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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Legislature strengthens laws on sex trafficking, baby safe havens

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor As recently as 2016, Louisiana was rated the best in the nation for combatting human trafficking. However, since 2014 when the state first began collecting human trafficking data, cases have risen from 206 to 1,743 in 2023. Moreover, recent numbers show that 86 percent of those rescued were sex trafficking victims, and 83 percent were under the age of 18 years. With Act 586 as the legal vehicle, Sen. Stewart Cathey, a member with First Baptist Church, West Monroe, significantly strengthened penalties for human trafficking based on a graduated scale, with the harshest punishment for those who prey on minors (persons under the age of 18 years) for commercial sex: “life imprisonment at hard labor without benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence and fined not more than seventy-five thousand dollars.” These more stringent sentencing requirements could figure prominently as deterrents to sex crimes early in 2025, when Super Bowl LIX comes to New Orleans. Sports championship events like it have been linked with surges in human trafficking for sexual activity. NEWBORN SAFE HAVENS Sen. Adam Bass, a member with Cypress Baptist Church, Benton, expanded access in … [Read more...]

Louisiana sheriff’s officer gives a kidney to Mississippi coach

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer WEST MONROE, La. (LBM) – Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office Captain Patrick Johnson has put himself in harm’s way to protect and serve the public for 23 years as a law enforcement officer. But recently he risked his own health and safety to extend the life of a stranger by donating a kidney. Johnson, a member of Ce­dar Crest Baptist Church, West Monroe, gifted the organ on Dec. 11, 2023. For his courageous act, Johnson was awarded the 2024 Heart of Law Enforcement Service Before Self Award dur­ing a ceremony in Baton Rouge. The award is given each year to Louisiana law enforcement of­ficers who have been nominated by their agencies or the public for acts of kindness they performed outside the scope of their normal duties for the previous year. “Looking back on it, I can say Jesus was there to help me the whole way,” Johnson told the Baptist Message. “And I see how he made me strong through the process. You don’t have to look very far to see somebody in seri­ous need that you can help. And I’ve seen what Jesus did for me and I just wanted to be part of this process. “It never was ‘my’ kidney,” he added. “I was just keeping it warm for Jesus until someone needed … [Read more...]

Louisiana Notables

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Baptist Message provides churches an opportunity to share with other Louisiana Baptists an upcoming revival, homecoming, new pastor, new staff member, a community outreach, or a concert in Louisiana Notables. To place your event in the paper, send your information (who, what, where, when, time) to philip@baptistmessage.com or call 318.449.4345. Please submit your information four weeks prior to the event to insure placement in the Message. ON THE MOVE Emily Slay is the new Production Coordinator for the Louisiana Baptists Communications Team. T.J. (wife Kaycie) Weed is the new Youth Minister at Alto Baptist Church, Alto, Louisiana. Alan Miller is the Pastor. Paul (wife Sue) Perry will celebrate 50 years in the ministry, August 17 from 2-4 p.m., in Fellowship Hall at Coax Baptist Church, HWY 868, Winnsboro, La 71295. In a special services August 18, Jerry Grant will provide the music at 10 a.m. and Jim Richards was the guest preacher at 10:45 a.m. Lunch would follow after the worship service. Kevin (wife Malanie) Ulmer, formerly senior pastor at First Baptist, Ferriday, has joined the LBC Evangelism/Church Growth Team as the new evangelism strategist July 1. Blade (wife Lalynn) Foster is the new … [Read more...]

Louisiana officials, faith leaders offer prayers for Trump after apparent assassination attempt

By Baptist Message staff BUTLER, Pa. (LBM) – Numerous elected officials and faith leaders from Louisiana requested prayers for former President Donald Trump after he survived an apparent assignation attempt during a campaign rally, July 13. A few minutes into his speech, a popping sound was heard and Trump placed his hand over his right ear before Secret Service agents pulled him to the ground. He signaled to the crowd as he was escorted away. The Associated Press reported a shooter was dead and an attendee was killed. Two attendees were critically injured. Secret Service agents, according to the AP, said the shooter was not an attendee at the rally and was killed by agents. Louisiana Baptist Executive Director Steve Horn also posted that he is “praying for Louisiana Baptists pastors as they preach tomorrow. I have said before that preaching on the Sunday after 9-11 stands out in my memory above most any other Sunday. Brothers, just ‘Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; rebuke, correct, and ENCOURAGE with great patience and teaching.’ (2 Timothy 4:2).” Speaker Mike Johnson, also a member of Cypress Baptist Church, Benton, shared that “Kelly and I are praying for President Trump and all the attendees of the … [Read more...]

With God, there is hope for our nation

By Steve Horn ALEXANDRIA, La. - In 1928 one of our American submarines, S4, sank off the eastern coast on a dive after routine maintenance work. Divers made contact through Morse code. After initial exchange of how many on board, what is your condition etc., the divers received the message from those on board, “Is there any hope?” In the midst of the circumstances, what a penetrating question! Many are still asking that question today about America. Is there any hope? I am confident that there is hope, and I am confident that we find our hope in God. Our hope is not in Washington but in Heaven. Our hope is not in the Constitution but at Calvary. Our hope is not in more laws or less laws or better laws, but in a strict observance of the law of laws—God’s Holy Word. Our hope is not in the Democratic Party, the Republican Party, or any forthcoming party; our hope is in repentance, revival, and a spiritual awakening. Until we as believers understand these things, I’m afraid “There is no hope for America!” But there is always hope. I have heard before that our national anthem is among the most difficult songs to sing. Maybe that explains why we usually only sing one verse of The Star-Spangled Banner. Did … [Read more...]

