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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Suspect sought for attempted arson at First Baptist DeRidder

By Baptist Message staff DERIDDER, La. (LBM) - Authorities are investigating an early morning attempted arson that took place May 31 at First Baptist DeRidder. According to a news release from the DeRidder Police Department, the suspect appeared to be a heavy set white male attempted to set fire to the church. He was driving a small, dark SUV and approached the church from U.S. Highway 171 South and headed back in the same direction after the incident. The suspect may have minor to moderate burns to his arms and legs, the news release said. “The people of First Baptist DeRidder met at our Associational office while their facility was being investigated as a crime scene,” Beauregard Baptist Associational Mission Strategist Tom Bruce told the Baptist Message.  “We prayed for their church, their Gospel witness, and the perpetrator(s). “Ultimately we knew that as awful as this was, it could have been so much worse and our situation doesn't even come close to what the church gathered in other parts of the world endures,” he continued. “We know God will bring good out of what the devil wishes to use to destroy. We prayed that this will ignight a revival in the church and around the state.” Authorities have asked … [Read more...]

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...]