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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

First Monroe moving forward in faith to new property

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer MONROE, La. (LBM) – First Baptist Church, Monroe, was at a crossroads in 2020 when they learned repairs to their 110-year-old facility would cost $16.3 million. The congregation, which had worshipped at the same location since the church’s founding in 1854, could either make the necessary repairs or relocate and build at another location in the city. After months of prayer and fasting and a series of congregational meetings, the church voted unanimously in June to sell its facility and build on Tower Drive, an area of town with a flurry of new construction projects. Pastor James Doughty said the experience has been humbling. He believes God has opened doors for a move that will position the church to reach future generations for many years to come. “Through the whole process, God has been so faithful,” Doughty said. “Everything in his timing has worked out perfectly. God aligned everything perfectly. God did it. The way God opened doors, the favor we had through the negotiations, it excites me to see the church be willing to do whatever it takes to reach people with the Gospel.” Construction on the multi-purpose facility is expected to begin in early February, and … [Read more...]

Louisiana DR team helps recovery efforts in fire-ravaged Colorado

By Baptist Message staff LOUISVILLE, Colorado (LBM) – A Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief team recently assisted residents in southeastern Boulder County in Colorado whose homes were destroyed by historic wildfires in late December. The seven-member team from Walker and Natchitoches spent the week of Feb. 15-20 helping recovery efforts at 10 home sites ravaged by fire. According to the Associated Press, two of the most destructive wildfires in decades, fanned by historic 100-mile-per-hour winds, destroyed over 6,000 acres, caused at least $513 million in damage and destroyed nearly 1,100 homes and structures. Louisiana Baptist DR team member David Cheatwood said among the items they recovered were a high school championship ring and a set of fine China from Germany. He said while the team did not see anyone accept Christ, they prayed with everyone at the 10 homesites. “There were lots of tears of joy when the homeowners saw us find something valuable to them,” Cheatwood told the Baptist Message. “For these people, they have lost nearly everything and found great comfort in the prayers and our presence. “Please pray for the residents as they deal with insurance and other details,” he said. “And pray for those who … [Read more...]

Louisiana women prepare to ‘Embrace’ their purpose

By Baptist Message staff LAFAYETTE, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptist women will be challenged to embrace their God-given mandate to fulfill His purpose during the upcoming Louisiana Baptist women’s missions and ministry celebration, March 18-19 at First Baptist Church, Lafayette. “We want women to boldly accept the opportunities they have on a daily basis to share God’s love with others,” Louisiana Baptists Women’s Missions and Ministry Strategist Christine Gill told the Baptist Message. “We want to equip them to be Gospel-minded by keeping missions at the forefront of their everyday lives.” Embrace kicks off Friday, March 18 at 4 p.m. with check-in, and the evening celebration will begin at 6 p.m. The conference will include messages from Florida-based Bible teacher Courtney Veasey and National Woman’s Missionary Union President Connie Dixon, WMU highlights and annual reports, Bible study, worship, prayer for missionaries, a dessert fellowship, and shopping. Breakout sessions will include such topics as spiritual growth, discipleship, personal development, missions, leadership methods, and family dynamics. Additionally, the conference will feature two sessions for Hispanic women, which will be taught in Spanish. Lunch … [Read more...]

‘Roundup’ set for starting cowboy churches, ministries

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ZACHARY, La. (LBM) – Cross Creek Cowboy Church, Zachary, will host a summit, March 12, for those interested in starting cowboy churches and ministries. Scheduled from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m., the event at 21160 Plank Road in Zachary will include fellowship, a barbecue lunch provided by “United by Barbecue” (a non-profit organization) and messages from speakers: Louis Husser, pastor of Crossgate Church, Robert; Lane Corley, church planting strategist for Louisiana Baptists; Josh Morris, pastor of Cross Creek Cowboy Church; Randy Smith, pastor of Cross Brand Cowboy Church, Loranger; and Phillip Gilliland, church planting catalyst for the American Fellowship of Cowboy Churches. The summit is sponsored by Crossgate Church and the Louisiana Baptist Convention. “The main purpose is to encourage those who are either considering planting cowboy churches or those involved in one to receive encouragement and instruction,” said Husser, who is co-organizing the summit. “Our vision is to see multiple cowboy churches planted out of this summit. We are praying for a great harvest in the future and believe this summit could help play a key role in making that happen.” Corley echoed the … [Read more...]

