Click to Login or Sign Up

Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Questionable (Cartoon: Preacher’s Kids) Group hug fears (Cartoon: Fletch) Prayer thoughts (Cartoon: Joe McKeever)
  • John 3:16
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Archive
  • Cartoons
    • Joe McKeever
    • Beyond the Ark
    • Church of the Covered Dish
    • Fletch
    • Preacher’s Kids
  • Contact
  • Louisiana
  • U.S. & Intl
  • Facts & Finds
  • Culture & Society
  • Editorial

Kelly takes over as Gulf Coast Baptist Association bi-vo DOM

August 26, 2015

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer MORGAN CITY – A Morgan City pastor has begun serving as bi-vocational director of missions for Gulf Coast Baptist Association. An association of 15 churches primarily in St. Mary Parish, Gulf Coast Baptist Association previously shared with a director of missions with Evangeline Baptist Association. Steven Kelly assumed his role as director of missions on Aug. 1. Bert Langley, who has retired as director of missions for Evangeline Association, but is remaining as interim, approached Kelly with the idea a few months ago and the churches in Gulf Coast Baptist Association agreed the timing was right to make the move. “Before, we shared a director of missions with an area much larger than our own,” said Kelly, who is pastor of Bayou Vista Baptist Church, where the new associational office will be located. “Bi-vocationally I can give it the same attention a new director of missions would do. For our churches, we now have our own identity.” Kelly will continue to serve full time as pastor and will work one day a week as director of missions. While his role as pastor will prevent him from serving as an interim pastor at other churches on Sundays, Kelly plans to meet with pastors during … [Read more...]

Family Serve weekend a unique chance for parents, children to serve together

August 26, 2015

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer LAKE CHARLES – Parents and children will have the opportunity to serve alongside one another during the upcoming Family Serve weekend in Lake Charles. Scheduled for Sept. 25-26, Family Serve will encourage families to be on mission through a variety of local ministries in the city. The weekend begins on Sept. 25 at 5:30 pm, with a dinner, opening worship and mission team social at First Baptist Church in Lake Charles. The following day, families will eat breakfast and worship together before heading out to work at mission sites. Mission opportunities on Sept. 26 include sharing the gospel at block parties, prayer walking in neighborhoods, operating free wellness checks at a block party and assisting church plants with outreach. The Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home will have its Mobile Pregnancy Care Center stationed at Mt. Pilgrim Baptist Church to offer free ultrasound and pregnancy testing. Family Serve weekend will conclude with a worship celebration, led by Jeff Slaughter who wrote songs for LifeWay Christian Resources’ Vacation Bible School for 16 years. The $40 registration cost per person includes program fee, three meals, church lodging, t-shirt and funds for local … [Read more...]

American Sniper’s widow to share testimony Aug. 30 at First Bossier

August 26, 2015

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer BOSSIER CITY – The widow of American Sniper Chris Kyle will share her testimony during two worship services at First Baptist Bossier City on Aug. 30. Taya Kyle will share about her husband’s commitment to fighting for his country and the impact his Christian faith had on him. Throughout his book that became a New York Times bestseller, Chris Kyle mentions numerous times of his reliance on Christ. Known as the most lethal sniper in US military history with more than 160 kills, Kyle was honorably discharged in 2009. He died in 2013 while visiting a shooting range with a friend when another man, Eddie Ray Routh, allegedly killed the two men. His story was made into the movie “American Sniper” and was released in 2014. She will speak during the 9:15 and 10:45 am worship services as part of the church’s “Honor Our Heroes Sunday.” Active military, police, firemen and first responders will be honored during the services and at a breakfast reception at 8:15 am and lunch at 12 pm. Brad Jurkovich, pastor of First Bossier, said the day allows his church to actively serve those who protect them. “We need to encourage these families as much as possible,” Jurkovich said. “They all are on the … [Read more...]

