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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Carey Baptist Association laundry team deployed to Tennessee

By Baptist Message staff ROAN MOUNTAIN, Tennessee (LBM) – A Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief laundry team from Carey Baptist Association has been deployed to First Baptist Church, Roan Mountain, Tennessee. According to Carey Baptist Association leaders, the team is expected to arrive at the church on Oct. 5 and set up the newly renovated trailer that volunteers at the church will operate. The trailer is equipped with five washers, five dryers and two generators. Roan Mountain was among the many communities that was inundated by the floodwaters of Hurricane Helene. The storm is blamed for more than 200 deaths. According to WJHL-TV, retired National Weather Service Meteorologist Tom Niziol said the flooding was historic. “The damage here in the Roan Mountain area is what I would refer to as unprecedented,” Niziol told the news stations. “In fact, many locals here had experienced the last major flood back in 1998 that wiped out this area and unfortunately led to some fatalities from drowning. All of those individuals have said to me unequivocally that this event is much worse.” The laundry team is the latest LBDR team to be sharing Christ's love in areas hit hard by Helene. A feeding team from the northern and … [Read more...]

LBDR begins Helene feeding operations

By Baptist Message staff MOUNT VERNON, Ga. (LBM) – Less than a week after Hurricane Helene devasted parts of the US, a Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief feeding team is on the ground to “give a cup of cold water in Jesus’ name” to those affected by the powerful storm. According to Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief Associate and Volunteer Mobilizer Mark Morelock, a feeding team comprised of members from the northern and central regions of the state has prepared and served 600 meals a day at First Baptist Church, Mount Vernon, Georgia, since operations began on Sept. 28. A team from the southeast and northern regions of Louisiana is expected to arrive by Oct. 2 to replace the feeding team currently there, though it is unknown when DR operations will end. Helene made landfall after 11 p.m. Sept. 26, near Perry in the Big Bend area of Florida’s Gulf Coast as a Category 4 storm, packing winds of 140 mph. The storm is blamed for at least 160 deaths, according to the Associated Press. Since relief operations began, $30,000 has been given through LBDR for bottled water, food and transportation of those goods to FBCMV. Another $60,0000 through LBDR has been given in direct assistance to Baptist state convention DR entities … [Read more...]

Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief teams activated for Helene response

By Baptist Message Staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – The first Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief teams have been activated for a response to Hurricane Helene. Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief Associate and Volunteer Mobilizer Mark Morelock told the Baptist Message that a feeding team and a generator from the northern and central part of the state, and a chainsaw team from the southwest area of the state, arrived Sept. 28 at Brewton-Parker College, Mount Vernon, Georgia. While there, the teams will serve students and faculty that are on campus without electricity. Statham said they will know additional details in the next couple of days about the duration of their deployment. Louisiana joins other state conventions who have sent teams to impacted areas. Helene made landfall after 11 p.m. Sept. 26, near Perry in the Big Bend area of Florida’s Gulf Coast as a Category 4 storm, packing winds of 140 mph. Helene, which is the eighth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, is blamed for at least 107 deaths across six states, including 30 in Asheville, North Carolina, that was left isolated after floodwaters destroyed roads, caused a water and food shortage and knocked out cell phone service and electricity to much of … [Read more...]

James to be LBC 2VP nominee

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer JONESBORO, La. (LBM) – Craig James, associational missions strategist with North Central Baptist Association, will be nominated for the office of second vice president with the Louisiana Baptist Convention during the 2024 annual meeting of church messengers. Clark Palmer, pastor with Faith Baptist Church, Tioga, contacted the Baptist Message, Sept. 25, to share his intention to make the nomination. The yearly gathering of Louisiana Baptists is scheduled to be held in the facilities of Broadmoor Baptist Church, Shreveport, Nov. 12. STATEMENT OF SUPPORT James, who is a member of Atlanta Baptist Church, has faithfully served the Lord and churches for decades, Palmer said. “Over the years when I mention his name I have found that his former church members love him,” he said. “His fellow pastors love him. His family loves him. And recently the thought came into my mind, that I should nominate him for one of our LBC offices. “If you know him you probably agree that he is a great representative of Louisiana Baptist pastors and leaders,” he continued. “He was surprised when I asked him if I could do this but agreed to allow me to nominate him as second vice-president … [Read more...]

