ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) -- Due to recent spikes in COVID-19 cases across the state, the 2020 Annual Meeting of the Louisiana Baptist Convention will not be held in New Orleans on Tuesday, Nov. 10, as originally planned. Franklin Avenue Baptist Church was slated to host this year’s gathering in that city. The LBC Executive Board, as directed by Article XII of the LBC Articles of Incorporation, will recommend an alternative venue. That new site will be announced during the Board's regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 29, at the Tall Timbers Conference Center in Woodworth. According to Steve Horn, LBC executive director, the decision was prompted by the state’s extension of Phase 2 in its COVID-19 restrictions, coupled with New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell’s efforts to keep the city from repeating the health crisis it experienced earlier in the year. “Fred Luter, pastor of Franklin Avenue, and I visited via phone Tuesday and we determined in light of continued uncertainties relating to COVID-19 restrictions, it would be best for the church and the Convention to make alternative plans for this year’s annual meeting,” said Horn. “We appreciate Franklin Avenue’s willingness to host the annual gathering of Louisiana Baptists … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) – Morgan Moses was looking to restart her life when her uncle, Perry Moses, invited her in early March to attend Cross Branded Cowboy Church in Pineville. She found a loving church family and the Holy Spirit guided her to a spiritual rebirth that culminated with baptism on her physical birthday, June 29. Steve Speer, pastor of His Church in Pineville, performed the baptism because the church is without a pastor at this time. “I felt like this was meant to be,” she told the Baptist Message. “While I didn’t plan to be baptized on my birthday, God knew exactly what was going to happen and I’m so excited that he allowed me to share my joy with so many people.” Morgan Moses was among two new converts who participated in a baptism service during Cross Branded’s weekly Monday night service, which averages 70-80 people inside its worship center. COWBOY-STYLE MINISTRY While Cross Branded opens its services to anyone, it especially draws in those who are part of the cowboy culture. Started in 2008 as a mission of Pine Grove Baptist Church in Ruby, this cowboy-style congregation began with 20 people, and a year later grew to 30 members. Four years … [Read more...]

By Will Hall, Baptist Message Executive Editor WASHINGTON (LBM) – Chief Justice John Roberts on Monday reversed his position from just a decade ago, siding with the four liberal justices on the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a Louisiana law, 5-4, that attempted to protect women involved in botched abortions. In 2016, Roberts dissented against the Court’s ruling against a Texas law that required abortionists to have admitting privileges at a local hospital in case of an emergency during an abortion – in order to ensure the doctor could provide continuous care for the patient. But the Texas law also included provisions regarding the abortion facility operations, requiring them to be regulated as an ambulatory care clinic with regard to required medical equipment and certifications. The Louisiana law, by contrast, only sought to make sure the person performing the abortion was able to stay with the patient throughout emergency and follow up care. Two cases in recent months highlighted the state’s case for requiring admitting privileges. In 2019 a woman who endured a botched abortion procedure at a Baton Rouge facility experienced complications that forced her to have emergency surgery which resulted in a total … [Read more...]

By Message Staff MCCOMB, Miss. (LBM) – Sue White was on the verge of tears when a Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief team showed up to remove trees that fell on her yard in McComb, Mississippi, after a tornado touched down April 22. Twenty-five disaster relief volunteers worked tirelessly for several days clearing the heavy debris left by the storm, and they left such a lasting impression that White felt compelled to mail in a $1,000 check as a gift of appreciation. In her letter to Louisiana Baptists, the 92-year-old White said the team was a gift from God and that she was thankful for their selfless acts of love. “I shall always remember how hard those people worked,” White wrote. “May God bless you as you continue to help other people.” Gibbie McMillan, state disaster relief coordinator for Louisiana Baptists, said disaster relief does not require nor ask for donations for work completed by teams. However, he said they accepted the gift for the Georgia Barnette State Missions Offering because White wanted the money to help others in future disasters. “We don’t do it for the money,” McMillan said. “We do it because there is a need and we are there to show Jesus to others who are needing Him at that moment. I am … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer LEESVILLE, La. (LBM) – Blake Frederick was leading the nightly family devotional time in early March when his eight-year-old son, Micah, presented an important request – he wanted to surrender his life to Christ and share his decision through public baptism. Overcome with joy, the family scheduled a meeting with the East Leesville Baptist Church pastoral leadership team and scheduled a date for baptism. However, much like other Louisiana Baptist churches around the state, attendance restrictions from the novel coronavirus pandemic delayed the baptism until a later date. The baptism was rescheduled and fell on Father’s Day. Blake Frederick, whose wife, Heather, is children’s minister at East Leesville Baptist, said he was ecstatic when he saw his son baptized June 21. “It wasn’t until the morning of his baptism that I realized it would be held on Father’s Day,” he told the Baptist Message. “As proud as I was of his obedience to Christ’s command to be baptized, I know that God the Father was even more overjoyed.” Micah Frederick is the fifth new convert, with an additional five more waiting, to participate in baptism at East Leesville Baptist since the church reopened for … [Read more...]

By Message Staff BASILE, La. (LBM) – First Baptist Church of Basile is thankful after a recent electrical fire caused only moderate damage and left no one injured. Mike Fontenot, pastor of First Baptist Basile, told the Baptist Message the fire was reported around 6:10 p.m. June 4 by leaders of the church’s Celebrate Recovery ministry who were preparing for their meeting. Fontenot said the fire was started in the church’s food pantry storage room, and clean-up of the facility was completed Wednesday. While the fire damage was covered by insurance, First Basile must replace two refrigerators and one freezer that was used to store items that were distributed by the food pantry ministry. “We are so very grateful to God that we have been spared heavy damage and for all who have shown support through financial gifts and prayers,” Fontenot said. He said he is also thankful for a financial gift from Louisiana Baptists to help with repairs and replacing lost equipment. John Hebert, Louisiana Baptists missions and ministry team director, delivered a check from the state disaster relief fund to Fontenot Monday. “It’s rather unusual that in my 10 years as missions and ministry director we have not had the amount of fires to … [Read more...]

By Message Staff EUNICE, La. (LBM) - Acadian Baptist Center leaders recently celebrated the completion of their first ever worship center. The $3 million, 18,000-sq.-ft. facility was finished May 13, and can accommodate up to 1,000 people. Construction began in April 2019. Camp Director James Newsom said he appreciated the effort led by builder Joey West, a member of First Baptist Church in Pine Prairie, and architect Brodie Ardoin, a member of First Baptist Church in Ville Platte. Many others in the area volunteered to help with the project, Newsom said. “The new worship center at ABC is an amazing miracle,” Newsom told the Baptist Message. “It is humbling to think thousands of young people will be worshipping there for many years to come even after we are long gone impacting our world for Christ.”   … [Read more...]