and asked for intervention through prayer. The response has been humbling. And now, her family is expressing their heart-felt gratitude for the many who did pray. “To say we have felt the prayers would be a gross understatement,” said Pam Long Jordan, daughter of the Longs, who are members at First Baptist Church in Natchitoches and strong supporters of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Northwestern State University. Doctors discovered a pair of tumors following a PET scan on June 1 but were hesitant to operate. They finally operated on June 16. “Our first neurosurgeon at MD Anderson was not able to perform the surgery in the time we wanted, so the chief of neurosurgery at MD Anderson took Mom’s case and removed … [Read more...]
Finals MVP LeBron James on comeback: God doesn’t ‘put you in situations that you can’t handle’
By Michael Foust, Christian Examiner OAKLAND, Calif. (Christian Examiner) – LeBron James had just helped deliver Cleveland its first major sports championship in more than 50 years Sunday night, but he didn't want to talk only about basketball. He had a bigger picture in mind, and it included God. "I gave everything that I had. I put my heart, my blood, my sweat and my tears into this game, and against all odds, .." James said on national TV afterwards, not finishing the sentence but clearly referencing the Cavaliers' historic comeback from a 3-1 deficit against the Golden State Warriors to win the NBA championship. No team had ever bounced back from a 3-1 margin to win the title. "I don't know why we want to take the hardest road. I don't know why the Man above gives me the hardest road, but ... the Man above don't put you in situations that you can't handle. And I just kept that same positive attitude, like, instead of saying, 'Why me?,' just saying, 'This is what He wants me to do.'" It was James' third NBA championship but his first one at Cleveland, where he returned to play after winning two titles with the Miami Heat. In the last three games against the Warriors, James delivered an NBA Finals performance for the ages, … [Read more...]
Happy Fathers Day
Fatherhood calls for many challenges and hardships, which every dad bears with pride and happiness. Your dad has been your first friend who has always been with you, no matter what. He is the one person who has bestowed you with unconditional love and care, without asking for anything in return. When it comes to the relationship you share with your father, there are absolutely no strings attached. He may not show, but he is always there for you, with his unwavering support and assistance. How often do you take out time to whisper a silent prayer to God for the health and happiness of this special person in your life? Most of you would prefer not to answer the above question. This Father's Day, take it as an opportunity to seek blessings for your father, with a special prayer of gratitude. In the following lines, we have listed a few prayers which would rightly convey all what you wish for your dad. Special Prayer for Dad Heavenly Father in your wisdom and love you made all things. I ask, God, bless all the fathers in the world. Strengthen them by your love. Guide them to be good role models and loving to all their children. Help them to be a father like You are. Give them grace and patience to handle situations in a loving … [Read more...]
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