By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor TEN COMMANDMENTS The Ten Commandments law, Act 676, championed by Rep. Dodie Horton, a member with First Baptist Church, Haughton, gained the most press around the country for its first-in-the-nation requirement to restore, after about a 50-year absence, the Ten Commandments to every publicly funded classroom, kindergarten through college, in Louisiana. The law uses a version of the Ten Commandments that is adapted from the King James Bible, and it requires the 11 inches by 14 inches display to include a “context statement” about “The History of the Ten Commandments in American Public Education.” Already, four liberal political activist groups have joined litigation against the law, but Horton said the Ten Commandments are in the core of our nation’s laws and that their historical significance has been acknowledged in multiple U.S. Supreme Court decisions, which were used to craft the law in anticipation that bad actors would try to challenge it in the courts. The law asks for the displays to be paid for by public donations, and proponents estimate that about $100,000 in gifts are needed to outfit all Louisiana schools. SCHOOL CHAPLAINS Act 293, authored by Sen. … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer WEST MONROE, La. (LBM) – Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office Captain Patrick Johnson has put himself in harm’s way to protect and serve the public for 23 years as a law enforcement officer. But recently he risked his own health and safety to extend the life of a stranger by donating a kidney. Johnson, a member of Ce­dar Crest Baptist Church, West Monroe, gifted the organ on Dec. 11, 2023. For his courageous act, Johnson was awarded the 2024 Heart of Law Enforcement Service Before Self Award dur­ing a ceremony in Baton Rouge. The award is given each year to Louisiana law enforcement of­ficers who have been nominated by their agencies or the public for acts of kindness they performed outside the scope of their normal duties for the previous year. “Looking back on it, I can say Jesus was there to help me the whole way,” Johnson told the Baptist Message. “And I see how he made me strong through the process. You don’t have to look very far to see somebody in seri­ous need that you can help. And I’ve seen what Jesus did for me and I just wanted to be part of this process. “It never was ‘my’ kidney,” he added. “I was just keeping it warm for Jesus until someone needed … [Read more...]

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 Emily Slay is the new Production Coordinator for the Louisiana Baptists Communications Team. T.J. (wife Kaycie) Weed is the new Youth Minister at Alto Baptist Church, Alto, Louisiana. Alan Miller is the Pastor. Paul (wife Sue) Perry will celebrate 50 years in the ministry, August 17 from 2-4 p.m., in Fellowship Hall at Coax Baptist Church, HWY 868, Winnsboro, La 71295. In a special services August 18, Jerry Grant will provide the music at 10 a.m. and Jim Richards was the guest preacher at 10:45 a.m. Lunch would follow after the worship service. Kevin (wife Malanie) Ulmer, formerly senior pastor at First Baptist, Ferriday, has joined the LBC Evangelism/Church Growth Team as the new evangelism strategist July 1. Blade (wife Lalynn) Foster is the new … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff​ MANSFIELD, La. (LBM) – Spawning tornadoes, destroying structures and knocking out power, Hurricane Beryl left its mark on Louisiana July 8. After making landfall earlier in the day as a Category 1 hurricane near Matagorda, Texas, Beryl made its way north with its outer bands scraping Louisiana causing destruction and flooding. The storm prompted the National Weather Service to issue nearly 70 tornado warnings in the region throughout the day. Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief Disaster Relief Associate/Volunteer Mobilizer Mark Morelock said teams were assessing damage Tuesday morning. Beulah Baptist Church, Mansfield, was among the structures damaged. Though the church itself was heavily damaged, no one was injured. Pastor Freddie Williford said the church, which had insurance, plans to move forward and rebuild. KTBS-TV reported downed trees and power lines in Pleasant Hill; and damage to structures at Jolly Rogers Marina on Toledo Bend, various parts of Sligo, the 2700 block of Bellevue Road in Haughton, and the Shady Park Mobile Home Park in Haughton. Two elderly people in southwest Caddo Parish sustained injuries after their mobile home was torn from its foundation, KTBS … [Read more...]

By YM360 BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (YM360) - Registration has opened for the Generate Conference at First Baptist Church, Bossier City. Scheduled for Jan. 24-25, Generate Conference will provide a weekend of dynamic worship and Word-filled weekends where attendees will be challenged to know Christ and make Him known. YM360, which coordinates the conference, also is the home of Generate Summer Camps which span more than 40 events in 15 states. In addition to FBCBC, Generate Conferences also are scheduled at: Jan. 31-Feb. 1, Hebron Church, Dacula, Georgia Feb. 7-8, Northland Church, Orlando, Floria Feb. 14-15, Morrison Heights Baptist Church, Jackson, Mississippi Feb. 21-22, Dallas Baptist University, Dallas, Texas Feb. 28-March 1 - Germantown Baptist Church, Memphis, Tennessee March 7-8, The Church at Brook Hills, Birmingham, Alabama YM360 President Roger Davis, a leader of nationwide student ministry events since 1993, said this is a perfect alignment with YM360’s mission and heart to serve as many churches as possible and see students have encounters with Jesus. "We simply want to say yes' to as many churches as possible as we create event experiences that help all those attending have a chance … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer DERIDDER, La. (LBM) – Sensing God’s call to plant a church for several years, Bubba Sharpton said it was easy to say “yes” in June 2023 to an invitation to become pastor of a second campus of First Baptist Church, Moss Bluff. Ten months later, the church’s second campus celebrated its first service, March 31, with four baptisms and 420 people packing the congregation’s temporary home at the Wooten Theater in DeRidder. “We were overwhelmed and humbled at the tangible joy and excitement experienced by all who were able to join us,” Sharpton told the Baptist Message. “God exceeded our expectations and moved in a powerful way through baptism, song, and the sharing of the Word.” BACKGROUND In 2020, Sharpton was enjoying a career in the chemical plant industry when he and his wife, Brandi, who were both members of FBCMB at the time, sensed that God wanted them to get their finances in order. As the couple began to pay down their home mortgage, FBCMB staff conducted a survey on the church’s health and readiness to take the “next step” in following God. Compiling the inputs, a plan emerged to plant a second campus in DeRidder. By early 2023, FBCMB Pastor Bryan Carter … [Read more...]

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...]