By Mark H. Hunter, Regional Reporter BATON ROUGE - The day after President Barack Obama delivered his last State of the Union speech, evangelist Franklin Graham declared, “the state of the union is broken.” Graham spoke to an estimated 4,000 Louisianans in the capital city’s downtown N. Blvd. Town Square Park, as part of his ambitious 50-state “Decision America Tour” calling the nation back to biblical values, encouraging Christians to stand firm for their faith and to get involved in the political process. “We’re here today because we see that our nation is in trouble - that’s the state of the union,” Graham declared as the crowd agreed – many waving miniature U.S. flags. “We are in trouble spiritually, racially, economically and we’re in trouble politically,” Graham said. “No political party is going to be able to turn this thing around – only God can fix it.” “I have zero hope in the Democratic Party,” he said to more cheers, adding, “but before you Republicans start high-fiving each other – I have zero hope in the Republican Party – or any other political party. The only hope for our nation is the Almighty God.” Graham described how Nehemiah and the Jewish remnant rebuilt Jerusalem’s walls – destroyed by … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer In just eleven days (Feb. 9), thousands of festival-goers will descend upon the state for Mardi Gras and Louisiana Baptists are working to make sure the message of Jesus is the highlight of their experiences of a parade, king cakes and beads. Using different outreach methods, churches will be sharing the same Good News of Jesus Christ to those coming to the city for good times. “Our city knows how to party, admittedly often for the wrong reasons, but we see no better time to engage them with the gospel of Jesus Christ,” said Dean Ross, pastor of Restoration Church in Metairie. For the third year, his congregation will host Restoration Fest -- a block party on Feb. 6 featuring food, games, inflatables and opportunities to share the Gospel. Three churches are assisting in the effort: Broadmoor Baptist, Madison, Miss.; Agricola Baptist, Lucedale, Miss.; and Vaughn Forest, Montgomery, Ala. Every year, Ross and others are able to use the event to share the Gospel with people lining the parade route which runs near the church. During Restoration Fest in 2015, volunteers engaged a neighborhood Muslim family waiting for the parade to begin. “We offered them a time--before … [Read more...]

REVIVAL United Baptist Church, Jena: Revival Services, Jan. 29, 6 p.m. Speaker: Carl Gulde. Morehouse Revival Crusade Jan. 31-Feb. 3. Pre-session music: 6 p.m. Sunday, 6:30 p.m. Monday-Wednesday 6:30 p.m. Evangelist: Bill Britt. Worship: 11th Hour. The event will be held  at the Morehouse Activity Center. Director of Missions: Jerry Price. LAGNIAPPE Jim Garlington is available for supply preaching, pastorate, interim or Bible studies. If interested, please call 318.312.2339 or 318.312.2338. First Baptist Church, Anacoco: Kingdom Heirs in concert, Jan. 29, 7 p.m. A love offering will be taken. Pastor: Durhl Davis Tall Timbers Conference Center, Woodworth: Louisiana Campers on Mission will kick off their 2016 schedule Jan. 24-29 with its annual work week at Tall Timbers Conference Center in Woodworth. The major project to be undertaken will be the continued construction of the Georgia Barnette Conference Center. There will be a variety of other projects from general cleaning, landscaping and remodeling. All skill levels are welcomed.  Having an RV is not necessary; Tall Timbers has accommodations. For reservations contact Tall Timbers at 318.445.6797 or email to talltimbers@talltimbersbcc.org or for more … [Read more...]

By Will Hall, Message Editor There is good news in New Orleans. Preliminary data for 2015 indicates baptisms by Louisiana Baptists’ church plants in the city are above the national average within the Southern Baptist Convention. The numbers compiled by the Louisiana Baptist Convention Missions and Ministry Team and released to the Baptist Message indicate the 19 church plants, ranging from one month to three years old performed one baptism for about every 7 weekly worship attenders. By comparison, information shared by the North American Mission Board for the 757 churches in its Class of 2010 showed each typically baptized one new believer for about every 13 weekly worship attenders. This is the latest information NAMB has shared about its church plants formed in 2010 or after, and was highlighted by NAMB President Kevin Ezell in his report at the 2015 SBC Annual Meeting which was held in Columbus, Ohio. Meanwhile, figures published in the SBC Annual indicate that among established Southern Baptist congregations, one baptism is performed for every 18 or so weekly worship attenders across the denomination. John Hebert, director of the LBC Missions and Ministry Team said LBC church plants are not in competition … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA/PINEVILLE –The inaugural Louisiana Life March in Central Louisiana will be held Jan. 30, and organizers say it has been a long time in the making. The procession will begin on the Louisiana College campus and continue through Pineville on Main Street before crossing over the Red River at the Jackson Street Bridge to end at the Alexandria Riverfront Amphitheater. Other Louisiana Life Marches have taken place in Baton Rouge and Shreveport, most recently simultaneously on Jan. 23, but this is the first time such an event will be held in the central part of the state. “I’m very excited and amazed at the strong response we have received so far from people throughout central Louisiana,” said Ryan Verret, associate director of Louisiana Right to Life. “It has been our desire for quite a while to bring together the pro-life community of this part of the state as well as create a unified voice working together to end the great injustice of abortion that was imposed upon Louisiana women and unborn children in 1973. “We are preparing for a historic event for our state with the Life March from Pineville to Alexandria on Saturday, Jan. 30,” he continued. “We hope everyone who … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE – Several major life experiences have shaped the character of Debbie Stuart but perhaps none has been more impactful than her own prodigal son’s wanderings. In October 2010, Stuart was on staff at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas, when her son Jarrad was arrested at the age of 27. “That journey was the most painful season of our lives and led us to unexpected places with the Lord and taught us about obedience, forgiveness, deliverance and a few other very important lessons about life and ministry,” she said. Stuart will share the rest of her story – relating it to Paul’s shipwreck experience reported in Acts 27 – during the Kaleidoscope conference on Feb. 6 at First Baptist Church, Pineville. “In this passage we will discover a few reasons why the Lord allows shipwrecks especially in the lives of people who are trying to be faithful and obedient,” Stuart said. “We will learn how to have a successful shipwreck as well as what to do when the Lord takes us to unexpected places for unknown reasons.” The overall theme for the event is “Delight,” based on Psalm 119:174 and organizers are expecting 300 women to attend. A Shreveport native, Stuart served on … [Read more...]

