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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Kennedy wishes Louisianans a Merry Christmas

By Office of Sen. John Kennedy MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) has released this message wishing Louisianans  a Merry Christmas. “On behalf of my better half, Becky, my son, Preston—who I named after my dad—and our two pups, Jack and Charlie, we want to wish you a merry, merry Christmas, and a wonderful new year,” said Kennedy. “From an earthly perspective, I love Christmas because hurricane season is over. I love Christmas because I get to be with my family and my friends. I love Christmas because it makes me happy, and I love Christmas because every now and then I get to do a little fishing and duck hunting. From a more important, spiritual perspective, I’m a Christian. And Christmas is very, very important to me as a Christian because we celebrate Christ's birthday—the Christ who died on the cross to save us from our sins,” he continued. “I hope that all of you have a wonderful holiday season and a wonderful Christmas. Merry Christmas!” Kennedy concluded. A video of Kennedy’s comments is available here. … [Read more...]

Louisiana Baptist DR unit activated to hard hit Kentucky

By Baptist Message staff MURRAY, Ky. (LBM) - A Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief shower unit has begun serving in Murray, Kentucky, one of several communities devastated by a series of tornadoes last weekend. According to Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief strategist Stan Statham, the team from Mt. Olive Baptist Association arrived Dec. 14. They are stationed at First Baptist Church, Murray. The Louisiana Baptist Convention also has donated tarps, furring strips and financial gifts. Statham encouraged Louisiana Baptists to pray and, if led, give financially to help those in a state that has helped with disaster relief efforts in Louisiana. The Associated Press reported that 74 were confirmed dead and another 100 were missing after the tornadoes touched down in the state over the weekend. “The last two years getting hit hard ourselves we know what it’s like in moments of need,” Statham said. “We continue to pray and be sensitive to their needs.” To give to DR efforts in Kentucky visit https://louisianabaptists.org/missions-ministry/disaster-relief/donate/ … [Read more...]

Dew to graduates: Christ, not ministry, is ‘ultimate end’

By Marilyn Stewart, NOBTS communications NEW ORLEANS, La. (NOBTS) – New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Leavell College celebrated 200 graduates Dec. 11 as President Jamie Dew charged them to make service to Christ the true end of all that they do. Eighteen doctoral degrees were conferred during the school’s commencement ceremony, including seven Ph.D.s, a doctor of musical arts, one doctor of educational ministry and nine doctor of ministry degrees. Ninety master’s degrees and 92 undergraduate degrees and certificates were awarded. Dew began his charge to graduates by acknowledging that some might be present in the audience who wondered why their graduate went to the trouble of years’ worth of papers and exams in order to get a degree. While some might see the graduate’s work as the “means” and the degree as the “end,” Dew pointed to the philosopher Aristotle who recognized that “ends” in actuality may be means to yet another end. Dew said the question then becomes, “what is the ultimate end?” “What is that one end, that one good that we seek for its own sake?” Dew asked the audience. “Of all this work that we have done, what is it exactly that we seek? …  It’s important that you understand the answer to that … [Read more...]

Officials focus on Mayfield as recovery and cleanup process begins

By Tom Latek, Kentucky Today MAYFIELD, Ky. (KT) – Search and rescue efforts continue in western Kentucky, where 18 counties were hardest hit by tornadoes Friday night into Saturday morning, continued with at least 50 people reportedly dead. During a press conference in Mayfield on Sunday afternoon, Gov. Andy Beshear broke down some of the fatalities by county. “I know it’s over 10 in Warren County, we’re over 10 and growing in Hopkins County, we have significant loss here in Graves County,” he said. “We’re over 10 in Muhlenberg County, in a town of 100 or so people.  We’re at three to five in Caldwell County.  Those numbers are going to continue to grow, as we’re able to go house to house.” Beshear said they still don’t have an accurate number of casualties at a candle factory in Mayfield, where there were 110 workers when the tornado struck, leveling the building. However, later Sunday, There was some good news that came out. A spokesman for the candle company said eight were confirmed dead and eight remained missing, but more than 90 others had been located. He said many of the employees had gathered in a tornado shelter and after the storm was over left the plant and went to their homes. Of course, the … [Read more...]

Pastors celebrate defeat of Slidell casino

By Baptist Message staff SLIDELL, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptist pastors in St. Tammany Parish rejoiced about the resounding vote, Dec. 11, against a proposal that would have brought casino gambling into Slidell. By a margin of 63 percent against (37,664 “nays”) and 37 percent for (22,031 “yeas”), voters rejected a proposal to build a $325 million casino complex in an area east of the I-10 interchange in Oak Harbor. DAVID DEFEATS GOLIATH The Slidell project was proposed by Peninsula Pacific Entertainment, also known as P2E, which owns one of the 15 approved riverboat casinos permitted in Louisiana (for a bankrupt and defunct Shreveport casino that they proposed to move to Slidell). Former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees was among those who backed the proposal. According to WWL-TV, more than $3 million dollars was spent on advertising to get residents to vote in favor of the casino. Opponents spent $1 million to fight against the proposal, WWL reported. Proponents had promised big returns in terms of jobs, economic development and tax revenue. TROUBLED PAST Three years ago, the Los Angeles-based P2E failed in the legislature in their bid to move their now closed Shreveport riverboat casino to … [Read more...]

