By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE – Do not abandon the church but become part of the solution for positive change, Richard Blackaby, president of Blackaby Ministries International, urged students at a special Louisiana College chapel service March 26. “This is a critical day for the church,” Blackaby said. “But the answer lies in rooms just like this with young people filled with talent, filled with ability, filled with leadership skills, who might say whatever else God has me to do with my career, some of the most important things that I may do with my life is stepping alongside a church and helping it to become everything God intends for it. I pray that will be so.” Blackaby, the son of Experiencing God author Henry Blackaby, said he has heard too many people proclaim plateauing churches must die. But, as he cited in Colossians 1:15-18, Christ is the head of the church and God’s plan to reach humanity is through the church. “Satan hates the church because it’s God’s answer for people’s sin,” he said. “It’s God’s solution to help people get to heaven. And Satan hates the church and he will do everything in his power to destroy the church.” Blackaby said Satan tries to accomplish this by filling the … [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 8: Luke 13-14 (NKJV) ========================= (Luke 13) Repent or Perish 1 There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? 3 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree 6 He also spoke this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on … [Read more...]

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...]