By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer DENHAM SPRINGS, La. (LBM) – Angela Hernandez had faithfully watched the online services at Live Oak Baptist Church since the onset of the novel coronavirus pandemic but sensed something was missing in her life. Hernandez, who accepted Christ years earlier, had seen Pastor Johnny Morgan baptize others via the Facebook Live broadcasts and asked God to give her the courage to follow through in obedience to Him. Her chance came when Morgan came to her office July 21 to obtain a permit to demolish a building on church grounds. Through the course of their conversation, Morgan extended the invitation to get baptized during an in-person worship service and on Aug. 2 Hernandez followed through and stirred the baptistery waters at Live Oak Baptist Church. “In my heart I knew this was something I had been needing to do for quite some time but kept putting it off,” Hernandez told the Baptist Message. “Pastor Johnny coming to my office was a sign from God that He was reaching out to me and telling me now was the time. Once I followed through it was like a great weight was finally lifted off of me.” Hernandez is one of 17 new converts Morgan has baptized this year, including nine … [Read more...]

ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) -- Louisiana Baptists are invited to recommend candidates for service on state convention boards and committees, and, are asked to submit resolutions for possible consideration by messengers at the 2020 Louisiana Baptist Convention. COMMITTEES The Louisiana Baptist Committee on Committees is conducting its work, Sept. 10, to nominate persons to serve on various state convention committees. Currently, 17 nominees are needed for service on committees, including: Credentials; Moral and Social Concerns; Nominations; Order of Business; and, Resolutions. Nominees for committees should be sent to Ray Swift, associate pastor of First Baptist Church in Lafayette, who is the Committee on Committees chair. Recommendations should be sent to him not later than Aug. 17 via email, ray.swift@fbclaf.org or through the U.S. Mail: Ray Swift, P. O. Box 3888., Lafayette, LA 70502. BOARDS The LBC Committee on Nominations is beginning its work to fill vacancies on state boards. At this point, 21 nominees are needed to serve on the LBC Executive Board and as trustees of Louisiana College, the Children’s Home and Family Ministries, the Baptist Message, and the Baptist Foundation. The Committee on Nominations chair … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer LEESVILLE, La. (LBM) – Modie Phillips initially wanted only to console an emotional child whose mother had been deployed to Iraq during Operation Desert Storm, but God had other plans for her. What began as a simple act of kindness in 1991 quickly evolved into a ministry that has reached thousands in Leesville and Vernon Parish. Desiring to encourage children of servicemen and women, she organized a monthly food distribution drive for military families with the help of churches in the Vernon Baptist Association. It would eventually lead to the formation of Helping Hands Storefront Ministries in 1992. On Friday, July 31, after 28 years of faithful service, Phillips retired as the ministry’s long-time director. She is grateful for the opportunities God gave her to serve. “God just led the way all this time,” Phillips told the Baptist Message. “He has sent reminders for all these years that reminded me how much of a difference this ministry has made in this area. Even though we have all these ministries to help people, the main purpose has been to let them know God loves them and His Son is their hope for Heaven. God has blessed us much more than I ever could have … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – Louisiana will remain in Phase 2 to stem the spread of COVID for at least three more weeks, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said on Tuesday, Aug. 4. Phase 2 was set to expire Friday, Aug. 7, but will now be extended beginning that day for another 21 days. All restrictions issued under the current restriction will remain in place. This includes: –a 50 percent capacity restriction for businesses and churches –a statewide mask mandate for anyone eight years or older or with a major health condition –limitations of bars to curbside food service only - and a reduction of indoor social gatherings to 50 people. Edwards, in a news conference, noted the state has seen a recent decline in new COVID-19 related cases and hospitalizations. He asked Louisianans to continue wearing masks and observing proper social distancing measures so the state can move toward Phase 3. “There is a bit of good news,” Edwards said. “The data shows that over the past several days we are beginning to move in the right direction. That gives me hope and encouragement, and it should to everyone. “But I do want to caution everybody that it’s still too early to say that we have changed … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer PONCHATOULA, La. (LBM) – French Corner Baptist Church in Ponchatoula faced numerous novel coronavirus pandemic-related challenges for its recent Vacation Bible School, but the week ended on a high note with their largest VBS missions’ project donation ever. By the conclusion of the summertime evangelistic event, July 20-24, 43 children and 26 adult volunteers brought in 2,883 canned goods and other non-perishable items that were packed by members of the church and delivered to Our Daily Bread food bank in Hammond the following week. Some of the items also were placed into gift boxes for delivery to homebound individuals in the community. “This was a tremendous week of giving hearts,” Pastor Eric Hattaway told the Baptist Message. “I told the kids they were showing Jesus’ love by bringing these cans. They were able to see first-hand a great example of how a Christian is to live out his or her life in their community.” Like many other Louisiana Baptist churches, French Corner Baptist did not know if VBS would be possible with the future uncertain. Still, they decided to go ahead and plan and make preparations for the yearly event. With social distancing guidelines in … [Read more...]