Baptist Message partners to publish in print for 2027

By Baptist Message staff

ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – The Baptist Mes­sage, Louisiana Baptists’ news service, is working on a memorandum of understanding with The Baptist Paper to jointly provide a monthly print edition for Louisiana Bap­tist subscribers in 2027.

BACKGROUND

During a September 2025 meeting, the Baptist Message board of trustees approved a move to a digi­tal-only format, beginning in 2027. Finances were the major factor in the decision because the news service will lose $100,000 in funding after 2026.

But with the trustees’ vote in the most recent meeting, the Baptist Mes­sage will continue to offer a print product through a partnership with The Bap­tist Paper, launched in 2021 as a ministry of The Ala­bama Baptist newspaper which has been in print since 1843.

The Baptist Paper will print a monthly Baptist Message special edition with Louisiana Baptist content populating the front and back pages as well as four center pages. The Baptist Paper will in­voice Baptist Message sub

scribers and Baptist Mes­sage advertisers will have access in this edition. Rates will be announced soon but are expected to remain close to what they are now. The board approved an addition of $30,000 to the 2027 budget to offset setup costs of S2,500 per edition.

Meanwhile, the Baptist Message will continue to work to expand its online offerings.

“We represent an affini­ty group, both in print and online,” Hall told board members. “Our readers want to be Louisiana Bap­tists. They are tithers, and CP supporters, and it’s im­portant that we recognize their commitment and continue to serve them.”

OTHER NEWS

The board also ad­­

dressed policy matters, amended budgets and elected 2027 officers:

-The personnel com­mittee announced it was researching a policy about health care benefits for future retirees, and that there will be a forthcoming recommendation to the board.

-Trustees rejected two requests to expunge arti­cles and instead reaffirmed a policy that all published articles be preserved as a legal and historical record.

-The 2026 budget was amended to add $5,000 to fund two mail inserts de­signed to collect subscriber emails and phone numbers for a digital newsletter.

-The board added $7,500 to the 2027 budget for up to three anniversary inserts to seek gifts to fund a church plant in honor of the Baptist Message’s 140^th anniversary.

-Officers for 2027 are Ronny Cooksey, presi­dent (pastor, First Baptist Church, Mandeville); Woods Watson, vice pres­ident (adult groups pastor, First Baptist Church, West Monroe); and Tammy Sharp, secretary-treasur­er (member, First Baptist Church, Hornbeck).