Submitted by philip on Wed, 11/07/2012 - 12:10 U.S. Army Chaplain Jared Vineyard and his wife Amanda receive a standing ovation from messengers at the 2012 SBC annual meeting in New Orleans. Capt. Vineyard, a decorated combat veteran, represents the 1,425 NAMB-endorsed chaplains serving in the U.S. military. By Mickey Noah, Baptist Press ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) –They’re coming home. They’ve witnessed death on the battlefield and led soldiers, sailors and Marines to Christ. They’ve baptized converts in water-filled barrels and led worship during rocket attacks. They’ve risked their own lives and sacrificed time away from their families. They are the among the nation’s unsung heroes – military chaplains. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has reported that 33,000 troops involved in the Afghan “surge” have been withdrawn, leaving another 68,000 U.S. troops and their chaplains still scheduled to serve in Afghanistan until December 2014. The last 100,000 troops in Iraq returned home last December. Since 9/11, a total of 2.4 million American military service members – including National Guard and Reservists – have cycled through the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard – some more than … [Read more...]
AWAKEN AND GO: Messengers are the key to challenge
Submitted by philip on Mon, 11/19/2012 - 11:43 LBC Executive Director David E. Hankins shows a key which is a part of the 200th anniversary of Baptist ministry in Louisiana during the evening session Monday. By Karen L. Willoughby, Managing Editor WEST MONROE – Messengers to the 165th meeting of the Louisiana Baptist Convention were reminded that they were “the key” to what God is going to do during the next 200 years of ministry in the state. A brass key in the shape of the state of Louisiana was given to every person present Nov. 12 in the worship center at First Baptist Church, better known as “First West,” where John Avant is pastor. David E. Hankins, executive director of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, directed distribution of the keys as part of the 200th anniversary of Baptist ministry in the state, which took place during the Monday evening session of the LBC’s 165th annual meeting, where 703 messengers representing 267 churches were registered. “You are the key to our future,” Hankins said. “It is our calling to reach Louisiana with the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.” With a theme of “Refresh: Awaken and Go,” the two-day event was designed to continue the “Awaken – It’s Time” … [Read more...]
Messengers affirm six resolutions at Annual Meeting
Submitted by philip on Mon, 11/19/2012 - 11:49 Steve Horn, messenger and pastor of First Baptist Lafayette, indicated that he appreciated the concern over unity but believed expressing one’s opinion or feelings on a given issue should not be considered disunity. By Staff, Baptist Message WEST MONROE – Messengers to the 2012 annual meeting of the Louisiana Baptist Convention affirmed six resolutions, the majority of which dealt with social issues. One addressed the theological significance of a “sinner’s prayer” and another expressed appreciation for the host church, First Baptist Church of West Monroe. The four resolutions that focused on social issues dealt with the protection of religious liberty, the University of Louisiana-Lafayette’s (ULL) recent offering of a Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, Transgender academic minor, addressed the effort to equate homosexual marriage with the Civil Rights Movement and called for individuals, churches and the government to exercise financial responsibility. Of the four resolutions that address social issues, perhaps the one hitting closest to home was titled “On University of Louisiana at Lafayette Offering a LGBT Minor” and called on officials of both ULL and the … [Read more...]
Resolutions at Annual Meeting
Submitted by philip on Mon, 11/19/2012 - 12:01 Messengers affirmed six resolutions, including four dealing with social issues, at the Annual Meeting. On “Same-Sex Marriage” and Civil Rights Rhetoric WHEREAS, Marriage is a covenant relationship and an institution established by God rather than simply a human social construct (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4–6; Ephesians 5:22–33); and WHEREAS, Southern Baptists have consistently affirmed our support of the biblical definition of marriage as the exclusive union of one man and one woman; and WHEREAS, The Word of God indicates that all sexual behavior outside of marriage is sinful; and WHEREAS, All people, regardless of race or sexual preference, are created in the image of God and thus should be treated with dignity and love (Genesis 1:26–27); and WHEREAS, The Department of Justice has argued (Perry v. Schwarzenegger) that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional claiming that DOMA unfairly discriminates against homosexuals; and WHEREAS, For the first time in history the President of the United States has publicly voiced his personal support of “same-sex … [Read more...]
Waylon Bailey proposes a 2020 Commission to sharpen LBC efforts
Submitted by philip on Mon, 11/19/2012 - 12:05 LBC President Waylon Bailey, pastor of First Baptist Church Covington, proposed a 2020 Commission to help sharpen the LBC's effort in the state during the annual meeting. WEST MONROE – Waylon Bailey, pastor of First Baptist Church of Covington and president of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, proposed at the Nov. 12-13 annual meeting a President's 2020 Commission for the purpose of examining current LBC missions and ministries, and refocusing the state convention’s efforts moving toward the year 2020. “I love this convention,” Bailey told the messengers and guests of the LBC’s 165th annual meeting. “When I think about churches and conventions, we have to think about where we are in the world. The world needs the church, and needs the church to be as effective and efficient as possible. “I do want us to sharpen what we’re doing and make sure we are using all the resources God has given us in the best way possible,” Bailey continued. “Not only that we’re doing the right thing but in the right way.” The Commission will consist of 20 teams of 20 people to be selected by the end of the year to work together on a seven-year strategy for the Louisiana … [Read more...]
