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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

They were listening to them

By Bill Britt HAUGHTON, La. – Of all people, the Apostle Paul could have legitimately complained about the circumstances that he endured throughout his life. When we look back to the beginning of Paul’s journey as a believer, we see that he received a message from the Lord that illuminated the path he was about to embark on. Luke wrote the account of Paul’s conversion in the book of Acts. Paul had been known as Saul until the time of his encounter with Jesus. We know that Saul had been persecuting the church, and he truly believed that he was doing God a favor. You can read about the amazing life change that brought Saul to become Paul in Acts 9. It is only the Gospel of Jesus Christ that can change the heart of any man or woman. Saul was given a message from God through a man named Ananias. This is that message. Saul would become a great man of God and would preach the Gospel to the Gentiles as well as to the children of Israel. He would preach to both royalty and the common man. However, he would suffer many things for the sake of Jesus (The Lord has never watered down the cost of following him.) Paul heard the command of the Lord and knew it would not be easy. In light of this revelation from the Lord, he set out on … [Read more...]

LBDR wildfire response wraps up in Beauregard Parish

By Baptist Message staff DERIDDER, La. (LBM) – Nearly two weeks after wildfires broke out in Beauregard Parish, Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief teams have wrapped up efforts in the area. According to LBDR Strategist Stan Statham, teams prepared 5,509 meals, distributed 50 tracts, had 27 Gospel conversations and saw one individual come to faith in Christ from Aug. 23 to Sept. 2. “This DR deployment demonstrated the true spirit of the Cooperative Program,” Statham told the Baptist Message. “Local churches, the Beauregard Baptist Association and the LBC joined together to meet the needs of evacuees and first responders.” Statham said the Georgia Barnette Louisiana Missions Offering provided half the funds to assist Philadelphia Baptist Church Deville in purchasing the quick response feeding unit trailer that proved to be a great resource in this disaster. “Our first meal was served just four hours after we received the request for help,” Statham said. According to a news release from the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, crews are battling fires in four areas: Tiger Island, Highway 113 near Oakdale, Lions Camp Road and Elizabeth Tiger Island A fire was first reported Aug. 22 in Tiger … [Read more...]

LCU begins faith integration workshops for faculty

By Elizabeth Clarke, LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) – Louisiana Christian University has adopted a new initiative during the 2023-2024 school year to integrate faith into every academic course. “Students coming to LCU expect to learn about faith and theology in the religion classes and in Chapel, but we want to be intentional about our mission and vision here,” said LCU President Rick Brewer. “We want students to know that no matter what their individual callings are professionally, that the Lord expects all Christians to be evangelists. We are preparing graduates and transforming lives because we know transformed people transform culture.” Each syllabus will include references to faith and how it will be tied to the individual disciplines students are studying. Additionally, workshops throughout the year will be held to train faculty how to be purposeful not only with integrating faith into their courses but tying it to the specific learning outcomes and subject matter of their courses. Louisiana Baptist Executive Director Steve Horn commended LCU faculty for their efforts to incorporate faith into the classroom, during the first faculty workshop on Aug. 31. He encouraged them to continue creating a culture of … [Read more...]

VIDEO: CENLA Pregnancy Center announces theme for ‘Gift of Life’ banquet

ALEXANDRIA, La. - The CENLA Pregnancy Center has announced the upcoming Gift of Life banquet's theme, "A Royal Homecoming." The largest fundraiser of the year for the pregnancy center, the event will feature Claire Lemoine (former CPC executive director, who will emcee of the event), a testimony by a former CPC client, music by a local band comprising members from area multi-denominational churches and updates about how God has used this ministry to help serve moms in need so they can experience healthy pregnancies. To purchase individual tickets, call 318.314-3061 or visit the event website. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtLipLePvV4&feature=youtu.be … [Read more...]

