Click to Login or Sign Up

Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Age, pennies, Captain Kangaroo, ordering out and rap

Okay, I’m old. Everyone seems determined to remind me. Some folks at Beloit College in Wisconsin put out an annual "age gauge"to remind folks more than 40 how old we are. Stuff like kids starting to college this year were born in 1982, and how they are predated by Atari, which came along when my offsprings were kids. Like we need reminding. Okay, I’m old. Everyone seems determined to remind me. Some folks at Beloit College in Wisconsin put out an annual "age gauge"to remind folks more than 40 how old we are. Stuff like kids starting to college this year were born in 1982, and how they are predated by Atari, which came along when my offsprings were kids. Like we need reminding.   Someone sent me an E-mail - okay, stop right here. Take e-mail for instance. Hate it. Anxiety washes over me every time I click that little "Send" symbol. Who knows how it goes, even where it goes for sure. One false move, and the epistle zooms off to the black hole of cyberspace. I am so old, I remember writing by hand a postal card, sticking a penny stamp on it and trusting the postal service to get the card to the proper recipient, even if it was later than sooner. I touched it, felt it, tasted the yukkie glue on the stamp, … [Read more...]

For Louisianians, 2001 SBC is just down the road

If you have been investing in the work of the Southern Baptist Convention over the years, you should strongly consider going to the Annual Meeting of the Convention. This year, the Convention meets June 12-13 in New Orleans’ Super Dome. If you have been investing in the work of the Southern Baptist Convention over the years, you should strongly consider going to the Annual Meeting of the Convention. This year, the Convention meets June 12-13 in New Orleans’ Super Dome.   The actual convention starts on Tuesday morning at 8:00 with inspirational singing. The meeting ends at 5:35 p.m. on Wednesday.   The Convention is open to anyone wishing to attend. You do not have to be an elected messenger from your church to attend, only to vote. While convention planners do not necessarily intend the meetings to be come-and-go affairs, that is exactly what they are! You can choose whatever session you wish to attend.   This year’s convention features music from mass choirs supported by full orchestra as well as outstanding soloists. The music is comparable to the best available anywhere.   This year’s convention sermon will be preached by Louisiana’s own Fred Luter, Jr., pastor of … [Read more...]

Agree wholeheartedly

This past week I received the Baptist Message of April 26. I live out of state and the mail is slow. In that issue I read the letter by Edith Kirkpatrick concerning her withholding final payment of $25,000 to Louisiana College. This past week I received the Baptist Message of April 26. I live out of state and the mail is slow. In that issue I read the letter by Edith Kirkpatrick concerning her withholding final payment of $25,000 to Louisiana College.   Let me say to the trustees, you’ve done well. As a former trustee, had I been given the honor of still being on the board, I would have voted with you. My wife and I are graduates of Louisiana College and we are both proud of your decision. We agree wholeheartedly with your actions in adoption of the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message.   I would say to anyone who disagrees and threatens to "keep their money," a fountain is no match for Biblical truth. Louisiana College was founded by people who stood for truth and wanted Christ at the center of the College. What’s more important - money or truth? As a Christian I’ll take truth over a fountain any day. Carl Weiser Rustburg, Va. … [Read more...]

Every People Group Task Force continues work on plan

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA – The Every People Group Task Force met recently, continuing charting a plan on how Louisiana Baptists can reach those of various ethnicities in the state. James Jenkins, church planting director for Louisiana Baptists, said the charge of the task force is three-fold: ● Evaluate the ethnic diversity in Louisiana and its implications for Louisiana Baptists, ● Create avenues for input and involvement in LBC life by non-Anglo leaders and congregations, ● Lead Louisiana Baptists in effective engagement with ministry among all people groups in the state. The task force was appointed as a result of the President’s 2020 Commission, which was affirmed by messengers during the 2013 LBC Annual Meeting in Alexandria. The President’s 2020 Commission report was crafted collaboratively by 400 Louisiana Baptist pastors, leaders, staff members and laypeople working in 20 subcommittees of 20 members each. Ten “key actions in reaching our state” – known as KAIROS – were developed to engage two audiences – the next generation and every people group. As the first step in carrying out its charge, the Every People Group Task Force agreed to outline a missiology for the work … [Read more...]

The land of the Bible – and the Lord of our lives

Jerusalem, Israel - Visiting the land of the Bible provides a dimension of understanding the Bible that may be impossible to gain any other way.   Many aspects of biblical events "come alive" when one sees firsthand a particular geographical reference in the Bible, or sees the site of a particular event. Jerusalem, Israel - Visiting the land of the Bible provides a dimension of understanding the Bible that may be impossible to gain any other way.   Many aspects of biblical events "come alive" when one sees firsthand a particular geographical reference in the Bible, or sees the site of a particular event.   This dimension is something akin to - but greater than - reading histories about the Battle of Gettysburg to understand what happened there and then actually visiting the battleground. Walking and riding on the land, seeing the geographical features and how they affected what happened there provide an important added dimension to understanding the battle.   One does not "have" to visit personally the battleground of Gettysburg to understand the significance of what happened there or to have what happened there impact his or her life. Even a casual reader of United States … [Read more...]

