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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

They were listening to them

By Bill Britt HAUGHTON, La. – Of all people, the Apostle Paul could have legitimately complained about the circumstances that he endured throughout his life. When we look back to the beginning of Paul’s journey as a believer, we see that he received a message from the Lord that illuminated the path he was about to embark on. Luke wrote the account of Paul’s conversion in the book of Acts. Paul had been known as Saul until the time of his encounter with Jesus. We know that Saul had been persecuting the church, and he truly believed that he was doing God a favor. You can read about the amazing life change that brought Saul to become Paul in Acts 9. It is only the Gospel of Jesus Christ that can change the heart of any man or woman. Saul was given a message from God through a man named Ananias. This is that message. Saul would become a great man of God and would preach the Gospel to the Gentiles as well as to the children of Israel. He would preach to both royalty and the common man. However, he would suffer many things for the sake of Jesus (The Lord has never watered down the cost of following him.) Paul heard the command of the Lord and knew it would not be easy. In light of this revelation from the Lord, he set out on … [Read more...]

LBDR wildfire response wraps up in Beauregard Parish

By Baptist Message staff DERIDDER, La. (LBM) – Nearly two weeks after wildfires broke out in Beauregard Parish, Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief teams have wrapped up efforts in the area. According to LBDR Strategist Stan Statham, teams prepared 5,509 meals, distributed 50 tracts, had 27 Gospel conversations and saw one individual come to faith in Christ from Aug. 23 to Sept. 2. “This DR deployment demonstrated the true spirit of the Cooperative Program,” Statham told the Baptist Message. “Local churches, the Beauregard Baptist Association and the LBC joined together to meet the needs of evacuees and first responders.” Statham said the Georgia Barnette Louisiana Missions Offering provided half the funds to assist Philadelphia Baptist Church Deville in purchasing the quick response feeding unit trailer that proved to be a great resource in this disaster. “Our first meal was served just four hours after we received the request for help,” Statham said. According to a news release from the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, crews are battling fires in four areas: Tiger Island, Highway 113 near Oakdale, Lions Camp Road and Elizabeth Tiger Island A fire was first reported Aug. 22 in Tiger … [Read more...]

‘Miracle from God’ saves Brushy Creek Baptist Church from wildfire

By Brian Blackwell, Message staff writer BANCROFT, La. (LBM) – When all hope was fading, the Father in Heaven intervened to protect the Brushy Creek Baptist Church facility from a wildfire that came as close as 50 feet in late August, according to Pastor Mike Streams. “It was a miracle from God,” Streams told the Baptist Message. “About the time the firefighters could no longer control the fire from coming across the road and to the church, the good Lord switched the wind and killed it. It was an amazing thing to see God work through it all. I don’t see how God did it, but he did.” Like much of Beauregard Parish, Brushy Creek's grounds had not received any measurable rain since mid-July. On Aug. 22, the dry conditions in the region were exploited by arson, according to the Louisiana State Department of Agriculture and Forestry, which determined the wildfire was deliberately caused. The blazes began to engulf the area near Brushy Creek in the Bancroft community. Initially, firefighters were able to contain the conflagration. However, on Aug. 25 the flames on the other side of the road nearly jumped across the pavement and threatened to move toward the congregation's building. Streams arrived on the scene that evening … [Read more...]