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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Are you ready to pray?

By Stewart Holloway PINEVILLE, La. - I’ve heard people say, “If that doesn’t light your fire, your wood is wet.” I would say that about yesterday. It’s been a while since I had a 15 1/2 hour Sunday and was so jazzed when I got home that it was hard to come down. But yesterday was that. First, we had baptisms in both services. In the first service, I baptized a father and daughter. That kind of baptism is always extra special, especially when the little girl says, “Yes sir!” with joy and certainty when I ask, “Have you trusted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?” Second, in our second service, we honored a young man who made a difference in a kid’s life. That moment was moving as our entire congregation stood and clapped, some wiping tears from their eyes. Third, we had our highest worship attendance since the shut down a year ago, falling just twenty-five people short of pre-Covid attendance. It was also good to see even more of our people back for the first time in a year. Every Sunday is like a homecoming now! We had powerful worship services. I got a text from one person watching online that simple read, “Glory!” People left saying, “I felt the Spirit today” and “I feel like I’ve been to heaven.” Fourth, … [Read more...]

‘Equality Act’ passes U.S. House, threatens religious freedom, women’s rights, unborn

By Baptist Message staff WASHINGTON, D.C. (LBM) – The U.S. House of Representatives narrowly passed, Feb. 25, the Equality Act, a bill that would amend the 1964 Civil Rights Act to protect people from discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. However, critics of the bill contend it poses a serious threat to religious liberty and women’s sports as well as the unborn. The legislation “expands the definition of public accommodations to include places or establishments that provide (1) exhibitions, recreation, exercise, amusement, gatherings, or displays; (2) goods, services, or programs; and (3) transportation services. The bill allows the Department of Justice to intervene in equal protection actions in federal court on account of sexual orientation or gender identity.” Meaning, the bill could force females to share locker rooms and restrooms with biological males, whether transitioned or not. National Right to Life posted on their Facebook page that the Equality Act contains language “that could be construed to create a right to demand abortion from health care providers, and likely would place at risk the authority of the government to prohibit taxpayer-funded abortions.” Three Republicans … [Read more...]

Louisiana Baptist DR lends helping hand following historic winter storm

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, LA. (LBM) – In the wake of an historic winter storm in mid-February that sent temperatures plummeting to record lows, knocked out power to thousands and dumped ice, sleet and snow throughout the state, Louisiana Baptists provided much needed help. Gibbie McMillan, state disaster relief coordinator for Louisiana Baptists, told the Baptist Message chainsaw teams from Kentwood and Two Rivers Baptist Association on Feb. 20 removed an oak tree that had split near a home in Saint Helena Parish. “When the weather affects our daily living, we usually need a little help, which is why we keep supplies in stock in order to be of help to those in need,” McMillan said. “It is always great when we can fulfill the needs of our churches and students on a college campus.” Like many communities, the city of Natchitoches and Northwestern State University’s campus were under a boil advisory following the storm. NSU Baptist Collegiate Ministry Director Bill Collins boiled 80 gallons of water using crawfish pots and delivered it to the school’s football team on Feb. 23 and 24. He also distributed bottled water, donated by Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief, to the school’s athletic … [Read more...]

LBC Women to ‘Embrace’ purpose at FBC Pineville

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) – Andrea Lennon, a Little Rock, Arkansas-based writer and speaker, will challenge ladies attending the upcoming Louisiana Baptist women’s missions and ministry celebration to embrace their God-given purpose. Scheduled for March 20 at First Baptist Church in Pineville, “Embrace” is an event for women of all cultures and generations to realize their God-given value and purpose. “Embrace, like most everything else, has been reinvented several times since last year’s canceled event,” Louisiana Baptists women’s missions and ministry strategist Janie Wise told the Baptist Message. “But I am convinced that we must have presence and that presence must not only center on Bible study, worship, inspiration and a gathering, it must be a time for the individual woman to have opportunity for spiritual growth and personal development.” This year, because of COVID-19 protocols, Embrace will be a hybrid experience that will allow participants to attend in-person or via livestream. Following the March 20 event, the experience will continue with pre-recorded breakout conferences available online March 22 through April 30 for all registered guests. Breakout … [Read more...]

