By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) -- Executive Board President Tim Williams, pastor, Williams Boulevard Baptist Church, Kenner, reminded board members about the need for laborers for the harvest. Williams drew from his experience as a “missionary kid” in Liberia, West Africa, to explain an idiom used in that country, “I hold your foot.” “If you have something I want and you don’t want to share with me, I’m begging you or pleading with you, by saying ‘I hold your foot.’” He added that if someone needed relief from the chief or a judgment in their favor, they would get on their knees in front of the chief, hold his foot and say, “I beg you. I plead with you. I hold your foot.” Williams also explained that it is an expression of intense gratitude, when someone has done something you didn’t deserve, something above and beyond what you could expect. “You would fall on your face before them, and you would hold their feet!” Sharing from Luke 10, Williams said Louisiana Baptists must fall at the feet of God and cry out. “I sometimes wonder if we throw ‘praying for the lost’ around pretty flippantly -- and praying for workers. We do pray but is it a deep desire?” he … [Read more...]
Horn: Be passionate about reaching Louisiana for Christ
By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) -- In his executive board report, May 5, Louisiana Baptist Executive director Steve Horn highlighted the Convention’s vision statement – seek the lost, strengthen churches and support cooperative missions and ministries. SEEK THE LOST Horn said Louisiana Baptists baptized 8,984 new converts in 2025. This marks the fifth consecutive year of an increase in baptisms. “I want to continue to keep this before us and believe the Lord for at least 10,000 baptisms a year,” Horn said. “This is doable. We can do that, and with the Lord’s help, we will be seeing 10,000 baptisms I pray, even in this current reporting year. One of the things that we have been able to do to, I hope, is foster that kind of culture and foster that kind of environment.” STRENGTHEN CHURCHES -- Evangelism Strategist Kevin Ulmer has created a class for pastors on Evangelistic preaching; -- Baptist Collegiate Ministry students sowed Gospel seeds through GOLA (Go Louisiana) VBS in Louisiana and Wyoming (GOLA VBS is an LBC BCM emphasis that allows students to serve on teams who share God’s love through what is the largest evangelistic outreach of the year for many congregations); … [Read more...]
Cooksey opens LA Senate session with prayer
By Baptist Message staff BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – Opening the Louisiana Senate with prayer, May 14, Ronny Cooksey, pastor with First Baptist Church, Mandeville, asked God to grant unity and wisdom to the state leaders. “Thank you for a great day,” Cooksey prayed. “What a privilege it is to be alive, and what a privilege it is for those of us who know you as our Savior. Lord, we thank you for the opportunity to call on your name today in this great room. “Lord, we pray for our Senate today,” he continued. “We pray for this great state of Louisiana, and as we think about the state motto ‘union and justice and confidence,’ Lord, we pray for union in our great state. “And even in this room today, we acknowledge what you have said that it is good and pleasant in the sight of the Lord, for brothers to dwell together in unity,” he said. “And Lord for justice, we always seek your justice, not my justice, or his justice or her justice. Help us today, Lord to seek you. “You’ve said that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding,” he noted. “And we pray for that wisdom here today. “And then for confidence,” he said. “You told us that we have this great confidence … [Read more...]
Bailey opens LA House session with prayer
By Baptist Message staff BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – Opening the Louisiana House with prayer, May 11, Waylon Bailey, pastor with First Baptist Church, Covington, asked God to give guidance and wisdom to the legislators in the room. “Heavenly Father, we thank you that we can pray,” Bailey prayed. “We thank you for being able to take everything to you in prayer. “God, you know the needs we have as a community, as a state, as a nation, and God we recognize this nation, in our (American) Revolution, that many men and women called on you in prayer, seeking divine providence and the favor of God,” he continued. “And God, we come to you now knowing, with so many decisions to be made, with so many things that are hinging on what happens in this building, God, we ask your direction, your wisdom. You tell us, if any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God who gives liberally. You tell us that you desire to give your word and your direction. “So, I pray that the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts would be pleasing in your sight, and that you would guide and direct and bless each person here with your providence,” he said. “We pray this in the name of Jesus, amen.” Bailey told the Baptist Message “it was a … [Read more...]
