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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

More than 600 saved in ‘Heart of the Amazon’

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer MANAUS, Brazil (LBM) – During a mission trip to a city located in the cen­ter of the Amazon rainforest, Louisiana Baptists experienced a Gospel harvest of 647 Brazilians. “The theme for this year was ‘Hope for Manaus,’” David Denton, senior pastor with Highland Baptist Church, New Iberia, told the Baptist Message. “We partnered with local churches to help them fulfill the Great Commission in their vicinity. Much like Louisiana, Manaus was hot with high humid­ity. We sweated a lot but had great Gospel conversations.” GOSPEL HARVEST Fifty members of Beyond the Walls, a Louisiana Baptist-led mis­sion team from Louisiana, Texas and Utah ministered, July 10-21 in Manaus, known as the “Heart of the Amazon.”. While there, they split into 12 ministry teams and participated in personal visits, drama minis­try, construction, street ministry, Vacation Bible School, medical ministry and compassion ministry that included distribution of food baskets – each as a bridge to Gos­pel conversations. IN THEIR WORDS Among those Denton saw come to Christ was Jonathan, a recov­ering drug addict he met during a visit to a local park. During the ­ the conversation, Denton shared the … [Read more...]

GBO: Vital resources for urgent Gospel needs

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – More than 2.4 million Louisianians do not know Christ, but thanks to Louisiana Baptists’ gen­erous gifts to the Georgia Barnette Louisiana Mis­sions Offering, life-chang­ing ministry is possible around the state through church plants, compassion ministries, disaster relief efforts, church construc­tion scholarships and media outreach. This year, Louisiana Baptists are asked to pray about what they might contribute to this offering which has a 2026 goal of $1.8 million. This amount will supplement the financial sup­port for statewide ministries given through the Cooper­ative Program, the primary funding channel for state and national Baptist causes. Named for the first elect­ed and salaried executive director of the Woman’s Mis­sionary Union in Louisiana, the offering will be promoted throughout September via a video for each Sunday of the month plus print and elec­tronic articles. This year’s four featured stories show how the state special offering strength­ens missions through­out the state: -- “Gift boxes” tells how hygiene products show inmates of the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women that they are loved by God; -- “Vietnamese … [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 Jamie Pullin was ordained ,July 26, into the Gospel Ministry as he begins his first pastorate at Oak Hill Baptist Church, Bastrop. Scott, wife Zandra, Gray is the pastor at First Baptist Church, Pitkin. Wilton McMorris is the new pastor at First Baptist Church, Livingston. Jerod, wife Jessica, Gann is the new pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church, Frank (wife Ann) Valenzano is the new associate pastor of discipleship and missions at Cedar Crest Baptist Church, West Monroe. Jamie, wife Kristin is the new pas­tor at Oak Hill Baptist Church, Bastrop. Tracy (husband Robert) Satterfield is the new director of children’s min­istries in Mt. Vernon Baptist Church, West Monroe. Brett and Erin Tooley join New Chapel Hill Baptist Church, West Mon­roe … [Read more...]

FIRST PERSON: First Haughton lives out the Gospel through community-wide ‘Serve Day’

By Stacey Tinsley, Special to the Baptist Message HAUGHTON, La. (LBM) — The ministries performed by First Baptist Church, Haughton, May 2, were more than acts of community service — they were clear reflections of the Gospel lived out in real and tangible ways. Members of the con­gregation, joined by volun­teers from across the com­munity, stepped beyond the walls of the church and into the streets of Haugh­ton for the church’s annual Serve Day. Their mission was simple yet deeply rooted in Scripture: to serve others as the hands and feet of Christ. Throughout the day, volunteers spread across neighborhoods picking up roadside trash, clearing de­bris and assisting residents with large item removal. Organized truck and trail­er teams worked diligent­ly, while others served in quieter but equally mean­ingful ways — walking through neighborhoods in prayer or remaining on campus to intercede on behalf of the community. For First Baptist Church Haughton Senior Pastor Gevan Spinney, the day reflected a calling that has defined the church for generations. “We feel a big obli­gation as the church to Haughton and the com­munity,” Spinney said. “I believe God planted this church here in 1885 to be a lighthouse in this town. … [Read more...]

BCM steps into new semester, new season in CENLABCM

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Brad Gill has taken on a new role: dual director of the Baptist Collegiate Ministry with Louisiana Christian University and Louisiana State University of Alex­andria. Gill, who has served as director of the LCU (formerly Louisiana Col­lege) BCM since January 2022, said he is excited about the opportunity to reach and disciple more students at both campus­es in his expanded role with what is now known as the Central Louisiana BCM. “Each campus is unique,” Gill told the Baptist Message. “Both institutions strength­en our community, and BCM adds value to our campuses through week­ly free lunches, worship, Bible studies and small groups. “The won­derful thing is that leader­ship wants us there,” he con­tinued. “Dr. Mark Johnson with LCU and Dr. Elizabeth Beard with LSUA want the best for their students. They want them to grow in their faith.” Gill said the move was sparked by personnel moves within the state. “When Austin Mc­Curry (former LSUA BCM director) went to Northwestern State after Bill Collins retired as BCM director, we had an opportunity to unify our ministry efforts in the area,” he said. “Hopefully college stu­dents in cen­tral … [Read more...]

