By First Liberty Institute San Antonio, Texas — The FAA’s Office of Civil Rights announced May 24 that it has opened an investigation into San Antonio’s decision to ban Chick-fil-A from a concession contract at its airport. The action comes in response to a March request by the First Liberty Institute to Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao after the San Antonio City Council banned the popular restaurant from opening a location at the airport because of the chain’s religious viewpoint. Keisha Russell, an associate counsel for the First Liberty Institute, said the legal group was pleased that the “blatant, illegal religious discrimination against Chick-fil-A” was being addressed. “American business owners should not have to suffer because they want to operate their businesses in accordance with their religious beliefs,” she said via a press release. “Few things are more un-American than government hostility against religion.” First Liberty Institute is the largest legal organization in the nation dedicated exclusively to defending religious freedom for all Americans, according to the First Liberty Institute website. … [Read more...]
Hot Louisiana summer outreach ideas
By Lane Corley Along with Vacation Bible School, summer offers us some great opportunities for outreach and seed planting in our communities. Here’s a few that I’ve tried or learned from other Louisiana churches: Water bottles for front yard lawn mowers Fill a few ice chests full of ice cold water or Gatorade, then head out on Saturday morning and watch for people working in their front yard. Interrupt them by giving them a bottle and a small connection card to your church. I promise they won’t mind. Face painting or balloon animals at local festivals Every Louisiana community has a festival, car show, farmers market or something. Add to the gathering by offering something fun for kids. Face painting is easy for almost anyone. Poll your team for other talents that might be unique and entertaining. Don’t forget to have invite cards to your church or Bible study. Fun for kids at multi-housing complexes If you haven’t already, you should get to know the managers at local multi-housing complexes. They’re often required by upper management to provide events for the park and in my experience they are stressed about that! Offer to help by extending a VBS activity or showing up with a snow cone machine or bounce house a few … [Read more...]
Children’s Home dedicates newest cottage for homeless children and their mothers
The Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home celebrated the completion of its newest HomePlace Cottage for homeless children and their mothers with a ribbon cutting May 21 at its campus in Monroe. Among those celebrating the ribbon cutting were (left to right) Perry Hancock, Gene Howard, Irma Howard, Maggie Martin and Jonathan Martin. Gene Howard is the cousin of Jonathan Martin, chairman of the Louisiana-based RoyOMartin Lumber Company. The Howards have given generously toward this project, along with proceeds from the Brenda Hall Abney Children’s Golf Classic hosted annually by Roy O. Martin. Irma’s Place, named after Irma Howard, will house homeless women and children for up to 12 months at no cost to the residents. While there, the women may work toward their high school equivalency and receive life and employment skills training through the Christian Women Job Corps, a ministry of the Children’s Home. Residents living in this cottage will experience an array of amenities to offer a true home environment for the women and their children in this transitional setting as they prepare for independent living. This is the second new HomePlace Cottage to open since 2016. … [Read more...]
More than a building
By David Jeremiah EL CAJON, Calif. (BP) - We all say it: "Let's meet at the church." Somewhere along the way we began referring to "the building where the church meets" as "the church." The early church started meeting in homes and in the temple court in Jerusalem (Acts 2:46). But today, the church convenes in a variety of locations. Some congregations meet in converted storefronts while others assemble in beautiful buildings. But they all serve the same purpose: They are a place for us to gather and worship the Lord. Hopefully all Christian congregations will remember that the building is not "the" church. The first-century church proved beyond a doubt that buildings are not necessary for the church to grow and prosper and change the world. Are buildings convenient? Yes. They provide a central place for the true church of Jesus Christ to meet for worship, instruction, celebration and ministry. Just as it's nice to have a home in which to invite friends, so a church building should serve as a "home" to the community. Church membership: An option or not? Far too many Christians have decided that church affiliation is optional. That is not a biblical idea, but a worldly one. And it parallels the lack of … [Read more...]
Hancock celebrates fast track to foster parent training through Children’s Home
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer WOODWORTH, La. (LBM) – Prospective foster parents through the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home will soon enjoy access to a fast track for earning needed training. “With more than 4,000 children in Louisiana’s foster care system and only 2,200 foster homes, Louisiana Baptists have a great opportunity to make an impact on the next generation through foster care,” Children’s Home President and CEO Perry Hancock told the Baptist Message after the Executive Board meeting May 7 at Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center. A barrier interested foster parents have faced is the amount of time needed to earn certification. Training requires 4 to 8 weeks to complete. That amount of time will now be reduced to just two weekends, beginning this fall. Louisiana Baptist churches will host a full day of training on a Saturday and a half day Sunday afternoon. Dates and locations will be announced soon. Through its Connect 1:27 Foster Care and Adoption ministries, the Children’s Home also provides home studies for foster and adoption certifications, seminars for churches to develop foster care and adoption ministries, and ongoing training to enhance care skills. For more information, contact … [Read more...]
