By David Hankins, Louisiana Baptists Executive Director ALEXANDRIA (LBM) -- I recently met with a group of our Louisiana associational mission strategists (formerly called directors of missions). As I stood before these friends and partners in ministry, knowing it would be the last time I addressed them as a group in my current position, I said, “I believe in the way we Baptists do our work.” I stand by those words. During my ministry, which spans 50 years, I’ve studied and observed many models of leadership and organization. While there are strengths in various approaches, none compares to our cooperative model -- when we work it, when we actually cooperate. I am concerned whenever any of us devalue the cooperative model we felt led of the Lord to establish decades ago. I believe this has a ripple effect through almost every area of Baptist life -- including baptisms, missions enterprises, Cooperative Program giving, and more. Whenever we minimize our denominational partnerships, sadly, every measurement we use to gauge our progress in fulfilling the Great Commission will trend downward. So, here is my prayer as I prepare to move into the next season of life and ministry: May Southern Baptists make cooperation great … [Read more...]

By Holly Jo Linzay, Regional Reporter BATON ROUGE – For the past 13 years, Lanier Baptist Church in Baton Rouge has presented a musical production chronicling the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, and church members are passionate about the message that unfolds. “The production is very dramatic with heart-throbbing moments. You can’t help but be moved. Our prayer is that we can reach out to the lost with the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” said Rev. Mike Ferguson, the pastor of Lanier Baptist Church. The Easter musical drama, “His Amazing Love,” will be presented April 18-20, 6:30 p.m., at Lanier Baptist Church. The passion play is free and open to the public. Each year, new songs and new scenes are added as the Lord leads, the pastor said. “We prayed about it, and we felt the Lord wanted us to do this production again,” Ferguson said. Virtually all of the 120 church members are engaged in the Easter musical with more than 90 adults and children from the church composing the cast and crew. The drama will feature live animals, stunning scenery and a powerful message of hope, the pastor said. The play, which is divided into three acts with 12 scenes, lasts about an hour and 15 minutes. A Gospel … [Read more...]

By Will Hall, Message Editor BATON ROUGE (LBM) – A coalition of pro-life groups and individuals has launched a public campaign to support an amendment to the Louisiana Constitution that would prevent state courts from establishing a “right to abortion” or requiring state funds be used for abortion. The initiative comes as radical late-term abortion legislation, described by critics as allowing “up to the moment of birth” abortion, was passed in New York and defeated in Virginia, with other state legislatures lining up to pursue similar measures. Ben Clapper, executive director of Louisiana Right to Life, told the Baptist Message the amendment simply will read “Nothing in this constitution shall be construed to secure or protect a right to abortion or require the funding of abortion.” He said that the amendment “is silent on exceptions” such as rape and incest “because these issues are addressed in state law.” “The supreme courts of a dozen states have found a right to abortion in their constitutions,” he said. “We can’t let this happen in Louisiana. Two lawmakers are leading the state house effort for the amendment, which is aimed at preventing state court judges from overturning pro-life laws, for instance, … [Read more...]

By Staff, Louisiana Baptist Message MONTES CLAROS, Brazil – David Denton is urging Louisiana Baptists to join the annual summer mission trip to Brazil for a chance to experience a life-changing opportunity and the ability to impact an area that is open and receptive to the Gospel, Denton told the Baptist Message. Last year, 120 participants led thousands to the Lord. Denton, senior pastor of Highland Baptist Church in New Iberia, served as co-director last year with his father-in-law and retired Louisiana Baptist evangelism and church growth director Wayne Jenkins, who passed away Nov. 13 after leading 34 trips there. “Wayne Jenkins had a heart for the Brazilian people and led others to see how important volunteer missions are to the Great Commission,” Denton said. “The trip this year will honor his legacy as well as fulfill our divine mandate to make disciples. This one trip that is ready made for those who want to be involved in going to the furthest corners of the earth.” The team will leave for Brazil July 5 and return July 16 -- or July 18 if volunteers elect to stay two more days for an excursion. Most of the team’s work will take place in Montes Claros, a city of 394,000 people in the northern part of the … [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 Ronnie Burke is the transitional pastor at Olivet Baptist Church, Sulphur. Johnnie Wagner is the new pastor at Colfax Baptist Church. Eric Harkins is the new pastor of Pisgah Baptist Church, Bernice. Timmy Burns has resigned as pastor of Mt. Tabor Baptist Church, Farmerville. James Miller has announced his retirement as of April 15 at First Baptist Church, Spearsville. Israel Montejo resigned at Bethel Hispanic Church, Bernice. Luis Garcia is the new pastor at Bethel Hispanic Church, Bernice. Connie Smith is the interim pastor at Fellowship Baptist Church, Dubach. Michael Robinson has resigned from Summer Grove to become new children’s minister at Church at the Mall, Lakeland, FL. Barry (wife Carol) Headrick is the new interim music minister at Gray Baptist Church, Jefferson, Texas. Mrs. Dawn Backs … [Read more...]

As Easter approaches, the Baptist Message team invites you to pause daily from the hustle and bustle of life to focus on the days leading up to Easter or Resurrection Sunday. Join us in this challenge to read through the Gospels to get a greater understanding of Jesus’ birth, ministry, death and resurrection. Day 16: Matthew 6-7 (NKJV) ========================= (Matthew 6) Do Good to Please God 1“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly. The Model Prayer 5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 But you, when you … [Read more...]

As Easter approaches, the Baptist Message team invites you to pause daily from the hustle and bustle of life to focus on the days leading up to Easter or Resurrection Sunday. Join us in this challenge to read through the Gospels to get a greater understanding of Jesus’ birth, ministry, death and resurrection. Day 15: Matthew 3-5 (NKJV) ========================= (Matthew 3) John the Baptist Prepares the Way 1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.’ ” 4 Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him 6 and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, 9 and do not think to say to … [Read more...]