By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer Louisiana Baptist churches around the state are starting the year off by humbling themselves before God through a variety of prayer efforts. Among those efforts were churches gathering for the Northwest Louisiana Baptist Association’s third annual “Call to Prayer” Jan. 28 6 p.m. at Cypress Baptist Church, Benton. Hundreds of members from the association’s 117 churches came together to pray for law enforcement, the persecuted church, government officials, missionaries serving around the world, pastors and other church leaders. Pastors and other church staff led various times of prayer. Hosted by Cypress Baptist Church, Benton, the Jan. 28 gathering brought together Christians of various ages and ethnicities to pray for law enforcement, the persecuted church, missionaries serving around the world, pastors and other church leaders. Just like the previous gatherings at First Baptist Church, Bossier City, and Summer Grove Baptist Church, Shreveport, this event was marked by prayer from the worship center stage, in small groups around the room and by individuals who pleaded with God for revival in their community, state and nation. FIRST BOSSIER One church in the association … [Read more...]

By Message Staff MONROE – Rolling Hills Ministries has opened its new thrift store in Monroe, setting the stage for the store to be used as a tool to show Christ’s love to the people of northeast Louisiana. The thrift store that serves also as a compassion center located at 5339 Desiard Street opened Jan. 2. Among the items sold inside the store are household items, clothing and furniture. “Rolling Hills has seen God work through many ways to provide this step of faith,” said David Abernathy, executive director of Rolling Hills Ministries. “The ministry wants to add value to Monroe by serving those in need, and assure them that God loves them and desires to help them through the life situations that they are experiencing.” The $1.8 million, 15,600 sq. ft. store is the fourth Rolling Hills Minisitries has opened. The other three are located in Arcadia, Bossier City and Ruston. Like the other stores, the Monroe location accepts drop off items, and picks up donations such as furniture and other large items. Money made through the thrift store will support Rolling Hills Ministries’ compassion ministries such as the partnership with Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home starting in March. Women in the community – … [Read more...]

By Message Staff ALEXANDRIA - Students were challenged to take the next step in life Feb. 2-3 at the 2018 Collegiate Evangelism Conference. The conference featured messages by Rahul Agarwal, the director of men and married couples at Gwinnett Church, a campus of the non-denominational North Point Community Church in Atlanta, Ga., and worship led by the House Band, a group comprised of former Baptist Collegiate Ministry members from around the state. Students also participated in seminars and a late-night time of fellowship. Agarwal’s messages and the various seminars were centered around the theme of CEC – Next. The Baptist Message will publish an expanded story on CEC later. … [Read more...]