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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Trinity is ‘hub’ for Ukrainian relief

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer LAKE CHARLES, La. (LBM) – Trinity Baptist Church has served as a hub for hurricane relief in Lake Charles the last two years, but recently stepped up to serve as a centralized collection site for medical supplies and financial gifts for Ukrainian refugees. Since mid-March, the church has collected more than $90,000 that will be forwarded to Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief, who in cooperation with SEND Relief will use the funds to purchase emergency food supplies, shelter, transportation, medical care and hygiene kits for displaced Ukrainians. A portion also will offset costs for the team to travel to Poland to minister to Ukrainian refugees. Trinity Baptist also collected enough medical supplies to fill 25 large boxes (1,187 pounds) that were shipped to Ukraine. In the future, the church plans to send a team that will minister to Ukrainian refugees in Poland. Pastor Steve James said his congregation has seen its own share of recent disasters, which has allowed them to identify with the plight of the Ukrainians. “We have gone through two hurricanes, a flood, a freeze and a tornado the last two years,” James told the Baptist Message. “Many folks in Lake Charles … [Read more...]

LCU dedicates walking trail

By Elizabeth Clarke, LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) – Louisiana Christian University, on March 31, dedicated a new walking trail on campus that has been two years in the making. Sonia Tinsley, chair of LCU Division of Allied Health, coordinated the effort. She praised the support of the community, which helped make the project possible. Major funding was provided by The Rapides Foundation, Tinsley said, in the form of two grants totaling nearly $135,000, that helped repair, widen and repave the fitness trail along with purchasing and installing exercise equipment to create fitness stations. Community support also came from CHRISTUS Health, Well-Ahead Louisiana (Louisiana Department of Health), Louisiana Healthy Communities Coalition of Central Louisiana, the City of Pineville, Louisiana Athletic Club and Zion Hill Church. Tinsley said the purpose of the project was to improve community access to physical activity opportunities by improving the fitness trail and installing exercise equipment. “The exercise equipment offers a variety of aerobic, muscle/strength, core, balance and flexibility equipment to provide a well-rounded fitness routine,” Tinsley said. “We have been awarded designation as a National … [Read more...]

Powerful storms cause destruction in state once again

By Baptist Message staff SIMSBORO, La. (LBM) – For the second time in eight days, a powerful line of thunderstorms caused power outages, wind damage and flash flooding in Louisiana on Wednesday, March 30. Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief state coordinator Stan Statham told the Baptist Message teams were assessing the damage Thursday. First Baptist Church, Simsboro, lost a section of the roof and some shingles off its children’s building, and had some awning damaged, according to Pastor Jason Cole. “Pray that God opens the hearts of people to receive the Gospel as we share the Gospel with them,” Cole said. Elsewhere in Simsboro, a tree crushed three cars and damaged a house, according to John Cowling, ministry director at Rolling Hills Ministries in Ruston. Assessors from the DR team at Rolling Hills said two individuals inside the home escaped injury. The National Weather Service in Vicksburg confirmed a tornado was responsible for severe structural damage to Tallulah Academy. The Academy lost its roof, and the gymnasium was exposed to the elements, according to the Vicksburg (Mississippi) Post. No one was inside the school when the storm struck. The weather service said the tornado touched down at … [Read more...]

Two associations welcome new associational ministry strategists

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer DERIDDER, La. (LBM) – Two Louisiana Baptist associations recently welcomed their new ministry and mission coordinators: LaSalle Baptist Association, Carl Gulde; and Beauregard Baptist Association, Tom Bruce. CARL GULDE Gulde, long-time pastor of Bethel Baptist Church, Colfax, became the associational ministry director with the LaSalle Baptist Association Feb. 14. He follows Buddy Willis, who retired from the position, Dec. 31, 2021. A native of Trout, Gulde found Christ at 12 while attending a revival with Fellowship Baptist Church of Trout, La. Three years later, in 1962, he preached his first sermon, sharing a message with Hurricane Creek Baptist Church. “At 15 I knew I would one day preach and that would be my life’s work,” Gulde told the Baptist Message. “My heart has always been to reach lost people.” During the years that followed, Gulde served as representative for the Gideons International, coached and taught social studies at Jena’s junior and senior high schools, and served with various congregations. Additionally, he served 23 years in the National Guard and was part of Operation Desert Storm, the U.S.-led military action that liberated Kuwait from … [Read more...]

LCU to close Wednesday due to threat of severe weather

By LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) - Due to the possibility of hurricane-force winds and tornadoes, Louisiana Christian University will not hold face-to-face classes Wednesday, March 30. All classes instead will move to online. Campus offices also will be closed. For residential students, dining services will be open for brunch and dinner. All events scheduled Tuesday afternoon and night will continue as planned. … [Read more...]

