ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – It is important to remember that motions may only deal with one topic at a time. When making a motion, you should be as brief as possible and always begin with the phrase “I move that...” If you are making a subsidiary motion (one that deals with a motion already on the floor), it must be relevant to the motion currently under consideration and not be a motion that is the same or substantially similar to one already dealt with by this convention. If your motion is a privileged motion, it must not be dilatory (unnecessary or made only to delay the conduct of business). If your motion seeks to amend the Louisiana Baptist Convention Articles of Incorporation or Louisiana Baptist Convention Bylaws, please review these documents in advance for special rules regarding the process of amendment prior to offering your motion. A copy of the LBC Articles of Incorporation and LBC Bylaws are found in your Book of Reports. Important steps in wording your motion: A motion should direct that the Convention take some sort of action or refrain from taking some action. Include only the action you want to see taken in your motion. Do not include supporting reasons for adopting your motion in the motion … [Read more...]
LBF: $600,000 in gifts; prepped for hinted Fed rate hikes
By Jerry Love, LBF Communications ALEXANDRIA (LBM) – The election of new officers, updates on investments and the approval of the 2018 budget highlighted the final quarterly meeting of the Louisiana Baptist Foundation Board of Trustees, Oct. 24. Members also learned about almost $600,000 in new deferred donations benefiting Louisiana Baptists’ ministries, as well as steps taken with regard to its fixed income portfolio to protect against potential rate hikes by the Federal Reserve. INVESTMENT UPDATES E.L. Paulk, chairman of the investment committee, and Lee Morris and Susan Taylor, both of Graystone Consulting, updated trustees about the management of LBF’s funds and gave a general overview of market conditions. In his remarks, Morris described the equity markets as “having a very good year.” The Foundation equity portfolios are doing well in light of the market’s upward push, he said, adding that international equities are performing better than the domestic markets as was predicted earlier in the year. Other issues he addressed: -- Morgan Stanley’s Global Investment Committee projects that equities will continue to outperform fixed income securities. -- All parts of the LBF portfolio are in compliance … [Read more...]
Award-winning Christian country music looking for venue in southeast Louisiana Nov. 12
Wade Hammond, an award-winning Christian recording artist, is seeking a venue in Northshore Baptist Association in which to sing Nov. 12. A 2015 winner for inspirational country music male vocalist of the year, Hammond has been in full-time music ministry for 22 years. He most recently performed on the Grand Ole Opry Oct. 19. For more information on booking Hammond, contact Alan Knuckles at 337.348.9202. … [Read more...]
Louisiana’s Abraham, Johnson among those voting to reauthorize Children’s Health Insurance Program
Five of the six members of Louisiana’s delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives voted Nov. 3 in favor of H.R. 3922, the Championing Healthy Kids Act, which reauthorizes the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and other important public health programs like Community Health Centers. The bill passed the House by a vote of 242-174. Mike Johnson, a member of First Baptist Church in Bossier City, and Ralph Abraham, a member of Alto Baptist Church, were among those from Louisiana joining their fellow Republican colleagues in voting for the piece of legislation. The only Louisiana member voting against the bill was Cedric Richmond, a Democrat representing the state's 2nd District. "The federal government maintains a countless number of wasteful, duplicative and unnecessary spending programs, but investments in CHIP and Community Health Centers are notable exceptions,” Johnson said in a statement. “These programs have proven to be critical resources for many of my constituents back home in an uncertain healthcare market. Ensuring the ill-effects of Obamacare do not adversely harm children’s access to care is paramount. This reauthorization makes meaningful, fiscally responsible reforms to protect the most vulnerable … [Read more...]
Pollock pastor braves chilly conditions in dunking booth for children’s ministry
By Message Staff POLLOCK – Brian Gunter is not one to shy away from a challenge. So, when it came time to help raise money for First Baptist Church in Pollock’s children’s ministry, he braved Saturday morning’s (Oct. 28) chilly temperatures in a dunking booth for the church’s annual Fall Festival. There were quite a number of church members and others from the community who turned out to insure Gunter got dunked despite the chilly temperatures. It was all in good fun and for a good cause as $140 was raised at the dunking booth alone while another $70 was raised in other areas of the festival. “A pastor never knows how much his church loves him until he climbs into a dunking booth on a cool fall day,” Gunter told the Baptist Message. “A few deacons tried to drown me, but I came out unscathed! Sometimes you have to get creative to raise money for the children’s ministry.” But Gunter’s love of “freezin’ for a reason” will not stop at the First Baptist Pollock fall festival. In the very near future, Gunter said he would be willing to step inside a dunking booth on the property of the Cenla Pregnancy Center in Alexandria to raise money for the organization. The first pro-life pregnancy center in central Louisiana … [Read more...]
