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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

LBC EB updated on CP, entities

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer WOODWORTH, La. (LBM) – During a May 2 meeting, the Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board received updates on Cooperative Program giving and the ongoing work of the four convention entities. BUDGET REPORT Louisiana Baptist Executive Director Steve Horn told board members that gifts through the Cooperative Program from January to March totaled $495.112.54 more than budgeted for 2023, so far. He added that churches, from January to March, have given $61,072.50 less through CP this year than the same timeframe as last year. ENTITY REPORTS Louisiana Christian University President Rick Brewer shared that the school has migrated its Master of Arts in Teaching, Master in Education, Master in Social Work and Master in Business Administration programs to 100 percent online offerings along with three undergraduate programs: Criminal Justice, Business and Applied Science. These programs will now be available online nationally and internationally. Additionally, the university plans to offer a certificate in multimedia ministry, a restructured worship arts and production degree and the Louisiana Christian Scholars Academy that will allow high school students to earn up to … [Read more...]

Baptist Community Ministries to highlight faith-based impact of National Nurses Week

By Baptist Message staff NEW ORLEANS (LBM) – The live-saving ministry of nurses through church ministries will be highlighted during National Nurses Week, May 6-12. Baptist Community Ministries is among the organizations that will recognize the contributions of all nurses, including those in the faith community as part of their congregational wellness division. Among the events scheduled is BCM’s annual symposium, May 20. All nurses will be invited to attend the free event (though seating is limited) and will receive six continuing nursing professional development credits. Vendors and massage therapists will be on hand at the event. “We believe and know that the church is the healing place,” BCM Vice President of Congregational Wellness Frances Hawkins told the Baptist Message. “We are focusing in on what we can do to make sure this healing occurs. Our ability to be vessels in the community to focus on spiritual, emotional and physical needs of people in the community helps that healing occur .” BCM has trained nearly 250 nurses and has 85 active nurse-led church ministries. These nurses not only may work a full-time job, but they volunteer 20 hours of their time each month to ministry in one or more of 138 churches … [Read more...]

LBC Executive Board highlights evangelism, Louisiana Send Network

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer WOODWORTH, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptist Executive Director Steve Horn, on the heels of a pair of evangelistic events preceding the 2023 Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting in New Orleans, encouraged Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board members during their May 2 meeting to create a culture of evangelism. Additionally, board members approved Send Network Louisiana, a church planting partnership with the North American Mission Board. CULTURE OF EVANGELISM Horn said for a culture of evangelism to take place, Louisiana Baptists must believe: every person is an evangelist, every person can be saved, in being sensitive to the Holy Spirit, every scripture points to Jesus, in progressing every decision towards discipleship, every decision is celebrated but we cannot settle, and the community must be saturated with the Gospel. “Louisiana is known for its culture,” Horn said in his report to board members. “Sometimes it’s a good thing and sometimes it’s not. What if it would be known of us and said of us that we would be known first and foremost for having a culture of evangelism.” Horn told board members he is encouraged that churches have signed up to … [Read more...]

LBC pastors part ways with revival

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor INDEPENDENCE, La. (LBM) – Six Louisiana Baptist pastors have decided to break from the nearly seven-month-long revival services which began with Old Zion Hill Baptist Church in Independence, and then expanded to a greater community-wide emphasis and moved to a tent in Hammond. Speaking on behalf of this core group who prayed together for months before launching an area outreach in October 2022, OZHBC Pastor Gary Dennis told the Baptist Message, April 26, that the men wanted to be sensitive to the work the Holy Spirit had accomplished in reviving many believers in the various congregations and in awakening hundreds of lost people in the community. However, he said, there has been a perceived change in emphasis from soul winning with a recent decision by the revivalist, D.R. Harrison, and that was the catalyst for parting ways. Specifically, Dennis pointed to the planned addition of Greg Locke to the services, beginning May 19. Locke adheres to “deliverance” theology (practices and rituals to cleanse people of evil spirits) and has published the “Deliverance Handbook.” Moreover, during a Jan. 23 sermon, “Desperate for Deliverance,” Locke asked and answered himself, “Are … [Read more...]

