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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Do you need the church?

By Stewart Holloway PINEVILLE, La. - Recently, a former church member messaged me for prayer. The situation is devastating, and Rebecca and I are covering it in prayer. To be asked to join this individual in prayer as a former pastor and friend was a humbling blessing. Other than a social media comment here or there, we haven’t had much interaction in many years, but, when crisis came, the relationship that began in church many years ago was as strong as ever. Even more, though, I was encouraged to learn that this person is established in a church in their new city, and those people are helping this family through their challenging season. While most of life is wonderful, it can get a little “wonky” at times. Life can be difficult, disappointing, and even devastating. As a pastor, I’ve watched men and women walk away from their families, children disappoint their parents, diseases threaten life, death take loved ones, addictions demand prominence, marriages grow cold, finances dwindle, and more. But also as a pastor, I have seen the church minister in those situations - praying with the individual or family, providing for various needs, offering encouragement, practicing the ministry of presence, and much more. To the … [Read more...]

LC Values and Ethics Conference: Racial unity through Christ

By Alena Noakes, Wildcats Media PINEVILLE, La. (LCNews) – “God’s plan is to unite us as one, and you have the opportunity to be a part of that process,” Alexandria physician Gregory Bevels said at the recent Louisiana College’s 5th annual Values and Ethics Conference. The conference, Nov. 4-5, featured speakers from various backgrounds who addressed one of the most critical issues in today’s culture, racism. Bevels, a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Alexandria, was joined by Louisiana state Rep. Katrina Jackson, author of the Louisiana Right to Life amendment and an equal rights proponent in the legislature, and Joshua Joy Dara, Sr., dean of the department of human behavior and associate vice president for student engagement and enrichment at LC and pastor of Zion Hill Church Family in Pineville. Chris Singleton, a former minor league baseball player whose mother was one of nine people killed during a 2015 deadly shooting at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C., shared his message virtually. “I think this mission of unity that we have … that’s Jesus’ mission,” Singleton said. “And I think if we lead people, no matter where they’re from or what they look like … if we lead them to the Lord, I … [Read more...]

Lee Wesley, prominent pastor and church statesman, passes

By Baptist Message staff BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – Lee Wesley, a pastor who started one of the first predominantly African American Louisiana Baptist congregations in the Baton Rouge area, died Nov. 10. He was 76. Wesley had served as pastor of Community Bible Baptist Church in Baton Rouge since 1989, but he also was a well-known leader at all levels of Louisiana Baptist life. Friends and colleagues described him as a champion for bringing churches together to make the greatest Gospel impact on the community. According to information compiled from the Annual Church Profile, Tommy Middleton, director of missions for the Baptist Association of Greater Baton Rouge, and James Jenkins, Louisiana Baptist director of church planting, Wesley was the first African American moderator of BAGBR; he helped Middleton establish inner city camps for children in Baton Rouge; and, he also identified potential Black church planters. During his tenure at Community Bible Baptist Church, which averages 125 worshipers for Sunday morning service, 676 new converts were baptized since 1989. Statewide, Wesley was chairman of the Every People Group Task Force of the LBC President’s 2020 Commission since 2012. He also was an LBC Executive Board … [Read more...]