Survey reveals potential in South Louisiana
WEST MONROE – A popular game show uses the line “and the survey says.” During the recent meeting of the Louisiana Baptist Convention in West Monroe, the “survey said” there is great potential and surprising receptivity to reach people for Christ across southern Louisiana. The results of months of telephone surveys across south Louisiana were presented to messengers via video as part of the LBC's Missions and Ministries Team report. The survey showed unexpected openness by people in southern Louisiana to a “come to church with me” invitation by a Southern Baptist. “The Southern Baptist response to Hurricanes Katrina, Ike, Gustav, Rita and others has increased the receptivity of those living throughout the southern regions of Louisiana,” said LBC Executive Director, David Hankins. “We are excited about these findings and are strategizing on ways to maximize our opportunities to share Christ in these areas.” Of the people surveyed, 64 percent said they had not been contacted by a member of any church during the previous six months, and 61 percent said they would welcome contact from a Southern Baptist. Furthermore, 54 percent of the people surveyed said they would be willing to attend a Southern Baptist church. “People … [Read more...]
Thanksgiving: A significant part of our American heritage
By Kelly Boggs, Editor Thankfully, the founders of the United States were literate. If they had been unable to commit their thoughts to writing, the rabid secularists that now infests our great nation would have already succeeded in erasing the significant role Christianity played in America’s founding. There is no more poignant reminder of our religious heritage than the national holiday of Thanksgiving. Some historians try to deny the religious motivation for the Pilgrims’ voyage to the New World. However, upon reading the thoughts of these brave adventurers, there is no doubt as to why they left family and friends to undertake such a difficult and dangerous journey. As they prepared to leave their ships and set foot on dry land, the Pilgrims drafted and signed the Mayflower Compact. In part, it reads: “In the name of God, Amen, We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God ... Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith and the Honour of our King and Country, a Voyage to plant the first Colony ....” Given the context in which the Mayflower Compact was produced, it is difficult to interpret it as anything but a … [Read more...]
Thanksgiving’s true focus should be on spirituality
By Paul Brewster, Barlow-Vista Baptist Hampstead, NC Few things reveal the hollowness of American Christianity with any more clarity than the collapse of Thanksgiving. In this age of contention over the role of Christianity in the public square, Thanksgiving has survived because it has been emptied of its true spiritual and religious significance. Many have deemed it a “secular holiday,” the blatant contradiction built into the linguistic root of “holiday” notwithstanding. Just how far have we moved? One Amazon.com customer has compiled a list of secular Thanksgiving children’s picture books, to which the customer offers this preface: “It can be difficult for parents and teachers to find picture books that approach Thanksgiving in a secular way. This is a list of titles that do not interpret the holiday in a religious manner. “Although several of these books mention characters being ‘thankful,’ they do not depict anyone saying grace/giving thanks to a higher power.” In other words, these books go out of their way to obfuscate the truth about Thanksgiving in America. Of 25 such titles for sale at Amazon.com, one is entitled Thank You, Thanksgiving. The title gives away the absurdity of the proposition. If there is no … [Read more...]
Christianity isn’t dying, cultural Christianity is
By Ed Stetzer, LifeWay Research You’ve heard it suggested the United States is simply Europe on a 50 year delay. Supposedly most churches will be museums before our grandchildren reach adulthood. Though new numbers from Pew Research released this month point to a decline in American Protestants, no serious scholar believes Christianity in America is on a trajectory of extinction. And, as a Ph.D. researcher and practicing evangelical Christian, I say to those who’ve read recent reports and come to that conclusion: “Not so fast.” You see, many in the U.S. who identify as Christian do so only superficially. These cultural Christians use the term but do not practice the faith. Now it seems many of them are giving up the Christian label, and those cultural or nominal Christians are becoming “nones,” people with no religious label. Christian nominalism is nothing new. As soon as any belief system is broadly held, people are motivated to adopt it, even with a low level of connection. Yet, much of the change in our religious identification is in nominal Christians no longer using the term and, instead, not identifying with any religion. In other words, the nominals are becoming the nones. I’ve seen this in my own family. … [Read more...]
Don’t let stress sour your Christmas spirit this year
By Dwayne Hastings, Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission By mid-December, you may be grimacing when you hear Andy Williams croon, It’s the most wonderful time of all, on the radio. By then you might be yearning to hear the strains of Auld Lang Syne. But before the Christmas whirlwind begins: Take a deep breath and pray for peace and hope to fill your heart. Most of us have problems with stress sometime during the year, but the Christmas season seems to bring out the worst in all of us. One-third of Americans live with extreme stress year-round and nearly half of Americans (48 percent) believe that their stress has increased over the past five years, according to a survey released by the American Psychological Association in October. Most of those surveyed (75 percent) tagged money and work as contributing factors to the tension in their lives. Richard Swenson, a physician and author of several books on stress, including Margin: Restoring Emotional, Physical, Financial, and Time Reserves to Overloaded Lives, says, “Stress is such a common term that we might tend to trivialize it, assuming it’s a convenient fiction for the weak who do not wish to do their best. “Such an attitude would be a … [Read more...]