Family Church reports theft of trailer

By Baptist Message staff KENNER, La. (LBM) – A block-party trailer was reported stolen from Family Church Tuesday, April 25. According to Pastor Dean Ross, the trailer, acquired after Hurricane Ida made landfall in 2021 and used to assist with disaster relief efforts following Ida, was taken from the church parking lot. “The Lord provides,” Ross told the Baptist Message. “We trust in Him.” Anyone with information about the theft should contact the Kenner Police Department at 504.712.2200. … [Read more...]

LBDR trains 234 for disaster response

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – During recent training sessions, Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief officials trained 234 volunteers to serve in future responses to natural disasters and other emergencies. Held at six locations around the state in January, February and March, the sessions included training for mud-out, feeding, chainsaw, chaplaincy and shower/laundry operations. More than 80 new volunteers were trained, and two new teams were formed. The training followed a fruitful year of ministry for LBDR teams. In 2022, LBDR teams responded to multiple tornadoes across the state and completed 27 rebuild projects at homes and churches damaged by Hurricane Ida in Houma a year earlier. Projects ranged from smaller jobs like replacing fence boards to more complex ones such as drywall installation, electrical line re-wiring and plumbing replacement. Teams also were deployed to Naples, Florida, a community impacted by Hurricane Ian in 2022. Units stationed at First Baptist Church, Naples, Oct. 3-Oct. 28, 2022, prepared more than 102,000 meals for residents, and another 4,000 for Southern Baptist DR team members. Teams also were able to complete 373 mud-out jobs and celebrated … [Read more...]

Cowboy Church ropes in lost souls

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer LEESVILLE, La. (LBM) – When Jason Nolde left an established pastorate in early 2022 to start Branded for Christ Cowboy Church, he believed God would use the new church plant to reach a special people group. A year later, his faithfulness has been rewarded with an attendance increase from a core group of 10 who met for home-based Bible study in its infancy to 80 who now gather for worship in a Leesville municipal building. Importantly, Nolde has baptized five new converts and seen even more grow deeper in their Christian walks. Nolde, formerly pastor of Canaan Baptist Church, Leesville, credits a focus on relationships, disciple[1]ship and simplicity as the keys to growth. “Everything we will do is inspired by the western culture,” Nolde told the Baptist Message. “We seek the lost, seek the fallen away and seek to grow.” Branded for Christ Cowboy Church was recognized in November 2022 as the 300th Louisiana Baptist church planted since 2010. The congregation, which held its kickoff service at the Vernon Parish Rodeo Arena in Leesville on Nov. 13, 2021, conducts several targeted outreaches every three months. They have continued meeting in homes on Wednesdays since July … [Read more...]

Despite perils, Louisiana Baptists continue overseas ministry in Haiti

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer NEW ORLEANS (LBM) – Escalating violence may have forced Louisiana Reach Haiti to halt most operations in the country, however, the ministry has found other ways to share the hope of Jesus in Haiti. Ministry President Darrin Badon said he wishes LRH could have continued “business as usual” in Haiti, but he is grateful the Lord has allowed the ministry to move forward despite the many challenges. The ministry is a partnership between the Louisiana Baptist Convention, Haiti Baptist Convention, Louisiana Baptist churches and the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home & Family Ministries. “It’s been a faith builder,” Badon said. “We may not be able to send teams or have as many ministries happening there as in the past. But we do have kids in our Children’s Village and staff who depend on us to provide for them each month. The kids still need the Gospel, too, and the board members feel like we can’t fail them. “We are still in the trenches,” he continued. “We are still restoring families and still are making a difference in the lives of them and the staff; and we need help to be able to continue to do that.” BACKGROUND In January 2010, Haiti was devastated by an … [Read more...]