By Brian Blackwell, Message staff writer NEW ORLEANS, La. (LBM) – “We believe money matters, but we believe everything is better with Christ,” Baptist Community Ministries Board Chair Slade Simons said. For more than 25 years, Baptist Community Ministries has helped improve the physical, mental and spiritual health of the greater New Orleans metropolitan area by helping to generate funds as a foundation and through chaplaincy services and congregational wellness at the height of COVID-19. “It’s just as humbling as it is exciting,” Simons said. “Not many people get the chance in life to have a very true meaningful impact on other people’s lives in such a positive way. When you sit on a board of a grant maker that is truly concerned with its community and with the Gospel, it really is remarkable, and it is very humbling. “We have been able to Baptist Community Ministries celebrates 25 years (plus one) pump a little over $208 million into the community over the last 25 years,” he continued. “Money is not the only answer to problems that people deal with, but it can certainly help provide a lot of resources and a lot of help.” The ministry was formed from the proceeds of the 1995 sale of Southern Baptist Hospital in New … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message staff writer HARRISONBURG, La. (LBM) – Mistin McGuffee’s eight-year-old twins had just returned from Kids Camp at Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center, Woodworth, when they boldly proclaimed to their friends and family their respective decisions to follow Christ and their desires to share their testimony through public baptism. LIKE SON, DAUGHTER, LIKE MOTHER McGuffee, who previously had surrendered to Jesus but had not been baptized, felt compelled to join Briley and Braylon in baptism, Oct. 3, at First Baptist Church, Harrisonburg. “I knew from previous conversations at home and then church camp that the Holy Spirit was beginning to convict my twins,” McGuffee, who attended camp with them, told the Baptist Message. “When I saw them raise their hands to indicate they had made a decision during one of the worship sessions, tears filled my eyes. “As we walked outside to talk as leaders and children, I remember them looking up at me and saying, ‘Momma, why are you crying,’” she continued. “I kept telling them these were happy tears, knowing I’d spend eternity with them.” AS LITTLE CHILDREN Pastor Philip Caples said the decisions by seven children, who accepted Christ at camp in … [Read more...]