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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Two Louisianans among 345 to graduate from SBTS

By Staff LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Two Louisianans were among the 345 students to graduate from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary during the 231st Commencement ceremony, May 12. Victoria Arledge of Walker received a Master of Arts in Missiology while Garrett West of Jena was given a Master of Divinity. “The Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ produces this,” SBTS President Al Mohler told the graduates in his remarks. “Godly churches produce this. Faithful pastors preaching the word of God in season and out of season produces this. Ultimately it is the Holy Spirit of God that produces this.” He continued, “More than anything else, this is not a celebration of human achievement. More than anything else, it is just visible evidence of the faithfulness of God.” Basing his address on James 5:7-11, Mohler encouraged the graduates with the ongoing need for their work as ministers of the gospel until the Lord returns. He urged them to establish their hearts on Christ as they prepare for decades of ministry and faithfulness to the local church. “The exhortation here is that we settle ourselves and establish our hearts knowing that all things in the name of Christ for the gospel will be fulfilled,” Mohler said. Based on reporting … [Read more...]

LBCHFM to open regional compassion center

By LBCHFM Staff MONROE, La. (LBCHFM) – The Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home and Family Ministries has announced the construction of The Compassion Center that will help provide the hope of Christ for children and families in one of the state’s poorest regions. Approved by LBCHFM trustees during their May 12, 2023, meeting, the 15,000-sq.-ft. facility will be located on its Monroe campus and could impact 25,000-50,000 children and their families annually. According to the 2020 U.S. Census American Community Survey, 34.9 percent of Monroe residents live at the poverty level. “There is a desperate need for this type of regional ministry where hope-centered services are provided to children and families in need,” LBCHFM President and CEO Perry Hancock said. “I am grateful for our trustees who are ready to launch this exciting new ministry opportunity.” Compassion for Kids, a LBCHFM ministry, will operate the Compassion Center. The regional center will provide weekend food backpacks and school supplies for children, a baby store for infants and toddlers and support for foster care families. The center also will provide space for a mission church that could provide Bible studies at the facility and resources for existing … [Read more...]

Louisiana Notables

EDITOR’S NOTE: Do you have a Revival, Homecoming, a new pastor, a community outreach or a concert? The Baptist Message would love to share your church news with the rest of the state. It is very easy to do, just send in your information (who, what, where and when) to philip@baptistmessage.com or call 318.449.4345. To get your event in the paper, please submit your information three weeks prior to the event. ON THE MOVE Doyle Adams celebrated his 65th anniversary in the Gospel ministry April 27, 2023. He is pastor at Bethany Baptist Church, Columbia. Jack Bell has resigned as pastor at First Baptist Church, Hornbeck to accept the position of assistant coordinator at District Eight Missions and Ministries. Eric, wife Jeanette, Green is the new pastor at Bayou Vista Baptist Church, Morgan City. Dusty C. Durbin is the associational mission strategist at the Evangeline Baptist Association. Matthew White is the new pastor at First Baptist Church, Amite. n Michael Wilkes will become the pastor of Grace Covenant Church, Denham Springs, with the merger of New Covenant Church, Denham Springs, and the Oaks Church, Denham Springs. John Brown is the new pastor at Calvary Baptist Church, Slidell. n Ryan Spinks is the new … [Read more...]

SBC Serve Tour, Crossover seek soul winners

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer NEW ORLEANS (LBM) – Louisiana Baptists still have time to sign up to participate in a pair of evangelistic efforts preceding the 2023 Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting, which is scheduled for June 13-14 in New Orleans. The “Serve Tour,” an effort that seeks to involve participants in compassion ministry projects in Houma and New Orleans as the foundation for evangelism, will take place June 9-10. A celebration rally will be held June 10 at First Baptist Church, New Orleans, with a red beans and rice meal prepared by Disaster Relief team members at 5 p.m. and rally at 6 p.m. After the rally, Café Du Monde will serve beignets and coffee. Additionally, “Crossover,” a large-scale evangelistic effort, will take place in Bayou Baptist Association, New Orleans Baptist Association and North Shore Baptist Association, June 10. The “Serve Tour” and “Crossover” weekend will wrap up with a Harvest Sunday, June 11. Churches in these areas will be encouraged to utilize evangelists to fill the pulpit that day. According to North American Mission Board Send Relief National Project Director Sammy Simmons, 740 individuals from 58 churches (including 18 from Louisiana) have … [Read more...]

