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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Cowboy Church ropes in lost souls

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer LEESVILLE, La. (LBM) – When Jason Nolde left an established pastorate in early 2022 to start Branded for Christ Cowboy Church, he believed God would use the new church plant to reach a special people group. A year later, his faithfulness has been rewarded with an attendance increase from a core group of 10 who met for home-based Bible study in its infancy to 80 who now gather for worship in a Leesville municipal building. Importantly, Nolde has baptized five new converts and seen even more grow deeper in their Christian walks. Nolde, formerly pastor of Canaan Baptist Church, Leesville, credits a focus on relationships, disciple[1]ship and simplicity as the keys to growth. “Everything we will do is inspired by the western culture,” Nolde told the Baptist Message. “We seek the lost, seek the fallen away and seek to grow.” Branded for Christ Cowboy Church was recognized in November 2022 as the 300th Louisiana Baptist church planted since 2010. The congregation, which held its kickoff service at the Vernon Parish Rodeo Arena in Leesville on Nov. 13, 2021, conducts several targeted outreaches every three months. They have continued meeting in homes on Wednesdays since July … [Read more...]

Despite perils, Louisiana Baptists continue overseas ministry in Haiti

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer NEW ORLEANS (LBM) – Escalating violence may have forced Louisiana Reach Haiti to halt most operations in the country, however, the ministry has found other ways to share the hope of Jesus in Haiti. Ministry President Darrin Badon said he wishes LRH could have continued “business as usual” in Haiti, but he is grateful the Lord has allowed the ministry to move forward despite the many challenges. The ministry is a partnership between the Louisiana Baptist Convention, Haiti Baptist Convention, Louisiana Baptist churches and the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home & Family Ministries. “It’s been a faith builder,” Badon said. “We may not be able to send teams or have as many ministries happening there as in the past. But we do have kids in our Children’s Village and staff who depend on us to provide for them each month. The kids still need the Gospel, too, and the board members feel like we can’t fail them. “We are still in the trenches,” he continued. “We are still restoring families and still are making a difference in the lives of them and the staff; and we need help to be able to continue to do that.” BACKGROUND In January 2010, Haiti was devastated by an … [Read more...]

Task Force drops pro-LGBT Guidepost Solutions

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor NASHVILLE, Tenn. (LBM) – The chairman of the Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force of the Southern Baptist Convention has announced that the group, which has responsibility for developing and implementing a sexual abuse reporting system, has dropped plans to hire the controversial Guidepost Solutions for the project. In a statement to The Baptist Paper, a sister publication of The Alabama Baptist newspaper, Marshall Blalock, ARITF chair, said the group had voted “for the sake of building widespread confidence in the Ministry Check website, to seek firms other than Faith Based Solutions and Guidepost Solutions to create and manage the Ministry Check system.” The SBC has been under fire for having hired the pro-gay Guidepost Solutions, which produced the disputed “Report of the Independent Investigation” about alleged mishandling of sex abuse by the SBC EC. Likewise, the SBC Executive Committee has been criticized for hiring the pro-LGBT Bradley law firm of Nashville to represent it in a related investigation by the Department of Justice. Southern Baptists were similarly unhappy when the ARITF announced this year that it had hired Guidepost Solutions to develop the … [Read more...]

SBC EC reports continued downward CP trend

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor NASHVILLE, Tenn. (LBM) – The Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee released the March financial report, April 5, showing that gifts through the Cooperative Program had dropped 1.18 percent while designated giving for the month had increased 5.09 percent compared to March 2022. Meanwhile, year-to-date figures show both funding channels were in decline. From October 2022 through March 2023, CP contributions were down 7.62 percent overall compared to the same timeframe for the last fiscal year. Likewise, designated giving was down 3.9 percent year-to-date for the same months. Both the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering were down for the new fiscal year through the end of March. Only nine states showed a positive CP trend for the year, including three “old line” Southern states, Louisiana, North Carolina and a combined Virginia (which has two state conventions). Louisiana and North Carolina also were among 13 state conventions which showed a positive trend in designated giving. … [Read more...]

Charles Stanley enters Heaven at the age of 90

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor ATLANTA (LBM) – Charles Stanley, pastor emeritus of the First Baptist Church in Atlanta and former president of the Southern Baptist Convention, “passed away peacefully … at his home,” April 18, according to a statement on fba.org. He was 90 years old. Stanley’s ministry spanned 65 years, 50 years as pastor of FBC Atlanta: -- He served as SBC president in 1985 and 1986, during the grassroots movement known as the Conservative Resurgence, which helped change the theological direction of the national body. -- He founded In Touch Ministries, a global evangelical broadcasting effort that reached millions around the world in more than 127 languages. -- He published 70 books totaling 10 million copies. The family asks that any tributes be made as donations to support the ongoing mission of In Touch Ministries. A memorial site is accessible via charlesstanley.com. … [Read more...]

