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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

NOBTS apologetics program receives $850,000 gift

By Staff NEW ORLEANS, La. (NOBTS) - A recent gift to the apologetics program at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Leavell College will expand its work in equipping believers to defend the faith. The donation of $850,000 comes from the Milburn and Nancy Calhoun Foundation and from the Calhoun children, Kathleen Calhoun Nettleton, who passed away earlier this year, and David Calhoun, a professor of philosophy at Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington, and a frequent speaker at the yearly NOBTS apologetics conference, Defend. David Calhoun pointed to his parents’ legacy of service and commitment to Christ as the inspiration for the gift. “My Dad was the first in his family to go to college. He knew the value of an education, specifically theological education,” David Calhoun said. “That grew out of his sense of the importance of training the next generation, and the next generation of pastors and leaders in the church.” Milburn Calhoun was a medical doctor and a publisher. New Orleans’ Pelican Publishing Company was owned and operated by the Calhoun family for many years. Taking on the role of publisher while working full-time as a family practitioner was a natural fit with his father’s love of reading and … [Read more...]

ECON 2022 speakers rally Louisiana Baptists to share the Gospel

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) — A diverse lineup of ECON 2022 speakers, ranging from an atheist-turned-best selling author to state leaders to national personalities, exhorted Louisiana Baptists gathered in the First Baptist Church, Covington, January 24-25, to join the fight to share the Gospel. KEITH MANUEL Louisiana Baptist Evangelism and Church Growth Team Director Keith Manuel encouraged the crowd to share the Gospel with their families, co-workers and community. “Let’s go do it because people need Jesus,” Manuel said. “Do it because we can and we get to and because we really got to because we’ve got a Lord that loved us.” “Let’s pray that God will help us to see those varied people in our neighborhood,” he continued. “Let’s tell them about Jesus.” STEVE BECKHAM Steve Beckham opened ECON by proclaiming Christ followers not only need to confess their sins but also find restoration of joy. Drawing his message from Psalm 51:1-12, Beckham, pastor of First Community Antioch Baptist Church, Baton Rouge, said David was confronted by Nathan the prophet about his sin of adultery with Bathsheba and his subsequent murder of her husband. Much like David, Louisiana … [Read more...]

Revival sweeps among Maplewood students

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer SULPHUR, La. (LBM) – For several months, Addisyn Brattain had been a faithful attender of Maplewood First Baptist Church when her student minister, Nathan Yates, challenged the youth group to truly follow Christ. Brattain knew about Jesus, but it was not until that summertime Wednesday evening that she finally understood what it meant to be committed to Him. During a worship service, Sept. 26, she shared her decision before friends and family through baptism. “It was like a breath of fresh air being born again,” Brattain told the Baptist Message. She also said she was excited “to be surrounded by family and friends” to celebrate her baptism. “I can’t wait to see what plans God has for me in the future,” Brattain added. YOUTH MOVEMENT Brattain was one of 62 students who made decisions to follow Christ in 2021. Twenty-five of those were baptized last year, 22 are awaiting baptism and the remaining 15 are being discipled about baptism. Most of the decisions took place during summer camp and a “Disciple Now” weekend, but the student ministry also reaped spiritual fruit at a Wednesday night event in October that featured former American Ninja Warrior contestant … [Read more...]

Despite sizable needs, Celebration Church continues to serve

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer METAIRIE, La. (LBM) –Hurricane Ida wreaked significant damage to five of Celebration Church’s eight campus facilities and hundreds of members’ homes, Aug. 29, 2021. But instead of pausing, the congregation has pressed forward in ministry, despite substantial repair needs. “Serving our community has been a part of our DNA for a long time,” Celebration Church Lead Pastor Dennis Watson told the Baptist Message. “For most of our history we have talked about how we exist to bring honor and glory to God and to help people in the communities around us. We tell people when they join our church, we expect them to serve in the church or community, or both. Our people, in the midst of their own personal challenges and tragedies, continue to reach out to help others.” COVID STRUGGLES Like other Louisiana Baptist congregations, Celebration Church was not immune from the impacts of COVID. In January 2020, Celebration Church averaged 7,000 in combined worship attendance at its eight campuses in the New Orleans area and Northshore. But two months later, COVID-related safety concerns caused the church to move to online-only worship. When in-person services resumed, June 2020, … [Read more...]

Bahamian church campus nearly restored

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer PELICAN POINT, Bahamas (LBM) – A Louisiana Baptist-led effort to help St. Matthew Baptist Church rebuild three years after Hurricane Dorian leveled their facility is nearing completion. According to Stan Statham, Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief strategist, 90 percent of the work has been completed on the Pelican Point facilities. Remaining work includes installation of doors, air conditioning system and restrooms. Leaders are anticipating an April dedication of the facility. “Our volunteers and churches have committed to seeing this rebuild ministry through to completion for the glory of God,” Statham told the Baptist Message. St. Matthew Baptist is one of nine Baptist churches (there are a total of 13 Baptist churches on the island) severely damaged or destroyed by the storm that packed 185- mile per hour winds at the height of Hurricane Dorian on Sept. 2, 2019. Louisiana is among several states participating in ‘Bahama Rebuild,’ a partnership with the International Mission Board and Baptist Global Response. Louisiana and Mississippi have sent numerous teams to rebuild the church while the Baptist state conventions of Alabama and North Carolina are sending … [Read more...]

Leon Hyatt, long-time Louisiana Baptist servant, called home

By Baptist Message staff PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) – Leon Hyatt, former Louisiana Baptist Convention president and a missions services staff member, died Wednesday, Jan. 26. He was 95. GOD & COUNTRY A native of Lake Charles, Hyatt, at nine years old, surrendered his life to Christ and was baptized at Trinity Baptist Church, Lake Charles. A year later, God used the Royal Ambassador ministry at Trinity to call Hyatt to the ministry. Before launching into his lifetime of vocational service to God, Hyatt enlisted in the U.S. Army and was awarded the Purple Heart after he was injured in the battle to liberate Wingen sur Moder, Alcase, France, from Nazi control. After completing his military service in 1946, Hyatt enrolled at Louisiana College and then was called as pastor of Gillis First Baptist Church, Lake Charles. He also was pastor of Woodlawn Baptist Church, Baton Rouge (1949-1955), First Baptist Church, Houma (1955-1976) and Pineville Grace Baptist Church, Libuse (2002-2011). As a member of the LBC missions staff (1976-1993), Hyatt served, at separate times, as language missions director, Cooperative Missions director and as church extension director. He also was active in other areas of Southern Baptist life, including … [Read more...]