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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

EVANGELISM 101 (Part 4): Special Cases

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – The focus of the Gospel conversation must prioritize eternal redemption – salvation – to the lost. However, it is often the case that a person brings other needs into the conversation that are important to hear and, in some cases, demand immediate action. Baptist churches record, on average, 25 percent of their annual baptisms because of Vacation Bible School, so it is fitting to start this discussion about special cases by addressing some considerations when Gospel counseling children. Even more so, Christ declared that every person must come to Him “as a little child” to enter the Kingdom of Heaven (Mt. 18:3; Lk. 18:17). Consequently, pointers about counseling children apply whether the child is five or 95. CHILDREN Everyone comes to the Father the exact same way – through the Son (John 14:6). There is one plan of salva­tion. However, explaining that plan might need to take into account a number of consider­ations -- even about our choice of words – so that every individ­ual may understand. With children, particularly, it is important to put them at ease. Make sure that both of you are sitting so that there is a relatively level eye contact … [Read more...]

Louisiana Governor’s prayer breakfast draws more than 20 to Christ

By Baptist Message staff BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) - More than 20 people made decisions to follow Christ at the conclusion of the 61st annual Louisiana Governor’s Prayer Breakfast, April 16. Held inside the Crowne Plaza Executive Center in Baton Rouge, the breakfast featured a Gospel-centered message by keynote speaker Will Graham, evangelist Billy Graham's grandson and executive vice president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. After the event concluded, a spontaneous time of prayer broke out and some attendees remained for up to an hour to pray with Jay Johnston, chairman of the task force which organizes the annual event, as well as with other prayer intercessors Johnston had enlisted. Johnston, also the pastor of First Baptist Church, Melville, told the Baptist Message that the event was bathed in prayer for 10 months leading up to the event. “I pray with expectancy and believed God would do a work in this,” he said. “As the chair of the Louisiana Governor’s Prayer Breakfast, I along with our task force, am dedicated to guiding people through the work of the Holy Spirit to fulfill 1 Timothy 2:1-4 for God’s glory. “We are thankful that God inspired and empowered individuals to leave the breakfast with … [Read more...]

Arrested pastor had abandoned Louisiana Baptist congregation in February

By Baptist Message staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – In an email to the Baptist Message, Chris Holloway, senior pastor with Little Pass Baptist Church, Charenton, Louisiana, which sponsors Baldwin Baptist Mission Church, Baldwin, Louisiana, said that the former mission pastor, Shane Wiggins, who was arrested April 9, had abandoned the Baldwin congregation at least as early as the first Sunday in February. Holloway also serves as the associational mission strategist for the Gulf Coast Baptist Association that includes the Little Pass congregation as well as the Baldwin mission. Wiggins is being held in the Lamar County Jail in Texas while awaiting extradition to Morgan City, Louisiana, to face allegations of rape and molestation of a child. Hollaway said that Wiggins had previously served as pastor of the Baldwin Baptist Mission Church prior to 2011 and had returned in 2015 to again lead the small congregation (which averages 10 in worship services according to the Louisiana Baptist database). “Shane left town around the first of February,” Holloway wrote. “My last conversation with him was on Jan. 28, 2025.” Holloway also noted that Wiggins had been replaced as pastor on Feb. 12 by Warren Guidry, the associate pastor … [Read more...]

FIRST PERSON: Silent Saturday

By John Kyle, special to the Baptist Message ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) -- It’s what’s commonly referred to as “Holy Week,” the week leading up the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. We just celebrated Palm Sunday and later this week is Maundy Thursday which gives way to Good Friday and last, but certainly not least, is Easter Sunday. In the midst of this busy, significant week, let me suggest a new day for you and I living on this side of the resurrection - Silent Saturday. Allow me to elaborate … Two thousand years ago the events leading up to what we now call Easter were a whirlwind - to say the least. And things certainly didn't turn out the way the way those early Christ followers envisioned.  So there they were, after a bizarre week that began with a celebration and ended with a crucifixion.  It was Saturday. The crowds gone. Their minds and hearts numb. And they were not sure what's next. Now, on this side of history we know what's next - but they didn't. Our lives are often the same way - crazy busy – and sometimes bizarre.  Our smartphones light up with one notification after another. Great anticipation is often replaced by great disappointment in our careers, in our relationships and even with God. And … [Read more...]

Revival spurs spiritual renewal at FBC Natchitoches

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer NATCHITOCHES, La. (LBM) – Nearly 400 members and guests of First Baptist Church, Natchitoches, sought reconciliation and laid down their own idols during a recent four-day Thirst Revival Conference. Hosted by Niles, Michigan-based Life Action Ministries, the gathering featured nightly messages on the need to trust in God even in the hard seasons of life, removing idols, dangers of bitterness and examination of one’s own love for the Lord, himself and others. The conference also included high-energy music, children’s programming and a women’s luncheon led entirely by Life Action’s ministry team. In the end, the church came away more unified and ready for God’s next step in their lives. Tommy Rush, senior pastor of FBCN, told the Baptist Message that every night entire families filled the altar and others gathered in pews as they sought reconciliation and offered long-overdue encouragement. “It was more of a focus on being refreshed and restoring relationships in our family and church,” FBCN Senior Pastor Tommy Rush told the Baptist Message. “Sometimes you don’t realize how hungry people in the church are to restore broken relationships. “The revival focused a lot … [Read more...]

