By Message Staff Louisiana could see its highest Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting messenger count since 2013 if pre-registration numbers continue to rise. Through Wednesday afternoon, 208 messengers from Louisiana had pre-registered, according to SBC Vice President for Convention Finance William E. Townes Jr. Though an official number won’t be known until the actual annual meeting in St. Louis, Mo., ends on June 15, the 2015 SBC Annual reported that 175 messengers from Louisiana registered for last year’s meeting in Columbus, Ohio. The 2013 annual meeting in Houston, Texas, saw 383 messengers register from Louisiana. The pre-registration numbers for the annual meeting mirror a trend across the SBC, Baptist Press reported on Wednesday. Just under 5,000 have pre-registered so far. Townes told BP that he projects 6,000-7,000 messengers in St. Louis and 10,000-11,000 total attendees. Last year, 5,407 messengers attended the meeting in Columbus. Townes told BP in written comments his projection “is just an educated estimate at this point. Based on my best estimate at this point, I would suggest that the hotel reservations are a pretty good indicator of our anticipated increase in attendance. I think the pre-registered … [Read more...]

By Marilyn Stewart, Regional reporter The sold-out crowd of 1500 women at Celebration Church, Metairie, cheered when Jennifer Rothschild, noted author and accomplished singer, took to the stage for the recent women’s event Fresh Grounded Faith. With Rothschild were actress Karen Abercrombie, “Miss Clara” from the film War Room and Stormie Omartian, bestselling author of the Power of Prayer series. “It’s God’s love that makes you lovely,” Rothschild told the crowd of women from all backgrounds and age groups. Blinded at age 15, Rothschild is the author of 11 books including the bestselling Lessons I Learned in the Dark; Self Talk, Soul Talk; and the recently released Invisible: How You Feel is Not Who You Are. Rothschild is the author of the popular Me, Myself and Lies Bible study and the 7-session DVD-driven study, Hosea, carried by LifeWay. Trials and failures do not define a person’s value, Rothschild told the crowd. “Who you are and what you struggle with are not the same thing,” Rothschild said. “The Lord values who you are, not where you are.” A wife, mother, speaker and accomplished singer with six albums to her name, Rothschild has been featured on the Today show, Good Morning America, Dr. Phil, and the Billy Graham … [Read more...]

By Marilyn Stewart, Regional reporter NEW ORLEANS - When the team of 17 New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS) students and  faculty members stepped into the neighborhood under storm-threatening skies April 21 to hand out 9-volt batteries, they did not know what the Lord would do. Three members of the community near the seminary came to faith in Christ. “The Lord gave us a window of one hour before the rain came down,” said Preston Nix, professor of evangelism and evangelistic preaching at NOBTS. “Two people…in two different locations had just finished praying to receive Christ when the rain started.” Seven faculty members and 10 students formed teams to knock on doors and give away free batteries for home smoke alarms. The teams partnered with Gentilly Baptist Church (GBC) to show love to neighbors with the goal of sharing the gospel. Two weeks later, on May 5, seven students and seven faculty members went into the community. As a result of their witness one person came to faith in Christ. “This involvement of our NOBTS faculty and students on the streets of our city shows once again that when we obey Christ's Great Commission, the Lord has people ready to respond,” said Ken Taylor, professor of urban missions at … [Read more...]

By Message Staff BATON ROUGE – Zoar Baptist Church is hosting a one-night conference about Christian sexuality on June 3. Scheduled from 6:30 to 9:30 pm, the second G3 Conference will include topics about same sex marriage and the church, gender and American culture, and the meaning of biblical manhood and womanhood. Student Minister Obbie Todd said the church has a mandate to address such issues, especially in a world that seems increasingly hostile toward a biblical worldview. “Christian families are coming to the slow realization that even Bible Belt culture doesn’t necessarily share their biblical values about marriage and family,” Todd said. “The legal definition of marriage has changed. The cultural role of women, inside and outside the church, is changing. Public restrooms are even changing. But the Word of God has not changed. June 3 will be a night of encouragement, education, and exhortation for a church navigating the troubled waters of the sexual revolution.” Last year, nearly 130 people attended the conference and Todd expects 170 may attend this year. Those attending will receive a free meal, t-shirts and books. The cost to attend the seminar is free, though a box for donations to cover the cost will be on … [Read more...]

Our Father who art in heaven hallowed be Thy Name. We, your children, come with very grateful hearts for all You have done for us as individuals and as citizens of this great nation. We recognize it is because of Your Grace and the sacrifice of so many that we can call ourselves Americans and can be a part of the most blessed nation in the world. On this Memorial Day enable us to remember. To remember those who have given their all for the values we hold as Americans. To remember those who have returned with wounds so physically and emotionally deep, that they may never be the same as before. May we sympathize with those who will never see the birth of their child, their child’s graduation, see their daughter as the beautiful bride, or stand with their handsome son as the groom. May we also sympathize with the many who will never hold a grandchild, cruise the oceans, or live to see old age. Your Word says, “No greater sacrifice can be given than to give one’s life for his friends.” That is what so many have done. They have given their lives for their country, for the freedom and values we hold so dear. Father, as we remember on this memorial day, help us join with the grief stricken families that live every day with the … [Read more...]

By Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae Composed at the battlefront on May 3, 1915 during the second battle of Ypres, Belgium   On May 2, 1915, John McCrae’s close friend and former student Alexis Helmer was killed by a German shell. That evening, in the absence of a Chaplain, John McCrae recited from memory a few passages from the Church of England’s “Order of the Burial of the Dead.” For security reasons Helmer’s burial in Essex Farm Cemetery was performed in complete darkness. The next day, May 3, 1915, Sergeant-Major Cyril Allinson was delivering mail. McCrae was sitting at the back of an ambulance parked near the dressing station beside the YserCanal, just a few hundred yards north of Ypres, Belgium. As John McCrae was writing his In Flanders Fields poem, Allinson silently watched and later recalled, “His face was very tired but calm as he wrote. He looked around from time to time, his eyes straying to Helmer's grave." Within moments, John McCrae had completed the “In Flanders Fields” poem and when he was done, without a word, McCrae took his mail and handed the poem to Allinson. Allinson was deeply moved: “The (Flanders Fields) poem was an exact description of the scene in front of us both. He used the word blow in … [Read more...]

"Eternal Father, Strong to Save" is a beautiful, haunting hymn about the men and the sea. The U.S. Naval Academy has adopted it as its official hymn. The Women's Glee Club gives a beautiful rendition of the hymn. http://www.usna.edu/Music/media/Eternal_Father.mp4 … [Read more...]

By Marilyn Stewart, Regional reporter NEW ORLEANS -- Having overcome a crisis of faith to complete her college degree, Brenda Thornton walked the chapel stage at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women. Thornton was one of 13 LCIW graduates in the first-ever awarding of bachelor degrees at the prison by New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary's Leavell College, marking a milestone for the program that began five years ago. "I'll be honest, I didn't think I would make it," said Thornton, who received a bachelor of Christian ministry degree with a minor in women's ministry May 18. Thornton credited Sandra Vandercook, NOBTS/Leavell College associate professor of English and education, with helping amid her spiritual storm, saying, "What helped me? My professor." NOBTS President Chuck Kelley challenged the LCIW graduating class to be ready for what God had planned next in their lives. "I don't know what God will do with you or through you, but I know He has plans," Kelley said. "Get ready. Get busy. God has something He wants to do." Drawing from the biblical account of Joseph, Kelley reminded listeners that those who sold Joseph into slavery meant him harm, but God in His sovereignty intended it for good and used it to … [Read more...]