By Staff, Baptist Message NEW ORLEANS -- The Orleans Parish coroner has yet to release an official cause of the Aug. 24th death of 56-year-old John Gibson, a beloved professor, at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. However, Trey Gibson, the professor’s son, shared his father’s death appeared to come at his own hand during a chapel service Sept. 8. Dr. Chuck Kelley, president of NOBTS, said he could not comment further on the cause of death until the coroner’s report is complete. “On the first day of classes, we had the unexpected death of a much loved professor, colleague, and friend Dr. John Gibson,” Kelley told the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary family during a chapel service Sept. 8. “We learned that he made some very sad and unfortunate choices in his life, and his son shared in his memorial service his death appeared to come at his own hand.” Gibson was discovered at his home on the seminary campus at approximately 5:30 p.m., Aug. 24, by his wife when she arrived home from work. After finding Gibson unresponsive, she immediately notified emergency medical service. EMS workers were unable to revive him, and Gibson was pronounced dead at the scene. Leavell College students were notified of … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA – The bad news – Louisiana has seen hundreds of thousands of dollars re-routed to other parts of the country. The good news – it’s been going to help penetrate the lostness across the United States. When Kevin Ezell became president of the North American Mission Board in 2010, he proposed, in concert with state convention leaders, a strategy that gradually shifted resources away from Southern states such as Louisiana that have a strong membership and financial base to states outside the South that typically do not have those same resources needed for ministry. Louisiana Baptists’ Executive Director David Hankins assured Ezell that Louisiana Baptists would respond positively to take care of their own. “I shared with Dr. Ezell that Louisiana Baptists are happy to be a part of the effort to penetrate lostness in North America,” said Hankins. “We believe our country needs to hear the Gospel. “I also assured him that we would step up to the challenge of fully supporting missions and ministries in Louisiana.” Formerly, many mission projects and personnel were jointly supported by the state and NAMB. Even though part of the support has gone away, the need for the … [Read more...]

By Sandy Cunningham, Louisiana Right to Life This afternoon in federal court in Baton Rouge, Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast asked U.S. District Judge John deGravelles to temporarily prevent Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration from pulling Medicaid funds from the abortion business while further appeals are argued. deGravelles is the same judge who should rule any day now on the case regarding the state's 2014 admitting privilege law. In the case, Planned Parenthood vs. Kathy Kleibert, Secretary, Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, Planned Parenthood claims the action violates federal law and places thousands of women's critical care in jeopardy. But the state is citing a state law that allows cancellation of a Medicaid provider agreement with a 30-day notice. The Medicaid funding cut was supposed to take effect today, but the state agreed in court to extend the date until Sept. 15 in order to respond to a brief filed by the government late Monday. Once responses are filed, the court will issue a ruling on Planned Parenthood's request for a temporary restraining order. Benjamin Clapper, executive director of Louisiana Right to Life, issued the following statement: "It should be the prerogative of the governor … [Read more...]

Louisiana College continues its three-day campus revival tonight, with Lee Howell, founder of Awaken Men Ministries and director of St. George Island Christian Retreat Center, bringing his message at 6:30 pm. The revival began on Sept. 1, with Sammy Tippit preaching and the Gathering Place band leading music. The revival concludes on Thursday, when renowned youth evangelist Curtis Zackery speaks in chapel at 11 am and that evening at 6:30 pm. Area churches are leading music each session. Zion Hill Church tonight and on Thursday the LC Chapel band at 11 am and the Philadelphia Baptist Church choir at 6:30 pm. In the past, Dr. David Allen and last year Dr. John Bisagno, Dr. Alvin Reid, and Dr. Sammy Tippit spoke at the Joseph Willis Symposium, which served as the Campus Revival. Philip Caples, Vice President of Integration for Faith and Learning and Assistant Professor of Preaching and Pastoral Ministry at LC, encouraged pastors, the campus community and others around the state to attend this year's revival. "We have great speakers and worship leaders, and the atmosphere on campus is set for the Lord to move in a powerful way," he said. LC President Rick Brewer added the revival is important because the school is … [Read more...]

By Laura Fielding, International Mission Board RICHMOND, Va. (BP) - Missionary doctor Wana Ann Gibson Fort, 91, died Aug. 31 in Baton Rouge. Fort and her husband, the late Milton "Giles" Fort Jr., served with the then-called Foreign Mission Board as pioneer missionary doctors at Sanyati Baptist Hospital in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). At this hospital, Fort and her husband helped launch a spiritual awakening through medical missions. The Forts, appointed as missionaries in 1952, led countless patients to Christ. "We were committed to being God's hands of mercy and healing to souls and bodies," she once said. She and her husband raised five sons in Zimbabwe. Three have served or continue to serve as missionaries with the International Mission Board. Two of the Forts' sons are medical doctors. "Mom lived out the reality of her faith," said Gordon Fort, one of Wana Ann's sons and IMB senior ambassador. "As wife, momma, teacher, doctor, women's worker, and serving missions support functions, she demonstrated what it means to live a life of obedience to the Master. It has been our incredible privilege to have been a part of her life's journey." During the Forts' missionary service in Africa, the Shona people … [Read more...]