FBC Anacoco reaps spiritual harvest

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ANACOCO, La. (LBM) – For two years, Trinity Dowden prayed for and sent his friend Bible-based text messages with the hopes of one day reaping a spiritual harvest. His faithfulness was re­warded during a session of the West CENLA GO TELL America Crusade, April 14, when Jeff Benevage finally realized his need for a Sav­ior and stepped forward to profess his belief in Jesus. A week later, Dowden was on hand to see his friend publicly declare his com­mitment to the Lord in baptism by First Baptist Church, Anacoco. “He could have given up on me after the first week of no responses, but he kept at it,” Benevage told the Baptist Message. “I was so glad he did, and that I had the courage to stand up and confess my faith publicly during the crusade. “For those who have friends in their lives who also have not yet accepted Jesus, don’t give up,” he continued. “It’s worth it in the end.” Benevage is one of 57 people baptized by the FBCA congregation since April 19, and 72 collectively since January. “It is just so encourag­ing to see how the Lord has moved in our churches since the crusade,” FBCA Pastor Chad King said. “I have heard of so many just like Jeff who have made … [Read more...]

Muller excited to tell Louisiana Baptists’ story in new role

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Jarrod Muller had his dream job as pas­tor with Riverside Bap­tist Church, River Ridge, until God called him to tell the story of Loui­siana Baptists as state communication director. Muller, who began his new role July 1, said that while he was enjoying being a part of a church where he accepted Christ and was baptized, he also realized the opportunity to come alongside Loui­siana Baptists and share how they are reaching the state for Jesus. “Through prayer and discernment, I really believe God opened this door for this position,” Muller told the Baptist Message. “It wasn’t any­thing I was necessarily looking for, but when the Lord brought it my way I surrendered that to Him.” A native of New Or­leans, Muller became a Christ follower at eight, was baptized at 16 and surrendered to ministry while at a church camp when he was 18. He served for more than 16 years, collec­tively, with churches in Louisiana and Missis­sippi. Prior to serving with Riverside Baptist Church, he was a col­lege ministry intern with Ridgecrest Baptist Church, Madison, Mis­sissippi, and community outreach intern with The Journey Church, Jackson, Mississippi. He also … [Read more...]

Fired bi-vo pastor files lawsuit against ‘woke’ Baton Rouge library

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – Luke Ash, a bi-vocational pastor with Stevendale Baptist Church, Baton Rouge, has filed a lawsuit against the East Baton Rouge Parish Library system for violating his First Amendment right of religious liberty and for denying him protection against religious discrim­ination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The EBRPL fired Ash as a library technician, July 10, 2025, because he declared that he could not comply with the library's preferred pronoun policy and that he would not use male pro­nouns when speaking to a biologically female trainee. Liberty Counsel, a Christian ministry that engages in strategic litiga­tion to promote evangelical Christian values, is representing Ash. The lawsuit also names the City of Ba­ton Rouge, Met­ropolitan Council and the Library Board of Control for the City of East Baton Rouge as complicit in the offenses. In a news release, Liberty Counsel said it is seeking a permanent injunction on behalf of Ash “that declares the library’s ‘Inclusivity Policy’ is unconstitutional for violating his constitu­tional rights of free speech, religious exercise, equal protection, the Louisiana Preservation of … [Read more...]

FBC Cameron to rebuild, five years after storms

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer CAMERON, La. (LBM) – More than five years after Hurricane Laura and Delta caused significant damage to the facilities of First Baptist Church, Cameron, the congregation has finalized plans to move forward with a rebuild of their facilities. In January, Cameron Parish officials approved permits that allow the church to construct a new worship center and educational space, facilities that sustained significant damage from Hurricane Laura in August 2020. The church received its first payment of $47,000 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency in June and expects to break ground this fall with completion sometime in 2027. The project has been delayed in part because of federal bureaucratic snafus and a slowdown by federal agencies caused by Congress’s extended delay in passing budgets for the Department of Homeland Security which oversees FEMA. PERSEVERANCE Since January 2021, members have met for Sunday worship in various locations in the communi­ty, including the Cameron Parish Police Jury build­ing, the Lighthouse Bend Restaurant and, currently, the Cameron Multipurpose Building. Most Sundays attendance averages 20- 25 people in person and online. They also meet … [Read more...]