By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer SHREVEPORT, La. (LBM) – Herb Armentrout could barely hold back the tears as he recently reflected on the more than 1,000 high school students with whom he has had the privilege of serving as Louisiana Baptists’ music consultant. After 12 years of seeing Christ move in the students who participated annually in Louisiana Baptist All State Youth Choir tours in which he coordinated, Armentrout announced his departure from the position, effective Aug. 1. A native of Daytona Beach, Florida, he surrendered his life to Christ at the age of 11 during a revival at the First Baptist Church in Daytona Beach. Eight years later, while attending Baylor University, he discovered a call to the music ministry. While he served churches in Texas and Louisiana, Armentrout would eventually join the staff of Broadmoor Baptist Church in Shreveport in September, 1999. During his time at Broadmoor, the music consultant position became open and his daughter, Casey, asked if he would consider serving as the LASBYC coordinator. Armentrout said the opportunity to lead choir on tour with his daughter as one of the participants was a motivating factor in his decision to take the position. His other … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer DENHAM SPRINGS, La. (LBM) – Angela Hernandez had faithfully watched the online services at Live Oak Baptist Church since the onset of the novel coronavirus pandemic but sensed something was missing in her life. Hernandez, who accepted Christ years earlier, had seen Pastor Johnny Morgan baptize others via the Facebook Live broadcasts and asked God to give her the courage to follow through in obedience to Him. Her chance came when Morgan came to her office July 21 to obtain a permit to demolish a building on church grounds. Through the course of their conversation, Morgan extended the invitation to get baptized during an in-person worship service and on Aug. 2 Hernandez followed through and stirred the baptistery waters at Live Oak Baptist Church. “In my heart I knew this was something I had been needing to do for quite some time but kept putting it off,” Hernandez told the Baptist Message. “Pastor Johnny coming to my office was a sign from God that He was reaching out to me and telling me now was the time. Once I followed through it was like a great weight was finally lifted off of me.” Hernandez is one of 17 new converts Morgan has baptized this year, including nine … [Read more...]