By Baptist Press MINNEAPOLIS (BP) -- When devastating floods hit Louisiana and Texas in early March and April, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers did what they normally do in the face of crisis. They responded. Those efforts were recognized May 20 when several disaster relief teams were acknowledged during this year's National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (National VOAD or VOAD) conference in Minneapolis. The organization presented SBDR with its National Member of the Year award. "I am honored that the North American Mission Board allows me to serve this incredible organization," said Mickey Caison, accepting the award. Caison serves as executive director of disaster relief for the North American Mission Board. "On behalf of the North American Mission Board and the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief network, I would like to express our gratitude to the membership of the National VOAD for this recognition of our work." For 46 years, more than 100 organizations like NAMB and the SBDR have cooperated through VOAD to serve people and communities impacted by natural disasters. Initiatives within each disaster relief organization, like the Southern Baptist Convention's Cooperative Program (the SBC's unified … [Read more...]

Southern Baptist seminaries held graduation ceremonies this month and among those receiving degrees were those with ties to Louisiana. New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Leavell College Graduates The following graduates with Louisiana ties received certificates and degrees during New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Leveall College commercement services May 13 and 14. Kevin Smith, Vivian, Associate in Christian Ministry; Mike Fontenot, Mamou, Bachelor of Arts in Christian Ministry; Chad Michael Hebert, Plaquemine, Bachelor of Arts in Christian Ministry; Keith Henderson, Bogalusa, Master of Arts in Christian Apologetics; Joshua Spinks, Denham Springs, Master of Arts in Christian Apologetics; Scott Breland, Bogalusa, Master of Divinity; Charles David Ellzey, Livingston, Master of Divinity; Sooa Yoo, Baton Rouge, Master of Divinity; Leslie Duane Jensen, Baton Rouge, Master of Theology; Jeffrey Friend, New Orleans, Doctor of Educational Ministry. Southeast Baptist Theological Seminary Terry Curt Iles  , Dry Creek, Master of Arts in Old Testament; Brady Gordon Glaser, Dry Creek, Advanced Master of Divinity; Wesley McKay, Dry Prong, Advanced Master of Divinty; Brandon J. Crepelle, Berwick, Master of Divinity with … [Read more...]

By Louisiana Family Forum BATON ROUGE — Today, Attorney General Jeff Landry issued this official opinion regarding Governor John Bel Edwards’ Executive Order and the Obama administration’s guidelines for schools that are being federally forced on individual states. Both orders deal with similar subject matter: sexual orientation and gender identity. The request for the opinion was made by 32 Louisiana Legislators. The Attorney General findings are that neither of these executive actions have the force of law and are only aspirational. Neither the state nor the federal executive branch have constitutional or legal authority to define a newly protected class – sexual orientation and gender identity. With regard to the guidelines issued by the Obama administration dealing with transgender access in public schools, the Attorney General declares these to be “non-binding policy” relative to our state. "As you are aware, executive agencies are not permitted to redefine a federal statute," the letter correctly reads. "Rather, legislative power is vested in the legislative branch. The Administration is clearly attempting to bypass the legislative process and ignore the original legislative intent, which did not afford claims of … [Read more...]

By Message Staff PINEVILLE – While most of the students are gone for the summer, Louisiana College junior Lievin Manisha chose to remain behind to spend a week to help spruce up the campus. An international student from Burundi, Africa, Manisha is helping 29 members of the Louisiana Campers on Mission, who are making their annual stop on the LC campus this week, doing a variety of odd jobs. After having breakfast and a morning devotion together, Manisha and the other campers scatter throughout campus to tackle a list of jobs. Some of the jobs include: cleaning the fountain, painting curbs along the roadway and forming steps near a dormitory. Manisha, who became a Christian and learned about LC while an LSU Baptist Collegiate Ministry missions team was in his community several years ago, said this is a way he can show his love for those who invested in his life. “Seeing these people inspires me a lot,” Manisha said. “They encourage me to help out and give back.” This is the final work project for the group before taking a break for the summer. They will reconvene in September. Since last fall, Campers on Mission have completed annual week-long assignments at Tall Timbers Conference Center and at the Baptist encampments around … [Read more...]

By David Stallings, Landmark Productions LEESVILLE – Grammy and Dove Award-winnning recording artist, Guy Penrod, will perform in concert at 7 pm on June 4 in the Leesville High School Auditorium. Guy Penrod was born July 2, 1963, in Abilene, Texas. He is a pastor’s kid who spent his growing up years in Texas and New Mexico. When it was time to go off to college, Guy moved to Lynchburg, Va., to attend college at Liberty University, where he studied music and vocal performance. In addition to his studies, Guy served as a representative of the University by traveling and singing on the weekends. After four years he had earned not only a Bachelor’s degree, but also a lot of valuable singing and ministry experience. He met a certain tall, athletic beauty named Angie Clark while attending Liberty University and the couple was married on the evening of Guy’s graduation day. They moved to Atlanta, Ga., where Guy worked as the music teacher at a Christian school, but after only a year he heard Nashville calling his name. In Nashville, Guy became a successful studios session singer during the early 1980s, backing up a star-studded line-up of country and gospel music’s best. He eventually became a regular performer on the weekly … [Read more...]

