By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer WEST MONROE, La. (LBM) – Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office Captain Patrick Johnson has put himself in harm’s way to protect and serve the public for 23 years as a law enforcement officer. But recently he risked his own health and safety to extend the life of a stranger by donating a kidney. Johnson, a member of Ce­dar Crest Baptist Church, West Monroe, gifted the organ on Dec. 11, 2023. For his courageous act, Johnson was awarded the 2024 Heart of Law Enforcement Service Before Self Award dur­ing a ceremony in Baton Rouge. The award is given each year to Louisiana law enforcement of­ficers who have been nominated by their agencies or the public for acts of kindness they performed outside the scope of their normal duties for the previous year. “Looking back on it, I can say Jesus was there to help me the whole way,” Johnson told the Baptist Message. “And I see how he made me strong through the process. You don’t have to look very far to see somebody in seri­ous need that you can help. And I’ve seen what Jesus did for me and I just wanted to be part of this process. “It never was ‘my’ kidney,” he added. “I was just keeping it warm for Jesus until someone needed … [Read more...]

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Baptist Message provides churches an opportunity to share with other Louisiana Baptists an upcoming revival, homecoming, new pastor, new staff member, a community outreach, or a concert in Louisiana Notables. To place your event in the paper, send your information (who, what, where, when, time) to philip@baptistmessage.com or call 318.449.4345. Please submit your information four weeks prior to the event to insure placement in the Message. ON THE MOVE Emily Slay is the new Production Coordinator for the Louisiana Baptists Communications Team. T.J. (wife Kaycie) Weed is the new Youth Minister at Alto Baptist Church, Alto, Louisiana. Alan Miller is the Pastor. Paul (wife Sue) Perry will celebrate 50 years in the ministry, August 17 from 2-4 p.m., in Fellowship Hall at Coax Baptist Church, HWY 868, Winnsboro, La 71295. In a special services August 18, Jerry Grant will provide the music at 10 a.m. and Jim Richards was the guest preacher at 10:45 a.m. Lunch would follow after the worship service. Kevin (wife Malanie) Ulmer, formerly senior pastor at First Baptist, Ferriday, has joined the LBC Evangelism/Church Growth Team as the new evangelism strategist July 1. Blade (wife Lalynn) Foster is the new … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff​ MANSFIELD, La. (LBM) – Spawning tornadoes, destroying structures and knocking out power, Hurricane Beryl left its mark on Louisiana July 8. After making landfall earlier in the day as a Category 1 hurricane near Matagorda, Texas, Beryl made its way north with its outer bands scraping Louisiana causing destruction and flooding. The storm prompted the National Weather Service to issue nearly 70 tornado warnings in the region throughout the day. Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief Disaster Relief Associate/Volunteer Mobilizer Mark Morelock said teams were assessing damage Tuesday morning. Beulah Baptist Church, Mansfield, was among the structures damaged. Though the church itself was heavily damaged, no one was injured. Pastor Freddie Williford said the church, which had insurance, plans to move forward and rebuild. KTBS-TV reported downed trees and power lines in Pleasant Hill; and damage to structures at Jolly Rogers Marina on Toledo Bend, various parts of Sligo, the 2700 block of Bellevue Road in Haughton, and the Shady Park Mobile Home Park in Haughton. Two elderly people in southwest Caddo Parish sustained injuries after their mobile home was torn from its foundation, KTBS … [Read more...]