By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – The Louisiana State University Baptist Collegiate Ministry welcomed back students for the fall semester, including 39 who made decisions for Jesus, according to LSU BCM Director Blake Grundy. The decisions, including 16 who placed their trust in Jesus, took place during the final day of a week that included a Cajun lunch, waffles and trivia gathering, a freshman fest and a worship night attended by 300 students that included a steak and potato supper. Grundy said he was excited to see the Lord move during the week. “It’s been really encouraging,” Grundy told the Baptist Message. “When we arrived over the summer, the campus felt empty. We didn’t see many students around. We spent those months preparing, reaching out via text, and praying, all without much face-to-face interaction. But then during Welcome Week, seeing so many students come through, and witnessing the decisions made — it was incredibly rewarding.” Grundy asked for continued prayers as they disciple those who made decisions, and as they seek to obey Christ’s call to reach a campus of nearly 40,000 students with the Gospel. “Just like every other campus, ours is in desperate … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer EUNICE, La. (LBM) – Survivor Camp taught survival skills to 93 boys and 80 fathers, and more importantly, connected through the Gospel with 14 boys and three dads in the group who found Christ. Held Sept. 5-6 at Acadian Baptist Center, the 17th annual camp focused on survival skills, spiritual growth, and deepened relationships. Activities include water purification, go-kart racing, medical training and rifle shooting. “We’re teaching boys how to be men,” Camp Director Steven Ancelet told the Baptist Message. “The weekend is based around physical and spiritual survival that’s filled with many life and Gospel lessons.” Survivor Camp also included a time for the dads to have a “man talk.” “As a man, you need to be a leader in your marriage, in your home, in your workplace and in your community,” continued Ancelet, a member with First Baptist Church, Lafayette. “You can’t be passive and must be willing to accept change. We walked the men through that and were pleased at the change we saw in them in just a short time.” The weekend also featured a tribute to Hartie Spence Jr., long-time director of Survivor Camp who lost his life in a glider crash near Salt Lake City Utah, … [Read more...]

By Louisiana Baptist Women’s Missions and Ministry Team PINEVILLE, La. (LBC) – On Aug. 29, the Louisiana Baptist women’s missions and ministry team led women from across the state to pack hygiene giftboxes for those at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women. With representatives from 16 Louisiana Baptist associations, the day became a powerful demonstration of cooperation and compassion. ­ The effort, hosted on the campus of Louisiana Christian University, brought together not only women from every corner of Louisiana but also men – including three associational mission strategists - who joined in the packing. Among the churches who participated were First Baptist Church, Gonzales, which brought donated supplies from several churches in the Baton Rouge area, and Franklin Avenue Baptist Church, New Orleans. By the close of the packing day, 912 giftboxes had been completed - just shy of the 1,000-box goal. ­ Thankfully, the story does not end there. In the two weeks following the packing day, churches from around the state continued to bring in additional hygiene kits to the WMM office, pushing the effort over the top. The 1,000-box goal was the largest in the history of this ministry, doubling what was … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – The Louisiana Baptist Foundation recently wrapped up its inaugural ChurchBiz Conferences which was designed to enhance church business practices and support effective ministry operations. Held Sept. 8-11 in Ruston, Alexandria, Lake Charles and Baton Rouge, the conferences drew 57 and included pastors, treasurers, financial team members and other church/ ministry staff members. Speakers included Josh Henry, founder of Simplify Church, Tyler Moore, senior producer with GuideStone, and Jared Price, executive director with the Louisiana Baptist Foundation. “Attendees expressed that the conferences were very beneficial, not only in terms of information shared but also due to the opportunity to collaborate with others working in similar roles,” Price told the Baptist Message. The conferences are part of the LBF’s ChurchBiz services, a one-stop shop for church business that includes podcasts, conferences, publications, comprehensive solutions and other offerings for churches, Price said. The ChurchBiz Services specifically include accounting services, capital/stewardship campaigns, cash management, church loans, computer support line, giving-gateway.net, online giving, and … [Read more...]

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Baptist Message provides churches an opportunity to share with other Louisiana Baptists an upcoming revival, homecoming, new pastor, new staff member, a community outreach, or a concert in Louisiana Notables. To place your event in the paper, send your information (who, what, where, when, time) to philip@baptistmessage.com or call 318.449.4345. Please submit your information four weeks prior to the event to insure placement in the Message. ON THE MOVE Alton Achord is available for supply pastorate in the Central LA area. Please call Achord at 318.715.8874. Jill (husband Jeff) Harvill will be observing Educational Ministry at Bellaire Baptist Church. Providence Baptist Church: Amber Moulton, music, resigned to Laity. Annison Stasny, new music minister, from Laity. Randall Gill has resigned as pastor of New Bethlehem Baptist Church. Shane Picou is the new past at Macedonia Baptist Church, Holden. Erron Goodwin is the new Midpoint Minister at the Celebration Metairie Campus. Jeremy Wicker is the new single adults pastor at First Baptist Church, Covington. Logan Arnold is the new youth minister at Grace Memorial Baptist Church, Slidell. Cody Salassi is the new youth minister at Jerusalem … [Read more...]

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...]

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...]