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"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

TX Supreme Court: Repeal or vote on Houston ordinance

By Bonnie Pritchett, Southern Baptist Texan HOUSTON (BP) -- The Texas Supreme Court has directed the Houston's city council to abide by its own charter and repeal the controversial Equal Rights Ordinance or put it up to a city-wide vote this November. The city has until Aug. 24 to comply or be compelled to do so by the high court. In a rare move, the Texas Supreme Court conditionally granted a writ of mandamus stating "the legislative power reserved to the people of Houston is not being honored." Last year, Mayor Annise Parker and then-City Attorney Dave Feldman declared "invalid" a referendum to repeal the controversial city ordinance. Petitioners -- a racially and politically diverse group of pastors and civic leaders -- sued, alleging the mayor and attorney manufactured signature requirements in order to defy the city charter mandates. The court agreed with the petitioners July 24, stating the city secretary, not the city council, is obligated to evaluate petitions. Enforcement of the ordinance is suspended. "Simply put, the City Secretary's certification started the process outlined in the Charter for reconsidering ordinances following a referendum petition, invoking the Council's ministerial duty to carry out its … [Read more...]

Planned Parenthood, in new video, prices baby parts

By David Roach, Baptist Press NASHVILLE (BP) – A second undercover video released July 21 by the Center for Medical Progress appears to show a Planned Parenthood doctor negotiating the price of baby parts obtained through abortion and discussing the possibility of varying abortion procedures to harvest intact organs. At one point in the video, a woman identified as Mary Gatter, former president of the Planned Parenthood Medical Directors’ Council, speaks of using “a less crunchy technique” of aborting babies to preserve “more whole specimens.” She also jokes, “I want a Lamborghini,” when negotiating the price of baby parts, though she also says, “We’re not in it for the money” and “we don’t want to be in a position of being accused of selling tissue.” Gatter appears to settle on a price of $100 per “specimen” but says she wants to investigate what other abortion providers are receiving. The video includes text stating it was shot Feb. 6 by investigators posing as a fetal tissue procurement company. David Daleiden, senior investigator for the Center for Medical Progress, told LifeSiteNews CMP’s latest video suggests Planned Parenthood violated federal laws that prohibit profiting from the sale of human remains and altering … [Read more...]

‘Word and deed’ healthcare missions leading many to Christ

By Mark Kelly, Baptist Press RICHMOND, Va. — All over the world, International Mission Board’s health care missionaries are living out “word and deed” Christian faith, and people are responding with decisions to follow Jesus — some of them in places where the good news of God’s love is only just now arriving. During the Global Medical Alliance meeting June 1-5 near Richmond, Va., a steady stream of reports illustrated the wide variety of ways Southern Baptists merge proclamation of the gospel with demonstration of God’s love for suffering people: n In West Africa, as the Ebola epidemic exploded, IMB workers focused on raising awareness and teaching prevention techniques in Liberia, Togo and Mali. About 424,000 people were reached through a combination of fliers, TV spots, speakers, hand-washing stations, music concerts and food distributions. Thousands heard the good news and more than 200 professed faith in Christ. n In South Asia, a Vacation Bible School offering from First Baptist Church of Lafayette, purchased health and hygiene items that could be shared with terminally ill patients, along with health lessons and Bible stories. The distribution gave believers access to communities where they had been unwelcome before, … [Read more...]

GuideStone appeals to SCOTUS over abortion mandate

By Roy Hayhurst, GuideStone Financial Resources DALLAS (BP) -- GuideStone Financial Resources has filed an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court against the government's contraceptive mandate that will require certain ministries served by GuideStone to provide abortion-causing drugs and devices in their employer health plans or risk crippling fines. GuideStone, along with churches and integrated auxiliaries of churches, are exempt from the mandate and not at risk of penalties. For certain religious employers other than churches and their integrated auxiliaries, however, the government has argued that it offers an "accommodation" to religious employers who object to the mandate. Harold R. Loftin Jr., GuideStone general counsel, said the Southern Baptist entity "has, from the filing of our case, objected to the so-called 'accommodation' because the government is attempting to rewrite the terms of GuideStone's plan" to use the plan "to provide access to drugs and devices GuideStone believes to be impermissible. In addition, the government's regulations attempt to require certain of GuideStone's religious employers to take actions that facilitate the delivery of abortion-inducing drugs and devices to our participants and their … [Read more...]

Sturgis volunteers ready for more miracles of faith

By Victor Lee, Baptist Press STURGIS, S.D. (BP) -- Amid thousands of bikers, often with debauchery nearby, Southern Baptist volunteers will share their redemption in Jesus during the 75th annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, Aug. 3-8 in South Dakota. Baptist volunteers Roger Persing and Lyn Hanson work to draw passersby into a hospitality tent at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in 2010 where they heard testimony of God's power to change people. Hill and a team of 200-plus volunteers have a tight, proven plan for sharing the Gospel at a 40-by-30 tent on one of the town's streets. The volunteers venture to Sturgis from across the Midwest, Southeast and elsewhere to work one of four three-hour shifts each day. "Catchers" -- those who invite guests into the tent -- greet passersby, telling them they will be registered for a giveaway of a $21,000 Harley Road King if they go into the tent and listen to a three-minute Gospel presentation, which is the presenter's personal testimony of their life before Christ, how they came to know Christ and their life since salvation. "This is how we do it, no other way," Hill said. "Our catchers ask for three minutes, and three minutes is all we take." An estimated 35,000 people have … [Read more...]

