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Make church planting evangelistic again

January 12, 2023

By Lane Corley A troubling trend I’ve noted among church plants in Louisiana. Since 2012, professions of faith are down 86 percent and baptisms are down 66 percent in Louisiana church plants. It’s not just church plants. The decline in evangelism outcomes is well-noted across North America. It’s most surprising among church plants, because church planting is supposed to be for the purpose of evangelism. Why the decline? Some possible reasons to note: Contacts and evangelistic contacts are down 52 percent. Church planters should aim for 200 contacts and 50 Gospel conversations per month. 2022 numbers were 81 and 20 per month. We reap what we sow. Sowing the Gospel broadly should be priority No. 1 for church planters. And these should multiply exponentially as team members are added and begin to learn the habits of evangelism and disciple making from the church planter. It’s definitely a changing missional landscape. Evangelism may be harder today than it was 10 years ago. The pace of evangelistic responses may have slowed. This is more reason to share the gospel more broadly than ever before. Ecclesiological issues have taken precedence. Our organizations, logos, websites, and by-laws are in better order than they … [Read more...]

Four tips to make your New Year’s resolution last

January 2, 2023

It doesn’t take much to keep a New Year’s resolution, but it doesn’t take much to fail either. Americans notoriously struggle to keep their January drive all year long. According to a 2020 poll, 68 percent of Americans report giving up on their resolutions by February 1. … [Read more...]

The messy reason for Christmas

December 19, 2022

By Lane Corley ALEXANDRIA - In the beauty of the Christmas season, don’t forget the messy reason that it came about. The reason for the season and the savior was to deal with the sinfulness of humanity. … [Read more...]

The wondrous ‘Christmas Story’

December 9, 2022

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) -- I tend to mentally “default” to Luke 2:1-20 when anyone refers to the “Christmas Story.” But that tendency to narrow the “Christmas Story” to this relatively short passage diminishes the eternal nature of God’s extensive plan of redemption which was in place before the foundations of the world. Indeed, the title “Christmas Story” almost demeans both the historical truth and the prophetic certainty that defines the account of past and future events tied to the birth of Christ. Through Isaiah, God explained that His plan to redeem Israel as well as the entire world was the essence of the “Christmas Story” (Isaiah 49:6). Meanwhile, Genesis 3:15 (specifically when read in conjunction with Galatians 3:16) shows that the plan of salvation, the catalyst for the “Christmas Story” was revealed as early as in the Garden of Eden. The “Christmas Story” includes God’s promise to Abraham that he would be the father of a great nation and that through him “all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Gen. 12). A promise repeated to Abraham’s son, Isaac (Gen. 26) and to His grandson, Jacob (Gen. 28). God’s sparing of Noah, bringing him and his family … [Read more...]

The left’s argument against Amy Coney Barrett deserves our attention

December 2, 2022

An article about U.S. Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett — published last week by prominent British newspaper The Guardian — has been receiving a lot of attention. … [Read more...]

BILLY GRAHAM: Thanksgiving with meaning

November 24, 2022

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Graham: We can still turn back

November 8, 2022

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No “ifs” in our victory over Satan

October 25, 2022

By Louisiana Baptist Executive Director Steve Horn ALEXANDRIA, La. – Horatio Lord Nelson lived from 1758-1805. The son of a clergyman, he joined the British Royal Navy when he was 12 years old. He became a Captain when he was 20. He was heralded as a daring leader who won many a victory for the British. One of his greatest victories was over the French during the Napoleonic Wars. Napoleon planned to invade Egypt so to restrict Britain’s trade routes. On August 1, 1798, Nelson came upon the French Navy in the waters near Alexandria, Egypt, in what would later be referred to as the Battle of the Nile. Upon spotting the French warships, one of Nelson’s men said, “If we succeed, what will the world say?” Nelson immediately responded, “There is no if in the case. That we shall succeed is certain!” As believers in Jesus Christ—that we will succeed is certain! There is no “if.” But, we live like there is an “if.” We act like there is an “if.” In Ephesians 6:10-18, we are reminded that we are in a battle. The battle is real. The battle is intense. The battle is with a powerful enemy, Satan, who is out to destroy us. But, I don’t see the “if.” I see the victory, and the source of our victory is our faith. According to verse 16, we are … [Read more...]

Six election questions staring America in the face

October 14, 2022

By Ron Hale Thirty-five of the 100 seats in the Senate and all 435 seats in the House of Representatives will be contested in November’s election. Many more state and local elections will be decided. America was at a tipping point in our last election. Two years later, many Americans think our situation is much worse. … [Read more...]

A word of encouragement

October 3, 2022

By Louisiana Baptist Executive Director Steve Horn ALEXANDRIA, La. - Acts 13 is a pivotal moment in the Book of Acts. Acts 13 is the place where we see the transition from Peter’s ministry to Paul’s ministry. Starting in Acts 13, the rest of the book focuses on the ministry of Paul. As I read Acts 13 this morning, two things struck me most. First, in the telling of the first missionaries sent from the church, we read, “Then after they had fasted, prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them off.” (Acts 13:3) The next verse reads, “So being sent by the Holy Spirit . . .” Not a bad combination—being sent by the church and being sent by the Holy Spirit. May we pray that churches are doing the same today. Second, Paul and Barnabas were invited at Pisidian Antioch to speak in the Synagogue with the words, “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people you can speak.” Paul took that invitation and starting with the Israelites being in bondage in Egypt shared the message of Jesus. This Gospel appeal finds its climax in verses 38-39, “Therefore, let it be known to you, brothers and sisters, that through this man forgiveness of sins is being proclaimed to you. Everyone who believes is justified through him from … [Read more...]

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Editorial

God’s love will never be shaken

God’s love goes beyond your understanding. He has a commitment love for you that is not based on your actions. God’s love for you never changes. … Read More

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