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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

FRC’s Perkins says prayers answered as imprisoned pastor finally released

By Message Staff Christian leaders celebrated the release of Andrew Brunson, an American pastor who returned to the U.S. Oct. 13 after being held captive in Turkey for the past two years. Brunson, who had pastored a church in Turkey, was imprisoned in October 2016 and transferred to house arrest in July as he awaited a hearing. Domestic and international pressure mounted on Turkish officials as the Christian community claimed Brunson was wrongly imprisoned. A court in Turkey had charged him with espionage and undermining constitutional order of the state before finding him guilty of “terror.” Brunson was released for time served Oct. 12 and hours later boarded a plane for the US. Family Research Council President Tony Perkins, a former interim pastor of Greenwell Springs Baptist Church near Baton Rouge, a Louisiana representative and a member of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, was one of the key figures in securing Brunson’s release. “The prayers of thousands were answered today when Pastor Brunson was released by the Turkish government and told he could go home to the United States,” Perkins said in a Family Research Council’s news release. “Those prayers combined with the unwavering … [Read more...]

First day of Hope4U Crusade yields 150 decisions for Christ

By Message Staff ALEXANDRIA – Approximately 150 people out of 1,100 in attendance responded to evangelist Rick Gage's passionate plea to make a decision for Christ during the opening night of the HOPE4U GO TELL Crusade Oct. 14. "If a person wants to go heaven he's got to go through Jesus," said Gage, founder of GO TELL Crusades in Duluth, Georgia. "If you want to go to heaven my friend you've got to go the Jesus way. "Jesus said only few will make it to heaven," he explained. "Will you be one of the few who makes it to heaven?" At the invitation, 61 came forward to declare Christ the Lord of their lives and 89 made other decisions. The Hope4U GO TELL Crusade continues through Oct. 17 6:30 p.m. at the Rapides Parish Coliseum in Alexandria. During today's session, evangelist Ken Freeman, founder of Ken Freeman Ministries in Martindale, Texas, will bring a Gospel message, and award-winning Christian bands Rush of Fools will be joined by the GO TELL worship team to share about Christ through music. The crusade is part of the statewide Harvest campaign to “pray for every home and share with every person” in Louisiana through the end of 2018. "We need to see a move of God here in central Louisiana," Gage said. … [Read more...]

At LC Chapel, the Holy Spirit moves 100 LC students to make decisions for Christ

By Message Staff PINEVILLE – A movement by the Holy Spirit prompted more than 100 Louisiana College students to make life-changing decisions for Christ during the campus chapel service Thursday, Oct. 11. LC President Rick Brewer said the college staff and local pastors prayed countless times God would move among the students. While many of the decisions were to restore fellowship with the Lord, 30 students gave their lives for Christ. “In my near 32 years in Christian higher education, I have never seen such a response to the Gospel,” said LC President Rick Brewer. “Despite peer pressure and their concerns about lunchtime, 100 of our students decided to get serious with God.” Each student, who made a decision, received the discipleship book “Download.” Members of the LC staff and local pastors will follow up with each individual who made decisions Thursday. Tim Hisaw, pastor of Tioga First Baptist Church and captain of the counseling and follow-up team for the upcoming Hope4U Crusade, was amazed at the response. “This was truly a mighty move of God,” Hisaw said. “The Lord even moved some students to come forward at the end of the chapel service and counsel some of their friends. If this is any indication to how … [Read more...]