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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Louisiana Notables

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. HOMECOMING First Baptist Church, Ball: Homecoming, August 1, 10:45 a.m. with a meal following the worship service. Worship: The Good News Gospel Trio. Pastor: Mike Hedrick. Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, Pollock: Homecoming, August 1, Sunday School, 9:45 a.m.; 10:45 a.m. Gospel music concert by Mountain View Connection Group. Lunch will follow. Speaker: David Maxwell. Pastor: Micah Murrell. ON THE MOVE Keith, wife Suzanne, Sheridan is the new BASELA (Baptist Association of Southeast Louisiana) Director of Missions. He was formerly pastor of Lee’s Creek Baptist Church, Bogalusa. Tony Carter is the new pastor at Unity One Baptist Church, Franklin. Jeff, wife Mary, Shows is the new pastor at East Winnfield Baptist Church, Winnfield. He comes from Union Hall Baptist Church in Coushatta. He officially begins July … [Read more...]

Seeds planted, harvest reaped in Coushatta

By Brian Blackwell, Message staff writer COUSHATTA, La. (LBM) – A season of prayer preceded a recent four-night crusade at Red River High School in Coushatta that saw 10 people come to Christ and many more seek personal revival. Held July 11-14, the Red River Crusade and Concert featured messages by Bill Britt, founder of Compel Outreach in Haughton, and music by the Jason Lovins Band and the New Hope No. 3 praise and worship team. Leading up to the crusade, Red River Parish congregations, representing multiple denominations, took part in coordinated individual times of prayer. Crusade organizer Shawn Beard, a member of Martin Baptist Church in Coushatta, said prayer was a solid foundation for a mighty movement of God during the course of the event. “I personally think without prayer we are spinning our wheels and not really headed in the right direction,” Beard told the Baptist Message. “Prayer also guided us to put our feet to the ground as we planned and prepared for what God had for us.” Even before he preached his first message of the crusade, Britt said he could feel a spirit of unity among those gathered. “It was a blessing to see different races, denominations, churches all come together,” Britt said. … [Read more...]

Lawmakers defect, Fairness in Women’s Sports fails

By Will Hall, Message executive editor BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – A critical bill that would have prevented biological males (as transgender women) from taking women’s sports team spots away from biological females was defeated, July 21, during a veto override session in the Louisiana House, when 10 representatives either defected or did not vote after having previously supported the legislation in the regular session. Sen. Beth Mizell (R), Senate president pro tempore and a member of First Baptist Church, Franklinton, authored S.B. 156 “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act” as an attempt to level the playing field for women athletes. The bill was a response against the H.R. 5 “Equality Act” submitted in the U.S. Congress that would allow biological males to compete as females. It was passed at the federal level by the House and is awaiting a vote in the Senate. However, an executive mandate promoting transgender rights by President Joe Biden (D) calls for a review of federal policies that likely will produce the same result as passage of H.R. 5. REGULAR SESSION In the spring, the Louisiana Senate passed Mizell’s measure to guard against males on female teams, 29-6-4, and the House, too, 78-19-8. However, Gov. John Bel Edwards … [Read more...]

LBC seeks resolutions, nominees for committees, boards

By Staff, Baptist Message 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 at the 2021 Louisiana Baptist Convention. COMMITTEES The Louisiana Baptist Committee on Committees will be conducting its work early this fall to fill 17 openings on five state convention committees: Credentials; Moral and Social Concerns; Nominations; Order of Business; and Resolutions. Nominations should be sent not later than Aug. 17 to Jake Roudkowski, a member of First Baptist Church, Mandeville, who is the Committee on Committees chair. Please forward your recommendations via email, jaker@nobts,edu, or the U.S. Mail, Dr. Jake Roudkowski, 78689 Hwy. 25, Folsom, LA 70437. BOARDS The Louisiana Baptist Committee on Nominations will begin its work, also in early fall, to fill 22 vacancies on the LBC Executive Board as well as the trustee bodies of the Louisiana College, Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home and Family Ministries, Baptist Message, and Baptist Foundation. Nominations should be sent not later than Aug. 17 to Philip Robertson, the pastor of Philadelphia Baptist Church, … [Read more...]

Letlow visits Louisiana College, says higher ed success equals state’s success

By Elizabeth Clarke, LC News PINEVILLE, La. (LC News) - Louisiana College welcomed Congresswoman Julia Letlow to campus July 8 — her first visit since taking office in April. LC President Rick Brewer welcomed Letlow, along with some of her staff members, at a breakfast meeting where he shared campus updates and introduced school administrators. Letlow recalled fondly how she had attended a faith-based youth camp on the campus several decades ago. “This tour has been a long time coming,” Letlow said. “Higher ed is near and dear to my heart, and our hearts are here to serve.” Letlow has worked in higher education for many years. She served most recently as the director of external affairs and strategic communications for the University of Louisiana at Monroe, before running to fill her late husband Luke Letlow’s seat in Congress. Letlow had been elected in November 2020 and was slated to take office in January 2021. He died of COVID-19 in December. “One thing my husband ran on — and that I want to carry on — is that he wanted to be accessible,” she said. “Day or night, we’re here to serve.” She told LC administrators that as projects and programs arise, her office will be a resource. She introduced each of her … [Read more...]