Johnson co-sponsors bill to keep taxpayer dollars out of abortion facilities
By Ainsley Holyfield, Office of U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson (R-Benton) has signed on as an original co-sponsor to H.R. 4131, the No Abortion Bonds Act, which amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to impose federal taxes on bonds used to provide facilities owned by abortion providers. If passed, the bill will close loopholes in the tax code that allow abortion providers to finance facilities with municipal, county and state bonds while being exempt from federal taxes. “The federal government should not be subsidizing abortions. Period,” said Johnson, a member of First Baptist Church in Bossier City. “This legislation will help keep taxpayer dollars out of abortion facilities and protect the rights of all Americans who have deeply held religious and moral objections to funding this abhorrent industry. I am proud to champion this legislation, and the sanctity of all human life, while in Congress.” … [Read more...]
OPINION: Louisiana politicians are ‘gambling addicts,’ economy takes backseat
Louisiana’s Johnson, Abraham among those voting for tax reform
By Message Staff WASHINGTON, D.C. - Members of Louisiana’s delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives are upbeat after Republicans narrowly adopted a budget resolution they hope cuts American’s taxes by the end of the year. Passed Thursday, Oct. 26, by a vote of 216-212, the vote allows Republicans to start working on tax cuts, a top item on the Republican and President Donald Trump’s agenda. The Senate passed the measure last week. “Today the House took an important step toward reforming our tax code by passing a budget resolution,” U.S. Rep. Ralph Abraham posted on his Facebook page. “This means we can overcome the Senate's out dated filibuster rules to reform our tax code with a simple majority instead of 60 votes. “If all Republicans in the Senate keep their word - unlike with Obamacare repeal - then we can finally reform our tax code to put more money in the pockets of middle class families and allow our small businesses to grow and be competitive,” continued Abraham, a member of Alto Baptist Church. “I believe we can get this done for the working families across the United States.” Fellow Louisiana Republican Mike Johnson, a Republican and member of First Baptist Church in Bossier City, echoed the … [Read more...]
Mission giant Hodnett passes away at 85
CHARENTON -- Bobby Hodnett passed away on October 16, 2017 at the age of 85. A native of Colfax, Louisiana, and a resident of the Baldwin and Franklin area for the past 50 years, passed away Monday, October 16, 2017. At the time of his passing, he was the pastor of Cypremort Point Baptist Mission and associate pastor at Little Pass Baptist Church. A former semi-pro baseball player, he gave his heart to Christ and pursued ministry with all that was in him for 60 plus years. He came to First Baptist Church in Franklin in November of 1968 and served as music and youth pastor. He then went to the Myette Point Baptist Mission in Franklin. In 1973, he restarted Little Pass Baptist Mission in Charenton as their pastor. He led them to tremendous growth as a fully constituted church. Under his leadership, the church was moved from the levee to a piece of land across from the Charenton post office. He then lead the church to build a sanctuary, fellowship hall, and a two story education building. He retired in 2009 as Senior Pastor but never retired from ministry. Hodnett was well known for missions and evangelism. At one time in his career, he pastored Little Pass, the Baldwin Mission and Cypermort Point Baptist … [Read more...]
Johnson legislation to protect tax dollars from terrorist organizations moves to Senate
By Ainsley Holyfield, Office of U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday, Oct. 25 passed H.R. 469, the Sunshine for Regulations and Regulatory Decrees and Settlements Act. Included in this bill is the Judgment Fund Transparency Act which was amended by U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson (R-Benton) to further increase transparency for taxpayers and to ensure terrorist organizations are prohibited from receiving taxpayer funds. The Sunshine for Regulations and Regulatory Decrees and Settlements Act, with language from Johnson, increases accountability in the regulatory process by providing greater scrutiny of sue-and-settle cases, requires the Department of Justice to release details of payments made through the Judgment Fund and strengthens Congress’ ability to intervene in litigation regarding the constitutionality of federal statutes. Johnson, who is a member of First Baptist Church in Bossier City, spoke on the House floor in favor of this legislation Wednesday evening. “The United States should be combating terrorism, not funding it with our own taxpayer dollars,” Johnson said in a statement. “Yet previous administrations have used loopholes in the law to conceal payments to … [Read more...]
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