By Baptist Message staff SHREVEPORT, La. (LBM) – Messengers approved four resolutions during the 2024 Louisiana Baptist Convention Annual Meeting: celebrating the centennial anniversary of the Cooperative Program; supporting volunteer chaplains in schools; awareness on human trafficking; and expression of appreciation of those who helped make the Annual Meeting possible (read these in full in the Oct. 31 edition of the Baptist Message, print and online). However, the Committee on Resolutions reported it had declined to recommend a resolution it had received, “The Abolition of Self-Managed Abortion in Louisiana,” from Brian Gunter, a messenger and pastor with First Baptist Church, Livingston. DEBATE During a time of discussion about the resolutions report, Gunter asked messengers to vote to pull his proposed resolution out of committee, leading to a floor debate. Gunter shared that this is the third year he had come before the messengers, asking them to adopt a statement on the matter. “I’m going to bring this matter to your attention year after year, because some in our state convention of churches have repeatedly opposed our efforts to unify our churches in calling for the abolition of all abortion in our state,” … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer SHREVEPORT, La. (LBM) – David Goza charged pastors to be unified and preach the grace of God in a godless culture in his presidential address during the 2024 Louisiana Baptist Convention Annual Meeting, Nov. 12, hosted by Broadmoor Baptist Church, Shreveport. “We are the light of Christ for this world,” he said. “We have to be united; we have to be thinking alike; and we have to be going in the same direction. “Obviously, we’re going to have some times of disagreement. But we have to be able to come together for the sake of the lost,” he continued. “Our mission is the Great Commission of Jesus Christ to the Church, and we’re a Convention of Bible believing churches.” Drawing from Titus 2:11-14, Goza said God’s grace teaches churches to deny self, live a godly life and look for the return of Jesus. “These are dark days. We are the Church of this age. God has saw to it that we are the keepers of His Word for this generation, and I believe, for one, that we are the end time Church. It falls on us in this dark hour to preach the Gospel.” BIBLE STUDY Hance Dilbeck, president and CEO with GuideStone Financial Resources of the SBC, reminded messengers that a Kingdom … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer SHREVEPORT, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptist Executive Director Steve Horn, during the 2024 Louisiana Baptist Convention Annual Meeting, Nov. 12, hosted by Broadmoor Baptist Church, Shreveport, urged messengers to connect, cooperate, follow the Great Commission and commit for the Kingdom. CONNECTION “We are a connected force for good,” Horn said. “But if we cease to be connected, we will lose or at least diminish our ability to be a force for good. Just as we are a force for good at the national level, I believe we are a force for good in Louisiana.” Horn said the Baptist Message, Louisiana Baptist Foundation, Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home and Family Ministries, Louisiana Christian University and Executive Board all play a part in that connection. Importantly, he shared how the Executive Board has responded to the church insurance crisis that is pressing on congregations across the state, approving a motion, Sept. 24, that would loan $250,000 from the Disaster Relief Restricted Fund to help cover initial costs of a newly formed church self-insured organization. The money would be used for the establishment and administration of the self-insurance trust, also known as … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer SHREVEPORT, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptists enjoyed fellowship and worship during the 2024 LBC Annual meeting, Nov. 12, hosted by Broadmoor Baptist Church, Shreveport. BUDGET APPROVED Messengers approved the 2025 financial plan based on Cooperative Program contributions of $17,380,808, a decrease of $699,761, or 3.87 percent. Cooperative Program projections are based on actual receipts from August 2023 through July 2024. The allocation formula for distributing CP gifts between Southern Baptist entities and Louisiana Baptist causes remains unchanged, 62.87 percent to support ministries in the state and 37.13 percent forwarded to fund national entities. MOTIONS Messengers considered four motions, unanimously approving one that established a day of prayer for Louisiana Christian University on the first Sunday in February (submitted by Terry Young, pastor, Airline Baptist Church, Bossier City). Young submitted two other motions regarding LCU. He withdrew one motion that asked Louisiana Baptists to use prayer, more funding, and student recruiting to reaffirm their dedication to and partnership with the school. His third motion, asking for a special annual offering for … [Read more...]

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Baptist Message provides churches an opportunity to share with other Louisiana Baptists an upcoming revival, homecoming, new pastor, new staff member, a community outreach, or a concert in Louisiana Notables. To place your event in the paper, send your information (who, what, where, when, time) to philip@baptistmessage.com or call 318.449.4345. Please submit your information four weeks prior to the event to insure placement in the Message. ON THE MOVE Jim Alan Calvert is the new Pastor of Parkview Baptist Church, Metairie, LA. Pastor Calvert’s rst day in the pulpit was November 3, 2024. Charles Ebarb is the new music minister at South Bossier Baptist Church, Bossier City. POSITION SOUGHT Hodge Baptist Church in Hodge, LA is seeking a full-time pastor. Please mail resumes to Pastor Search Committee in c/o Hodge Baptist Church, P O Box 340, Hodge, LA 71247 or email to: hodgebaptist@yahoo.com. Pastor: College Drive Baptist Church in Pineville, LA is seeking a bi-vocational pastor. Please mail resumes to Richard Bullock, 515 Sandy Hill Lane, Pineville, LA 71360 or email gmbull50@yahoo.com. Pastor: HOMECOMING/ANNIVERSIES Riverview Baptist Church, Alexandria: Homecoming, Nov. 17, 9:30 a.m. Guest … [Read more...]