By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer
LAKE CHARLES, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptists enjoyed fellowship and worship during the 2026 LBC Annual meeting, Nov. 10, hosted by Trinity Baptist Church, Lake Charles.
BUDGET APPROVED
Messengers approved the 2027 financial plan, based on Cooperative
Program contributions of $17,397,201, an increase of 2.79 percent. Cooperative Pro¬gram projections are based on actual receipts from Au¬gust 2025 through July 2026. The allocation formula for distributing CP gifts between Southern Baptist entities and Louisiana Baptist causes remains unchanged, 62.87 percent to support ministries in the state and 37.13 percent forwarded to fund national entities.
MOTION DEFEATED
Presented by Garrison Griffith, pastor and messenger with First Baptist Church, Wisner, messengers defeated a motion that moved in part that “the Louisiana Baptist Convention instruct the Executive Board through its Business and Finance Committee to study the best use of convention resources in the work of the Baptist Message and the partnership between the Convention and the Baptist Message in light of the Baptist Message’s ongoing transition” relating to its print and digital publications.
Wisner spoke for the motion, and two messengers spoke against it. The measure failed, 80-84.
RESOLUTIONS
Messengers affirmed three resolutions: expression of appreciation for all who made the 2026 Annual Meeting possible; promotion of healthy families by improving fatherhood; and commitment to the 2033 Great Commission baptism goal.
LAGNIAPPPE
The final messenger count for the 2026 Annual Meeting was 473, a decrease from the 582 who registered for the 2025 Annual Meeting, held at the Randolph Riverfront Center, Alexandria.
The 2027 LBC Annual Meeting is scheduled for Nov. 16 and will be hosted by Temple Baptist Church, Ruston: The convention sermon will be preached by James Doughty, pastor with First Baptist Church, Monroe. The alternate preacher will be David Rose, pastor with Trinity Baptist Church, Lake Charles. The worship leader will be Jonathan Ickles, worship pastor with Fellowship Church, Prairieville.
OFFICERS ELECTED
Kirk Jones, pastor with Fellowship Church, Prairieville, was re-elected president. Ben Hackler, pastor with First Baptist Church, Sterlington, was re-elected first vice-president, and Neil Treme, pastor with Glenmora Baptist Church was re-elected second-vice president.
All three men were given individual votes of acclamation by the Convention – a single ballot cast by the LBC executive director in view of no opposition to any of the candidates.
