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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

NOLA saltwater crisis: Please donate bottled water

By Baptist Message staff NEW ORLEANS (LBM) – Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief officials have issued an urgent call for monetary and bottled water donations for New Orleans area residents who are being impacted by saltwater in the water supply. The effort, called ‘Operation Living Water,’ is a joint effort between LBDR, New Orleans area churches and New Orleans Baptist Association Executive Director Jack Hunter and his staff. On Monday, Oct. 2, and then on Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the foreseeable future, four drop off locations will be accepting donations of bottled water: -- E. L. Kirkland & Son LL, 295 Booner Miller Rd., Deville -- Rolling Hills Ministry, 3487 Hwy. 33, Ruston -- New Life Missions, 123 South Pine St., Independence -- Lake Charles location, TBD Additionally, financial gifts to purchase water can be given through the LBDR website, louisianabaptists.org/dr. LBDR Strategist Stan Statham said one pallet of water can be purchased for $300 and a truckload of 20 pallets can be bought for $6,000. Statham said First Baptist Church, Port Sulphur, is expected to be the first church to deliver water to area residents sometime in the first week of October. The LBDR Incident … [Read more...]

Joshua D. Perry Prayer Garden dedication scheduled Oct. 3

By Elizabeth Clarke, LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) – Louisiana Christian University will dedicate the Joshua D. Perry Prayer Garden, Oct. 3 at noon. Located behind Guinn Auditorium, the prayer garden was constructed in memory of Joshua D. Perry (the son of former LCU trustee J.D. Perry), who was killed in an automobile accident on March 13, 2021. The prayer garden will include a 15-foot cross that is lit 24 hours a day, a waterfall and 12 stones representing the 12 tribes of Israel. The landscape architect on the project was Tony Tradewell, and the builder was GibKo. Landscaping was provided by Mark Brown. Health promotion students to hold lifestyle presentations PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) – Health and Exercise Science students at LCU will hold healthy lifestyle presentations, Oct. and 4, for individuals in the community interested in making healthier lifestyle choices at work. The presentations are designed specifically for the workplace and all employees are invited to attend sessions in H.O. West classroom 101: Oct. 2 9:05 a.m. – Physical activity in the workplace 9:25 a.m. – Nutrition in the workplace 9:45 a.m. – Weight management in the workplace Oct. 4 9:05 a.m. – Stress … [Read more...]

85 couples renew wedding vows at FBC Pineville’s two campuses

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) – Eighty-five couples said, “I do,” again, during the renewal of wedding vows with the witness of the First Baptist Church at the congregation’s Pineville and LeCompte campuses, July 30. Following Pastor Stewart Holloway’s message on the seventh commandment (found in Exodus 20:14), couples stood up in unison and voiced recommitment. Some have been married a few years while others have been wedded for decades. “This was a way to highlight the importance of marriage and why it is sacred,” Holloway told the Baptist Message. “And it showed the younger people who aren’t at the stage of being married that doing it God’s way is the best way. “A strong society is built on the foundation of marriage,” he continued. “Strong marriages lead to strong families that lead to a strong society. We’ve seen the breakdown in family and that will be turned away one family at a time, one generation at a time. This was a way to show that we are committed to marriage.” Blake Fuselier and his wife, Amy, were among those who renewed their vows at FBCP. He appreciated how the event allowed them to underscore that their family is based on a commitment to Christ. “I am not … [Read more...]

PHOTO GALLERY: Students pour out to God during See You At The Pole

Louisiana Baptists joined other students from across the state and nation to pray for their classmates and other at the 33rd annual See You At The Pole, Sept. 27. Since 1990, youngsters have gathered every fourth Wednesday in September around the school flagpole for this student-initiated, student-organized, and student-led time of prayer. … [Read more...]

Fall Preview Day at LCU set for Oct. 7

By Elizabeth Clarke, LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) – Louisiana Christian University will offer high school students an inside look at life as a Wildcat during it Fall Preview Day, Oct. 7. Scheduled from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., the event will offer prospective students a tour of the school’s campus, hear from current students and faculty members, learn more about student clubs and organizations, athletics, academic programs, ministry opportunities and residence life and gain scholarship and financial aid information. Additionally, two scholarship competitions will take place that day. The History and Political Science Division will host a speech competition. Students will be asked to compose a short speech answering the following question — “which of the purposes set forth by the Preamble do you believe has been best fulfilled within American society?” Students interested in majoring or minoring in Spanish may take part in a read-aloud scholarship competition. Students will read “Poema 20” by Pablo Neruda. Students should indicate their interest in participating in a specific scholarship competition on their Preview Day registration form. “We urge all future college students — regardless of what high school grade — … [Read more...]

Church insurance crisis: Help is on the way

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – In response to the church insurance crisis plaguing congregations across the state, Louisiana lawmakers passed legislation in June, now signed into law by the governor, that established a church self-insurance trust. However, a separate funding line item for the trust was deleted during negotiations between the Senate and House. Consequently, multiple approaches are underway to secure one-time funding from the state and federal governments and possibly other sources to assist with setup costs. In the meantime, efforts are beginning to complete “no cost” steps while the funding appeals proceed. LBC RESPONDS The push to help churches began in March when Steve Horn, executive director of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, reached out to the Louisiana Baptist Office of Public Policy to share that churches were contacting his office about insurance nonrenewal notices and soaring premiums due to the four hurricanes of 2021-22. Sen. Katrina Jackson responded to contact from the Louisiana Baptist Office of Public Policy by arranging a Zoom call with the state insurance commissioner. Likewise, Sen. Robert Mills, a member of First Baptist Church, Bossier … [Read more...]

Partnership kicks off new church planting effort

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Leaders of Send Network Louisiana, a partnership between the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention and the Louisiana Baptist Convention, have mapped out a God-sized vision to see His Kingdom expanded in Louisiana by one percent over the next decade. If successful, 28,841 of the 4,648,794 Louisianans could turn to Christ through 231 churches planted in the state by 2030 (based on each new church reaching 125 people with the Gospel). But to achieve this goal, an army of supporting churches and new church planters will be needed. “This is an exciting God-sized vision for Louisiana,” Send Network Louisiana Director Lane Corley told the Baptist Message. “We want to see churches assess how they can join in helping make this possible. The next 10 years will be a great time in our next chapter of church planting, and I really appreciate [Louisiana Baptist Executive Director] Steve Horn for supporting this important move in our history.” Corley, who previously served as a Louisiana Baptist church planting strategist, began a new role, fully funded by NAMB, Aug. 1. Joining him as Send Network church planting catalysts are Carlos … [Read more...]