Louisiana Drug Board rejects recreational pot

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor BATON ROUGE La. (LBM)—The Drug Policy Board within the Louisiana Office of the Governor has adopted a resolution stating it “opposes efforts to legalize marijuana for recreational use in Louisiana.” The January 27 vote was 8-0-6, a reversal of the 6-0-8 vote by the Board in October. The minutes from the January meeting indicate that during the interim Warren Montgomery, district attorney for St. Tammany and Washington Parishes and the sponsor of the resolution, had opportunities to make presentations to the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy and the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, whose representatives on the Drug Policy Board had abstained in the October vote because their organizations had not spoken to the issue. Their representatives voted in favor of the resolution in January. The vote took place as smoking pot and consuming THC, the psychoactive com[1]pound in marijuana, became legal in Louisiana in January if a licensed Louisiana physician “recommends” either as “therapeutic use by any patient clinically diagnosed as suffering from a debilitating medical condition,” which includes 31 specific or broad categories. COLORADO’S REMORSE Meanwhile, Colorado, which … [Read more...]

NAMB dealt another legal setback in McRaney lawsuit

By Baptist Message staff ALPHARETTA, Ga. (LBM)—In January, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi denied the request of the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention for a summary judgment in its lawsuit with Will McRaney, the former executive director of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware. In his ruling, Senior Judge Glen H. Davidson said it was premature to decide the case ahead of the discovery process, the stage during which McRaney’s legal team would be allowed to depose NAMB leaders, staff and trustees under oath. Subsequently, in February, NAMB entered into a stipulation agreement with McRaney, pledging “it will not withhold any discovery responses on the basis of its First Amendment defenses or objections, including in response to discovery requests served by [McRaney] prior to the date of this Stipulation.” Judge Davidson’s decision is consistent with the instructions by a three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals (later affirmed by the full bench), who rejected NAMB’s request to dismiss the case, finding instead that “many of the relevant facts have yet to be developed” in the case. The federal circuit court sent the case back to the … [Read more...]

FEMA announces grants, information opportunities

By Baptist Message staff WASHINGTON (LBM) – The Federal Emergency Management Agency has announced it is offering opportunities for faith-based organizations to learn how to apply for funding from the 2022 Nonprofit Security Grant Program. Grants are provided on a competitive process for facility hardening and other security enhancements. So, FEMA is offering a series of webinars (each will present the same information and allow open forum questions) for applicants to learn how to make the best case for their respective needs regarding protection against attacks and other emergency preparedness issues. Each presentation will start at 2 p.m. (CT) and is accessible using the respective web link; ID; and passcode: -- March 4; https://fema.zoomgov.com/j/1614042372; ID, 161 404 2372; Passcode, FY22NSGP -- March 10; https://fema.zoomgov.com/j/1602354220; ID, 160 235 4220; Passcode, FY22NSGP -- March 16; https://fema.zoomgov.com/j/1619667216; ID, 161 966 7216; Passcode, FY22NSGP -- March 25; https://fema.zoomgov.com/j/1612960254; ID, 161 296 0254; Passcode, FY22NSGP -- April 01; https://fema.zoomgov. com/j/1610707162; ID, 161 070 7162; Passcode, FY22NSGP Additional information: … [Read more...]

Churches: Apply now for VBS helpers from BCM

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Applications are open for Louisiana Baptist churches who need a team of college students to coordinate their Vacation Bible School this summer. In its 15th year, GOLA (Go Louisiana) VBS is an emphasis by the Louisiana Baptist Collegiate Ministry that allows college students to serve on teams who spend the summer sharing God’s love through what is the largest evangelistic outreach of the year for many congregations. Churches in which the teams conduct a VBS normally have low baptisms and would have trouble coordinating such an event without the help of the GOLA VBS team. GOLA Strategist Ashley Jones expects to field two teams, each will comprise five college students. She also is seeking to hire two 23-25-year-old individuals to serve as team leaders. In addition to VBS, GOLA will utilize college students in three other areas of service this summer: as church staff, North American missionaries and international missionaries. Jones said the students who serve on GOLA teams are a blessing to both students and churches alike. “Our students are excited to serve, and we love our Louisiana Baptist churches,” Jones told the Baptist Message. “We want … [Read more...]

A mighty movement of God: First Lafayette prayed for revival, 56 baptized!

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer LAFAYETTE, La. (LBM) – Pastor James Pritchard knew God could do something miraculous when he scheduled a four-day revival for February, but was amazed, nonetheless, when 56 baptisms took place during the final night of the revival meeting at First Baptist Church, Lafayette. A crowd of more than 900 cheered as individuals from 6 to 95 years old stepped either into a horse trough or the baptistery inside the worship center to symbolize death, burial and resurrection with Christ, Feb. 9. “What happened was the answered prayer of what we hoped the Lord would do,” Pritchard told the Baptist Message. “When He showed up like that, all we could say was ‘God showed up, look what God did!’” Leslie Hale was among the first to be baptized. During the first revival session, Feb. 6, Hale was convicted of her need to come forward and declare her faith in Christ. “It was like someone was pushing me forward that morning and I was obedient,” Hale said. “Once I came out of the baptismal waters, I felt completely clean. Seeing so many people baptized is something that is hard to describe, and I can’t wait to see what the Lord does with all of us who participated in baptism.” PRAYED … [Read more...]