By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer MARRERO, La. (LBM) – Troy Gause was headed on a road to destruction when he was in Plaquemines Parish Detention Center in 1998, but an encounter with God inside the jail set him on a path to redemption in Jesus. Gause, who was serving a sentence for drug possession, was at a breaking point and realized he needed to reconnect with Christ, who saved him as a youngster. Vowing to stay close to God, he was released six months later and began to grow in his faith that one day would lead him to become a pastor. “Don't underestimate what God can do with a young man with a broken life and a surrendered heart,” said Gause, who was named “Replanter of the Year” during the 2024 North American Mission Board Replant Summit, Aug. 22-23. Gause, who sensed a call to vocational ministry after his release from prison, enrolled at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in 2009. He eventually started Church Without Walls, a ministry that shares Jesus with the homeless and addicted individuals in New Orleans, and in 2017, began Cross Culture Church. REBIRTH Cross Culture Church grew from eight people that first met inside a member’s living room in Marrero to 45 within five years. … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) – The Church of today must look like the Church of the First Century that was Spirit-led and Gospel-centered, Waylon Bailey, pastor with First Baptist Church, Covington, said during the recent E4+ Preaching Conference. Citing Acts 2:22-41, Bailey told a crowd of more than 80 pastors and ministry staff and 17 pastors’ wives at First Baptist Church, Pineville, that the church of today must tell the story of Jesus and live holy lives. “What is the church of 2024?” he said. “It is the church that shares hope and that shares salvation in Christ. People are looking around and they want to know is there any hope in my life.” “Our world needs hope and where there is hope there are going to be people,” he continued. “Where there is a way, there are going to be people. Let us be a people who tell the story of Jesus with kindness, compassion, with love toward the people around us. I want more than anything else for you to experience the peace, the love, the joy that I have found in Christ Jesus the Lord. And though my death is a lot closer than it has ever been, I also have great hope to be in the presence of God with the Savior who died for me. I believe that … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – In a state where an estimated 60 percent of the population lacks a relationship with Christ, “Here for You” is helping to remind Louisiana Baptists that a great harvest awaits. Launched in the summer of 2014 as part of the President’s 2020 Commission, the “Here for You” multi-media campaign is attempting to impact the estimated 2.7 million people in Louisiana who do not know Christ. At this point of our strategy, ‘We are not waiting on the harvest,’” Louisiana Baptist communication director John Kyle told the Baptist Message. “The harvest is waiting on us!” Since its statewide launch in 2019, “Here for You” has used social media, streaming services, broadcast television, billboards and more to reach the lost in Louisiana. The campaign has seeded God’s truth through more than 31,000 views of the Gospel presentation and more than 2,100 searches for local churches. Additionally, through a partnership with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, viewers have been directed to a customized landing page for prayer with trained counselors, who share the the Gospel. Such efforts have resulted in more than 4,300 Louisianians who have indicated … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer WOODWORTH, La. (LBM) – During the Sept. 24 general session of the Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board, LBC Executive Director Steve Horn shared how Louisiana Baptists have continued reaching others for Christ. FULFILLING THE GOSPEL Horn said that various ministries are helping fulfill Louisiana Baptists’ ministry purposes in three ways: seeking the lost, strengthening churches and supporting cooperative missions and ministries. In his report, he invited four individuals to share how Louisiana Baptists are fulfilling their mission through various ministries. Breakaway Camp Kevin Roberts, pastor with Trinity Baptist Church, Pineville, shared how his son, Micah, turned to Christ during Breakaway Camp this summer at Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center. Roberts was overcome with emotion as he described how his older son, Noah, led his brother to a relationship with Jesus. “My wife and I were rejoicing,” Roberts said. “We knew that something had happened, something had taken place that night, and God had gotten a hold of his heart. “But Micah wasn’t the only one,” he said. “We ended up having three other teenagers from our youth group that committed … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) — Early voting for the General Election will take place Oct. 18-29 (excluding Sundays during that time period) and polls will be open from 8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. Voters must show one of the following picture identifications in order to vote: Driver's license; Louisiana Special ID; United States military identification card that contains your name and picture; or some other generally recognized picture ID that contains your name and signature. … [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 Chris, wife Jasmine, Culpepper is the new music minister at Eastwood Baptist Church from Longwood, Fl. Ben Martinson is the new youth minister at Vivian First Baptist Church. Charlie, (wife April) Miller is the new pastor at Woodland Hills Baptist Church. Bobby Rodrigue, pastor of Belle River Baptist Church, passed away suddenly on September 14. HOMECOMING/ANNIVERSIES Bayou Macon Baptist Church, Gilbert: Homecoming, October 13, Evangelist: Waylon Tibbs. A fish fry will follow the worship service. Pastor: Larry Russell. Pine Grove Community Church, Bastrop: Homecoming, October 13, 10:30 a.m. Special Music: Louisiana Melody Boys. Pastor: James Moffit. First Baptist Church, Folsom: Homecoming, October 13, 9 a.m.- noon; 9 a.m. Fellowship; … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff CLEARWATER, Fla. (LBM) - Two Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief feeding teams have been deployed ahead of Hurricane Milton’s expected landfall in Florida. According to LBDR Strategist Stan Statham, the Rolling Hills feeding team and the Philadelphia Baptist Church, Deville, quick response feeding team will head to Clearwater, Florida, to support Florida Baptist Disaster Relief. The feeding teams will partner with the Salvation Army to feed residents impacted by Milton, which is expected to make landfall late Wednesday. The storm, which was a Category 4 (with sustained winds of 130 mph) at 1 pm CST, had already produced several tornadoes Wednesday afternoon. “Please pray for our team as they seek to prepare their first meal for Saturday,” Statham said. To give to DR efforts, visit https://louisianabaptists.org/about/teams/missions-ministry/disaster-relief/donate/ (https://louisianabaptists.org/about/teams/missions-ministry/disaster-relief/donate/ … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff ROAN MOUNTAIN, Tenn. (LBM) – The Carey Baptist Association laundry team recently wrapped up a short but fruitful trip to deliver a laundry trailer for use by members of First Baptist Church, Roan Mountain, Tennessee. Team members Reggy Saxton and Tom Waites arrived on Oct. 5 to deliver a trailer equipped with five washers, five dryers and two generators and returned to Lake Charles the following evening. While in Roan Mountain, the team saw the church spreading Jesus’ love through distribution of meals, water, clothes and toys. Additionally, a medical team was on hand to offer care to residents, many whose homes were inundated by the floodwaters of Hurricane Helene. “We witnessed the church of FBC Roan Mountain at its best, taking charge and sharing God’s love to the community,” Saxton told the Baptist Message. “The church members were managing the crisis like seasoned pros.” To give to DR operations, visit https://louisianabaptists.org/about/teams/missions-ministry/disaster-relief/donate/ … [Read more...]