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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Credentials Committee: Messengers must register for annual meeting

By Staff, Baptist Message ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM)— In order for a church to be represented during the business portions of the Louisiana Baptist Convention to be held Nov. 16 in North Monroe Baptist Church, Monroe, it will need to elect messenger(s), who then must register and be certified by the Committee on Credentials. LBC Credentials Committee Chairman Mark Morelock noted to the Baptist Message that there are five ways for messengers to register and be approved: — The first and simplest way is for messengers to pre-register using www.LaOne.org and print out the registration card to bring to the annual meeting. This way allows messengers to be certified within a matter of minutes, Morelock said. — Second, a messenger may bring a note on official letterhead signed by the pastor or church clerk, stating that the individual was elected by the congregation. — Third, a church officer can phone in the names of elected messengers. — Fourth, a person can be vouchsafed as a duly elected messenger by a fellow registered church member. — Finally, when there are no other means by which to validate a person, the Committee on Credentials may be called into session to rule on the registration request. Morelock emphasized … [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 Jim Wallace is the new pastor at First Baptist Church, Cotton Valley. Keith Dowden is the new pastor at Pine Hill Baptist Church, Leesville. He was the pastor at South Central Baptist Church, Wisner. REVIVAL Fellowship Baptist Church, Trout: Revival, October 31, November 3, Sunday, 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.; Monday-Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. Evangelist: Scotty McDowell. Music: Glenn Price, Philadelphia Baptist Church. A nursery will be provided. Pastor: Shad Tibbs. Trinity Baptist Church, Turkey Creek: The Mackey Willis Family in concert, November 7, Pastor: Eddie Douglas. Goodwill Baptist Church, Oak Grove: Revival, November 8-12. Evangelist: Malcolm Ellis. Pastor: Lucas House. First Baptist Church, Bernice: Revival, November 11-14, 7 p.m. nightly. Evangelist Stephen Laughlin. Music: Ted Bertand. … [Read more...]

COVID claims life of missions advocate Randy Carruth

FOREST HILL, La. (LBM) – Randy Carruth, founder and president of I Am Able Ministries based in Forest Hill, died Friday, Oct. 15, after being on a ventilator for four weeks with COVID, family members shared. Carruth’s ministry consisted of finding money and volunteers for various missions projects – often church construction or vacation Bible school – across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Ukraine and Honduras. Amiable Baptist Church in Glenmora was his home church since before he made a profession of faith in Jesus as a bashful 10-year-old boy, relatives said. In time Carruth became a Sunday School teacher, youth leader and deacon. According to his wife, he turned to the ministry after a work-related accident in 1997. Reading missionaries’ prayer requests made him want to help, said Carruth’s wife of 43 years, Savannah NesSmith Carruth. His first short-term missions trip was to Mayan Indians in Mexico. That sparked Carruth’s interest in ministry with and among indigenous people. That interest culminated in Carruth working with other Southern Baptist pastors to start the All Nations Camp Meeting on the grounds of the Coushatta Indian Reservation, about 45 minutes northeast of Lake Charles, Louisiana. News outlets … [Read more...]

The soul sustaining habit of scripture memory

By Lane Corley MADISONVILLE, La. - Three years ago, our family was going through one of those down seasons in the ups and downs of life. My mental focus and physical health was declining. I was discouraged and struggling mentally and emotionally. I knew I needed to change a few habits. As part of a recovery process, I deleted a bunch of apps on my phone and dusted off an app I had dutifully downloaded but never utilized: The Bible Memory App. I’m now over three years of daily usage. I have over 1,700 verses mastered and review 25-50 verses everyday. The habit of scripture memory has greatly improved my spiritual and mental health. It’s helped my preaching, speaking, and my discipling of others, as a growing library of verses are easily recalled in conversation and speaking opportunities. While the Bible Memory App has worked for me, I don’t want to recommend that only. I want to recommend the soul sustaining habit of scripture memory. Find a way that works for you to hide God’s word in your heart. Lane Corley is a Louisiana Baptist church planting strategist and pastor of the Bridge Church in Madisonville. … [Read more...]

CENLA Pregnancy Center receives prestigious adoption award

The CENLA Pregnancy Center recently received the 2021 Always St. Elizabeth Award for their promotion and support of adoption. Executive Director Claire Lemoine and Volunteer/Education Coordinator Maria Burke accepted the award on behalf of the center during the St. Elizabeth Foundation gala Oct. 5 in Baton Rouge. Located at 1254 MacArthur Drive in Alexandria, next to the Louisiana Baptist Building, the center since it opened Dec. 4, 2017, has served 964 women through pregnancy decision coaching by trained advocates, free pregnancy tests, free ultrasounds, information about pregnancy options, maternity and physical resources and post-decision support including parenting education and abortion recovery groups. … [Read more...]

Floyd resigns after SBC EC waives attorney-client privilege

Dear SBC Executive Committee Trustees and SBC Family, I was planning to release this letter on Monday, Oct. 11; however, I delayed the publishing of this letter until today, due to the death of my mother-in-law on Sunday and then the funeral which took place on Wednesday afternoon in Bridgeport, Texas, Oct. 13. After serving as the senior pastor of the same church for over thirty-two years, I came here twenty-eight months ago in good faith because I believed in what we do together to advance the Good News of Jesus Christ to the whole world. It was this personal and pastoral commitment to the Great Commission vision that moved me to lead my church to invest heavily in the Cooperative Program and the ministries of the Southern Baptist Convention. The Bible tells us in Psalm 90:12 these words, “Teach us to number our days carefully so we may develop wisdom in our hearts.” We are told these words because each of our days are limited and we must determine how we believe God wants us to use them for His glory. While Jeana and I have no idea where we are going and what we will do in the future, today I submit my resignation as the President and CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee. I will serve through … [Read more...]