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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

NWLBA honors M.E. Dodd during 50th celebration

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer SHREVEPORT, La. (LBM) – The Northwest Louisiana Baptist Association paid tribute to Cooperative Program father M.E. Dodd during its 50th anniversary celebration, Sunday, Oct. 20. Throughout the evening, Louisiana Baptist and Southern Baptist leaders honored the association with video tributes and statements of appreciation at Summer Grove Baptist Church in Shreveport. NWLBA Director of Missions Lane Moore stood behind the pulpit used by Dodd during his ministry as pastor of the First Baptist Church in Shreveport from 1912-1950 and shared how the legendary pastor helped lead an effort to form the Cooperative Program, Southern Baptists’ main channel of giving to fund cooperative mission causes. Moore recounted how during Dodd’s 1919 SBC Annual Meeting convention sermon, SBC leaders and messengers took up his challenge to increase the Convention’s missions fundraising goal from a previously planned $50 million to $75 million in a difficult post-World War I economy. “Chairman Dodd and his committee went back to work and for several more years revised, re-worked and re-structured a detailed plan that was presented at the 1925 Southern Baptist Convention,” Moore said. “The … [Read more...]

NOBTS conference focuses on reaching cities

By Marilyn Stewart, NOBTS Office of Communications NEW ORLEANS, La. (BP) - Engaging cities for the Gospel was the focus of the one-day event "The Gospel and the City" at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Oct. 24. Jamie Dew, NOBTS and Leavell College president, pointed to the importance of engaging cities even when they seem overwhelming or outside believers' "comfort zones." "The cities are the population centers of the world, where 55 percent of the world's population resides," Dew told participants. "We can make a maximum impact on the world when we go into the cities." Dew stressed the importance of rural congregations, but noted that urban centers cannot be ignored because of the presence of media outlets, sports organizations and art communities in cities that shape the culture. Dew added, "Why would we not engage them and try to make a difference for Christ?" A biblical mandate to engage cities is modeled by Old Testament prophets and by Paul and Jesus, whose ministry led Him to Jerusalem, the cultural center of His day, Dew said. Dew drew a "cultural mandate" from God's command in Genesis 1 to have "dominion" over the earth and cultivate a culture that brings glory to God. The way to engage cities, … [Read more...]

Marc Taylor to be nominated for LBC second vice president

By Message Staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Marc Taylor, a member of the Cook Baptist Church in Ruston, will be nominated for second vice president of the Louisiana Baptist Convention during the 2019 annual meeting. Mike Holloway, pastor of Ouachita Baptist Church in West Monroe, notified the Baptist Message, Oct. 18, of his intention to make the nomination because of Taylor’s deep commitment to Jesus Christ and the LBC.  He is a man of integrity and well respected by all of his peers, Holloway noted. The LBC annual meeting is scheduled to be held in the Alexandria Riverfront Center, Nov. 11-12. STATEMENT OF SUPPORT Holloway said he has known Taylor since 2005, when he became pastor of Cook Baptist. Even after Holloway resigned in 2015 to become pastor of Ouachita Baptist, he continued his friendship with Taylor. “Each year in the LBC we seek qualified and committed laypeople to serve our convention,” Holloway said. “I felt God placed Marc’s name on my heart because he is a committed Louisiana Baptist and a private business owner who has the time to serve our Convention, as he has in the past, as a trustee of Louisiana College. He will do Louisiana Baptists a great job while serving as our second vice … [Read more...]