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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Riverside Baptist makes room for one more soul

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer VIDALIA, La. (LBM) – Pastor Glen Harrigill can attest that God is on the move in a mighty way at Riverside Baptist Church. Last year, the Vidalia church, which averages 70 for Sunday worship service, witnessed 10 people profess Jesus as Lord, and six already have been baptized. Harrigill said his congregation has embraced the Holy Spirit’s call to reach the lost. “It’s 100 percent pure excitement,” Harrigill told the Baptist Message. “Our members are reaching out to others and bringing them in. With this church family, it is unlimited what God can do through our congregation.” In early 2020, the congregation moved Sunday assembly from the 1,680-sq.-ft. worship center to the 4,000-sq.-ft. family life center. Since then, members have recreated the space for worship services and Sunday school. Bobby Mulvihill said working alongside other members on the construction project has created an even stronger bond within the congregation. “We all have pitched in to help make this building happen in some way,” Mulvhill said. “Jesus has truly blessed our church. We are small in numbers but huge in heart.” Willie Gillespie, a member of the building committee, said the … [Read more...]

International Mission Board: Financial highs, missionary lows

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor RICHMOND, Va. (LBM)—In a Feb. 3 press release, Paul Chitwood, president of the International Mission Board, celebrated “record-breaking offerings” and the appointment of 52 fully-funded missionaries. Chitwood cited improved giving through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering as well as the Cooperative Program as evidence that support for international missions is growing. According to the imb.org statement, for the first four months of the current fiscal year: -- LMCO gifts are up 16.1 percent compared to the same timeframe last year. -- CP gifts are up almost 10 percent for the same referenced period. -- Overall, combined revenue from all sources is running 13.6 percent ahead of the previous year’s pace. Despite the financial windfall, field missionary numbers continued to remain about the same as the 1985 tally of 3,597, although up from the nearly four decades low of 3,485 missionaries who were on board at the end of the first year of the pandemic. In reply to an inquiry from the Baptist Message, Julie McGown, IMB’s assistant vice president for communications, shared that there were “3,507 fully funded IMB field personnel” at the end of January … [Read more...]

Amid uncertainty in Ukraine, the Lord reigns

By Steve Horn ALEXANDRIA, La. - For me, today has the feeling similar to 9-11 or the beginning of the Gulf War when Iraq invaded Kuwait. In fact, a handful of my high school friends participated in the Gulf War. The U.S. counter began on a Wednesday night, which was our worship night for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. As several friends and I left the dormitory for our meeting, we met a regular attender who was headed the opposite way. When we asked about his coming, I still recall his incredulous response, “Don’t y’all know there’s a war going on?” We did, but we felt the best place to be was gathered with other Christians doing what we usually did on Wednesday evenings. I feel the same way today. What can we do? We can all pray. I join countless others urging prayer and more prayer. Pastor, consider a special prayer time during your Sunday morning worship service to praying specifically about these current events. Second, we can be people of peace. The watching world needs to see Christians as people of peace and not panic. I am reminded of Colossians 3:15, “Let the peace of God rule in your hearts.” Third, let me encourage you to stand on the promises of God. Jesus tells us in John 16:33, “I have told … [Read more...]

IMB’s Chitwood calls Baptists to pray for Ukraine

RICHMOND, Va. (LBM)--“With the recent Russian invasion of Ukraine, we join all those in Eastern Europe in praying for peace,” said Paul Chitwood, president of the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. His comments were forwarded to the Baptist Message by Leslie Caldwell, a managing editor for the organization. “We know that God is sovereign in all situations, and Scripture reminds us that He is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. We keep our focus on Him, asking for His protection of the innocent and trusting that His justice will prevail,” said Chitwood. “Pray with us that Jesus Christ would be glorified through the crisis in Eastern Europe, and that Southern Baptists would remain vigilant in meeting the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of those who are suffering.” Caldwell stated that security concerns prevented any discussion about possible impacts on deployed missionaries and that Chitwood’s comments “are the only statement we can make at this time.” There already was an existing humanitarian crisis in the Ukraine resulting from the 2014 invasion and ultimate absorption of the Crimean Peninsula of Ukraine (and it’s 2 million people) into the Russian … [Read more...]

Louisiana delegation condemns Russian invasion of Ukraine

By Baptist Message staff KYIV, Ukraine (LBM) – Louisiana’s delegation to Congress has issued statements condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine Thursday, Feb. 24. THE SITUATION The Associated Press reported that Russia launched a “wide-ranging attack” and hit cities and bases with airstrikes or shelling, sending civilians into trains and automobiles. Sirens were heard in Kyiv, the country’s capital, along with other cities. The Ukrainian government said it was seeing a long-anticipated invasion from the east, north and south, and reported more than 40 soldiers had been killed and dozens wounded. Russian President Vladimir Putin promised those who interfere with his country’s operations face “consequences you have never seen.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted on his Twitter account that his country has severed diplomatic relations with Russia and pleaded with those in Russia to protest the war. “Russia treacherously attacked our state in the morning, as Nazi Germany did in World War II,” he wrote. “As of today, our countries are on different sides of world history. (Russia) has embarked on a path of evil, but (Ukraine) is defending itself and won't give up its freedom no matter what Moscow … [Read more...]