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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Groundbreaking shows God’s faithfulness at Riverview

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Riverview Baptist Church held a groundbreaking ceremony, July 17, to celebrate the beginning of construction on a new multi-purpose facility that will serve future generations. Pastor David Newton told the Baptist Message the new facility will ensure the church has adequate space to meet the needs of a growing congregation. Since February 2020 (just prior to Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards’s COVID-related worship attendance restrictions), Sunday worship attendance has increased from 92 to as high as 115 in February 2022. Moreover, the church has baptized seven new believers who committed their lives to Jesus during a revival in early January. Additionally, Newton, on July 24, will baptize a youngster who, during Vacation Bible School in June, chose to follow Jesus. “I have a great supportive group of deacons and others in our church who do great things,” he said. “Our music minister Brother Mike Boone, for instance, has been our point man in this project and he has tirelessly got this project to where we are today. “We are seeing God move and things happen because of the leadership here,” he continued. “We have church members from all walks … [Read more...]

LBC seeks resolutions, nominees for committees, boards

By Baptist Message staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) — Louisiana Baptists are invited to recommend candidates to serve on state convention boards and committees, and, are asked to submit resolutions for possible consideration by messengers at the 2022 Louisiana Baptist Convention. COMMITTEES The Louisiana Baptist Committee on Committees will be conducting its work early this fall to fill 17 openings on five state convention committees: Credentials; Moral and Social Concerns; Nominations; Order of Business; and Resolutions. Nominations should be sent not later than Aug. 12 to Jake Roudkowski, interim pastor, First Baptist Church, Zachary, who is the Committee on Committees chair. Please forward your recommendations via email, jaker@nobts.edu, or the U.S. Mail, Dr. Jake Roudkowski, 78689 Hwy. 25, Folsom, LA 70437. BOARDS The Louisiana Baptist Committee on Nominations will begin its work, also in early fall, to fill 18 vacancies on the LBC Executive Board as well as the trustee bodies of the Louisiana Christian University, Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home and Family Ministries, Baptist Message, and Baptist Foundation. Nominations should be sent not later than Aug. 12 to Ron Thompson, member, First Baptist Church, … [Read more...]

Sen. Kennedy offers encouragement, insights to Louisiana Baptists

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM)—U.S. Senator John Kennedy stopped by the Louisiana Baptist state mission center in Alexandria, July 7, to share words of encouragement and gratitude about statewide disaster relief efforts during the last two years, and he weighed in on some key social issues impacting the state and the nation. STATE & NATION In a meeting with Steve Horn, executive director of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, Kennedy lauded the faith community for its quick and sustained response to the four hurricanes which devastated the state, 2020-2021. “Every place I went it was the churches, they were there. I’m not putting down first responders, but it was the churches who provided the infrastructure,” he offered. “They are the ones who did most of the work.” Kennedy said Louisianans now are having to deal with insurers who do not want the risk of writing policies in areas hit hard by Hurricanes Laura, Delta, Zeta and Ida. “I hear complaints every day,” he said. “President Biden implemented a new program based on a computer algorithm they say can measure risk over the next 100 years of every individual home,” he said. “When we asked to see the computer software -- … [Read more...]

STUDY: Under 40? Don’t drink

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor SEATTLE (LBM) – A study conducted by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation with the University of Washington has a published a study in Lancet, a British medical journal, finding that any amount of alcohol is unhealthy for people under 40 years old. The global study, which looked at 22 health outcomes, found that even as little as one-tenth of a standard drink (translating into 0.34 ounces of red wine, 13 percent alcohol by volume; or 1.2 ounces of beer, 3.5 percent alcohol by volume) for a male, 16-39 years old, and one-fourth of a standard drink (0.85 ounces of red wine; 3 ounces of beer) for the same aged girl, per day, had negative impacts, including car accidents, suicides and murder. The research was released just after the National Institutes of Health released its findings that alcohol-related deaths had surged during 2020. In Louisiana the “under 40” study likely will be alarming to parents and policy makers as the state’s high school students lead their peers in the nation in alcohol use (35 percent). … [Read more...]

