By Will Hall, Message Editor REVISED 5:55 p.m. May 11. BOSSIER CITY (LBM) – Brad Jurkovich, the 44-year-old pastor of the First Baptist Church in Bossier City, Louisiana, has announced he will nominate Ken Hemphill for president of the Southern Baptist Convention during the denomination’s 2018 Annual Meeting, June 12-13, in Dallas, Texas. In a social media message shared with the Baptist Message, Jurkovich described both candidates as “godly men” but that “after much prayer” he said he was “convinced that Dr. Ken Hemphill is the man who is capable, ready, resourced, and has the capacity and wisdom to lead us at this critical time.” Jurkovich, who attended Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C., was a classmate with J.D. Greear and calls him a longtime friend. He told the Baptist Message he had known Hemphill only by reputation until he personally interviewed him in March, but he said he had known of him since the 1990s, especially for his work in “growing churches.” He hosted livestreamed interviews of both candidates: J.D. Greear, Feb. 27, and Hemphill, March 28. Jurkovich closed his endorsement of Hemphill by mentioning his wife Paula and their three children, describing them as “a … [Read more...]
Louisiana Notables
EDITOR’S NOTE: Do you have a Revival, Homecoming, a new pastor, a community outreach or a concert? The Baptist Message would love to share your church news with the rest of the state. It is very easy to do, just send in your information (who, what, where and when) to philip@baptistsmessage.com or call 318.449.4345. To get your event in the paper, please submit your information three weeks prior to the event. ON THE MOVE Jonathan Weldon is the new student/education minister at Ellerbe Baptist Church, Shreveport. Austin Bedwell is the new youth pastor at Emmanuel Baptist Church, Shreveport. Doug Graham is the interim pastor at New Bethel Baptist Church, Bossier City. Terry Mims has resigned as pastor at Emmanuel Baptist Church, Monroe. Ellis Auttonberry, Velton Frost, and Dave Rodgers were given the title of Deacon Emeritus on April 29 at Ridge Avenue Baptist Church in West Monroe. The three were honored with a fellowship after the evening service. Lauren Brown is the new Children’s Minister at Brookwood Baptist Church, Shreveport. She was previously at Woodridge Baptist Church, Shreveport. Alex Davis resigned as youth pastor at Summer Grove Baptist Church, Shreveport. Dwayne McDow resigned as executive … [Read more...]
What if your Mother’s Day is not a Hallmark movie?
By Steve Horn What if your Mother’s Day is not a Hallmark movie? Naomi, the mother-in-law of Ruth, had every right to ask that question. Ruth could too for that matter. After a couple of names and places in the opening verses 1-3, verses 4 and 5 have a staccato-like feel filled with a series of events that could simply be labeled, “Bad News.” The Bible tells us that at some point in this time of the judges, there was a famine in the land of Promise. (Ruth 1:1). Living in Bethlehem (a town that means by the way, the house of bread), there was a man by the name of Elimelech (God is my King) and his wife, Naomi (Pleasant or Sweet One). They had two sons — Mahlon and Chilion. By the way, Mahlon means “sickly” and Chilion means “frail.” Can’t you see it? It’s a rather sad tale. “Hello, my name is ‘God is my King’ and this is my wife, ‘Sweet One.’ We are from the ‘House of Bread,’ but we left there, because there was a famine in the land, and we were about to starve to death. Meet our two kids, ‘Sickly’ and ‘Frail.’” The old line, “If it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all” comes to mind. We might laugh, but believe me, they weren’t laughing. It could be that their move to the land of Moab was … [Read more...]
SBC travel scholarships available for small church pastors
Pastors of smaller membership churches are eligible for help with expenses for attending the Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting by applying through the Caskey Center for Church Excellence at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Surplus funds from last year's Pastors' Conference costs were placed in reserve by the conference's officers and designated for convention travel scholarships for smaller membership pastors, with NOBTS' Caskey Center designated to distribute the funds. Scholarships in the amount of $1,000 each will be awarded to qualified applicants on a first-come, first-served basis. Funds must be used for flight, hotel, mileage, rental car, meals, books and resources or other convention-related expenses. If awarded, the $1,000 check will be mailed directly to the church with a letter designating the funds for the pastor's convention expenses. Pastors of congregations with less than 150 in average attendance and whose churches are unable or unwilling to fund convention expenses may apply. Applicants will be asked a series of questions to determine eligibility. Personal contact information as well as church contact information will be required. By applying, applicants agree to use the funds to … [Read more...]
Louisiana congressional delegation praises President’s Iran decision
WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw Tuesday, May 8, from the Iran nuclear agreement drew praise from most members of Louisiana's delegation to Congress who released statements, including its two members of Louisiana Baptist churches. Negotiated by former President Barack Obama in 2015, the deal lifted most U.S. and international economic sanctions from Iran in exchange for the Middle Eastern country agreeing to restrictions on its nuclear program. Trump called the deal "one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into." U.S. Rep. Ralph Abraham, a member of Alto Baptist Church, called the decision wise and calculated. "The Iran Deal was not a deterrent to a nuclear weapon; it was a pathway to a nuclear weapon," Abraham said in a statement. "The President has always put the security of the United States and our allies first and foremost above politics. This is another example of solid, positive leadership." U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson, a member of First Baptist Church in Bossier City, agreed. "Rather than curbing the nuclear ambitions and dangerous activities of Iran, this deal did the opposite and further emboldened the world's leading state sponsor of … [Read more...]
