Click to Login or Sign Up

Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Alabama native Ingram retiring to Mississippi after 16 years of Louisiana ministry

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – For the past 16 years, Jeff Ingram has traveled the state helping Louisiana Baptist congregations discover how to better carry out the God-given mandate to make disciples. Ingram, who is set to retire June 30 from the Evangelism and Church Grown team, told the Baptist Message he is thankful for having had the opportunity “to serve the churches.” “I really value the relationships I’ve had through the years with our LBC staff, but also with associational mission strategists, pastors, church staff and lay leaders,” he said. “Just ‘thank you’ for the opportunity to get to know you, to work with you and to see how God is working through Louisiana Baptists to reach and minister to the people in their communities.” CALLED TO SERVE Ingram grew up in a home where church attendance was a priority, but during his teen years he became less engaged. After he graduated high school and began attending the University of South Alabama, he felt the need to join the Baptist Student Union and attend Spring Hill Baptist Church, Mobile, Alabama, he said. However, it was during a revival service at Agricola Baptist Church, Lucedale, Mississippi, that Ingram made his … [Read more...]

Louisiana Notables

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Baptist Message provides churches an opportunity to share with other Louisiana Baptists an upcoming revival, homecoming, new pastor, new staff member, a community outreach, or a concert in Louisiana Notables. To place your event in the paper, send your information (who, what, where, when, time) to philip@baptistmessage.com or call 318.449.4345. Please submit your information four weeks prior to the event to insure placement in the Message. ON THE MOVE Andrew Ogea is the new pastor of First Baptist Church, Baton Rouge. His father, Reggie Ogea, has been Interim pastor at FBCBR since April 2023. Kevin, wife Melainie, Ulmer is the new Louisiana Baptists evangelism strategist on the Evangelism/Church Growth Team. He begins on July 1. Chuck Clinton is the new music minister at First Baptist Church, Greenwood. Russell, wife Hope, James is the new youth minister for Bonita Road Baptist Church, Bastrop. Kevin, wife Nichole, Seefried is the new student past at Mount Vernon Baptist Church, West Monroe. Lane Noakes is the new youth minister at First Baptist Church, Dry Prong. Riley Robertson is the new music minister at Victory Baptist Church, Monroe. Jeff Hoffman, Pastor of FBC Arcadia, is the … [Read more...]

Quitman Baptist RA wins national Pinewood Derby at SBC

By Baptist Message staff INDIANAPOLIS (LBM) – Josiah Jones, a fifth grader from Quitman Baptist Church, recently won the national Royal Ambassador Pinewood Derby in the same city where the famed Indianapolis 500 is held each year. Held June 9 prior to the 2024 Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting, the race featured eight finalists from around the SBC who competed inside the exhibit hall. Jones, who won the Louisiana Baptist RA Congress Pinewood Derby race in March, expressed excitement about coming in first place on the national level, and thanked Louisiana Baptist Men’s Ministry Strategist Stan Statham and Southern Baptist Woman’s Missionary Union consultant for RAs, Challengers and Youth on Mission Keith Gates (also a member of First Baptist Church, Winnsboro) for coordinating the event. “It was a unique and fun experience,” Jones told the Baptist Message. “I’m thankful to my church, Quitman Baptist; my pastor, Brother Donald Rudd; and my RA leader, Corey Rowe, for making this possible through RA Congress.” … [Read more...]

FBC Baton Rouge to celebrate 150th anniversary

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – First Baptist Church, Baton Rouge, has a series of scheduled events to coincide with a 150th anniversary that will give members a chance to remember their storied past as well as look to a hopeful future. “First Baptist Church Baton Rouge has stood as a beacon of faith, hope and love for a century and a half,” FBCBR Music Minister Christian Vige told the Baptist Message. “This milestone is not just a marker of time, but a celebration of countless lives transformed, hearts touched and communities served. It’s a time to reflect on the rich history of the church, honoring those who laid the foundation of faith and those who have continued to build upon it. “The sesquicentennial anniversary provides a unique opportunity to reflect on the church's journey and renew our commitment to the mission and vision that God has placed before us for the future,” he added. “As we look back on the past 150 years, we are reminded of the countless ways God has worked through our church to spread His love and message.” EVENTS The church will kick off its anniversary with “Stars, Stripes and Sounds: A Patriotic Musical Celebration” July 4 at 7 p.m. The event will … [Read more...]

Louisiana Baptist Convention baptisms soar 31 percent

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Recently released information that updated the Annual Church Profile database for 2023 shows that the number of baptisms performed by Louisiana Baptist congregations jumped to 8,770 in 2023, a surge of 2,020 more baptisms, or 31.1 percent above the numbers for 2022. This growth nearly doubles the 1,060 additional baptisms reported in 2022 (6,690), which was an 18.8 percent rise above 2021 (5,630). The Southern Baptist Convention also reported increases for both years, almost 26 percent in 2023 and about 16 percent in 2022. The soaring LBC numbers coincide with what has been described as a “rebound” from the COVID pandemic in 2020, but also occur with the launch of a soul winning emphasis by Louisiana Baptists that was announced preceding the 2023 SBC Annual Meeting, which was held in New Orleans. In May 2023, LBC Executive Director Steve Horn shared with LBC Executive Board mem­bers his desire to restore a “culture of evangelism” among Louisiana Baptists. His vision accompanied the announcement of Send Network Louisiana, a church planting partner­ship (launched in August 2023) with the SBC North American Mission Board that includes a God-sized … [Read more...]

