By Staff, Baptist Message BATON ROUGE (LBM) — Despite the heavy presence of paid lobbyists for the gambling industry, Louisiana Baptists secured a key victory against the casino interests of the state, helping to defeat Senate Bill 417 and its companion House Bill 438 and keeping a riverboat casino from moving to Tangipahoa Parish. The Senate defeated S.B. 417 by a vote of 15-18, needing 20 votes to pass, whereas H.B. 438 did not make it out of the House Administration of Criminal Justice Committee. Both proposed allowing an existing riverboat casino to relocate from Bossier City to the Tangipahoa River along I-12. However, a coalition of pastors, led by David Cranford, First Baptist Church in Ponchatoula, and Louis Husser, Crossgate Church in Robert, mobilized the community and testified in both chambers of the legislature to help sink both bills. Likewise, Sherman Mack, chairman of the ACJ Committee, and a member of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Albany, gave leadership to defeat H.B. 438 and to keep it from coming back up during the regular legislative session. Cranford told the Baptist Message “the Lord blessed and we are grateful” with Husser adding “it was a ‘David and Goliath’ scenario.” “We stood firm as … [Read more...]
Archives for June 2018
Hunting show to connect creation with the Creator
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer HAUGHTON – Pastor Gevan Spinney will soon take the Gospel from inside the worship center of First Baptist Church in Haughton to viewers of a national hunting TV show. “The Way It Was” will debut June 29 on the Pursuit Channel, and Spinney and others hope they can offer more than just picturesque outdoor scenery and the best tips on how to snag the biggest elk, turkey or deer. Ultimately, they pray the show will introduce viewers to the message of Christ over the course of the 13-episode season. “This is my wheelhouse,” Spinney said. “I’m a simple redneck guy who loves Jesus and the outdoors. Putting the both of them together will give us an opportunity to reach people who don’t normally go to church. “When you’re outside it’s that time to get your mind and life in neutral,” he continued. “It’s the creation connecting with the creator. The busyness of our lives keeps us from being still. But being in a tree there is a lot of stillness. It’s where you see the awe of God, feel His presence and see how big He is.” The show will feature Spinney and fellow hunters Lynn Beaty, a member of First Baptist Haughton, and Sid McCullin, a member of Cypress Baptist Church in Benton. The … [Read more...]
Kingdom Builders advance the Gospel through construction
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer RHINEHART – A group of Kingdom Builders kicked off their summer by helping members of Oak Grove Baptist Church in Rhinehart complete their family life center. A team of 55 people from 26 Louisiana Baptist churches in early June installed framing, sheetrock, wiring and plumbing inside the 4,800-square-foot facility. Kingdom Builders President Randy Ray said his organization saved Oak Grove Baptist around $50,000 in labor costs. “Our heart and our focus is working with mission churches and smaller churches that can’t typically afford to have a building built,” said Ray, pastor of St. Rest Baptist Church in Dubach. “The greatest joy of Kingdom Builders first of all is great because we get to work with these guys and gals. We have formed a bond and are a picture of the real church – a community of believers coming together to help out fellow Christians with a need.” This is the second project Kingdom Builders has completed this year. In February, volunteers helped finish the Breadcrumb Benevolence Ministry building in Jonesville. Their final undertaking for 2018 is to help finish a worship center for the Church Street of God in Oak Grove this September, pending final approval … [Read more...]
Abraham bill would bring I-14 through central Louisiana
By Office of Congressman Ralph Abraham WASHINGTON - Congressman Ralph Abraham, R-Alto, has cosponsored legislation to expand Interstate 14 from Texas through central Louisiana and into Mississippi. HR 6111, the I-14 Expansion and Improvement Act of 2018, was introduced by U.S. Reps. Brian Babin, R-Texas, Dr. Abraham and other members of the Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi delegations last week. The bill would bring existing roads into the congressionally designated I-14 corridor and connect communities from Midland, Texas to Laurel, Mississippi. The expansion would provide bases like Fort Polk and Camp Beauregard with quicker and easier access to the deployment port in Beaumont, Texas, and interstate travel in general, which is consistent with President Trump’s call improve readiness and efficiency within the military. An expanded I-14 would grant communities across central Louisiana direct access to an interstate, which will lead to more economic development and jobs. “Expanding I-14 will create numerous opportunities for central Louisiana to grow," said Abraham, a member of Alto Baptist Church. "Interstate access means commerce, development and jobs. It means Fort Polk can deploy troops faster and more … [Read more...]
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