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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

WAYLON BAILEY: Three astounding teachings of Jesus

Almost everything Jesus said was astounding. We shouldn’t be surprised at this because of who made the statements and what He was talking about. Jesus was the Son of God who gave us principles for the Kingdom of God. People who talk about the facts of this life often make unusual or impactful statements, but even then they seem common sensical. But Jesus talked about the kingdom that is not of this world. He gave many astounding teachings. Here are three that are found in the Sermon on the Mount. First, Jesus taught that religious practices are for God rather than for other people. He told his followers that their fasting should be a picture of joy and happiness. Many people of Jesus’ day fasted to be seen of others and considered pious. Jesus taught His followers to practice their piety for God alone. Therefore, they should wash their face and put on a smile. Anything done for God produces joy and happiness. Instead of seeking to be seen as pious and observant, Jesus wanted His followers to be seen as joyful. Second, Jesus asserted that real treasure is heavenly and not earthly. He led His followers to seek to lay up treasure in heaven. He knew we needed to redirect our hearts toward heavenly things. Setting … [Read more...]

For a weather-weary state, the hits keep coming

Two Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief teams have been activated to respond to storms that rolled through the state Wednesday, May 3. A team from Live Oak Baptist Church in Watson and another from Many are traveling to Mamou to help with clean up in the aftermath of heavy flooding in the area. The Many team will work today (May 4) in Mamou while the Live Oak team will arrive tomorrow (May 5). Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief State Director Gibbie McMillan said he had not received any reports of churches damaged from Wednesday’s storms. The storm produced heavy rainfall in the state Wednesday. According to the National Weather Service, several daily rainfall records were set, including Lake Charles, which received 5.49 inches of rain, breaking the 2000 record of 4.16 inches;  New Iberia reported 4.93 inches of rain, more than the 4.16 inches in 2000; and Lafayette had at least 4.25 inches of rain, surpassing the record of 2.89 inches. Among the largest amounts were nearly 11 inches that fell in the Moss Bluff area and more than 10 inches south of Kinder. Golf ball-sized hail was reported in Allen and Rapides parishes and one inch hail was recorded in Vermillion Parish, according to the National Weather Service. High … [Read more...]

Prominent Southern Baptist Rose Long remembered for pro-life passion, love for others, Christ devotion

NATCHITOCHES - Rose Long, who was a prominent figure in Louisiana Baptist life, a national advocate for the unborn and a person of spiritual influence among state lawmakers, passed away April 30, at the age of 69. She was married for 50 years to Gerald Long, the president pro tempore of the Louisiana Senate, and the couple had three children, nine grandsons and one granddaughter. Rose Long served as chair of the Louisiana Baptist Moral and Social Concerns Committee in 2016, advocating for the protection of children from pornography, the moral rehabilitation of prisoners and the rescue and protection of women and children from human trafficking. She was a founding member of the Crisis Pregnancy Center in Rogers, Arkansas, a founding board member and first director of Life Choices in Ruston, Louisiana, and a board member and president of Women’s Resource Center in Natchitoches. Additionally, she chaired the Governor’s Prayer Breakfast Committee and likewise led the Louisiana Legends committee for Louisiana Public Broadcasting. The couple mentored college students, coaches and students through the 18 years they were involved with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She also led Bible study groups among women … [Read more...]

Mexico trip no spring break for BCM students

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer COAHUILA, Mexico – Instead of joining classmates on the beach or in the mountains for spring break, Baptist Collegiate Ministry students with Louisiana State University and Southern University, along with other Louisiana Baptists, took a road trip of their own – south of the border for a week of sharing the Gospel with thousands of Mexicans. By the conclusion of the mission trip, April 7-14 in the state of Coahuila near the U.S.-Mexico border, the team saw more than 30 people accept Christ, including two LSU students who thought they were there to minister to the spiritual transformation of others. UNITY & SERVICE LSU BCM Director Steve Masters said he was overjoyed with the students’ attitude of serving others first, no matter the unfamiliar situations they faced. “The vast majority of college students in the United States use their spring break to go on a trip or outing with friends,” Masters said. “I am very proud of our 2017 Mexico mission trip participants for using their spring break to spread the Gospel. They worked long hours, traveled in vans, slept on the floor or in bunk beds, did all this without air conditioning, and loved every minute of it.” The team … [Read more...]

Make the National Day of Prayer a priority this Thursday

By Steve Horn Thursday, May 4th, is the annual National Day of Prayer. As we approach this day, I am grateful for all of the prayer gatherings that will happen across the United States of America. In the Book of Acts, people are said to be praying 31 times. Of these 31 times … 14 times an individual is said to be praying. 2 times two or more people in a small group are said to be praying. 15 times the church is gathered in prayer. Half of the references to praying in the book of Acts are references to corporate praying! We see in Acts that there were appointed times and places for prayer. We see that the church prayed for power, wisdom, boldness to share Christ, in times of crisis, for missionaries, for pastors, and for each other. When the Early Church encountered a crisis, they didn’t pout, panic, protest, sign a petition, or organize a boycott. Instead, they prayed. Bob Russell, retired pastor of Southeast Bible Church in Louisville, KY, recounts the story of how his church once bought the building next door to the leading abortion clinic in Kentucky. They did some crisis pregnancy counseling out of this building, but mainly they prayed. As a result, in 18 months, the abortion clinic closed. It is not … [Read more...]