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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

‘Embrace’ to equip Louisiana Baptist women for purpose, mission

By Baptist Message staff ZACHARY, La. (LBM) – Women from across Louisi­ana will gather, April 17–18, at First Baptist Church, Zachary, for “Embrace,” a statewide Louisiana Baptist Women’s Missions and Ministry con­ference designed to encour­age each attendee to recog­nize her God-given value and calling. Bible teacher and author Melissa Spoelstra will be the keynote speaker for the two-day event. Teaching from the book of Numbers, Spoelstra will offer lessons on content­ment and trusting God in every season of life. Hosted by the Louisiana Baptists Women’s Missions and Ministry team, “Em­brace” will seek to equip women of every generation and background to grow spir­itually and engage in God’s mission through the local church. “Our desire is for women to leave ‘Embrace’ confident in their God-given value and equipped to live out their purpose,” Louisiana Bap­tist Women’s Missions and Ministry Strategist Christine Gill told the Baptist Message. “When women understand their calling and grow in their relationship with Christ, it strengthens families, church­es and communities.” General sessions will incorporate prayer, teaching and worship led by the FBC Zachary praise team. The event also will include the an­nual … [Read more...]

APOLOGETICS 101 (Part 3): The truth about “the” flood

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Just as Bible critics attack the Creation account in Genesis, they also take aim at the Flood account to claim God’s Word is not true. However, just as science substantiates details in the Bible’s record of Creation, so science also adds credi­bility to the Flood descrip­tion in Scripture. There are three broad arguments that skeptics typically make to discredit the Bible’s report about the Flood events: (1) They claim there was no glob­al flood. (2) They dismiss Scripture, by noting that there are other flood stories (a “guilt by associ­ation” tactic that ignores the differences between the Bible’s accurate record and the fables and myths of other religions). (3) They reject biblical details as simply physically “impos­sible,” despite scientific discoveries which verify the biblical record. “NO FLOOD” Even secular scientists acknowledge that the Himalayans (the world’s tallest mountain range with the highest known mountain peaks on earth) are covered with fossil graveyards of marine ani­mals. However, they argue that a slow collision of tectonic plates (“continen­tal drift”) eventually raised an ancient seabed that stretched through what is … [Read more...]

RETIREMENT: Schmidt reflects on 13 years of Hispanic church growth in state

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – For the past 13 years, Carlos Schmidt has fulfilled the Great Commission to Hispanics across the state. He has seen the number of Hispanic-speaking church­es grow from 25-55 and encouraged them to continue reaching their communities for Jesus. Now, Schmidt is set to retire, March 31, as a church planting strategist for Loui­siana Baptists. However, he will continue to pursue his passion for reaching the lost with El Renuevo, Lafayette, having served as pastor of the church since 2019. CALLED Born in the country of Colombia, Schmidt’s first exposure to life in Louisi­ana began when he was an exchange student with a Catholic family in Crowley. Though he did not know Christ at the time, he met his wife, Gwen, while living there. The two married and moved back to Colombia, where they lived until they decided to return to Louisi­ana in 1980. After returning to Louisiana, they experi­enced marital problems, which led Gwen to find peace via her fellowship with members of First Baptist Church, Rayne. Meanwhile, Schmidt was working as a helicopter mechanic with PHI Aviation in Lafayette. He also took a part-time job as a financial management and … [Read more...]

