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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Open Door Missions offers relief to Ukrainians

By Baptist Message staff WEST MONROE, La. (LBM) – Pastor Mike Holloway was scheduled to take an annual mission trip to Ukraine in February, but the recent war caused him to refocus his plans from going to giving. Through Open Door Missions in West Monroe, more than $8,000 has been given to purchase food and medicine for Ukrainian refugees and also to financially support pastors, interpreters and Emmanuel Baptist Church in the European country, according to Holloway, who serves as president of the ministry and also is pastor of Ouachita Baptist Church, West Monroe. “Today, I could load up supplies, get on a plane and go help them,” Holloway told the Baptist Message. “That’s how badly I want to be there. But instead of me spending money to go, I can use that money for the people and churches over there.” Since 1999, Holloway has traveled to Ukraine and worked with Emmanuel Baptist in the Luhansk region. Volunteers from Open Door Missions helped build Emmanuel Baptist, whose members continue to meet in homes for worship and Bible study because of war-related damage to the congregation's campus. Holloway asked for continued prayers that the Ukrainians and churches they sponsor continue to reach their nation for … [Read more...]

Louisiana Baptist DR team activated for Poland

By Baptist Message staff GDANSK, Poland – A Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief team has been activated for ministry to Ukrainian refugees in Poland. The team, from April 12-18, will assist with shelter management, supply distribution, feeding refugees, and chaplaincy work at First Baptist Church, Gdansk. Louisiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Mississippi each will send one team per month for at least six months to serve in Gdansk on a rotating basis. “Pray for teams as they travel and minister,” LBDR Strategist Stan Statham told the Baptist Message. “This will be a little different than other disasters for our volunteers. It’s not a natural but a man-made disaster. You can imagine the trauma the refugees are experiencing at this time, so our volunteers on the ground will have to be mentally prepared for what they may encounter.” To support LBDR ministry to Ukrainians, visit louisianabaptists.org. … [Read more...]

Trinity is ‘hub’ for Ukrainian relief

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer LAKE CHARLES, La. (LBM) – Trinity Baptist Church has served as a hub for hurricane relief in Lake Charles the last two years, but recently stepped up to serve as a centralized collection site for medical supplies and financial gifts for Ukrainian refugees. Since mid-March, the church has collected more than $90,000 that will be forwarded to Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief, who in cooperation with SEND Relief will use the funds to purchase emergency food supplies, shelter, transportation, medical care and hygiene kits for displaced Ukrainians. A portion also will offset costs for the team to travel to Poland to minister to Ukrainian refugees. Trinity Baptist also collected enough medical supplies to fill 25 large boxes (1,187 pounds) that were shipped to Ukraine. In the future, the church plans to send a team that will minister to Ukrainian refugees in Poland. Pastor Steve James said his congregation has seen its own share of recent disasters, which has allowed them to identify with the plight of the Ukrainians. “We have gone through two hurricanes, a flood, a freeze and a tornado the last two years,” James told the Baptist Message. “Many folks in Lake Charles … [Read more...]

Rice withdraws name from list of candidates seeking SBC presidency

CLEARWATER, Fla. (TBP) -- Willy Rice, pastor of Calvary Church in Clearwater, Florida, withdrew his name from the list of candidates seeking the presidency of the Southern Baptist Convention Thursday morning, April 6. Roughly a month after announcing his plans to accept a nomination for the position, news broke April 1 about a leadership position at his church that brought Rice under fire. A former public school teacher with a history of sexual misconduct serves as a deacon at Calvary, something Rice said the church leaders knew and monitored for years following the deacon’s repentance and restoration process. Rice noted the deacon was not allowed to work with children or youth and the leaders believed he was fully restored and, in a position, to be ordained as a deacon. “It did not involve criminal charges, and he has never been identified by law as a sexual offender,” Rice said in a five-and-a-half-minute video posted on social media explaining the situation. “Nevertheless, it was a terrible sin, and it devastated people’s lives.” When Rice was contacted recently by a pastor in another state expressing concern about the deacon’s past, Rice and church leaders decided the man would need to step down as … [Read more...]

Powerful storms cause destruction in state once again

By Baptist Message staff SIMSBORO, La. (LBM) – For the second time in eight days, a powerful line of thunderstorms caused power outages, wind damage and flash flooding in Louisiana on Wednesday, March 30. Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief state coordinator Stan Statham told the Baptist Message teams were assessing the damage Thursday. First Baptist Church, Simsboro, lost a section of the roof and some shingles off its children’s building, and had some awning damaged, according to Pastor Jason Cole. “Pray that God opens the hearts of people to receive the Gospel as we share the Gospel with them,” Cole said. Elsewhere in Simsboro, a tree crushed three cars and damaged a house, according to John Cowling, ministry director at Rolling Hills Ministries in Ruston. Assessors from the DR team at Rolling Hills said two individuals inside the home escaped injury. The National Weather Service in Vicksburg confirmed a tornado was responsible for severe structural damage to Tallulah Academy. The Academy lost its roof, and the gymnasium was exposed to the elements, according to the Vicksburg (Mississippi) Post. No one was inside the school when the storm struck. The weather service said the tornado touched down at … [Read more...]

Two associations welcome new associational ministry strategists

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer DERIDDER, La. (LBM) – Two Louisiana Baptist associations recently welcomed their new ministry and mission coordinators: LaSalle Baptist Association, Carl Gulde; and Beauregard Baptist Association, Tom Bruce. CARL GULDE Gulde, long-time pastor of Bethel Baptist Church, Colfax, became the associational ministry director with the LaSalle Baptist Association Feb. 14. He follows Buddy Willis, who retired from the position, Dec. 31, 2021. A native of Trout, Gulde found Christ at 12 while attending a revival with Fellowship Baptist Church of Trout, La. Three years later, in 1962, he preached his first sermon, sharing a message with Hurricane Creek Baptist Church. “At 15 I knew I would one day preach and that would be my life’s work,” Gulde told the Baptist Message. “My heart has always been to reach lost people.” During the years that followed, Gulde served as representative for the Gideons International, coached and taught social studies at Jena’s junior and senior high schools, and served with various congregations. Additionally, he served 23 years in the National Guard and was part of Operation Desert Storm, the U.S.-led military action that liberated Kuwait from … [Read more...]

LCU to close Wednesday due to threat of severe weather

By LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) - Due to the possibility of hurricane-force winds and tornadoes, Louisiana Christian University will not hold face-to-face classes Wednesday, March 30. All classes instead will move to online. Campus offices also will be closed. For residential students, dining services will be open for brunch and dinner. All events scheduled Tuesday afternoon and night will continue as planned. … [Read more...]