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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Do you embrace transitions?

By Stewart Holloway PINEVILLE, La. - Transitions are some of the most beautiful things that occur in life. In music, we can feel our spirits lift as a modulation occurs. In sports, transitions cause us to rise from our seats and cheer on our team as the football is run into the end zone or the basketball is passed to a player who shoots and scores. In creation, the daily sunrise and sunset and the seasonal changes can take our breath away. As we live our lives, we see a lot of persona...l transitions: the first day of school, graduation day, wedding day, first job, new job, new home, first child, first grandchild, etc. Most transitions come at beautiful times in life. We celebrate them as they happen, and remember them with fondness as we look back through pictures and videos. Have you ever stopped to realize, though, that every transition, no matter how beautiful, has a bit of fear attached to it? Will the musicians make that key change effectively? Will the catch be made? What does the night hold? What does the new day hold? What will this year of school be like? What will being on my own be like? Is this really the person for me to marry? What kind of parents will we be? Will we be able to handle the empty … [Read more...]

Armentrout departs Louisiana Baptists’ music consultant position

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...]

Facebook Live broadcasts stir need for baptisms at Live Oak Baptist

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...]

LFF releases 2020 legislative scorecard, announces award winners

By Louisiana Family Forum BATON ROUGE, La. (LFF) — The Louisiana Family Forum has released its 2020 Legislative Scorecard, a tool to assess the record of lawmakers on key votes during the 2020 Regular and Special sessions of the Louisiana Legislature. Six senators and twenty-one representatives earned the Outstanding Family Advocate Award by scoring 100 percent on LFF’s scorecard. These legislators will receive the Patrick Henry Award at the LFF's 2020 Legislative Awards Gala planned for Sept. 24 at Healing Place Church in Baton Rouge. Fifty-eight legislators will also be honored with the Family Advocate Award for scoring 80 to 99 percent. Life and Liberty Awards also will be presented to legislators who successfully author and pass key legislation that promotes life, liberty and limited government. The 2020 recipients are: Sen. Beth Mizell: SB10 (Special Session) - Rural access to the internet; SB75 - Ballot security when voting by mail; and SB433 - Mandatory reporting of pregnancies for children under 13. Rep. Blake Miguez: HB140 and HB781 - Second amendment protections Rep. Beau Beaullieu: HB469 - Caps state spending growth to 5 percent per year pending passage of Constitutional Amendment #4 Sen. Mark … [Read more...]