Syrian refugees long for happier Ramadan

ZAATARI REFUGEE CAMP, Jordan (BP) -- For many who escaped from the violent civil war in Syria, this is their fifth Ramadan in a foreign country. Families in the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan are going through a challenging time as they recall happier Ramadan holidays in Syria. Ramadan, which ends today (July 17), is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, during which Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. This season is often known for family gatherings when Muslims will prepare a table with abundant food and celebrate together as the sun sets. However, the civil war has taken away those happy moments for these Syrian refugees. Ahmad,* a 60-year-old Syrian man, misses the days when his family was together. He said with tears, "I was able to escape from Syria, but my daughter's family is still there." The civil war took away not only the joy of family celebrations, but also their cozy and secure homes. Seven years ago, Abu Badr* built a large house in his hometown with the money he made from more than a decade of hard work in Africa. But he had to flee Syria with empty hands when the civil war broke out, and now he lives in the dusty, windy conditions of Zaatari. The desert sun is merciless on the refugee tents in the … [Read more...]

Religious freedom ‘under attack,’ Judge Roy Moore warns as God’s ‘natural order’ overturned

By Michael Foust, Christian Examiner MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- America is undergoing a sexual revolution that is defying "God's natural order" and will leave young children confused about whether they should be a boy or a girl, Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore warned members of a Baptist church in his state this week. Moore made the comments at Magnolia Springs Baptist Church in Theodore, Ala., a day after speaking to members of the Fresh Anointing House of Worship in Montgomery. Christians may be upset over the Supreme Court's controversial decision, but the primary "issue is not about same-sex marriage," he said, according to Al.com. "It's about a sexual revolution. It's about having people decide whether they are male or female," Moore said, speaking the same week that Bruce Jenner, now known as Caitlyn Jenner, received the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage at the ESPY's. "You're talking about overturning God's natural order." Moore expressed concern over what happens "when you start teaching kids that they have the right to choose whether they are male or female." "They don't know much. [But] they may learn fast," Moore said. "And when they get in their mind they can be a man if they're a girl or a woman if they are a … [Read more...]

Iran deal: persecuted church ‘left behind’

VIENNA (BP) - The nuclear deal struck by Iran and six world powers led by the United States has drawn criticism from evangelicals for its potential ill effects on Israel and persecuted Christians in the Persian nation. The American Center for Law and Justice lamented that the deal, which was announced today (July 14) in Vienna following 20 months of negotiations, apparently does not include the release of American pastor Saeed Abedini from an Iranian prison. Johnny Hunt, a former Southern Baptist Convention president who has led First Baptist Church in Woodstock, Ga., to do extensive mission work in Iran, said the Obama administration's willingness to negotiate with Iranian leaders likely encourages the regime to continue persecuting Christians and threatening Israel. "I fear for Israel and other Middle Eastern countries in light of Iran's hatred of Israel along with their many threats," Hunt told Baptist Press in written comments. "I find it so difficult for us as a nation to trust nations that are publicly known for their religious persecution. The lack of accountability of Iran in light of all their inconsistencies with the United Nations leads me to believe that [America's diplomatic engagement with Iran poses] an … [Read more...]

Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals rules against GuideStone in HHS mandate litigation

By Roy Hayhurst, GuideStone Financial Resources DALLAS — The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver ruled today that GuideStone Financial Resources and the ministries it serves in its health plans must comply with the government’s HHS mandate, which forces religious ministries to violate their faith or pay crippling IRS penalties. Churches and their integrated auxiliaries are exempt from the mandate as religious employers. GuideStone, its co-plaintiffs Reaching Souls International and Truett-McConnell College, and attorneys from the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty and Locke Lord LLP are studying the opinion to determine next steps, including possible appeals to the full Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals or to the U.S. Supreme Court. “We’re disappointed with today’s decision, which leaves in place the federal government’s aggressive, discriminatory, and unnecessary attack on the core religious beliefs of private religious ministries,” said Mark Rienzi, senior counsel of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty and lead attorney in the GuideStone litigation. “The government does not need to take over a church benefits plan to provide abortion-inducing drugs — the most powerful government in the world can obviously distribute … [Read more...]

Planned Parenthood Federation of America accused of selling aborted fetal parts

By Diana Chandler, Baptist Press NASHVILLE (BP) - A woman identified as a Planned Parenthood executive is shown in an undercover video released July 14 negotiating the sale of baby parts gained through partial birth abortions performed at Planned Parenthood facilities. The nonprofit medical watchdog group Center for Medical Progress (CMP) released the video showing a woman identified as Deborah Nucatola, Planned Parenthood Federation of America senior director of medical services, discussing the PPFA fetal parts business with an undercover investigator posing as a potential buyer at a July 25, 2014, lunch meeting. After the video surfaced, Planned Parenthood defended the action of donating such body parts, but said no monetary benefits are gained, other than the reimbursement of costs incurred in the delivery of the body parts. “In health care, patients sometimes want to donate tissue to scientific research that can help lead to medical breakthroughs, such as treatments and cures for serious diseases. Women at Planned Parenthood who have abortions are no different,” Eric Ferrero, Planned Parenthood’s vice president of communications, said in a press release posted on the PPFA website. “At several of our health centers, … [Read more...]