By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer BERNICE, La. (LBM) – Scott Scallan recently celebrated his 10-year anniversary at Shiloh Baptist Church in Bernice, honoring God through the church’s first baptism of 2021 and with a recitation from memory of the book of Hebrews. “It’s always a blessing to have a baptism; to have someone publicly declare their faith this way,” Scallan said of the special day, Feb. 28. “One of the themes of Hebrews is the importance of faith. I can’t think of a better way to introduce the book of Hebrews than to baptize someone to bring home the message of faith and Christ’s sacrifice for us all.” GRACE THROUGH BAPTISM Two months before the service, Adelynn Franks, 7, shared with her parents Kimberly and Daniel, how she was a sinner and needed Christ to come into her life. Kimberly Franks noted that several years of sowing biblical truths into her daughter resulted in reaping the hoped-for spiritual fruit in the youngster’s life. “Our hearts are filled with so much joy,” Kimberly Franks said. “As a parent, one of my responsibilities is to raise her in a godly way so at one point she will hopefully make that decision to accept Christ. Seeing that fulfilled through her and knowing … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message, and Elizabeth Christian, LC News PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) – Best-selling author Jay Richards challenged students and community members at the Louisiana College “God in the Workplace” annual seminar, March 22, to embrace free enterprise as the economic system that best reflects God's plan for man. “God creates the sand, but then he leaves it to us to create fiber optic cables and computer chips made effectively of sand,” said Richards, an assistant research professor with the Busch School of Business, Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. “God could have created computer chips directly and instead he left us with the materials to do it ourselves." Richards said free enterprise maximizes opportunities to create value and wealth that did not exist beforehand. Free enterprise is not perfect, he added, but it is the economic system most compatible with the Christian worldview. “It doesn’t usher in a utopian Heaven on earth, but it’s the best of the available alternatives,” he said. Richards said some people fail to grasp this concept because they hold various “myths” about economics, such as the thought that the essence of free enterprise is based on greed and that economic … [Read more...]

By Norm Miller, Baptist Message special assignments reporter LAKE CHARLES, La. (LBM)--University Baptist Church in Lake Charles escaped the brunt of Hurricane Laura’s wrath and has since become a haven for three other congregations who were not spared. “We saw the needs of other churches that were damaged beyond use,” said UBC Pastor John Astling. “And we wanted to help them get back to worshiping again – get back to some sense of normalcy.” At staggered times every Sunday, UBC opens its facilities to three other Lake Charles churches: Emmanuel Baptist and its Hispanic mission, as well as Calvary Baptist Church. UBC also hosts services by Johnson Funeral Home, which Laura demolished. “Zeb Johnson has done so much for our community that I just jumped at the chance to help him,” Astling explained. “His benevolence toward law enforcement and the fire department and others is well-known in the community.” Astling told the Baptist Message it is a tremendous opportunity because people are coming into UBC that congregants have not had a chance to touch with ministry before. “The funerals have given us the chance to talk to people, witness to them, and to build relationships in the community,” he said. Others are … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer TIOGA, La. (LBM) – Clark Palmer has encouraged his members to “find one, invite one and bring one” to Palm Sunday or Easter Sunday services at Faith Baptist Church in Tioga. He said he is praying the effort will yield much spiritual fruit, including additional baptisms at a church whose post-pandemic Sunday morning worship attendance is 70. Palmer is hopeful they will soon return to their pre-virus average of 80 to 90. “We all know the number one way that people come to church is by someone inviting them,” Palmer told the Baptist Message. “Lots of people are waiting to be invited. If 30 people are invited and five come, and one develops a long-term relationship with Christ because of it, then it would have been worth the effort. We are not responsible to make results happen, but we are responsible to invite, encourage and make an appeal to people.” The effort is part of the “Increase Challenge,” a five-step action plan in effect through May 31 that Palmer, who is moderator for the CENLA Baptist Association, has issued to member pastors. He is encouraging them to find a way to focus on actions that can move people to understand the Gospel clearly and then respond in … [Read more...]