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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Billy Graham, evangelist to the world, dead at 99

By Billy Graham Evangelistic Association CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Evangelist Billy Graham died today at 7:46 a.m. at his home in Montreat. He was 99. Throughout his life, Billy Graham preached the gospel of Jesus Christ to some 215 million people who attended one of his more than 400 Crusades, simulcasts and evangelistic rallies in more than 185 countries and territories. He reached millions more through TV, video, film, the internet and 34 books. Born Nov. 7, 1918, four days before the armistice ended World War I, William Franklin “Billy” Graham Jr. grew up during the Depression and developed a work ethic that would carry him through decades of ministry on six continents. “I have one message: that Jesus Christ came, he died on a cross, he rose again, and he asked us to repent of our sins and receive him by faith as Lord and Savior, and if we do, we have forgiveness of all of our sins,” said Graham at his final Crusade in June 2005 at Flushing Meadows Corona Park in New York. While Graham’s primary focus was to take this message to the world, he also provided spiritual counsel to presidents, championed desegregation, and was a voice of hope and guidance in times of trial. In 2001, he comforted his country and the world … [Read more...]

Billy Graham, God’s Ambassador, passes away at the age of 99

By Staff, Baptist Message Billy Graham , the great Christian evangelist whose worldwide crusades and role as adviser to decades of U.S. presidents made him one of the best known religious figures of his time, died of natural causes early Wednesday morning at age 99 at his home in Montreat, N.C. according to a release by by his family. After answering the altar call at a revival during the Great Depression, this North Carolina farm boy went on to become a pastor to 12 U.S. presidents and used his crusades to alter the lives of millions of people around the world. In a career spanning more than 60 years, Graham, who was called ‘God’s Ambassador’ took his simple Christian message -- God Loves You -- to more people in history according to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association website. More than 84 million people in almost 60 countries – including multitudes of spiritually starved believers behind the communist Iron Curtain had their lives altered by Graham. Add those who heard him live, via satellite, and the numbers jump to 210 million people in 185 countries. "My one purpose in life," Graham said, "is to help people find a personal relationship with God, which, I believe, comes through knowing Christ." God … [Read more...]

South Florida churches minister to Parkland school shooting victims

By Nicole Kalil, Florida Baptist Convention Florida Baptists are reeling along with all of Florida and the rest of the nation after a gunman opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. yesterday leaving 17 dead and another 14 injured. While law enforcement and state officials issue calls to prayer at press conferences, Florida Baptist churches in the area are mourning their own losses while offering words of hope and help to those hurting in their community. The main campus of Church by the Glades is located less than 10 minutes from the school and lead pastor David Hughes said many of the students in his church attend Douglas High. Hughes held back sobs as he explained that a few families in his church had suffered a fatality and one family has a son who is “gravely injured.” They are still in the process of accounting for all their members connected to the school. Hughes said that at times like this people often wrestle with the reasons but that’s not the most important question to have answered. “What now?” he said is the better question. And “Who wins?” “Do we let fear and cruelty, violence and hatred win or do we continue to fight against the darkness and continue to bring the … [Read more...]

GuideStone offers single-staff churches solutions in the health care marketplace

By Roy Hayhurst, GuideStone Financial Resources DALLAS, Texas - Continued uncertainty in the health care marketplace with the repeal of the individual mandate coming in 2019 and reductions in the number of individuals served by the health care exchanges has some pastors and ministry workers wondering about health care options this year. Further, the Affordable Care Act continues to drive up costs for consumers nationwide. GuideStone recognizes that affordability is the issue for most all of us, and while, like others, we are not immune from the financial pressures caused by the 2010 law, we are working diligently every day to develop options that reflect the values of our participants and keep costs extremely competitive in the marketplace. GuideStone’s Personal Plans health plans may be options for churches with a single staff member, usually the pastor. “We take seriously our ministry assignment from Southern Baptists to make ‘available life and health coverage,’ to our churches and ministry organizations, especially those pastors serving out at the crossroads,” GuideStone President O.S. Hawkins said. “We’d encourage any pastor of a single staff-member church to call GuideStone and see if we may be able to serve him … [Read more...]

Pastors encouraged to participate in biennial church compensation survey

By Roy Hayhurst, GuideStone Financial Resources DALLAS, Texas - GuideStone Financial Resources, LifeWay Research and Baptist state conventions have teamed up again in 2018 for the biennial SBC Church Compensation Survey. Pastors and church employees are invited to participate in the survey, a resource used by churches of all sizes to determine fair wages and benefits. The survey takes about 10 minutes to complete; it is available on the GuideStone website. Survey respondents can enter to win an iPad. The survey’s results will be made available in the early fall, in time for many churches considering their 2019 budgets. The survey is the largest, free, church compensation study available in the United States. These surveys are a valuable tool for churches to benchmark their own salary and benefits against churches of similar size within Southern Baptist life. Through GuideStone’s compensation planning materials, GuideStone offers materials to help churches structure their compensation to make proper use of tax laws. Individual survey results can be contributed anonymously: Survey results are not reported individually. Once the survey closes May 31, LifeWay Research will work on compiling results. Survey respondents … [Read more...]