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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

NOLA ministry heals bodies & souls

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer NEW ORLEANS (LBM) – Deep in the heart of New Orleans’ most impoverished neighborhoods, the missionaries and staff of Baptist Community Health Services treat not only the body but also the souls of the more than 10,000 people who pass through the medical ministry’s doors each year. With a mission of “demonstrating the love of Christ by providing high quality primary medical and behavioral healthcare in underserved communities” BCHS provides needed services while sharing the love of Christ, according to CEO Shawn Powers. BCHS operates four medical clinics in New Orleans, and is the only known federally qualified health center connected to a Southern Baptist local association of churches, he said. The New Orleans Baptist Association, with the help of the Baptist Community Ministries (a foundation set up with proceeds from the 1995 sale of the Southern Baptist Hospital in New Orleans) and Southern Baptists’ North American Mission Board, launched the medical ministry in 2014. “We are thankful for the many partners, including BCM, NAMB and NOBA, who invested in the vision of what is today a thriving Christ-exalting healthcare mission,” Powers told the Baptist Message. “We pray our … [Read more...]

Lakeside plants, waters, harvests during VBS

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE – On the final night of Vacation Bible School at Lakeside Baptist Church, Pineville, Pastor Lloyd Bye “watered” what had been spiritually planted, baptizing three young boys in a horse trough, May 31. “Each year we have made announcements on Family Night about how many accepted Christ, but some parents do not get to witness a baptism because they are not active in church,” Bye told the Baptist Message. “This time parents got to see the harvest we reaped from the seeds that were planted, and it made it special for the boys that their parents were witnesses.” Daniel Edwards actually was “harvested” during a recent VBS by a sister Louisiana Baptist congregation. “I accepted Christ at Faith Baptist Church in Tioga,” Edwards said. “But my Granny asked if I wanted to get baptized here since I have spent so many summers at Lakeside.” He added that it was “special” because both churches are part of his spiritual life. The Family Night worship service capped a fruitful week for Lakeside Baptist. Eleven children out of 46 who attended had repented for salvation by the end of VBS. VBS AND MORE VBS is one of several evangelistic outreaches for the congregation, … [Read more...]

Embrace the summer

By Steve Horn As a pastor, I seemed to always face the temptation to dread the summer because of the “summer slump.” The truth is too many times as churches and as leaders we “throw away the summer.” We decide that there are too many distractions, too many vacations, so we must wait for the fall. The problem is that we lose great momentum. So, even though some summer slump in churches is inevitable, I encourage all of us to “embrace the summer.” How do we do that in the church? Resist the notion that you cannot grow this summer. People move in the summer. We have our largest evangelistic outreach of the year in Vacation Bible School. These are opportunities to grow. Raise the Expectations for the summer. Often times, we set up our own failure by low expectations. I encourage us, since we know that there are challenges to the summer, to … Work harder. Set the tone by your own preparation. Seek other ways to stay connected. Reset the Mission of your class, small group, or church. The summer may be just the time to shake things up, try new things, and then be ready for the fall. Rally around something. Have a “summer project.” Just do something. Rally around a cause. People will stay connected … [Read more...]

HANKINS: ‘Farewell and thank you’

By David E. Hankins, LBC Executive Director, retired   MANDEVILLE, La. (LBM) -- Greetings, Louisiana Baptists! My official retirement date as your Executive Director has come. Thus, I am writing to bid you farewell and to thank you for the many, many blessings you have bestowed upon Patty and me these last 14 ½ years. You have been faithful friends and fervent prayer partners. You have joined me in a myriad of ministries sponsored by the LBC for the Lord Jesus. You have been kind and forgiving. You have given leadership and followership. What a joy it has been to serve with you! We have moved to Mandeville, Louisiana, near our youngest son and his family. We look forward to a less demanding schedule, to time with grandchildren, and to serving in the local church. I have no career plans (been there, done that) but will preach and teach as the Lord allows. I look forward to continuing participation as a Louisiana Baptist. I believe God has great things in store for LBC.  Your new executive director Dr. Steve Horn is already at the helm. He brings to the office great giftedness, fruitful experience, a wonderful spirit, and a love for Jesus and the church. I have every confidence you will thrive under his … [Read more...]