Submitted by philip on Fri, 02/06/2015 - 13:07 The Hispanic Evangelism Conference took place on Jan. 23 and 24 and was the second such conference put on by the Louisiana Baptist Conference. Here members of the crowd worship with the Emmanuel Worship Team from New Orleans. By Brian Blackwell. Message Staff Writer Shreveport -- Prior to the Louisiana Baptist Evangelism Conference, Hispanics met on Jan. 23 and 24 for an evangelism conference in their own language. The second such conference drew 80 in attendance. Rolando Rodriguez was the main speaker. He is director of Hispanic ministries for the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The Emmanuel Worship Team from New Orleans led the worship. Workshop leaders, along with their topics, were David Lema, First Hispanic American Baptist Church in New Orleans, “Diagnosis of a Deceased Church”; Jose  Perez  Sanchez, Trinity Hispanic in Lake  Charles, “Evangelism”; Juan Puente, Summer Grove Hispanic Church in Shreveport, “Reaching a new generation  with an old message”; and Daniel Hernandez, Broadmoor Hispanic in Shreveport, “Your  Kingdom Come.” “The response from the attendees was very positive,” said Carlos Schmidt, Louisiana Baptist Hispanic Catalytic Church Planter … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 02/06/2015 - 13:13 A crowd which varied from 5,000 to 8,000 turned out to pray for revival and God’s mercy on America at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on the LSU campus on Jan. 24. The presence of the Holy Spirit was evident throughout the day. By Mark H. Hunter, Regional Reporter BATON ROUGE – The powerful sound of praise music and fervent prayer filled the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on the LSU campus as about 5,000 to 6,000 believers pleaded for revival and God’s mercy on America at The Response on Jan. 24. The non-partisan, non-denominational event, called by Gov. Bobby Jindal, was also picketed by a few hundred noisy protesters who objected to the apparent association The Response group has with the pro-family and pro-life American Family Association. The protesters claimed AFA is a “hate” group while their picket signs and chants proclaimed their own hate toward Christians in general and Jindal in particular. Cordoned off by a phalanx of LSU police and state troopers, the only response the protesters got was prayers offered their way by many inside the cavernous building. Gov. Jindal, who calls himself an evangelical Catholic, spoke several times, including a testimony of … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 02/06/2015 - 13:19 Chaz Morgan (left) is presented the Clyde and Elizabeth Smith Scholarship by Louisiana College president Dr. Argile Smith Saturday. Paige Dubois (right), the recipient of the 2014 Smith Scholarship, looks on. By Al Quartemont, Special the Message PINEVILLE – A home-school student from Baton Rouge was the winner of Louisiana College’s prestigious Clyde and Elizabeth Smith Scholarship Competition for 2015 held Jan. 31 on campus. Chaz Morgan beat out 13 other invitees to win the scholarship that covers every expense at LC, including tuition, fees, books, residence and meals. Each student who competed also received a substantial scholarship offer for being among the top applicants of the 2015 freshman class. “I really wanted to win because it would be such an honor to be able to represent the school,” Morgan said. “When they announced my name, I said, ‘Thank you, Lord.’” Morgan, whose parents are Charles and Carletta Morgan, is the fifth home-schooled student to win the competition in the last seven years. He plans to major in pre-law at LC and has set a goal to one day become a judge. His sister, Kaeli, is also a sophomore at LC and is majoring in pre-med. The Smith … [Read more...]

DALLAS (BP) – GuideStone Financial Resources has released its Ministers’ Tax Guide for 2014 Returns. The annual handbook provides step-by-step instructions for both active and retired ministers, sample forms and detailed help in understanding the latest tax laws. Additionally, church treasurers and other church leaders will find a valuable resource in the guide’s special section about important federal requirements for churches. GuideStone participants can receive the free guide by visiting www.GuideStone.org/TaxGuide or can request a free printed copy by calling 1-888-98-GUIDE (888.984.8433). The guide was written again this year by Richard Hammar, a noted CPA, attorney and widely published author who specializes in legal and tax issues for ministers. Additionally, the material is edited by GuideStone’s compliance staff to ensure that it addresses tax issues in detail directly affecting Southern Baptist pastors. “Each year, federal tax law can change, and ministers have come to trust in the Ministers’ Tax Guide as they prepare their taxes or work with their preparer,” GuideStone President O.S. Hawkins said. “It is a joy to hear from so many pastors who tell us how thankful they are for this guide and how much it helps them … [Read more...]

