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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Georgia Barnette Offering helps rescue women and children from sex trafficking

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer MONROE, La. (LBM) – Lindsey Crawford had not realized how prevalent sex trafficking was in her community until she met a young mother who was a former victim. For several weeks, Crawford could not forget the incident and asked God how she could be a part of the fight to end human trafficking in her hometown and beyond. What resulted was the creation of “Freedom13,” a jail ministry that focuses on outreach to formerly trafficked people in northeast Louisiana with the intentions of rebuilding their dignity. The ministry’s name is based on Galatians 5:13: “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” “At ‘Freedom13’ we want to provide opportunities for women to start over,” Crawford said. “But more than that, we want women to know how important they are to the Lord, to us, and to the Body of Christ. We hope they will find or be reminded of their Gospel-centered, God-given purpose and walk it out, every day.” Since its founding, “Freedom13” has helped rescue more than 20 women and children from the sex trafficking industry and offers them resources to gain a new life through a … [Read more...]

Missionary, minister residential care programs resume

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer MONROE, La. (LBM) – After COVID-19 temporarily halted a program that assists ministers and missionaries, the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home and Family Ministries has restarted the Ministerial Care Residential Program. The program that began in 2018 will host its first approved applicants as soon as Sept. 1. Louisiana Baptist terminated ministers, and International Mission Board missionaries on stateside assignment, transitioning to a new ministry or recently retired will be eligible to receive a free apartment on the LBCHFM’s campus in Monroe for up to one year. LBCHFM President and CEO Perry Hancock told the Baptist Message he is excited to offer the opportunity for ministers and missionaries to rest while they seek God’s direction for their future plans. “Ministers have benefitted greatly from the program,” Hancock said. “They have been able to rest from the challenging demands of ministry. That may sound ‘elementary’ but burnout is an ever-present possibility in ministry. “I believe that the program has also helped some to refocus or clarify God’s call for their ministry,” he continued. “Some have discovered that, rather than being a senior pastor, they need to … [Read more...]

LC’s C3 speaker declares CRT unbiblical

By Staff PINEVILLE, La. (LCNews) - “CRT bears witness to the reality of whether or not you believe the Bible is true,” Dale Clayton said, Sept. 20, as the keynote speaker for Louisiana College’s annual Christ Church Culture Conference. “You have to question if you really believe in the Bible or not,” Clayton, vice president of Coaches’ Ministries at Nations of Coaches and former president of the Black Coaches Association, emphasized. “If you believe in the CRT junk, you’ve got a blind mind.” Critical Race Theory is an academic and social movement based on claims that U.S. law and institutions are inherently racist and function to create and maintain social, economic and political inequalities between whites (oppressors) and minorities, in particular blacks, (oppressed). “If you buy into this, you are buying into destruction of the United States,” Clayton observed. LC President Rick Brewer told the crowd that CRT is surging among diversity training programs and public policy positions by governments, corporations and educational systems of all levels nationwide. “Equity. Social justice. Inclusion. These are CRT buzz words,” Brewer said. “Equity sounds non-threatening as opposed to neo-Marxism. But this will be the … [Read more...]

Steven Kelly to be nominated for first vice president

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer MONROE, La. (LBM) – Steven Kelly, pastor of Bayou Vista Baptist Church in Morgan City and director of missions for Gulf Coast Baptist Association, will be nominated for first vice president of the Louisiana Baptist Convention during the 2021 annual meeting, according to Ron Thompson. Thompson, associational mission strategist for District 8 Baptist Convention, confirmed to the Baptist Message, Sept. 22, that he intended to make the nomination. The LBC annual meeting is scheduled to be held Nov. 16 in the North Monroe Baptist Church. STATEMENT OF SUPPORT Thompson said he was motivated to make the nomination because of Kelly’s example as a pastor and a director of missions. “I believe Steve is the type of leader we need in Louisiana to help us accomplish the great commission in these challenging times,” Thompson told the Baptist Message. “He has been faithful to his family, his church and to the Cooperative Program and believes in missions in all that he does. “Steve is evangelistic, innovative, and faithful,” he continued. “Steve has taken on the challenge of full-time ministry and bi-vocational associational leadership.” BY THE NUMBERS The database of the … [Read more...]

