By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer AVONDALE, La. (LBM) – The opportunity to share Christ with the world has come to Louisiana Baptist churches through English as a Second Language classes. “The purpose of all literacy missions ministries is to intentionally share the Gospel as God uses church volunteers to meet literacy needs,” Brown told the Baptist Message. “ESL allows church volunteers to incorporate the Bible into every aspect of their classes. “Prayer is a priority inside and outside of the classes, and the Gospel is also shared, no matter what the students’ religious backgrounds are,” she continued. “Anyone can participate in this ministry because a person doesn’t have to speak another language to teach someone how to speak English.” FBCA, NOBTS CONNECT Each Monday evening at First Baptist Church, Avondale, three to four lead teachers and three assistants, including New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Leavell College students, teach ESL classes to between 10 and 40 students from as many as eight nationalities, church ministry team leaders said. Marc Daniels, pastor with FBC Avondale, realized while canvassing the surrounding neighborhood in 2023 that a large Vietnamese population … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer WOODWORTH, La. (LBM) – The Champions Camp for individuals with special needs recorded its largest attendance ever, drawing 91 campers and their buddies for a weekend of activities tailored to them. The Louisiana Baptist summer camp for people with special needs matched participants with buddies who accompanied them during the event. The camp, whose previous record attendance was 50 set in 2024, featured karaoke, snow cones, ice cream party, fishing, games, bazooka ball, crafts, disco party and worship designed for children and adults from ages 8 and up who have intellectual or development disabilities. Lisa Smith, a member with First Baptist Church, Hornbeck, was among the buddies who attended the weekend with a camper. Smith was filled with joy as she witnessed her camper, Amber Holloway, enjoying camp for the first time. “I was here three minutes and was already crying,” Smith told the Baptist Message. “It was emotional for me, getting to see her and the other campers have so much fun.” Brenda Hudson, the mother of camper Alex Zimmerman, was moved to tears as she watched her son fish. “It touches my heart,” she said. “I’ve always wanted him to be involved in … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer PRAIRIEVILLE, La. (LBM) – Kirk Jones, pastor of Fellowship Church, Prairieville, will be nominated for the office of president with the Louisiana Baptist Convention during the 2025 annual meeting of church messengers. Bill Dye, pastor of North Monroe Baptist Church, shared with the Baptist Message, Sept. 10, his intention to make the nomination. The yearly gathering of Louisiana Baptists is scheduled to be held in the facilities of the Randolph Riverfront Center, Alexandria, Nov. 11. STATEMENT OF SUPPORT Dye commended Jones’ character during the 15 years he has known him. “I’ve watched him lead his church through a variety of challenges,” Dye told the Baptist Message. “Kirk is a visionary leader with character.  He not only wants to do the right thing; he wants to do things the right way. And God has blessed that. He referenced the growth of Fellowship Church, which has grown from a few people who met in Jones’ living room in 2001 to a campus of more than 1,400 with 112 baptisms in 2025. “I know that numbers don’t always tell you what’s going on in a church,” Dye said. “The movement of the Spirit is more than buildings, bodies, and budgets.  Some of our … [Read more...]