By Baptist Message staff PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) – U.S. Congresswoman Julia Letlow encouraged 70 ladies gathered for a Women on Mission meeting to remain hopeful in difficult circumstances. Letlow, during the monthly meeting, Aug. 11, at First Baptist Church, Pineville, shared how her faith in Christ sustained her after her husband, Luke, died from COVID-19 complications, Dec. 29, 2020. He was just five days from taking office after winning an election the month before to succeed Ralph Abraham, who retired from Congress. She later won the seat in a special-called election in March 2021. “He doesn’t waste an experience, good or bad, for His calling and His purpose in our lives,” Letlow said. “I am so thankful to be able to choose hope. I continue to choose hope. I think it’s so important for my children to see that in their mom, when life knocks you down you have a choice to make. You can either stay down or you can get up and you can continue to walk in faith.” Letlow said serving others is a way to move forward when tragedy strikes. “When you are hurting get outside of yourself, serve other people,” she said. “And that will provide healing and give you hope.”   … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptists Children and Youth Education Strategist Jess Archer has been named the new executive director and treasurer for the South Carolina Baptist Convention Woman’s Missionary Union. Archer will join the staff Oct. 24 and will assume her new role Jan. 1, 2023. She will follow Laurie Register, who retires Dec. 31 after serving South Carolina’s WMU for more than 29 years (including 14 of those as executive director-treasurer). “I am eternally grateful to the Lord for calling me by name to this new position,” Archer told the Baptist Message. “And I am ready to see what God has in store for South Carolina Woman’s Missionary Union.” A graduate of Nicholls State University in Thibodaux and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Archer has spent the last eight-and-a-half years helping women and young people develop a deeper passion for missions. During her time with Louisiana Baptists, Archer has served on the Women’s Missions and Ministry team as a catalyst to develop and encourage mission’s education through WMU for preschool, children and youth in the state’s Baptist churches. She also has trained countless leaders of all ages in … [Read more...]