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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

The bittersweet moments of college ministry

By Michael Aguillard “And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’” - Romans 10:15 BATON ROUGE, La. – I am four years into my role as the Baptist Collegiate Ministry director with Southern University. The typical four-year degree plan made last spring a bittersweet time in our ministry. It was bitter because a good crop of students, who had been involved with our ministry, graduated. They were not students who simply attended our meetings and added to our numbers. They were leaders. They planned outreaches, on and off campus. They fervently shared their faith. They led small groups and even led our large group gathering when I fell ill once. After spending the past four years pouring into them, watching them grow, and watching them serve the Lord, it was a bitter moment to see them go. But it also was a sweet moment. One thing that has been reinforced within me is the fact that college ministry is not an end, in and of itself. Our goal as Baptist Collegiate Ministry directors is not just to reach our campuses. Our goal is to meet students at a critical stage of their lives, teach them to follow Jesus, and equip them to serve the … [Read more...]

FIRST PERSON: Silent Saturday

By John Kyle, special to the Baptist Message ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) -- It’s what’s commonly referred to as “Holy Week,” the week leading up the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. We just celebrated Palm Sunday and later this week is Maundy Thursday which gives way to Good Friday and last, but certainly not least, is Easter Sunday. In the midst of this busy, significant week, let me suggest a new day for you and I living on this side of the resurrection - Silent Saturday. Allow me to elaborate … Two thousand years ago the events leading up to what we now call Easter were a whirlwind - to say the least. And things certainly didn't turn out the way the way those early Christ followers envisioned.  So there they were, after a bizarre week that began with a celebration and ended with a crucifixion.  It was Saturday. The crowds gone. Their minds and hearts numb. And they were not sure what's next. Now, on this side of history we know what's next - but they didn't. Our lives are often the same way - crazy busy – and sometimes bizarre.  Our smartphones light up with one notification after another. Great anticipation is often replaced by great disappointment in our careers, in our relationships and even with God. And … [Read more...]

God will supply all my needs

By Billy Taylor Ever feel like you don't have enough? There is not a need or problem you face today that God will not supply through your faith in Christ Jesus. … [Read more...]

EVANGELISM 101 (Part 3): The Gospel conversation

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Regardless of the soul-winning ap­proach used to spiritually engage someone (Con­frontational, Conversa­tional, Lifestyle, or Rela­tional), each evangelistic effort must eventually narrow down to an in­tentional decision-mak­ing moment. The conversation may begin in several ways depending on whether the opportunity follows a Sunday sermon, an area-wide evangelistic event, a conversation with a family member or a knock-on-the-door initiative. Somone might prefer the Evangelism Explo­sion method of asking, “If you were to die today and stand before God, and He was to ask you, ‘Why should I let you into My Heaven?’, what would you say?” Others might lean toward the F.A.I.T.H. Gospel conversation starter, “In your person­al opinion, what does it take for someone to go to Heaven?” But in the end, the culmination of the sowing and watering, whether brief or over an extended time, must con­clude with reaping – and that involves a discussion about sin and debt, as well as forgiveness and the means to obtain it. Again, there are mul­tiple models to struc­ture this conversation: Continuing Witness Training, Evangelism Explosion, Four Spiritual Laws, … [Read more...]

The peril of emptiness upon evil’s return

By Ron HaleJesus emphasized the danger of emptiness in an eerie story about a man who had a demon cast out. The formerly possessed man’s freedom was short-lived because he did not protect himself from the return of evil. … [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...]

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...]

Evangelism 101 (Part 1): The heart of soul winning

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Evangelism truly is a matter of the heart for both the soul winner and the lost soul. Indeed, without both hearts surrendered to the leading of the Holy Spirit, any sharing of the Gospel will be fruitless. Regardless of how eloquently or emotionally a personal testimony is articulated by a believer, unless God is making His appeal through the believer (2 Cor. 5:20) and the unbeliever’s spirit has been prepared by the Holy Spirit (2 Cor. 7:10), it is all for nought. Consider 2 Chronicles 7:14 which states “if My people, who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” Too often, Christians read this passage and immediately presume that they must fall prostrate in prayer or seek a solemn assembly with others. But when read in context, God is calling us to be “humble.” It is from this condition of the mind, the heart and the soul that we pray and seek His face. Then, in response to this spiritual state, He responds to listen, forgive and heal. Indeed, the Bible tends to define all spiritual processes in … [Read more...]