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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Baptist Message suspends print edition until state stay-at-home order is lifted

By Will Hall, Message, executive editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM)—The Baptist Message has suspended print operations until the state lifts the stay-at-home order that is creating an economic strain on individuals and churches. The decision, announced by Executive Editor Will Hall, was supported by the officers of the Baptist Message trustee board. All subscriptions will be honored by extending the dates of each equal to the length of the suspension of the print edition. Online operations will continue, www.BaptistMessage.com, with updates during the day as news happens. Subscribers may contact Hall regarding any questions or to offer comments, by phone, (318) 449-4348, or by email, Will@BaptistMessage.com. … [Read more...]

LC president summarizes COVID-19 responses

By LCNews PINEVILLE, La. (LCNews)--These are difficult days for families, businesses, schools, and churches. And Louisiana College has adjusted to meet the challenges. “Louisiana College’s administration, faculty, staff, and students face similar situations as everyone else, and we have employed good sense while praying for God’s wisdom in navigating these waters,” said Louisiana College President Dr. Rick Brewer. “Our people have worked tirelessly to safeguard the health and well-being of our campus family, and my hat is off to all of them,” Brewer said. “Most students have returned home, and only necessary staff remain on campus. Other staff members are teleworking.” In coping with what some are calling the new normal, Brewer summarized in a letter to Louisiana College faculty, staff, students, and stakeholders the measures enacted in response to COVID-19. “Rest assured, Louisiana College remains open. We also remain open-minded in looking for ways to enhance current efforts or add new ones,” Brewer said. Louisiana College postponed its May 9 Commencement to August 8. Other actions include: STUDENT HEALTH On March 30, LC launched Campus.Health, which offers free medical and mental telehealth visits for … [Read more...]

Skills of a church planter: building team cohesion

By John Hebert ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) — Unity is a key spiritual principle expressed in the Bible: two who walk together are in agreement (Amos 3:3); it is better to have two working together so that one can pick up the other if the other stumbles (Ecc. 9-12); and, a strand of rope consisting of three cords has great strength (Ecc. 3:12). Cohesion, working together for a single purpose, is an element of unity, which Jesus prayed about in His plea to the Father for you and me, living today (John 17:20-23). Building cohesion within a group is a primary task every leader must perform, so it is critically important to learn and develop this leadership skill. POWER OF COHESION Draft horses are a good example for explaining the power that is created by building cohesion. These animals are bred especially for pulling heavy loads. They are amazing beasts of burden with huge muscles, large hearts and lungs. A single draft horse weighing about 1,700 pounds can pull almost five times his body weight or 8,000 pounds. Moreover, yoked together, two of these herculean creatures can pull even more. Most people likely would guess the tandem could pull up to 16,000 pounds, but they would be wrong. Typically, two good draft … [Read more...]

Wooden yard crosses help Highland, others to send Easter message

By Message Staff NEW IBERIA, La. (LBM) – Just days before Easter, members of Highland Baptist Church and others in New Iberia have placed wooden crosses in yards to proclaim Christ’s victory over death. Using materials from their homes, participants have constructed the crosses to display in yards and then have shared a photo on Facebook using the hashtag #projectcross. “This has grown far beyond our church family,” Pastor David Denton told the Baptist Message. “We used this to prepare for Easter week and to remain connected. Judging from the comments we have received, Project Cross has been something that everyone has really embraced leading up Thursday evening when we take the Lord’s Supper online.” The effort is one of many ways the church has continued to minister since the Coronavirus Disease 2019 forced congregations to change their methods. They have streamed services for the past four Sundays on Facebook and posted daily devotionals from staff. Additionally, members have met in small groups through Zoom and viewed an adult Sunday school lesson online. Other ministry opportunities have included outreach to families by the deacons and staff, and distribution of more than 250 breakfasts to-go to local … [Read more...]

Virtual egg hunt to help First Harrisonburg celebrate Easter

By Message Staff HARRISONBURG, La. (LBM) – First Baptist Church in Harrisonburg has planned a three-day virtual Easter egg hunt to kick off their Easter week celebration. More than 100 families have committed to placing large wooden eggs in their front yard for motorists to take photos of and then post to the church Facebook page from Thursday, April 9, to Saturday, April 11. Church staff also will place one golden egg in an undisclosed location in Harrisonburg. Pastor Josh Adams said the first person who sends the staff a photo of the golden egg will win a prize. Adams said his congregation, which averaged nearly 200 for Sunday morning worship in early March, wanted to offer a fun way to remain connected. “We wanted to do something for the little ones that would be safe and fun for everyone,” Adams told the Baptist Message. “During these times we are having to look for ways to do ministry and outreach outside the norm. Our prayer is the community will see that we are still reaching out and are committed to Harrisonburg and the outlying area.”   … [Read more...]

