By Baptist Message staff MOUNT VERNON, Ga. (LBM) – Less than a week after Hurricane Helene devasted parts of the US, a Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief feeding team is on the ground to “give a cup of cold water in Jesus’ name” to those affected by the powerful storm. According to Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief Associate and Volunteer Mobilizer Mark Morelock, a feeding team comprised of members from the northern and central regions of the state has prepared and served 600 meals a day at First Baptist Church, Mount Vernon, Georgia, since operations began on Sept. 28. A team from the southeast and northern regions of Louisiana is expected to arrive by Oct. 2 to replace the feeding team currently there, though it is unknown when DR operations will end. Helene made landfall after 11 p.m. Sept. 26, near Perry in the Big Bend area of Florida’s Gulf Coast as a Category 4 storm, packing winds of 140 mph. The storm is blamed for at least 160 deaths, according to the Associated Press. Since relief operations began, $30,000 has been given through LBDR for bottled water, food and transportation of those goods to FBCMV. Another $60,0000 through LBDR has been given in direct assistance to Baptist state convention DR entities … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message Staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – The first Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief teams have been activated for a response to Hurricane Helene. Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief Associate and Volunteer Mobilizer Mark Morelock told the Baptist Message that a feeding team and a generator from the northern and central part of the state, and a chainsaw team from the southwest area of the state, arrived Sept. 28 at Brewton-Parker College, Mount Vernon, Georgia. While there, the teams will serve students and faculty that are on campus without electricity. Statham said they will know additional details in the next couple of days about the duration of their deployment. Louisiana joins other state conventions who have sent teams to impacted areas. Helene made landfall after 11 p.m. Sept. 26, near Perry in the Big Bend area of Florida’s Gulf Coast as a Category 4 storm, packing winds of 140 mph. Helene, which is the eighth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, is blamed for at least 107 deaths across six states, including 30 in Asheville, North Carolina, that was left isolated after floodwaters destroyed roads, caused a water and food shortage and knocked out cell phone service and electricity to much of … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer JONESBORO, La. (LBM) – Craig James, associational missions strategist with North Central Baptist Association, will be nominated for the office of second vice president with the Louisiana Baptist Convention during the 2024 annual meeting of church messengers. Clark Palmer, pastor with Faith Baptist Church, Tioga, contacted the Baptist Message, Sept. 25, to share his intention to make the nomination. The yearly gathering of Louisiana Baptists is scheduled to be held in the facilities of Broadmoor Baptist Church, Shreveport, Nov. 12. STATEMENT OF SUPPORT James, who is a member of Atlanta Baptist Church, has faithfully served the Lord and churches for decades, Palmer said. “Over the years when I mention his name I have found that his former church members love him,” he said. “His fellow pastors love him. His family loves him. And recently the thought came into my mind, that I should nominate him for one of our LBC offices. “If you know him you probably agree that he is a great representative of Louisiana Baptist pastors and leaders,” he continued. “He was surprised when I asked him if I could do this but agreed to allow me to nominate him as second vice-president … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Kevin Ulmer, pastor with First Baptist Church, Ferriday, is the new evangelism strategist for Louisiana Baptist congregations. Ulmer, whose first day on the job was July 1, said he is excited to work with Louisiana Baptists toward one common goal in the state. “I can't think of a greater task to be carrying out than to encourage people to share the Gospel,” Ulmer told the Baptist Message. “I want to encourage them to not only have a sense of duty to evangelism, but to have a sense of desire for evangelism. “I think for the most part, most church members have a sense of duty to evangelize,” he continued. “But how can I instill in them a desire to evangelize, to share Jesus as much as they have desire to share about football. If we had a desire to share the Gospel like we do about sharing our own interests, I think we could change and transform this state for Christ.” A native of Laurel, Mississippi, Ulmer trusted in Christ while attending a fish fry at Victory Baptist Church in rural Jasper County, Mississippi, at age 17. Though he sensed a call to ministry soon afterward, he did not surrender to it because of a bashful temperament that he … [Read more...]

By Louisiana Baptist Foundation ALEXANDRIA, La. – The Louisiana Baptist Foundation, amid its 80th anniversary commemoration, recently celebrated Baptist Foundation Month to remind churches and individuals of the need to invest in the people, ministries and causes they love, according to LBF Executive Director Jeff Steed. Steed said Baptist Foundation Month, established in 1971 by the Louisiana Baptist entity, also was a reminder that the LBF can assist individuals in gift planning by setting up endowments, non-cash gifts (such as stocks, bonds and real estate), estate gifts, charitable gift annuities, donor-advised funds and other types of gifts that benefit the people and organizations they cherish now and in the future. “We are very honored to partner in ministry with donors and churches to advance the Kingdom,” he shared. Throughout the year, the LBF has celebrated its anniversary by adding $80 to each gift from donors to Louisiana Baptist churches and ministry made through the Foundation, as well as contributing $80 to each new account opened (one per church), while funds are available for both offers. Also, the foundation has posted monthly updates on its social media pages about its history and how God has … [Read more...]