By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer NEW ORLEANS (LBM) - Louisiana Baptists enjoyed fellowship and worship during the 2023 LBC Annual meeting Nov. 14 at Franklin Avenue Baptist Church, but also conducted important business. SBC EC REPORT Philip Robertson thanked messengers for their prayers as he serves as chairman of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee. He was elected to this position June 12. Robertson and the other EC members have dealt with, among other issues, how the SBC should respond to those sexual abuse survivors. “The past few years, as you well know, have not been the easiest for your you well know, have not been the easiest for your Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee,” said Robertson, also pastor of Philadelphia Baptist Church, with campuses in Alexandria and Deville. “In fact, it may have been the most tumultuous stretch that has faced the EC in its 106-year history. It seems almost at times that every slope is slippery. But we know as Hebrews Chapter 6 tells us, that we have this hope as an anchor of our souls, and that anchor is connected to the Rock of Ages, the Lord Jesus. So, God continues to certainly be very, very faithful. And I’m committed to do my part … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff NEW ORLEANS (LBM) – Messengers approved seven resolutions during the 2023 Louisiana Baptist Convention Annual Meeting: advocating for parental rights and responsibilities; protecting children’s innocence; protecting the underaged from the harms of alcohol; celebrating the 175th anniversary of the LBC; expressing appreciation for all who contributed to the annual meeting; preventing mail-order abortifacients; and congratulating Congressman Mike Johnson for his election to speaker of the House. Brian Gunter, a messenger and pastor from First Baptist Church, Livingston, tried to substitute his resolution (on equal protection for preborn children) for the resolution on preventing mail-order abortifacients. Gunter’s proposed resolution included prosecution of all who perform abortion of an unborn child, including the mother. His resolution noted that “such equal protection would require a case-by-case determination and would not alter any existing presumption of innocence, defense, justification, immunity, or clemency, including that mothers would not be subject to criminal liability if under criminal duress, mistake of fact, or in a life-threatening medical emergency, or for an accidental or natural … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer NEW ORLEANS (LBM) – Louisiana Baptist Execu­tive Director Steve Horn, during the 2023 Louisiana Baptist Convention Annual Meeting, Nov. 14, hosted by Franklin Avenue Bap­tist Church, New Orleans, urged messengers not to give up on their mission. “Louisiana Baptists, some are fearful that this anniversary of the Coop­erative Program comes at a time when we ought to be deciding upon a new giv­ing strategy other than the Cooperative Program,” he said. “I say, I’m not ready to give up. “I’m not ready to give up because of the 93 Louisianans dying every day in our state with no relationship to Christ,” he continued. “I’m not ready to give up because of our  International Missions force scattered across the globe. “So, I say, ‘Let’s not give up on what God has used to raise up and send out the greatest mis­sionary force known to modern Christianity.” Citing Hebrews 12:25-29, Horn reminded messengers of several ways to respond as recipients of a Kingdom that never can be shaken: let their worship go up by praising God, in public actions and in personal actions; let the Word of God come into their lives by paying attention to their spiritual leaders, Jesus and teachings of … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Christian University honored the legacy of Norman and Lorraine Martin with the unveiling of a historical marker, Nov. 9, in front of the center named after the couple. During a special ceremony in front of the Martin Performing Arts Center, LCU President Rick Brewer thanked the Martins, and Robert Lynn, who was president of Louisiana College (now LCU) from 1977-1997, for the vision to make the building possible. The Martins donated funds in 1992 to build the facility that contains a theatre, television studio, radio station, and media lab, in addition to classrooms and office space. “It is just a highlight of your year, knowing the vision they had along with President Lynn in the early 90s lives on and is producing tremendous fruit,” Brewer said. “It’s another reminder of what Jesus said about the treasures that we plant and invest in here for the Kingdom will bear fruit here and through eternity. And for them to include Colossians 3:17, as the focal passage on this marker, just reinforces what we believe is really the heart and soul of Louisiana Christian University.” The Martins were married for 69 years, until Norman’s death in 2020. … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff NEW ORLEANS (LBM) – The Louisiana Baptist Convention Resolutions Committee has released two additional resolutions for messengers to consider as consensus statements of belief during the 2023 Louisiana Baptist Convention Annual Meeting, Nov. 14, hosted by the Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans: -- RESOLUTION 6: ON PREVENTING MAIL-ORDER ABORTIFACIENTS addresses the spike in the amount of mifepristone being shipped into Louisiana after the ban on abortions went into effect in 2022 and shut down the three abortion mills in the state. -- RESOLUTION 7: ON CONGRATULATING U.S. CONGRESSMAN MIKE JOHNSON celebrates a fellow Louisiana Baptist who was elected speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives; and it asks Louisiana Baptists to commit to pray for him “as he seeks to lead the nation and follow God.” Both were adopted on 9-0 votes. These will be added to the five resolutions which resulted from the committee’s Sept. 21 meeting in Alexandria: -- RESOLUTION 1: ON PARENTAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES responds to attempts by liberal activists to undermine parental authority in raising a child according to the parents’ values and traditions, as well as moral, ethical and religious … [Read more...]

BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) -- Early voting for the General Election continues through Nov. 11 (excluding Friday, Nov. 10 for Veterans Day) and polls will be open from 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. If voters prefer to vote on Saturday, Nov. 18, the polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. Voters must show one of the following picture identifications in order to vote: a driver's license; a Louisiana Special ID; LA Wallet digital driver's license; a 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...]

Please find the resolution adopted by the president, faculty, and staff of LCU below: RESOLUTION OF THE PRESIDENT, FACULTY, AND STAFF OF LOUISIANA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY WHEREAS, We, the President, Faculty, and Staff of Louisiana Christian University watched in horror at the atrocities and barbaric acts inflicted on the people of Israel by terror on October 7, 2023, and WHEREAS, man is the special creation of God, made in His own image (Genesis 1:26–30). Furthermore, Christ died for all humanity (2 Corinthians 5:15), who were created in His image, adding infinite value and dignity to every person of every race, gender, and age, and  WHEREAS, the Scriptures clearly teach that it is the duty of Christians to seek peace with all people through the Spirit of Christ and in accordance with the teachings of Christ (Matthew 5:9, 38–48; 26:52; Romans 12:18–19; 14:19; Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter 3:10–12), and WHEREAS, we believe that the only remedy for evil in this world is the transforming grace that comes through the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 15:11; Romans 5:15–17; 12:21; Galatians 1:3–4), and WHEREAS, The Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, the Council for Higher Education in Israel, and the Israel Science … [Read more...]

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Geovany Gómez, pastor of the Iglesia Bautista La Viña in Kenner, will be nominated for the office of second vice president with the Louisiana Baptist Convention during the 2023 annual meeting of church messengers. Jack Hunter, executive director of the New Orleans Baptist Association, contacted the Baptist Message, Nov. 1, to share that he was going to “gladly” nominate Gómez “who proclaims the Word of God with conviction, ministers it with compassion, and cares for his flock as one who will give an account for each and every soul to the great Shepherd of His Church.” The yearly gathering of Louisiana Baptists is scheduled to be held in the facilities of the Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, Nov. 14. STATEMENT OF SUPPORT Hunter said Gómez has been blessed to be nurtured as a leader to serve locally and beyond. “His pastorate has been influenced by wise and godly undershepherds, his mentors, and a fellowship of pastors who have encouraged and supported him in his calling,” Hunter explained. “In turn, he is fully committed to our local Hispanic Pastors' Fellowship, the New Orleans Baptist Association, the Louisiana Baptist … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer MARRERO, La. (LBM) – Ames Boulevard Baptist Church had experienced a decline in membership and was looking for “next steps” to reach the community when they approached Cross Culture church about merging in August 2022. The once vibrant congregation had dwindled to 25 members who had seen just one baptism from 2015 to 2022, and they felt Cross Culture could help them better reach the community and ensure its survival for many years to come. After several meetings and much prayer, both congregations finalized the merger and became Cross Community Church at Ames on April 30. “It’s been a whirlwind,” Pastor Troy Gause told the Baptist Message. “People in the neighborhood are starting to come from all different walks of life and the church is having newfound excitement. I’m really excited what God has done and will do.” ANSWERED PRAYER For more than a year, Gause and other leaders of Cross Culture church had prayed for God to provide resources to purchase a new facility and for them to team up with a struggling church for revitalization. Gause in July 2022 was notified by Derek Kitterlin, son-in-law of Ames Boulevard Pastor Steve Foxworth, that the church property … [Read more...]