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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Estate planning is stewardship

By Jerry Love, Louisiana Baptist Foundation Planning is a part of our daily lives. We plan menus for the day or week; we plan vacations; we plan meetings; and, … the list goes on. Why, then, is it difficult to make plans for one of the more important parts of our lives – our estates? Estate planning often is looked at as a dreaded or unpleasant task. Many people have expressed feelings that if they make plans for their estate their lives will be over. Others take a more cavalier approach, saying “someone else can deal with that after I am gone.” As followers of Christ, we should all be interested in the stewardship of our assets, or our “stuff.” A prayerfully thought-out estate plan can be the largest single act of stewardship that you will undertake in your lifetime. Indeed, determining how to take care of others, how to be a blessing to others and how to further the Gospel of Jesus Christ through your personal planning is stewardship. So, take a look at some essentials of estate planning, which is stewardship! PEOPLE The first step is as simple as making a list of the people who are most important to you. This should include anyone (children, spouse, grandchildren, parents) in your care during your … [Read more...]

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 Bethsadia Baptist Church, Many: Homecoming, June 9 10:45 a.m. Dinner on the grounds in the Fellowship Hall immediately following the morning worship service. Speaker: James “Buddy” Greer of Paris, Texas. Pastor: Jay Begbie. Linda Lay Memorial Baptist Church, Gilliam: 100th anniversary/homecoming, June 9, 10 a.m. A catered BBQ lunch will be served following the worship service. Speaker: Steve Armstrong. Special Music: The Offering. Pastor: Eddie Kent. Laurel Hill Baptist Church, LaCamp: 150th Homecoming, June 22, 2 p.m. There will be a meal after the program. Former pastors have been invited to speak. Everyone is invited to attend. Pastor: Wesley Jackson. REVIVAL Bethsadia Baptist Church, Many: Revival, June 6-8, 6:30 p.m. Speaker: James “Buddy” Greer of Paris, Texas. Pastor: Jay Begbie. First … [Read more...]

New River renewed after floodwaters, spiritual drought

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer SAINT AMANT – Jacob Watkins was in bondage to a life of alcoholism, drug abuse and depression in Febru-ary when he accepted an invitation to attend New River Baptist Church in Saint Amant. One month later, Watkins was set free from the chains holding him back from a relationship with Christ when he turned to Jesus. “I have been clean of alcohol and drugs and haven’t suffered from de-pression because I have been shown that you just give all of your problems to God,” Watkins told the Baptist Mes-sage. Watkins is one of 17 new convert baptized since July 2018. Pastor Adam Beach celebrated Watkins’ salvation and his obedience by baptizing him March 10. Beach said Watkins’ story is representative of how God has moved through the congregation since August 2016, when its worship center and gymnasium were deluged under 4 feet of water during the record flood in that region of Louisiana. After the waters receded, the congregation went through a nearly two-year drought where no one was baptized. But since last summer the congregation has witnessed the wave of baptisms plus 13 other additions, growing by 30 new members, combined. “Once our members got back into the building and saw … [Read more...]

A $5 million facelift: LC’s oldest residence halls to be refurbished

By Norm Miller, LC News PINEVILLE (LCNews) - Louisiana College will refurbish its oldest residence halls with a multi-phase plan over 17-months through a $5 million tax-exempt bond. M.D. Descant, LLC, will complete the first phase of renovations, which include Tudor Hall and English Village. “This is an answer to prayer and the result of hard work to significantly upgrade facilities that have seen no major improvements in decades,” said Rick Brewer, president of Louisiana College. “With curb appeal ranking as the third most important consideration of a college by prospective students, these improvements will significantly improve our recruiting efforts and enhance our ability to retain students already enrolled.” Board of Trustee Chairman Ken Schroeder praised Brewer’s leadership, citing the “dramatic changes” the president has made “to the school’s overall culture.” “There’s a buzz around campus among the student body, the faculty, the administration, and the board,” Schroeder said. “LC’s enrollment continues to increase at a steady pace. However, one aspect of our school that hinders the growth in enrollment is the condition of our dorms. We believe that by improving this aspect of campus life, LC will be in … [Read more...]

Louisiana protects unborn at first heartbeat

By Will Hall, Message Editor BATON ROUGE (LBM) – By a vote of 79-23, Louisiana House members passed S.B. 184, which protects an unborn baby at the first heartbeat, usually detectable between 6-8 weeks of development. The measure authored by Sen. John Milkovich (D-DeSoto), requires an ultrasound “prior to any abortion” in order to establish “whether or not a fetal heartbeat is present,” banning abortion if the unborn child’s pulse is detected. However, an abortion is permitted to “prevent the death … or to prevent a serious risk of the substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function” of the mother. Likewise, if the unborn child is diagnosed with a medical condition that “is incompatible with sustaining life after birth,” an abortion is allowed. Arguments were passionate on both sides of the debate. Rep. Valerie Hodges (R-East Baton Rouge, Livingston), the primary House sponsor, led the effort to pass the “heartbeat bill,” arguing a heartbeat is the definitive sign of life. "When a person's heart stops beating, you know their life is ended," Hodges said. "When you can hear a baby's heartbeat it is proof that life is present." She also defended the bill against attempts to add an exception … [Read more...]

Children’s Home dedicates newest cottage for homeless children and their mothers

The Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home celebrated the completion of its newest HomePlace Cottage for homeless children and their mothers with a ribbon cutting May 21 at its campus in Monroe. Among those celebrating the ribbon cutting were (left to right) Perry Hancock, Gene Howard, Irma Howard, Maggie Martin and Jonathan Martin. Gene Howard is the cousin of Jonathan Martin, chairman of the Louisiana-based RoyOMartin Lumber Company. The Howards have given generously toward this project, along with proceeds from the Brenda Hall Abney Children’s Golf Classic hosted annually by Roy O. Martin. Irma’s Place, named after Irma Howard, will house homeless women and children for up to 12 months at no cost to the residents. While there, the women may work toward their high school equivalency and receive life and employment skills training through the Christian Women Job Corps, a ministry of the Children’s Home. Residents living in this cottage will experience an array of amenities to offer a true home environment for the women and their children in this transitional setting as they prepare for independent living. This is the second new HomePlace Cottage to open since 2016. … [Read more...]

Hancock celebrates fast track to foster parent training through Children’s Home

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer WOODWORTH, La. (LBM) – Prospective foster parents through the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home will soon enjoy access to a fast track for earning needed training. “With more than 4,000 children in Louisiana’s foster care system and only 2,200 foster homes, Louisiana Baptists have a great opportunity to make an impact on the next generation through foster care,” Children’s Home President and CEO Perry Hancock told the Baptist Message after the Executive Board meeting May 7 at Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center. A barrier interested foster parents have faced is the amount of time needed to earn certification. Training requires 4 to 8 weeks to complete. That amount of time will now be reduced to just two weekends, beginning this fall. Louisiana Baptist churches will host a full day of training on a Saturday and a half day Sunday afternoon. Dates and locations will be announced soon. Through its Connect 1:27 Foster Care and Adoption ministries, the Children’s Home also provides home studies for foster and adoption certifications, seminars for churches to develop foster care and adoption ministries, and ongoing training to enhance care skills. For more information, contact … [Read more...]