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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Carlos Meza, soul winner and LBC leader, goes on to Heaven

By Baptist Message staff BOSSIER CITY, La. (LBM) – Carlos Meza, a venerable Louisiana Baptist leader, died Tuesday, Sept. 29. He was 84. A native of San Antonio, Texas, Meza accepted Christ when he was 43, after he met his wife Lupe, who introduced him to Jesus and shortly afterward married him. He was ordained as a pastor in 2007 at Calvary Baptist Church in Shreveport and served the next 13 years as pastor of that congregation’s Hispanic mission church, Iglesia Bautista del Calvario. He also planted two Hispanic churches (with First Baptist Church, Haughton, and New Zion Baptist Church, Bossier City). Meza participated in 17 mission trips to Brazil, as well as to Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico and Nicaragua. He was well-known for being innovative in reaching the lost with the Gospel – leading a South American college student to the Lord using a mannequin and successfully sharing the Good News with a Brazilian businessman (whom no local pastor had been able to reach) by using an onion patch in the man’s backyard. He was active in the LBC: making history in 2017 as the first Hispanic elected to office in the Louisiana Baptist Convention, serving as 2nd vice president; and, at the time of his death he was serving on the … [Read more...]

Alaska Baptists mark 75th anniversary with historic vote by internet

By Randy Covington, ABRN executive director, treasurer ANCHORAGE, Alaska (ABRN)--First Baptist Church, Anchorage, led by Pastor Gary Moats hosted the 75th anniversary gathering of the Alaska Baptist Resource Network with messengers from 50 churches coming together to celebrate statewide cooperative efforts in evangelism and church planting. Organized in March 1946, the Alaska Baptist Convention, now known as the Alaska Baptist Resource Network, began with three churches in Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau, and today has 116 affiliated churches, missions or preaching points in its network. “With Endurance” was the theme based on Hebrews 12:1. Special recognition was extended to Earl and Shannon Midkiff who came to Alaska in 1966. Having started their ministry in Soldotna, they moved to southeast Alaska where they served for over half a century as pastor, director of missions, interim pastor of several churches and now as pastor emeritus in Petersburg. History was made with the first gathering of Southern Baptists in America that offered electronic participation of messengers -- 19 registered messengers from remote places in Alaska joined a zoom gallery in which they had opportunity to comment, make motions, join … [Read more...]

Credentials Committee: Messengers must register for annual meeting

By Baptist Message staff PINEVILLE, La. (LBM)—In order for a church to be represented during the business portions of the Louisiana Baptist Convention to be held Nov. 10 in the Guinn Auditorium on the campus of Louisiana College in Pineville, it will need to elect messenger(s), who then must register and be certified by the Committee on Credentials. Chairman Todd Free noted to the Baptist Message that there are five ways for messengers to register and be approved: — The first and simplest way is for messengers to pre-register using www.LaOne.org and printout the registration card to bring to the annual meeting. This way allows messengers to be certified within a matter of minutes, Free said. — Second, a messenger may bring a note on official letterhead signed by the pastor or church clerk, stating that the individual was elected by the congregation. — Third, a church officer can phone in the names of elected messengers. — Fourth, a person can be vouchsafed as a duly elected messenger by a fellow registered church member. — Finally, when there is no other means by which to validate a person, a meeting of the Committee on Credentials may be called to make a determination. Free emphasized that pastors are not automatically … [Read more...]

Vote your pro-life beliefs on Nov. 3

By Bill Cassidy, M.D., U.S. Senator BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM)--The political and cultural wars in America contribute to a divided nation with regard to many issues that are important to the church. A group called the “Freedom from Religion Foundation” recently demanded that I stop sharing Scripture on social media. As the Left has done to try to quiet many before, they attempted to bully me into silence. But I did not back down. The freedoms to worship, to voice our religious convictions, and to live according to our beliefs at home and in the workplace are rights I cherish and that I work daily to protect. I also vote my values to protect the lives of the unborn, and to see that federal judges are appointed who interpret the U.S. Constitution with the intent as it was written, not how they wish it was written. On November 3rd, Louisianans will have the opportunity to vote our values when it comes to electing a president and vice president of the United States. Additionally, we will choose six representatives to the House. Finally, you and I will have the opportunity to vote our values in choosing a U.S. senator. Likewise, we will have the privilege to vote for the Love Life Amendment, which will ensure our Louisiana … [Read more...]

Things God enjoys most

By Joe McKeever "The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him." -John 8:29 “Well, I know there’s a lot of big preachers that know a lot more than I do, but it could be that the good Lord likes a little pickin’ too.” –Tom T. Hall, “The Year That Clayton Delaney Died” Yogi Berra watched as the batter approached the plate. The Yankee catcher had seen it all, and this guy was like so many: eager to get a hit, but needing all the help he could find. The batter stood at the plate and made the sign of the cross, then pointed toward the skies, both symbols of prayer as he summoned the Almighty to his aid. “Hey buddy,” said Yogi from behind his mask, “Why don’t we just let the Lord enjoy the game?” I’m with Yogi. That begs the question of course. We wonder if the Lord enjoys a baseball game occasionally. Does God smile at the antics of a small child? Revel at the cuteness of puppies? Does He ever sit back and enjoy the music of an orchestra or choir? Did God like that rainbow I saw yesterday? Does the Lord ever summon an angel in and say, “Look at that waterfall! And take a gander at those butterflies. Didn’t we do good?” I wouldn’t be surprised. He has been … [Read more...]