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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Mark Johnson elected 10th president of Louisiana Christian University.

By Staff, LCMedia PINEVILLE, Louisiana -- The Louisiana Christian University Board of Trustees has approved  Mark Johnson, the current director of the Doctor of Ministry program at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, its 10th president, upon recommendation of the presidential search committee. “There have been countless hours of prayer, listening, seeking, reading resumes and other application materials, while asking God to guide this process and have His way,” said Tommy Kiker, chair of the search committee. “With this vote today, approving Mark Johnson as the 10th president in the history of Louisiana Christian University, we believe God has graciously and wonderfully answered those prayers and blessed this labor.” In May 2024, the board of trustees created a presidential search committee comprising four board members and two LCU faculty, assisted by a candidate search consultant. The committee was tasked with conducting its search independently and as transparently as possible while maintaining the confidentiality of the candidates being reviewed. The committee has carried out this mission without external influence, fully trusting God in the process, and maintaining a high level of integrity and confidence in their … [Read more...]

EVANGELISM 101 (Part 2): Four soul-winning approaches

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Leading someone to saving knowledge in Christ is not a “one size fits all” spiritual effort. Just as Christ used different methods to heal the sick and afflicted, the Holy Spirit offers different methods for different con­texts to successfully share the Gospel with the lost. Remember, the Holy Spirit was active in cre­ation (Gen. 1:1), as well as during the times of the Old Testament (consider the anointing on Moses, Saul, David, Bezalel & Oholiab, Othniel, Samson, etc.) and New Testament (e.g. Peter at Pentecost, Paul while confronting the sorcerer Elymas). Most importantly, He is active today (John 14:15-18; 15:26-27; 16:5-15), specif­ically in salvation (John 16:8; Ephesians 1:13-14) and in holy living afterwards (Galatians 5:22-23). There may be hybrids of each, according to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, but the following soul-winning approach­es largely define how to engage unbelievers in the four contexts for evange­lism presented in God’s Word. CONFRONTATIONAL Many people visualize all evangelism as publicly confronting sinners (some­thing akin to “street cor­ner” preaching). However, the Holy Spirit designed this … [Read more...]

ECON 2025: Continue to build a culture of evangelism

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer COVINGTON, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptists were en­couraged to reach their friends and family for Christ as part of the continuing effort to create a culture of evangelism within their congregations. during ECON 2025, held in the facilities of First Bap­tist Church, Covington, Jan. 27-28. ECON featured Louisiana Baptist pastors, seminary profes­sors, a women’s ministry leader, vocational evangelists, an evan­gelism vice president from the North American Mission Board, and the president and CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee. The event also included times of worship led by a combined choir (FBC Coving­ton and area churches) as well as Selah, an award-winning Christian contemporary music trio. MIKE COURTNEY Mike Courtney, itinerant evan­gelist in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas, reminded Louisiana Bap­tists to be faithful in their call to share the Gospel. “In spite of your failures, keep fishing,” said Courtney, draw­ing from Jesus’ commandment to the disciples to be fishers of men in Luke 5:1-11. “This is a call to faithfulness even when and if we have failed.” He reminded Louisiana Baptists that the passage is an example of … [Read more...]

2024 Send Network LA: Church planting outcomes reported

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptists can celebrate multiple spiritu­al milestones reported for 2024 church planting efforts, including: -- 11,748 Gospel conversations; -- 742 professions of faith; -- 361 baptisms; -- 2,839 people in combined average worship attendance; -- 1,186 people in intentional discipling relationships; and -- $183,000 given through the Coopera­tive Program to support cooperative missions and ministries. “The most exciting thing to see was those who professed their faith in Christ,” Send Network Louisiana Director Lane Corley told the Baptist Message. “These planters started a new church in a community and began to meet their needs in real, practical ways that opened the door for Gospel con­versations. Every time I see a new church start, it's just exciting because you know that there’s just going to be a lot of good things happening through the local church that produces the kind of results in this report.” BACKGROUND The Send Network Louisiana partnership between Louisiana Baptists and the North Ameri­can Mission Board that launched on Aug. 1, 2023, seeks to expand His King­dom in Louisiana by one percent (more than 28,000 … [Read more...]