Vendors sought for CENLA missions and ministry fair

By Baptist Message staff PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) – The Central Louisiana Baptist Association is seeking vendors for its upcoming missions and ministry fair. Slated for May 1, 6-8 p.m., at Trinity Baptist Church, Pineville, the event schedule includes worship, a message of encouragement and a time for participants to visit tables of various state mission organizations. Organizer Richard Bullock, also pastor of College Drive Baptist Church, Pineville, said the event will inform participants about the mission opportunities in the area, motivate them to pray for, give and become involved further in local missions, and champion missions in their own churches. Bullock expects more than 20 vendors at the event. “I encourage everyone to come hear and see what God is doing through the faithfulness of His people,” Bullock told the Baptist Message. “I believe God will open doors and pour out blessings upon His people as we are faithful to His call to missions and ministry.” Contact Bullock for more information, gmbull50@yahoo.com, or 318.729.7199. … [Read more...]

LBCH’s new foster care approach engages associations

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer MONROE, La. (LBM) – The Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home and Family Ministries has introduced a new model to help associations better engage churches in foster care and adoption ministry. “While each individual church may be involved in foster care and adoption ministry independently, this model encourages a coordination of efforts to serve the foster care community as an association,” Kerri Byrd, director of Connect1Child foster care and adoption services for the LBCHFM, told the Baptist Message. “The model helps to prevent a duplication of services among member churches and provides a more streamlined approach to meet urgent needs.” Under this new approach that was introduced during a meeting at the Eastern Louisiana Baptist Association in late January, an associational foster care and adoption ministry coordinator (trained by LBCHFM staff) will organize foster care and adoption ministry efforts throughout his or her association. Through this model, the association can establish support groups for foster parents, provide life essentials for foster children and sponsor events for foster families. The coordinator will serve multiple roles: -- recruit a foster care … [Read more...]

EASTER REFLECTIONS: Who killed Jesus?

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM)—Perhaps there is no more controversial question than “Who killed Jesus?” In the early 1960s there was a contentious debate among scholars about whether Jews or Gentiles had killed Jesus. There were charges of anti-Semitism on the one hand and counter claims of bias against Italians, with neither ethnic group wanting to bear the burden of having murdered Christ. The matter had reached such a boiling point that in 1965 the Catholic Church (Vatican II) attempted to negotiate a neutral position, publishing a treatise of sorts on the matter, “Noestra Aetate,” in which it declared that “Jewish authorities and those who followed their lead pressed for the death of Christ” but that such blame “cannot be charged against all the Jews, without distinction, then alive, nor against the Jews of today.” But despite the attempt to assuage Jewish umbrage, the document still asserted that “some” Jews were responsible for Jesus’ death. On the other hand, historian Mark Allan Powell wrote about the other prevailing view that Jesus was “a Jewish victim of Roman violence. “A Gentile Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, condemned Him to death and had Him tortured by … [Read more...]

Bayou State Baptisms: Churches shared Christ during disaster-plagued ‘21

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer NEW ORLEANS, La. (LBM) – Despite a plague of weather disasters amid a worldwide pandemic, Louisiana Baptists continued to sow and reap in 2021. According to the Annual Church Profile, Celebration Church (campuses in the New Orleans and Northshore areas) had the most baptisms of any Louisiana Baptist congregation in 2021 (317). Rounding out the top five were: Cypress Baptist Church, Benton (286); First Baptist Church, Covington (105); Bayou Church, Lafayette (95); and Journey Church, Pineville (93). The database showed that churches of all sizes continued to reap spiritual harvests, and those listed below had the most baptisms, per capita (using average worship attendance), among congregations of similar size. Louisiana Baptist Evangelism and Church Growth Team Director Keith Manuel said he is thankful for the many churches who baptize and have a zeal to shed the light of Christ in a world that faces uncertainty. “Easter is always one of the highest attended days of worship,” Manuel told the Baptist Message. “This year -- in light of the crises of health, inflation, and war -- may be one of the great[1]est opportunities to touch hurting people with the Gospel. This … [Read more...]

RAs to prep boys for combat

By Baptist Message staff WOODWORTH, La. (LBM) – First through sixth grade boys will have the opportunity to enlist in the Lord’s Army during the 2022 Royal Ambassador Congress. The event, April 8-9 at Tall Timbers Conference Center in Woodworth. will feature a military-themed obstacle course, re-enactment of biblical battles and encouraging messages by Casey Casady, a chaplain with the National Guard and college minister at Temple Baptist Church, Ruston. “Join the Army of the Lord” is the theme, based RAs to prep boys for combat on 2 Timothy 2:4. RA Congress also will include a Pinewood Derby, soap box races and presentations from missionaries. The missions offering collected will go to the National Guard’s family readiness program, which offers resources to help families navigate military life. “I’m excited about our boys learning about some of the battles from the Bible and learning respect for those defending our country and help in times of need,” RA Consultant Mike Collie said. “Hopefully some of them will have a life-changing event while they are there to be involved in some of these areas.” Visit louisianabaptists.org/RACongress (download registration form; more info). … [Read more...]