The missions motivation? To follow Jesus and exalt God, leaders insist

Shannon Baker New Orleans Seminary Christians are not motivated to serve in missions because of their awareness of people’s "lostness" - or even because of Jesus’ Great Commission command to go, Jerry Rankin contends. Christians are not motivated to serve in missions because of their awareness of people’s "lostness" - or even because of Jesus’ Great Commission command to go, Jerry Rankin contends. They are motivated because of their relationship with Jesus and the passion he has given them to glorify his name, explained Rankin, president of the Southern Baptist International Mission Board. "God is moving to fulfill his mission - that his name might be exalted among the nations," Rankin said in a recent chapel address during a global missions emphasis at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Indeed, 1 Chronicles 16:24-25 instructs followers of Christ to tell of God’s glory among the nations and his wonderful deeds among all the peoples - "for great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised," Rankin noted. The Israelites mentioned in 1 Chronicles realized that it was not about them, Rankin explained. "It was about the nations declaring God’s glory among the nations." Rankin challenged persons to … [Read more...]

Key issues pending in state legislature – be aware, ready to act, leader urges

Bills still are being filed in the Louisiana Legislature - but there already are areas of concern related to gambling and other issues, Ken Ward said.   Legislators have until April 24 to file bills. However, more than 1,700 measures already have been submitted, including 80 bills related to gambling. Bills still are being filed in the Louisiana Legislature - but there already are areas of concern related to gambling and other issues, Ken Ward said.   Legislators have until April 24 to file bills. However, more than 1,700 measures already have been submitted, including 80 bills related to gambling.   Proposed bills range from attempts to limit the expansion of gambling to wholesale expansion, said Ward, executive director of the Louisiana Moral and Civic Foundation.   He specifically cited House Bill 50, which would allow easy local elections on video poker. As proposed, the bill would allow persons to petition for a local election - regardless of any previous votes on the issue - and agree to pay for the new vote. If a majority of voters in the targeted area (such as a parish or municipality or ward) approved of video poker, it would be allowed.   "Gambling … [Read more...]

Have Southern Baptists transcended the South?

Are Southern Baptists still southern - or has America’s largest non-Catholic body become an entity that has transcended both its name and the culture that birthed it? Are Southern Baptists still southern - or has America’s largest non-Catholic body become an entity that has transcended both its name and the culture that birthed it?   A group of historians and scholars tackled the question during a recent conference on Southern Baptists in a new millennium at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. (See related articles on Page 10)   Most participants agreed the Southern Baptist Convention has become increasingly a nationwide denomination and is less restricted in influence to the South.   Nevertheless, its connections with the South run far deeper than merely its name - and the Southern Baptist Convention itself remains an integral part of southern culture, participants explained.   "For the time being, it seems to me, the Southern Baptist Convention is more like country music or NASCAR," said John Shelton Reed, professor of sociology at the University of North Carolina. "You know it is something that is still rooted in its region and still reflects the South and its … [Read more...]

Impact of golfer Payne Stewart’s death continuing

For golfing enthusiasts, all talk in this week of the Masters tournament is about which golfer will win. But for a pair of professional golfers, their thoughts likely are on a golfer who will not even be competing in the fabled tournament — the late Payne Stewart. And why not? For golfing enthusiasts, all talk in this week of the Masters tournament is about which golfer will win. But for a pair of professional golfers, their thoughts likely are on a golfer who will not even be competing in the fabled tournament — the late Payne Stewart. And why not? Lee Janzen and Darin Hoff are walking closer with the Lord today because of the life and influence of their late friend. Janzen and his family were baptized at a Texas church about five months before the plane crash that claimed the lives of Stewart and several companions. For Janzen, the tragedy emphasized that he needed to get more serious about his relationship with Christ. "It speeded up the process of learning and growing, and going from an infant in the Lord to someone growing up," Janzen says. "I certainly came along a lot more in the past year than I did in the year leading up to that." For Hoff, the impact was even more dramatic. Indeed, while he … [Read more...]

Golf tournament

The Louisiana College Baptist Campus Ministries is hosting a benefit golf tournament at Emerald Hills Golf Resort In Florien (Hwy 171) on May 7, 2001, to help fund the efforts of LC-BSM students who will invest themselves in mission endeavors in the USA and abroad this summer. The Louisiana College Baptist Campus Ministries is hosting a benefit golf tournament at Emerald Hills Golf Resort In Florien (Hwy 171) on May 7, 2001, to help fund the efforts of LC-BSM students who will invest themselves in mission endeavors in the USA and abroad this summer.   The format for the tournament is a two-person scramble, shot-gun start beginning at 8:00 a.m. The Cost is $50 per golfer which includes 18 holes of golf, cart and hamburger bar lunch. A block of rooms at $60/day for a room with two double beds, has been secured at Emerald Hills Resort for those who prefer to arrive Sunday night. Arrangements for rooms can be made by contacting the resort directly at (318) 586-4661 and mentioning the LC tournament.   This will be a fun day to fellowship and play golf with Christian laymen, pastors and staff members from around the state. To schedule your own participation, to sponsor a pastor or other staff person … [Read more...]