By Message Staff LAFAYETTE – A Grammy and Dove-winning artist and one of the premiers nationally recognized youth speakers will headline this year’s Youth Evangelism Celebration at the Cajundome. Scheduled for Nov. 20-21, the largest annual gathering of Louisiana Baptists will feature Ed Newton, pastor of Community Bible Church in San Antonio, Texas, as the guest speaker during all sessions. The conference will close with a time of music led by the Newboys, a band formed in 1985 that includes former DC Talk vocalist Michael Tait. Steve Maltempti, youth strategist for Louisiana Baptists, said that while YEC features a mix of acts which have been around for decades, the conference also features those who are nationally recognized but new to Louisiana. These include worship led by The Museum of Altanta, Ga., and drama by Paul May with the Clear Vision Drama Company of Springfield, Mo. Throughout the two-day event, Louisiana Baptist teenagers will be challenged to celebrate what Christ has done in their lives and to share their story of how Christ changed their lives. Celebrating its 29th year, YEC’s theme will be Stories, based off 1 John 1:2-3. Early registration, which is open through Nov. 1, is $45 per person. … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE – Pastors in vibrant and successful ministries must guard against becoming prideful, or risk the fate of Nebuchadnezzar, Southern Baptist Convention President Steve Gaines told attendees of the Louisiana Baptist Convention E4 Preaching Conference. “God will humble the proud either in this life or in the next,” Gaines, pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church in Cordova, Tenn., told the crowd gathered at First Baptist Church, Pineville, Sept. 20. “It might be in this life, in eternity, or in both – but ‘God will humble those who walk in pride.’ “Some of you are too proud for God to keep blessing you,” he emphasized at the annual event. “He’s about to cut you down. Don’t think He can’t, and don’t think He won’t. Citing Daniel 4:1-37, Gaines recounted how Nebuchadnezzar was king of Babylon, the most powerful nation in the sixth century. Yet, despite warnings from God, the king became so selfishly proud of his nation he eventually was struck down with insanity. For seven years, Nebuchadnezzar lived outdoors like a beast of the fields, his hair uncut and fingernails and toenails grown out like talons. Fortunately, Nebuchadnezzar finally looked up to God in repentance and … [Read more...]

By Josie Rabbitt, Baptist Press BATON ROUGE (BP) - The North American Mission Board is facilitating a recovery effort to help Louisiana flood survivors rebuild and to assist churches and individuals who want to serve. The initiative, under NAMB's Send Relief ministry, will begin Oct. 1 and enlist Baptists nationwide. "We're developing a recovery plan to help Louisiana residents, pastors, churches and other buildings damaged by extreme flooding," said Mickey Caison, NAMB's Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) executive director. "The Send Relief plan includes a facility to house 300 volunteers as they aid those in crisis. Another part of what's in the works concerning this year-long project [is] collegiate opportunities during students' Christmas and spring breaks to help serve and rebuild Louisiana." The initiative, named Send Relief: Louisiana Flood, will entail a recovery and rebuild process similar to those NAMB facilitated in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, Hurricane Katrina, Detroit flooding and the Colorado floods and wildfires. While mud-outs, clean-ups and feedings are ongoing now, the one-year recovery plan will move into the rebuild stage. To be part of the effort, churches, groups and individuals can visit … [Read more...]