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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

GOLA teams prepare for summer missions

By Message staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) - Louisiana Baptist college students gathered on June 3 to finalize details before embarking for GOLA summer missions in the state and beyond. Now, in its 14th year, GOLA (Go Louisiana) VBS is an emphasis by the Louisiana Baptist collegiate ministry that allows college students to serve on teams who spend the summer sharing God’s love through what is the largest evangelistic outreach – Vacation Bible School -- of the year for many congregations. Churches in which the teams conduct a VBS normally have low baptisms and would have trouble coordinating such an event without the help of the GOLA VBS team. Two teams that will comprise five college students on each will serve at churches around the state, June 4-July 16. Another team of six students will conduct VBS in Wyoming, June 9-July 31, while another team of students will serve in Costa Rica, June 21-28. One student will serve as a church staff apprentice in Louisiana. Additionally, the state’s 15 BCMs will provide many more to serve as interns, camp personnel, church staff and international mission board missionaries. GOLA strategist Ashley Jones said students who serve on GOLA teams are a blessing to both students and … [Read more...]

COOB crafts schedule to address SBC controversies

By Message staff ANAHEIM, California (LBM) – Messengers at the 2022 Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting will tackle a long list of convention business June 14-15 in Anaheim, California. Steven Bates, chairman of the committee on order of business and a member of First Baptist, Winnfield, told the Message that messengers should be mindful that only 20 minutes are allotted for the introduction of motions according to the agenda. This year, though, following the report of the Sexual Abuse Task Force (Tuesday at 1:45 p.m.) presented by Bruce Frank, a member of Biltmore Baptist Church, Arden, North Carolina and the task force chairman, there could be a marked increase in discussion as well as additional motions being introduced. Bates’ committee has set aside an hour for the report and discussion. ”I don’t know how much discussion there will be,” said Bates. “Our committee in drafting the agenda has set aside an hour for the report and any discussion. If that is not ample time, then someone must make a motion to get additional time and the agenda can be modified. The problem is we have so many things that must be dealt with that this could push things back some.” The 288-page report -- that can be found on … [Read more...]

LBC’s Horn comments about SBC SATF report

By Steve Horn ALEXANDRIA, La. - I, like many of you, read the report from Guidepost and experienced an array of emotions. We must do better. We must be better. Those affected by sexual abuse deserve better and certainly, our devotion to our Lord demands better. As promised during our Annual Meeting last November, we will seek to listen to, and support, those  who have suffered abuse. In addition, we will be proactive in implementing strategies that endeavor to eliminate all incidents of sexual abuse among our churches. During our May Executive Board meeting, I updated our trustees on what’s been done since our November gathering. We will continue to review the report from the SATF and discern what recommendations can and should be adopted among our convention of churches. I urge Louisiana Baptists to pray this moment brings us to a place of acknowledgment of sin which leads to repentance that makes way for the fruit of repentance. For about a year now, we have been calling people to introspection, consecration, intercession, and decision through the personal revival guide, Change Me. Today, more than ever, we need to be praying, “Search me, God, and know my heart; test and know my concerns. See if there is any … [Read more...]