  By Message Staff BATON ROUGE - The Louisiana Senate Judiciary B Committee presented a hostile response to a bill that would have provided a simple protection for pastors -- prevent the state from forcing religious leaders to participate in same-sex wedding ceremonies. Sponsored by state Rep. Mike Johnson, HB597, the Pastor Protection Act, narrowly focused on shielding pastors from the fallout of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, in which five justices overturned voter–approved marriage laws in 31 states, which had defined marriage as between one man and one woman. It did not contain any provisions relating to people of faith in business or government, just those who serve in official roles with a church in context of wedding ceremonies. The Louisiana House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed this bill by an 80-18 vote April 19, but the measure failed 3-2 with the Judiciary B Committee, meaning the full Senate will not have a chance to consider the proposed legislation. Voting against the bill were Senators J.P. Morrell and Karen Carter Peterson, both from New Orleans, as well as Eric LaFleur of Ville Platte. All three are Democrats, and Peterson is chair of the Louisiana Democratic Party … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA – In a day when reports of demise for news media are common place, the Baptist Message is bucking the trend, according to Editor Will Hall. “We have good news about your Louisiana Baptist Message,” Hall told board members during their recent spring meeting. “About what we’ve been able to do the last six months, what we are looking to do the next six months, and beyond that.” Hall said the Message dedicated a good part of the year, so far, documenting recovery efforts after the record rainfall which devastated many parts of the state. “Early in the season, our focus was on the flooding across the state and Louisiana Baptists’ response to the tragedy through our comprehensive disaster relief efforts,” Hall said. “More than 18,000 homes were affected, according to FEMA. Importantly, most of these were in the north where most of our churches are located and most of our DR volunteers. So we emphasized the valiant work of our DR teams.” Hall reviewed several of the compelling stories published on the Message’s website and promoted through social media streams, and described how these articles translated into growth in online presence. The website and Facebook platforms now … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer DEVILLE – Six young children from Philadelphia Baptist Church in Deville made a declaration that was simple, yet life-changing, after an Awana meeting on a Wednesday evening in March. The fifth and sixth graders approached Children’s Ministry Director Tracy Orr and called out in unison, “We want to get saved.” “All of you?” Orr responded, who was overjoyed by furiously yes-nodding heads and lots of excited laughter. Each of them prayed to ask for forgiveness of their sins and to commit their lives to Jesus within a week, and they were baptized. Orr saw them smiling with excitement prior to their baptisms and was reminded of the miracle of salvation. “Watching them, all in their white robes, they almost seemed to sparkle and shine with the new life that bubbled up inside them and spilled out,” she said. “They weren’t afraid. They were in love with Jesus, the only one who can do such miracles.” The six children are among 19, of all ages, who have been baptized at Philadelphia Baptist Church this year. Pastor Philip Robertson is hopeful the congregation will equal or surpass last year’s 70 baptisms. He said that baptizing is part of the Great Commission given to the church in Matthew … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer MONROE – The Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home is now northeast Louisiana’s second largest residential provider for homeless children and their families. Grinning with excitement, Children’s Home President and CEO Perry Hancock told trustees during the entity’s spring board meeting that the news from the Northeast Louisiana Home Coalition only reaffirms fulfilling a vision that was first dreamed of six years ago. “The need is so great because domestic violence is so high in northeast Louisiana,” Hancock said. “This creates a place to stay for a while and train the homeless mothers and their children in ways they can provide a better life.” Started in 2012, HomePlace provides homeless women and their children a place to stay for six to 12 months at no cost to the residents. While there, the women receive a high school equivalency degree and life and employment skills training through the Christian Women Job Corps. In April, some residents moved into a new cottage, offering 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. Since inception, 80 percent of the women participating in … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer LAFAYETTE – One day, Caleb Lanclos’ tooth ached, so he turned to the Lafayette Community Health Clinic to have it removed. On April 16, Lanclos returned to the clinic with a different purpose – to give back to a business that was there for him in a time of need. Armed with a rake and pressure washer, Lanclos and fellow members of First Baptist Lafayette spent a few hours that Saturday morning cleaning up the grounds of the clinic. By the end of the day, the team had accomplished the name of their effort – First Baptist Loves Lafayette. “Because I was a recipient of their services, I knew this was a way I could give back to them,” Lanclos said. “This day is my favorite day of the year. You can be selfless and help someone out. It doesn’t even feel like work and you are there to serve those who live in your community.” Lanclos’ and his fellow team members were among 449 people from the church involved in some ministry project across Lafayette, to love their city in practical ways. These 26 projects included placing pine straw underneath shrubs on the University of Louisiana-Lafayette campus, laying mulch at an area park, cleaning city murals and picking up trash along a stretch of a … [Read more...]