Louisiana Christian seeking next president of the university

By Elizabeth Clarke, LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) - Louisiana Christian University has announced its search for the 10th president of the nearly 120-year-old institution, according to Tommy Kiker, who serves on the university’s Board of Trustees and as presidential search committee chair. “As we begin this process, the committee and I covet your prayers and we need and ask for your input in the process,” said Kiker, lead pastor of East Leesville Baptist Church. “We are accepting applications and recommendations, but will spend most of the summer praying, receiving input from faculty, staff, alumni, and friends of the school, and developing a desired profile.” The presidential search committee members include four trustees and two LCU faculty members. The members were voted on and approved by the full board at its spring board meeting. The committee requests alumni, community members and all interested parties to offer input through a survey tool developed by LCU’s research department. The survey tool can be accessed here. The search committee welcomes applications and recommendations to the following email address: psc@lcuniversity.edu. David Jeffreys has been serving as LCU’s acting president since the … [Read more...]

June is ‘Sanctity of Preborn Life Month’ in Louisiana!

By Baptist Message staff BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – Because of a resolution approved by the Louisiana House during the 2023 Legislative Regular Session, pro-life advocates across the state can mark their June calendars for a month-long celebration of "Sanctity of Preborn Life Month." The resolution, which praises Louisiana Baptists’ role in the pro-life movement, notes “the Bible affirms that the preborn child is a person, bearing the image of God, from the moment of conception” and commends “the churches and individuals who worked tirelessly to cultivate a pro-life culture in our state through prayer, spiritual health and growth of our citizenry regarding pro-life matters, and public policy action including the overwhelming passage of the 2020 constitutional amendment, the Love Life Amendment.” "Be it further resolved," the resolution concluded, "that the House of Representatives of the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby recognize the month of June as Sanctity of Preborn life Month in Louisiana in celebration of the Supreme Court’s historic ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization." Rep. Dodie Horton, member of First Baptist Church, Haughton, and Rep. Valerie Hodges co-authored the bill. Will Hall, … [Read more...]

Send Network Louisiana prayer gatherings to kick off May 30

By Baptist Message staff ALEXANDRIA, LA (LBM) – Prayer warriors from across the state are invited to gather online and ask God to move in the hearts of the lost in Louisiana every Thursday morning, starting May 30. Scheduled from 6:30-7 a.m. each week, the Send Network Louisiana prayer gatherings will be broadcast via Microsoft Teams and will focus on seeing 1 percent of the state’s population come to a relationship with Christ. The Louisiana Baptist partnership with the North American Mission Board has a God-sized vision to see His Kingdom expanded in Louisiana by one percent (about 28,000) over the next decade. Researchers estimate that 60 percent of 4,648,794 Louisianans are lost (or, 2,789,276). If successful, 28,875 Louisianans will be added to the Kingdom through a renewed culture of evangelism among Louisiana Baptists resulting in churches reaching new people with the Gospel. The goal of reaching 28,875 new people can be obtained with a combination of planting 231 new churches reaching 125 people with the Gospel. These salvations will be accomplished in a cooperative effort with already established Louisiana Baptist congregations. Send Network Louisiana church planting strategist Jacob Crawford will lead … [Read more...]

Calvary middle school students keep missions local

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Instead of going to the beach or amusement park for spring break, middle school students from Calvary Baptist Church, Alexandria, chose to stay home for a mission “trip.” By the conclusion of their April 2-4 effort in Alexandria, the 25 sixth through eighth grade students, plus 10 adult leaders, were reminded they do not have to travel to another part of the United States or thousands of miles overseas to share the Gospel and show the love of Christ to others. “We talk about missions and a lot of our middle schoolers think it’s overseas,” CBC Middle School Minister Anthony Work told the Baptist Message. “But missions also are in our backyard. Our Jerusalem is right here in Central Louisiana. We brought to light that they can serve and pour out in those places that are familiar and need Jesus’ love too.” The team shopped for food items and supplies that they used to fill boxes for the Fostering Community, a local non-profit organization whose mission is “to improve the lives of children impacted by foster care through advocacy, resources, and support.” The students also toured and spruced up the CENLA Pregnancy Center building and grounds; … [Read more...]

LBC EB highlights insurance crisis, evangelism growth

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer WOODWORTH, La. (LBM) – During the May 7 general session of the Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board, LBC Executive Director Steve Horn encouraged members to be passionate about sharing the Gospel. He also provided an update about efforts to resolve the church insurance crisis plaguing congregations of all denominations across the state. EVANGELISM MOVEMENT Horn said that since the Aug. 1, 2023, launch of Send Network Louisiana, the evangelistic growth initiative has produced 35 church planters, with two more headed to an assessment retreat in late May and an additional 29 potential planters in the assessment pipeline. An assessment retreat center has been established with Istrouma Baptist Church, Baton Rouge, that will allow for two retreats annually, with the goal of producing 12 candidates per retreat. The Louisiana Baptist partnership with the North American Mission Board has a God-sized vision to see His Kingdom expanded in Louisiana by one percent (about 28,000) over the next decade. Researchers estimate that 60 percent of 4,648,794 Louisianans are lost (about 2,789,276). If successful, 28,875 Louisianans will be added to the Kingdom through 231 new … [Read more...]