By Kelly Boggs, Editor Baptist Message   The “principle of context” is an idea that stated simply declares, “Nothing is meaningful without a context.” A statement, action or reaction must be considered within its immediate circumstance in order for it to be completely and accurately understood.   I have found the principle of context to be immutable and universal. That said, it is often neglected and even ignored – many times on purpose in an attempt to gain an advantage or manipulate reality.   One such neglect of the principle of context comes in reference to the concept of religious liberty in America. And it is precisely this – the neglect and/or ignoring of a historical circumstance – that has led the Obama Administration to attempt to force religious groups to violate deeply held convictions.   A rule in the new health care law requires that all private insurance plans cover FDA-approved contraceptives; including abortifacients like the so-called morning-after pill that can block implantation of the embryo. The latter method is considered early term abortion by pro-life groups. The problem? Religious groups initially were required to purchase those insurance plans. President Obama … [Read more...]

By Rex Butler, Professor of Church History and Pastristics at NOBTS   “Lord, we are forty who are engaged in this combat; grant that we may be forty crowned, and that not one be wanting to this sacred number” (quoted by Alban Butler, The Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and Other Principal Saints, vol. 3, 560).   This prayer, which was offered up by Roman soldiers threatened with execution for their faith in Christ, is part of the story of the forty martyrs of Sebaste. It’s a story that features courage, inspiration, and Christian accountability.   At the time of the martyrdom, Licinius was the emperor of the eastern Roman Empire, while Constantine was the emperor in the west. Eight years earlier, Licinius, along with Constantine, had signed the Edict of Milan, which called for an end to persecution of Christians.   In 320 A.D., however, Licinius went to war against Contantine, reneged on the agreement, and issued an order to all of his soldiers to sacrifice to the Roman gods and, therefore, to renounce their faith in Christ.   The edict was delivered to the famous, long-serving Twelfth Legion, stationed at the time in Sebaste, Lesser Armenia, which was in the eastern region of … [Read more...]

By Marilyn Stewart, Regional reporter [img_assist|nid=7957|title=Water from Hope|desc=The bottles of water being given away by volunteers from Hope Baptist Church in New Orleans during Mardi Gras had the church’s logo, email address, and a simple message – Happy Mardi Gras.|link=none|align=right|width=478|height=640]METAIRIE – Hope Church of Metairie, a Louisiana Baptist Convention church plant sponsored by First Baptist Church of Kenner, was ordered to cease and desist by the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office while distributing free water bottles at a Mardi Gras parade in mid-February. The written warning, a Vendor Warning Citation, carried no fine or penalty, but cited the failure to secure an occupational license and failure to register for a sales tax. Matt Tipton, pastor, said the field agents used the words “cease and desist” during the incident, but were “extremely nice” and non-confrontational. “They were just doing their job,” Tipton said. “We apologized. We’ll be glad to get a permit. We didn’t know.” Volunteers were handing out free coffee and free water bottles from tailgate tents at two locations along the parade route when a female official stopped them. Tipton said they believed the woman to be a representative … [Read more...]

By Gary Meyers, NOBTS Communications   [img_assist|nid=7959|title=Dr. Bill Day|desc=|link=none|align=right|width=640|height=427]NEW ORLEANS – What pastor hasn’t asked these questions: “Who lives near my church, and how can I reach these neighbors with the Gospel?”   The Leavell Center for Evangelism and Church Health, located at and sponsored by New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS), offers detailed, individualized demographic studies to help churches answer these questions. The studies offer church leaders detailed information about their community and help with the development of community-specific evangelism plans.   NOBTS launched the Center for Evangelism and Church Growth in 1992 with the goal of helping churches implement strategies that result in measurable church growth. In 1995, seminary trustees renamed the Center in honor of the seminary’s seventh president, Dr. Landrum P. Leavell II, an evangelism and church growth specialist. Later, the name changed again to place more emphasis on church health. Preston Nix, professor of evangelism and evangelistic preaching, serves as the Center’s director. Bill Day, professor of evangelism and church health, is the associate … [Read more...]

