Deputy U.S. Marshal killed while serving arrest warrant to fugitive in Alexandria
FBC Folsom youth pastor charged with child sexual abuse
By Baptist Message FOLSOM, La. (LBM) - David Mercer, youth pastor with First Baptist Church, Folsom, has been arrested on charges of sexual abuse of multiple children that allegedly took place in the 1990s. According to a news release from the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, Mercer, 72, was taken into custody July 10 and booked into the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Center. Officers with the STPSO Special Victim’s Unit assisted with the search of a residence owned by the church in Folsom. The case is ongoing, and officials believe there may be additional victims. Anyone who was a victim of Mercer, or has information that could assist in the case, is encouraged to contact the STPSO via 985.898.2338, or to reach out to their local law enforcement agency. FBC Folsom released the following statement on Facebook: “We care about kids, youth, adults, and families. Our hearts are broken by those affected by this situation. While we have background checks and child safety training for all our workers, we are currently reviewing our hiring and child protection policies. You may contact our church office if you would like us to connect you to a licensed professional counselor. This has come as a total surprise to myself … [Read more...]
June 9 webinar: Bus ministry resources
By Baptist Message staff TYLER, Texas (LBM) – Louisiana Baptists who are thinking about buying a church bus will have an opportunity to learn about owning and renting options during an upcoming webinar. Presented by Carpenter Bus Sales, the free webinar will take place via Zoom, July 30 at 6 p.m. Rick Cassels, regional sales manager for Carpenter Bus Sales and also a lifelong Baptist, will lead the webinar, which will be the first for the company. The 30-minute webinar will offer information about purchase and rental options, and will include a time for participants to speak. “This will be a chance to ask questions that are pertinent to them, and I'll take as long as needed to answer,” Cassels told the Baptist Message. “This is a time that they can tune in and maybe glean a few ideas from the information presented and questions asked so they can then take back that information to their committees or church staff.” Dominic Menard, national director of marketing for Carpenter Bus Sales, said the webinar will allow for “a whole committee from a church" to watch the presentation. "By having multiple people watch the presentation, gathering information for their church, they will be able to make a well-informed decision about … [Read more...]
Serve Tour registration opens
By Baptist Message staff MONROE, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptists have a God-ordained opportunity to reap a harvest of souls during the 2026 Serve Tour, Aug. 21-22 in the Monroe-West Monroe area. The SEND Relief Serve Tour in partnership with the Northeast Louisiana Baptist Association and Louisiana Baptist Convention is an effort that seeks to involve participants in service projects throughout northeast Louisiana as the foundation for evangelism. Teams will have the chance to share Christ’s love there through light construction, painting, landscaping, block parties and other acts of service. More than 1,500 already have pre-registered to participate, organizers said. NLBA Mission Strategist Steven Kelly said excitement is building among the churches, Baptist Collegiate Ministry and other ministries. “I am incredibly grateful that SEND Relief is coming our way to partner with us in ministry,” he said. “Serve Tour just reinforces what I have been taught for decades about being Southern Baptist. We can accomplish more together than apart.” Monroe-West Monroe is one of five metropolitan areas in the US and four international cities that will host a Serve Tour stop this year. Registration information, prayer guide, … [Read more...]
State Rep. Gabe Firment, FBC Pollock member, announces candidacy for Louisiana’s 5th Congressional District
Rob McLane podcast with LBC Ex Director Horn
Life Point shining light of Jesus amid flooding aftermath
By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer MANSURA, La. (LBM) – Life Point Community Church ministers to its community in a variety of ways but recently stepped up to serve as a centralized site for Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief operations for flooding in Avoyelles Parish. Since June 19, the church has hosted the DR incident command center in its parking lot and housed, in its facilities, DR assessors, chaplains and mud-out team members who have ministered to those impacted Tropical Storm Arthur. The storm made landfall June 17, northeast of Matagorda Bay, Texas. While rain totals varied, the highest report was more than two feet in Avoyelles Parish, which prompted numerous evacuations and flooded 200 homes. The storm also was responsible for nine tornadoes throughout the state, the National Weather Service confirmed. Riddle said he has been amazed at the outpouring of support from other churches, community members and his own church members. Donations of DR supplies, clothing and food have poured into the church. Additionally, 20 church members, some whose homes flooded, have stepped up to help DR teams serving in the church and the community. “I don't even have the names of these churches but I do … [Read more...]
2026 LEGISLATIVE REPORT: Firment, Edmonds, Johnson pushed key bills for churches
By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptist lawmakers Rep. Gabe Firment, Sen. Rick Edmonds and Rep. Mike Johnson championed critical legislation that offer to significantly enhance the work of Louisiana churches while positively shaping the spiritual culture of the state. CHURCH SELF-INSURANCE All three played vital roles in passage of SB 341 (signed into law as Act 759) that should complete the last legal requirements needed to operate the church self-insurance program under the Louisiana Churches and Nonprofit Religious Organizations Self-Insured Fund established in state law. Edmonds, the pastor of First Baptist Church, McComb, Mississippi, and retired pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, Shreveport, authored the bill and shepherded it throughout the legislative process in both the Senate and the House, ending his oversight only after the governor’s signature. Meanwhile, Firment, who is a deacon with First Baptist Church, Pollock, offered essential amendments, including the deletion of “joint and several liability” obligations from the program, meaning the cooperative can now offer a viable insurance product that should be attractive to churches. He also arranged for a … [Read more...]
Louisiana Baptist Convention seeks resolutions, nominees
By Baptist Message staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) — Louisiana Baptists are invited to recommend candidates to serve on state convention boards and committees and are asked to submit resolutions for possible consideration by messengers during the 2026 Louisiana Baptist Convention. COMMITTEES The Louisiana Baptist Committee on Committees is beginning its work to fill 17 openings on five committees: Credentials; Moral and Social Concerns; Nominations; Order of Business; and Resolutions. Nominations should be sent no later than Aug. 10 to Joseph Fowler, pastor, Cook Baptist Church, Ruston, who is the committee chair (email: joseph@cookbc.org; U.S. Mail: Dr. Joseph Fowler, Cook Baptist Church, 2000 Cooktown Road, Ruston, LA 71270). BOARDS The Louisiana Baptist Committee on Nominations also is beginning its work to fill 24 vacancies on the LBC Executive Board as well as the trustee bodies of the Louisiana Christian University, Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home and Family Ministries, Baptist Message, and Baptist Foundation. Nominations should be sent no later than Aug. 10 to Scott McKenzie, associate pastor, First Baptist Church, Zachary, who is the committee chair (email: smcKenzie@fbcz.org; U.S. Mail: Rev. Scott … [Read more...]
