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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

New Day School Director selected at First Baptist Church Pineville

By Staff, Baptist Message PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) – Adrienne Hetherwick has been selected as the new day school director for First Baptist Church in Pineville beginning in June. In a unanimous committee vote, Hetherwick, a 2016 graduate of Northwester State University in Natchitoches, was chosen to serve as the school’s director. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and is presently working on a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in reading from Northwestern. Since January 2017, Hetherwick has taught at Cherokee Elementary in Alexandria. She was voted as Cherokee Elementary Teacher of the Year for the school year 2018-2019. “We are happy to have Adrienne join the ministry of First Baptist Day School as our next director,” said Stewart Holloway, pastor of First Baptist Pineville. “She possesses all the qualities to help us move our program forward and to continue the vital ministry of our Day School.” First Baptist Church Day School began in 1968 and serves families with children six-weeks-old through Pre-K. “Our faith-based program prepares children for a lifetime of learning. Our teachers lay an educational foundation ensuring children are ready to build … [Read more...]

Russell Moore to leave ERLC for Christianity Today

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor NASHVILLE, Tenn. (LBM) – Russell Moore, president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, announced on russellmoore.com, May 18, he had “struggled with the decision” but that he was leaving his position with the Southern Baptist Convention to join Christianity Today as “public theologian and as director of a new venture, the Christianity Today Public Theology Project.” Moore had served since 2013 as head of the Nashville, Tennessee-based ERLC. Prior to that he was “provost and dean of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, where he also taught theology and ethics,” according to his website. Sharing his gratitude for the opportunity to serve Southern Baptists, he made special mention of his work on “national conferences such as MLK50 and Caring Well” as well as “a string of special successful engagements on matters of public policy.” He also praised his team for their “work of evangelism and cultural engagement.” Moore was staunchly pro-life during his eight-year tenure. One of his special emphases was providing ultrasound machines to pregnancy care centers through the ERLC’s ongoing Psalm 139 Project. The sonograms these medical … [Read more...]

On that first Easter the tombs were opened

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM)—The days leading up to and including Resurrection Sunday were unlike any others in history and any since, with the Gospel accounts detailing the various events that took place on each. Yet, one of the most remarkable facts often overlooked about that first Easter is that others were resurrected with Christ – namely, followers of the Way. Matthew 27 is the only Gospel account to record this detail, documenting in verse 52 that “the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose.” Moreover, the next verse informs us that these revived believers “went into the holy city and appeared unto many.” In other words, these grandmothers, grandfathers, husbands, wives, sisters, brothers, and children – who had received salvation because of their faith in Jesus as the Christ – had their decomposed bodies restored and they returned to their homes, still wearing death shrouds with the smell of the grave embedded in the cloth. The significance of this aspect of Easter is enormous in at least two aspects. POWER AT PENTECOST First, the resurrection of the many saints helps give context to the great awakening that took place on Pentecost, … [Read more...]

Conservative Baptist Network of Southern Baptists comments on SBC name change

By Staff, Conservative Baptist Network BOSSIER CITY, La. (CBNSB) — The Conservative Baptist Network of Southern Baptists issued a statement, Sept. 21, offering support for the use of "Great Commission Baptists" as the theme for the 2021 Annual Meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention. But, the group opposed the theme as a name swap for the SBC as has been suggested in news headlines that claimed "Southern" was a racist term and that the name change was needed in light of current social justice issues. Brad Jurkovich, the network's spokesman and pastor of First Baptist Bossier, Bossier City, said "CBN members  hold a variety of opinions on whether Southern Baptists should or should not change their name from the historic but more regional name 'Southern Baptists' to a more expansive name such as 'Great Commission Baptists' or 'North American Baptists.'" But, he added, "we reject the idea that the name 'Southern' is racist, which would itself be a slur against millions of innocent Americans of all races. Moreover, he continued, "we oppose any effort to change the name of the SBC that is simply a desire to pander to advocates of Critical Race Theory, Intersectionality, and similar ideas deceptively labeled as 'Social Justice.'" … [Read more...]

Trinity is hub for disaster relief, ministry, sharing the Gospel

By Norm Miller, Baptist Message correspondent LAKE CHARLES, LA. (LBM) — When a hurricane leaves town, the ensuing days evoke whirlwinds of activity for Southern Baptist Disaster Relief. Trinity Baptist Church in Lake Charles is a hub of such ministry, reaching into the community with clean up efforts, 20,000 meals a day, tons of food and other life necessities, and sharing the gospel. As of September 10, the site had registered 115 professions of faith. Food, cleaning supples, personal hygiene items, diapers, paper towels, pallets loaded with cases of water, flashlights, bug spray, tarps are among the needs donated by church members and the community. “Just about as quickly as we can get it, it empties out,” said Trinity member Amy Langley. “The halls are full right now, but by the time we leave today, it all may be gone.” Amy’s husband Keith is Trinity’s director for buildings and grounds. “Donations to this ministry have been just as intense as the hurricane — even more,” said one worker who preferred anonymity. “The people share their stories as we help them, and that gives us the chance to pray with them and offer them the hope of Jesus. Just make them feel like they’re loved and that we’re walking … [Read more...]