SHREVEPORT, La. – Step Martin, noted throughout the state for his 33-years as pastor Calvary Baptist Church, Shreveport, his evangelistic and mission work, his involvement in the Louisiana Baptist Convention, and his ability to reach the lost, passed away Sept. 23. He was 89. Born Nov. 18, 1933 in Pelahatchie, Mississippi, Brother Step, as so many called him, attended Hinds Junior College in Jackson, Mississippi, where he quarterbacked the championship football team. After graduation, he transferred to William Carey College in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and continued to play football. Early in his time at Carey, Brother Step experienced a life-changing moment when he began to understand that the life he was living and the future that he had planned were meaningless and empty. One night in October 1954, Brother Step found himself, desperate for answers, at the door of Dean of Men Andy Tate. When he knocked on that door, Tate welcomed him and said, “Come on in, ‘Step, I’ve been waiting for you.” Tate opened his Bible and shared that “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” Tate explained that God loved Brother Step deeply and that the … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer NAPLES, Florida (LBM) – Less than a week after Hurricane Ian slammed into the southwest Florida coast, Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief teams are on the ground to “give a cup of cold water in Jesus’ name” to those affected by the powerful storm. According to Louisiana Baptist Missions and Ministry Team Director John Hebert, a shower (Carey Baptist Association) and laundry unit (District 8 Baptist Convention), feeding unit (Rolling Hills Ministry, Ruston), and incident command unit (Louisiana Baptist Convention) are presently working out of First Baptist Church, Naples and have been there since Oct. 3. Assisting Louisiana were teams from the Texas Baptist Men and Ohio Baptist Convention. The feeding team on Monday cooked 2,100 meals that were distributed to residents impacted by the storm. Hebert said they may serve up to 5,000 meals on Tuesday. Mud out teams are expected to arrive later this week to work in homes that were severely damaged by the storm, which made landfall Sept. 28 near Cayo Costa, a protected barrier island 50 miles north of Naples. Ian brought catastrophic winds of 155 mph (two miles shy of Category 5 strength), rain and an estimated 12-foot storm … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptist disaster relief units are marshaling their forces in response to calls for help after powerful Hurricane Ian came roaring ashore Florida Sept. 28. Feeding, shower, chainsaw, mud out, chaplaincy and assessment teams from throughout the state (with assistance from Texas Baptist Men and the Ohio Baptist Convention) will minister for at least four to six weeks in an undetermined site in Fort Myers, which is just east of where the center made landfall Wednesday near Cayo Costa, a protected barrier island. Feeding teams arrive this weekend while the rest is the teams will depart next week. Ian, a Category 4 storm with winds of 155 mph, left more than 2.5 million homes and businesses without electricity in Southwest Florida Thursday morning, according to PowerOutage.us. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis says Floridians can anticipate more outages in central and northeastern Florida as the storm continues to make its way north. The National Hurricane Center noted the storm was still expected to produce strong winds, heavy rains and storm surge across parts of Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas. Ian is moving toward the northeast near 8 mph, with an increase in … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Christian University is preparing to give students an exclusive view of campus and academic life during what President Rick Brewer has called the most significant “Preview Day” for the school. “More Christian students from our churches need the educational experience we provide, which is devoid of the woke and critical theories agenda,” Brewer told the Baptist Message. “Equipping hearts and minds to engage with competence and confidence a turbulent culture has never been more needed than at this seminal moment. Additionally, we are moving our enrollment forward after a period of two years when COVID-19 practically reduced opportunities to meet prospective students face-to-face either on campus or off. “‘Preview’ Day will allow students to have a fun time, meet coaches and faculty and learn about what it’s going to take to get that degree,” he continued. “It’s a win-win for our LCU community, churches around the state and prospective students. I am urging pastors and youth pastors to load a van full of students and join us.” Scheduled for Oct. 8, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., “Preview Day” will allow guests to tour the campus, gain details about classes … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell Message staff writer PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) – God has revealed himself so others may know Him and find life in His Son, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary President Jamie Dew said during the recent E4 Preaching Conference. Citing Psalm 19, Dew told a record E4 crowd of 92 pastors and 14 pas[1]tors’ wives at First Baptist Church, Pineville, that God reveals himself in creation, reveals himself in His Word and reveals himself to us in personal ways that we may know Him and be saved. “This God wants us to worship Him,” Dew said. “This God wants us to find life and joy and richness and fulfillment in worship of him. This God wants us to find redemption. That’s something the world had never seen until Christianity.” Dew reminded participants that of all creation, man is the most special. However, he said despite warning Adam and Eve to avoid sin, they disobeyed His command and subsequently brought a curse to all creation: death, guilt, hostility and difficulty. “Thus, we see that there were real genuine consequences for all of mankind as a result of Adam’s sin,” he noted. “When sin entered the picture, blessing and peace began to erode. In the end, man was left in a difficult situation.” But God … [Read more...]

