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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

NOBTS Jim Henry Institute “Prepare Here” conference calls for ‘servant leadership in uncertain times’

By Marilyn Stewart, NOBTS publications and news communications office NEW ORLEANS (NOBTS) - “Servant Leadership in Uncertain Times,” the theme of the first annual Prepare Here Conference hosted by the Jim Henry Leadership Institute of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, drew in 250 pastors, church ministry leaders, and spouses from across 10 states, October 12-13. Featured speakers were Steve Gaines, senior pastor, Bellevue Baptist Church, Memphis; Robby Gallaty, senior pastor, Long Hollow Church, Hendersonville, Tennessee; and Jamie Dew, NOBTS president. “It’s my prayer that this conference will give [participants] opportunities and instruction, give them models, and give them the privilege to study with leaders and have the opportunity to look at the past and the present, and model their lives after Jesus so they can be the leaders the church desperately needs today,” Jim Henry said, in interview. Breakout sessions addressed issues impacting the pastor’s ministry as well as the student, children’s, music, leadership and administration, and women’s ministries. Kandi Gallaty, wife of Robby Gallaty and author of “Disciple Her” and the “Foundations New Testament” series of Bible reading plans; Tara Dew, … [Read more...]

Grand jury indicts Daryl Stagg

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor COLFAX, La. (LBM) – In a press statement, Oct. 16, Grant Parish District Attorney Jay Lemoine announced that a grand jury had indicted Daryl Ray Stagg on four counts of first-degree rape, five counts of sexual battery and one count of indecent behavior with a juvenile. In Louisiana, a grand jury conducts its investigation in secret with the state's attorney and determines whether there is enough evidence to proceed to trial. Members only hear the government’s case against the defendant and do not render a verdict. Stagg, 61, was arrested June 8, 2023, and charged at that time with 12 felony counts of sex crimes against at least one child in Grant Parish. Union Parish leveled an additional four charges, then, and noted that these crimes involved one juvenile victim in the Bernice area. The two parishes required a combined bond of $1.45 million. During a joint press conference, June 11, the sheriff’s from Grant, Union and Rapides Parishes revealed there also was an investigation of Stagg in Kenosha County, Wisconsin. At the time of his arrest, Stagg was the associational mission strategist, since October 2018, for the Big Creek and CenLa Baptist Associations (Grant and … [Read more...]

Despite heart attacks, stroke, Longoria thankful

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer DERIDDER, La. (LBM) – Evangelist Lyndon Longoria missed a year from the pulpit, 2019- 2020, during a battle with a stroke and other medical conditions, but through those trials he experienced God’s good­ness through the love displayed by thousands, he said. “I never thought about giving up or quitting. I just didn’t know if I would be able to continue to preach as an evange­list,” Longoria told the Baptist Message. “I knew I could still talk and the Lord could still use me to preach, even if I had to preach sitting down-which I did at the begin­ning. “My faith in the faith­fulness of God has been unwavering,” he contin­ued. “The Word of God has become precious to me again, and has fed my heart and my soul. My faith in God and His ability is in a place it has never been before. There are many struggles and I have battled moments of depression, but my faith in God has overcome it all. I have perfect peace that He will finish what He has started.” TRYING MOMENTS April 19, 2019, started like any other day for Longoria, who was preaching at a revival ser­vice in Cordele, Georgia. But the day turned out to be anything but normal. As Longoria began to preach an “assortment” … [Read more...]

Myers returns ‘home’ as LBC youth strategist

ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – A former Louisiana Baptist student minister who moved out of state in 2019 has returned as the youth strategist for Louisiana Baptists. Lee Myers, who began his new role Oct. 1, most recently was the student minister at First Baptist Church, Jonesboro, Arkansas. “Louisiana has always felt like my Jerusalem,” Myers told the Baptist Message. “The opportunity to come back and serve the state is what the Lord wanted me to do.” A native of Jayess, Mississippi, Myers has served 34 years, collectively, with local churches. In addition to his most recent role in Arkansas, Myers was a student minister with congregations in Mississippi (Shady Grove Baptist Church, Ruth, Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, Gloster, West McComb Baptist Church, McComb) and Louisiana (Immanuel Baptist Church, Hammond, First Baptist Church, Zachary, First Baptist Church, Baton Rouge, and Airline Baptist Church, Bossier City). He also has served as minister of assimilation with Cypress BaptistChurch, Benton; a teacher for Pine Hills Academy, Gloster, Mississippi, and Riverdale Christian Academy, Baton Rouge. He has also volunteered on numerous youth ministry planning committees and groups including the Youth Evangelism Celebration … [Read more...]