Beryl leaves behind destruction across Louisiana, Texas

By Baptist Message staff​ MANSFIELD, La. (LBM) – Spawning tornadoes, destroying structures and knocking out power, Hurricane Beryl left its mark on Louisiana July 8. After making landfall earlier in the day as a Category 1 hurricane near Matagorda, Texas, Beryl made its way north with its outer bands scraping Louisiana causing destruction and flooding. The storm prompted the National Weather Service to issue nearly 70 tornado warnings in the region throughout the day. Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief Disaster Relief Associate/Volunteer Mobilizer Mark Morelock said teams were assessing damage Tuesday morning. Beulah Baptist Church, Mansfield, was among the structures damaged. Though the church itself was heavily damaged, no one was injured. Pastor Freddie Williford said the church, which had insurance, plans to move forward and rebuild. KTBS-TV reported downed trees and power lines in Pleasant Hill; and damage to structures at Jolly Rogers Marina on Toledo Bend, various parts of Sligo, the 2700 block of Bellevue Road in Haughton, and the Shady Park Mobile Home Park in Haughton. Two elderly people in southwest Caddo Parish sustained injuries after their mobile home was torn from its foundation, KTBS … [Read more...]

Beulah Baptist heavily damaged by Tropical Storm Beryl

By Baptist Message staff MANSFIELD, La. (LBM) - Though Beulah Baptist Church was destroyed by Tropical Storm Beryl, its pastor is thankful no one was injured as the storm passed, July 8. "We welcome prayers for wisdom and direction as we seek God's guidance for His people and His church," Pastor Freddie Williford told the Baptist Message. "I know it will be a long process with hurdles to come but 'some boast chariots and some in horses but we boast in the name of the Lord Our God (Psalm 20:7)." Williford said the church has insurance and asked for prayers as they move forward. "I am sure there will be opportunities to help with clean up and rebuilding, but at the moment we need to draw closer to God for wisdom and guidance as we rebuild His church at Beulah," Williford said. … [Read more...]

Baptist lawmaker restores Ten Commandments to Louisiana’s classrooms

By Will Hall BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – Gov. Jeff Landry signed HB71 into law, June 19, making Louisiana the first state in the nation to restore the display of the Ten Commandments in its schools. The legislation, which was authored by Rep. Dodie Horton, a member with First Baptist Church, Haughton, Louisiana, requires a poster or framed document of the Ten Commandments (“at least eleven inches by fourteen inches,” and in “large, easily readable font”) to be placed in every state-funded classroom, kindergarten through college, no later than Jan. 1, 2025. The law uses a version of the Ten Commandments that is adapted from the King James Bible, and it requires the display to include a “context statement” about “The History of the Ten Commandments in American Public Education.” That mandated paragraph emphasizes “The Ten Commandments were a prominent part of American public education for almost three centuries,” beginning with the “The New England Primer,” the first published American textbook (1688). It served as a first-grade reader in U.S. public schools for nearly 150 years. Horton, who successfully championed a law last year to allow the posting in schools of the national motto, “In God We Trust” (which received … [Read more...]

Louisiana’s Nix honored as minister’s wife with the Willie Turner Dawson Award

INDIANAPOLIS (LBM) - -The Willie Turner Dawson Award recognizes a minister’s wife for making a distinct denominational contribution beyond the local church and for modeling Christian character and service to others. Diane Nix fits the bill to a T. A longtime pastor’s wife, Nix received the Willie Turner Dawson Award at the sold-out luncheon of more than 1,600 women, at the SBC Ministers’ Wives Luncheon, June 11, Indianapolis. She has been a pastor's wife for almost 41 years, serving alongside her husband pastor/professor Preston L. Nix, a professor of evangelism and evangelistic preaching at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana. The couple married in 1983. They have two biological daughters (ages 26 & 28), two spiritual daughters (41 & 42), two special grands, and two sons-in-law. She and her pastor/professor husband served as lead pastor and wife in Texas and Oklahoma for 21 years. During the last 20 years, she and Preston, who have loved the local church, have served in 15 interim Pastorates. For the past 14 years, she has hosted the SBC Women’s Expo, and for 19 years, Diane has served on the board to help plan the SBC Women’s Monday Morning session held each year at the … [Read more...]

First Bossier to host Generate Conference in 2025

By YM360 BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (YM360) - Registration has opened for the Generate Conference at First Baptist Church, Bossier City. Scheduled for Jan. 24-25, Generate Conference will provide a weekend of dynamic worship and Word-filled weekends where attendees will be challenged to know Christ and make Him known. YM360, which coordinates the conference, also is the home of Generate Summer Camps which span more than 40 events in 15 states. In addition to FBCBC, Generate Conferences also are scheduled at: Jan. 31-Feb. 1, Hebron Church, Dacula, Georgia Feb. 7-8, Northland Church, Orlando, Floria Feb. 14-15, Morrison Heights Baptist Church, Jackson, Mississippi Feb. 21-22, Dallas Baptist University, Dallas, Texas Feb. 28-March 1 - Germantown Baptist Church, Memphis, Tennessee March 7-8, The Church at Brook Hills, Birmingham, Alabama YM360 President Roger Davis, a leader of nationwide student ministry events since 1993, said this is a perfect alignment with YM360’s mission and heart to serve as many churches as possible and see students have encounters with Jesus. "We simply want to say yes' to as many churches as possible as we create event experiences that help all those attending have a chance … [Read more...]