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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Value of being a Southern Baptist

By Jeff Iorg More than 25 years as a Southern Baptist denominational executive, preceded by more than a dozen years as a Southern Baptist pastor, has shaped my perspective on navigating the vagaries of working among and with the large network known as the Southern Baptist denomination.  It can be a daunting, and at times disappointing task.  Here are eight perspectives (and one concluding story) which have helped sustain my spiritual, emotional, and strategic equilibrium – and helped me maintain a positive perspective on denominational involvement and leadership. Recognize there will always be imperfection There never have been any “good old days” when the denomination functioned without difficulty, divisions, conflicts, and scandals.  We have lived through moral failures, criminal activities, strategic blunders, and financial disasters throughout our 175-year history.  We have struggled with sins like racism and failures like mishandling sexual abuse.  We have always been, and always will be, an imperfect denomination.  While we must strive to solve pressing problems and build a healthier organization, we must also admit perfection will never be achieved. It is astounding, however, what this imperfect denomination has … [Read more...]

Louisiana Baptists give encouragement, funds to churches impacted by Ida

By Baptist Message staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptist state missions team members began distributing funds Friday, Sept. 3, to pastors whose homes were heavily damaged by Hurricane Ida. The emergency gifts were made possible through gifts to the Georgia Barnette State Mission Offering and donations from churches and individuals. “We have worked with the associational missionaries in the most affected regions to identify pastors with great need,” Louisiana Baptist Executive Director Steve Horn told the Baptist Message. “We are blessing them with a small gift to help them with daily essentials and asking God to use it mainly to be an encouragement to them. We do anticipate more needs in the coming weeks and are prepared to bless other pastors as well.” So far, 70 Louisiana Baptist churches, associational offices and ministry centers have been confirmed as having sustained damage or destruction from the Category 4 hurricane. However, Lafourche and Terrebone Parishes were hard hit and churches there have been out of reach by phone or internet. “It’s from minor to catastrophic,” Louisiana Baptist Missions and Ministry Team Director John Hebert said. “Pray for the churches well being physically and emotionally. They … [Read more...]

Church gives back during Hurricane Ida relief efforts

By Baptist Message staff WELSH, La. (LBM) – Shortly after Hurricane Delta made its way through Louisiana in September 2020, a team from First Baptist Church, Golden Meadow, arrived at First Baptist Church, Welsh, and fed hundreds of community members over a three-day period. Now, the church at Golden Meadow has suffered damage from Hurricane Ida, so the Welsh congregation plans to give back to the people who offered so much to their area. FBCW Pastor Pat Deshotel said members designated $3,000 to donate to the Golden Meadow church in memory of member Claude Fontenot, who served as pastor there from 1961-1982 and died in August. “They came to help us right after the hurricane last year and we wanted to return the favor by paying it forward,” Deshotel told the Baptist Message. “The Bible tells us to love one another and I can’t think of a better way of obeying that commandment than showing love to that church.” First Baptist Welsh is among the many churches that are giving back to those impacted by Ida. Others interested in donating money to disaster relief efforts can click here to donate online, or send such gifts by mail: Louisiana Baptist Convention, P.O. Box 311, Alexandria, Louisiana. Volunteers are needed to serve on … [Read more...]