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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Vandal attempts to destroy crosses inside Bedico Baptist worship center

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer PONCHATOULA, La. (LBM) – A man attempted to destroy crosses inside the Bedico Baptist Church worship center, Sept. 25, but its surveillance camera helped lead to his capture before he left the facility. According to Pastor Jonathan Gers, the incident began around 1 a.m. Sept. 25. The individual only tried to damage crosses situated throughout the worship center. While the individual destroyed one cross that was painted onto a stained glass window, the other six crosses were not damaged. “When we arrived at the church, the man was exiting the building and babbling,” Gers told the Baptist Message. “We recognized quickly it was a demonic attack.” Gers said the identity of the man has not been released and that he and 150 others from at least three churches who gathered for a prayer and praise service at the church on Sept. 26 are hopeful he may one day turn to Christ. “We gathered to pray and sing the night after the break-in and it was a great time of healing for us,” Gers said. “We are praying for his salvation. When I get the okay from the jail where the man is staying, I hope to go and pray with him.” … [Read more...]

Six Louisianans among 54 commissioned by IMB

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer CHESTER, Va. (LBM) – Former Louisiana Baptist Sunday School and Discipleship Strategist Sean Keith and his wife, Pam, former director of preschool ministries with Philadelphia Baptist Church, Deville, were among 54 individuals commissioned as missionaries by the International Mission Board, Sept. 24. Hosted by Ironbridge Baptist Church, Chester, Virginia, the Sending Celebration highlighted a commitment to missions by the newly commissioned missionaries from 13 states and a charge to share the Gospel by IMB President Paul Chitwood. “Perhaps God is calling you to a deeper commitment to His work around the world through praying, giving, going or sending,” Chitwood said before introducing the new missionaries giving their testimonies. Chitwood read aloud some of the testimonies from missionaries whose faces could not be shown or their voices heard. “These brothers and sisters are going to some difficult and hard-to-reach places,” he said. “We don’t want the broadcast of this service to compromise their ability to work among the least reached people on earth.” CALLED TO SERVE The Keiths and two other couples from Louisiana were commissioned. Due to security concerns … [Read more...]

LSU BCM: 16 salvations during ‘welcome week’

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – The Louisiana State University Baptist Collegiate Ministry welcomed back students for the fall semester, including 39 who made decisions for Jesus, according to LSU BCM Director Blake Grundy. The decisions, including 16 who placed their trust in Jesus, took place during the final day of a week that included a Cajun lunch, waffles and trivia gathering, a freshman fest and a worship night attended by 300 students that included a steak and potato supper. Grundy said he was excited to see the Lord move during the week. “It’s been really encouraging,” Grundy told the Baptist Message. “When we arrived over the summer, the campus felt empty. We didn’t see many students around. We spent those months preparing, reaching out via text, and praying, all without much face-to-face interaction. But then during Welcome Week, seeing so many students come through, and witnessing the decisions made — it was incredibly rewarding.” Grundy asked for continued prayers as they disciple those who made decisions, and as they seek to obey Christ’s call to reach a campus of nearly 40,000 students with the Gospel. “Just like every other campus, ours is in desperate … [Read more...]

At Survivor Camp, 17 find sufficiency in Christ

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer EUNICE, La. (LBM) – Survivor Camp taught survival skills to 93 boys and 80 fathers, and more importantly, connected through the Gospel with 14 boys and three dads in the group who found Christ. Held Sept. 5-6 at Acadian Baptist Center, the 17th annual camp focused on survival skills, spiritual growth, and deepened relationships. Activities include water purification, go-kart racing, medical training and rifle shooting. “We’re teaching boys how to be men,” Camp Director Steven Ancelet told the Baptist Message. “The weekend is based around physical and spiritual survival that’s filled with many life and Gospel lessons.” Survivor Camp also included a time for the dads to have a “man talk.” “As a man, you need to be a leader in your marriage, in your home, in your workplace and in your community,” continued Ancelet, a member with First Baptist Church, Lafayette. “You can’t be passive and must be willing to accept change. We walked the men through that and were pleased at the change we saw in them in just a short time.” The weekend also featured a tribute to Hartie Spence Jr., long-time director of Survivor Camp who lost his life in a glider crash near Salt Lake City Utah, … [Read more...]