EDITOR’S NOTE: Do you have a Revival, Home[1]coming, a new pastor, a community outreach or a concert? The Baptist Message would love to share your church news with the rest of the state. It is very easy to do, just send in your information (who, what, where and when) to philip@baptistmessage. com or call 318.449.4345. To get your event in the paper, please submit your information three weeks prior to the event. ON THE MOVE Ben, wife Kristin, Dupree is the new pastor at Goldonna Baptist Church, Goldonna. He first official day was September 1. Larry Eubanks and wife, Gay Humble Eubanks, celebrated 51 years in the ministry, September 25th, at South Central Baptist Church, Wisner. Alton Achorn has resigned as pastor of Union Hill Baptist Church, Glenmora. n James King has resigned as pastor of New Ouachita Baptist Church, Enterprise after 13 years. Jason, wife Lynette, Hazelton is the new pastor at Elizabeth Baptist Church. n Gary Myers has resigned as director of communications at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary to become the new executive director of discipleship at First Baptist Church, New Orleans. Paul, wife Shannon, Walker is the new pastor at Woodridge Baptist Church, Shreveport from Hattiesburg, … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) — In order for a church to be represented during the business portions of the Louisiana Baptist Convention to be held Nov. 15 in Calvary Baptist Church, Alexandria, it will need to elect messenger(s), who then must register and be certified by the Committee on Credentials. LBC Credentials Committee Chairman Steven Kelly noted to the Baptist Message that there are five ways for messengers to register and be approved: — The first and simplest way is for messengers to pre-register using www.LaOne.org and print out the registration card to bring to the annual meeting. This way allows messengers to be certified within a matter of minutes, Kelly said. — Second, a messenger may bring a note on official letterhead signed by the pastor or church clerk, stating that the individual was elected by the congregation. — Third, a church officer can phone in the names of elected messengers. — Fourth, a person can be vouchsafed as a duly elected messenger by a fellow registered church member. — Finally, when there are no other means by which to validate a person, the Committee on Credentials may be called into session to rule on the registration … [Read more...]

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Reggie Bridges, pastor of the Temple Baptist Church, Ruston, will be nominated during the 2022 annual meeting to serve again as president of the Louisiana Baptist Convention. Jason Walsworth, TBC minister of discipleship and administration, notified the Baptist Message, Sept. 8, of his intentions to make the nomination. The 2022 LBC annual meeting is scheduled to be held Nov. 15 in the Calvary Baptist Church, Alexandria. INVOLVEMENT Bridges will complete his first term as LBC president at the November meeting. He also has served as a member of the Committee on Committees for the Southern Baptist Convention (2018), as well as on the LBC Executive Board (Bridges is serving a term, now, that runs through 2022) and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary board of trustees (2022-2027). Bridges has served on the Georgia Barnette Louisiana Missions Offering Committee (2010), as a trustee for Louisiana Christian University (2014- 2017) and on various committees with the Baptist Associations of Southeast Louisiana and Concord[1]Union Baptist Association. BY THE NUMBERS The database of the Annual Church Profile shows that the Temple Baptist … [Read more...]