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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

LBCH’s PathFinders expands to meet needs of youth ‘aging out’ of Louisiana foster care

MONROE – Shantel had no trouble fitting all of her earthly possessions into two trash bags. The problem was finding a place to unpack those bags – a safe place that she could call home. Shantel was 18 years old, and she had officially “aged out” of the foster care system. “Young people like me who age out of the system usually don’t have the luxury of having a family to help,” Shantel said. “The decisions we face every day – how we pay our bills, put food in our mouths and keep a roof over our heads – are difficult, and we have to answer them without the guidance or support of a family.” “Aging out” is a term used to describe the process of youth transitioning out of the foster care system with no permanent family connection. Of the 400,000 children who are in foster care nationwide, approximately 25,000 age out every year without a permanent home or family to support them. Many youth coming out of foster care are at higher risk for unemployment, poor educational outcomes, health issues, early parenthood, long-term dependency on public assistance, and increased rate of incarceration and homelessness. One in four will be incarcerated within two years of leaving foster care. One in five will become homeless. Only half will … [Read more...]

CLECO sale presents shareholders chance to contribute gains to charity, Baptist ministries

ALEXANDRIA – In February of this year 2015 CLECO Corporation shareholders approved the acquisition of the company by a group of North American investors. Although the transfer of the Central Louisiana utility company is still subject to the approval of the Louisiana Public Service Commission and several federal agencies, the transaction is expected to be completed in the second half of 2015. Shareholders as of a specified date will receive a payment worth $55.37 per share of stock. The sale of the company will mean shareholders will have to find somewhere else to invest the cash proceeds and attempt to replace the excellent dividend they have been receiving. Unfortunately it will also mean capital gains tax. “If you do nothing your shares will automatically be purchased by the investment group and will trigger capital gains taxes,” stated Wayne Taylor Executive Director, Louisiana Baptist Foundation. The Capital Gains Tax is levied on the gain in value of an asset. For shareholders who purchased CLECO stock and held it longer than one year, the gain or increase in the value of the stock may be taxed as much as 20%. This is where an opportunity comes in. By making a contribution of CLECO stock to a qualified charitable … [Read more...]

M-JAM particpants challenged to follow Jesus and follow Him when the opportunity presents

MINDEN – Andy Partington received a little help as he shared the importance of missions. Holding a puppet, Partington talked with more than 470 youngsters and their adult leaders about saying yes to Jesus. “When you follow him amazing things happen,” said Partington, who serves as the children’s pastor at First Baptist Church in Minden. “We just have to choose to be obedient.” Partington was the main speaker during the recent M-JAM, also known as Missions Jamboree. The day-long event featured Louisiana and international missionaries and was held at two locations – Williams Boulevard Baptist Church in Kenner on March 14 and First Baptist Church in Minden on March 21. The schedule was the same at both locations and allowed for youngsters in first through sixth grade and their leaders to attend M-JAM at the church closest to where they live. Attendance was 245 at Williams Boulevard Baptist and was 472 at First Baptist Minden While Partington was the main speaker for the M-JAM in Minden, Maegan Bruce was the main speaker for the event at Williams Boulevard Baptist. The event used challenging messages by Partington and Bruce, in addition to music by Chance Fussell and friends during the main celebration sessions to tell the … [Read more...]

Royal Ambassadors learn about missions, pioneer days

WOODWORTH – Brandon Duvall and his son, Brandon Jr., could have spent their weekend catching an LSU baseball game, playing golf or doing many other activities to spend their free time on a beautiful spring weekend. But the father-son duo chose to spend time with other young men learning about missions and what it was like to live in the pioneer days at the annual Royal Ambassador Congress at Tall Timbers Conference Center. “I loved talking to pioneers and how they talked to us about what a man has to do,” said fifth-grader Brandon Duvall Jr., a member of the First Baptist Church Krotz Springs RA group. “This weekend we got to learn about missions and interact with people, some I never met before. It was a pretty interesting time.” His father enjoys how RAs teaches the boys and their leaders about missions, both during and away from RA Congress. “They have so many outdoor activities plus teach our boys how to be men of integrity,” he said. “I look at this as my mission field because so many men aren’t Christians.” The Duvalls were among the 345 people from 21 churches attending this year’s RA Congress. Thirteen boys made decisions for Christ and 9 indicated a re-dedication of their faith. The two-day RA Congress featured the … [Read more...]

Louisiana Bible Drill & Speakers Tournament: “Champions” in the making

Fifteen years have passed since I made the trip to Louisiana College to participate in the Louisiana Baptist Convention Youth High School and Children’s State Bible Drill and Youth Speakers Tournament of which I had previously competed for nine years from fourth to 12th grade. I can remember being so excited about attending the State Drill that, no matter what time of the year my family drove the Pineville Expressway, when I smelled the creosote plant across from Louisiana College it throttled-up my adrenalin. As I pulled up to judge the Speakers Tournament last year at First Baptist Church in Pineville, that same excitement and energy was reignited as I viewed the faces of the 2014 participants. However, the most nostalgic moment came when I walked into the registration area and saw Mrs. Ella Creel, the godly lady who had been my Bible drill teacher for my grade years. She was waiting patiently with the children and the parents of her newest crop of drillers. As I saw her just a few feet away, she was talking to her crew, and I knew exactly what she was doing because her methods have not changed much since the early 90s. Her encouraging words and influence helped strengthen my personal faith walk that has led me to love the … [Read more...]

