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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

EVANGELISM 101 (Part 5): What now?

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Salvation is not the end of the Great Commission, but the be­ginning, because it is not enough that a person has a redeemed soul, they also need to live a redeemed life. Importantly, Matthew 28:18-20 expressly states that Christ expects inten­tionality in what happens next for a new believer. To be precise, we are in­structed to evangelize the lost to become believers, mentor new believers to take that next step of obe­dience, baptism, and then grow them into mature followers by teaching them “all” that Christ taught His disciples. CONNECT There are some immedi­ate connections that need to be made for the new believer. Provide her or him with an easy Bible reading assignment to complete in the first week. Billy Graham had his counsel­ors hand out a four-lesson study on the Gospel of John (“Living in Christ” is the one used in the “My Hope” mass evangelistic outreaches). This resource offers the basics in “Know­ing Christ,” “Growing in Christ,” Obeying Christ,” and “Witnessing for Christ,” while also teach­ing Bible memorization. It is a good way to start the person in the steps to spiritual health and growth (prayer, Bible study, worship, … [Read more...]

2025 Q1: Send Network Louisiana yields 141 decisions, 68 baptisms

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Send Network Louisiana churches cele­brated a Gospel harvest to start the new year, pro­ducing 141 decisions for Christ and 68 baptisms by 44 church plants during the first three months of 2025. Additionally, the church plants reported 1,234 Gospel conversations and an aver­age of 64 in weekly worship attendance, according to a recent first quarter report by Send Network Louisi­ana. Send Network Louisi­ana Director Lane Corley said the partnership with the North American Mis­sion Board, which went into effect Aug. 1, 2023, has helped the state further its God-sized vision to see His Kingdom expanded in Lou­isiana by one percent over the next decade. “The Gospel continues to advance to new people in Louisiana through church planting,” Corley told the Baptist Message. “We also continue to engage every people group with new Hispanic, Asian, Arabic and multiethnic works. Replanting continues to be a major priority with dozens of churches in need of radical revitalization. We need planters, re-planters and partner churches for opportunities all across Louisiana.” Researchers estimate that 62 percent of approxi­mately 4.6 million Louisian­ans are … [Read more...]

LBC EC: Seek, strengthen, cooperate

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer WOODWORTH, La. (LBM) – During the May 6 meeting of the Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board in the Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center, Louisiana Baptist Executive Director Steve Horn encouraged members to be passionate about reaching the state for Christ. EVANGELISTIC VISION In his report, Horn highlighted the Convention’s vision statement seek the lost, strengthen churches, and support cooperative missions and ministries. Seek the lost Horn said Louisiana Baptists continue to see spiritual fruit through various evangelistic endeavors in the state: -- 8,415 baptisms in 2024; -- 75 congregations participated in John 3:16 Sunday (19,000 business-sized cards about the Gospel were mailed and distributed by them for the March 16 evangelistic outreach effort; -- Youth Evangelism Celebration (501 spiritual decisions, including 108 to accept Christ); -- mass evangelism crusades in Beauregard, Grant, Livingston and Ouachita Parishes; -- “Here for You” multi-media campaign yielded 7,864 views of the Gospel via commercials on TV or social media, with 244 trusting in Christ in 2024, while 3,379 views have yielded 14 decisions for Christ so far in 2025; … [Read more...]

LBC EB updated on CP, entities

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer WOODWORTH, La. (LBM) – During its May 6 meeting, the Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board received updates on Cooperative Program giving and the ongoing work of the four convention entities. BUDGET REPORT Board members learned that gifts through the Cooperative Program from January to March totaled $232,035.00 more than budgeted for 2025, so far. However, from January to March, churches have given $316,236.74 less through CP this year than the same timeframe as last year. ENTITY REPORTS LCU Newly elected Louisiana Christian University President Mark Johnson emphasized the need for the school to reflect a Kingdom mindset. Johnson, who was named the school’s 10th president on Feb. 25 and officially assumes the position June 1, said LCU will modify its strategy from a national effort to a regional outreach as they aim to increase student enrollment. “We want to win Louisiana,” he said. “The churches that launched Louisiana Christian University in 1906 deserve an institution that prioritizes transformation from the inside out. Before we reach the world, we must first reach our own students. Our calling is to raise up a generation rooted in faith and … [Read more...]

LCU graduates urged to lean on God

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer PINEVILLE, La. – Newly elected Louisiana Christian University President Mark Johnson challenged the school’s Class of 2025 graduates to be strong in the Lord. “You are at a finish line, and you’re headed to a new starting line, and the journeys will come,” Johnson said during the 170th commencement inside Guinn Auditorium, May 10. “There will be obstacles and challenges that you’re going to have to face, and you’re going to have to lean on the Lord to get you through some of those difficult moments. “Celebrate today,” said Johnson, who assumes the presidency June 1. “Families, celebrate today. But as we know, in this life you will have tribulations. The Bible says to be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” The school conferred 219 degrees (154 undergraduate and 65 graduate) during two separate but identical ceremonies to accommodate the new alums and their guests, who received messages from several members of the Class of 2025. In her speech, Kamryn West, a biological science and chemistry major, told the crowd that LCU taught her how to depend on God. “LCU may be a small university, but it feels like a family,” she said. “We stood together in good times and … [Read more...]