Leavell College, NOBTS mourns the loss of beloved professor, John Gibson

August 26, 2015

By Gary D. Myers, NOBTS Communications Director NEW ORLEANS – The first day of a new semester was marred by sadness as New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary’s Leavell College students learned of the death of beloved professor John Gibson. Gibson, 56, died Aug. 24. A memorial service for Gibson will be held in Leavell Chapel on the seminary campus Aug. 28, at 10:30 a.m. The service is a joint effort between NOBTS and First Baptist Church, New Orleans where Gibson’s wife, Christi, served as minister of discipleship and missions. Gibson was discovered at his home on the seminary campus at approximately 5:30 p.m., Aug. 24, by his wife when she arrived home from work. After finding Gibson unresponsive, she immediately notified emergency medical service. EMS workers were unable to revive him, and Gibson was pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of death is still undetermined. Born in Louisiana to a long line of Baptist ministers, Gibson spent many of his formative years in Mississippi where his father served in pastoral ministry. Gibson earned his undergraduate degree from Mississippi College and went on to earn a master of divinity and doctor of theology degrees at NOBTS. Gibson served as youth minister and … [Read more...]

Janet Huckabee to visit Louisiana College

August 24, 2015

By Norm Miller, Louisiana College communications PINEVILLE, La. (LCNews) - Mrs. Janet Huckabee, wife of presidential hopeful Governor Mike Huckabee, will visit Louisiana College Aug. 26 for an hour-long open forum. Mrs. Huckabee will arrive at approximately 11 a.m. and will address the public shortly thereafter in the Granberry Conference Center. She will entertain questions from the media following her public comments. Pastors are cordially invited to attend as honored guests with reserved seating. At the close of Mrs. Huckabee’s remarks there will be a time for prayer. Pastors and/or church groups planning to attend should notify Louisiana College via the contact info above. This event is free and open to the public. … [Read more...]

Protest, what protest? Planned Parenthood protest fizzles

August 21, 2015

By Staff, Baptist Message BATON ROUGE – It was supposed to have sent a clear and loud message to Gov. Bobby Jindal and the state of Louisiana about Planned Parenthood’s dissatisfaction to proposed cuts to funding for services provided by the organization. The rally, though, did not come close to living up to expectations or hype. Less than 50 people, most of whom were carrying pink, pre-printed signs that read “Don’t Take Away Our Care” and “Stand With Planned Parenthood,” attended the rally, which was staged in a field across the street from the Governor’s Mansion. The group was protesting Jindal’s decision to stop almost $300,000 in reimbursement to Planned Parenthood for health care services. In a statement from the Governor’s office, Jindal said, “Planned Parenthood supporters are welcome to protest.” But in a counter-protest, Jindal’s office set up a movie screen and speakers under a tent and played on a loop the Center for Medical Progress investigative videos of Planned Parenthood employees talking about the harvesting of unborn babies to sell on the open market. “I want to ensure anyone who shows up will have to witness first-hand the offensive actions of the organization they are supporting,” said … [Read more...]

Planned Parenthood plans protest at Governor’s Mansion, Bobby Jindal will counter by showing undercover video

August 20, 2015

By Benjamin Clapper Louisiana Right to Life NEW ORLEANS -- Gov. Bobby Jindal's decision to yank Medicaid dollars from Planned Parenthood will be protested today, Aug. 20, at the Governor's Mansion in Baton Rouge, and protesters will be met with the showing of undercover videos of Planned Parenthood officials engaged in the sale of baby parts after abortion, according to several local news sources. Benjamin Clapper, executive director of Louisiana Right to Life, released the following statement today in response to Gov. Bobby Jindal's decision to play the videos on a movie screen on the mansion's front lawn: "Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast and its supporters have ignored the atrocious videos that have shown their own leaders complicit in the sale of baby body parts of unborn babies. Instead of discussing the reality of their abortion business and the sale of baby parts, they sidestep and place the focus on their false claims that access to healthcare will fall apart in Louisiana if Planned Parenthood does not have a Medicaid contract. "The truth is, as Gov. Jindal has stated, there are numerous healthcare providers, both public and private, that offer the services Planned Parenthood offers at its two Louisiana … [Read more...]

