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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Landry calls for unity, addresses key issues

By Baptist Message staff BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – In his inaugural address, Jan. 7, Gov. Jeff Landry issued a call for unity and reminded citizens about the state's rich culture and the can-do spirit of the state’s people that have combined to make Louisiana great. He also vowed to address issues like violent crime and “unsuitable subject matter” in schools. Originally scheduled for Jan. 8, the inauguration ceremony was held the day before because of inclement weather concerns. He officially became the state’s 57th governor Jan. 8 at noon. “It is here that we come together, so that their lives are governed evenhandedly,” Landry said. “So that their hard-earned money is spent judiciously; so that their institutions are compelled to serve them, and not disenfranchise them; so that their government fulfills the missions contrived by them; and so that their children are promised the perpetual legacy of opportunity. The place is here, the time is now, and the challenge is ours.” Landry vowed to help fulfill the promise of those who elected him. “Our people seek government that reflects their values,” he said. “They demand that our children be afforded an education that reflects those wholesome principles, and not an … [Read more...]

FIRST PERSON: The Louisiana Baptist Mission Builders story

By Don F. Mabry and Ed Jelks ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) -- The Louisiana Baptist Mission Builder program started with the Lord calling Ed Jelks to build mission church buildings, and to stop building barns, as a bi-vocational pastor. Ed was attending Home Mission Week at Ridgecrest, North Carolina, when he sought out Leon Hyatt, director of the Cooperative Missions Department of the Louisiana Baptist Convention. Ed did not know it, but the Louisiana Baptist Missions Team had been praying for, and discussing the need for somebody to direct a program to construct buildings for mission churches in Louisiana. Ed Jelks and Leon Hyatt discussed how such a program could be started, then went and found Don Mabry on the front porch of the auditorium at Ridgecrest. They discussed with him what they had been talking about and the dreams that they had, and wanted to know if such a thing could be done. Don’s reaction was, “Well, we do not have any budget, and it has never been approved by the Convention’s administration or the Executive Board of the LBC. But, yes, there is a need, and with some more discussion and planning, it could be done.” In November 1979, the Louisiana Baptist Executive Board Missions Committee approved the Mission … [Read more...]

Dew to NOBTS graduates: Speak the Gospel ‘with clarity and strength’

By Marilyn Stewart, NOBTS communications NEW ORLEANS (NOBTS) – Jamie Dew, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary president, called on graduates in Leavell Chapel, Dec. 8, to see graduation day not as a season of life ending, but rather the beginning of a time of much greater importance. Dew recalled his high school graduation to illustrate and explained how he felt at the time that life and everything familiar to him was ending until his principal corrected him, saying, “It’s not over. It’s just beginning.” “What you do next will be those things that end up mattering the most …” Dew said. “When you exhale on this earth for the last and final time, when the dust settles on your grave one day, [what matters] will be what you’re about to do next.” Drawing from 1 Timothy 4:6-16, Dew charged graduates to remain faithful to God’s word, walk with Christ, remain committed to following God’s call, live as examples of godliness, and steward well the gifts God had given them. Pointing to verses 6-7, Dew reminded graduates that they are leaving to serve in a culture filled with deceptive teachings and heresies. The culture will mix truth with right doctrine, Dew warned, and urged graduates to remain “faithful to the word of … [Read more...]

Alabama Baptist Church hosting revival Jan. 28-31

Alabama Baptist Church, Arcadia: Revival, January 28-31; Sunday: 10:40 a.m. service, 5:45 p.m. meal, 6:30 p.m. service; Monday-Wednesday Noon, light lunch and Bible study, meal – 5:45 p.m., Service 6:30 p.m. nightly. Evangelist: Mike Courtney. Worship: Mackey and Gail Willis. Pastor: Jeff Hurst. … [Read more...]

CENLA Pregnancy Center celebrates sixth year of saving lives

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – The CENLA Pregnancy Center Inc. recently celebrated its sixth year of service to women and their unborn children with a redesign of its logo. During a ribbon cutting and open house, Nov. 29, pregnancy center staff, board members and community leaders gathered to remember its past and focus on the future. “The pregnancy center has experienced significant growth and expansion in six short years,” CPC Executive Director Kim Lyons told the Baptist Message. “The transformation of the ministry, the team expanding, the board growing and most importantly the clients we get to impact represents transformation and the new logo, represents just that, transformation. Lyons said the CPC chose the logo redesign because this is a new season of growth and transformation for the ministry. CELEBRATING SIX YEARS Located on the Louisiana Baptist state missions center campus at 1254 MacArthur Drive in Alexandria since December 2017, CENLA Pregnancy Center, along with centers in Marksville (2019) and Vidalia (2022), has served more than 1,624 women, completed 6,761 client visits, 1,870 pregnancy tests and 1,269 ultrasounds, and provided over 25,000 resources … [Read more...]

