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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

John Storey named LBC DR volunteer of the year

By Message Staff BOSSIER CITY – Retired Air Force Lt. Col. John Storey has never shied away from responding to a disaster, whether it be the great 2016 flood in south Louisiana or the 2017 hurricanes that devastated east Texas and Puerto Rico. Since August 2016, Storey has responded to three disasters and volunteered with five organizations, including with the Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief for eight months. For his devotion, Storey has earned recognition as the 2018 Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief Volunteer of the Year. “I am very lucky that I am at a stage in life where I can devote so much of my time and energy on helping others who are less fortunate,” Storey told the Baptist Message. “It also helps that my wife supports me and understands my desire to give back as much as I can while I am still young enough and healthy enough to do so. “God has allowed me the opportunity to serve with many people of different religions,” he said. “Whether it be Catholics, Baptists, Protestants, Lutherans or Methodists, we all are committed to serving God and helping others,” he continued. “When I was presented this award, I didn’t feel qualified to have earned it. There were many more people who spent more time with the SBC … [Read more...]

Louisiana Baptists in D.C. lead religious liberty efforts

By Message Staff WASHINGTON – Representatives Ralph Abraham, M.D, and Mike Johnson are two co-sponsors of H.R. 6633, the Turkey International Financial Institutions Act, that directs U.S. representatives at international financial institutions to oppose loans to Turkey, pending the release of U.S. citizens and consular staff. Abraham is a member of the First Baptist Church in Alto, and Johnson is a member of the First Baptist Church in Bossier City. The bill is in response to Turkey’s wrongful imprisonment of North Carolina pastor Andrew Brunson, who has served in Turkey for 23 years as a missionary. He has been held captive by the Turkish government for nearly two years where he has reportedly been subjected to deplorable conditions and denied legal counsel. “Too many Christian missionaries face persecution world-wide for practicing their faith,” Abraham said in a press release. “It’s time for President Erdogan to release Pastor Brunson and any Americans he’s holding and allow them to come home, or his nation should face the consequences. Saying these sanctions “will hit them where they hurt,” Abraham urged Erdogan to avoid the sanctions and simply do the right thing “and let these people come home.” There were … [Read more...]

Louisiana Baptists encouraged to ‘think big’ about GBO

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA – John Hebert wants Louisiana Baptists to think big about how their gifts to the Georgia Barnette State Missions Offering can lead to a great harvest of lost souls in the state. “I can’t emphasize enough the important role the Louisiana Baptist state missions offering has on furthering the Kingdom in the state,” said Hebert, state missions and ministries director for Louisiana Baptists. “Without the strong support of our churches through this offering, we don’t have a missions program to the level it is today. I’d hate to imagine what life would be like without it.” -- Without the offering, homeowners in Connecticut last May who were saved because of a Louisiana Disaster Relief chainsaw team response may never have heard the Gospel. -- Without the offering, the Baptist Builders may not have been able to assist 10 mission churches in 2017 with planning, building or remodeling facilities. -- Without the offering, Louisiana Baptists might not have planted 223 new churches since 2010 and would not have witnessed 12,491 new commitments to Christ, and 3,293 baptisms. -- Without the offering, the CENLAPregnancy Center in Alexandria would not have benefited from a grant … [Read more...]

Louisiana 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. ON THE MOVE Dale Wooten retires as pastor at First Baptist Church, Rodessa. Elizabeth McLellan is the new children’s director at New Chapel Hill Baptist Church, West Monroe. Brad (wife Bethany) Jett is the new worship pastor at First Baptist Church, West Monroe. Flint Miller has resigned as children and youth minister at First Baptist Church, Zwolle. HOMECOMING Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, Farmerville: Homecoming, August 12, 10 a.m. Special Music: The Sanctuary Quartet. Pastor: Larry Eubanks. First Baptist Church, Greensburg: 152nd Homecoming, August 12, 9:15 a.m. (Sunday School), 10:30 a.m. (Worship), Noon (Dinner on the grounds). Speaker: Butch Knight. Worship Leader: Church Brown. Please join with us and our friends as we celebrate what the Lord has done for our church through the years. If you … [Read more...]

Forced abortion advertising is not informed consent

By Jeff Landry, Louisiana Attorney General EDITOR’S NOTE: Attorney General Jeff Landry has been a faithful ally of Louisiana Baptists and members of other faith communities on religious liberty matters and pro-life issues, as well as other moral concerns. He felt strongly about the recently decided U.S. Supreme Court case of National Institute of Family and Life Advocates v. Berry. This was a case in which he joined 22 other attorneys general to successfully urge the overturning of an onerous California law that compelled Christian-run pregnancy care centers to promote state-provided abortions. He subsequently wrote an editorial which he has shared with the Baptist Message. Since the Supreme Court legalized abortion on demand in 1973, Louisiana has consistently led the way in passing legislation to protect mothers and the innocent human lives in their wombs. In fact, we are one of only four states with a “trigger law” that would ban abortion immediately if Roe v. Wade were to be overturned. Louisiana also requires abortion clinics to follow common-sense health and safety regulations, and we mandate inspections there to ensure women are not being put at further health risks. Additionally, our State limits the use of … [Read more...]

Rodney Taylor wrapping up 41 years at Natalbany, but still winning souls

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer NATALBANY – Rodney Taylor is closing 41 years of service at Natalbany Baptist Church, but he has not stopped pushing to win more souls. During the final day of VBS in mid-June, Taylor presented the plan of salvation to more than 100 children and youth, patiently waiting as 15 new converts, one-by-one, stepped forward to publicly declare faith in Jesus. These students are among more than 700 new believers who committed their lives to Christ and were baptized during Taylor’s ministry at Natalbany. “I was praising the Lord for the fact that the teachers had done such a wonderful job of teaching them,” Taylor said. “My part at the altar with them on Wednesday night was just the culmination of what had been going on each night here in the different classes. It was easy for me to just go over and review the plan of salvation and then to give them the opportunity to make that public decision to say ‘I’m not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, for I know it’s the power of God unto salvation.’” EARLY START TO MINISTRY Taylor, who was born in Greenville, Mississippi, accepted Christ when he was 15. A year later, he preached his first sermon at Forkland Baptist Church in … [Read more...]