By Norm Miller, Louisiana College Communications PINEVILLE -- Former SBC president Fred Luter preached at Louisiana College's Feb. 18 chapel services as part of the college's observance of Black History month. Luter, pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church, spoke from Matthew 26 on "What to do when you don't know what to do." “While in the Garden of Gethsemane on the eve of his crucifixion, Jesus felt sorrow and solitude, but expressed submission and showed strength before his unjust arrest,” Luter said. “What one should do when one does not know what to do "is to learn a lesson from Jesus; go to God in prayer. Several local African American pastors and church members greeted him after the chapel sermon, many taking selfies with the noted pastor. LC students, faculty and staff also met Luter. "Dr. Luter is one among the many who have preached in our chapel services, and yet whose walk with God comes through not so much as a sermon, but as an encouraging testimony to what God has done and will do for all who will follow the Lord," said LC president Rick Brewer. "Louisiana College is serious about the chapel service as it draws the entire LC family together around the word of God fitly preached." … [Read more...]

By Jim Burton NEW ORLEANS — Ryan Rice once despised the church. Then he found love. Growing up in greater New Orleans, an aunt read the Bible to him. Rice found the stories about Jesus fascinating. “I was the kid who raised his hand to answer every Bible question,” Rice said of his early exposure to Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. When he turned 8 years old, his mother married a man who was an abuser and drug user. As a child just discovering the Bible, he learned about the dark side of life, and he asked a big question for a child, “Where is God?” In middle school, his mother dragged him to church. “I remember sitting there and thinking, ‘This is the worst thing ever. I hate church. I hate the people here.’ That was coming from a lot of hurt,” Rice said. That hurt remained as he grew to become a popular and handsome athlete who was the high school student council president. On the outside, Rice appeared to have his life together. “From every aspect of my life, I was empty on the inside,” Rice said. “I was just broken.” Then he met Seane’ Smooth and her father, Andrew Honore. On the first day of his freshman year at Dillard University in New Orleans, he saw Smooth and knew she was special. … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message METAIRIE -- Louisiana appears to have one less abortion facility in operation, as a clinic in Metairie that performs the procedures seems to have closed, at least for now. According to Louisiana Right to Life, Causeway Medical Clinic has been closed for several weeks and some workers were seen on Wednesday cleaning out the building. It is not known if the clinic will reopen at another location. “Over the years, the Causeway Medical Clinic facility has performed thousands and thousands of abortions, killing unborn children and damaging the lives of women and families,” said Louisiana Right to Life Executive Director Ben Clapper. “With alternatives to abortion readily available, we don't need abortion facilities profiting off the destruction of human life. Join me today in remembering the lives lost within that facility, and praying that abortions never resume at that site.” Even with the closure, abortions are still being performed in the adjacent parish at Women’s Health Care Center in New Orleans. Planned Parenthood is building a new $4.2 million, 7,000 square-foot health clinic on South Claiborne Avenue in New Orleans to perform even more abortions not far from Women’s Health Care … [Read more...]

By Marilyn Stewart, NOBTS communications NEW ORLEANS -- Race relations are not better since the election of the first African American U. S. president, but the Church can lead in modeling reconciliation, said Fred Luter, Jr., former Southern Baptist Convention president and the first African American to hold the position. “I really thought this nation was ready to move forward…,” Luter said, pointing to the history-making election of Barack Obama that garnered votes from Anglos as well as diverse ethnic groups. “As much as we needed racial reconciliation in America, I really thought that was the opportunity for our nation to come together and make us one as a nation. But unfortunately…that’s not the case.” The remarks came in a Black History Month video produced by the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in which Luter expressed optimism for the future as the Church leads the way as an agent for social change. Luter is pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans and an NOBTS national alumni association officer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aH5lHuLWc0&feature=youtu.be In analyzing today’s situation, Luter quoted a pastor-friend who states it this way: “America doesn’t have a skin problem, we have … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA – There are times when a believer comes to a major crossroads – when God issues an invitation to join Him in what He is doing, will you be willing to trust Him. “It’s a crisis of faith,” Tom Blackaby said. “Will you step forward in faith or step back and say I can’t go there, it will cost too much to follow you? You have to decide – is God God? Is He the truly Lord of your life? If you say yes, you have to make major adjustments in your life.” Blackaby spoke on Feb. 16 at the Louisiana Baptist Building about the seven steps for knowing, doing and experiencing the will of God. His two-day stay in the state for the Experiencing God Tour also included Natalbany Baptist Church before coming to Alexandria. He will also speak at Northwest Louisiana Baptist Association office in Shreveport from 1 to 3:30 pm on Feb. 17. He is the second son of bestselling author Dr. Henry Blackaby. He has written or co-authored numerous books, including The Man God Uses, Experiencing God at Home, and 7 Steps for Knowing, Doing and Experiencing the Will of God. He currently is senior pastor of Brookswood Baptist Church in Langley, British Columbia. Blackaby shared the seven steps for … [Read more...]