Horn emphasizes need for culture of evangelism

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer WOODWORTH, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptist Executive Director Steve Horn emphasized the need for and results of a culture of evangelism among Louisiana Baptists when he addressed Executive Board members during their Sept. 26 meeting. “By God’s grace, this will always be our priority for us,” Horn said. “I have shared with you and in various ways the idea of a culture of evangelism. This is what we think about. This is what we do. This is what drives us. This is our prayer. “Louisiana is known for its culture,” he said. “Sometimes that’s good. Sometimes that’s not so good. What it would be like if it would be said of us that there’s a culture of  evangelism.” Horn told board members he has been encouraged in several areas of evangelism this year: -- Crossover and Serve Tour, a pair of evangelistic efforts that took place June 9-10 before the 2023 Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting in New Orleans, saw 336 recorded professions of faith; -- 207 decisions for Christ took place during LBC-sponsored camps at Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center, Woodworth; and -- ‘Here for You,’ Louisiana Baptists’ statewide multi-media campaign, resulted another 206 spiritual … [Read more...]

Louisiana church self-insurance advisory board OK’d

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer WOODWORTH, La. (LBM) – In response to the church insurance crisis that is pressing on congregations across the state, Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board members approved, during their Sept. 26 meeting, an advisory committee to help identify strategies and resources to secure one-time funding to launch the state legislature approved self-insurance program. BACKGROUND Louisiana lawmakers passed legislation in June, now signed into law by the governor, that established a church self-insurance trust. However, a separate funding line item for the trust was deleted during negotiations between the Senate and House. Consequently, multiple approaches are underway to secure one-time funding from the state and federal governments and possibly other sources to assist with setup costs. In the meantime, efforts are beginning to complete “no cost” steps while the funding appeals proceed. The push to help churches began in March when Steve Horn, executive director of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, reached out to the Louisiana Baptist Office of Public Policy to share that churches were contacting his office about insurance nonrenewal notices and soaring premiums due to … [Read more...]

UL baseball players score big at Bayou Church

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer LAFAYETTE, La. (LBM) – The University of Louisiana-Lafayette baseball team has high hopes for the upcoming baseball season, but three players celebrated victories Sept. 10, when they were baptized at the Bayou Church. Surrounded by 50 teammates and athletic department staff, Andrew Herrmann, Carson Flono and Riley Marcotte were baptized by Matt Deggs, UL head baseball coach. Before he baptized each player, Deggs cited a memory verse and gave each player a challenge. They were among 10 new believers baptized during the service and 73 since January. “There are wins and there are losses,” Deggs said moments before the baptisms. “And then there is victory. Victory in Jesus Christ. It is for freedom that Christ set you free.” The three players made decisions to follow through with baptism after hearing Deggs share the Gospel in August during a team meeting, and again at Bayou Church with their teammates. In that service, Pastor Sean Walker shared a message about how to replace broken soundtracks with God’s truth through a relationship with Christ. “Talking with the coach this week, this is what I learned,” Walker said. “He’s not a baseball coach first. He’s a baseball … [Read more...]

Entities report good news to executive board

By Brian Blackwell, Message staff writer WOODWORTH, La. (LBM) – During a Sept. 26 meeting, Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board members approved the 2024 Cooperative Program giving plan and were updated on the ongoing work by the Convention’s four entities. BUDGET REPORT Board members approved the business and finance committee’s 2024 financial plan based on Cooperative Program contributions of $18,080,569, an increase of $502,560, or 2.86 percent. Cooperative Program projections are based on actual receipts from August 2022 through July 2023. The allocation formula for distributing Cooperative Program gifts between Southern Baptist Convention and Louisiana Baptist causes changed for 2024, 62.87 percent forwarded to support ministries in the state (a decrease from 63.26 percent in 2023) and 37.13 percent forwarded to fund national entities (an increase from 36.74 percent in 2023). The budget will be presented to messengers for approval during the 2023 LBC Annual Meeting. ENTITY REPORTS Louisiana Baptist Foundation President Jeff Steed said $36.95 million in ministry support overall has been realized since the July 2020 launch of the LBF’s Vision200 (impacting the Kingdom with $200 million through the … [Read more...]

Jenkins to lead LBC missions, ministry team

By Brian Blackwell, Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – James Jenkins, the new Louisiana Baptist missions and ministry team director, shared a God-sized vision to help advance the Kingdom by one percent and lead the way to having a 2000-church state conven­tion by 2033. Jenkins, who has served in the interim role since John Hebert retired from the posi­tion in late December 2022, was approved for the role on a permanent basis by the Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board during a Sept. 26 meeting. “I’ve been in this work for a while, so it’s not brand new to me,” Jenkins told the Baptist Message. “But I am excited to have that sense of stability. I now have been given the opportunity to impact the Kingdom in ways I’ve always wanted to. “I want to thank Dr. Steve Horn, Louisiana Baptist Executive Director, and the Executive Board of the Louisiana Baptist Convention for the opportunity to serve in this position,” he contin­ued. “I’m very mindful of the privilege of serving in this role and want to make sure Louisiana Baptists get a big return on investment.” “I want to also thank the men and women who serve on the mission and ministry team. We are dedicated team serve through women minis­tries, disaster … [Read more...]