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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

GBO advances the Gospel through ESL ministry

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer AVONDALE, La. (LBM) – The opportunity to share Christ with the world has come to Louisiana Baptist churches through English as a Second Language classes. “The purpose of all literacy missions ministries is to intentionally share the Gospel as God uses church volunteers to meet literacy needs,” Brown told the Baptist Message. “ESL allows church volunteers to incorporate the Bible into every aspect of their classes. “Prayer is a priority inside and outside of the classes, and the Gospel is also shared, no matter what the students’ religious backgrounds are,” she continued. “Anyone can participate in this ministry because a person doesn’t have to speak another language to teach someone how to speak English.” FBCA, NOBTS CONNECT Each Monday evening at First Baptist Church, Avondale, three to four lead teachers and three assistants, including New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Leavell College students, teach ESL classes to between 10 and 40 students from as many as eight nationalities, church ministry team leaders said. Marc Daniels, pastor with FBC Avondale, realized while canvassing the surrounding neighborhood in 2023 that a large Vietnamese population … [Read more...]

Record crowd shines at annual Champions Camp

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer WOODWORTH, La. (LBM) – The Champions Camp for individuals with special needs recorded its largest attendance ever, drawing 91 campers and their buddies for a weekend of activities tailored to them. The Louisiana Baptist summer camp for people with special needs matched participants with buddies who accompanied them during the event. The camp, whose previous record attendance was 50 set in 2024, featured karaoke, snow cones, ice cream party, fishing, games, bazooka ball, crafts, disco party and worship designed for children and adults from ages 8 and up who have intellectual or development disabilities. Lisa Smith, a member with First Baptist Church, Hornbeck, was among the buddies who attended the weekend with a camper. Smith was filled with joy as she witnessed her camper, Amber Holloway, enjoying camp for the first time. “I was here three minutes and was already crying,” Smith told the Baptist Message. “It was emotional for me, getting to see her and the other campers have so much fun.” Brenda Hudson, the mother of camper Alex Zimmerman, was moved to tears as she watched her son fish. “It touches my heart,” she said. “I’ve always wanted him to be involved in … [Read more...]

Jones to be LBC presidential nominee

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer PRAIRIEVILLE, La. (LBM) – Kirk Jones, pastor of Fellowship Church, Prairieville, will be nominated for the office of president with the Louisiana Baptist Convention during the 2025 annual meeting of church messengers. Bill Dye, pastor of North Monroe Baptist Church, shared with the Baptist Message, Sept. 10, his intention to make the nomination. The yearly gathering of Louisiana Baptists is scheduled to be held in the facilities of the Randolph Riverfront Center, Alexandria, Nov. 11. STATEMENT OF SUPPORT Dye commended Jones’ character during the 15 years he has known him. “I’ve watched him lead his church through a variety of challenges,” Dye told the Baptist Message. “Kirk is a visionary leader with character.  He not only wants to do the right thing; he wants to do things the right way. And God has blessed that. He referenced the growth of Fellowship Church, which has grown from a few people who met in Jones’ living room in 2001 to a campus of more than 1,400 with 112 baptisms in 2025. “I know that numbers don’t always tell you what’s going on in a church,” Dye said. “The movement of the Spirit is more than buildings, bodies, and budgets.  Some of our … [Read more...]

LBC seeks resolutions, nominees

By Baptist Message staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) — Louisiana Baptists are invited to recommend candidates to serve on state convention boards and committees and are asked to submit resolutions for possible consideration by messengers during the 2025 Louisiana Baptist Convention. COMMITTEES The Louisiana Baptist Committee on Committees is beginning its work to fill 18 openings on five committees: Credentials; Moral and Social Concerns; Nominations; Order of Business; and Resolutions. Nominations should be sent no later than Aug. 11 to Joseph Fowler, pastor, Cook Baptist Church, Ruston, who is the committee chair, via email, joseph@cookbc.org, or the U.S. Mail, Dr. Joseph Fowler, Cook Baptist Church, 2000 Cooktown Road, Ruston, LA 71270. BOARDS The Louisiana Baptist Committee on Nominations also is beginning its work to fill 27 vacancies on the LBC Executive Board as well as the trustee bodies of the Louisiana Christian University, Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home and Family Ministries, Baptist Message, and Baptist Foundation. Nominations should be sent no later than Aug. 11 to Greg Bath, associate pastor, Trinity Baptist Church, Lake Charles, who is the committee chair, via email, gbath@tbclc.org, or the U.S. Mail, … [Read more...]

Man arrested for allegedly vandalizing Denham Springs, Greenwell Springs churches

By Baptist Message staff GREENWELL SPRINGS, La. (LBM) — An individual was arrested, Sept. 1, for the alleged vandalism of a Denham Springs and two Greenwell Springs Baptist churches on Labor Day. According to WBRZ-TV in Baton Rouge, Jimmie J Mouton Jr., 24, was arrested for institutional vandalism. Mouton allegedly spray painted similar obscene words on the front doors of the worship center at Greenwell Springs Baptist Church around 12:30 am and also on the outside of the worship center at Indian Mound Baptist Church around 12:45 a.m. Sept. 1. He also allegedly did the same at Lockhart Road Baptist Church, an Independent Baptist church in Denham Springs, according to the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office, which was dispatched to the church around 11 a.m. Sept. 1. WBRZ reported that arrest documents showed that Mouton admitted to vandalizing three to four religious buildings, but was not sure exactly how many. The investigators used surveillance footage to identify his Toyota Camry and arrested him at an address connected to the vehicle’s license plate. EBRSO deputies discovered the can of spray paint in Mouton's car after he told them where it was located. Greenwell Springs Baptist Church Senior Pastor Oren Conner told … [Read more...]

Louisiana Children’s Trust Fund launches a statewide #PutThePhoneDown campaign

By Office of Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry BATON ROUGE, La. (Office of Gov. Jeff Landry) - The Louisiana Children’s Trust Fund has launched a statewide #PutThePhoneDown campaign to address the growing problem of excessive cellphone use and its adverse effects on Louisiana’s children. Governor Jeff Landry has proclaimed August as #PutThePhoneDown Month, encouraging families, educators, and communities to reduce screen distractions and focus on meaningful, face-to-face connections. Studies show that giving children screens as a distraction harms their language skills, emotional security, and social development. Educators across the state report rising classroom distractions, lower student engagement, and challenges in students’ focus and relationships. Research links excessive cellphone use among children and teens to increased anxiety, depression, behavioral problems, disrupted sleep, less physical activity, and poorer academic performance. “#PutThePhoneDown Month is about reclaiming our attention and our relationships,” said Executive Director of the Louisiana Children’s Trust Fund, Ursula Anderson. “Too many people are trading face-to-face connections and meaningful conversations for endless scrolling. It’s time to … [Read more...]