Notables

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 Heath, wife Jenny, Peloquin has been called to pastor Rock Hill Baptist in Brownsboro, Texas and is leaving Summer Grove Baptist Church, Shreveport. His last day at Summer Grove is March 30. Lakeshore Baptist Church, Monroe: Derek, wife Kaylee, Dozier are the new associate pastor of education and youth. Andrew, wife Lydia, Ardoin is the new pastor of First Baptist Church, White Castle. Ardoin previously served 15 years in the foreign mission field. CRUSADES West Ouachita Crusade, March 30-April 2, 2025, 6 p.m. nightly. The Crusade is led by Evangelist Bill Britt and WeRCalled at West Ouachita High School and the crusade is hosted by churches of West Ouachita Parish. REVIVAL Philadelphia Baptist Church, Horseshoe Drive Campus, Alexandria: … [Read more...]

Save your Facebook Live videos

Every Sunday my Facebook Feed is filled with live streamed services from all over Louisiana and across the country. It is great to see so many churches using this platform to share the Gospel with their communities! And it is a great option for a lot of churches. Easy to use, great connection with people, and an affordable live stream option for churches. … [Read more...]

ERLC partners with SBC leaders in asking Congress to defund Planned Parenthood

By ERLC WASHINGTON (ERLC) – The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention has joined with SBC leaders and pastors in calling on legislators to take concrete steps in a reconciliation bill that would defund Planned Parenthood or its affiliates. The statement, which unequivocally affirms the sanctity of every human life, including the preborn, was released Tuesday with an initial list of 50 signatories including SBC entity heads, SBC seminary presidents, past SBC presidents, SBC state executives and ERLC research fellows. Many more SBC leaders and pastors are expected to add their names to the letter in the days to come. Brent Leatherwood, president of the ERLC, commented on the launch of the campaign. “Southern Baptists have long held to a pro-life ethic. We have a special opportunity in light of the new Trump administration and Congress to join together and advocate for a vibrant culture of life to be implemented through the reconciliation process. “It’s time to put an end to our taxpayer dollars going to fund the egregious taking of life at the hands of Planned Parenthood. Our hope is for Congress to recognize Southern Baptists' support of this effort and our unwavering commitment … [Read more...]

LCU named safest campus, best value in Louisiana

By Elizabeth Clarke, LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) - Louisiana Christian University has been named the safest college campus and the best value in the state of Louisiana by Niche.com. Niche.com released its 2025 list of Best Colleges last week. Niche.com is a rating and review website for facets of the college experience. In the last several years, LCU has committed to providing an increasingly safe campus for students, faculty, staff and visitors. Three Homeland Security grants awarded to LCU have allowed for additional campus lighting and surveillance. “Over the last five years, LCU has invested over $450,000 in safety and security upgrades thanks to grants from the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness through our FEMA partners,” said Vice President of Academic Affairs Henry O. Robertson. “Additional funding through the Union Pacific Railroad Foundation has provided key components for enhancing our abilities to deter, detect and defend the campus community.  We are honored that the investments, training and care LCU has placed as a strategic priority are recognized by a national organization.  Our students are always number one with all our safety and security enhancements.” LCU … [Read more...]

Louisiana Christian to hold spring revival next week

By Elizabeth Clarke, LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) - Louisiana Christian University will hold its annual spring revival series Feb. 18-20 at 11 a.m. in Guinn Auditorium. The speaker for the revival will be Greg Wilton, assistant professor of mission and evangelism and dean of Leavell College at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Wilton has served the Lord in many ways, from the French Quarter to Southeast Asia, from a small church pastor in Louisiana to a large church missions pastor in Tennessee. He ministered cross-culturally in Southeast Asia with the International Missions Board while also teaching at a local seminary. With the North American Mission Board, Wiltonserved as the National Care For Refugees director, while also directing a ministry center in Clarkston, Georgia for Send Relief. The revival services are free and open to the public. … [Read more...]