By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer SHREVEPORT, La. (LBM) – Messengers will be challenged with a theme of “Connect” during the 2024 Louisiana Baptist Convention Annual Meeting, to be hosted Nov 12 by Broadmoor Baptist Church, Shreveport. “This year we’ve adopted what will hopefully be an ongoing theme for us – ‘Connect,’” said Steve Horn, executive director for Louisiana Baptists. “During our time together, our is we will connect with God, with one another, and with support for our cooperation missions and ministries.” LBC President David Goza echoed the thought, urging Louisiana Baptists to attend. “We are looking forward to our annual convention and renewing our commitment to win our state to Christ through our cooperative ministries,” he said. “When Louisiana Baptists stand together, we glorify the name of our Lord. I pray that God will bless our time together in Shreveport and that the Lord will unite us like never before.” BUDGET PROPOSAL As part of the business of the annual meeting, the Cooperative Program budget will be presented to messengers to consider for adoption. The 2025 financial plan is based on Cooperative Program contributions of $17,380,808, a decrease of $699,761, or 3.87 … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer SHREVEPORT, La. (LBM) – Organizers of this year’s Louisiana Baptist Pastors Conference, hosted by Broadmoor Baptist Church, Shreveport, hope to remind participants, Nov. 11, to remain faithful in their ministry, marriage, and family lives. “God kind of laid this theme on my heart during last year’s Pastors Conference that we need a time to encourage those who are hurting, maybe their ministry is hard, or maybe they have a death in the family,” said Pastors Conference President Heath Peloquin, pastor of Summer Grove Baptist Church, Shreveport. “We need this day now more than ever. “Christianity is under attack and our country is divided,” he continued. “We will come together be encouraged to be faithful to take the Gospel to our cities and communities. These men that are coming are humble and they’re praying for the Pastors Conference and preparing to come to bring a Word from God.” The program will begin at 9 a.m. with music led by the Summer Grove Baptist praise and worship team and messages by Gevan Spinney, senior pastor, First Baptist Church, Haughton, and Richard Taylor, director, Corpus Christi Baptist Association. Pastors Conference Vice President Tommy Kiker, … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptist youth and adult leaders are gearing up for the 37th annual Youth Evangelism Celebration, a statewide assembly focused on preparing the next generation to share Christ with the world. Scheduled Nov. 24-25 in the Rapides Parish Coliseum, Alexandria, the largest annual gathering of Louisiana Baptists will feature messages by Zane Black, evangelist and tour pastor for Winter Jam 2024; in-depth discussions led by Clint Davis, a counselor from Shreveport; high-energy music by Crescent City Worship, a worship band with New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary; entertainment by Jaron Myers, a comedian and podcaster; times of fellowship; and a concert by Rend Collective to close out YEC on Monday evening. Brandon Allen, student pastor with Mt. Vernon Baptist Church, Columbus, Mississippi, and student ministry podcast producer, will serve as the host/emcee. Additionally, the Louisiana Baptist Collegiate Ministry will offer a lounge for youth ministers attending YEC. Last year’s event drew more than 5,100 youth and resulted in 157 students stepping forward during the opening session to accept Christ, grow deeper in their faith or pursue a … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff CLEARWATER, Florida (LBM) – To say October has been a busy month for Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief teams is an understatement. Since late September, LBDR teams have worked tirelessly in areas impacted by Hurricanes Francine, Helene and Milton and they have no signs of stopping anytime soon. According to Mark Morelock, teams are working in four states: Tennessee – mud-out team from First Baptist Church, LaPlace; North Carolina – two shower teams, one from Mount Olive Baptist Association, and another from District Eight Baptist Association; a laundry team from Carey Baptist Association; two chainsaw teams, one from Carey Baptist Association and another from First Baptist Church, Covington; a mud-out team from Carey Baptist Association; and an incident management team from Baptist Associations of Southeast Louisiana; Georgia – a chainsaw team from Eastern Louisiana Baptist Association; and Florida – a mass care feeding team from Rolling Hills Ministry; and a quick response feeding and shower team from Philadelphia Baptist Church, Deville; and chainsaw and mud-out teams from First Baptist Church, Lafayette. LBDR already has spent more than $161,000.00 on the responses. Stan … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer SLAUGHTER, La. (LBM) – Basil Wicker recently celebrated more than a half century of ministry with First Baptist Church, Slaughter. During the church’s 182nd anniversary service, Sept. 8, the congregation honored Wicker for his 55th year of service as pastor. The event featured messages by his nephews Mark Wicker and Blake Emfinger, both who serve on staff with churches in Mississippi. The church plans to name the new multi-purpose building that is under construction in honor of him. For Wicker, the service was a reminder of a church and community that have held a special place in his heart since he preached his first sermon on July 21, 1969. “It’s been like a dream, a dream come true,” Wicker told the Baptist Message. “The Lord's blessed me and my wife. She is deceased. She and I did not have children, and my prayer was always that God give us children, and he did! My children were the children of the church, and that's my family. “I'm totally committed to the to this body. We have always worked on building relationships and love for one another, and there's always something going on,” he continued. “As for me, I’ve tried to keep things simple. I've not looked for … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – A center to assess potential Louisiana Baptist church planters was launched recently in the facilities of Istrouma Baptist Church, Baton Rouge, by Send Network Louisiana leaders. “This is a big piece to the puzzle for Send Network Louisiana,” Send Network Louisiana Director Lane Corley told the Baptist Message. “To this point, we’ve had to send candidates to other states to finalize their assessments, which can be costly. Now, we’ll have an assessment center right here in Louisiana to launch from, and with an incredible group of Louisiana assessors who’ve planted and pastored churches in our unique context.” Corley expressed his appreciation for the Istrouma congregation’s assistance. The church’s minister of missions, Jay Spivey, will serve as the assessment director. “I’m deeply appreciative of Pastor Tim Keith and the staff at Istrouma, who have extended their warm hospitality to Send Network Louisiana and have integrated this process into their future strategy,” Corley said. During the first Send Network Louisiana assessment retreat at IBC, Sept. 4-5, five candidates were assessed, and 16 assessors were trained. This served as the official … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer MARRERO, La. (LBM) – Troy Gause was headed on a road to destruction when he was in Plaquemines Parish Detention Center in 1998, but an encounter with God inside the jail set him on a path to redemption in Jesus. Gause, who was serving a sentence for drug possession, was at a breaking point and realized he needed to reconnect with Christ, who saved him as a youngster. Vowing to stay close to God, he was released six months later and began to grow in his faith that one day would lead him to become a pastor. “Don't underestimate what God can do with a young man with a broken life and a surrendered heart,” said Gause, who was named “Replanter of the Year” during the 2024 North American Mission Board Replant Summit, Aug. 22-23. Gause, who sensed a call to vocational ministry after his release from prison, enrolled at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in 2009. He eventually started Church Without Walls, a ministry that shares Jesus with the homeless and addicted individuals in New Orleans, and in 2017, began Cross Culture Church. REBIRTH Cross Culture Church grew from eight people that first met inside a member’s living room in Marrero to 45 within five years. … [Read more...]