Click to Login or Sign Up

Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Life lessons from Psalm 23

By Waylon Bailey God’s Word is filled with lessons about life. It is one of the reasons the Bible has sold more copies than any  other book in history, possibly over one billion copies. Within Holy Scripture there are multiple passages which draw us closer to God and help us cope with the daily struggles of life. Psalm 23 stands near the top of that list. Here are three amazing lessons which help us with life. First, God wants to guide us as a shepherd guides his sheep, giving leadership and protection. In Israel, shepherds did not drive their sheep; they led them. While we sometimes think of God as demanding and driving, He actually wants to walk with us and lead us in His righteous paths. We all know that life can become difficult and overwhelming, but God leads us with His presence through the deepest valleys of life. Psalm 23 teaches that we can always depend on God. Second, God wants us to enjoy His presence forever. He “prepares a table” for us. Is there any time of the day better than when we sit around a table eating, talking, and laughing? God desires that we have that kind of fellowship with Him. Third, God wants to bless you. The psalm ends in a grand crescendo when the psalmist declares: “Surely … [Read more...]

SEBTS’ Lyon new VP for NOBTS

By Marilyn Stewart, NOBTS Communications NEW ORLEANS (NOBTS) -- New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary President Jamie Dew named Larry Lyon, June 19, the vice president of enrollment, beginning July 1. Lyon, who has served as director of enrollment at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary for eight years, steps into a new position approved by the NOBTS trustees executive committee in their regularly scheduled meeting June 4. Noting that enrollment grew significantly at Southeastern during Lyon's tenure there, Dew said Lyon is "a gifted administrator with proven abilities in the areas of recruiting, retention and completion" and "a proven leader with exceptional strategic instinct and training. I'm excited to see him develop an efficient and effective enrollment strategy for NOBTS." The announcement is Dew's first official action since his election as NOBTS president by the full board of trustees June 5. President Emeritus Chuck Kelley retires July 31 after leading the seminary for 23 years. According to the job description approved by trustees, the vice president for enrollment, as chief strategist and catalyst for all enrollment-related matters, will "drive and direct the institutional strategy" for maximum … [Read more...]

SBC resolutions include approval of ‘Marxist’ theories as ‘analytical tools’

By Will Hall, Executive Editor BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (LBM) – Southern Baptist messengers attending the 2019 Annual Meeting in Birmingham, Alabama, approved 13 resolutions, including one that was substantially altered to endorse two theories as “analytical tools” that the author of the original resolution called “Marxist.” Twelve of the resolutions passed without much controversy, although some garnered requests to tweak the language. But Resolution 9 was hotly debated because it approved using controversial concepts, in addition to Scripture, for gaining insights about “social dynamics” like race and gender in our culture. This resolution described “critical race theory” and “intersectionality” in neutral terms, suggesting that in some cases both have been misused “by individuals with worldviews that are contrary to the Christian faith” to come to wrong conclusions. However, the two theoretical frameworks actually arose from radicals in academia. Critical race theory is traced to the Harvard Law School and the founding theorist Derrick Bell who insists that “the law” perpetuates “white supremacy” and “white privilege.” Meanwhile, intersectionality is tied to the UCLA School of Law and Kimberlé Crenshaw, the pioneer … [Read more...]

La. pastor arrested for rape, church ministers to the hurt

By Staff WESTLAKE, La. (LBM) – Bruce Baker, director of missions for the Carey Baptist Association, said the Bellview Baptist Church in Westlake is asking for prayers of healing for a young girl who was raped by the now former pastor of the congregation. John Ward, 45, who had served at the church since 2012, was arrested June 17 on 10 counts of first degree rape, 40 counts of indecent behavior and two counts of pornography involving a juvenile, according to a news release from the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Department. An anonymous call to the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services’ tip line led to an investigation during which Ward confirmed to detectives that he had been molesting a girl, now 11 years old, for two years. He also told investigators he videoed the girl while she was nude on two separate occasions. Judge Sharon Wilson set his bond at $640,000. “Bellview Baptist Church leaders are cooperating fully with the sheriff’s office in the investigation,” Baker shared with the Baptist Message. “The deacons, in consultation with Carey Baptist Association, unanimously voted to immediately terminate Ward’s employment with the congregation because of his sexual immorality and failure to maintain the … [Read more...]

Uncomplicating your prayers: Just do it!

