By Karen L. Willoughby, Managing Editor   [img_assist|nid=7740|title=Mike Walker|desc=East Bayou Pastor Mike Walker served as this years LBC Pastors Conference president.|link=none|align=right|width=640|height=427]COVINGTON – The annual Pastors Conference that preceded the annual meeting of the Louisiana Baptist Convention provided encouragement, inspiration and motivation for pastors of churches large and small as well as urban and rural.   When Waylon Bailey was introduced as pastor of the host church – First Baptist Church of Covington – he spoke to the need for churches. The Northshore town of Covington was established in 1813, but there was no Baptist church in the steadily-growing community until 1904.   “This reminds us how far the Lord has brought us,” Bailey said. The Louisiana Baptist Convention celebrates its 200th anniversary in 2012. About 1,600 churches today are part of what was started in 1812. Some are large, some, small – and all sizes inbetween. Some are in the country; some, big cities – and all locales inbetween.   Mike Walker, pastor of East Bayou Baptist Church in Lafayette, and president of the 2011 Pastors Conference, referenced Nehemiah 2:12 as he explained the … [Read more...]

By Kelly Boggs, Editor of the Message While a battle concerning the legal status of pre-born children may have been lost with the defeat of Initiative 26 in Mississippi on Nov. 8, the war over the definition of personhood is far from over. Initiative 26 was a ballot initiative that would have amended The Magnolia’s State constitution so as to define life as beginning at conception. The simple 21-word amendment stated: “The term ‘person’ or ‘persons’ shall include every human being from the moment of fertilization, cloning or the functional equivalent thereof.” Mississippians defeated it, 58-42 percent. Abortion advocates saw the initiative as a threat to abortion access throughout the U.S. and pulled out all the stops in seeking to beat it. The opposition, however, skirted the issue of personhood and instead focused on possible problematic ramifications if the initiative was passed. It was speculative fear-mongering at its best. It seems to me that the issue at the heart of Initiative 26 was not really adequately addressed. The critical question that must be answered is: “When does personhood begin?” Is it at conception? Perhaps it is during gestation? Does it occur at birth? There are some so-called bioethicists and … [Read more...]

By Curt Iles, Author, Dry Creek, La.   It’s a beautiful word that gently rolls off the tongue: gratitude.   It’s also a visible word: You can see gratitude when a person is full of it.   The best lessons I’ve ever learned on thankfulness are from two unlikely teachers: a southern guitar picker and an African orphan teen.   First, let me tell you about my lifelong friend Vance Gill. (I always tell my guitar-playing friend that he is only ‘one vowel’ away from being famous.)   Vance once related this story: “I had a water leak at my well and spent all morning digging and repairing the pipe. Kneeling there in the mud, I just stopped and thanked God I had running water.”   Now that is gratitude.   It’s an attitude. Thanks, Vance, for the lesson.   Like Vance, we’re to look for the blessing in every occurrence. The Apostle Paul, who often wrote from jail cells, said, “In everything give thanks” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).   Just like any good habit, living with gratitude takes practice. Someone like Vance Gill – who can be thankful while kneeling in mud fixing a PVC water line – has practiced it. It doesn’t come easy or … [Read more...]

By Bill Warren, Professor of New Testament and Greek at NOBTS   We tend to “catch” more theology from being with people living it than what we learn by abstract means. Theology can come alive by reflecting on concrete examples of it in real life as well as by contemplating “truth” statements of theological proposals in and of themselves.   Relationships are the core of life, so learning and thinking about God very naturally is firmly rooted in the personal relationship we have with God and in how we see that relationship lived out by others in the midst of the struggles of life. In light of this, the study of the lives of Christians from times past provides us with some great insights into Christian theology as we see patterns of life that can guide us in our lives today.   This column is the first in a series that looks at Christians from the second century forward, who by their example teach us about how to be faithful, how to confront difficult circumstances, how to view others, and how to understand God in the midst of life.       Polycarp: Second Century Martyr       But when the magistrate persisted and said, “Swear the oath, and I will … [Read more...]

