By Ryan Johnson, Special to the Baptist Message EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the second of a pair of articles about how to share the Gospel with people who have experienced trauma. NEW ORLEANS (LBM) – Trauma-informed evangelism recognizes that behind many Gospel conversations lies a story of pain — and calls the messenger to respond not with pressure, but with patience, presence, and Spirit-led compassion. Imagine two friends at a coffee shop. One, a slightly nervous Christian, has just lovingly shared the Good News. The other hesitates, eyes brimming: “I want to believe this is true… I really do. But I’ve been hurt so badly. Every time I’ve trusted someone—even Christians— it ended up breaking me.” DISCERN THE MOMENT In evangelism, we are laborers in God’s harvest fi eld (Luke 10:2), working alongside the Holy Spirit, whose unseen movement brings new birth (John 3:8). When trauma surfaces alongside a longing for peace, trauma-informed evangelism calls for discernment, pastoral sensitivity, and a non-intrusive presence–one that listens more than instructs, and invites rather than insists. In our urgency to call people to repentance and faith in Christ, we must labor alongside the Holy Spirit to nurture genuine … [Read more...]
YOUNG: Thoughts and prayers in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s murder (with Jefferson Baptist video)
Prominent NOBTS, LCU figure Nelson Price dies at 94
Louisiana governor announces new ICE holding facility called ‘Louisiana Lockup’
Man arrested for allegedly vandalizing Denham Springs, Greenwell Springs churches
By Baptist Message staff GREENWELL SPRINGS, La. (LBM) — An individual was arrested, Sept. 1, for the alleged vandalism of a Denham Springs and two Greenwell Springs Baptist churches on Labor Day. According to WBRZ-TV in Baton Rouge, Jimmie J Mouton Jr., 24, was arrested for institutional vandalism. Mouton allegedly spray painted similar obscene words on the front doors of the worship center at Greenwell Springs Baptist Church around 12:30 am and also on the outside of the worship center at Indian Mound Baptist Church around 12:45 a.m. Sept. 1. He also allegedly did the same at Lockhart Road Baptist Church, an Independent Baptist church in Denham Springs, according to the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office, which was dispatched to the church around 11 a.m. Sept. 1. WBRZ reported that arrest documents showed that Mouton admitted to vandalizing three to four religious buildings, but was not sure exactly how many. The investigators used surveillance footage to identify his Toyota Camry and arrested him at an address connected to the vehicle’s license plate. EBRSO deputies discovered the can of spray paint in Mouton's car after he told them where it was located. Greenwell Springs Baptist Church Senior Pastor Oren Conner told … [Read more...]