Pastor celebrates more than seven decades of ministry

By Norm Miller, Special to the Baptist Message GRAND CANE, LA. (LBM) -- Not many pastors celebrate 14 successive years of ministry at one church, and fewer still do so when 89 years-old. Wayne Roberts first preached at Wood Springs Baptist Church in Grand Cane, Louisiana, in a pulpit supply role 14 years ago, he told the Baptist Message. He’s still preaching and his wife Bobbie, 87, still plays the piano, and they both continue to exude spry spirits as well as a deep love for the Lord’s work and His people. “Wood Springs believes in missions,” Wayne said. “We give to home and foreign missions. Our people gave about $100,000 for the new ministry building at Toledo Bend.” The church also helps people in the community after personal tragedies and sickness, and aids those who are in financial straits. “We use God’s money wisely,” Roberts said. “We may be small, but Wood Springs is probably the most mission-minded church we ever served,” his wife added. The pandemic cut worship attendance in half, but about 25 have remained faithful. “Wayne isn’t a longwinded preacher. That’s why the people like him,” she explained. “About 15 minutes is as long as you can keep anybody’s attention,” he reasoned. “I don’t care … [Read more...]

Great Commission champion Janie Wise will retire Dec. 31

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) - For the past 33 years, Janie Wise has been on mission to help Louisiana Baptists embrace a Great Commission lifestyle. Wise is set to retire Dec. 31 as Louisiana Baptist women’s missions and ministry strategist, but her quest to further the Gospel from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth is far from complete. “The greatest highlight has been the opportunity to work with girls who eventually became women that God still is using to make a difference in the world for Him,” Wise told the Baptist Message. “It’s beyond words knowing that I was able to have some part in God’s plan for them.” CALLED Wise’s journey began as a 15-year-old attending an Acteens camp for teenage girls in the New Mexico mountains in 1970. After seeing her cabin mate share the plan of salvation with another camper, Wise realized she had never made her relationship with Christ personal, she said. “I said at that moment, ‘Lord, I need you,’” Wise said. “I have never doubted God since.” A year later, Wise accepted the call to full-time ministry. Over the next 27 years, Wise served the Lord in various capacities including secretary in the brotherhood and evangelism … [Read more...]

Woman renews her faith during celebration of restored facility

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer LAKE CHARLES, La. (LBM) – Alexis Benoit was a faithful follower of Christ as a child until, at age 14, she succumbed to the desires of the world. But a recent invitation to attend services at Trinity Baptist Church, Lake Charles, brought the 22-year-old mother of two children back to church for the first time in eight years, and she renewed her relationship with Christ through baptism, Dec. 5, at a grand opening service of Trinity’s remodeled central venue worship center. “It had been heavy on my heart and mind to take this step,” Benoit told the Baptist Message. “I was sitting in the church service after my baptism and realized all my anxiety and negative thoughts had gone away. I am just trying to be a better example for my kids because they deserve a mom who is deeply committed to Jesus.” RESTORED Benoit was among three believers baptized during the special service, while another three converts stirred the baptismal waters, Dec. 1, during a special prayer and dedication time at the facilities. Since September, Trinity Baptist has baptized 21 persons who have made first time professions of faith, that compares to 29 for the prior 12 months, September 2020 to … [Read more...]

Jesus’ birth was meant for you and me!

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – When I read the Word, I try to remember that every verse is intended to reveal something about the character of God and to unveil something about the nature of the relationship He seeks with us. This is especially important when we celebrate the birth of our Savior -- He is the reason for the season; and the reason for His birth was to bring hope to you and me. Nothing underscores this fact more than the creation account, which shows that God designed the earth and the things in it and on it to sustain man’s physical existence (Gen. 1:1-31): -- On day 1, God said all that He had created was “good.” He did so again on days three, four and five. All that He had done up to that point He said was “good.” -- Even on the sixth day after creating all the animals on the earth and the creeping things (and before He was done with creation) the Bible records that “God saw that it was good.” -- But it was not until the end of the sixth day, after He had created man and established all of earth to sustain the life of man, that God “saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good,” and then He rested. Man is the crown of God’s … [Read more...]

Louisiana Notables

EDITOR’S NOTE: Do you have a Revival, Homecoming, a new pastor, a community outreach or a concert? The Baptist Message would love to share your church news with the rest of the state. It is very easy to do, just send in your information (who, what, where and when) to philip@baptistmessage.com or call 318.449.4345. To get your event in the paper, please submit your information three weeks prior to the event. ON THE MOVE Rusty, wife Sandy, Richardson is the minister of education and discipleship at Airline Baptist Church, Bossier City. Billy Flowers is the new pastor at First Greenwood Baptist Church, Greenwood. Lee R. Darbonne is available for pastorate supply. He is a seminary graduate that lives in the Rayne, LA area but will go where needed. Please call 337.257.4787. Rick McPherson resigns as administrator after 30 years at Mt. Vernon Baptist Church, West Monroe. Bruce Butts is the new pastor at Shiloh Baptist Church, DeRidder. REVIVAL Mount Olive Baptist Church, Logansport: Revival, January 9-12. Evangelist: Sam Moore. Pastor: Rich Tull. LAGNIAPPE Bayou Rouge Baptist Church, Evergreen: Furniture for sale. 22 15-foot long pews (light maple in color) padded back and seat; matching Lord’s Supper … [Read more...]