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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Blue wave, red wall collide in national elections

By Will Hall, Message Editor ALEXANDRIA (LBM) — The 2018 midterm elections will be remembered as historic as much as for what happened as for what did not take place, with voters turning out in record numbers and a divided Congress being elected. An estimated 113 million voters participated in the midterm elections, the first midterm in history to exceed 100 million voters, amounting to nearly 49 percent of eligible voters in this “off-year” election. This compares to 41 percent participation, almost 82.5 million voters, in 2010, the first midterm of then-President Obama’s eight-year tenure. Democrats secured control of the House, but not in the blue wave they had expected. They appear to have won about 12 seats more than the 218 needed. But, political observers label a number of these newcomers as “moderates” who supposedly will not support the obstructionist strategy in play by the Democrats the first two years of President Trump’s administration. According to the latest CNN count, Democrats will seat 230 members and Republicans will muster 205 when Congress convenes in 2019. Republicans strengthened their power in the Senate, adding two more seats, meaning the president likely will succeed to name federal judges in … [Read more...]

IMB taps Paul Chitwood as presidential candidate

By Julie McGowan,  IMB Communications RICHMOND, Va. -- The International Mission Board trustees' presidential search committee announced Tuesday (Nov. 6) that the committee will recommend Paul Chitwood, 48, to be elected as the 173-year-old entity's 13th president. The vote to elect Chitwood is scheduled for the Nov. 15 plenary session during their IMB board meeting in Richmond. A former chairman of IMB's board of trustees, Chitwood currently serves as executive director of the Kentucky Baptist Convention, the state's largest religious organization with 750,000 members in 2,400 churches and 70 associations. He has served in the role since 2011. For 18 years, Chitwood served as the pastor of local Kentucky churches of varying sizes: First Baptist Church, Mt. Washington (2003-11), where he is a member; First Baptist Church of Somerset (1999-2003); First Baptist Church of Owenton (1995-99); and South Fork Baptist Church in Owenton (1993-95). As a pastor, his churches averaged giving 18.5 percent through the Cooperative Program. During his pastorates, he served as chairman of the IMB trustees from 2008-10, part of his tenure as an IMB trustee from 2002-10. His overseas short-term mission involvement includes work in … [Read more...]

On one-year anniversary of Sutherland Springs shooting, pastor and wife ready for the ‘new normal’

By Jane Rodgers, Southern Baptist Texan correspondent SUTHERLAND SPRINGS—Approaching the anniversary of the November 2017 shooting that claimed 26 lives at First Baptist Sutherland Springs, Pastor Frank Pomeroy, his wife, Sherri, and their congregation are demonstrating the truth of the slogan gracing the church’s marquee: “evil did not win.” A year later, the Pomeroys aren’t healed, but healing. They are skeptical of the media and they are recognized often when they venture out—even on an Alaska vacation. They are grateful for how faith groups responded to the tragedy. They are wary of conspiracy “truthers” but committed to truth.   “We are ready to start toward the new normal,” Frank told the TEXAN during an interview with the couple Oct. 17 in his office, located inside a small administrative wing off the former sanctuary. Windy Choate, church secretary since spring when she assumed the job filled by Sherri in the months following the shootings, handed letters to Frank, who arrived for our 10:30 appointment on time clad in jeans and a long-sleeved t-shirt, apologizing for his casual appearance. He spent part of that morning mowing the gravesite of his 14-year-old daughter Annabelle, a shooting … [Read more...]