FBC Baton Rouge: Dad passes pastor’s baton to son

By Baptist Message staff BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – Andrew Ogea has been commissioned as a pastor with multiple church plants, but nothing compared to his installation as the pastor of First Baptist Church, Baton Rouge, when his dad passed the mantel of leadership to him on Father’s Day. “A pastoral succession between a father and son is a unique experience that probably doesn’t happen very often, and for ours to occur on Father's Day made it especially meaningful,” Ogea told the Baptist Message. “My father handed me the baton after I promised to faithfully shepherd the congregation. For him to be the person passing that baton to me was incredible.” Ogea, who previously served as worship pastor and executive pastor with Vintage Church, New Orleans, and later as worship and discipleship pastor with Northshore Church, Slidell, said he will do his best with the Lord’s guidance to fulfill those promises he made, including keeping God first, family second and the church third and leading with love, encouragement and integrity to the church and community. Additionally, the church promised during the ceremony to pray for Ogea and his family and encourage them. He added that he has learned much about pastoring churches from … [Read more...]

Evangelism strategist Ulmer to partner in the Gospel with LBC churches

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Kevin Ulmer, pastor with First Baptist Church, Ferriday, is the new evangelism strategist for Louisiana Baptist congregations. Ulmer, whose first day on the job was July 1, said he is excited to work with Louisiana Baptists toward one common goal in the state. “I can't think of a greater task to be carrying out than to encourage people to share the Gospel,” Ulmer told the Baptist Message. “I want to encourage them to not only have a sense of duty to evangelism, but to have a sense of desire for evangelism. “I think for the most part, most church members have a sense of duty to evangelize,” he continued. “But how can I instill in them a desire to evangelize, to share Jesus as much as they have desire to share about football. If we had a desire to share the Gospel like we do about sharing our own interests, I think we could change and transform this state for Christ.” A native of Laurel, Mississippi, Ulmer trusted in Christ while attending a fish fry at Victory Baptist Church in rural Jasper County, Mississippi, at age 17. Though he sensed a call to ministry soon afterward, he did not surrender to it because of a bashful temperament that he … [Read more...]

LBF celebrates Baptist Foundation Month

By Louisiana Baptist Foundation ALEXANDRIA, La. – The Louisiana Baptist Foundation, amid its 80th anniversary commemoration, recently celebrated Baptist Foundation Month to remind churches and individuals of the need to invest in the people, ministries and causes they love, according to LBF Executive Director Jeff Steed. Steed said Baptist Foundation Month, established in 1971 by the Louisiana Baptist entity, also was a reminder that the LBF can assist individuals in gift planning by setting up endowments, non-cash gifts (such as stocks, bonds and real estate), estate gifts, charitable gift annuities, donor-advised funds and other types of gifts that benefit the people and organizations they cherish now and in the future. “We are very honored to partner in ministry with donors and churches to advance the Kingdom,” he shared. Throughout the year, the LBF has celebrated its anniversary by adding $80 to each gift from donors to Louisiana Baptist churches and ministry made through the Foundation, as well as contributing $80 to each new account opened (one per church), while funds are available for both offers. Also, the foundation has posted monthly updates on its social media pages about its history and how God has … [Read more...]

CENLA Pregnancy Center celebrates lives restored

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) - Toni McFadden, who chose to have an abortion as a teenager, shared with approximately 800 guests gathered at the CENLA Pregnancy Center’s Gift of Life banquet that Christ brought her on a path of healing and eventual restoration with her child’s father. The sixth annual event, Sept. 17, was held in the Randolph Riverfront Center. “If I could spare any woman from going through what I went through, it’s worth it for me to share because I want fewer stories like mine,” McFadden told the crowd. “I’m so thankful I have a beautiful ending only because of Jesus, but if I can spare women from having to go through that, this is why it’s worth it for me.” McFadden, who authored “Redeemed: My Journey After Abortion,” shared how her boyfriend broke up with her after the abortion, only to come to her and apologize nine years later. Soon after, the two married and now have four children. Even though she does not forget about her child who was aborted, she is grateful God has redeemed her through Christ. “We’ve been married for 16 years, and on our wedding day, we were able to honor our unborn baby,” she said. “We let our guests know that we were lighting … [Read more...]

Hopewell Baptist Church reborn through prayer

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” – Romans 15:13 CENTER POINT, La. (LBM) – Just four years ago, Hopewell Baptist Church was down to 15 in worship when Ricky Belgard felt led to accept God’s call to become pastor. Reluctant at first to leave his position as prayer minister with Philadelphia Baptist Church, Deville, Belgard instead chose to put aside his security and join God in an adventure that eventually led to a prolonged season of revival and a drastic increase in worship attendance, decisions for Christ and baptisms. “I had told (PBC Pastor) Philip Robertson I’d be there with him ‘til I died,” Belgard told the Baptist Message. “You probably shouldn’t say that because God has a tendency to change your thinking and change your mind for you. We preached that first seriice, and the power of God just moved and fell in that place. What was meant to be just a few months turned into something that has continued and we continue to see God move.” PRAYER MOVEMENT Belgard, who became pastor in October 2020, preached for the first six months on prayer. Additionally, … [Read more...]