Click to Login or Sign Up

Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Prayer precedes Bayou Baptist Association crusade

By Message Staff HOUMA – The 33 churches of Bayou Baptist Association have united and devoted a year to a series of prayer meetings in preparation for a harvest of souls during its upcoming "Churches United" crusade. Scheduled for March 28-30 at three separate locations nightly, the crusade will include powerful messages by Preston Nix, an evangelism professor at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and Duane and Iris Blue, past state Evangelism Conference speakers; and special music by a multi-denominational praise team. The crusade will be held March 28, 7 p.m., at Cut Off Youth Center; March 29, 7 p.m., at South Terrebonne High School in Bourg; and March 30, 5 p.m., at Peltier Auditorium on the Nicholls State University campus in Thibodaux. Since March 2018, the crusade planning task force, led by crusade director JP Cox, pastor of University Baptist Church in Thibodaux, has met monthly to pray about reaching Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes through a joint evangelistic effort. Soon after they began meeting, Cox said the Holy Spirit confirmed their desire to hold the crusade. "Ever since I became pastor of University Baptist Church four years ago, I really have been burdened for the spiritual lostness in our … [Read more...]

Easter Reflections: Day 2

As Easter approaches, the Baptist Message team invites you to pause daily from the hustle and bustle of life to focus on the days leading up to Easter or Resurrection Sunday. Join us in this challenge to read through the Gospels to get a greater understanding of Jesus’ birth, ministry, death and resurrection. Day 2: Luke 1-2 (NKJV) ================================== (Luke 1) Dedication to Theophilus 1 Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed. John’s Birth Announced to Zacharias 5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 7 But they had no child, because … [Read more...]

Easter Reflections: Day 1

As Easter approaches, the Baptist Message team invites you to pause daily from the hustle and bustle of life to focus on the days leading up to Easter or Resurrection Sunday. Join us in this challenge to read through the Gospels to get a greater understanding of Jesus’ birth, ministry, death and resurrection. Day 1: Mark 15-16 (NKJV) ================================== (Mark 15) Jesus Faces Pilate 1 Immediately, in the morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council; and they bound Jesus, led Him away, and delivered Him to Pilate. 2 Then Pilate asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” He answered and said to him, “It is as you say.” 3 And the chief priests accused Him of many things, but He answered nothing. 4 Then Pilate asked Him again, saying, “Do You answer nothing? See how many things they testify against You!” 5 But Jesus still answered nothing, so that Pilate marveled. Taking the Place of Barabbas 6 Now at the feast he was accustomed to releasing one prisoner to them, whomever they requested. 7 And there was one named Barabbas, who was chained with his fellow rebels; they had committed murder in the rebellion. 8 Then the multitude, crying aloud, began to … [Read more...]

Holy living in an unholy world

By Steve Horn Corinth was by all historical accounts a very wicked place. When Paul established a church there, he was establishing a church in the midst of one of the most difficult cities of his day. When we move to the letters called 1 and 2 Corinthians, we realize that the struggle in Corinth continued. Paul confronts them in the first letter and defends that confrontation in the second letter even as he commends them for hanging tough in the midst of an unholy world. In 2 Corinthians 6-7, I note some principles for living holy in an unholy world. You cannot be holy and walk with unholy people. (6:14-16) Paul raised five rhetorical questions. People like to apply this passage to marriage. That is a good application, but note that this is not found in the context of this passage. As such, this issue of being unequally yoked should be a principle of every relationship in life. You cannot walk with God and participate in unholy activity. (6:16-7:1) You do want God to walk with you don’t you? So do I. There is a requirement. We must walk in holiness. Holiness must be pursued in the life of the believer in the fear of God. (7:1) Fearing God is a good thing when fearing Him rightly leads to … [Read more...]

Executive Committee to vote on presidential nominee April 2

By David Roach, Baptist Press DALLAS (BP) - The Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee will hold a special called meeting in Dallas April 2 to vote on a presidential nominee, EC chairman Mike Stone announced March 19. The EC's presidential search committee "has confirmed a nominee," Stone said in an email to the full EC. The nominee's name will be announced March 31. The special called meeting, to be held at the Grand Hyatt at the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport, "will include a report from the search committee, a question and answer session with the nominee, and a committee vote on the nomination. The meeting, primarily held in executive session will begin at 11 a.m. and is anticipated to conclude by 3 p.m.," said Stone, pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Blackshear, Ga. According to Article 6 of the EC Bylaws, "the committee shall offer to the board of trustees, in a meeting of the board held in executive session, a nominee for the office of president." No other nominations may be offered at the meeting, and the nominee must receive "a majority vote of [the EC members] present" to be elected. The vote will be taken by written ballot. The seven-member presidential search committee announced in February it … [Read more...]