By Marilyn Stewart, Regional Reporter NEW ORLEANS (BP) - The need for Christian apologetics -- the clearing of obstacles to faith -- has never been greater, attendees were told throughout the annual Defend the Faith conference, Jan. 4-8, at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary "Every age presents unique challenges to the Christian faith," said Defend the Faith director Rhyne Putman, NOBTS assistant professor of theology and culture. "We face moral shifts in our culture, religious pluralism, other competing worldviews and assaults on religious liberty." Sponsored by the seminary's Institute for Christian Apologetics, the event was attended by more than 200 people, one-third of whom were college students from various states. Plenary sessions were streamed via the Internet for the event and its messages to have an even wider reach. One current missionary in East Asia who watched the live-streamed sessions emailed one speaker to thank him for his candid portrayal of the difficulties facing those who engage a non-Christian culture. Featured among more than two-dozen speakers were Douglas Groothuis, professor of philosophy at Denver Seminary; teaching fellow Jana Harmon with the C.S. Lewis Institute; resurrection … [Read more...]

By Message Staff ALEXANDRIA - Surrounded by family and Louisiana Baptist state missions services team members, six church planters were commissioned on Jan. 20 during the first-ever service of its kind for church planters in the state. The church planter commissioning service on Wednesday was for those who started a church since October 2015. Since then, 11 churches have been started in the state, including five in January. The goal for 2016 is to plant 30 churches in Louisiana, keeping in step with the goal to plant 300 churches by 2020. To reach that goal, 170 more churches will have to be planted between now and 2020. John Hebert, missions and ministry team leader for Louisiana Baptists, said his team is engaged in partnering with churches, associations and other Southern Baptist entities to plant healthy, culturally relevant, biblically sound, multiplying churches that seek to fulfill the Great Commission. “At the spearhead of this effort is the work of our Church planters,” he said during the commissioning service. “Today these church planters have come before this assembly to receive the blessing and commissioning and commitment of Louisiana Baptists’ support. God has called them to serve in places across our … [Read more...]

By Message Staff In the Dec. 17, 2015 issue of the Baptist Message, we introduced you to a Louisiana Baptist couple in Covington who coordinates and delivers shipping containers to children in the Ukraine at Christmas. Each container has clothes, food, much needed medicine, building material, mattresses and vitamins. The shipping containers are 40-ft-long, 8-ft wide and 9-ft high. Most of the containers are delivered to southern Romania where living conditions are much worse than other parts of the country. Johnny Huffman, who along with his wife Sissie spearheads the project, e-mailed the Message on Jan. 19 with an update on the project. The couple’s ministry is Fairhaven Hope Ministries, located just 10 miles outside of Covington in rural southeast Louisiana. “I sometimes think of the old song ‘I Stand Amazed in His Presence’ for I see Him working His presence in so many ways each day,” he wrote. “Attached you see a few of the pictures that I received from Romania of children receiving some of the Christmas boxes that many of you had a part in. As I was looking at the pictures, I was thinking ‘Only Jesus could have put together all the people it took to accomplish these children having these gifts’. It was His presence … [Read more...]

By Tom Strode, Baptist Press NASHVILLE (BP) - The Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission has unveiled its new Leadership Council. The 43 Southern Baptist pastors and leaders who were announced Thursday (Jan. 14) will serve as the advisory council for the entity's Leadership Network in 2016. The ERLC launched the network and its advisory council in 2014. Each January, the entity names a new list of council members, most of whom serve for one year. The Leadership Network is open to men and women who seek to identify with the ERLC's Gospel-focused approach to cultural issues in their roles as pastors, leaders or laypeople. Council members - all who are serving or have served in pastoral ministry - will receive equipping from the ERLC staff and give guidance to the network. They also may provide content for the entity's website. ERLC President Russell Moore said he is "thrilled to welcome this group of Gospel-focused, innovative band of pastors and leaders" to the council. "As we come alongside one another, we'll talk about crucial ethical issues confronting churches and how we can engage with a Gospel-focus in the culture and in the public square," Moore said in a written release. "We'll think … [Read more...]