Dear LBC messengers, this is an appeal not to let the offensive attitudes and remarks which occurred at the Baptist General Convention of Texas infiltrate the 2000 LBC. It was reported in the SBC Baptist Press that one Texas state leader, critical of the national SBC leadership, publicly said that they "remain (Jesus’) enemies. ... Christ has no value to them." Such offensive remarks have no place in Texas, nor in Louisiana ... by any side. As we approach the 2000 LBC, I call all Louisiana Baptists to refrain from such ungodly accusations of each other. Let us keep Louisiana’s debate on a higher plane than has been done in Texas. Dear LBC messengers, this is an appeal not to let the offensive attitudes and remarks which occurred at the Baptist General Convention of Texas infiltrate the 2000 LBC. It was reported in the SBC Baptist Press that one Texas state leader, critical of the national SBC leadership, publicly said that they "remain (Jesus’) enemies. ... Christ has no value to them." Such offensive remarks have no place in Texas, nor in Louisiana ... by any side. As we approach the 2000 LBC, I call all Louisiana Baptists to refrain from such ungodly accusations of each other. Let us keep Louisiana’s debate on … [Read more...]

The last thing Louisiana needs is another casino, but even against the will of the people, especially in the parish where this proposed monster would be located, we may get one. An article on this page reports a thumbnail sketch of the efforts underway to bring a new casino to the Cypress Bend Golf Resort on Toledo Bend near Many. Read the article, and you will see that the people of Sabine Parish, where the casino would be located have already voted out video poker machines. The parish police jury has voted three-to-one against establishing the casino. Yet, the resort shrewdly brought the Jena Indians into the ownership of the management company. If the Jena Indians buy land adjacent to the resort and the governor approves the casino, look out. The last thing Louisiana needs is another casino, but even against the will of the people, especially in the parish where this proposed monster would be located, we may get one. An article on this page reports a thumbnail sketch of the efforts underway to bring a new casino to the Cypress Bend Golf Resort on Toledo Bend near Many. Read the article, and you will see that the people of Sabine Parish, where the casino would be located have already voted out video poker … [Read more...]

Two words almost have disappeared from the modern vocabulary of the modern world (including many Christians) - sin and repentance, Kerry Skinner warned in a recent presentation to a Louisiana Baptist group.   They are deemed too negative by many, noted Skinner, an author and worker with the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board. Skinner spoke in a small-group seminar at the recent Louisiana Baptist Great Commission Prayer Conference in Lafayette. Two words almost have disappeared from the modern vocabulary of the modern world (including many Christians) - sin and repentance, Kerry Skinner warned in a recent presentation to a Louisiana Baptist group.   They are deemed too negative by many, noted Skinner, an author and worker with the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board. Skinner spoke in a small-group seminar at the recent Louisiana Baptist Great Commission Prayer Conference in Lafayette.   "Sin" is a negative term, Skinner acknowledged during the seminar, one of several presented during the two-day gathering highlighted in last week’s Louisiana Baptist Message.   However, contrary to popular belief, "repentance" most certainly is not, he … [Read more...]

After weeks of point and counterpoint, Texas Baptists took less than an hour to approve reduced funding for some Southern Baptist Convention entities.   By an estimated three-to-one margin, messengers to the recent Baptist General Convention of Texas annual meeting approved recommendations that will reduce funding for the six Southern Baptist Convention seminaries beginning in January, defund the SBC Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission and eliminate all but $10,000 in annual funding for the SBC Executive Committee. After weeks of point and counterpoint, Texas Baptists took less than an hour to approve reduced funding for some Southern Baptist Convention entities.   By an estimated three-to-one margin, messengers to the recent Baptist General Convention of Texas annual meeting approved recommendations that will reduce funding for the six Southern Baptist Convention seminaries beginning in January, defund the SBC Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission and eliminate all but $10,000 in annual funding for the SBC Executive Committee.   The actions mark the most severe reallocation of funds by a state Baptist convention since the launch of the Cooperative Program in 1925. Proponents of the … [Read more...]

After weeks of point and counterpoint, Texas Baptists took less than an hour to approve reduced funding for some Southern Baptist Convention entities.   By an estimated three-to-one margin, messengers to the recent Baptist General Convention of Texas annual meeting approved recommendations that will reduce funding for the six Southern Baptist Convention seminaries beginning in January, defund the SBC Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission and eliminate all but $10,000 in annual funding for the SBC Executive Committee. After weeks of point and counterpoint, Texas Baptists took less than an hour to approve reduced funding for some Southern Baptist Convention entities.   By an estimated three-to-one margin, messengers to the recent Baptist General Convention of Texas annual meeting approved recommendations that will reduce funding for the six Southern Baptist Convention seminaries beginning in January, defund the SBC Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission and eliminate all but $10,000 in annual funding for the SBC Executive Committee.   The actions mark the most severe reallocation of funds by a state Baptist convention since the launch of the Cooperative Program in 1925. Proponents … [Read more...]

