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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Life Point shining light of Jesus amid flooding aftermath

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer MANSURA, La. (LBM) – Life Point Community Church ministers to its community in a variety of ways but recently stepped up to serve as a centralized site for Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief operations for flooding in Avoyelles Parish. Since June 19, the church has hosted the DR incident command center in its parking lot and housed, in its facilities, DR assessors, chaplains and mud-out team members who have ministered to those impacted Tropical Storm Arthur. The storm made landfall June 17, northeast of Matagorda Bay, Texas. While rain totals varied, the highest report was more than two feet in Avoyelles Parish, which prompted numerous evacuations and flooded 200 homes. The storm also was responsible for nine tornadoes throughout the state, the National Weather Service confirmed. Riddle said he has been amazed at the outpouring of support from other churches, community members and his own church members. Donations of DR supplies, clothing and food have poured into the church. Additionally, 20 church members, some whose homes flooded, have stepped up to help DR teams serving in the church and the community. “I don't even have the names of these churches but I do … [Read more...]

2026 LEGISLATIVE REPORT: Firment, Edmonds, Johnson pushed key bills for churches

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptist lawmakers Rep. Gabe Firment, Sen. Rick Edmonds and Rep. Mike Johnson championed critical legislation that offer to significantly enhance the work of Louisiana churches while positively shaping the spiritual culture of the state. CHURCH SELF-INSURANCE All three played vital roles in passage of SB 341 (signed into law as Act 759) that should complete the last legal requirements needed to operate the church self-insurance program under the Louisiana Churches and Nonprofit Religious Organizations Self-Insured Fund established in state law. Edmonds, the pastor of First Baptist Church, McComb, Mississippi, and retired pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, Shreveport, authored the bill and shepherded it throughout the legislative process in both the Senate and the House, ending his oversight only after the governor’s signature. Meanwhile, Firment, who is a deacon with First Baptist Church, Pollock, offered essential amendments, including the deletion of “joint and several liability” obligations from the program, meaning the cooperative can now offer a viable insurance product that should be attractive to churches. He also arranged for a … [Read more...]

Louisiana Baptist Convention seeks resolutions, nominees

By Baptist Message staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) — Louisiana Baptists are invited to recommend candidates to serve on state convention boards and com­mittees and are asked to sub­mit resolutions for possible consideration by messengers during the 2026 Louisiana Baptist Convention. COMMITTEES The Louisiana Baptist Committee on Committees is beginning its work to fill 17 openings on five commit­tees: Credentials; Moral and Social Concerns; Nomina­tions; Order of Business; and Resolutions. Nominations should be sent no later than Aug. 10 to Joseph Fowler, pastor, Cook Baptist Church, Ruston, who is the commit­tee chair (email: joseph@cookbc.org; U.S. Mail: Dr. Joseph Fowler, Cook Baptist Church, 2000 Cooktown Road, Ruston, LA 71270). BOARDS The Louisiana Baptist Committee on Nominations also is beginning its work to fill 24 vacancies on the LBC Executive Board as well as the trustee bodies of the Louisiana Christian University, Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home and Family Ministries, Baptist Message, and Baptist Foundation. Nominations should be sent no later than Aug. 10 to Scott McKenzie, associate pastor, First Baptist Church, Zachary, who is the com­mittee chair (email: smcK­enzie@fbcz.org; U.S. Mail: Rev. Scott … [Read more...]

APOLOGETICS 101 (Part 6): Jericho’s walls came tumbling down

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Jericho is significant to the trustworthiness of Scripture because its exis­tence is tied to key historical events documented in both the Old and New Testa­ments. BIBLICAL CORNERSTONE In Jericho Jesus continued his mission to “seek and save that which is lost” (Luke 19:10) with his encounter with Zacchaeus. During the same visit to the city, He healed two blind beggars, including Bartimaeus, on His way to Jerusalem and the cross. Meanwhile, Jesus cited the Jericho Road as the set­ting for His “Parable of the Good Samaritan.” Moreover, Jericho is mentioned in what is known as the “Roll Call of Faith” because “By faith the walls of Jericho fell” (Hebrews 11:30). Jericho also was a key location for events in the Old Testament such as Elijah’s miraculous whisk­ing up to Heaven in a chariot of fire and the first miracle by Elisha, upon succeeding Elijah, when he healed the city’s “bad water” (II Kings 2). But perhaps the city is most well-known for the victo­ry God wrought there, not through military might but through faith and obedience. Joshua 6 records that on the seventh day of Israel circling the heavily fortified city, when the priests … [Read more...]