Words to remember for graduates
By Waylon Bailey Last Sunday, our church family celebrated with over 40 high school seniors at our church. We recognized them in the morning worship and rejoiced with them and their families at a luncheon afterwards. Graduate recognition is a fun time to preach. It seems that people are more ready to hear than at other times. At the worship services I preached about “Four Things to Do Before You Leave Home.” At the luncheon I had a few more minutes with graduates. At that meeting I had four more suggestions for them. These are the kind of suggestions that fit us all. First, remember the magic words. I was shocked that not everyone knew the magic words. I often speak about the magic words at weddings as well. These magic words–please and thank you– will never wear out or go out of style. Everyone appreciates kindness from others. No matter where we are in life kind, gentle, appreciative words are fitting. Second, use your Bible daily. College students often forget that God has an important word for them as well. We gave out great Bibles yesterday. I made a challenge to not neglect those Bibles. Third, choose your friends wisely. We always become like those people we hang out with. Since that is the … [Read more...]
Let us pray: Students briefed on religious rights in school
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer BOSSIER/WEBSTER PARISHES – Students received a crash course on the right to freely express their religious beliefs in public schools during the Student Freedom Summit in Bossier and Webster parishes Sunday, April 8. Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry and Congressman Mike Johnson briefed the students about the legal rights they have to share their faith in public schools. The summit was held at First Baptist Church in Minden and Bossier Parish Community College, located in parishes where atheist groups are targeting the school administrations for allegedly promoting Christianity. Community members, pastors, parents and some school officials joined the students at the summit. Supporters were encouraged the following day to draw a blue line on their hands and post photos on social media using the hashtag #STANDUPBOSSIER and #STANDUPWEBSTER. Johnson, a member of First Baptist Church in Bossier City, challenged students to mirror their actions after Elijah, who stood up for God’s truth. He stressed the importance of engaging in respectful debate that could change minds. “Be like Elijah,” he said. “You stand for your freedom. You stand for the truth. There is a time to draw a … [Read more...]
Cassidy challenges LC grads to dream, make a difference for God
By Message Staff ALEXANDRIA – Louisiana College celebrated its 163rd commencement May 5 by conferring the most degrees since Rick Brewer became president of the school in 2015. The school presented 155 undergraduate and 46 master’s degrees at the Rapides Parish Coliseum in Alexandria. In a special recognition during the ceremony was Clavoisiea Dupree, a member of the basketball team who was on pace to graduate with this classmates. However, on March 31 Dupree passed away. Brewer awarded Dupree with an undergraduate degree posthumously during the ceremony. “We are preparing students not to just get a degree,” Brewer told students. “We are not just preparing you for careers. Our job as faculty and administrators has been to prepare you for life. “Education that instructs the mind without deepening the soul is not true learning,” he continued. “Louisiana College’s goal is to graduate students to make a difference for the common good as a redemptive voice in the world. Our graduates are hopeful realists who recognize the brokenness of the world, but believe God has called them to work for its healing and restoration.” During the keynote address, U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy challenged the students to dream and make … [Read more...]
What makes prayer so difficult, why we keep at it
By Joe McKeever In the same way the Spirit also helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how to pray as we should. But the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. (Romans 8:26) Tomorrow is the National Day of Prayer. That’s a good thing. It keeps us focused on the importance of prayer, and probably dumps a load of guilt on all of us for not praying more or better. Three aspects of prayer make it difficult, and probably even unreasonable. And then, one overwhelming reality keeps us at it with the strong confidence that praying is the best thing we can ever do. The three impossible aspects of prayer that befuddle us… –One. The Object of our prayers is unseen. In prayer, we are addressing One we’ve never seen and can’t even prove exists. And yet, we keep at it, drawing aside day after day, year after year, speaking to the Invisible, Unprovable Lord in the firm belief that He is there, that He hears, and cares and will answer. Is this bizarre or not?! Smile, please. –Two. The expression of our prayers is uncertain. We simply do not know how to word our prayers. We are mortals addressing the Immortal, the creation speaking to the Creator, sinners kneeling before … [Read more...]
Keep your eyes on the prize
By Greg Laurie “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” - 2 Timothy 4:7 In the Greek games, a judge would stand at the finish line holding laurel leaves in plain sight. This was the reward given to the victor. As the runner came around that last stretch, feeling exhausted and unable to go another inch, he would catch a glimpse of the prize in the judge’s hands. And then a new burst of energy would kick in. That is the picture we find in Hebrews 12:1–2. “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (NKJV). Looking unto Jesus. . . . This keeps us going. We can get discouraged in the spiritual race. People let us down. They disappoint us. They don’t appreciate our hard work. They don’t see our efforts. They don’t see our real motives. They criticize us. But we say, “I’m not running for you. I’m running for the Lord, and I’ll keep going.” We have to keep our eyes on Jesus Christ. Our prize is the crown of righteousness that He will give to us. That is why … [Read more...]
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