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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Mississippi woman ‘pays forward’ Louisiana DR assistance

By Message Staff MCCOMB, Miss. (LBM) – Sue White was on the verge of tears when a Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief team showed up to remove trees that fell on her yard in McComb, Mississippi, after a tornado touched down April 22. Twenty-five disaster relief volunteers worked tirelessly for several days clearing the heavy debris left by the storm, and they left such a lasting impression that White felt compelled to mail in a $1,000 check as a gift of appreciation. In her letter to Louisiana Baptists, the 92-year-old White said the team was a gift from God and that she was thankful for their selfless acts of love. “I shall always remember how hard those people worked,” White wrote. “May God bless you as you continue to help other people.” Gibbie McMillan, state disaster relief coordinator for Louisiana Baptists, said disaster relief does not require nor ask for donations for work completed by teams. However, he said they accepted the gift for the Georgia Barnette State Missions Offering because White wanted the money to help others in future disasters. “We don’t do it for the money,” McMillan said. “We do it because there is a need and we are there to show Jesus to others who are needing Him at that moment. I am … [Read more...]

Family Bible study leads to Father’s Day baptism at East Leesville

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer LEESVILLE, La. (LBM) – Blake Frederick was leading the nightly family devotional time in early March when his eight-year-old son, Micah, presented an important request – he wanted to surrender his life to Christ and share his decision through public baptism. Overcome with joy, the family scheduled a meeting with the East Leesville Baptist Church pastoral leadership team and scheduled a date for baptism. However, much like other Louisiana Baptist churches around the state, attendance restrictions from the novel coronavirus pandemic delayed the baptism until a later date. The baptism was rescheduled and fell on Father’s Day. Blake Frederick, whose wife, Heather, is children’s minister at East Leesville Baptist, said he was ecstatic when he saw his son baptized June 21. “It wasn’t until the morning of his baptism that I realized it would be held on Father’s Day,” he told the Baptist Message. “As proud as I was of his obedience to Christ’s command to be baptized, I know that God the Father was even more overjoyed.” Micah Frederick is the fifth new convert, with an additional five more waiting, to participate in baptism at East Leesville Baptist since the church reopened for … [Read more...]

Supreme Court flunks Biology 101

By Will Hall, Baptist Message Executive Editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – In a stunning 6-3 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, which included “yes” votes by so-called conservatives Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch, homosexuality and transgenderism were each declared to be a “sex” and so included in that protected class under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In the ruling on Bostock v. Clayton County -- a combination of three cases involving the firing of a funeral home worker who chose a transgender identity and the firings of two homosexuals who came out as gay to their employers (a county government and a sky diving business) -- the Court conceded that the law protected “any individual … because of such individual’s race, color, religion, sex or national origin.” Furthermore, the same justices admitted that “the term ‘sex' in 1964 referred to biological distinctions between male and female.” Then the six supporters made the tortuous argument about what “because of” meant and gave undue emphasis on “disparate treatment” to disregard the original meaning of “sex” (biological differences between a man and woman) in order to declare that homosexuality and transgenderism are … [Read more...]

No Phase Three, churches still restricted to 50 percent capacity

By Message Staff BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – Louisiana will remain in Phase Two of reopening the state’s economy, Gov. John Bel Edwards announced Monday. During a news conference, Edwards said that he had hoped to move into Phase Three on Friday, which would have eased additional restrictions. The state has been under the current order since June 5. Under the order, churches will continue to be restricted to 50 percent capacity, and, a 250 person indoor maximum was added. Edwards said the decision was based upon data from the Louisiana Department of Health showing that new novel coronavirus related cases and hospitalizations have increased statewide. He said the state has seen an increase of hospitalizations in three regions, and ranks seventh out of 23 states across the nation experiencing an increase in positive COVID-19 cases. He added that Louisiana surpassed 50,000 positive cases and 3,000 deaths on Monday. The state’s population, according to the U.S. Census, is estimated to be around 4.6 million. “We have to continue to work to flatten the curve, to keep it flattened and make sure that we are moving in the right direction as it relates to case growth and to hospitalizations,” Edwards said. “I am convinced we … [Read more...]

Who is advising you?

