Editor’s note: Executive Director David Hankins gave the following as his report during the 2010 annual meeting, using Romans 1:1-5; 16 as his scriptural reference. Mission statements are very popular among our churches. Taking a cue from business, we realize we need to articulate what it is we are trying to accomplish. Mission statements serve to declare, remind, and focus our aims and goals. The apostle Paul planned on going to Rome to make it the western base of operations. In Romans 1, he sets out his plan and purpose, “set apart for the gospel of God.” Allow me to remind us of our LBC mission: LBC is a gospel organization created, guided and supported by gospel churches  for gospel goals. What are the implications of the gospel of God for Christians and what is its apologetic intent? [img_assist|nid=6872|title=Executive Director David Hankins makes a point during his report to messengers at the 2010 annual meeting|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=67|height=100] The gospel of God is particular in its content. Verses 2-4 conclude that this gospel is centered in Jesus Christ our Lord, who was prophesied, identified and ratified.  All of Paul’s ministry hinges on the reality of Jesus as the promised Messiah, … [Read more...]

Editor’s note: Executive Director David Hankins gave the following as his report during the 2010 annual meeting, using Romans 1:1-5; 16 as his scriptural reference. Mission statements are very popular among our churches. Taking a cue from business, we realize we need to articulate what it is we are trying to accomplish. Mission statements serve to declare, remind, and focus our aims and goals. The apostle Paul planned on going to Rome to make it the western base of operations. In Romans 1, he sets out his plan and purpose, “set apart for the gospel of God.” Allow me to remind us of our LBC mission: LBC is a gospel organization created, guided and supported by gospel churches  for gospel goals. What are the implications of the gospel of God for Christians and what is its apologetic intent? [img_assist|nid=6872|title=Executive Director David Hankins makes a point during his report to messengers at the 2010 annual meeting|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=67|height=100] The gospel of God is particular in its content. Verses 2-4 conclude that this gospel is centered in Jesus Christ our Lord, who was prophesied, identified and ratified.  All of Paul’s ministry hinges on the reality of Jesus as the promised Messiah, … [Read more...]

On Expression of Appreciation WHEREAS, many individuals and groups have had a part in planning, preparing and conducting the 163rd annual meeting of our Louisiana Baptist Convention; and WHEREAS, the messengers of this convention desire to warmly recognize and express appreciation to the following: Mark Jones, Facilities Director, Julie Bayone, Sales Manager, and the staff of the Riverfront Convention Center, Alexandria, for their assistance with details and for providing the use of the facilities for this annual meeting; and Rod Masteller, Convention President, for his warm, gracious spirit in leading, speaking and listening to Louisiana Baptists during the year, and his gentle firmness in moderating this annual meeting; and; Jeremy Christ, Music Director for this annual meeting, for planning and coordinating the music, and the musicians for their dedicated service at the instruments; and Mike Miller and members of the Order of Business Committee for planning this informative and inspirational annual meeting; and Crossover Alexandria/Pineville, and its volunteers for their provision of pre-evangelistic outreach and we pray for those who made decisions for Christ during the Crossover events. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, … [Read more...]

REPORTS OF CONVENTION COMMITTEES REPORT OF CONVENTION COMMITTEE ON COMMITTEES The President of the Convention is an ex officio member of all Convention Committees. Names of persons being nominated for election or re-election are underlined.  Others are continuing their terms of service.                    COMMITTEE ON CREDENTIALS Term Expiring 2011             Term Expiring 2012             Term Expiring 2013 Brad Bunting (VC)                Joe Alain (C)                       Marion Spence Midway, Jena                       Hebron, Denham Springs       Baskin, Baskin George Guillory                    David Goza                         Josh Adams Glen Oaks, Baton Rouge       Jefferson, Baton Rouge         St. Landry, St. Landry Todd Free First, Dubach COMMITTEE ON LOUISIANA BAPTIST HISTORY Term Expiring 2011               Term Expiring 2012              Term Expiring 2013 *    Mary Broussard                  Jimmy Brossette            *    Buddy Hampton Hebron, Denham Springs   First, Dupont                        First, Eunice *    Steven Robertson (VC)    * Joe McKeever (C)           *    Pat Lofton Harmony Grove, Dodson     First, Kenner                        First, Delhi Ex Officio Members: Officers … [Read more...]

[img_assist|nid=6884|title=Officers elected at 2010 Louisiana Baptist Convention Annual Meeting|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=67] Messengers unanimously re-elected President Rod Masteller (left) pastor of Summer Grove Baptist Church in Shreveport, and unanimously elected as first and second vice presidents Rick Byargeon (right), pastor of Temple Baptist Church of Ruston, and Jason Hoychick (center), pastor of Elwood Baptist Church of Forest Hill. [img_assist|nid=6885|title=2011 Pastors Conference officers|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=67]Elected as 2011 Pastors Conference officers were (from left) Mike Walker, pastor of East Bayou Baptist Church in Lafayette; Collin Wimberly, pastor of Parkview Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, vice-president; and Matt Cate, pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Minden, secretary-treasurer. [img_assist|nid=6886|title=Exemplary Bi-vocational Smaller Church Pastor of the Year plaque award given to Brian Ray|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=67]Lee Dickson, Director of Missions for District Eight, presents Brian Ray, pastor of First Baptist Church of Robeline, and his wife Christi with the Exemplary Bi-vocational Smaller Church Pastor of the Year plaque for … [Read more...]