Price Harris to be second vice president nominee

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer MONROE, La. (LBM) – Evangelist Price Harris will be nominated for second vice president of the Louisiana Baptist Convention during the 2021 annual meeting. James Hester, pastor of Social Springs Baptist Church in Ringgold, confirmed to the Baptist Message, Sept. 22, his intention to make the nomination. The LBC annual meeting is scheduled to be held Nov. 16 in the North Monroe Baptist Church. STATEMENT OF SUPPORT Hester said his plan to nominate the candidate was due in large part due to Harris’s passion for sharing the Gospel and desire to see the state and world turn to Christ. “I am nominating Brother Price Harris because he epitomizes Christian servitude,” Hester told the Baptist Message. “His unwavering faithfulness spans decades and he continues to be a bold Gospel witness at home and to the nations at 80 years old. I see in him the fruit of the Spirit, and he has set an example worthy for Louisiana Baptists and all believers to follow.” CANDIDATE’S RESPONSE Harris, who is a member at Calvary Baptist Church in Shreveport, said he has enjoyed serving Louisiana Baptist churches in his evangelistic ministry and would use this opportunity to give back to … [Read more...]

Louisiana Notables

EDITOR’S NOTE: Do you have a Revival, Homecoming, 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 Chris Stephens is the new pastor at Rocky Springs Baptist Church, Lisbon. Randy Burdeaux has resigned as pastor of Mt. Vernon Baptist Church, West Monroe. Bill Fowler is the new pastor at Twin Oaks Baptist Church, Bastrop. Brandon Gill is the new pastor at Pine Ridge Baptist Church, DeRidder. Jerry, wife Sonja, Medlin is the new executive pastor at First Baptist Church, Lafayette from First Baptist, Rogers, Arkansas. Berkley Boyd retired as pastor at Magnolia Baptist Church after 52 years of service in the gospel ministry. Brock, wife Netta, Hoffpauir is the new pastor at Moreauville Community Church, Moreauville. Thumper Miller resigned as pastor of First Baptist Church, Mansfield at the end of June 2021. He is currently doing pulpit supply. Nelson, wife Haleigh, Molnar is the new … [Read more...]

‘Weekend warriors’ needed for mud out, chainsaw crews

By Baptist Message staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) — Individuals and church teams are being urged to volunteer as “weekend warriors” to aid in the massive cleanup of damaged churches and homes from Hurricane Ida. Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief strategist Stan Statham said, “We have 70 chainsaw work requests alone just in Laplace. Multiply that by the hundreds of affected communities and the thousands of downed trees around homes and it’s easy to see that we need some supplemental help for the 1,000 boots on the ground we have for the entire state.” Any person or church team that can volunteer time during a weekend is encouraged to sign up on the “Churches Helping Churches” webpage. In the box for question “1,” simply note you are signing up to be a “Weekend Warrior.” Also, indicate what work you would like to contribute, set off by parentheses -- e.g., Weekend Warriors (chainsaw crew). Volunteers are needed for chainsaw crews, mud-out teams and food distribution. … [Read more...]

‘Churches Helping Churches’ initiative launched to aid 91 congregations, 85 pastors facing serious losses

By Baptist Message staff   ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM)—State convention leaders are asking Louisiana Baptists as well as the larger Southern Baptist family to pray for and partner with congregations who have been devastated by Hurricane Ida.   The storm wreaked havoc in New Orleans but caused severe damage in Houma, Thibodaux, Cut Off, South Lafourche, Larose, Laplace and many more small communities. Just among Louisiana Baptists, 91 churches were seriously impacted, with 22 experiencing catastrophic losses. At least 85 pastors are facing significant personal property replacement costs for cars, homes and belongings, according to Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief reports.   Steve Horn, Louisiana Baptist Convention executive director, told the Baptist Message that these churches and pastors “have a tough path ahead.”   “Some of these churches do not have the resources to carry wind and hail coverage on their property because it is so expensive near the coastal areas,” he explained. “Therefore, they don’t have insurance funds to repair and restore their churches.”   Yet, he added, while they are recovering, “they still are ministering to – assisting others – in their communities.”    Horn called on individuals and … [Read more...]

CENLA Pregnancy Center banquet celebrates ‘Gift of Life’

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Pro-life supporters have a chance to be part of modern-day miracles taking place through the CENLA Pregnancy Center, former Planned Parenthood clinic director Abby Johnson said during the center’s annual Gift of Life Banquet, Sept. 14. “Everyday miracles are taking place at CENLA Pregnancy Center,” Johnson told a crowd of nearly 900 gathered inside the Randolph Riverfront Center. “Every time a woman walks in and she hears about the Lord, it’s a miracle. Every time a mother walks in and learns how to be a better mom, what to expect when she is pregnant, when she has a baby, that’s a miracle. There are miracles taking place every single day here in your community. And what an amazing opportunity it is that you get to be a part of those miracles, that you get to invest in the miracles that God is doing right here in your community. Johnson was the keynote speaker for the fundraiser, which netted $363,713.77 for the CENLA Pregnancy Center. The event also featured remarks by other pro-life advocates, musical entertainment by a Louisiana College graduate who now is a Southern Gospel recording artist in Nashville, Tenn., and an announcement that the center … [Read more...]