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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Hundreds seek revival during Northwest Louisiana association “Call to Prayer”

  By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer BENTON – Nearly 700 members of the Northwest Louisiana Baptist Association’s 117 churches came together to cry out to God to bring revival during the local fellowship’s third annual “Call to 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. URGENCY TO SEEK GOD During opening remarks, Lane Moore, NLBA director of missions, said that without God there is no hope, and, he emphasized how great movements of God have followed focused times of prayer by His people. “When Scripture talks about crying out to God, it is indicative of desperation,” Moore said. “This gathering tonight is about all of us by the hundreds calling out to God. “We are living in a country that … [Read more...]

More than 5,100 march for life in Shreveport-Bossier

By Message Staff Despite the threat of rain, more than 5,100 turned out for the fifth annual Louisiana Life March North Saturday, Jan. 27. Men and women, young and old, from various denominations and races joined together to make the 1.2 mile-journey from Bossier City to Shreveport. Speakers included several Louisiana Baptists, such as Brian Gunter, pastor of First Baptist Church, Pollock; Dennis Sims, pastor of Ellerbe Baptist Church, Shreveport; and U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson, a member of First Baptist Church, Bossier City, who addressed the marchers through an audio recorded message. The Louisiana Life Marches are a chance for different denominations, ages and ethnic and racial backgrounds to march together and pray to declare their opposition to the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion in 1973. The theme for this year’s marches is “Every Life Deserves A Lifetime.” Around 1,200 turned out Jan. 20 for the life march in Baton Rouge. A third march is scheduled Feb. 3 in central Louisiana, beginning at 10 a.m. on the campus of Louisiana College before ending in downtown Alexandria. Look for more on this story in a future edition of the Baptist Message and online later at … [Read more...]

Circuit court denies appeal of coach fired for praying on football field

By Lacey McNeil, First Liberty Institute communications SEATTLE, Wash. - The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has denied football coach Joe Kennedy’s request for a hearing en banc. Attorneys with First Liberty Institute represent Coach Kennedy. “It is disappointing that the Ninth Circuit would refuse to hear Coach Kennedy’s case en banc, especially in light of the extreme, far-reaching opinion issued by the three-judge panel,” said Mike Berry, Deputy General Counsel for First Liberty, after the decision was handed down . “If this decision is allowed to stand, Jewish teachers can be fired for wearing a yarmulke in sight of students, Catholic teachers are at risk if they wear a crucifix, and Muslim teachers may face discrimination for wearing a hijab to work.” In August, a three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit held that a school district in Washington state could fire Coach Kennedy because he silently prayed alone for 15 to 30 seconds following football games. “Banning all coaches from praying just because they can be seen is wrong and contradicts the Constitution,” said Kelly Schackelford, President and CEO of First Liberty. “We will keep fighting on behalf of Coach Kennedy until his religious liberties are … [Read more...]