Churches reach police officers through hospitality rooms

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer MORGAN CITY, La. (LBM) – Churches in the state have embraced their mission to further the Gos­pel through establishment of hospitality rooms for law enforcement officers. Through their efforts, churches such as Bayou Vista Baptist Church, Morgan City, and Live Oak Baptist Church, Denham Springs, have built Christ-like relationships with po­licemen and policewomen in their areas. “Being in law enforce­ment, I knew some of the struggles,” Bayou Vista Baptist Church Pastor Ronnie Mabile told the Baptist Message. “I knew some of the pitfalls and I’ll always have a heart for those in the military, those who serve locally in local sheriffs and police depart­ments, and fire depart­ments. “It’s hard on them and they have a tough job, especially in today’s cli­mate,” he continued. “They don’t always see the best in people, and we wanted to show them the best we could by opening the room inside our church. “Our facilities are not ours; the facilities on the Lord,” he said. “So how can we not use our facili­ties to reach and minister to them?” Mabile spent eight years patrolling the highways and byways of Assumption Parish and after he re­signed still had a burden to reach … [Read more...]

Called to Foster: A family’s journey of faith

By Christy Goodwin, Special for the Message as told by Brandon & Hannah MONROE, La. (LBM) -- Brannon and Hannah’s foster care journey began several years ago when Brannon felt a sudden, undeniable call to open his heart and home to children in need of care. OBEDIENCE After that it seemed that he could not view social media or television without being confronted with the reality of children without stable homes, and the calling he felt only intensified. Then, after watching a video depict­ing a young boy’s story of neglect, Brannon knew he could not ignore this call any longer. He told his wife, Han­nah, that he believed they needed to become certified foster parents, and to his delight, without hesitation, she agreed. However, even with willing hearts, they still had questions about the possible impact on their three young children, and they also worried about whether they had what it takes to help foster chil­dren work through trauma. After going back and forth about the pros and cons, they eventually decided to invite an experienced foster family into their home and peppered them with ques­tions. Waiting patiently for an opportunity to interject, the foster mom, holding a two-week-old foster place­ment in … [Read more...]

Louisiana Notables

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Baptist Message provides churches an opportunity to share with other Louisiana Baptists an upcoming revival, homecoming, new pastor, new staff member, a community outreach, or a concert in Louisiana Notables. To place your event in the paper, send your information (who, what, where, when, time) to philip@baptistmessage.com or call 318.449.4345. Please submit your information four weeks prior to the event to insure placement in the Message. ON THE MOVE Shane, wife Victoria, Russell is the new Outreach Minister at Wilda Baptist Church, Boyce. Mike, wife Phyllis, Freeman is the new minister of music at First Baptist Church, Marion. Michael Collins is the new pastor at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, Farmerville. Collin, wife Leslie, Carpenter has been called by Calvary Baptist Church, Ruston as the new youth pastor. Jeremy Babb is the new associate pastor at Highland Baptist Church, New Iberia. Clayton, wife Gracie, Bryan is the new pastor at Cheniere Baptist Church, West Monroe. Billy, wife Linda, Edwards is the new pastor at Marksville Baptist Church, Marksville. Aaron Coffey is the new pastor at New Sarepta Baptist Church, Sarepta. Evan Griffin to be ordained into the ministry March … [Read more...]

Maggie Martin Marketplace Leadership Summit slated for April 14

By LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) - Louisiana Christian University’s 4th Annual Dr. Maggie Martin Marketplace Leadership Summit will be held April 14 at the Granberry Conference Center. The keynote speaker for this year’s event is comedian Mike Goodwin. His signature bowtie represents his expectation-defying brand of comedy that leaves a variety of audiences - from churches to corporate events to swanky galas laughing hysterically and completely inspired, without a foul or vulgar word spoken, according to mikegoodwin.com. Goodwin, a South Carolina native, holds a master's degree in education from the University of South Carolina and is a veteran of the U.S. Army. He is a former primary and secondary education professional. He infuses his varied life experiences into his act, making him relatable to all. Using his ability to merge leadership and laughter, Mike is a powerful communicator whose primary goal is to leave places and people better than he found them. He has appeared on America's Got Talent, Dry Bar Comedy, Today Show, Lifetime, BET, Amazon Prime, TBN, Daystar, USA, the Word Network, Circle TV and SiriusXM. Tickets are still available for this highly anticipated annual event and can be purchased at … [Read more...]