By Joe McKeever “When you pray, say , ‘Our Father….'”   (Luke 11:2) I used to have around fifty books on prayer.  C. S. Lewis said he would never write one, but that’s been done for him  posthumously.  Someone took articles he wrote in various books and insights from his letters and assembled them into How to Pray, which Bertha and I are reading with enormous pleasure.  (Most of my collection I gave away over the years as I down-sized my library twice.) I fear with all the books on the subject that beginners may be scared away from serious praying, thinking it’s harder than it is, more complicated than it should be, and reserved just for the most religious among us.  And what a tragedy that would be. Prayer is for every child of God. I love to find insights and encouragements in Scripture about prayer.  One of the best is on display in the amazing and rich 8th chapter of Romans, everyone’s “mother lode” of treasures.  It’s this… –Romans 8:26 says that while we do not know how to pray as we should (we smile at the wonderful and honest admission), the Holy Spirit intercedes for us.  I have no idea what that is like in the Throne Room of Heaven.  But wait…. –Romans 8:34–just eight verses later–informs us that the … [Read more...]

Southern Baptists identify sexual abuse, racism as disqualifying for membership

By Message Staff BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – Messengers took a stand against sexual abuse and racism at the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting, June 11-12, in Birmingham, Alabama. They voted, overwhelmingly, for amendments to the SBC Constitution to specifically state that sexual abuse and discrimination based on ethnicity are grounds for a church to be deemed as “not in friendly cooperation” with the Convention. Messengers likewise voted to amend the SBC Bylaws to repurpose the Credentials Committee into a standing commit-tee to make inquiries and recommendations for action regarding instances of sexual abuse, racism or other issues that call a church’s relationship with the SBC into question. Ronnie Floyd, president and CEO of the SBC Executive Committee, told messengers the votes constituted a significant moment in the history of the Convention. “May this world know that the Southern Baptist Convention stands against all forms of sexual abuse,” Floyd said. “May this world know that this convention of churches – 47,000 churches, plus a few thousand congregations, just under 52,000 churches and congregations – has given a clear signal not only about what we believe about sexual abuse, but we also stand against … [Read more...]

Memorial services scheduled for Jefferson Parish pastor

Details for the memorial service have been announced for Claude Williams, pastor of Celebration Church’s Westbank campus who was killed Sunday, June 16. According to Celebration Church’s website, the first service will take place Friday, June 21, 11 am at Celebration Church, 2001 Airline Dr. in Metairie. Visitation begins at 9 a.m. A second service is scheduled for Saturday, June 22, 11 am at the First Baptist Church, 508 Second St. in  Nachitoches. Visitation begins at 9 a.m. Williams was one of three people who died Sunday evening while trying to help a motorist change a flat tire on the upper level of the Westbank Expressway in Marrero. According to WDSU-TV in New Orleans, an Impala struck the disabled Yukon driven by Williams and the two other pedestrians, pushing them over the side of the elevated expressway. The driver of the Impala, Todd Williams, 40, of New Orleans, was arrested. An account on the Celebration Church website has been established to help defray funeral costs. Donations can be given at https://celebrationmla.infellowship.com/OnlineGiving/GiveNow/NoAccount. … [Read more...]

Louisiana Baptists among motion makers at annual meeting

By Staff BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Louisiana Baptists offered three motions among 23 presented by messengers during the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting, June 11-12, in Birmingham, Alabama, with the Committee on Order of Business including two among 18 referred to entities or committees and another as part of five ruled out of order. Referred to the Executive Committee: -- A motion by Leroy Fountain of the Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, La., that a comprehensive report be given at the 2020 annual meeting on the progress of 12 recommendations adopted by the SBC in 2011 for expanding ethnic participation in the Convention. The last published information about progress made on the 12 recommendations was included in a 2015 report on racial reconciliation (click here). -- A motion by Pam Richardson of the New Life Baptist Church in Baker, La., to amend the BF&M 2000 Article 6 to state, "While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office and function of the pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture." Her motion adds “and function” to the original statement. -- A motion by Robert Anderson of the Colonial Baptist Church in Randallstown, Md., to add a George Liele … [Read more...]

Minister’s Housing Allowance case over for now; remains constitutional

By Roy Hayhurst, GuideStone Financial Resources DALLAS, Texas - Litigation challenging the constitutionality of the minister’s housing allowance has formally ended after the Freedom From Religion Foundation chose not to appeal a Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals decision to the U.S. Supreme Court. The FFRF, which won a challenge to the housing allowance in a district court on December 31, 2017, lost during an appeal to the Seventh Circuit when a three-judge panel ruled unanimously to overturn the lower court’s decision. The minister’s housing allowance was codified in federal tax law in 1954, GuideStone® Chief Legal Officer Harold R. Loftin Jr., who has monitored this and other challenges to the housing allowance, and attended the oral arguments before the Seventh Circuit panel in Chicago, praised the ending of the case. GuideStone has actively engaged in the various challenges to the housing allowance exclusion, filing amicus briefs alongside Southern Baptist and other denominational benefit plans and advocating with legislators and regulators. “The Freedom From Religion Foundation said that they believed given the composition of the Supreme Court that the could not prevail in the case,” Loftin said. “We believe that … [Read more...]