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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Vendors sought for CENLA missions and ministry fair

By Baptist Message staff PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) – The Central Louisiana Baptist Association is seeking vendors for its upcoming missions and ministry fair. Slated for May 1, 6-8 p.m., at Trinity Baptist Church, Pineville, the event schedule includes worship, a message of encouragement and a time for participants to visit tables of various state mission organizations. Organizer Richard Bullock, also pastor of College Drive Baptist Church, Pineville, said the event will inform participants about the mission opportunities in the area, motivate them to pray for, give and become involved further in local missions, and champion missions in their own churches. Bullock expects more than 20 vendors at the event. “I encourage everyone to come hear and see what God is doing through the faithfulness of His people,” Bullock told the Baptist Message. “I believe God will open doors and pour out blessings upon His people as we are faithful to His call to missions and ministry.” Contact Bullock for more information, gmbull50@yahoo.com, or 318.729.7199. … [Read more...]

Parents’ hope alive after son’s death

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer TERRY, Miss. (LBM) – Pastor Lee Faler and wife Jordan are effusive about God’s faithfulness to them after losing their son to brain cancer. Rankin was only 6 years old when he died. Faler said despite the pain, he and Jordan were buoyed by what he described as “God’s endless love” while they traveled through a dark valley. “This has shown me how strong Jesus’ love is for us,” Faler, pastor of First Baptist Church, Terry, told the Baptist Message prior to a recent revival service at Boeuf River Baptist Church, Winnsboro. “He is not just sufficient to save. He is sufficient to sustain. It was something we knew in our heads but now we know it in our hearts because He’s walked it Himself and He’s walked it with us. “Your trials can make you better or they can make you bitter,” he continued. “I don’t know exactly when it happened for me. But somewhere between August and right now, the Lord ignited a hunger in my heart for Him -- to the point that my prayer has been ‘God if I can’t be white hot and I can’t have the fire, then I have too much in Heaven waiting for me. Take me home if I can’t be useful.’” CHALLENGED The journey began in March 2021, when they returned … [Read more...]

EASTER REFLECTIONS: Who killed Jesus?

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM)—Perhaps there is no more controversial question than “Who killed Jesus?” In the early 1960s there was a contentious debate among scholars about whether Jews or Gentiles had killed Jesus. There were charges of anti-Semitism on the one hand and counter claims of bias against Italians, with neither ethnic group wanting to bear the burden of having murdered Christ. The matter had reached such a boiling point that in 1965 the Catholic Church (Vatican II) attempted to negotiate a neutral position, publishing a treatise of sorts on the matter, “Noestra Aetate,” in which it declared that “Jewish authorities and those who followed their lead pressed for the death of Christ” but that such blame “cannot be charged against all the Jews, without distinction, then alive, nor against the Jews of today.” But despite the attempt to assuage Jewish umbrage, the document still asserted that “some” Jews were responsible for Jesus’ death. On the other hand, historian Mark Allan Powell wrote about the other prevailing view that Jesus was “a Jewish victim of Roman violence. “A Gentile Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, condemned Him to death and had Him tortured by … [Read more...]

Bayou State Baptisms: Churches shared Christ during disaster-plagued ‘21

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer NEW ORLEANS, La. (LBM) – Despite a plague of weather disasters amid a worldwide pandemic, Louisiana Baptists continued to sow and reap in 2021. According to the Annual Church Profile, Celebration Church (campuses in the New Orleans and Northshore areas) had the most baptisms of any Louisiana Baptist congregation in 2021 (317). Rounding out the top five were: Cypress Baptist Church, Benton (286); First Baptist Church, Covington (105); Bayou Church, Lafayette (95); and Journey Church, Pineville (93). The database showed that churches of all sizes continued to reap spiritual harvests, and those listed below had the most baptisms, per capita (using average worship attendance), among congregations of similar size. Louisiana Baptist Evangelism and Church Growth Team Director Keith Manuel said he is thankful for the many churches who baptize and have a zeal to shed the light of Christ in a world that faces uncertainty. “Easter is always one of the highest attended days of worship,” Manuel told the Baptist Message. “This year -- in light of the crises of health, inflation, and war -- may be one of the great[1]est opportunities to touch hurting people with the Gospel. This … [Read more...]