First Columbia goes outbound, reaches homebound with meals

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer COLUMBIA, La. (LBM) – When Union Central Elementary School notified First Baptist Church in Columbia they needed assistance distributing meals to students homebound because of school cancelation due to the coronavirus outbreak, Pastor Eric Harriman quickly assembled a group to respond. From March 17-25, multiple teams that included 10 First Baptist church members, law enforcement members, Union Central Principal Kim Adams, a FBCC member, cafeteria workers and other school personnel -- distributed nearly 1,200 meals (600 for breakfast and 600 for lunch) prepared daily by Caldwell Parish School cafeteria personnel into neighborhoods and housing projects in Columbia and other parts of the parish. Adams thanked First Columbia, the non-denominational Life Church in Columbia and the school district’s special education director, speech therapist and school psychologist for their assistance during this difficult time. “It was encouraging not only to see the churches come together but the many volunteers from the school district step up,” Adams said. “This was a truly team effort, which is what we do here in Columbia. That’s the normal for us here. We don’t think much about it, we just … [Read more...]

FBC Ponchatoula makes way for new believer’s baptism

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PONCHATOULA, La. (LBM) - Sadie Laird, 9, recently made a special declaration of hope Christ that was two years in the making. Since 2018, Laird’s parents, extended family and children’s leaders at First Baptist Church in Ponchatoula had poured biblical truth into the youngster and on March 8 their spiritual harvest came to fruition when she said “Yes!” to Jesus. ONWARD, DESPITE COVID-19 Importantly, Laird was anxious to move ahead in her obedience to God by being baptized. So, surrounded by a few family members and church staff, March 22, in a worship service that was only seen through the church’s Facebook page because of attendance restrictions by the state in response to the coronavirus outbreak, Laird walked down into the baptistery waters inside the First Baptist worship center that was nearly empty of members but filled with the presence of the Holy Spirit. “Trusting Christ means I get to live with Jesus,” Laird told the Baptist Message. Her grandmother, Ann, added that Sadie woke up the morning of the baptism beaming with excitement. “She hadn’t quit smiling since she woke up this morning,” Ann noted the day of the baptism. Pastor David Cranford, also … [Read more...]

Louisiana Baptists offer a helping hand distributing food to needy

By Message Staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Baptist Collegiate Ministry members and a men’s discipleship teamed up with the Rapides Parish School District and the Food Bank of Central Louisiana to lend a helping hand to needy families Friday, April 3. Seven members of the LSU-Alexandria Baptist Collegiate Ministry and 10 members of a men’s group at Calvary Baptist Church in Alexandria were among a handful of groups who distributed food boxes and vegetable seeds at schools throughout the parish. The school board’s Facebook page reported that seven groups gave out 1,250 food boxes, along with bags of fruit, to families with children to use throughout this week. Families also received 1,250 seed packets to plant in home gardens. Every participant was equipped with protective face shields and/or masks and gloves, which were provided by the school board. LSU-A BCM Director Jamey Gilliland told the Baptist Message his students were honored to represent their university and Louisiana Baptists at Pineville Elementary School, where they gave out 170 food boxes and 170 seed packets. “BCM students never fail to impress with their work ethic and joyful attitude,” Gilliland said. Now we have to add attention to public safety. … [Read more...]

Louisiana Baptists urged to pray for Louisiana’s evangelists

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM)--Louisiana Baptists are urged to pray for evangelists, whose collective ministries are among the most negatively impacted by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 crisis. “Pray for our evangelists,” Keith Manuel posted on his Facebook page. He is the director of the Louisiana Baptist evangelism and church growth team. “So many people will not be aware of the potential economic hardship they are facing. Most, if not all of them, are having months of meetings cancelled. If you are a partner with them, maybe the Lord will put it on your heart to help financially or in another way,” Manuel explained. “Most of our evangelists are living on a very small income. Pray for their needs to be met as you pray for so many others who will lose their incomes during this crisis.” Louisiana Conference of Southern Baptist Evangelists President Gary Bowlin said the cancellation of revivals due to COVID-19 come at what is traditionally the busiest time of the year for evangelists. “The biggest thing is that we are not able to share the Gospel and see people saved,” Bowlin, founder of Gary Bowlin Evangelistic Association in Summit, Miss., told the Baptist Message. “Cancellations have … [Read more...]

SBC cancels annual meeting

By Will Hall, Message Executive Editor NASHVILLE, Tenn. (LBM)—The Southern Baptist Convention has canceled the annual meet ing that had been scheduled for this summer in Orlando, Florida. Ronnie Floyd, president and CEO of the SBC Executive Committee in Nashville, made the announcement, saying it was a decision “that has not been made in 75 years,” referencing 1945, during World War II, when the U.S. government banned meetings of groups larger than 50 people. Floyd said the action was consistent with Article XI.4 of the SBC Constitution, which includes the provision, “The Convention officers, the Executive Committee, and the executive heads of the Convention’s boards and institutions acting in a body may, in case of grave emergency, cancel a regular meeting or change the place of meeting.” “In light of the COVID-19 global pandemic which we believe constitutes a grave emergency, it is in the best interest of the SBC to cancel the Annual Meeting … out of a deep concern for the health and safety of messengers and attendees,” Floyd said. His announcement was preceded by a 75-0 vote by the SBC Executive Committee to cancel; combined with a unanimous vote to the same effect by Convention officers and SBC entity heads. … [Read more...]