By Will Hall, Message Executive Editor SUITLAND, Md. (LBM)—The U.S. Census Bureau has released data showing that the number of married couples with children under the age of 18 hit a 56-year low of 23,651,000 in 2017, indicating a decline in the traditional family. The drop is even more serious when viewed in terms of population totals then and now. In 1961, there were 23,514,000 married couple families with children under age 18, among a total population of 183,691,481 – a ratio of one married couple with kids for every 8 people in the country. Now the ratio is one married couple with children under 18 for every 14 people, based on 23,651,000 married couples and a total U.S. population of 325,719,178 people. The decline in married couples with children coincides with a rise in single parent families, with that number climbing from 2,375 million in 1961 to 10,641,000 in 2017, the latest data that has been released. Meanwhile, the number of children under age 18 as a percentage of the U.S. population has continued to decline from a high of 36 percent in 1960 to an estimated 22.2 percent for 2020. The implications for U.S. social institutions appear dire with fewer people as a percentage of the population … [Read more...]
United Methodists to split over gay marriage
By Will Hall, Message Executive Editor NASHVILLE, Tenn. (LBM) --After years of struggle within the United Methodist Church regarding the ordination of LGBT clergy and performing same-sex marriages, world leaders of the denomination have proposed a split that would allow conservative congregations to form a separate body. The Book of Discipline that guides UMC churches regarding such matters now states that “the practice of homosexuality is in compatible with Christian teaching” and declares that “ceremonies that celebrate homosexual unions shall not be conducted by our ministers and shall not be conducted in our churches.” Once the conservatives separate from the present denomination, it will open the door for the existing United Methodist Church to repeal these bans. The proposed separation will be voted on at the UMC General Conference in May. The United Methodist Church has about 6.8 million members in the United States and 12.7 million members worldwide. Although overseas congregations are considered more conservative than those in the United States, surveys indicate that 55 percent of U.S. congregants are conservative in their beliefs. The United Methodist Church is the second-largest evangelical body in the … [Read more...]
STUDY: Louisiana College ranked among the best in the state, nation
By Will Hall, Message Executive Eidtor PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) — A Louisiana College bachelor’s degree is one of the best investments of tuition paid in the state, according to research conducted by Georgetown University. Comparing earnings at the 10-year point to the debt held for the degree earned, this collegiate ministry of Louisiana Baptists ranked second in the state among the 22 four-year colleges and universities that offer more than an associate’s degree or certificates. Among the eight private nonprofit schools against which it competes, Louisiana College ranked first on this metric. Meanwhile, the Town Talk, a public newspaper in Alexandria, citing christianuniversitiesonline.org, reported that Louisiana College “is the fourth most affordable Christian college in the South, North and Midwest.” In comments about the Georgetown University study rankings, Louisiana College President Rick Brewer told the Town Talk he is committed to doing even more to make Louisiana College “affordable and accessible, especially for those who value a liberal arts education built upon a biblical worldview.” “The more affordable and accessible our undergraduate programs are,” he continued, “the more likely the opportunities our … [Read more...]
Iraqi Christians suffer
By Joni B. Hanigan, Special to the Message *Name changed for security purposes. BAGHDAD, Iraq (LBM) --*Pastor Amed knew when the sharp cracking sounds of bullets striking cement and metal turned into even louder explosions, tensions simmering in Baghdad for over a month had reached the boiling point. Black smoke rising from the Green Zone and shouting and cheering in the streets meant either the Iran-backed militias were pushing against the continued American presence in Iraq -- or Iraqi Security Forces were again attacking protestors critical of Iran’s influence in Iraq’s government. Later, he learned the explosions were part of Iran’s response to the killing of Qasem Soleimani, a major general who commanded the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps division that has targeted U.S. troops and U.S. allies. Communicating through a social media link, Amed said the situation is very tense and he and his family must remain inside their home at all times. “We don’t know what will happen,” he said. “We thank our God for everything,” he said. “We believe our God will protect us.” In Iraq, where an estimated 200,000 Christians remain as compared to the 1.3 million who resided there in 2003, there is a lot … [Read more...]
Christianity’s explosive growth Iran’s biggest fear
By Joni B. Hanigan, Special to the Message *Name changed for security purposes. TEHRAN, Iran (LBM)—A mix of protestors in Iran’s streets the last few weeks, some demonstrating against America and others condemning Iran’s leaders, has obscured what could be an even greater newsworthy event in recent history than political unrest or military action – the explosive growth of Christianity in the country during the past several years. A YOUTH MOVEMENT The Christian population in Iran is “flourishing” according to *Pastor Sam who has traveled in the country extensively and now works with Iranian immigrants to America. He did not offer a numerical description of the spiritual movement, but various nongovernmental organizations and ministry groups have pegged the size of Christianity as between 500,000 and 1 million adherents, with one estimate as high as 3 million converts, and another as low as 300,000. These competing figures compare to the presence of a mere 500 Christians in the country in 1979 when religious hardliners overthrew the 2,500-year-old monarchy form of government in order to establish an Islamic republic in its place. According to ministry experts, the growth of Christianity among Iranians appears to … [Read more...]
