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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Legislature strengthens laws on sex trafficking, baby safe havens

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor As recently as 2016, Louisiana was rated the best in the nation for combatting human trafficking. However, since 2014 when the state first began collecting human trafficking data, cases have risen from 206 to 1,743 in 2023. Moreover, recent numbers show that 86 percent of those rescued were sex trafficking victims, and 83 percent were under the age of 18 years. With Act 586 as the legal vehicle, Sen. Stewart Cathey, a member with First Baptist Church, West Monroe, significantly strengthened penalties for human trafficking based on a graduated scale, with the harshest punishment for those who prey on minors (persons under the age of 18 years) for commercial sex: “life imprisonment at hard labor without benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence and fined not more than seventy-five thousand dollars.” These more stringent sentencing requirements could figure prominently as deterrents to sex crimes early in 2025, when Super Bowl LIX comes to New Orleans. Sports championship events like it have been linked with surges in human trafficking for sexual activity. NEWBORN SAFE HAVENS Sen. Adam Bass, a member with Cypress Baptist Church, Benton, expanded access in … [Read more...]

Louisiana sheriff’s officer gives a kidney to Mississippi coach

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer WEST MONROE, La. (LBM) – Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office Captain Patrick Johnson has put himself in harm’s way to protect and serve the public for 23 years as a law enforcement officer. But recently he risked his own health and safety to extend the life of a stranger by donating a kidney. Johnson, a member of Ce­dar Crest Baptist Church, West Monroe, gifted the organ on Dec. 11, 2023. For his courageous act, Johnson was awarded the 2024 Heart of Law Enforcement Service Before Self Award dur­ing a ceremony in Baton Rouge. The award is given each year to Louisiana law enforcement of­ficers who have been nominated by their agencies or the public for acts of kindness they performed outside the scope of their normal duties for the previous year. “Looking back on it, I can say Jesus was there to help me the whole way,” Johnson told the Baptist Message. “And I see how he made me strong through the process. You don’t have to look very far to see somebody in seri­ous need that you can help. And I’ve seen what Jesus did for me and I just wanted to be part of this process. “It never was ‘my’ kidney,” he added. “I was just keeping it warm for Jesus until someone needed … [Read more...]

Louisiana Baptists help foil some bad bills, fail to ban THC

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor Louisiana Baptists collaborated with like-minded conservative allies to protect the state from perilous legislation that would have endangered the unborn as well as negatively impacted the general population, including pro-abortion, anti-traditional marriage and recreational marijuana bills. Rep. Mandie Landry introduced House Bill 98 to delete the Defense of Marriage Act from the Louisiana Constitution, urging the House Civil Law and Procedure Committee that with the legalization of gay unions, the DOMA was no longer valid. Opponents to her measure, however, successfully argued that DOMA should be kept on the books while social conservatives fight to overturn Obergefell v. Hodges, the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that legalized gay marriage. They contended that abortion bans were kept on the books for decades until social conservatives were able to overturn Roe v. Wade. Her bill was defeated by a vote of 8–5. HB 164, authored by Rep. Delisha Boyd, offered to narrow the abortion ban in Louisiana by creating exceptions for rape (which accounts for less than 1 percent of all abortions in the United States) and incest (about 0.5 percent of abortions). Boyd used a hypothetical … [Read more...]

Louisiana Notables

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Baptist Message provides churches an opportunity to share with other Louisiana Baptists an upcoming revival, homecoming, new pastor, new staff member, a community outreach, or a concert in Louisiana Notables. To place your event in the paper, send your information (who, what, where, when, time) to philip@baptistmessage.com or call 318.449.4345. Please submit your information four weeks prior to the event to insure placement in the Message. ON THE MOVE Emily Slay is the new Production Coordinator for the Louisiana Baptists Communications Team. T.J. (wife Kaycie) Weed is the new Youth Minister at Alto Baptist Church, Alto, Louisiana. Alan Miller is the Pastor. Paul (wife Sue) Perry will celebrate 50 years in the ministry, August 17 from 2-4 p.m., in Fellowship Hall at Coax Baptist Church, HWY 868, Winnsboro, La 71295. In a special services August 18, Jerry Grant will provide the music at 10 a.m. and Jim Richards was the guest preacher at 10:45 a.m. Lunch would follow after the worship service. Kevin (wife Malanie) Ulmer, formerly senior pastor at First Baptist, Ferriday, has joined the LBC Evangelism/Church Growth Team as the new evangelism strategist July 1. Blade (wife Lalynn) Foster is the new … [Read more...]