Louisiana Baptists to return to Brazil in 2021

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer SOROCABA, Brazil (LBM) – COVID-19 travel restrictions caused the cancellation of last year’s annual Louisiana Baptist-led mission trip to Brazil, but plans are moving forward to return to the country this summer. While many unknowns face the team, trip coordinator David Denton is confident God has prepared the field for a spiritual harvest in a country searching for hope. “COVID has reminded us we don’t know tomorrow but we are hopeful in the truest sense,” Denton told the Baptist Message. “We are planning weekly and monthly and trusting in God’s providence.” Denton, pastor of Highland Baptist Church in New Iberia, said the team will participate in the usual projects that include construction of chapels for local congregations, evangelism on the streets, drama performances and Vacation Bible School. But he offered that the pandemic has brought additional ministry opportunities because of high unemployment, rising food prices and restrictions on meeting inside church facilities. These new opportunities include funding food packages for families in need ($23 each) and donating food for local pastors and their families. Denton said more than $6,000 has been raised for … [Read more...]

Praying mawmaw shaped Jason Lovins for life

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer SHREVEPORT, La. (LBM) – Contemporary Christian musical artist Jason Lovins has never met his dad, but the love shown by his mother and grandmother sustain him, he said Jan. 26. At 15 years old, his mother was raped and did not realize she was pregnant until after a visit to her doctor. The news shocked the family, but they supported Lisa’s choice to go through with the pregnancy. “I had a praying mawmaw who said we’re going to go to church and we’re going to pray,” Lovins shared with Louisiana Baptists during the second day of the 2021 Evangelism Conference at Summer Grove Baptist Church in Shreveport. “And that’s what they did. “If you would have heard her tell the story, she would have made it sound so simple,” he explained. “And I understand that it couldn’t have been that easy. But, you see, my grandmother very much understood how big God is. She believed that He is so big, in fact, that He wasn’t surprised by me.” Lovins, the lead singer for the Jason Lovins Band of Ashland, Kentucky, credited his grandmother, Mary Jo, with a faith that helped guide the family throughout the ordeal. “She believed with all of her heart these things that we read in Jeremiah that … [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 Byron Comish is the interim pastor at First Baptist Church, Springfield. Nick, wife Kara, Watts is the new minister to students at First Baptist Church, Lafayette. Juri Thompson is the new youth minister at Cheniere, West Monroe. REVIVAL Sweetwater Baptist Church, Quitman: Revival, February 28-March 3. Evangelist: Bill Britt. Pastor: Wilton Wall. Ouachita Baptist Church, West Monroe: Revival, March 7-10. Evangelist: Bill Britt. Pastor: Mike Holloway. Louisiana College, Pineville: Chapel, March 9-11, Evangelist: Chip Luter. Lonestar Baptist Church, Pitkin: Revival, March 7-10, Marh 7, 11 a.m. & 6 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. Evangelist: Sam Moore. Music Evangelist: Arlen Smith. Lord’s Ambassadors of DeRidder will provide speach music on March 7. Pastor: John Elliott. First … [Read more...]

Johnston launches ministries to offer prayer, hope

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer COVINGTON, La. (LBM) – Jay Johnston, a long-time Louisiana Baptist minister and founder of Jay Johnston Ministry, has launched two webinars designed to encourage others to pray more fervently and to be reminded that Christ is the hope to endure. Launched in early February, both webinars are free and offered on his website, jayjohnston.org. “How to Pray” airs at 8 p.m. Sundays, and “The Hope Call” occurs at noon every Tuesday. “We all face life-dominating issues, and through Christ we can experience hope and victory no matter the problems we face today,” Johnston told the Baptist Message. ““My hope is to share resources and direct people to local churches and get them connected. If God will use this as a force to encourage people, then I am all about it. It’s for His glory. I want to be available to Him as an instrument and be faithful.” Johnston said God created a burden in his heart to start the webinars after frequent visits with others in Louisiana and phone calls with others in surrounding states. Most people he engaged with indicated they were discouraged and needed direction. “Just recognizing a sense of hopelessness among people and being a spiritual leader in … [Read more...]

A love beyond compare on Valentine’s Day 2021

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer WEST MONROE, La. (LBM) – Feb. 14 was more than a holiday for Dustin Lee and his six-year-old daughter, Micah, and greater than the small expressions of love exchanged through cards and small gifts among their family. Instead, it was a day that marked the love of the Father for His child. A month after confessing her sins and asking Christ into her life, the youngster proclaimed that commitment publicly as her father baptized her to affirm her adoption as a child of God. “Micah had questions for a while and on the first Sunday night in January she told my wife, Alisha, and me she was ready,” Lee, minister to children at First West, told the Baptist Message, “Right there in our home, we got the privilege of sitting with her as she said she was a sinner and asked God in her heart. As dads our highest calling and privilege is to pray for our children and walk alongside them in their faith journey. This extends to the time from before they accept him to when they grow more to become a disciple of Him.” Micah was joined by three other children for baptism during “Wear Red Sunday” at First West. During the service, children wore red shirts to proclaim their love for … [Read more...]