Flattmann urges devotion to Christ at LC Chapel
By LCNews PINEVILLE, (LCNews) -- Louisiana College’s inaugural Spring chapel on Jan. 16 featured Kevin Flattmann, student pastor at Cypress Baptist Church, Benton. In a sermon drawn from Mark 14:3-9 and titled “Sorry, I’m Devoted,” Flattmann challenged the LC family to avoid “cruise control” because “God did not call us to be a chump, but to be a champ.” Flattmann explained that a Christian becomes a champ “when you begin to truly live your life more devoted to God. You’ll find more victory coming in your life.” He said devotion starts in your heart and radiates through your home, love, sacrifice, worship, and love for the Gospel. “Before I met Jesus my name was Loser, but Jesus Christ wrote his name on my life and made me a winner,” Flattmann said. “And no matter what is going on in your life, there is always victory in Christ, but that begins and ends with devotion to Jesus.” … [Read more...]
Is doubt reasonable?
By David Jeremiah EL CAJON, Calif. (BP) - Something strange happens to the psyche of a nation in difficult times. The downtrodden begin to resent government and wealthy corporations and individuals, seeing them as out of touch with, if not the cause of, their plight. Desperation can lead to a reversal of values so that any who rise up and strike back are cheered and viewed as heroes. Sometimes the rebel-heroes seem justified as in the traditional tale of Robin Hood, but others are simply lawbreakers like Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, who terrorized middle America in the early 1930s. While stories of their kindnesses to their victims made the rounds, such tales only confused the issue: Were they bad or were they good? The ambivalence toward this couple serves as a warning for us: It's important to discern good from bad in the spiritual dimension of life. And nowhere is that more necessary than when we are confronted by spiritual doubt. Modus Operandi Modus operandi is one of those Latin phrases that made its way from the pages of criminal investigation textbooks into our cultural conversation. Literally, it means "way of operating." Criminal investigators study the way a criminal operates to find patterns of … [Read more...]
Seek God to become a champion
By Stewart Holloway What does it take to be a champion? It has been fun to watch LSU football this year. Since I work Sunday, I usually go to bed on Saturdays long before the game is over, but I couldn’t do it this year. It was too much fun to watch the team work as a unit to execute amazing plays, and I loved the sincere passion of Coach O. The man is living his dream. Not many of us get to do that, but he is - and he is making the most of it. I’ve also enjoyed watching our oldest son fall in love with LSU. After making a few games at Tiger Stadium with my mom, he’s hooked. He may even rival Rebecca’s passion in the years to come (but good luck with that). As a leader, I’ve watched this season asking, “What’s the difference?” I’m sure there were a lot of football technicalities at work, but it was the leadership of Coach O that I think made the difference. It is obvious Coach O genuinely loves this state, LSU, his team, his staff, and the fans. While love motivates, it was wisdom that brought the difference. Coach O was wise enough to realize that he didn’t have all the answers, so he recruited the right players, hired the right people, and even brought in others to speak into his team through the year on key points. The … [Read more...]
Tornado kills 3, leaves path of destruction
By Message Staff HAUGHTON, La. (LBM) – Gevan Spinney woke up early Saturday, Jan. 11, to a howling wind from a powerful storm system making its way through Haughton. A short time later he walked outside to find 60 downed trees across his lawn but miraculously with no damage to his house. Spinney, pastor of First Baptist Church in Haughton, credits God for sparing his life and home. “Once the sun came up I found my wife, Andrea, in the front yard weeping,” Spinney told the Baptist Message. “It became real obvious the Lord had His hand on our house and protected us. We had this overwhelming feeling come over us. Our family was so very grateful for the Lord’s protection.” While Spinney’s home escaped destruction, others in his area were not as fortunate. His house was located along the path of a storm that produced an EF2 tornado, whose winds reached 135 mph and caused widespread damage and three fatalities in the state. The tornado touched down before 1:30 a.m. south of Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier Parish and ended around 2:05 a.m. five miles north of Arcadia. According to the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office, Jerry W. Franks, 79, and Mary Sue Franks, 65, of Haughton died when the tornado destroyed their … [Read more...]
Skills of a church planter: responsiveness to the community
By John Hebert, Louisiana Baptists missions and ministry team leader ALEXANDRIA (LBM) - The Areopagus is just a bare marble outcropping near the Acropolis in modern-day Greece. It is an important tourist attraction because at one time it was the place where major decisions were discussed in the city of Athens – even court sessions were held there, especially murder trials. By the Apostle Paul’s day, it was a place where new ideas were heard by the philosophers of the city. More importantly for our purposes, it was the place where Paul made a speech to city leaders known as the sermon on Mars Hill. In that speech Paul skillfully adapted his message using cues from the culture to more effectively communicate the Gospel, piquing interest by putting the message in terms that made sense to the locals. He was responsive to the community. Serious church planters and leaders should always be responsive to the communities they are trying to reach. He must speak the language of the community -- not just the dialect, but the local narrative or context, especially the prevailing elements of the culture. In Athens the narrative was philosophical in nature, and it’s clearly visible in Paul’s approach recorded in Acts 17:22-23. … [Read more...]
