By Message staff BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – With more Louisianans receiving COVID-19 vaccinations combined with continuing reductions in new cases, hospitalizations and deaths, Gov. John Bel Edwards announced Tuesday, Oct. 26, the end to the state’s mask mandate. While the mask mandate will remain in place for k-12 schools, individual districts may opt out if they adhere to quarantine guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Masks also will be mandated by federal regulation on mass transit and in health care facilities. Local governments and private businesses may choose to continue to require and enforce mask requirements under the Edwards’ order, which goes into effect on Wednesday, Oct. 27. “I stand here today optimistic, relieved, that the worst of the fourth surge is very clearly behind us now,” Edwards said during his news conference. “And I think this is the result of the work that the people of our state have done. They have stepped up to the plate when we needed them to and when we asked them to, at least most of them, put their masks back on, exercised caution. Vaccinated numbers continued to improve, although we can all agree that they are not what they should be even today. … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message staff writer NEW ORLEANS, La. (LBM) – “We believe money matters, but we believe everything is better with Christ,” Baptist Community Ministries Board Chair Slade Simons said. For more than 25 years, Baptist Community Ministries has helped improve the physical, mental and spiritual health of the greater New Orleans metropolitan area by helping to generate funds as a foundation and through chaplaincy services and congregational wellness at the height of COVID-19. “It’s just as humbling as it is exciting,” Simons said. “Not many people get the chance in life to have a very true meaningful impact on other people’s lives in such a positive way. When you sit on a board of a grant maker that is truly concerned with its community and with the Gospel, it really is remarkable, and it is very humbling. “We have been able to Baptist Community Ministries celebrates 25 years (plus one) pump a little over $208 million into the community over the last 25 years,” he continued. “Money is not the only answer to problems that people deal with, but it can certainly help provide a lot of resources and a lot of help.” The ministry was formed from the proceeds of the 1995 sale of Southern Baptist Hospital in New … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message staff writer HARRISONBURG, La. (LBM) – Mistin McGuffee’s eight-year-old twins had just returned from Kids Camp at Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center, Woodworth, when they boldly proclaimed to their friends and family their respective decisions to follow Christ and their desires to share their testimony through public baptism. LIKE SON, DAUGHTER, LIKE MOTHER McGuffee, who previously had surrendered to Jesus but had not been baptized, felt compelled to join Briley and Braylon in baptism, Oct. 3, at First Baptist Church, Harrisonburg. “I knew from previous conversations at home and then church camp that the Holy Spirit was beginning to convict my twins,” McGuffee, who attended camp with them, told the Baptist Message. “When I saw them raise their hands to indicate they had made a decision during one of the worship sessions, tears filled my eyes. “As we walked outside to talk as leaders and children, I remember them looking up at me and saying, ‘Momma, why are you crying,’” she continued. “I kept telling them these were happy tears, knowing I’d spend eternity with them.” AS LITTLE CHILDREN Pastor Philip Caples said the decisions by seven children, who accepted Christ at camp in … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Hurricane Ida operations are winding down at most sites around the state, but Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief coordinator Stan Statham emphasized volunteers will be needed for years to help residents rebuild. “The long-term rebuild phase is Katrina-like,” said Statham, referencing a multi-year effort following Hurricane Katrina in 2005. “With 116 churches damaged, including 28 significantly, it’s going to be a while before this area begins to get back on its feet.” Ida came ashore near Port Fourchon around 11:55 a.m. Aug. 29 as a Category 4 storm (maximum sustained winds of 150 mph, just seven mph short of Category 5 status), tying Hurricane Laura (2020) and the Last Island Hurricane (1856) as the most-powerful hurricanes to hit Louisiana. The storm dumped up to 15 inches of rain in some areas, knocked out power to more than 1.1 million at one time and spanned a diameter of 414 miles, according to AccuWeather. Statham praised the volunteers from 31 state conventions that deployed with Louisiana Baptist DR workers throughout the state at various times, ministering from 13 response centers. Through mid-October, there were 929 Gospel presentations, with … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Messengers and guests to the 2021 Louisiana Baptist Convention Annual Meeting, Nov. 16, will be encouraged to seek personal revival. At the meeting, a 28-day personal revival guide authored by Louisiana Baptist Executive Director Steve Horn will be distributed and those in attendance will be encouraged to complete the “Change Me” booklet. “Our Convention president, Dr. David Cranford, has been gracious in working with me to establish the theme of our meeting — ‘Change Me,’” Horn told the Baptist Message. “‘Change Me’ is the title of a 28-day personal revival guide I’ve authored. Every messenger and attendee will have the opportunity to receive a copy of this resource during our Tuesday morning session. We’ve also enlisted the talents of ‘The Skit Guys’ to help us visualize and apply the themes of this emphasis. I’m asking God to use this year’s annual meeting, followed by hundreds of Louisiana Baptists using this tool, to bring personal revival to all of us. I have become more and more convinced that ‘great awakening’ begins at the individual level. God needs to work in us so revival can spread among us.” OTHER BUSINESS Messengers also will consider … [Read more...]