Summer Grove retires $12 million mortgage

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer SHREVEPORT, La. (LMB) – Summer Grove Baptist Church recently celebrated the last payment on $12 million debt that was previously owed for its 900,000-square-foot facility. Members of the church, who purchased a vacant Shreveport shopping mall in 2003 and relocated there a year later, rejoiced during a unique Nov. 26 note-burning service that featured encouraging remarks by Pastor Heath Peloquin, Pastor Emeritus Wayne DuBose, Pastor Emeritus Billy Crosby and former Senior Pastor Aaron Burgner. Prayers were led by Northwest Baptist Associational Missions Strategist Lane Moore and former church member Ronnie Smith, and there was a substantial celebratory atmosphere. “I’m so proud of our people because they never stopped giving and never gave up,” Peloquin told the Baptist Message. “This has given us a renewed sense of why God has brought us here to do our part to reach Shreveport and be that light of Jesus to a lost and dying world that needs it. Now, I believe there will be new ministry opportunities because of retiring our debt, and we will have a renewed sense of being able to help more in areas where we have not been able to in the past.” When Peloquin became pastor in … [Read more...]

College students, young adults fuel FBC Lafayette’s growth

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer LAFAYETTE, La. (LBM) – A spiritual awakening is gaining momentum among college students and young adults at First Baptist Church, Lafayette. Since 2019, the group has grown from 25 col­lege students and 15 young adults to 100 college students and 50 young adults, with 12 students and three young adults having been baptized since January (compared to none in 2019). Scott English, who serves as the minister to young adults, attributes the growth to an emphasis on evangelism and dis­cipleship. “There are a lot of good quality young people who are being responsive to the Gospel and obedient to the Lord’s calling on their lives,” English told the Baptist Message. “They are embracing the need to share Jesus and be dis­ciples.” GROWING IN CHRIST Each week, the col­lege students and young adults meet separately for Bible study on Sundays and discipleship sessions on Wednesdays. They also meet at other times throughout the week when they sharpen each other further to become fully devoted followers of Christ. The group’s lead­ers gather every Tuesday for prayer and purposeful in-person outreach, and others are invited to join them. Additionally, they share the Gospel on … [Read more...]

Jimmy Dukes, NOBTS visionary and friend, remembered with affection

By Marilyn Stewart, NOBTS communications NEW ORLEANS (NOBTS) - Jimmy Dukes, a visionary and innovator who served New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Leavell College as a faculty member and administrator for more than four decades, died December 4 at the age of 81. Dukes was integral to the founding and establishment of Leavell College, the ground-breaking and highly successful NOBTS prison theological education system, and the NOBTS extension center system that made theological education accessible to pastors without resources for education. “This is an incredibly sad time at NOBTS and Leavell College as we remember the legacy and contribution of Dr. Jimmy Dukes,” said Jamie Dew, president. “Dr. Dukes gave over 40 years of his life and ministry to this school,” Dew continued. “He served with great integrity, humility, and servanthood devotion. He was absolutely beloved by everyone on this campus, and will be missed terribly. While we grieve our loss, we rejoice with him that he is now in the presence of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.” Elected to the faculty in 1985, Dukes taught New Testament and Greek, but kept the local church and the small church pastor always at heart. Dukes led the way for the … [Read more...]

BCM promotes Christy Ross to chief operating officer

By Baptist Community Ministries news NEW ORLEANS (BCM) – Baptist Community Ministries, a faith-based private foundation providing philanthropic services and promoting health and well-being to the greater New Orleans area, has promoted Christy Ross to chief operating officer. Ross most recently served as Senior Vice President of Grants. “I am thrilled to announce the well-deserved promotion of Christy to this new and pivotal role within our organization,” said Inman Houston, president and CEO of BCM. “She has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership, strategic vision and a deep commitment to not only our organization’s values but to our partners as well.” In this role, Ross will leverage her extensive expertise to drive BCM’s service activities and to lead all of BCM’s programs in the areas of chaplaincy, congregational wellness and grants. This move not only recognizes Ross as a key architect of the organization’s current success but also positions her to play a central role in shaping BCM’s legacy as a community convener for collective impact. Ross joined the BCM team seven years ago as health grants program director. Ross also has served in various leadership roles at the National Association for the … [Read more...]

Slidell DR team activated to serve in Hawaii

By Baptist Message staff KIHEI, Hawaii (LBM) – A Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief feeding team has been activated for ministry on the island of Maui, Hawaii. The team of four from First Baptist Church, Slidell, have been cooking meals, from Dec. 5-21, for 80 members of Southern Baptist DR and other organizations and staff of the Hagaii International Institute, the host site. Maui was impacted by a series of wildfires that broke out in early August. At least 99 people died and more than 2,200 buildings were destroyed. LBDR Strategist Stan Statham said it will cost $15,000-$20,000 to prepare three meals a day. “Because the Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention is so small and limited in their financial resources, we wanted to take on the entire cost for this response,” Statham told the Baptist Message. “Pray for the recovery workers we will feed and for the residents still struggling to recover.” Bruce Efferson, blue hat for the team, added this is a way to give back to others who helped his church and city recover from Hurricane Katrina in 2005. “We received a ton of help after Katrina, so we now are privileged to go and help others,” Efferson said. “God has called us to this work and we are blessed to have the … [Read more...]