Juggling meets missions at M-JAM
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALGIERS/WOODWORTH – Jesse Joyner amazed the many children and adult leaders who attended the recent M-JAM conference, using his juggling skills to encourage them to share Jesus. “Everybody has a different gift and talent,” he said. “That’s the beauty of being a part of the body of Christ. We all represent different talents and gifts to do things God has called us to do in this life. "Think about your talents and hobbies,” he continued. “God made each and every one of you different and unique and special so you can share the Word of God through the special way God has called you.” More than 500 children and adult leaders met separately at two locations to learn how to be “set free” by Christ. The event at Connect Church in Algiers, March 30, and the Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center, May 4, allowed participating first-through-sixth graders and their leaders to attend the Missions Jamboree nearest them. The day-long event featured IMB missionaries, a clear presentation of the Gospel, and people who serve in different areas of compassion ministries. All activities and messages centered around the theme “Set Free,” based on John 8:36. “I always have a wonderful time … [Read more...]
Latest storms batter Southwest Louisiana, Louisiana DR chainsaw teams flock to help clean up damage
By Message Staff VILLE PLATTE – Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief teams are sending a number of chainsaw teams to Ville Platte, one of several towns, impacted by the latest round of storm-spawned tornadoes that roared through much of southwest Louisiana Sunday, May 19. According to Louisiana Baptist state Disaster Relief Director Gibbie McMillan, chainsaw teams from Boyce, Breaux Bridge, Lake Charles and Walker will meet Tuesday, May 21, at the First Baptist Church in Ville Platte to coordinate a response plan. They will then disperse into the community to work on 40 homes damaged by the storm. Other trained and untrained disaster relief volunteers can also meet at First Baptist Ville Platte to help with the response. The response is expected through Saturday. The National Weather Service confirmed eight tornadoes touch down in Louisiana Sunday, two in Mamou and Ville Platte; three in Beauregard Parish as well as heavy flooding while another one was reported in Allen Parish. As of noon Monday, May 20, approximately 500 customers in Evangeline Parish remain without power following Sunday morning’s storm that left an estimated 22,000 customers across Cleco’s service territory without power. According to Cleco, … [Read more...]
LED light can damage your eyes, health
The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety has published a 400-page report warning that “exposure to an intense and powerful [LED] light is ‘photo-toxic’ and can lead to irreversible loss of retinal cells and diminished sharpness of vision,” according to an article published by the Agence France-Presse. Even chronic exposure to lower intensity sources can “accelerate the [aging] of retinal tissue” and cause a loss of vision and contribute to “age-related macular degeneration,” the study concluded, with the AFP adding that LED lighting is set to “top 60 percent” of the general lighting market next year. Noting the proliferation of cellphones and other devices with backlit screens, the report said these “do not pose a risk of eye damage” because of the low luminosity of the light. But it cautioned that when used at night or in a dark setting, such gadgets can “disturb biological rhythms” and so disrupt sleep patterns. Prolonged exposure to the lowintensity light can also lead to headaches and fatigue. With regard to general lighting, the French government agency recommends use of “warm white” LED bulbs. As for backlit devices, the agency said to avoid viewing LED screens before … [Read more...]
Diet drinks cause weight gain in youth
By Will Hall, Message Editor A study has found that children and teens who drank diet beverages typically consumed an extra 200 calories a day, which adds up to an extra pound of fat every 17.5 days. Surprisingly, the daily calorie intakes of youth who consumed diet drinks were the same as their peers who drank the sugary or “regular” versions of the same sodas or other beverages. The findings published in the journal Pediatric Obesity did not reveal why artificial sweeteners appear to cause increased calorie consumption. However, the authors suggested “physiologic mechanisms” could be causing the “augmentation of insulin levels” and changing the “reward response” in the brain, among other altered functions. Regardless, the researchers said the results from studying the beverage consumption of more than 7,000 adolescents from 20112016 are important because of the high incidence of obesity combined with the related risks of type 2 diabetes, heart problems, and cancer among U.S. youth. A recent American Heart Association science advisory concluded that “at this time, it is prudent to advise against prolonged consumption of LCSB by children.” The authors further stated that “the use of other alternatives to … [Read more...]
Pa. lawmaker’s online rants net $125K for pro-life cause
By Will Hall, Message Editor State Rep. Brian Sims’ (D-Phil.) berating of a mother and three teen girls April 18 and, three weeks later, another woman, all who were praying in front of a Philadelphia Planned Parenthood clinic, has stirred up protests and calls for his removal from office, and netted a pro-life cause more than $125,000. Sims posted internet videos of his verbal attacks. In one he repeatedly called a woman “an old white lady,” accused her of being a “racist,” insulted her as “disgusting” and denigrated her faith while she quietly prayed for the women going into the abortion facility. In the other Sims bullies a trio of girls after they had finished praying at a corner of the property. Later, the mother of two of the teens wrote in USAToday.com that she was concerned about the bounty Sims offered to anyone who would reveal the names and addresses of the minors. Just days after the videos went viral, more than a thousand protestors showed up at the clinic to decry Sims’ actions, according to NBCPhiladelphia.com, with many calling for the openly gay activist to resign because of his abusive behavior toward the women and girls. Sims, who lives across the street from the abortion facility, has … [Read more...]
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