By Jerry Love, Louisiana Baptist Foundation ALEXANDRIA – Once again we are moving into that exciting season of the year.  No, not baseball season… yet.  It’s Tax Season! Like most Americans, you want to pay your “fair” share (whatever that may mean) but definitely don’t want to pay more tax than necessary.  Here are a few reminders about deductions that sometime get overlooked. As Yogi Berra might have put it, here’s something so you don’t forget to remember what you forgot. As always make sure you check with the coaching staff (your personal advisors) if you have questions regarding the application of these deductions to your gameplan. Game extended for State Sales Tax Deduction in 2014 Late in the game of 2014, Congress took the state sales tax deduction into extra innings.  Currently you can choose either to deduct the income tax you paid in the previous year or the sales tax paid, whichever is greater.  This is important to those who may have bought a “big-ticket” item such as a car or a boat last year.  The tax paid on that one item may push your sales tax deduction higher than the income tax deduction that most people take.  The IRS web site has a calculator … [Read more...]

WASHINGTON, D.C. –The Supreme Court on Jan. 30 said it would decide whether all 50 states must issue licenses for same-sex marriages. It was only a matter of time before the court agreed to take up the issue, after the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a ruling upholding marriage laws in the states under its jurisdiction. The circuit ruled voters, not courts, should decide the issue of gay marriage. Ironically that decision created a split among the circuits, which triggered the Supreme Court to step in. During the fall the high court allowed many lower court rulings, striking down marriage laws to stand, which expanded gay marriage to 36 states. The court in its decision said it will consider two questions: One, whether the 14th Amendment requires states to license same-sex marriages; and two, whether states must recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states. The court’s 2013 ruling striking a portion of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) should raise concerns for traditional marriage supporters. Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote the majority ruling in the case, ruling in part in favor of state’s rights. But he also ruled that DOMA violated equal protection under the U.S. Constitution. He said DOMA created … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 02/06/2015 - 13:50 Frank Page of the SBC Executive Committee speaks on his daughter Melissa’s suicide and the nation’s suicide epidemic. At New Orleans Seminary, Page calls for Christians to hold forth the peace of God to those who have lost loved ones to suicide. Photo by Boyd Guy By Frank M. McCormack, NOBTS Communications NEW ORLEANS (BP) – "I've never preached on this subject at a seminary before," Frank Page said. I've spoken on it in churches a few times, but not often. "For you see, five years and two months ago, my daughter left her family behind when she committed suicide. That 'left behind' feeling still affects us to this day," Page, president and CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention's Executive Committee, said in his chapel message at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Jan. 27. He described how, in late 2009, he received a call from his oldest daughter Melissa. "It had been a tumultuous few weeks prior to that," Page said. "But believe me, my antenna went up when she said, 'Daddy, I love you.' I said, 'Baby, I love you.' She said, 'Daddy, tell mama and the girls I love them too.' I said, 'Honey, I'm not going to do that. You tell them that.' 'Daddy, I can't. I love … [Read more...]

By Ronnie Floyd, SBC President SPRINGDALE, Ark. (BP) – Over 18,000 students are currently enrolled in our six Southern Baptist seminaries. This is the largest number of pastors, missionaries and scholars we have ever equipped at one time and is a great praise to our God. Due to the conservative resurgence in the Southern Baptist Convention by courageous men and women of God, our six seminaries are now anchored in a deep belief in the infallibility and inerrancy of Holy Scripture. Our Southern Baptist Convention rose to the occasion to declare to the world, “We believe in the Bible!” In our Baptist Faith and Message 2000, our convention of churches declared boldly: “The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God’s revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. Therefore, all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. It reveals the principles by which God judges us, and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried. All Scripture is … [Read more...]