By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer SLIDELL – Glenda Ledet’s life changed when her hometown church went down in flames July 2, 2016. It jarred her into realizing she needed to return to Bayou Baptist Church and her walk with Christ. Surrounded by friends and family, Ledet was one of two people baptized Jan. 29, a week after the dedication of the church’s new facility. “My dad was in ICU when we got the news that the church had burned,” Ledet said. “I felt this was a wake-up call, to come back to God after drifting away and return to the church I grew up in.” She had professed Christ at a younger age, but had not been obedient through baptism. “God was calling me back,” she said, “and since then I’ve never felt closer than I am now.” The special day drew some of Ledet’s family members who had not stepped inside a church building in many, many years. “I was so thrilled they came and I think maybe this will change their lives,” Ledet said. “A seed was planted and I am hoping and praying for them.” She is equally excited about God’s plan for her church. “My church has overcome a lot and I’m excited about where we are headed in the future.” THREE DISASTERS Like Ledet, other Bayou Baptist … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message ZACHARY – Jeff Palmer, executive director of Baptist Global Response, will headline the 2017 Louisiana Baptist Agricultural Missions Fellowship annual meeting. Scheduled to kick off at 9 a.m. March 18 at First Baptist Church in Zachary, the meeting will include a discussion by an agricultural missionary on how God continues to use the industry to help people help themselves in Eastern Europe. Other activities planned at the meeting include a time of worship and lunch. “The annual meeting of the Louisiana Baptist Agricultural Missions Fellowship is pleased to have Jeff Palmer as its keynote speaker,” said David Morrison, vice-president of the Louisiana Baptist Agricultural Missions Fellowship, in an e-mailed statement to the Baptist Message. “He is one of God’s most effective agricultural and development missionaries. “Much of Dr. Palmer’s early overseas training was received under the leadership of Harold Watson who established the Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center in the Philippines, which is recognized throughout Asia,” Morrison continued. Palmer currently serves as CEO for Baptist Global Response in Nashville. BGR is a non-profit Southern Baptist relief and development … [Read more...]

By Norm Miller, LCNews PINEVILLE – The Mosaic generation, those between the ages of 18 and 23, “rarely” have a biblical worldview as defined by The Barna Group. That’s what the christianpost.com reported in 2009, and Christianity’s cultural influence remains in an abysmal state. Barna’s research data found that less than one-half of one percent of Mosaics have a biblical worldview, which is defined by: - believing that absolute moral truth exists; - the Bible is completely accurate in all of the principles it teaches; - Satan is considered to be a real being or force, not merely symbolic; - a person cannot earn their way into Heaven by good works; - Jesus Christ lived a sinless life on earth; and - God is the all-knowing, all-powerful creator of the world who still rules the universe today. The Barna Group also states: “An increasing number of religiously unaffiliated, a steady drop in church attendance, the recent Supreme Court decision on same-sex marriage, and the growing tension over religious freedoms all point to a larger secularizing trend sweeping across the nation.” “Situational ethics have replaced integrity and relativism has supplanted veracity. Values are no longer objective and truth … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer MINAS GERAIS, Brazil – Wayne Jenkins is making an urgent plea for Louisiana Baptists to join him in the annual summer mission trip to Brazil. Those participating have a chance to experience a life-changing opportunity and the ability to impact an area where just 2 to 3 percent of its residents profess to know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. Last year, 98 participants led 3,202 people to the Lord. “We have been working here with our SBC missionaries and Brazilian Baptists for 33 years,” said Jenkins, Louisiana Baptists evangelism and church growth director. “The areas they have assigned us are unreached and in need of both spiritual and physical ministry. Much of the work is done with two-thirds of the people living in extreme poverty. “This is a trip that can change your life,” he continued. “One of the volunteers who has gone several years sums up what many have said, ‘No other trips have had a larger impact on my life in ministry or a larger impact through my life in eternity than Beyond the Walls ministry’s trips to Brazil.’” The team will leave for Brazil on one of two departure dates – July 6 or 7 – and return either July 17 or July 19, if volunteers elect to stay … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer MONROE – With the completion of a wall and security tower in mid-February, the Louisiana Baptist Convention and Haiti Baptist Convention are much closer to fulfilling a five-year dream of having a facility to house children and train pastors. Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home and Family Ministries President Perry Hancock shared the news during the entity’s Feb. 24 board meeting, telling trustees that he is optimistic some of the dormitories for children will be ready by the end of the year. “The need in Haiti is significant,” Hancock said. “But with great need comes great opportunity for God’s people to share the Gospel in word and deed. It has taken a few years to gain traction, but the project is now moving forward.” The Louisiana Reach Haiti project is an effort sponsored by Hancock’s ministry, the LBC, HBC and 30 Louisiana Baptist churches. Haiti was devastated by 2010 earthquake that killed more than 250,000 people and left hundreds of thousands homeless. Louisiana Baptists were among the first to provide disaster relief, and since then have maintained a ministry presence through mission trips that includes construction projects, pastor training, medical clinics, food, … [Read more...]