LCU athletes score overall 3.04 GPA for academic year

By LCU Sports Information PINEVILLE, La. (LCU Sports Information) – Louisiana Christian University’s varsity student-athletes excelled in the classroom during the 2022-23 academic year, as the school announced the cumulative GPA for student-athletes was 3.04 for the year. “The cumulative GPA of 3.04 of is tremendous,” LCU President Rick Brewer said. “The goal of every college athletic program is a 3.0. LCU returned its athletics program to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics in 2021 and resumed granting athletic scholarships after two decades in the NCAA’s Division III, which does not permit grant-in-aid based solely on athletic performance. That change did not hinder the academic excellence of Wildcat student-athletes, Brewer said. “We moved to the NAIA and didn’t lose our stride in the classroom,” Dr. Brewer said. “We should never underestimate the value athletics brings to LCU. This also amplifies our vision to add more athletic programs going forward.” LCU women’s soccer team reported the highest cumulative GPA of any team with a 3.52 GPA, while the men’s golf team’s cumulative GPA of 3.47 was the highest of the five men’s teams. All nine varsity teams reported a cumulative GPA of 2.64 or … [Read more...]

Dew reminds graduates there is ‘gain in loss, life in death’

By Marilyn Stewart, NOBTS communications NEW ORLEANS (NOBTS communications) – Jamie Dew, president of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Leavell College, shared with the 254 graduate candidates and their families gathered for graduation May 12 a question that keeps him up at night. Dew said graduation is a celebration but it is also one final moment for him as president to instruct and encourage them. He then cautioned graduates not to allow the things of the world to “consume” them and keep them from fulfilling God’s call on their lives. “I fear, I tremble, I stay awake sometimes at night fearing that the brand of Christianity and the form it has taken in our lives looks less and less like the New Testament descriptions of what Jesus had to say about being a follower … I simply must press on you one more time to remember who you are and what God has called you to do,” Dew said. Drawing from Matthew 16: 13-26, Dew explained that Matthew uses Peter’s confession in verse 16 to make clear who Jesus is and in verses 17-19 turns to promises of blessings for believers. Dew’s fear, he explained, is that “this is where our Christianity stops.” Dew urged listeners to see the “pivot” the gospel writer makes in verse … [Read more...]

Southern Baptists to vote on women pastors at annual meeting

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor NEW ORLEANS (LBM) – The Southern Baptist Convention Credentials Committee reported May 16 that two churches who were disfellowshipped in February for ordaining women pastors plan to appeal the decisions during the 2023 SBC Annual Meeting, which is going to be hosted in New Orleans, June 13-14. This means messengers will vote to decide whether women pastors, now excluded by the Baptist Faith and Message 2000, will be allowed to serve in member congregations. Those two congregations are Saddleback Church, Lake Forest, California, and Fern Creek Baptist Church, Louisville, Kentucky. Meanwhile, Freedom Church, Vero Beach, Florida, intends to appeal its ouster for alleged lack of cooperation in resolving concerns regarding a sexual abuse allegation. The Credentials Committee said it would set aside “a time for miscellaneous business during the afternoon session on Tuesday, June 13, for the consideration of the appeals received.” A representative of each church will be allowed to speak, and a member of the Credentials Committee or Executive Committee will speak. Afterward, messengers will be asked to vote on the question, “Shall the decision of the Credentials Committee and … [Read more...]