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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

September 30 is coming!

By Clark Palmer TIOGA, La. (LBM) – For Louisiana Baptist churches, Sept. 30 is “Numbers Day” – that’s the end of the fiscal year and a calendar reminder for our congregations to submit their individual reports to the Annual Church Profile. And these numbers matter. When I became moderator of my local association, I considered setting some goals for increasing attendance and baptisms. My first step was to look at “the data” to create a baseline, and I discovered the numbers were “off.” What I mean is there were no discernible trends. One year we were up, the next down. Even the numbers from a decade ago seemed suspect because of this undulation. As I dug deeper, what I realized is that several churches were not reporting their numbers every year. And it only took a couple to throw off the numbers for the entire association. I’ve since discovered that 15-20 percent of our churches statewide don’t fill out and return the ACP. Importantly, this is a problem for making decisions about cooperative ministries such as where to plant a church and what congregations might need revitalization assistance. Then I began to wonder if this could also account for at least some of the reported overall declines for the SBC in … [Read more...]

Gov. Edwards mandates masks indoors

By Message staff BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – Ten days after Gov. John Bel Edwards strongly advised Louisianans to wear a mask indoors, he has issued an order requiring them in the fight against COVID-19. Edwards, during a news conference on Monday, Aug. 2, cited a continued rise in new cases of the coronavirus and hospitalizations. The new order, which goes into effect Wednesday, Aug. 4 and is set to expire Sept. 1, applies to those five years of age and older and must be worn in all buildings. The full mandate can be found at https://gov.louisiana.gov/assets/Proclamations/2021/137JBE2021StateofEmergency.pdf. “It is heartbreaking,” Edwards said. “Those are not just numbers. Those are our brothers and sisters and mothers and fathers and aunts and uncles. Those are fellow Louisianans who are longer with us. And that is heartbreaking. “It has become extremely clear that our current recommendations on their own are not strong enough to deal with Louisiana’s fourth surge of COVID,” he continued. “In fact, nobody should be laboring under the misapprehension that this is just another surge. We’ve already had three of these. This is the worst one we’ve had thus far.” The Louisiana Department of Health reported, August 2, that there … [Read more...]

It is time!

By Craig Beeman WINNSBORO, La. – I was thinking about writing a sermon on "Time" and may, still, get that done. In the meantime, I have been looking into some questions that are often asked about time and why we are here. Importantly, time was made for man. God lives outside of time. He is, has been and forever will be. According to Scientific American Magazine, “Aristotle, taking the no-beginning side, invoked the principle that out of nothing, nothing comes. Theologians took another point of view. Augustine contended that God exists outside of space and time, able to bring these constructs into existence as surely as he could forge other aspects of our world. When asked, ‘What was God doing before he created the world?’ Augustine answered, "Time itself being part of God's creation, there was simply no before!” I’ll never forget asking my grandmother, “When was God born?” She answered, “He has always been.” That is a hard perspective to get on God and time. We are used to humans, plants and animals having a beginning and end. God has neither. He has set us in a period of time in a timeline of time. Each of us has a certain number of years of life on this earth known only to Him. Why does God give us time? My … [Read more...]

Long-time Tall Timbers food services director Reggie Burnaman passes away at 67

By Baptist Message staff WOODWORTH, La. (LBM) – Reggie Burnaman, food services director at Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center in Woodworth, died Tuesday, July 27. He was 67. A native of Bridge City, Texas, Burnaman oversaw the operations inside the dining hall since 2006. Before he came to Tall Timbers, Burnaman owned Reggie’s Restaurant in Glenmora, a community he resided in since 1982. Burnaman also was an active member of Glenmora Baptist Church, where he was chairman of deacons (2004-2006 and 2013-2021). “Reggie has been so special to the Tall Timbers staff,” Tall Timbers Director Josh Bumgardner told the Baptist Message. “The word that has been said the most of him this week is his kindness. “His solid faith in Jesus and his character have always been an encouragement,” he continued. “He helped others, inside and outside of work. His work in the kitchen and his amazing food have transformed our camp over the last 15 years as he provided meals with that special touch for retreats.” Burnaman’s son, Todd, shared on Facebook that his dad faithfully served Christ. “Yesterday, daddy finished the race and received the prize,” said Burnaman, director of Dry Creek Camp. “I’m thankful for the Lord’s grace to … [Read more...]

Young LC alums follow the Lord’s lead to Amazon and Pacific Northwest

By Elizabeth Clarke, LC News PINEVILLE, La. (LC News) - From a college class of about 300 in small-town Louisiana, to working with Amazon to deliver smiles. Life since graduating from Louisiana College in 2018 has been nothing short of an adventure for Lake Charles’ natives Grant and Lauren (Hixson) Phillips. Grant and Lauren Phillips, both 25, say honoring the Lord and having a loving family with a supportive community have brought continued blessings into their young but successful lives. “We are proud of Grant and Lauren as they represent the ‘best’ of Louisiana College’s alumni base,” said LC President Rick Brewer. “Indeed, they faithfully amplify the Mission and Vision of their Alma mater by living the gospel of Christ in the place God has called them to serve. I am confident Grant and Lauren are the people they are because of a solid Christian example from Godly parents and the LC ‘family’.” Family may have played a major role in young Lauren Hixson’s choice to attend LC, as she hails from a long line of LC alums. Her great-grandfather James Hixon was, in fact, one of the founding language professors at the college. Her aunt and uncle, Sandy and Paul Hixson, attended LC, and cousins Meggie and Emma Hixson … [Read more...]

