By Brian Blackwell, Message staff writer NEW ORLEANS, La. (LBM) – “We believe money matters, but we believe everything is better with Christ,” Baptist Community Ministries Board Chair Slade Simons said. For more than 25 years, Baptist Community Ministries has helped improve the physical, mental and spiritual health of the greater New Orleans metropolitan area by helping to generate funds as a foundation and through chaplaincy services and congregational wellness at the height of COVID-19. “It’s just as humbling as it is exciting,” Simons said. “Not many people get the chance in life to have a very true meaningful impact on other people’s lives in such a positive way. When you sit on a board of a grant maker that is truly concerned with its community and with the Gospel, it really is remarkable, and it is very humbling. “We have been able to Baptist Community Ministries celebrates 25 years (plus one) pump a little over $208 million into the community over the last 25 years,” he continued. “Money is not the only answer to problems that people deal with, but it can certainly help provide a lot of resources and a lot of help.” The ministry was formed from the proceeds of the 1995 sale of Southern Baptist Hospital in New … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message staff writer HARRISONBURG, La. (LBM) – Mistin McGuffee’s eight-year-old twins had just returned from Kids Camp at Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center, Woodworth, when they boldly proclaimed to their friends and family their respective decisions to follow Christ and their desires to share their testimony through public baptism. LIKE SON, DAUGHTER, LIKE MOTHER McGuffee, who previously had surrendered to Jesus but had not been baptized, felt compelled to join Briley and Braylon in baptism, Oct. 3, at First Baptist Church, Harrisonburg. “I knew from previous conversations at home and then church camp that the Holy Spirit was beginning to convict my twins,” McGuffee, who attended camp with them, told the Baptist Message. “When I saw them raise their hands to indicate they had made a decision during one of the worship sessions, tears filled my eyes. “As we walked outside to talk as leaders and children, I remember them looking up at me and saying, ‘Momma, why are you crying,’” she continued. “I kept telling them these were happy tears, knowing I’d spend eternity with them.” AS LITTLE CHILDREN Pastor Philip Caples said the decisions by seven children, who accepted Christ at camp in … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Hurricane Ida operations are winding down at most sites around the state, but Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief coordinator Stan Statham emphasized volunteers will be needed for years to help residents rebuild. “The long-term rebuild phase is Katrina-like,” said Statham, referencing a multi-year effort following Hurricane Katrina in 2005. “With 116 churches damaged, including 28 significantly, it’s going to be a while before this area begins to get back on its feet.” Ida came ashore near Port Fourchon around 11:55 a.m. Aug. 29 as a Category 4 storm (maximum sustained winds of 150 mph, just seven mph short of Category 5 status), tying Hurricane Laura (2020) and the Last Island Hurricane (1856) as the most-powerful hurricanes to hit Louisiana. The storm dumped up to 15 inches of rain in some areas, knocked out power to more than 1.1 million at one time and spanned a diameter of 414 miles, according to AccuWeather. Statham praised the volunteers from 31 state conventions that deployed with Louisiana Baptist DR workers throughout the state at various times, ministering from 13 response centers. Through mid-October, there were 929 Gospel presentations, with … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Messengers and guests to the 2021 Louisiana Baptist Convention Annual Meeting, Nov. 16, will be encouraged to seek personal revival. At the meeting, a 28-day personal revival guide authored by Louisiana Baptist Executive Director Steve Horn will be distributed and those in attendance will be encouraged to complete the “Change Me” booklet. “Our Convention president, Dr. David Cranford, has been gracious in working with me to establish the theme of our meeting — ‘Change Me,’” Horn told the Baptist Message. “‘Change Me’ is the title of a 28-day personal revival guide I’ve authored. Every messenger and attendee will have the opportunity to receive a copy of this resource during our Tuesday morning session. We’ve also enlisted the talents of ‘The Skit Guys’ to help us visualize and apply the themes of this emphasis. I’m asking God to use this year’s annual meeting, followed by hundreds of Louisiana Baptists using this tool, to bring personal revival to all of us. I have become more and more convinced that ‘great awakening’ begins at the individual level. God needs to work in us so revival can spread among us.” OTHER BUSINESS Messengers also will consider … [Read more...]

EDITOR’S NOTE: Do you have a Revival, Homecoming, a new pastor, a community outreach or a concert? The Baptist Message would love to share your church news with the rest of the state. It is very easy to do, just send in your information (who, what, where and when) to philip@baptistmessage.com or call 318.449.4345. To get your event in the paper, please submit your information three weeks prior to the event.  ON THE MOVE Jim Wallace is the new pastor at First Baptist Church, Cotton Valley. Keith Dowden is the new pastor at Pine Hill Baptist Church, Leesville. He was the pastor at South Central Baptist Church, Wisner. REVIVAL Fellowship Baptist Church, Trout: Revival, October 31, November 3, Sunday, 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.; Monday-Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. Evangelist: Scotty McDowell. Music: Glenn Price, Philadelphia Baptist Church. A nursery will be provided. Pastor: Shad Tibbs. Trinity Baptist Church, Turkey Creek: The Mackey Willis Family in concert, November 7, Pastor: Eddie Douglas. Goodwill Baptist Church, Oak Grove: Revival, November 8-12. Evangelist: Malcolm Ellis. Pastor: Lucas House. First Baptist Church, Bernice: Revival, November 11-14, 7 p.m. nightly. Evangelist Stephen Laughlin. Music: Ted Bertand. … [Read more...]

FOREST HILL, La. (LBM) – Randy Carruth, founder and president of I Am Able Ministries based in Forest Hill, died Friday, Oct. 15, after being on a ventilator for four weeks with COVID, family members shared. Carruth’s ministry consisted of finding money and volunteers for various missions projects – often church construction or vacation Bible school – across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Ukraine and Honduras. Amiable Baptist Church in Glenmora was his home church since before he made a profession of faith in Jesus as a bashful 10-year-old boy, relatives said. In time Carruth became a Sunday School teacher, youth leader and deacon. According to his wife, he turned to the ministry after a work-related accident in 1997. Reading missionaries’ prayer requests made him want to help, said Carruth’s wife of 43 years, Savannah NesSmith Carruth. His first short-term missions trip was to Mayan Indians in Mexico. That sparked Carruth’s interest in ministry with and among indigenous people. That interest culminated in Carruth working with other Southern Baptist pastors to start the All Nations Camp Meeting on the grounds of the Coushatta Indian Reservation, about 45 minutes northeast of Lake Charles, Louisiana. News outlets … [Read more...]

The CENLA Pregnancy Center recently received the 2021 Always St. Elizabeth Award for their promotion and support of adoption. Executive Director Claire Lemoine and Volunteer/Education Coordinator Maria Burke accepted the award on behalf of the center during the St. Elizabeth Foundation gala Oct. 5 in Baton Rouge. Located at 1254 MacArthur Drive in Alexandria, next to the Louisiana Baptist Building, the center since it opened Dec. 4, 2017, has served 964 women through pregnancy decision coaching by trained advocates, free pregnancy tests, free ultrasounds, information about pregnancy options, maternity and physical resources and post-decision support including parenting education and abortion recovery groups. … [Read more...]