By Archie England, Professor of Old Testament and Hebrew Archie England responds: Concluding a note to an acquaintance overseas, I typed “Happy Thanksgiving!” As I reflected on that salutation, I realized that Asians might not celebrate nor recognize our American “Thanksgiving” season; so, I erased and penned a different ending. Given that concepts communicate best when understood contextually, let’s explore the context of thanksgiving in the Old Testament. The Hebrew word that best translates “giving thanks” can be rendered three different ways: praise, confession, or giving voice (singing) to praise and thanksgiving. When used in reference to God, praise normally conveys gratitude for the blessings of daily life – food, family, health, etc. Such usage occurred during the three festival seasons, particularly focusing upon God’s goodness for providing the harvest and the new birth among the flocks and families of Israel. This idea very closely matches that of our early pioneering forebearers, who gave profound thanks to unexpected provisions from the American natives. All it takes to give this kind of thanks is an awareness of how wonderful life is – especially when one’s world view understands such simple goodness as the … [Read more...]

By Karen L. Willoughby, Managing Editor   [img_assist|nid=7752|title=A Helping Hand|desc=Members of Vick Baptist Church – at least a 30-minute drive east of Pineville – help every Wednesday morning at Main Street Mission. These three members prepare lunch for the 50 or more people who receive a short devotional before mealtime.|link=none|align=right|width=640|height=427]PINEVILLE – Some people need a little extra help to make it through the month. Some people are completely destitute. Some people simply want a safe place to stay out of harm’s way, and some people just want to not be all alone.   Main Street Mission volunteers open their arms wide to meet the physical, social and spiritual needs of all who find their way to the one-story back end of a former grocery store on Pineville’s Main Street.   Main Street Mission is a ministry of First Baptist Church in Pineville, with volunteers from several Cenla Southern Baptist churches.   Sam West pastors the congregation of about 60 people who meet for regular Sunday services. Debbye Obanion directs the weekday operations, which include food, clothing, bedding and even a small library for children stuffed with books and vhs … [Read more...]

[img_assist|nid=7754|title=Dr. Fred Ward|desc=Ken Ward, retiring Executive Director of the Morals and Civic Concerns Committee (right) is presented with a framed resolution from outgoing LBC Executive Committee President Steve Horn. Ward has served as director for the last 35 years.|link=none|align=left|width=640|height=427] … [Read more...]

[img_assist|nid=7756|title=Tim LaFleur retiring|desc=Baptist Collegiate Ministry Director Mark Robinson presents a plaque during the 2011 Annual Meeting at Covington to Nicholls State Collegiate Ministry Director Tim LaFleur, who is retiring after more than 20 years of service.|link=none|align=left|width=640|height=427] … [Read more...]

By Karen L. Willoughby, Managing Editor   [img_assist|nid=7758|title=Luter Honored|desc=Philip Williamson, pastor of New Zion Baptist Church in Bossier City, presents to Fred Luter Jr., pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, an award from the Louisiana African American Fellowship in recognition of Luter’s election last June as the Southern Baptist Convention’s first vice president. Williamson completed his two-year term as president of the Fellowship at the group’s annual banquet in conjunction with the Louisiana Baptist Convention’s annual meeting. About 90 churches in Louisiana worship in an African American context.|link=none|align=left|width=640|height=480]COVINGTON – Southern Baptist churches across Louisiana that worship in an African American context are pooling mission dollars to build a church in northern Ghana next summer.   They plan to build a second church in a nearby village the following summer.   “Let’s do something,” said Philip Williamson, pastor of New Zion Baptist Church in Bossier City and president of the Louisiana African-American fellowship, during the group’s annual fellowship dinner. The event took place in conjunction with the annual meeting of the … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message   NORTHSHORE – Twenty-seven churches participated in 21 Crossover events during the week that preceded the 164th annual meeting of the Louisiana Baptist Convention.   As a result, more than 200 people were trained in evangelistic encounters, 2,700 prospects were found, 1,500 Bibles and tracts were distributed, and 162 people made professions of faith, reported Keith Manuel, associate director of the LBC evangelism/church growth team during the annual meeting’s Tuesday morning session.   The event with the largest attendance was the Saturday evening Christian rodeo in Franklinton. Leaders estimated nearly 2,000 people participated. About 200 people participated in the Hispanic Health Fair at First Baptist Church of Slidell, and about 150 people in the Women’s Health Fair at Redemption Christian Center in Hammond.   “Crossover gave us the opportunity to begin compassion ministries,” said Tobey Pitman, staff liaison and associate director of missions for community ministries in the Northshore Baptist Association, where Lonnie Wascom is director of missions. The Crossover events came under the oversight of the association’s missions and ministries team; Joe Wiggins … [Read more...]