Former abortion clinic director Abby Johnson to headline ‘Gift of Life’ banquet

By Brian Blackwell, Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – During the upcoming CENLA Pregnancy Center ‘Gift of Life’ Fundraising Banquet, Sept. 14, at the Alexandria Riverfront Center, former Planned Parenthood clinic director Abby Johnson will share her testimony about how she became an outspoken pro-life advocate. “People will want to hear her story,” CPC Director Claire Lemoine told the Baptist Message. “She was on the inside walls of Planned Parenthood for many years and now she is traveling around the country with a powerful message. To have her visit central Louisiana is a long-time dream of ours and we can’t wait for people to have this rare opportunity.” According to her website, www.abbyj.com, Johnson left Planned Parenthood as a clinic director after assisting with an ultrasound-guided abortion on Sept. 26, 2009, during which she “watched in horror as a 13-week baby fought for, and ultimately lost, its life at the hand of the abortionist,” Johnson quickly departed the nation’s largest abortion provider, vowing to become an advocate for life inside the womb and to expose the lies of the abortion industry. She has continued sharing her story around the globe and has helped more than 430 former abortion … [Read more...]

Cajun connection found in ‘last frontier’ of Alaska

By Brian Blackwell, Message staff writer ANCHORAGE, Alaska (LBM) – David Gamble has served as a church planter with the North American Mission Board for the last 10 years in Anchorage, Alaska, but he told the Baptist Message that he is constantly reminded about his roots by the continuing encouragement he receives from his home congregation of Wood Springs Baptist Church in Grand Cane. Before Gamble and his wife, Kristi, relocated to Alaska, WSBC provided financial support to help the couple prepare for the journey northwest, he said. Since the couple moved there, WSBC has shipped a trailer for use in the ministry, contributed money to help refurbish a mission hub that teams use while in Anchorage and the nearby Wasilla area, and mailed or emailed hundreds of notes. “They encourage us in so many ways,” Gamble told the Baptist Message. “We are enjoying our time here and love serving the Lord in Alaska, but there’s something special -- even 10 years after moving up here -- when somebody from your home church encourages you. Sometimes you feel alone and forgotten on the mission field, but then we get re-energized when you hear from people in Louisiana who ask how they can pray for you.” The Grand Cane congregation … [Read more...]

ReGroup offers live, digital discipleship training

By Message staff WEST MONROE, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptists will have two opportunities to refocus and strengthen discipleship efforts during next month’s ReGroup events for Sunday school and small group leaders. ReGroup Conference (live) is scheduled for Aug. 14 at McClendon Baptist Church in West Monroe, with Digital ReGroup presented on Aug. 16 and 17 in a virtual format. ReGroup events focus on four areas – sharing the Gospel, developing biblical community, helping believers mature spiritually, and equipping believers to live missionally, with special emphasis on maximizing Gospel impact. When last year’s conference was moved from an in-person format to an all-virtual platform because of concerns brought about by the coronavirus outbreak, it experienced a great response, according to Louisiana Baptist Sunday school/discipleship strategist Sean Keith. “Obviously, we are excited to offer both live and digital events this year,” Keith told the Baptist Message. “ReGroup is the premiere training event for our church lay leaders. Both events will feature well-known ministry specialists sharing practical, innovative and encouraging approaches to small group health.” Allan Taylor, executive pastor of ministries at … [Read more...]

His Church makes summer splash with 40 baptisms

By Brian Blackwell, Message staff writer PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) – John Sefcik occasionally attended church and some days even read his Bible for the first 49 years of his life, but he had not been “all in” for Jesus, he told the Baptist Message. But the Holy Spirit used a conversation with Kevin Paul, His Church associate pastor, that brought Sefcik under conviction to repent and become a devoted follower of Christ. He publicly shared about his spiritual decision, along with 39 other new converts, during a special baptism service sponsored by His Church, June 6, at Lake Buhlow in Pineville. “When I look back, I realized God has been pursuing me all my life,” Sefcik said. “I had forgotten about God, then COVID hit and difficult circumstances brought me to my knees. The more I got into the Bible and fellowshipped with others, the more my attitude changed about life. I thought I was doing the right things, but eventually understood what being a Christ follower was all about. I’m glad God didn’t give up on pursuing me all these years.” MORE GOOD NEWS For member Gil McKee, baptizing his two sons was an early Father’s Day present. Both Gabriel, 10, and Caleb, 11, had soaked in biblical truths from him and their mother, … [Read more...]

First Bossier dedicates facilities, celebrates God’s victories

By Brian Blackwell, Message staff writer BOSSIER CITY, La. (LBM) – More than 1,400 members and guests packed the newly finished facilities of the First Baptist Church in Bossier City, July 11, for a special time of worship and celebration 31 months after a fire destroyed much of the buildings on campus. “This rebuild journey has been filled with both challenges and victories,” Pastor Brad Jurkovich told the Baptist Message. “I believe God is giving us a season of victory at this time so that we are stronger than ever to share Jesus with our city, nation and world. Celebration Sunday was a powerful step in seeing God do incredible things in the coming years.” Construction of the $20 million, 70,000-square-foot building was completed in early July and included a new chapel that incorporates some of the more traditional features of the original building that was destroyed, such as pew seating, but also modern elements, such as technology upgrades that allow multi-media presentations. The rebuilt campus includes a student center, foyer/event center and space for Sunday school classes and other small groups to meet. RESELIENT AMID ADVERSITY On Dec. 10, 2018, a three-alarm fire began at 5:30 a.m., originating with an … [Read more...]