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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Luter’s faithfulness a testimony to other pastors

By Marilyn Stewart, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary communications PHOENIX (BP) -- Fred Luter, pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, said he began his ministry as a street preacher who didn't know anything about the Southern Baptist Convention. Luter, a former SBC president, was one of four pastors who gave a "Common Ground Testimony" to encourage those in ministry during the SBC Pastors' Conference meeting in Phoenix June 11-12. "I was raised as a National Baptist," he said. "Someone asked me if I would be interested in submitting my resume to Franklin Avenue Baptist Church. I put in my resume, but I was scared. I had never pastored; I wasn't ordained; I hadn't been to seminary yet. But a congregation of 50 people asked me to be their pastor." Luter told the audience he was convinced that if they were faithful in four areas, God would bless their ministries. "First, be faithful to God," he said. "God called you to ministry. Whatever you do in life, make certain you are faithful to God. When you stand in the pulpit, be faithful to God who called you." Second, Luter said, pastors should be faithful to God's Word. "Preach it, teach it and live the word of God. If people are saved, it … [Read more...]

Friends, colleagues offer prayers for Congressman Steve Scalise shot by assailant

By Message Staff UPDATED 2:45 p.m. 6/14 Elected officials, Louisiana Baptist pastors and others continued to offer prayers of support Wednesday afternoon, June 14, for Louisiana congressmen Steve Scalise, who was in critical condition after undergoing surgery for injuries sustained when a gunman opened fire on the House Majority WHIP earlier in the day. "Join with me and my family as we pray for Rep Scalise's quick and complete recovery," said Louisiana Baptist Convention President Gevan Spinney, who is also pastor of First Baptist Church in Haughton. U.S. Rep. Ralph Abraham said in a statement released to the Baptist Message that he and his wife, Dianne, are praying for Scalise's recovery and thanked law enforcement officers for their acts of bravery. “Since May, someone has threatened to shoot Rep. McSally in the head; someone tried to run Rep. Kustoff off the road with her car; and now a man seemingly attempted to assassinate several members of Congress at a baseball practice," said Abraham, a member of Alto Baptist Church. "I know we’re a divided country, but Americans do not settle political disagreements with violence. No matter how divided we might be in our opinions, we absolutely cannot … [Read more...]

Rice urges pastors heed Christ’s call

  By Marilyn Stewart, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary communications PHOENIX (BP) – Ryan Rice, pastor of Connect Church of Algiers in New Orleans, told attendees of the 2017 Southern Baptist Convention Pastors’ Conference Monday, June 12 that continuing on in obedience to Christ is a call all pastors must heed today. Drawing from Philippians 2:12-18, Rice said pastors must "live lives poured out for Jesus." Acknowledging that ministry is difficult, Rice encouraged listeners not to give up but to press forward in "practical obedience" to God's calling by staying focused on Christ. "Keep plowing in the lane God has set you in," Rice said during his message. "Keep following wherever He has placed you. You can continue on if your eyes are set on Jesus." Pointing to verses 14-16, Rice said believers are called to a "shining obedience," whereby a dark world can see Christ in their lives. Rice reminded listeners God sees and rewards faithfulness. "Your identity is found in Christ, not in what you do for Christ," Rice said. Believers are called to "joyful obedience," Rice said. He encouraged pastors to serve joyfully, as Christ served, and to remember Jesus endured the cross. Rice concluded by … [Read more...]

Through song and service annual LABASYC tour will shine the light of Jesus

By Message Staff PINEVILLE – More than 80 high school students will mix music with evangelistic outreach during the Louisiana Baptist All State Youth Choir’s 7-day tour. During the next week the choir will make stops in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Memphis, Tenn., where the students will sing at concert venues and share Christ with others in detention facilities, addiction treatment centers and city parks. “It’s my pleasure to hang out with LBASYC,” said Herb Armentrout, youth music consultant who will direct the youth choir. “The purpose of this choir is to share the love of Christ with folks who do not know him. We’re going to be doing that all over Cincinnati and Memphis this next week. It’s going to be a great time.” In its 34th year, the LBASYC is made up of students who audition at the beginning of January and practice at various times leading up to the day they depart for tour. This year’s choir tour is June 9-16. Peter Howard, a member of First Baptist Church in New Orleans, is among those students who have participated multiple times. He and other members of the choir spent a few days this week at Louisiana College in Pineville preparing for the tour. “I am really excited to being going to Cincinnati to share … [Read more...]

Lottie Moon falls $11.3 million; Annie Armstrong down $13.1 million

By Will Hall, Message Editor NASHVILLE, Tenn. (LBM) —The Southern Baptist Conventions’ International Mission Board released final numbers, June 7, for its annual special collection, showing the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering has fallen short $12.8 million, or greater than 7.7 percent, compared to last year. Meanwhile, the SBC Executive Committee published data, June 2, indicating the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering, which composes 49 percent of the budget for the North American Mission Board, is down $13.1 million, or more than 37 percent, year-to-date (only one month following Easter, and just four months before the end of the accounting year). For context about the two special offerings, year-to-date giving for all national causes through the Cooperative Program has been relatively stable, but down about $1.4 million, or off about 1 percent, compared to the same time frame last year. LOTTIE MOON The Christmas offering hit an all-time high of $165.8 million only a year ago, when Southern Baptists responded with generosity to IMB’s revelations about chronic overspending and the need for personnel reductions. IMB leaders had forecast an even larger offering for this year, announcing in November 2016 it had crafted … [Read more...]

Vacation Bible School

Southside Baptist Church, Shreveport: Galactic Starveyors Vacation Bible School, June 8-10. Thursday and Friday, 6-8:30 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. – to 2:30 p.m. Southside is located at 730 E. Flournoy Lucas Road, Shreveport. For more information, call 318.798.6200. Pastor: Buddy Hankins. … [Read more...]

Kelley credits Jesus for the transformation of Angola, prisoners

By Message Staff PINEVILLE – Any given life can be transformed through Jesus Christ, even a prisoner serving a life sentence for murder at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary President Chuck Kelley said Monday, June 5. “Never forget you can change your life,” Kelley told those attending the monthly First@First Business Leaders luncheon at First Baptist Church in Pineville. “You can be transformed. A stale marriage can come alive. Kids that are breaking your heart can be made different and new. Jesus Christ can make anybody new. “If you don’t believe me, you come with me to the cell blocks at Angola,” he continued. “And if you just walk around with me, you will pick out our students instantly because you will see something is different about these guys. They will stand out.” Since 1995, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary has held classes at Angola to train inmates who were incarcerated in what was once known as the bloodiest prison in the United States. Now, instead of committing crimes, thousands have accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior and the prison has seen an 85 percent drop in violence. To date, 319 inmates have graduated from the seminary’s extension … [Read more...]