LBDR teams ramp up Arthur response

By Baptist Message staff MANSURA, La. (LBM) – Multiple Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief teams have deployed to help those impacted by Tropical Storm Arthur in Avoyelles Parish. According to LBDR State Director Stan Statham, since June 19 a feeding team has served 239 meals at Life Point Community Church, Mansura, and another has provided 135 meals at an American Red Cross shelter, Opelousas. A mud-out team from First Baptist Church, Covington, will begin work in the area today and later this week a mud-out team from First Baptist Church, Lafayette, is scheduled to join them. Chaplains and assessors continue to work in Avoyelles Parish. Additionally, Hessmer Baptist Church is hosting Samaritan’s Purse International Relief workers and Point of Life Community Church, Plaucheville, has opened its doors to distribute supplies to families. Arthur made landfall June 17, northeast of Matagorda Bay, Texas. While rain totals varied, the highest report was more than two feet in Avoyelles Parish, which prompted numerous evacuations and flooded 200 homes. The storm also was responsible for nine tornadoes throughout the state, the National Weather Service confirmed. Donations are needed to fund DR operations in … [Read more...]

Louisiana 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 Sophie, husband Caleb, Turner is the new assistant BCM Director at LSUA. Meagan Shedman Adkins is the new BCM Director For the uptown schools in New Orleans, which includes Tulane, Loyola, and Xavier. Whit (wife Lauren) Mcgee is the new youth minister at Bonita Road Baptist Church, Bastrop. Michael, wife Carlota, resigned from Kingston Baptist Church, Kingston to become pastor at Belle Park Baptist Church, Haughton. Marvin Cooper resigned from Beth­any Baptist Church, Bethany to become pastor at Longstreet Baptist Church, Longstreet. Doug Merrick is the interim pastor at New Bethel Baptist Church, Plain Dealing. Darrell Robertson has retired as music minister at Trinity Heights Baptist Church, Shreveport. On page 15 of the May 28th … [Read more...]

LBDR crews activated for Arthur response

By Baptist Message staff AVOYELLES PARISH, La. (LBM) - The first Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief teams have been activated for a response to Tropical Storm Arthur. LBDR State Director Stan Statham told the Baptist Message that a feeding team served 64 evacuees and first responders on Thursday at Cochon De Lait Center in Mansura, which is serving as an American Red Cross shelter Mud-out teams are expected to clean up homes for the next several weeks throughout Avoyelles Parish Additionally, a chainsaw team from First Baptist Church, Slidell, cleared debris from homes in their community on Thursday. Damage reports from churches include leaking roof at First Baptist Church, Avondale, six inches of water inside the education building at St. Rose Baptist Church. Flooding also was reported in the home of Carlos Gomez, pastor with Iglesia Bautista La Vina, Westwego. “Pray for the water to go down,” Statham told the Baptist Message. “Pray for the folks who have a lot of material loss. And pray for the first responders, who have damage in their own homes as they try to take care of the own parish.” Arthur made landfall Wednesday morning, northeast of Matagorda Bay, Texas. While rain totals varied, the highest report … [Read more...]

Louisiana teen mom, baby survive botched abortion

By Louisiana Right to Life CARENCRO, La. (LRTL) – Louisiana Right to Life expressed devastation after learning of reports that a 17-year-old Carencro girl was given abortion drugs against her will, resulting in the premature delivery of her child at just 23-weeks gestation. The baby was born alive weighing approximately one pound and remains hospitalized, requiring extensive medical care. Erica Inzina, policy director for Louisiana Right to Life, issued the following statement: “Our hearts break for this young mother and her baby. This 17-year-old girl was allegedly poisoned with abortion drugs by her own father, a shocking violation of her dignity and her right to protect both herself and her unborn child. “This tragedy reinforces a crisis in our state and nation that the abortion industry and its allies would rather ignore: abortion drugs are being used as a weapon against women and girls. When these substances are freely available and deliberately detached from medical oversight, they become tools for abusers, traffickers, and predators seeking to exert control over the vulnerable. “Thankfully, both victims, the girl and her unborn child, survived. Her baby was born alive at just 23 weeks gestation, weighing only … [Read more...]