RAs to prep boys for combat

By Baptist Message staff WOODWORTH, La. (LBM) – First through sixth grade boys will have the opportunity to enlist in the Lord’s Army during the 2022 Royal Ambassador Congress. The event, April 8-9 at Tall Timbers Conference Center in Woodworth. will feature a military-themed obstacle course, re-enactment of biblical battles and encouraging messages by Casey Casady, a chaplain with the National Guard and college minister at Temple Baptist Church, Ruston. “Join the Army of the Lord” is the theme, based RAs to prep boys for combat on 2 Timothy 2:4. RA Congress also will include a Pinewood Derby, soap box races and presentations from missionaries. The missions offering collected will go to the National Guard’s family readiness program, which offers resources to help families navigate military life. “I’m excited about our boys learning about some of the battles from the Bible and learning respect for those defending our country and help in times of need,” RA Consultant Mike Collie said. “Hopefully some of them will have a life-changing event while they are there to be involved in some of these areas.” Visit louisianabaptists.org/RACongress (download registration form; more info). … [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 Richard Gill is the new pastor at Temple Baptist Church, DeRidder. Brian Gunter has resigned as pastor at First Baptist Church, Pollock to become the new pastor at First Baptist Church, Livingston. Dwayne Irwin has been called as the new pastor at Pine Grove Baptist Church, Ruby. Eddie, wife Sabrina, Henson is the new pastor at Briarwood Baptist Church, Franklinton. He began the first week of January. Kyle, wife Gaylynn, Bryan is the new pastor at Clark Springs Baptist Church, Eros. Nathan Davis has resigned as pastor of First Baptist Church, Coushatta. Wes Faulk has resigned as pastor of First Baptist Church, Vidalia to do ministry work overseas. Brian Lassiter is new as minister of music at New Hope Baptist Church, Choudrant. Aaron Dickinson resigned as pastor of First Baptist … [Read more...]

SBC CP dollars hire pro-LGBTQ lawyers

By Don Hinkle, The Pathway editor NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Up to $2 million of Cooperative Program funds will be paid by the Southern Baptist Convention’s (SBC) Executive Committee (EC) to cover legal fees of its newly-retained law firm that supports the Nashville Pride festival, the LGBTQ Bar, and is praised by the Human Rights Campaign, one of the nation’s largest LGBTQ organizations. Bradley Legal was highlighted in Human Rights Campaign’s material, and the firm has touted the link in several releases. “Bradley is pleased to announce that the firm scored a 90 out of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2022 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), the nation’s foremost benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality,” the law firm reported on its web site. “I am pleased to see the firm’s hard work recognized once again in the Corporate Equality Index,” said Bradley Chairman of the Board and Managing Partner Jonathan M. Skeeters. Bradley apparently meets all the criteria for HRC’s “Corporate Social Responsibility,” which would require written guidelines that prohibit the firm’s “philanthropic support” of non-religious organizations that draw distinctions based … [Read more...]

Apologist Frank Turek featured speaker at LCU’s C3 event

By Joel Thompson, Wildcats Media PINEVILLE, La. (Wildcats Media) – Frank Turek, founder and president of CrossExamined.org apologetics organization, will be the keynote speaker at Louisiana Christian University’s second Christ Church Culture (C3) event of the spring semester, March 28 at 6:30 p.m. Turek’s focus primarily is on the existence of truth and God, through the framework of Christian apologetics. He has authored such books as “Steal from God: Why atheists need God to make their case” and “I don’t have enough faith to be an atheist.” Additionally, Turek hosts weekly hour-long television and radio programs that feature cultural commentary from a Christian perspective. “Giving a defense for the claims of Christianity is one of the pressing needs of our society,” Louisiana Baptist Executive Director Steve Horn said. “Frank Turek is recognized leader is this area of Christian study. What a gift to the whole community that LCU is able to bring him to campus.” LCU School of Missions and Ministry Dean Justin Langford believes Turek provides an example for how Christians should interact with those outside of the faith. “Dr. Turek is a renowned speaker, author, and apologist who is well-known for his critical engagement with … [Read more...]

Tornadoes ravage New Orleans, Arabi in southeast Louisiana

By Baptist Message staff NEW ORLEANS, La. (LBM) - Multiple tornadoes ripped through southeast Louisiana Tuesday, March 22, damaging homes, leaving thousands without power, and causing multiple injuries and at least one confirmed death. Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief state coordinator Stan Statham asked for prayer as DR teams begin assessing damage Wednesday in the hard-hit areas of Arabi and New Orleans who are still trying to recover from another recent natural disaster. “Many in this area have not fully recovered from Ida this summer,” Louisiana Baptist Executive Director Steve Horn told the Baptist Message. “It’s hard to understand why these folks are going through this again. “We have much going on in our world right now, but God is near to the broken hearted. I am thankful for recently trained new volunteers,” he said. “Louisiana Baptists will have yet another opportunity to share the love of Jesus by serving those in need.” According to WDSU-TV in New Orleans, tornadoes were confirmed to have hit Arabi (where one person was killed, though no further details were known), the lower 9th Ward in New Orleans and Lacombe in St. Tammany Parish. The National Weather Service said they would be sending teams into … [Read more...]