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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Salvations, first responder appreciation lunch among Crossover efforts in Covington

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer COVINGTON, La. (LBM) – Two Covington churches took to the streets of their community and subsequently saw five individuals come to Christ and many others request prayer, June 10. First Baptist Church reported two decisions for Jesus while New Zion Baptist Church recorded three who put their faith in the Lord. Additionally, FBC hosted an appreciation lunch for first responders after members canvassed their community with the Gospel. The efforts were part of “Crossover,” a large-scale evangelistic effort, that took place in 65 locations, collectively, in Bayou Baptist Association, New Orleans Baptist Association and North Shore Baptist Association, June 10. Sean Barnes, a member of FBC Covington and director of the church’s Community Evangelism Network, said a teenager and her brother accepted Christ during a team’s visit to their home. “I was tearing up as we led them in the sinner’s prayer,” Barnes said. “It was so awesome seeing God work and letting their hearts be tender and receptive to the Gospel.” Meanwhile, Wayne Ivey, a member of New Zion Baptist, along with his wife, Dianne, and church member Brenden Spears, who recently accepted Christ, led a young … [Read more...]

UPDATE: Louisiana Baptist leader, Daryl Stagg, charged with sex crimes

By Baptist Message staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) -- Daryl Stagg, a prominent Louisiana Baptist leader in Central Louisiana who was arrested June 8, has been charged with 12 felony counts of sex crimes that include offenses against children. Stagg has been the associational mission strategist for the Big Creek and CenLa Baptist Associations, representing a combined 87 member churches, including multi-site campuses, since October 2018. His offices are in the Louisiana Baptist Building, but he is not an employee of the Louisiana Baptist Convention. Additionally, the LBC leaders released a statement, June 8, stating they did not have prior knowledge of the charges that were filed. The Grant Parish Sheriff’s Office announced that a press conference is scheduled for Monday, June 12, at 11 a.m., which will include the Union Parish and Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Offices. … [Read more...]

Celebration Church baptizes 17 during block party

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer VIOLET, La. (LBM) – Seventeen people went all in for Jesus, June 10, during a block party at Celebration Church’s Lower St. Bernard campus, participating in believer’s baptism. One by one, each person came in and out of a water-filled portable trough and was greeted with applause during the church’s first ever “Jesus Fest” block party. According to Pastor Trevor Truitt, Thirteen who were baptized made a decision during the block party and four others already had planned on being baptized during the event. Additionally, 19 children came forward at the block party and will be contacted for follow up. “We knew God was a part of this and He just blew our mind,” Truitt told the Baptist Message. “Our church is very evangelistically driven and understand what it means to be a fan of Jesus but not a follower. Because of that, we understand the need to win others for Jesus and help them grow deeper in the faith.” Truitt said he was grateful for each person who were baptized during the “Jesus Fest” block party that featured Gospel presentations, games, inflatables, face painting, cotton candy, music and food vendors. The evangelistic event was a combined effort by the Lower … [Read more...]

First Baptist New Orleans shares Jesus’ love to school children at City Park amusement park

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer NEW ORLEANS (LBM) - The love of Jesus took centerstage June 9 at New Orleans’ iconic City Park as First Baptist Church, New Orleans, welcomed nearly 500, collectively, from Phillis Wheatley Community School and the community for a night of thrill rides and games. By the end of the night that also included free portraits drawn by cartoonist Joe McKeever and magic by illusionist Shane Willbanks, 20 volunteers from FBNO had poured into the school children and their family members. The event was co-sponsored by the North American Mission Board, which on June 9 and 10 coordinated 51 “Serve Tour” compassion ministry sites in Houma and New Orleans as the foundation for evangelism. FBNO Executive Pastor of Discipleship Gary Myers said this was the first face-to-face event they have held for the school since before the coronavirus pandemic. Many of those children who attended will receive in early August a backpack filled with school supplies. “We wanted to bless Phillis Wheatley Community School and tell them that we love you and that God does too,” Myers told the Baptist Message. “Our members were really excited to have this opportunity to meet many of the students for the first … [Read more...]

Louisiana Baptist leader, Daryl Stagg, arrested

By Baptist Message staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) -- Daryl Stagg, a prominent Louisiana Baptist leader in Central Louisiana has been arrested. A staff member with the Grant Parish Detention Center in Colfax confirmed by phone with the Baptist Message that Stagg is being detained, June 8, but declined to share about the complaint. Stagg has been the associational mission strategist for the Big Creek and CenLa Baptist Associations since October 2018. The Louisiana Baptist Convention released a statement that acknowledged Stagg's arrest, noting that officials were alerted on June 8. But they added that neither the "Convention nor its Executive Board have any knowledge" about what charges will be filed. Consequently, they offered "no comment" on the matter. However they indicated officials are praying for "all those involved." … [Read more...]