The focus of the recent Louisiana Baptist Fall Collegiate Conference was unmistakably clear - prayer.   The theme of the meeting made it clear - "When you pray ..."   And the presentations by speaker Jeff Lewis made it clear as well. In his address, the professor of missiology from Riverside, Calif., emphasized the importance of prayer in everyday life to more than 700 Louisiana Baptist students gathered for the annual conference in Alexandria. The focus of the recent Louisiana Baptist Fall Collegiate Conference was unmistakably clear - prayer.   The theme of the meeting made it clear - "When you pray ..."   And the presentations by speaker Jeff Lewis made it clear as well. In his address, the professor of missiology from Riverside, Calif., emphasized the importance of prayer in everyday life to more than 700 Louisiana Baptist students gathered for the annual conference in Alexandria.   But the conference was not all talk about prayer, explained John Moore, Baptist Collegiate Ministries director for the Louisiana Baptist Convention.   "A great majority of the time was spent actually praying while Jeff led," Moore noted, adding that emphasis was given … [Read more...]

Nine Louisiana College faculty members were awarded named chairs or professorships during recent Founder’s Day ceremonies at the school. The Louisiana Baptist school celebrated its 94th year of service to Christian higher education during annual ceremonies on the Pineville campus last month. The Louisiana Baptist school was founded in 1906. Nine Louisiana College faculty members were awarded named chairs or professorships during recent Founder’s Day ceremonies at the school. The Louisiana Baptist school celebrated its 94th year of service to Christian higher education during annual ceremonies on the Pineville campus last month. The Louisiana Baptist school was founded in 1906. A highlight of the Founder’s Day service was presentation of the chairs and professorships – as well as the awarding of two Trustees’ Distinguished Service Awards. The trustee awards are presented annually to select individuals for exceptional service to the church, outstanding achievement in the arts and exemplary service to philanthropy toward Louisiana College. This year, school trustees bestowed service awards on Sellers Aycock and Joe Smith Jr., both of whom are alumni of Louisiana College. Aycock is a Louisiana … [Read more...]

When the Jena Band of Choctaws decided they wanted to open a casino, they began looking for land in Natchitoches and Rapides parishes.   Negotiations failed in both areas.   Now, the tribe apparently is turning its attention to Sabine and DeSoto parishes. Sabine River Authority Executive Director Linda Curtis-Sparks recently acknowledged she has been asked to identify available land in both locales. When the Jena Band of Choctaws decided they wanted to open a casino, they began looking for land in Natchitoches and Rapides parishes.   Negotiations failed in both areas.   Now, the tribe apparently is turning its attention to Sabine and DeSoto parishes. Sabine River Authority Executive Director Linda Curtis-Sparks recently acknowledged she has been asked to identify available land in both locales.   However, the possibility of such a development has not set well with members of the Sabine Parish police jury. Jury members voted 6-2 late last month to oppose a land-based casino in their area.   Jury members acknowledged their action is early and intended to be preemptive.   Indeed, for the Jena tribe to be able to open a casino, they must … [Read more...]

Nine Louisiana College faculty members were awarded named chairs or professorships during recent Founder’s Day ceremonies at the school. The Louisiana Baptist school celebrated its 94th year of service to Christian higher education during annual ceremonies on the Pineville campus last month. The Louisiana Baptist school was founded in 1906. Nine Louisiana College faculty members were awarded named chairs or professorships during recent Founder’s Day ceremonies at the school. The Louisiana Baptist school celebrated its 94th year of service to Christian higher education during annual ceremonies on the Pineville campus last month. The Louisiana Baptist school was founded in 1906. A highlight of the Founder’s Day service was presentation of the chairs and professorships – as well as the awarding of two Trustees’ Distinguished Service Awards. The trustee awards are presented annually to select individuals for exceptional service to the church, outstanding achievement in the arts and exemplary service to philanthropy toward Louisiana College. This year, school trustees bestowed service awards on Sellers Aycock and Joe Smith Jr., both of whom are alumni of Louisiana College. Aycock is a Louisiana … [Read more...]

By the time this issue of the Baptist Message begins "hitting the street," or mailboxes in our case, the first Louisiana Baptist Convention of the New Millennium will be history. This article, however, is written just before the Annual Meeting. By the time this issue of the Baptist Message begins "hitting the street," or mailboxes in our case, the first Louisiana Baptist Convention of the New Millennium will be history. This article, however, is written just before the Annual Meeting.   Regardless of what happens at this year’s convention, and there will surely be an abundance of happenings, the secular press will highlight whatever controversy occurs. The media seeks what is different - whatever sells papers and gains viewers. Before we are unjustly hard on the media, we must remember that they produce those kinds of materials because the public buys it more than they buy noncontroversial material.   What will likely be completely overlooked by the media, and even some Louisiana Baptists, is the remarkable commitment of Louisiana Baptists to fulfill the Great Commission. Louisiana Baptists’ commitment to Jesus’ Great Command has been and will be the glue that holds this state convention … [Read more...]