Goldonna Baptist hosting prayer march for troops battling PTSD

By Message Staff GOLDONNA – Goldonna Baptist Church has teamed up with the non-profit ministry group Faith Comes By Hearing to host a prayer march for American troops and all suicide survivors March 23. The Jericho Prayer March begins at 10 a.m. at Goldonna Baptist, 287 Ash St. Subsequently, the church is selling grilled chicken plates for $7 until 3 p.m. to help the ministry to purchase Bible sticks for members of the military. These devices are the size of a pack of chewing gum and contain an audio version of the entire New Testament and selected Psalms. “One of the reasons soldiers go to the chaplains is due to suffering Post Traumatic Stress Disorder,” said Pastor Jason Womack. “They’re having trouble coping with what they have seen or at times even done and need something real and tangible to help them heal. “These men and women build walls around their problem and oftentimes self-medicate for years,” he continued. “The saddest part is that a lot of these young people go without help or hope until they take their own lives. The members of Goldonna Baptist Church and I want to invite anyone who is interested to be involved in a Jericho Prayer March for the troops and also for all suicide survivors.” For more … [Read more...]

Baptist Global Response launches third annual Well Dig Dare

By Global Baptist Response NASHVILLE –Baptist Global Response, a Southern Baptist humanitarian aid organization, is challenging Southern Baptists to take on its third annual Well Dig Dare. In 2018, BGR supporters raised over $30,000, providing 30 wells for communities in need. In 2019 the organization's goal is increase once again and raise $40,000 for 40 wells and water systems. In conjunction with World Water Day, BGR will launch the Well Dig Dare on March 22. Donors are challenged to raise $1,000, which is about the cost of one well and will have until April 30th to reach their fundraising goal. This year, participants will have access to online resources where they can choose to make a donation or fundraise with others. “Last year, generous friends of BGR provided over 800 total community water systems around the world. This gave clean water to almost 250,000 people!” says Jeff Palmer, BGR CEO. “About 30 of these wells came from partners who participated in the Well Dig Dare program. This year, we would like to provide 40 wells through our 2019 Well Dig Dare initiative. That will give clean water and the hope of living water to almost 8,000 people! It is always a wonderful experience to see a community turn on the … [Read more...]

Seventh Circuit panel rules unanimously to uphold constitutionality of minister’s housing allowance

By Roy Hayhurst, GuideStone Financial Resources A three-judge panel of the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago ruled that the minister’s housing allowance is constitutional under two landmark legal precedents, reversing a lower court’s ruling that declared the minister’s cash housing allowance unconstitutional because it violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. That ruling — issued December 31, 2017 — had been stayed until 180 days after all appeals were exhausted. The same lower court had made a similar ruling in 2013 that was overturned on appeal in 2014. In oral arguments in October 2018 in Chicago, Justice Department attorney Jesse Panuccio defended the housing allowance as constitutional, arguing that it satisfies the requirements of Lemon v. Kurtzman, a 1971 United States Supreme Court decision that articulated a three-prong test for determining whether a legislative act violates the Establishment Clause. He also argued that the provision is constitutional under Town of Greece v. Galloway, a 2013 Supreme Court decision regarding prayers before the opening of a legislative session that suggested that Establishment Clause challenges must be viewed by reference to historical practices and … [Read more...]

Jesus and prayer

By Waylon Bailey Jesus was a man of prayer, and He left His church to be a people of prayer. One of the many things that stand out about Jesus was His devotion in prayer. Mark noted how Jesus prayed. At the beginning (Mark 1:35), middle (Mark 6:46), and end of the Gospel (Mark 14:32), Mark showed that Jesus prayed. He prayed with intensity and purpose. The first reference sets the tone for the prayer ministry of Jesus: “And in the early morning, while it was still dark, He arose and went out and departed to a lonely place, and was praying there.” Jesus often talked about prayer and modeled it for His disciples. Mark 11:20-26 seems to particularly teach us about prayer. Three takeaways from what Jesus said about prayer in Mark 11:20-26. First, prayer is essential for the church and the mission God has given us. The only thing limiting us is our prayerlessness. Notice how the early church prayed, and notice how the early church carried the gospel to the lost world. Within 300 years, the early church reached millions of people so that the Roman world could be called Christian. Second, we cannot pray without faith in God. It simply is not possible. You cannot have prayer without faith in God. What would prayer be … [Read more...]

Fream challenges LC students to be champions for Christ

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE – Don’t be satisfied for a participation trophy, but rather to always strive to become a champion for Christ. John Fream, pastor of Cypress Baptist Church in Benton, challenged students at Louisiana College campus revival March 12-14 to go all out for Jesus Christ and hold nothing back. “What God has called us to is to be are champions in everything we do,” said Fream. “Do everything you can to be your best for the glory of God. We’re not called just to participate. Part of the problem in the Christian world is that we think we’ve just got to show up, to just do enough so we can get an award because we participated. No, we need to be the best in everything that we do.” Drawing off 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Fream said the only way to become a champion is to place one’s trust in Christ. “Nothing else compares to that,” Fream said. “What does it profit a man or woman to win a Super Bowl, to win a Grammy, to win an Oscar, to make millions and millions of dollars, but yet lose their soul for eternity?” Fream said some of life’s greatest leaders possessed five common traits that set them apart from others: incredibly focused, a “can-do” attitude, hard work, power of … [Read more...]