By Stewart Holloway PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) - King Joash of Judah was only seven years old when he became king. During those years, Joash was advised by Jehoiada the priest. As long as Joash was under the authority of God’s priest, he did only good things. Most notably, he rebuilt and repaired the temple. However, as soon as Jehoiada died, Joash failed. He began listening to the wrong advisors and worshiping idols. Joash became so hardened that, even though God sent many prophets to bring the nation ...back to Him, Joash would not listen. His heart-hardness reached its climax when Jehoiada’s son Zechariah spoke against him. In response, Joash completely forgot the kindness of Jehoiada and had Zechariah stoned. Joash’s story is tragic. A good king became an evil king - all because he started listening to the wrong people. It matters to whom you listen. The people you choose or allow to speak into your life can radically alter your course. These people include your friends and family but also the people you read, listen to on the radio or podcasts, or watch on television or online. Be discerning in whom you allow to speak into your life. The wrong voice can lead you down the wrong path. Proverbs tells us that plans succeed … [Read more...]

Basile congregation thankful after fire

By Message Staff BASILE, La. (LBM) – First Baptist Church of Basile is thankful after a recent electrical fire caused only moderate damage and left no one injured. Mike Fontenot, pastor of First Baptist Basile, told the Baptist Message the fire was reported around 6:10 p.m. June 4 by leaders of the church’s Celebrate Recovery ministry who were preparing for their meeting. Fontenot said the fire was started in the church’s food pantry storage room, and clean-up of the facility was completed Wednesday. While the fire damage was covered by insurance, First Basile must replace two refrigerators and one freezer that was used to store items that were distributed by the food pantry ministry. “We are so very grateful to God that we have been spared heavy damage and for all who have shown support through financial gifts and prayers,” Fontenot said. He said he is also thankful for a financial gift from Louisiana Baptists to help with repairs and replacing lost equipment. John Hebert, Louisiana Baptists missions and ministry team director, delivered a check from the state disaster relief fund to Fontenot Monday. “It’s rather unusual that in my 10 years as missions and ministry director we have not had the amount of fires to … [Read more...]

Mike Huckabee, Kelvin Cochran, Charles Stanley among national leaders of Conservative Baptist Network

By Message Staff BOSSIER CITY, La. (LBM) – The Conservative Baptist Network has identified prominent Southern Baptist leaders, including Mike Huckabee, former governor of Arkansas; Kelvin Cochran, a former Atlanta, Georgia, police chief who won a $1.2 million settlement for wrongful termination by the city because of his biblical views about marriage and human sexuality; and, Charles Stanley, pastor of the historic First Baptist Church in Atlanta, and a former SBC president, as members of its 48-member national steering council. The grassroots movement of more than 5,000 individuals and churches “concerned about the current direction and perceived future of the convention,” also released a schedule of events that figure to help grow the nascent organization as it seeks to connect like-minded Baptists in the effort to "steer the Convention once again to a conservative position." Three events are available for registration: -- Awakening: A Plea for Revival (August 31, 2020, in Bossier City, Louisiana); -- The Conservative Baptist Bible Conference (September 17, 2020, Memphis, Tennessee); and, -- Pastor, Prophet, Patriot: A Freedom and Religious Liberty Event (October 27, 2020, Cleveland, Georgia). According to … [Read more...]

SBC war of words escalated by Maryland leader’s ‘can’t-preach white-boys’ statement

By Will Hall, Baptist Message Executive Editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – At a time of already heightened black-white tensions in the country, the executive director of the Baptist Convention of Maryland-Delaware has ratcheted up the rhetoric, using racist language on Twitter, June 14, in his defense of the push for women preachers in Southern Baptist pulpits. In supporting an innocuous social media post by Beth Moore -- the best-selling Bible study author for LifeWay Christian Resources, the publishing arm of the Southern Baptist Convention, and, someone who in recent years has been strident in her comments about those who oppose women preachers -- Kevin Smith, who is black, wrote, “I see why can’t-preach white-boys oppose her … she has [fire], they have talks, posing as sermons.” Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, who once advocated for the ordination of women, is one of several prominent Southern Baptist leaders who has strongly opposed the call for women preachers. Citing 1 Timothy 2:12 (“I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence,” NKJV), Mohler argued in a podcast last year that it is a matter of “biblical authority.” “Did the Holy … [Read more...]