By Message Staff The Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home & Family Ministries is warning others about an email sent from a company that is using the ministry for possible solicitation. Children’s Home President and CEO Perry Hancock said he learned that Cornerstone Kingdom Processing had sent out an e-mail, with the subject line “Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home.” He said Cornerstone Kingdom Processing is not endorsed by the Children’s Home and that anyone receiving such an e-mail should disregard the message. Hancock said he called the person who sent the e-mail and notified him to stop sending further messages using the Children’s Home name. “We do not know him and aren’t doing business with him,” Hancock said. “Please delete the e-mail and block the sender.” … [Read more...]

By Norm Miller, LC communications PINEVILLE – LC officials surprised Leon Hyatt and his wife Ann with a birthday cake during the college's February 11 chapel service, which was the day Leon turned 90 years old. Several times Leon served as an LC trustee, and he was a long-time Baptist pastor in Louisiana. Recently, Leon gave his pastoral library of some 6,000 volumes to the college. "Though I have known Leon for a short time, I have a sincere appreciation for his long-standing service to Louisiana Baptists and for his unswerving love for his alma mater," said Dr. Rick Brewer, LC's president. … [Read more...]

Bossier City – Louisiana Family Forum recently honored Louisiana’s top ten longest married couples during a special reception at the Governor’s Mansion on Feb. 12. The longest-known married couples are honored by Louisiana Family Forum each year to encourage individual marriages, build a stronger marriage culture and to remind those in the state that lifelong marriages benefit everyone. Louisiana State Rep. Mike Johnson honored Louisiana's longest known married couple, Lawrence and Varrie Player, during a reception at their home in Benton. They have been married 81 years. A reception also was held for the second-longest married couple, Will Henry and Virgina Teasley, at their home in Bryceland. The couple has been married for 79 years. Each couple was presented an official statement of special recognition from Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards. Their names also are entered into Louisiana Family Forum’s Marriage Hall of Fame. “It is a true delight to honor these two great couples for their examples and their commitment,” Johnson said.  “In a day when the stability of so many marriages and families is in jeopardy, these folks stand out as exceptional models for all of us.” … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards took to the airwaves Thursday night in an effort to convince citizens of the state additional revenue is needed to shore up what he says is a nearly $1 billion gap in the state budget or the outcome would be dire. If higher taxes and major cuts are not put into place, Edwards told voters, devastating consequences could occur such as closure of universities, elimination of health care services and even the possibility of no college football taking place in 2016. The state faces a $943 million shortfall this year and possibly a $2 billion deficit in the next fiscal cycle, according to Edwards’ staff. “To stabilize our state's budget we should not shy away from the fiscal right sizing that is needed,” Edwards said during his 12-minute speech that aired on television and radio stations throughout the state. “For me ‘right sizing’ requires that we get both the spending and revenue right. Focusing on one without the other would be irresponsible. “But, I want you to understand that, if left unresolved -- if the legislature does not choose a way to raise additional dollars to strengthen the budget -- very soon, we will face unimaginable cuts to vital … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message BOSSIER CITY – State representative Mike Johnson (R-Bossier City) officially announced Feb. 9 his candidacy for the 4th Congressional District seat. Johnson will join fellow Republicans Dr. Trey Baucum, a Shreveport cardiologist, and Elbert L. Guillory, a former member of the Louisiana State Senate representing District 24, who announced their intentions earlier this month. Other Republicans who have expressed interest include: state Rep. Jim Morris, R-Oil City; Shreveport attorney Rick John; "Rocky" Rockett, president of the Greater Bossier Economic Development Foundation, and Shreveport Councilman Oliver Jenkins. Rep. Patrick Jefferson of Arcadia has been the lone Democrat who said he is evaluating the race. Incumbent 4th District U.S. Rep. John Fleming (R-Minden) is giving up the seat to run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by David Vitter in 2017. “Washington, D.C. has grown completely out of control, and our country has lost its moral compass. I’m running for Congress to defend our freedoms, restore our conservative principles, and get American back on the right course,” said the 44-year-old Johnson. He was elected to the Louisiana Legislature in 2015 when 26th Judicial … [Read more...]