By John Yeats, Director of LBC Communications In the last half of this decade there appears to be a discovery like that of a lost pearl, a nugget of truth hidden but now revealed in these latter days. The discovery is a renewed application of Matthew 24:14, “This good news of the Kingdom will be proclaimed in all the world as a testimony to all nations. And then the end will come.” (HCSB) [img_assist|nid=6830|title=John Yeats Director of LBC Communications|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=79|height=100]Seems the news of this discovery was heard first in Richmond, then in Nashville and throughout the Southern Baptist Convention. Announce it far and wide that once every nation (ethno-linguistic group) hears the gospel message, then all the signs are fulfilled and the Lord Jesus will return, the Day of the Lord will appear. This theme has been repeated in many sectors of Southern Baptist life. For example, in September, the SBC Executive Committee heard SBC president Bryant Wright appeal to the Southern Baptist Convention and state conventions to “re-prioritize” their outreach to the nations. “What Christ is concerned about is that we preach the gospel to every people group on earth,” Wright said. “That means that … [Read more...]

By Jake Roudkovski, Director of Supervised Ministry New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Editor’s note: In part 1, Dr. Roudkovski looked at the history of revivals in the Southern Baptist Convention. That column remains available on www.baptistmessage.com. (Search for Dr. Roudkovski’s name.) To recap: The term revival is defined as the sovereign movement of God through the work of the Holy Spirit in revitalizing the believers in Jesus Christ to a more vital spiritual life, work, and witness. Revival meetings refer to a period of time set aside by a church or churches for the purpose of spiritual revitalization and/or evangelism. … In a classic resource on the history of revival meetings in Southern Baptist life, Chuck Kelley asserted that revivalism was one of the major factors that contributed to the enormous growth of the denomination in the past. … In 1866, the SBC instructed the Home Mission Board [now NAMB] to make evangelism its major work and promote a comprehensive system of evangelism, including the appointment of evangelists. … [img_assist|nid=6756|title=Jake Roudkovski|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=82|height=100]C.E. Matthews’ plan, when implemented in the convention [in the late 1930s], ushered in … [Read more...]

By Bill Warren, Ph.D., NOBTS Professor of New Testament and Greek Question: I’ve heard that Jesus descended into hell after he died and before he was resurrected but can’t find this in the Bible. Is this biblical? If not, where did the idea come from? Bill Warren responds: This idea is often based on the Apostles’ Creed that states that Jesus “descended into hell.” (Other early church creeds do not mention this). Later in church history, some pushed the image to mean “hell” in a negative sense and so developed elaborate art and literature depicting Jesus actually going to the place of the eternally damned, as seen in Dante’s Inferno. [img_assist|nid=6120|title=Bill Warren NOBTS Professor of New Testament and Greek|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=75|height=100] The actual wording in the Apostles’ Creed is that Jesus descended into “the underworld,” commonly called “Hades” or “the place of the dead,” not “hell” as in the place of the damned. “Hades” refers to the abode of the dead with both positive and negative options existing, with the positive emphasis applying to Jesus as indicated in his statement to the repentant thief: Today you will be with me in paradise – Luke 23:43), thereby showing that both would be in … [Read more...]

ALEXANDRIA – The move Oct. 26 of this year’s Nov. 21-22 Youth Evangelism Celebration from the Cajundome in Lafayette back to the Rapides Coliseum in Alexandria has been accomplished with only minor issues. “Only one or two churches had some minor difficulty changing their hotel reservations,” said Kevin Boles, Louisiana Baptist Convention youth ministry strategist. LBC leadership along with legal counsel, due to contract issues, made the difficult decision to return the LBC’s largest event to its traditional site. “We’ve been dealing with the Cajundome for 18 months, but we simply were not able to come to terms with the contract in a timely fashion,” Boles said. “They’re great people. Lafayette is a great city. It was a heartbreaking decision, but the Lord has given confirmation and affirmation in significant areas.” Two of those “areas” includes the positive response of churches to the sudden change, less than a month before YEC was to take place, as well as the availability of the Rapides Coliseum itself, Boles said. “The churches have responded very well to the change in venue,” the youth ministry strategist said. “They have shown a sweet spirit of cooperation.  Immediate contact was made to any church that had … [Read more...]

By Al Quartemont, Special to the Message PINEVILLE – As alumni of Louisiana College gathered on campus recently for the 103rd annual Homecoming, three stood out by being honored as “distinguished.” At the college’s homecoming chapel, Curt Iles, Ava Nell McWhorter and William Enete Sr. were recognized for the lives of faith they have lived since their graduations from LC. Iles, who graduated from LC in 1979, came to the school from Dry Creek, La., and returned to that community upon graduation, where he has served in education and mission work and has authored seven books. In speaking to the students gathered at the chapel service, Iles read from the journal he kept while at LC and listed four things for students to remember: where you came from, that you did not get here (to LC) by yourself, that your education does not end at LC and that you should seek God’s will in all things. Iles recounted a particular memory with the late Dr. Cavanaugh, when the then-freshman was struggling through his chemistry class and was prepared to drop it. “You know what God’s will is for you?” Iles said in relating that story. “It’s to buckle down and do the best you can ... where you are right now.” Ava McWhorter graduated from LC … [Read more...]