LCU holds 2026 commencement exercises
By Elizabeth Clarke, LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) - Louisiana Christian University held its 171st commencement, May 9, in Guinn Auditorium on campus. Conferred were 72 master’s degrees and 120 undergraduate degrees. Graduates included students who finished their degrees in December 2025, May 2026 and who will complete their coursework in August 2026. The 10 a.m. ceremony included the undergraduates who earned degrees from the School of Sciences, Computing and Artificial Intelligence, the School of Christian Studies, the College of Health and Professional Programs, the Schools of Humanities and Social Sciences and the School of Media, Communication and Fine Arts. The 2 p.m. ceremony included the undergraduates and graduate students from the Ray and Dorothy Young School of Business, the School of Education and the School of Social Work. Vice President of Academic Affairs Henry Robertson, who has served the university for 20 years, offered his reflections on his time as a professor and as an administrator. This was his last commencement at LCU. “This has been my biggest joy, to be your instructor,” he said. “These are moments and times of service never to be forgotten.” He also thanked the faculty and staff … [Read more...]
NOBTS Caskey Center Conference gathers nearly 250 pastors and wives
Beloved crossing guard killed by alleged drunk driver while helping kids cross the street in Louisiana
Landry suspends upcoming congressional primaries
By Baptist Message staff BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry announced, April 30, he has suspended the state's upcoming congressional primaries. According to an Executive Order issued by Landry, the suspension pertains only to the primary elections for the U.S. House scheduled for May 16 and June 27. Other offices and ballot measures will continue both dates. The Executive Order comes a day after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the state’s sixth congressional district was an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. Louisiana in 2024 passed the map after a court mandate required a second Black-majority district, which drew concern that some minority voters were being given unfair representation. … [Read more...]
Louisiana elected officials speak out after Supreme Court congressional district ruling
By Baptist Message staff WASHINGTON (LBM) – The United States Supreme Court ruled, April 29, that the current congressional map in Louisiana is unconstitutional. The Court found that the state’s sixth congressional district was racially gerrymandered. Louisiana, in 2024, adopted the map after a court mandate required a second Black-majority district, which drew concern that some minority voters were being given unfair representation. The more than 200-mile district connects parts of Shreveport, Alexandria, Lafayette and Baton Rouge. Louisiana House Speaker Pro Temp Mike Johnson, a member with First Baptist Church, Pineville, told the Baptist Message that the Supreme Court decision is an important moment for the state and for the principle of equal representation under the law. “Over the past year, I have taken the fight for fair maps all the way to the Supreme Court — twice because I believe deeply that every citizen deserves to be represented based on the whole population, not divided by race or political agendas. “I voted against the current maps and my position has been consistent from the beginning,” he continued. “We must draw congressional districts that respect our Constitution, treat every voter equally, … [Read more...]
Freedom behind bars: 12 inmates baptized
By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer WINNSBORO, La. (LBM) – A spiritual awakening is taking place inside Franklin Parish Detention Center, with 12 incarcerated men celebrating freedom in Christ through baptism on April 12. Each of the inmates, who are serving sentences ranging from six months to 10 years, were met with cheers as the men individually emerged from the water in a horse trough during a worship service. Cary Collier, a member with Friendship Baptist Church, Baskin, said watching the men step in and out of the water was a powerful reminder that no wall can stop the reach of God’s grace. “There is no greater joy than seeing new creations emerge, chains broken and lives changed forever behind those bars,” Collier told the Baptist Message. “Praise God for His Amazing Grace and Mercy. We’ve had the opportunity to witness these moments at the prison with over 100 inmates, and it gets sweeter and sweeter.” The baptisms took place six days after the inmates turned to Christ during a worship service attended by 55 inside the detention center. Collier said once they began praying and singing the song “Amazing Grace,” the Holy Spirit moved among the inmates, prompting 19 of them to accept … [Read more...]
