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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Homewood Baptist blesses 21 kids at Christmas

By Message staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) - Homewood Baptist Church surprised 21 children with an early Christmas, Dec. 18. After Sunday evening’s worship service, the church presented the children with gifts, stockings and Bibles. Pastor Jimmy Koonce said the 45 members of Homewood Baptist pooled their financial resources and purchased the gifts after they learned of the need in early December from Gulf Coast Social Services. “It’s amazing the heart our church has for others,” Koonce told the Baptist Message. “Our church is so happy to have helped make this a special Christmas for the kids. “We want the children to have good exposure to church,” he said. “And, we want to show them what Christian love and hospitality is as we love them in Jesus’ name.” … [Read more...]

Little Cakes and Lottie Moon: Alexandria bakery shows heart for missions

By Tessa Sanchez, International Mission Board ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) - Little Cakes with Big Attitude also appears to have a big heart for missions. The bakery and coffee shop in Alexandria, Louisiana, donated 10% of their sales on Dec. 10 to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering to support missionaries who serve with the International Mission Board. Bridget Vaughn and Robyn Schwartz own the bakery and coffee shop. The women are members of Calvary Baptist Church in Alexandria. Their decision to donate to the offering came after listening to the testimony of a couple from their home church. The couple recently moved to Southeast Asia to serve as missionaries with the IMB. Before the couple left, they spoke to Vaughn’s life group on Sunday morning about the large numbers of people without knowledge of Jesus. “After hearing them speak recently, I thought everyone had heard the name Jesus, but I was shocked at how many people haven’t,” Vaughn said. From the couple, Vaughn and her life group learned about Lottie Moon, a Southern Baptist missionary sent to China to share the gospel. Moon saw the world’s most significant problem, lostness, and frequently wrote to Southern Baptists about the tremendous need. Vaughn grew up … [Read more...]

Huffman’s Fairhaven Ministry provides Ukrainians with early Christmas

By Baptist Message staff COVINGTON, La. (LBM) – Hundreds of Ukrainian refugees recently enjoyed an early Christmas when a 40-ft. container of needed supplies from the Covington-based Fairhaven Ministry arrived in Poland. Made possible through donations from individuals in Louisiana and beyond, the container was filled with clothing, medical supplies, hygiene products and toys. The container arrived in a Polish warehouse for early November distribution to Ukrainians who have sought refuge from the ongoing war in their country since February. Items from the container also were distributed to Ukrainian refugees in western Ukraine. Johnny Huffman, who has spearheaded the ministry with his wife, Sissie, for more than 30 years, said a businessman from Texas covered the estimated $7,000 in shipping costs. Fairhaven Ministry also helped God’s Warehouse (operated by Nolachunkcy Baptist Association, Morristown, Tennessee) cover the cost to ship another container to Ukrainian refugees in Israel. The shipment is the latest example of how God has guided and provided Huffman and the ministry with the means and finances to ship more than 150 containers to those in need in numerous countries over the years. “We try to leave … [Read more...]

Shooting outside NOBTS leaves one dead

By Message staff NEW ORLEANS (LBM) - New Orleans Police are investigating a Friday night, Dec. 16, shooting that left one person dead outside the campus of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. According to a NOPD news release, the incident took place after they received a call around 5:44 pm for a traffic accident at the intersection of Old Gentilly Road and Providence Place.  Officers who arrived at the scene discovered a 20-year old male with gunshot wounds behind the wheel of a vehicle.  He was pronounced dead at the scene. NOBTS President Jamie Dew said the victim was not a seminary student or employee. "Once again, we are saddened by the violence in our beloved city,” Dew told the Baptist Message. “We thank God that our people and our campus are safe, and that none of our people were harmed.  “We pray for the victim’s family as they grieve and encourage our local officials to take greater action to stop these senseless acts of crime,” he continued. “These horrible acts are yet further proof that our city needs the gospel and the witness of Southern Baptists." Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact the NOPD homicide unit at 504.658.5300 or call Crimestoppers anonymously … [Read more...]

FBC Lafayette’s Singing Christmas Tree draws more than 4,000

By Message staff LAFAYETTE, La. (LBM) – The worship center of First Baptist Church, Lafayette, recently was transformed into a makeshift Cajun village whose centerpiece was a giant Singing Christmas Tree. During performances, Dec. 9-12, the audiences were treated to music by a choir stationed on platforms on the tree decorated with more than 100,000 lights, along with Christian tunes by an orchestra, local Cajun band and a drama team. The drama included a plan of salvation throughout the production, including an invitation from Pastor James Pritchard to accept Christ at the close of each performance. All who attended were invited to complete a response card for a chance to win one of 20 gift cards from Logan Farms Honey Glazed Hams in Lafayette. According to Minister of Media Dennis Clark, 3,995 attended the four performances at the church while another 700 tuned into the livestream. The most recent performances marked the 19th time First Baptist Lafayette has held the Singing Christmas Tree since the first one in 1985. During that time, it has been held at the church and the Cajundome in Lafayette.   … [Read more...]