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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Gaines gives spiritual charge at First Mandeville

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer MANDEVILLE – In a day when immorality is rampant, God has called men to step up and become spiritual warriors in the midst of the darkness, Steve Gaines said. “If the men of the church will be men of prayer, men of God, men who will lead and not let everyone else do it, we can have that revival that so many people out there are praying and pleading with God for us to have,” Gaines said during “The Charge” men’s conference, Feb. 8-9, at the First Baptist Church in Mandeville. “By faith, we’re going to have revival.” Citing Philippians 2:5-11, Gaines, pastor of the Bellevue Baptist Church in Cordova, Tennessee, and 2016-17 Southern Baptist Convention president, urged men to remember that Jesus was Lord before He came to the earth, and while He was on earth, and as He died on the cross -- and that He will be Lord when He returns. LIVE FOR JESUS Gaines said Christ transformed his life when he was a freshman at the University of Tennessee-Martin. In February 1976, he returned from a night of partying in Memphis, Tennessee, he said, when the Holy Spirit asked if this was a lifestyle he desired. “I can remember saying, ‘No. This is not what I want,’” he recalled. “Then I heard … [Read more...]

Hundreds seek God during Northwest Association annual prayer gathering

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer SHREVEPORT – Nearly 600 members of the Northwest Louisiana Baptist Association’s 118 churches closed out the month of January by coming together to seek God during the local fellowship’s fourth annual “Call to Prayer.” Much like the association’s other Calls to Prayer, Moore said the gathering, Jan. 27, brought together Christians of various ages and ethnicities to pray for law enforcement, the persecuted church, missionaries serving around the world, pastors and other church leaders. The 2019 event at Broadmoor Baptist Church, Shreveport, was marked by prayer from the worship center stage, in small groups around the room, and by individuals even in the hallways outside, he described, adding that in the end, participants uniformly described a movement of the Holy Spirit in that place for revival were lifted up. REPENTENACE ESSENTIAL Shaun Armstrong urged others to come before God with broken hearts and turn from their sins. He said repentance is essential for salvation. “Repentance is not a one-time act that occurs at the moment of your salvation never to be repeated again, but rather repentance is a way of life for somebody who truly knows God through Jesus Christ,” said … [Read more...]

Robeline afire during recent Gospel revival

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ROBELINE – Evangelist Sam Moore originally planned to preach just 10 days at the revival he led for the First Baptist Church in Robeline. However, what began with a Disciple Now youth weekend retreat at church on Jan. 18 continued until Feb. 6, an additional nine days after the congregation extended the revival services two times. Church officials reported 50 people repented and committed to live for Christ and that 38 of the new converts were baptized during the services. Moore thanked God for sending the Holy Spirit to stir the people’s hearts. “The altars were full every night as the invitation was extended, and believers prayed for the lost and for themselves,” Moore said. “Many publicly declared they had experienced personal revival in their lives. This church has really been in a state of revival for several years now. This church is very serious and intentional about prayer and outreach. God blessed their efforts and faithfulness.” Brian Ray, pastor of First Baptist Robeline, said the extended revival was not about the pastor, congregation or who was on the schedule but was all about God’s presence in the services. “Every ounce of glory goes directly to Him,” Ray … [Read more...]

Finish your race well

By Jeff Ginn A good start doesn’t guarantee a good finish. I learned that lesson by running distance events in high school. The runners that sprinted the first couple of hundred yards and gained an early lead were not necessarily (nor even likely) to be the ones that finished the race well. This is illustrated well by a couple of world-class milers. The first man ever to run the mile in less than four minutes was Roger Bannister. He did so in 1954. Later that same year, a second runner accomplished the same feat and set a new world record. His name was John Landy. Soon enough those two runners met in a long-awaited duel. It was dubbed the “Miracle Mile.” 100 million people listened via radio to see who would win their match. At the gun, Landy had a strong start. In fact, he led the race until the final curve. Because of the way the sun was set in the sky, he could clearly see his shadow and Bannister’s shadow on the track. He estimated that he was some 10 to 15 yards in the lead. To confirm this, he turned his head to gauge Bannister's position. Bannister took that opportunity to pass him on his blind side. In doing so, he edged out a victory over Landy. A sculpture of the race-deciding moment stands today near the … [Read more...]

Louisiana grocer’s ‘Gospel ad’ draws national response

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA (LBM) -- Critics from across the country chimed in via the internet recently to target Reggy McDaniel, owner of Mac’s Fresh Market stores with locations in Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi, because of a Christian-based message he published in his grocery chain’s weekly mailer. McDaniel, a member of Kelly Baptist Church in Kelly, said he did not intend to cause a political controversy, but simply wanted to use a current topic to shine the light of Christ in a spiritually dark world. The ad, mailed out in early February, contained the message: “Heaven has a wall, a gate and a strict immigration policy. Hell has open borders. Let that sink in.” After the ad was published, state and national newspapers, television stations and blogs issued reports on the response from customers and other people. The criticism on the company’s Facebook page included accusations of “false teaching” and complained about mixing religion, business and politics: “You have lost several customers and considering this is a very small community, you will feel the impact,” one person posted. Another person wrote: “How’s about you just stick to selling food? Leave Jesus and your politics out … [Read more...]

Greear calls for cover-up probe, 2 SBC entity heads fess up

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (LBM) — J.D. Greear has asked the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention to undertake the “necessary steps to determine whether the following churches meet the standards of having a faith and practice which closely identifies with the Convention’s adopted statement of faith.” Greear, SBC president and pastor of The Summit in North Carolina, targeted six Texas congregations, two churches in Georgia and one each in Kentucky and Arkansas that were identified with cover-up behavior in an exposé by the Houston Chronicle and the San Antonio Express-News relating to convictions, confessions and credible accusations of sex abuse involving 380 Southern Baptists pastors, deacons, staff, ministry leaders and volunteers and 700 victims during a period of two decades. About 220 of the perpetrators were convicted or made plea deals. Greear made his case during the Feb. 18-19 meeting of the SBC Executive Committee in Nashville. The SBC fellowship of churches included about 47,500 congregations with a membership of about 15 million in 41 state conventions as of 2017, the most recent data collected. In 1998, there were about 40,870 churches with more than 15.7 million members. Despite general records of … [Read more...]

Notables

EDITOR’S NOTE: Do you have a Revival, Homecoming, a new pastor, a community outreach or a concert? The Baptist Message would love to share your church news with the rest of the state. It is very easy to do, just send in your information (who, what, where and when) to philip@baptistmessage.com or call 318.449.4345. To get your event in the paper, please submit your information three weeks prior to the event. IN REMEMBERANCE Grace Lee, wife of former Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Director Robert L. Lee, went home to be with the Lord on Jan. 27, 2019. She passed away in her home surrounded by her family holding her hands and singing “Just a Closer Walk with Thee.” She was affectionately referred to through the years as “Amazing Grace” by her husband and friends because of her gracious Christian sprit and servant heart. There will be a memorial service to honor her life on March 1 at 6 p.m. at FBC Pineville. Visitation will be held from 4-6 p.m. in the sanctuary. Following the service, there will be a supper/fellowship in the FBC fellowship hall commemorating the 40 years that Grace helped coordinate and preside over an annual International Fellowship for foreign born persons within the community. The family invites … [Read more...]