LBCHFM celebrates opening of regional compassion center

By Baptist Message staff MONROE, La. (LBM) – The Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home and Family Ministries has opened a center that will provide the hope of Christ to those in one of the nation’s poorest regions. Supporters gathered April 10 for a ribbon cutting to mark the official opening of the Compassion Center, located at 501 Kansas Lane on the campus of the LBCHFM. Approved by entity's trustees during its May 12, 2023 meeting, the 15,000-sq.-ft. facility will provide food, school supplies, diapers, shoes, new clothing and other life essentials. Matt Hancock, executive director with Compassion for Kids, a LBCHFM ministry that will operate the Compassion Center, told the crowd gathered for the ribbon cutting that the facility should serve 25,000-30,000 individuals a year. According to the 2020 U.S. Census American Community Survey, 34.9 percent of Monroe residents live at the poverty level. “Luckily, all the time at the Children’s Home we ask the question, ‘Lord, where are the children and families who need us,’ and we don’t have to look very far for the answer,” Hancock told the crowd “It’s right here in our community, and it’s all across the state. So, the Compassion Center will be here to meet physical needs, … [Read more...]

Louisiana Baptist pastor, Shane Wiggins, arrested

By Baptist Message staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) — Shane Wiggins, pastor of Baldwin Baptist Mission Church, Baldwin, Louisiana, was arrested, April 9, on charges of rape and molestation. Wiggins has been with the Baldwin congregation, a mission of Little Pass Baptist Church in Charenton, Louisiana, since March 2015. According to the police department of Morgan City, Louisiana, Wiggins was arrested in Paris, Texas, and faces extradition. The MCPD reported via Facebook, April 9, that Wiggins has been under investigation since December 17, 2024, when a mother of a child filed a complaint, accusing Wiggins of inappropriate behavior with the juvenile. Recently, unable to contact Wiggins at his residence or by phone, MCPD detectives suspected he had left the state. Police did not report why they believed Wiggins was in Paris, Texas, but that was where they focused their search in collaboration with the Lamar County Sheriff’s and Paris Police Departments. Wiggins was arrested while driving in Paris and is now detained in the Lamar County Jail in Paris. … [Read more...]

Crusade bears fruit for FBC Denham Springs: 55 baptisms in one day

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer DENHAM SPRINGS, La. (LBM) – A celebration of 1,300 decisions for Christ at the Livingston Parish GO TELL AMERICA Crusade continued for First Baptist Church, Denham Springs, when it baptized 55 individuals on March 30 – the most ever on a single day for the congregation. “It was beyond our expectations, that’s for sure,” FBCDS Pastor Leo Miller told the Baptist Message. “We were anticipating maybe 40-45 before the service began, but we ended up having many more, so it was pretty neat. People throughout the crusade have been excited to see God on the move and this was another way for our congregation to express their appreciation and gratitude to the Lord with more applause and worship.” BACKGROUND The baptisms came two weeks after the crusade, held March 16-19 in the Denham Springs High School football stadium. The four-day spiritual encounter, including all related out­side events, yielded 1,316 persons decisions for Jesus, with 602 individ­uals stepping forward to accept Christ. Miller and other Eastern Louisiana Baptist Association pastors and leaders shared that they prayed and prepared for more than a year with anticipation of a mighty harvest during the crusade … [Read more...]

New Life Pregnancy Center schedules April 5 gala

By Baptist Message staff MAMOU, La. (LBM) - Pro-life supporters will take a step “back into the 1920s” during the upcoming New Life Pregnancy Center Gala, April 5. The largest fundraiser of the year for the pregnancy center will feature music and food from that era and all who come will be encouraged to dress in attire from that decade. This event also will include Christian comedian Dennis Swanberg, event emcee Michaella Fontenot, a testimony by a NLPC client, special music, and updates about how God has used this ministry to help serve “moms in need” so they can experience healthy pregnancies. Connie Landreneau, a member of Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church in Eunice and a board member, said the banquet is one way those from various denominations will come together for one common cause. “It's amazing to see the help from the community, and it’s wonderful to have them step up and say, ‘I want to help, I want to volunteer, I want to donate to the dinner,’ because it takes a giving heart,” she said. “It takes a servant’s heart to do what we all do together, and it takes a team. And I’m very grateful for the team that we’ve put together to save these babies. We’re very, very grateful that God has put us in that position to do … [Read more...]