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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

North Monroe men’s retreat is a time of soul winning

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2 MONROE, La. (LBM) – For months, staff and lay leaders with North Monroe Baptist Church prayed for the Holy Spirit to move in the hearts of 40 men who would be attending a men’s retreat, March 14-16. God answered those prayers when 16 men stepped forward for baptism during an NMBC morning worship service on the final day of the event, while more made other life-changing decisions for Christ. “These men got away for a weekend and experienced the peace from other men who knew Jesus and had that life change,” NMBC Director of Facilities and Men’s Ministry Jeff McPherson told the Baptist Message. “And they wanted to have what those men had. “It’s hard to wrap my head around what the Holy Spirt does each time we have a men’s retreat,” he continued. “We make these plans … [Read more...]

Funeral arrangements released for Seal

By Baptist Message staff BOGALUSA, La. (LBM) - Funeral arrangements have been released by Nelda Seal, former Louisiana Baptist Woman's Missionary Union director who passed April 28. According to her obituary, Seal's visitation will be held May 1, 9-11 a.m. at First Baptist Church, Bogalusa, with the service afterward. Burial will take place at Bonnie Cemetery in Angie following the service. Janie Wise, who worked with Seal as a member of the Louisiana Baptist missions and ministry team, said she left behind a legacy of training others in furthering the Great Commission and a love of missions. “She took seriously the promotion end of it,” Wise said. “That’s what motivated people to give. And she taught us the same thing.” Wise had fond memories of traveling the state with her and learning new details about churches. “She knew the state upwards and backwards,” she said. “It would always play into the churches we passed. She knew the history of Louisiana missions so well.” She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Henry Lavelle Seal; her parents, Hermon Crotwell, Sr. and Eula Summers Crotwell; siblings Hermon Crotwell Jr., Dalton Crotwell, and Gloria Crotwell Graham. She is survived by her sons, Ryan B. Seal (Tonia) … [Read more...]

Former Louisiana WMU Director Nelda Seal passes

By Baptist Message staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) - Nelda Seal, former director of the Louisiana Baptist Woman’s Missionary Union, passed April 28. She was 91. “Ms. Nelda was a Missional force in the state of Louisiana that was felt beyond our borders,” Louisiana Baptist Missions and Ministry Team Director James Jenkins told the Baptist Message. “I believe she will be remembered among those who were just below Georgia Barnette in women missions and ministry. I was personally influenced and enjoyed my time of working with her to make Christ known in our state.” Louisiana Baptist Women’s Missions and Ministry Strategist Christine Gill echoed the thought. “We mourn the passing of Nelda Seal, a strong WMU leader and devoted champion of missions,” she said. “Her legacy of faith, compassion, and unwavering dedication to the Great Commission will continue to inspire all who follow in her footsteps.” Seal served as the state WMU director from November 1986-June 1995. She also was interim director of the state WMU from August 1998-June 2001. Arrangements are pending. … [Read more...]

Hisaw retires after 20 years at Tioga FBC

By Baptist Message staff TIOGA, La. (LBM) – Friends, family and members of Tioga First Baptist Church gathered April 27 to honor long-time Pastor Tim Hisaw, who is retiring April 30. Born in Jackson, Miss., and spending his grade school years in Huntsville, Ala., Hisaw’s spiritual journey began in 1972, when he accepted Christ and was baptized at Whitesburg Baptist Church.  But it was during a move to Lafayette -- shortly before he began high school – he began pursuit his calling in ministry. Through the discipleship efforts of Lafayette pastors Perry Sanders and Mike Walker and other godly men and women, Hisaw eventually felt called to ministry while a freshman at the University of Southwestern Louisiana (now the University of Louisiana-Lafayette). After earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology from USL and later a master’s degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Hisaw served as youth minister at Bayou View Baptist Church, Gulfport, Miss. (86-89), First Baptist Church, Mansfield (89-92), Highland Baptist Church, New Iberia (92-99), The Bayou Church, Lafayette (99-2001) and Tioga FBC on May 15, 2005. He later became pastor on Jan. 11, 2009. “During my time as pastor, the church has loved Jesus, my … [Read more...]

LCU alumna attorney doing Lord’s work in Grant Parish

By Elizabeth Clarke, LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) - The adage “The Lord works in mysterious ways” is definitely true for Louisiana Christian University alumna Bonita Preuett Armour. What started as a desire to remain young and healthy has become a growing ministry in Grant Parish. “It’s not about me; this is the Lord’s place,” Armour said. “This campus is a ministry for the Lord. I’m just His hands and His feet. He does it all.” Armour, a native of Grant Parish, is a 1989 pre-law and history LC graduate, attended LSU Law School, and has been a successful practicing attorney in Central Louisiana for decades. She has recently turned the former Dry Prong Junior High School into a thriving location for fitness, a community garden, her law office and a pizza restaurant—and more is in the planning. The school had been in operation until 2011 before it was auctioned off. The owner, James Crooks, listed the gymnasium for sale on Facebook in 2018. So, when Armour saw the gym at the old school campus (where she had attended as a child in 1978) up for sale, she felt like the Lord was telling her something. “I had started B22 in my garage in 2012, and we had outgrown my garage and backyard,” she said. “I called … [Read more...]

Foundation Executive Director
Jeffrey Steed to retire

By Baptist Message staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) -- On Wednesday, Jeffrey Steed announced he will retire on May 31 as executive director of the Louisiana Baptist Foundation, having served in this leadership role since April 1, 2020. According to an LBF press release, Steed plans to travel with his wife, Shana, and they will be spending time with family in Texas. The LBF Board of Trustees met April 23 and named Director of Planned Giving Jared Price to serve as interim executive director, starting June 1. Price has served in his present post since October 2022. During Steed’s tenure, more than $70 million has been achieved toward the Foundation’s Vision200 strategic plan (impacting the Kingdom with $200 million or more in 20 or fewer years), and the Foundation has reached its highest short-term fund rate in more than 16 years. Following Steed’s announcement, LBF trustees released a statement expressing appreciation to him and reaffirming their commitment to the stewardship ministry they provide Louisiana Baptists. “The Board and Staff of the Foundation are grateful to Steed for his five years of faithful service as Executive Director and are excited to embrace Price in his new role,” they wrote. “The Foundation … [Read more...]

Speaker Johnson to Calvary students:

Live to make an ‘impact’

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor SHREVEPORT, La. (LBM) – During a Calvary Baptist Academy assembly, April 22, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a member of Cypress Baptist Church, Benton, explained what made America a great country in the past, took a phone call from President Donald J. Trump, and shared the biblical concept of what makes an individual great in urging students to “live to make an impact.” The school is a ministry of Calvary Baptist Church in Shreveport, and Johnson is a former member. GREAT NATION Johnson compared the historical model of European monarchies, in which rights passed from God through the king to the people, to the American form of government “of the people, by the people, for the people,” with citizens’ rights coming directly from God. “We are the first country in the history of the world that set ourselves up with a statement of faith that is listed with theological clarity in our birth certificate, the Declaration of Independence,” Johnson said, noting that many of our founding fathers were seminarians who understood that “we are all made in God’s image,” meaning “every single person has inestimable dignity and value.” In contrast, Johnson pointed to the antitheses of a … [Read more...]

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...]