Another 62,000 veterans face expulsion due to vaccine mandate

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor WASHINGTON (LBM)—The U.S. military continues to negatively impact operational readiness with the continuing purge of active-duty members and now 40,000 Guardsmen and 22,000 Reservists who have declined the COVID-19 vaccines – many asking for religious exemption. The four FDA-approved drugs that are available to service men and women are tainted by use of tissue from an aborted child either in one or more of the development, production and testing phases. According to military.com, U.S. Army officials announced, July 8, that these 62,000 veterans will be blocked from service for rejecting COVID vaccines. An estimated 20,000 Guardsmen and Reservists combined have asked for religious exemptions. Already, about 20,000 active-duty personnel have asked for religious accommodation: Army (api.army.mil) -- As of July 7, only 19 of 4,782 religious exemption requests have been approved. -- Already, 1,300 soldiers have been separated from military service. Air Force (airforcemag.com) -- Just 118 religious exemption requests (all to airmen already leaving voluntarily) have been approved out of more than 9,000 that have been submitted. -- More than 3,000 non-religious exemption … [Read more...]

Louisiana Notables

EDITOR’S NOTE: Do you have a Revival, Homecoming, a new pastor, a community outreach or a concert? The Baptist Message would love to share your church news with the rest of the state. It is very easy to do, just send in your information (who, what, where and when) to philip@baptistmessage.com or call 318.449.4345. To get your event in the paper, please submit your information three weeks prior to the event. ON THE MOVE Brian, wife Joy, Rankin is the new pastor at Converse First Baptist Church. Tim, wife Kim, Keith is the new pastor at Istrouma Baptist Church, Baton Rouge. Jarrett Fix is the new pastor at First Baptist Church, Swartz Jody, wife Emily, Dean is the new interim pastor at Mandeville First Baptist Church. Richard, wife Lee, Ainsworth is the new traditional worship leader at First Baptist Church, Ruston. Ashley Young is the new children director and Cassidy Richardson is the new children/family associate at Summer Grove Baptist Church, Shreveport. Paul Maddox resigns as music director from Rose Park Baptist Church, Shreveport to go to Dallas, Texas. Phillip Green ris the new music director at Rose Park Baptist Church, Rose Park. Chad Hardbarger resigned as pastor at Emmanuel Baptist Church, … [Read more...]

Lyons tapped to lead CENLA Pregnancy Center

By Baptist Message staff ALEXANDRIA, La. - The CENLA Pregnancy Center has named Kim Lyons as its next executive director. Lyons, who will assume the role Aug. 1, has for the last two years served as a teacher at Holy Savior Menard Central High School in Alexandria. She also has worked in management roles at Rapides Regional Medical Center and Christus St. Frances Cabrini Hospital (both in Alexandria) and has supported the pregnancy center through prayer and donations. Lyons will follow Claire Lemoine, who is stepping down as executive director. Lemoine will continue working there until Sept. 15, according to a news release the pregnancy center. Ed Tarpley, president of the pregnancy center board of directors, said Lyons was unanimously approved after an extensive search. “The board is grateful for the five years of outstanding leadership and dedicated service by Claire Lemoine,” Tarpley said. “Her commitment to the cause of life and protection of the unborn is an example for everyone to follow. She has helped build a solid foundation for this ministry which will touch the lives of young women and their babies for years to come.” Lemoine expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve as executive director since the … [Read more...]

Thieves ransack Immanuel Community Church

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer NEW ORLEANS (LBM) – Thieves have stolen valuable construction materials and tools meant for the construction of the new Immanuel Community Church multi-purpose facility in New Orleans. Pastor Matt Delaughter told the Baptist Message that shortly after concrete was poured for the foundation in early June, thieves took plywood sheets valued at $3,500. Two weeks later, vandals struck again, breaking into the Louisiana Baptist Mission Builders trailer and looting tools ($5,700) and more plywood ($5,000). That same day they sacked the vehicle of a church member, working on the project, and took a 9 mm handgun. Delaughter said insurance will cover only a small amount of the stolen materials, but despite the difficulties, his congregation will remain steadfast in their mission to reach the community and city for Christ. Importantly, he said he is encouraged by the attitude of his church, who has prayed continuously for those who stole the items. “Those things that we have experienced recently have been disheartening,” Delaughter said. “There have been mornings when I asked the Lord, ‘Why is this happening?’ and confessed, ‘I don’t understand.’ But I realize now the Lord is … [Read more...]