By Mark H. Hunter, Special to the Message   [img_assist|nid=7961|title=Impact Your World|desc=|link=none|align=right|width=640|height=220]BATON ROUGE – Pastors, missions directors and other church leaders from across Louisiana will be gathering at Istrouma Baptist Church for the first annual “Impact Your World” missions conference to take place Thursday and Friday, March 22–23.   Sponsored by the Louisiana Baptist Convention in partnership with the International Mission Board and five Louisiana Baptist associations, the conference’s theme is “From South Louisiana to the ends of the earth.”   “Jesus instructed His church to ‘go and make disciples of all the nations,’” said Jeff Ginn, conference host and senior pastor of Istrouma Baptist. “That command ought to drive all that we do as a church. This conference will fuel that drive with both theological and practical insights on how to engage the nations with the gospel.”   Eric King, Director of Missional Church Strategists Team, International Mission Board, said they are hoping attendance will top 200. “This conference will raise the awareness of the mission call of local churches and individuals,” King said. “It will expose the need to … [Read more...]

[img_assist|nid=7963|title=Annie Armstrong Week of Prayer|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=640|height=458] … [Read more...]

By Dwayne Hastings, ERLC Communications   There have been more than 52 million abortions performed in the U.S. since the ignominious Roe v. Wade court decision in 1973. And for every abortion there is a woman who to some degree – knowingly or unknowingly – is complicit in the taking of her baby’s life.   While those around her may have tried to convince her that it was in the baby’s “best interest” not to live and that it was good for her well-being that she abort her unborn child, the reality is that no one walks out of an abortion clinic totally whole.   Abortion doesn’t just impact the unborn child. The emotional – and sometimes physical – damage to its mother is severe and long lasting, even if the mother herself denies it. The ring of damage extends to the baby’s extended family, including his father and grandparents, particularly if they advocated for the abortion.   The statistics about abortion are staggering. Nearly half of the 6 million pregnancies in the U.S. are unplanned and about 1.3 million end in abortion. At this pace, nearly a third of U.S. women will have had an abortion by the time they turn 45.   Those who push a so-called pro-choice perspective disavow … [Read more...]

[img_assist|nid=7966|title=Yousef Nadarkhani|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=640|height=438]By Michael Foust, Baptist Press   WASHINGTON (BP) –The White House Feb. 23 increased the international pressure on Iran to release a Christian pastor sentenced to death, as several reports seemed to confirm his execution order had been issued.   The pastor, Yousef (also spelled Youcef) Nadarkhani, was sentenced to death in 2010 for converting from Islam to Christian in a case that began in 2009.   The statement from the Obama administration is its strongest yet from the White House in Nadarkhani’s case.   “The United States stands in solidarity with Pastor Nadarkhani, his family, and all those who seek to practice their religion without fear of persecution – a fundamental and universal human right,” the statement read. “The trial and sentencing process for Pastor Nadarkhani demonstrates the Iranian government’s total disregard for religious freedom, and further demonstrates Iran’s continuing violation of the universal rights of its citizens. The United States calls upon the Iranian authorities to immediately lift the sentence, release Pastor Nadarkhani, and demonstrate a commitment to basic, … [Read more...]

By Quinn Lavespere, Message Staff Writer   [img_assist|nid=7968|title=Repairing homes|desc=In addition to repairing houses (and roofs), First Lake Providence has been blessed by God through the repairing of hearts because of its drive to save its town.|link=none|align=right|width=640|height=480]LAKE PROVIDENCE – A battle is being waged for the soul of a town filled with broken hopes and terrible poverty.   Pastor Mitch Minson, his congregation, and those helping them out have dedicated their lives to rescuing the town of Lake Providence, once referred to by TIME magazine as “the poorest place in America.”   “Seeing what we see day after day, our hearts simply cannot take the struggles we see these people go through,” Minson said.  “We cannot just sit back and watch while this town and its people are mired in such terrible conditions.”   Some of the statistics surrounding Lake Providence are staggering.   A small rural town with a population of 3,991, 84 percent being African-American and 15 percent being Caucasian, Lake Providence has had the highest unemployment rate in Louisiana for more than 20 years and has experienced a significant 17.64 percent decline in its population … [Read more...]