By Ainsley Holyfield, Office of U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday, Oct. 25 passed H.R. 469, the Sunshine for Regulations and Regulatory Decrees and Settlements Act. Included in this bill is the Judgment Fund Transparency Act which was amended by U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson (R-Benton) to further increase transparency for taxpayers and to ensure terrorist organizations are prohibited from receiving taxpayer funds. The Sunshine for Regulations and Regulatory Decrees and Settlements Act, with language from Johnson, increases accountability in the regulatory process by providing greater scrutiny of sue-and-settle cases, requires the Department of Justice to release details of payments made through the Judgment Fund and strengthens Congress’ ability to intervene ​i​n litigation regarding the constitutionality of federal ​statutes. Johnson, who is a member of First Baptist Church in Bossier City, spoke on the House floor in favor of this legislation Wednesday evening. “The United States should be combating terrorism, not funding it with our own ​taxpayer dollars,” Johnson said in a statement. “Yet previous administrations have used loopholes in the law to conceal payments to … [Read more...]

JONESVILLE - A three-day revival at Jonesville's Block High School football field is coming to an end, with organizers celebrating decisions already made for Christ. Scheduled Oct. 23-25, the Four Rivers Awakening Revival features guest evangelist Herb Reavis and musical guest Brad Mount. The final revival service is scheduled for 7 p.m. The Baptist Message will have more on this story later. … [Read more...]

By Message Staff GRAMBLING – Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Director David Hankins is asking for prayers after an early morning shooting Wednesday, Oct. 25, at Grambling State University left two men dead, one of whom was a student at the school. “The brokenness of our world sadly continues to be on display, as we learned from the shooting on the Grambling campus,” Hankins told the Baptist Message. “Our hearts are grieved for the families of the victims. I ask all Louisiana Baptists to pray for comfort and for wisdom for our campus BCM director, Roy Brown, and area churches as they minister to the Grambling community in the days ahead.  I also ask you to join me in praying for God’s hand of restraint on the evil that has reared its head again. We’re reminded in God’s word to not be overcome by evil, but to overcome evil with good.” According to a news release from the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office media relations office, shortly after midnight the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office was called to assist the Grambling State police in reference to a shooting on campus. Two male victims, Earl Andrews and Monquiarious Caldwell, both of Farmerville, were later pronounced dead at the scene from apparent gunshot wounds. … [Read more...]