Judge dismisses lawsuit against SWBTS, Patterson

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor PLANO, Texas (LBM) – U.S. District Judge Sean Jordan has dismissed claims related to a lawsuit against Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and its former president, Paige Patterson. Jordan’s judgment against the allegations of negligence (regarding protection of the plaintiff) and defamation (based on statements by others, not Patterson) relating to a sexual assault on campus was issued “with prejudice,” meaning that the plaintiff, “Jane Roe,” cannot refile the claims, although she is able to appeal the ruling. Jordan rejected portions of Roe’s evidence as “opinion” and “irrelevant,” noting “Patterson and SWBTS immediately notified local law enforcement authorities of Roe’s outcry,” and “Roe declined to pursue charges against Doe.” Patterson was fired by SWBTS trustees in 2018 after “a series of media reports alleging that Patterson had committed various misdeeds while at SWBTS and his former institution, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (“SEBTS”), as well as a petition signed by thousands of Southern Baptist women criticizing Patterson for his past conduct,” according to court documents. … [Read more...]

SWBTS trustees elect Dockery, president, and Hawkins, chancellor

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor FORT WORTH, Texas (LBM) – Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary trustees have elected David S. Dockery as the 10th president of the institution and O.S. Hawkins to the new role of chancellor. Dockery had been serving as interim president, and Hawkins was acting as senior adviser and ambassador at large. Dockery succeeds Adam Greenway who resigned amid trustee concerns of “dysfunctionality amongst senior leadership, budget mismanagement, overspending resulting in hundreds of thousands of dollars of deficits per month and attempts to pass the blame for these matters onto three different chief financial officers who were each removed,” according to an Oct. 18, 2022, SWBTS press release. Greenway followed Paige Patterson who was fired in 2018 because of negative media reports and social media activism regarding women’s issues. Dockery and Hawkins are SWBTS alumni. Before serving in their temporary SWBTS roles, Dockery was on the SWBTS faculty (since 2019) and Hawkins was retired, after serving 25 years as president and CEO of GuideStone Resources until March 2022. The new position of chancellor is a volunteer position that will allow Hawkins to continue advising … [Read more...]

Riding a soul-winning wave: 1,300 saved, hundreds discipled in Hammond

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer HAMMOND, La. (LBM) – A 20-week extended revival and tent crusade in south Louisiana has recorded more than 1,300 salvation decisions, and hundreds have been enrolled in discipleship programs. Moreover, all signs point to the meetings continuing for the foreseeable future. According to local reports, 513 individuals surrendered their hearts and lives to Jesus during revival services, extended five times, Oct. 17-Nov. 18, at Old Zion Hill Baptist Church, Independence. Additionally, more than 800 covenanted to follow Him during the South Louisiana Awakening Tent Crusade, Hammond, Nov. 28-March 31, a multi-denominational spiritual outreach. The meetings were paused for April; however, they will resume May 4-5 and will continue after that on Thursday and Friday evenings, according to OZHBC Pastor Gary Dennis. “The continuation of the meetings is for the purpose of reaching the huge number of people along the Interstate 12 corridor who are not connected to Christ and His Church,” Dennis told the Baptist Message. Area churches have formed a follow-up team that developed a strategy to connect every new believer from both spiritual events with a local congregation in … [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 Dusty C. Durbin is the new associational mission strategist for the Evangeline Baptist Association. n Tanner, wife Sami, Dryden of Deville was licensed to the Gospel ministry at HIS Church. Mark Bevill is the new interim pastor at Westlake Baptist Church, Shreveport. Rick Daniels is the new pastor at Belcher Baptist Church, Belcher. Ricky Boone has resigned as pastor of Center Point Baptist Church, West Monroe. Eric, wife Jeanette, Green is the new pastor at Bayou Vista Baptist Church, Houma. James Hester is the new Bienville Parish Sheriff’s Office department chaplain. He continues in his role as pastor of Social Springs Baptist Church, Ringgold. HOMECOMING Bogue Chitto Baptist Church, Mt. Hermon: 150-year celebration homecoming, May 6, 10:30 a.m. Speaker: Joe Wiggins, former pastor. … [Read more...]

M-JAM to youth: Have Christ-filled joy

By Baptist Message staff WOODWORTH, La. (LBM) – Nearly 400 students, first-sixth grades, will learn how to have joy in Christ during the upcoming Louisiana Baptist Missions Jamboree. Known as M-JAM, the event will take place May 6 at Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center in Woodworth. The “joyful in hope” theme for M-JAM is based on Romans 12:12. “M-JAM will be a fun, high energy day filled with mission education opportunities that your church will not want to miss,” Louisiana Baptist Children and Youth Mission Education Strategist Erin Jones told the Baptist Message. “We will learn how to be joyful in hope as we learn to live on mission for God. Don’t wait to register. We can’t wait to see you there.” Illusionist David Laflin will be the main speaker. According to his website, davidandteesha.com, Laflin and his wife, Teesha, have been featured at the NCAA Final Four, Fortune 500 company events and conferences and conventions all over the world. Check-in will take place from 9:00-9:45 a.m., and the conference will run from 10 a.m.—2:30 p.m., including breakout sessions. The cost to attend M- JAM is $40, which includes a snack and lunch. T-shirts are $15. Register via louisianabaptists.org/event/2023-m-jam/; or call … [Read more...]