By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA – A long-time Louisiana Baptist student minister has begun serving as the new youth strategist for Louisiana Baptists. Brandon Lewis, who began his new role Feb. 11, most recently was the student minister at the First Baptist Church, Haughton. Lewis said he is excited about pouring into student ministers and the next generation of church leaders, and what this new opportunity affords. “So many people invested in me as a young man through the years, and this is my opportunity to give back to them and others throughout the state,” he said. “As I became a parent, the Deuteronomy 6 mandate for parents to become the primary discipler of kids really was something we held to. I have a great desire to work and partner with parents as they work to disciple their kids. It’s important for youth pas-tors to know we aren’t the answer to discipleship but a re-enforcer of what parents are teaching their kids.” A native of Ruston, Lewis has served on staff of churches throughout the state, as well as in Texas when he was a student at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. He was a student minister at Baskin Baptist Church, the First Baptist Church, Winnfield, and … [Read more...]

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 6: Luke 9-10 (NKJV) ================================== (Luke 9) Jesus Sends Out the Twelve 1 When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3 He told them: “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt. 4 Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. 5 If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” 6 So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere. 7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was going on. And he was perplexed because some were saying that John had been raised from the dead, 8 others that Elijah had appeared, and still others that one of the prophets of long ago had come … [Read more...]

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 5: Luke 7-8 (NKJV) ================================== (Luke 7) The Faith of the Centurion 1 When Jesus had finished saying all this to the people who were listening, he entered Capernaum. 2 There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. 3 The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4 When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this, 5 because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” 6 So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. 7 That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I … [Read more...]

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 4: Luke 5-6 (NKJV) ================================== (Luke 5) Four Fishermen Called as Disciples 1 So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, 2 and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. 3 Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. 4 When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” 6 And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. 7 So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they … [Read more...]

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 3: Luke 3-4 (NKJV) ================================== (Luke 3) John the Baptist Prepares the Way 3 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene—2 during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord,     make straight paths for him. 5 Every valley shall be filled in,     every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight,     the rough ways smooth. 6 And all people will see God’s salvation.’” 7 John … [Read more...]

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...]

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...]

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...]