By Baptist Message staff BOSSIER CITY, La. (LBM) – An armed man was arrested after he entered a worship service at Bellaire Baptist Church June 1. According to KTBS-TV Shreveport, Christopher Dewayne Strong was arrested on the scene after church security detained him. Strong entered the worship center and climbed onto the media platform in the back of the room during the 10:15 am service. The sound technician quietly alerted church security, though the congregation remained unaware of the incident as it occurred. Strong, who brought a gun and backpack full of ammunition into the building, faces multiple charges including illegal carrying of a weapon, simple battery and terrorism. Bellaire Baptist Executive Pastor Jeff Harper told the Baptist Message that the church is thankful its security team quickly addressed the situation and that the Bossier City Police Department responded promptly. “We are grateful for God’s protection Sunday,” Harper said. “Our security team deescalated the situation. Thankfully, our security personnel were able to keep the worst from happening.” … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff DERIDDER, La. (LBM) - A day after an arsonist tried to set fire to First Baptist Church, DeRidder, detectives have located the individual they believe committed the crime. According to a June 1 news release from the DeRidder Police Department, detectives used surveillance footage and other camera images to identify a vehicle and a suspect only to learn he had been booked in another parish jail on unrelated charges not long after the incident at the church. Detectives believe they have enough evidence for an arrest and are confident the individual acted alone. They expect to release a full report once the arrest is made, the news release said. “The church is grateful that the  suspect is in custody,” FBC DeRidder Administrative Pastor Steve Thomas told the Baptist Message. “It is an answer to prayer that this took place without any other incidents happening. “The church has also prayerfully committed itself to move forward without fear of any future copycat attacks," he added. “We have all agreed to not only be thankful for answered prayer of God’s protection, but also to pray for the suspect in custody to come to experience a personal relationship with Christ.  It is our prayer that God will use … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff DERIDDER, La. (LBM) - Authorities are investigating an early morning attempted arson that took place May 31 at First Baptist DeRidder. According to a news release from the DeRidder Police Department, the suspect appeared to be a heavy set white male attempted to set fire to the church. He was driving a small, dark SUV and approached the church from U.S. Highway 171 South and headed back in the same direction after the incident. The suspect may have minor to moderate burns to his arms and legs, the news release said. “The people of First Baptist DeRidder met at our Associational office while their facility was being investigated as a crime scene,” Beauregard Baptist Associational Mission Strategist Tom Bruce told the Baptist Message.  “We prayed for their church, their Gospel witness, and the perpetrator(s). “Ultimately we knew that as awful as this was, it could have been so much worse and our situation doesn't even come close to what the church gathered in other parts of the world endures,” he continued. “We know God will bring good out of what the devil wishes to use to destroy. We prayed that this will ignight a revival in the church and around the state.” Authorities have asked … [Read more...]