By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PANAMA CITY, Florida – A small area in the Gulf of Mexico, just off a sandy white beach in Panama City, Florida, served as a “baptistery” for 20 students and adults from Cypress Baptist Church, Benton, at the end of summer camp in late May. Student Pastor Kevin Flattmann beamed with excitement as 18 young people each declared they were a new creation in Christ through baptism. Two repentant adults – who were convicted because they had not yet been obedient in being baptized despite enjoying the forgiveness of salvation -- joined the youth in being buried and raised in Christ in the saltwater. “You put a lot of effort in these camps and you pray so much for God to work in those students’ lives during the week it take place,” Flattmann told the Baptist Message. “They are dealing with things today you never thought they would be dealing with, and to see them take this important step of baptism is a powerful representation of how the Gospel changes lives. To see these students have the outward joy of Jesus written on their lives as each one went down into to ocean water and up was a moment I’ll never forget.” Before camp began, Flattmann led several months of prayer times with … [Read more...]

ALEXANDRIA (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 2019 Louisiana Baptist Convention. COMMITTEES The Louisiana Baptist Committee on Committees is conducting its work, Sept. 7, 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 Keith Sheridan, pastor of Lee’s Creek Baptist Church in Bogalusa, who is the Committee on Committees chair. Recommendations should be sent to him not later than Aug. 16 via email, pastor.keiths@gmail.com., or through the U.S. Mail: 1803 Lee’s Creek Church Road, Bogalusa, LA 70427. BOARDS The LBC Committee on Nominations is beginning its work to fill vacancies on state boards. At this point, 32 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 is … [Read more...]

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. ON THE MOVE Dana Trahan is the new pastor at One Life Church, Walker. Joey, wife Rachel, Anwar is the New High School & College Minister at First Baptist, Haughton. Jeff, wife Mary, Hurst is the new pastor of Alabama Baptist Church, Arcadia as of July 15. HOMECOMING Evergreen Baptist Church, Bernice: 129th Homecoming, July 28, 10:30 a.m. Special Music: Sanctuary Quartet. Pastor: Wayne Sistrunk. Beech Springs Baptist Church, Quitman: 112th Homecoming Celebration, July 28, 10 a.m. A covered dish lunch will follow morning worship. Speaker: Jason McNaughtern, former pastor. Special music: Southern Plainsman Quartet. A love offering will be taken. Pastor: Jim Lancaster. REVIVAL Philadelphia Baptist Church, Deville: Revive Monday, July 22, 29. July 22: Evangelist: Mike Stone. Worship: PBC Worship … [Read more...]

LBC Executive Director ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) -- In a time of uncertainty like this, when we await the exact path and strength of the storm, we also need to wait on God and watch to see where He is at work. The saying is true that “Sometimes God calms the seas and sometimes He calms the sailors.” I have seen Him do both and remind all of us to trust Him. Let us respond to the impending storm as Daniel’s three friends did when they faced the ridicule of King Nebuchadnezzar and the blazing furnace as recorded in Daniel 3:17-18: “Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” Remember that God is mighty to save, and He is fully able to miraculously calm this storm. Until we know otherwise, let’s pray to that end. … [Read more...]

By Message Staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) -- As the state braces for Tropical Storm Barry, Louisiana Baptists John Hebert and Gibbie McMillan shared about disaster response preparations being made in anticipation of the damage that could result. Hebert, the missions and ministry director for the Louisiana Baptist Convention who oversees disaster relief operations, said disaster relief leaders already have put a plan of action into place. “We’ve assessed our resources and issued alerts to our trained personnel to prepare themselves and their mobile units,” Hebert said. “In addition, we are ready to establish command centers, and our folks are maintaining a constant state of readiness – literally watching and praying.” Hebert added that if the storm hits Louisiana, the disaster relief organization will respond immediately. If the storm shifts course, he said “we are ready” to respond to requests for help from neighboring states. “Our priority will be to assist churches, staff, then members,” McMillan said in describing how resources will be allocated. “After that we assist the people in the areas around our churches. McMillan is the Louisiana Baptist disaster relief coordinator for the state. “If they need food, … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) -- Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards announced today, July 10, that he will declare a state of emergency ahead of a storm that may significantly impact the state. A broad area of low pressure may become a tropical depression later today or Thursday and could make landfall in the state Friday or Saturday. “Obviously we are not sure yet of the exact track of the storm or the strength of the potential tropical system once it makes landfall,” Edwards said during a press conference Wednesday morning. “However, we are confident that there will be widespread heavy rainfall and coastal flooding. We also know that the Gulf of Mexico, because it is so warm, that the longer the storm system lingers over the Gulf, the more organized and the stronger it is likely to become before it makes landfall.” Edwards said the storm could bring 10 to 15 inches of rainfall and that the storm will be slow moving. He said the Mississippi River levels in New Orleans could reach 20 feet, rising above the flood protection in Plaquemines Parish. “Right now we believe that any overtopping of the levees will be of a relatively short duration of about 12 hours,” he said. “But that is still a very, … [Read more...]

National Hurricane Center forecasters are warning a possible tropical depression, or storm, may form in the Gulf of Mexico later this week. While it is still too early to predict the storm’s path, it is a reminder that the time to prepare is now, according to Louisiana Baptists State disaster relief Director Gibbie McMillan. “The only time it is too late is after a disaster occurs,” McMillan told the Baptist Message. “It is too late to turn the lights off when the electricity goes out. It is never too late to prepare for the unknown, and for the unexpected. Just begin now.” McMillan suggested storing one gallon of bottled water per person per day in the household, non-perishable food, cash, first aid kit, medications, a laminated copy of important documents, and phone numbers of extended family members and friends who live in other states. McMillan said a disaster plan should include a list of possible rendezvous sites near one’s home or in a neighboring state and a phone tree for making contact in case of disaster. He invited Louisiana Baptists to participate in future Disaster Relief instruction and to take advantage of online training available at louisianabaptists.org/disasterrelief. Hurricane season began June … [Read more...]