By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer TIOGA, La. (LBM) - While other teenagers may have headed to the beach or theme park at the end of the most recent school year, Andrew O’Neal, 14, chose instead to spend some of his summer directing the Vacation Bible School with Tioga First Baptist Church. Despite being a teenager, O’Neal combined his love for VBS with his personal experiences as the son of a former VBS director to coordinate a fruitful week. In the end, one of the 51 children who attended accepted Christ, with more making other spiritual decisions during the evangelist outreach, June 23-27. “It had been in the back of my mind for several years of doing this,” O’Neal told the Baptist Message. “When we didn’t have anyone to direct VBS, I felt like the time was now, and I took on this opportunity.” O’Neal has served in various volunteer roles as a member of the congregation and enjoyed giving back as VBS director, with coaching from his mom, Claire, who served in that role from 2012-22. “I've really found a place here at the church and love serving,” O’Neal said. “So I feel very comfortable and very fulfilled when I come and work up at the church.” His mother added that she felt comfortable handing … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff BATON ROUGE (LBM) - Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry has signed a proclamation designating July as a month of prayer. Introduced by State Sen. Rick Edmonds, pastor with First Baptist Church, McComb, Mississippi, the proclamation calls “upon the people of Louisiana to come together during the month of July in a season of prayer and fasting, seeking God’s blessing, protection, and wisdom for our state and nation.” Jay Johnston, pastor with First Baptist Church, Melville, and leader with the digital prayer site,  Somebodyspraying.com, said he is grateful for the state’s recognition of the importance of calling on the Lord. “There is no more urgent time to seek Him than now,” Johnston told the Baptist Message. "The world still stands in the shadow of wars, threats of war, and a growing spiritual unrest. So many souls remain unsaved, and so many prodigals need to return. May the Lord burden our hearts so that we go out and share Jesus, and as we go, let us be faithful to pray for an increase of laborers. May the churches of Louisiana recognize our desperation for God, and we call upon Him to work in our families and churches, to bring healing to our state, to forgive us of all our sinful ways, and to unify … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – The Louisiana Baptist Foundation board of trustees has announced that Jared G. Price has been elected the 10th executive director of the entity, a ministry of the Louisiana Baptist Convention. “I am grateful for the trust the board has placed in me and honored to continue serving Louisiana Baptists in this new role,” Price told the Baptist Message. “I remain fully committed to our current strategic plan, the LBF Vision200, which aims to advance the Kingdom with $200 million or more in 20 years or less. Five years in, I’m encouraged to share that we have already seen a cumulative impact of over $76.9 million. As we look ahead, my prayer is that we continue to be good and faithful stewards of the resources entrusted to us and a trustworthy partner for Louisiana Baptists.” The announcement followed a unanimous vote by the board of trustees on June 24 after careful consideration of Price’s nomination by a search committee comprised of board members and chaired by Wendell Whetstone. Price, who assumes his new role on July 1, succeeds Jeffrey Steed, who retired as the Foundation’s executive director on May 31. Whetstone said Price’s qualifications … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff DALLAS (LBM) – Callen Breaux, a sixth grader from Temple Baptist Church in Ruston, recently won the national Royal Ambassador Pinewood Derby. Held June 9 prior to the 2025 Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting, the race featured 11 participants from around the SBC who competed inside the exhibit hall. Breaux, who won the Louisiana Baptist RA Congress Pinewood Derby race in April after competing in the state competition for two years previously, expressed excitement about coming in first place on the national level. Additionally, Louisiana Baptist Women’s Missions and Ministry Strategist Christine Gill won the Pinewood Derby race against other Woman’s Missionary Union state directors. RA Consultant Keith Gates (also a member of First Baptist Church, Winnfield) coordinated the event and Goldonna Baptist Church’s RA ministry provided the track. “I was really surprised and excited at the same time,” Breaux told the Baptist Message. “I just wanted to compete. Never thought I might win.” Breaux’s win marked the second consecutive year a Louisiana Baptist has won the national RA Pinewood Derby. Josiah Jones, then a fifth grader from Quitman Baptist Church, won the 2024 national Pinewood … [Read more...]