By Will Hall, Message Editor ALEXANDRIA (LBM) -- After announc­ing in January that “some” stores would be closing due to “an accelerated rate of ero­sion” of sales “in the brick and mortar chan­nel,” LifeWay announced March 20 that it would shutter all of its bookstores. The January announcement was ac­companied by a Baptist Press analysis of LifeWay’s 2010-2017 audits showing “total operating expenses exceeded sales” eight years in a row, growing in deficit each year from $2.3 million to $35.5 million. Moreover, the revised March plan to shutter “all” and not “some” of its stores comes amid a leadership change for LifeWay. Thom Rainer announced in August 2018 his intentions to “step down” as president and CEO “when the new CEO is named, or in one year, whichever comes first.” He had served as LifeWay CEO since February 2006 when he left the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary where he was the dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions and Evangelism for 12 years. On March 4 LifeWay announced that Rainer had expressed “a desire to move forward with his retirement effective Feb. 28” and the trustees named Executive Vice President Brad Waggoner as “acting president and CEO of LifeWay until a new president is named” … [Read more...]

As Easter approaches, the Baptist Message team invites you to pause daily from the hustle and bustle of life to focus on the days leading up to Easter or Resurrection Sunday. Join us in this challenge to read through the Gospels to get a greater understanding of Jesus’ birth, ministry, death and resurrection. Day 7: Luke 11-12 (NKJV) ================================== (Luke 11) Jesus’ Teaching on Prayer 1 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” 2 He said to them, “When you pray, say: “‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread. 4 Forgive us our sins,     for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’” 5 Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ 7 And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer MORGAN CITY – Charles Gilder practiced what he preached during his 39-year tenure at Bayou Vista Baptist Church, especially the importance of steadfast commitment. “One benefit of long-term ministry is you get to know people and they build a trust with you,” Gilder said. “That opens doors that aren’t open initially. “It was not that other churches didn’t approach me, but I felt that when you don’t stay very long, yo can’t really get to know the people that well,” he continued. “They accepted us. The area did not grow on us at first. It was the people that grew on us. It was developing relationships with people and families. We became a part of a family. I’m grateful that continued throughout the years.” Gilder was honored for his dedication and hard work in ministry as a Louisiana Baptist Retiree of the Year award winner at a reception for bi-vocational and retired pastors during the 2018 Louisiana Baptist Convention Annual Meeting at Temple Baptist Church, Ruston. A native of Greenville, Mississippi, Gilder accepted Christ as his Savior during a city-wide revival at age 15. Shortly after, Gilder accepted the call to preach the Gospel. He began his education to prepare for … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer MANSURA – Powerlifter Steve Carrier per­formed feats of strength throughout the two-day Momentum Family Crusade in Avoyelles Parish, March 15-16. But it was the power of the Holy Spirit that was on display in the 100 acts of repentance for salvation and restoration that took place among the 500 people who attended one or both services at the Cochon De Lait Center in Mansura. The Louisiana Baptist Association-sponsored event was described by organizers as one of the largest evangelistic outreaches for Louisiana Bap­tists in Avoyelles Parish, with nearly half of the 28 churches in the association participating. A STRONG PRESENCE Carrier, who has traveled around the world with MegaForce Ministries to present the Gospel using stunts that feature his unique physical strength to attract crowds, let the Holy Spirit do the heavy lifting in reaching out to those who attended. “We’re all born with a God-shaped void,” Carrier told the crowd. “You can try to fill it, but you’ll never have complete confidence and peace. What one thing would hold you back tonight from a relationship with God? So many people put God off until tomorrow. But the Bible says today is the acceptable … [Read more...]