All we really need is to stand on Christ the Solid Rock

EL CAJON, Calif. (BP) – Perhaps you know the hymn, “The Solid Rock,” which begins with these words of testimony: “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.” The Solid Rock emphasizes one of the foundational truths of the Christian faith: Our salvation is based on Christ alone. The Bible says, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5). This is the great legacy of the New Testament theologians. When the Gospel of Christ leaped over the boundaries of Israel and Judaism, key questions arose. Is salvation for the Gentiles too? And, if so, do these Gentiles need to become Jewish proselytes? Do they need to conform to Jewish law? Do they need to be circumcised? Do they need to adopt the Jewish calendar of Feast Days? Must they acquiesce to Jewish dietary requirements? Acts 15 recounts that a great counsel was convened to discuss these matters. The central question was: “What must a person do to be saved?” The apostles and church leaders defied efforts to impose legalism and ritualism on new believers, affirming for all time that salvation is totally by grace through faith in … [Read more...]

Let God use you to spread the Gospel to all we meet

ATLANTA (BP) – The story of Philip and the Ethiopian is the story of a man with a hole in his soul. The Ethiopian had an emptiness that would not leave him, no matter what he tried to pack in his life. The brief narrative in Acts 8 unfolds his story around three themes. A reading man The Ethiopian had traveled from his home to Jerusalem to participate in celebratory worship. On his return home, he was reading from Isaiah’s prophecy, seeking to understand its underlying message. This was a man of great power and prestige. He had charge of the Queen’s treasury. He was likely dressed in finery and traveling in the “Rolls Royce” chariot of his time. From outward appearances, this man seemed to have everything. But the Lord, who has placed eternity in the heart of every person, was at work in his life. A running man The Lord prompted Philip to leave the revival taking place in Samaria and go on a wilderness journey. When Philip saw the chariot, the Lord instructed him to “overtake” the chariot. As Philip ran toward the chariot, he had no idea what he would find. He was not intimidated by the obvious finery of the chariot, the adornment of the horses, the attire of the attendants. He did not know what the Ethiopian was thinking … [Read more...]

Floyd: Sharing from the heart of the mission field

SPRINGDALE, Ark. (BP) – Jeana and I have just returned from 12 days away, with much of that time in the heart of the mission field. As we conversed one-on-one and in several meetings with our missionaries in challenging fields all over the Middle East, we were able to hear their hearts loud and clear. As I have thought about this upon my return home, I feel it is incumbent upon me to share what I am able to within the boundaries of security. In each meeting, I asked our missionaries: What do you want me to share with our churches back home? The missionaries and their leaders were not timid at all. I want to highlight the things they shared with me: 1. Pray for us Without any question, the need for prayer rang loud and clear! They are fully aware they are called to forward the Gospel message in territories of the world where this message has never been heard before. They know their giftedness in and of itself cannot penetrate the lostness of the ethnicities of people they are trying to reach. They know they need what only God Himself can do. In fact, one of the biggest challenges for which they pleaded for prayer is the ability to learn the language of Arabic. This is an ongoing challenge for them, and for a segment of their … [Read more...]

Coteau Baptist Church showing ‘A Matter of Faith’ on April 18

HOUMA – Coteau Baptist Church is hosting a movie that disproves evolution while raising money for its summer associational mission trip at the same time. “A Matter of Faith” is about a Christian female college student whose Biology professor influences her through his teaching that evolution is the answer of the origin of life. Her father learns of the situation and agrees to debate her professor. Coteau Baptist will show the film on April 18 at 1 pm, 4 pm and 7 pm at 2066 Coteau Road in Houma. The price of admission is $5. Patrons can purchase concessions during all three showtimes. Proceeds from concessions will go toward the Bayou Baptist Association’s mission trip to Philadelphia, Miss. Scheduled for mid-July, the association is hoping to take 100 people to participate in two sports camps, construction projects and nightly revivals. Wayne Hunt, pastor of Coteau Baptist, said to the best of his knowledge, no other church in Louisiana is hosting a showing of the movie, though other movie theaters are doing so. Hunt said the local theater in Houma was not interested in showing the movie, so the company that produced the film asked if Coteau would be interested. Coteau has an HD projector used in movie theaters along with a … [Read more...]

Lane’s senior project helps impact her life, lives in community

PINEVILLE – When Lexi Lane* initially began brainstorming the topic of her senior high school project at Pineville High School, she knew her focus would center on orphans in another country*. She never dreamed how this project would impact her life and many lives around the community. What she received in the process was a return to her roots overseas and seeing first-hand the love of Christ on display through the lives of special needs orphans in the country. Lane said she wanted to go back to see her  birthplace, to understand more about the culture, but also to help an orphanage in some way. Lane's life began in a rural area in the country. Adopted at 14 months old, Lane has no memory of what life was like as a baby. When the time came for Lane to choose the topic of her senior project – which is required for graduation – she thought of her desire to give back to her country in doing something for orphans there. Lane’s mom, Pam, started the process by contacting an organization that helps unite families with orphans from around the world. Sean and Pam Keith adopted Lane. Lane was then directed to a childhood advocacy organization. Starting in May 2014, she began raising funds for a trip to work in the orphanage and … [Read more...]