Louisiana College’s annual workshop features national notables

August 17, 2015

By Norm Miller, Louisiana College Communications PINEVILLE (LCNews) - Louisiana College’s annual faculty/staff workshop features nationally known experts in their respective fields, who will lead several plenary, and breakout sessions Aug. 17 and 18. The Aug. 17 sessions include Dr. Peter Beck, associate professor of Christian Studies at Charleston Southern University (CSU). Beck’s topic, “Integrating Faith and Learning and Then Some,” posits that Christian colleges “exist to extend the Kingdom of God beyond the church into every area of life.” Beck notes that Christian educators “are called to integrate faith in every area of our lives,” and that includes the relationship between Christ and campus. The director of the Honors Program at CSU, Beck -- whose theological writings have been published broadly -- received the 2013 Excellence in Teaching Award from the South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities. “Globalizing a Liberal Arts Faculty and Staff and Then Some” is Dr. Carolyn Bishop’s topic. She will explore how faculty and administrators can partner through the Consortium for Global Education (CGE), where she is president, to build their departments or programs, enhance courses, and find meaningful and mutual … [Read more...]

Burl Cain rules out run for governor, for now

August 13, 2015

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ANGOLA – Burl Cain won’t be joining the list of candidates running for Louisiana governor, at least for now. The warden of the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola announced the news on Wednesday during a meeting of the Rotary Club of Baton Rouge, ending months of speculation on his status for running in the governor’s race. “I wouldn’t have the money to do it,” Cain said in an article by the Baton Rouge Advocate newspaper. “I looked at it. I’m still looking at it. … I’d have to resign my job.” The longest-serving warden of any prison in the U.S. and in the history of Angola itself, Cain had said during the Louisiana Baptist Senior Adult Lunch at Summer Grove Baptist Church in February that he had not yet made a decision whether he would or would not run for the office. Signs in support of his potential candidacy can be found around Louisiana and the Facebook page “We Want Warden Burl Cain La Governor 2015” has garnered nearly 2,000 likes. “It’s important to serve Him and look for His blessing and direction,” Cain said at the time. “When you are not in God’s will, disaster occurs. No answer would mean I didn’t get an answer and I would stay here at Angola Either answer is … [Read more...]

First Baptist Ponchatoula credits God, AED to helping save member’s life

August 13, 2015

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PONCHATOULA – First Baptist Church in Ponchatoula is counting their blessings after an automated external defibrillator (AED) the congregation received years ago saved the life of one of its deacons. The incident occurred as parents and teenagers gathered for a lunch and meet-and-greet with the church’s prospective youth minister on Aug. 9. Suddenly, a deacon fell back and burst his head. Byron Willie, a member of the church and the Ponchatoula Fire Department, was just outside the building when he called to the scene. A circle of prayer was formed while Willie performed CPR. David Cranford, pastor of the church, soon arrived with the church’s AED and the deacon was brought back to life. Willie said he is thankful God prevented what could have been a tragic situation. “Everyone is saying y’all saved that man’s life,” Willie said. “I told them God put that man in the right place at the right time with the right people. God took care of everything else.” An AED is a portable electronic device that automatically diagnoses irregular heartbeats to could lead to cardiac arrest in a patient. When used, the device can help re-establish an effective rhythm in a … [Read more...]

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 344
  • 345
  • 346
  • 347
  • 348
  • …
  • 359
  • Next Page »

Editorial

FIRST PERSON: As goes the family, so goes the culture

By Gene Mills, Louisiana Family Forum president BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – Public policy matters, especially regarding the health and growth of families, the basic building block of any flourishing society. As we have seen throughout history, as goes the family, so goes the culture. Unfortunately, for too long … Read More

Search

  • Trending
  • Recent
  • Must Read

Recent

PEW study: Thirty percent of Americans consult astrology, tarot cards or fortune tellers

Kay Arthur, Christian author and Bible teacher, dies at 91

PAKISTAN: Bill to curb child marriages passes parliament

Must Read

Foundation Executive Director
Jeffrey Steed to retire

Speaker Johnson to Calvary students:

Live to make an ‘impact’

FIRST PERSON: Silent Saturday

Copyright © 2025 · News Pro Theme 2.1 On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in