‘Stop Harming Our Kids Act’ passes Senate with supermajority, heads to governor’s desk

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – The “Stop Harming Our Kids Act," which prevents doctors and therapists from performing irreversible transgender procedures on minors who are incapable of giving informed consent, passed the Louisiana Senate, June 5, by a vote of 29-10 (eclipsing an earlier Senate supermajority), giving it final passage in the legislature and sending it to Gov. John Bel Edwards’s desk. SHOWDOWN The bill, HB 648, by Rep. Gabe Firment, a deacon with the First Baptist Church, Pollock, now faces a showdown with the governor, who actively lobbied to successfully kill the bill, 5-4, in the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare, May 24, after the measure had sailed through the House Committee on Health and Welfare, 14-3, May 4, and on the House floor, 71-24 (a supermajority), May 16. The 29 favorable votes on June 5 were a pickup of three supporters since the Senate voted 26-12 (one absence) --  a supermajority -- on June 1. That vote removed responsibility for hearing the bill from the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare (which had tanked the legislation), and transferred it to the Senate Committee on Judiciary A, which favorably considered it (4-0, with three … [Read more...]

Lawmakers rally to revive ‘Stop Harming Our Kids Act’

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – On June 1, 26 Louisiana lawmakers rallied on the Senate floor to resurrect HB 648, the “Stop Harming Our Kids Act,” by Rep. Gabe Firment, a deacon with First Baptist Church, Pollock. The bill protects underage children (who are not capable of giving informed consent) against irreversible chemical and surgical transgender procedures. The special legislative procedure was necessary after Gov. John Bel Edwards, according to NOLA.com, “whipped members of the [Senate] Health and Welfare Committee to vote against the bill [5-4] in the hours before the hearing," on May 24. BACKGROUND Before the May 24 interference by the governor, HB 648 had sailed through the legislative process on the House side with overwhelming support. After the special Senate action on June 1, HB 648 was recalled from the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare, essentially discharging them of responsibility for the bill, and then recommitted, or transferred, to the Senate Committee on Judiciary A for another hearing. On June 2, Judiciary A voted to favorably report HB 648, without objections from the four members who were present (three Democrats boycotted the vote), back to the … [Read more...]

Louisiana legislature recognizes June as Sanctity of Preborn Life Month

By Baptist Message staff BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – The Louisiana legislature, during its May 25 session, approved a resolution that designates June as Sanctity of Preborn Life Month in the state. The resolution, which praises Louisiana Baptists’ role in the pro-life movement, notes “the Bible affirms that the preborn child is a person, bearing the image of God, from the moment of conception” and commends “the churches and individuals who worked tirelessly to cultivate a pro-life culture in our state through prayer, spiritual health and growth of our citizenry regarding pro-life matters, and public policy action including the overwhelming passage of the 2020 constitutional amendment, the Love Life Amendment.” Rep. Dodie Horton, member of First Baptist Church, Haughton, said she was honored to co-author the resolution with Rep. Valerie Hodges on behalf of Louisiana Baptists. “The majority of Louisiana citizens believe life begins at conception, and consistently support our pro-life laws,” Horton told the Baptist Message. “Although we celebrate the Sanctity of the Preborn Life each and every day, designating June as the month to celebrate the lives of our preborn is a sign of our commitment to never allow innocent lives to … [Read more...]

UK’s foremost expert: Gender ideology is ‘a cult belief’

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor CORRECTED JUNE 10 TO CLARIFY INFORMATION ABOUT DR. AZ HAKEEM IN PARAGRAPH FOUR.   BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – In a stunning interview on Louisiana Public Broadcasting, Dr. Az Hakeem, who was identified as “the only psychiatrist in the UK to specialize in working psychotherapeutically with gender dysphoria patients, which he has done for 23 years,” declared, “Gender ideology is made up. It’s a social construct. It’s a cult belief.” The interview was conducted, May 12, by André Moreau, an Emmy-winning journalist who anchors the half-hour LPB television newsmagazine “Louisiana: The State We’re In.” Moreau only asked two questions during the six-minute segment, inquiring about what had prompted the change in numbers of children who were transitioning, and what the statistics about transitioning procedures looked like. TRUTH Hakeem, whose testimony helped catalyze the National Health Service of England to commission the Cass Review which advises the country’s medical community about the transgender crisis in the country, said the surge is “a current form of youth subculture, you know, like punks and goths.” “The worst thing we can do is presume it’s a medical condition,” … [Read more...]