FIRST PERSON: God was at work in the rescue of a Louisiana family on a Tennessee lake

By Laura Holeman Trahan, special to the Baptist Message DANDRIDGE, Tenn. (LBM) -- In the Bible, the Hebrew word “ruach” is translated as wind, breath and spirit, interchangeably. How ever one chooses to interpret it, God was undeniably hovering over our family this past Independence Day holiday in the form of “ruachַ” to guide us safely through a storm. In the hustle of church activities, work, summer sports, camps, trips, and more, summer in this season of life with two adolescent kids is not quite as free and easy as is often advertised. Consequently, when we realized all four of us were free on the same days of July 3 and 4, we decided to relive some of our best family memories of primitive camping on one of the many TVA-owned islands on Douglas Lake. Excited by the possibility of disconnecting from the outside world and connecting with each other, we loaded our four kayaks with camping gear and launched our boats across the street from our house. After paddling a mere 100 feet from shore, the blue sky turned black, and a heavy downpour drenched us for roughly five minutes. We could not communicate in the storm, and my husband and the kids continued to paddle forward while I turned back to the shore. When the rain … [Read more...]

Churches pray, serve amid wildfire responses

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer SINGER, La. (LBM) – Churches in Beauregard and Vernon Baptist associations gathered for special prayer services Aug. 27 and asked God for much needed rain in areas where wildfires have scorched more than 50,000 acres. Sunday, the congregations of First Baptist Church, DeRidder, and East Leesville Baptist Church services sought God’s help, through prayer, to ask the Almighty to intervene as weary first responders, church members and people in the community have waged a two-week battle against the wildfires. By the end of the evening, their prayers were answered as many areas in west-central Louisiana saw their first measurable rainfall since mid-July. The Sunday evening gathering at FBC DeRidder drew more than 350 while the service at East Leesville Baptist had more than 120. “We believe that God wants His people to draw close to Him in every circumstance,” FBC DeRidder Pastor Steve Graves told the Baptist Message after the service. “The drought and fires happen to be the circumstance that has brought our community closer to God. And when that happens, it’s pleasing to God and honors God. “God is faithful, whether it rains or not,” he continued. “And last night, in his … [Read more...]

DR fire response continues in Singer/Merryville

By Baptist Message staff SINGER, La. (LBM) – As wildfires continue to rage in Beauregard Parish, Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief teams and churches remain in the area to show Christ’s love to those impacted. According to Gary Hahler, pastor of Shady Grove Baptist Church, Pitkin, and DR coordinator for Beauregard Baptist Association, a Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief feeding team had cooked 450 meals since Wednesday for first responders battling the fires. “Yesterday during supper preparations, the quick response feeding unit (from Philadelphia Baptist Church, Deville) had to evacuate where they were preparing meals at First Baptist Church in Singer because the fire took an unexpected turn,” LBDR Strategist Stan Statham told the Baptist Message. “The quickly moved to the Beauregard Baptist Association office in DeRidder, reopened and fed first responders. Once again, they showed the determination of our volunteers.” Philadelphia Baptist Church is providing a feeding trailer while other churches have stepped up as well to provide feeding team members: Trinity Baptist Church, Oakdale, Glenmora Baptist Church, Shady Grove Baptist Church, Pitkin, Singer Baptist Church, Cherry Grove Baptist Church, Dry Creek, New Life … [Read more...]

Freshmen welcomed to Wildcat family at Convocation

By Elizabeth Clarke, LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) – Louisiana Christian University welcomed 250 freshmen and offered highlights from the most recent school year during its annual convocation ceremony, Aug. 23. LCU President Rick Brewer delivered a message based on Galatians 5:1, the first of many that students will hear from faculty and guest speakers on the book of Galatians throughout chapel services for the 2023-2024 school year. “Christian education is about preparing you for life; we at LCU seek to prepare graduates and transform lives,” Brewer told the students gathered inside Guinn Auditorium. “We believe that transformed people transform communities, transform culture, transform families and others’ lives.” Freshmen attended in their major cohorts with their faculty mentors. During the ceremony, Brewer recognized LCU athletes and others for their many accomplishments last year including: LCU received the Red River Athletic Conference Sportsmanship Award for the second year in a row; Olivia Scott was named recipient of the first Clarence and Rose Fields Emerging Black Leader Scholarship; Josie Holt was crowned Miss LCU and a Top 10 Finalist for Miss Louisiana; Addition of a new Master of … [Read more...]