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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Billingsley talks medical battles, safeguarding his Christian character

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer RUSTON, La. (LBM) – Charles Billingsley has faced several medical battles, but with each trial he remained focused on praising God who eventu­ally gave him victory, he shared with the Baptist Message in an exclusive interview, Jan. 23. In 2007, Billingsley nearly lost his voice after a blood vessel burst on his vocal cords, leaving him with a polyp and unable to sing for several months. Then, in 2020, he spent Easter quarantined with COVID. Through those times, Billingsley said he rediscovered God’s gift of worship. “I remember I went up into the Blue Ridge Mountains (in 2007) and sat at a picnic table when I was reading a book by my friend David Jeremiah called ‘A Bend in the Road,’ and I couldn’t make any noise,” he said while at the 2024 Louisiana Baptist Evangelism Conference. “But it’s crazy because in the midst of all that reading I was just crying out to God asking Him to heal my voice that I would be able to sing again. And in the middle of reading -- while I was out in the middle of the woods -- this big old huge maple leaf just came and landed right smack dab in the middle of my Bible, right as I was crying out to the Lord. And I just felt like the Lord was … [Read more...]

SBC CP down, designated giving up for month, year

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor NASHVILLE, Tenn. (LBM) – The South­ern Baptist Convention Executive Committee released the December 2023 financial summary on Jan. 9, 2024, report­ing that monthly gifts to SBC causes through the Cooperative Program were down 2.52 percent, while designated gifts were up 5.38 percent, when com­pared to December 2022. Year-to-date giving through both funding channels showed similar trends: — From Oct. 1, 2023, through Dec. 31, 2023, to­tal SBC CP contributions were 1.41 percent lower compared to the same quarter for the previous fiscal year. — Meanwhile, com­bined designated giving was 4.16 percent higher for the same months, with the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering up 1.82 percent, and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offer­ing 10.83 percent higher, respectively. LBC Giving The national report showed monthly giving by Louisiana Baptists to SBC causes in December was down 16.20 percent through CP and up 19.58 percent for special offer­ings. Cumulatively for the quarter, Louisiana Baptists’ Fiscal Year 2024 contribu­tions were lower by 11.80 percent through the CP and off 0.59 percent via designated giving. … [Read more...]

Advisory panel urges churches to submit their insurance profiles

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – The first meeting of the Church Insurance Advisory Committee, Jan. 11, resulted in an agreement to develop a communication plan to urge congregations to participate in the data collection phase of the effort to establish a church self-insurance program in Louisiana. “Pastors need to know that submitting the information is as easy as calling their insurance agents and asking them to send a copy of their present policy and a five-year history of claims,” said Kyle Acklin, Monroe-area presi­dent with Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., an insurance, risk manage­ment and consulting firm. The documents may be mailed directly to: Louisiana Churches Self-Insurance Trust 2003 Tower Drive Monroe, LA 71201 Alternatively, the forms may be sent via FAX, (318) 322-3172. The participants in the inau­gural meeting included pastors, attorneys and others with a wide perspective on the insurance crisis that has plagued churches after the state was pummeled in 2020-2021 by Hurricanes Laura, Delta, Zeta and Ida. BACKGROUND In 2023 congregations began to receive nonrenewal notices or to see exorbitant premium hikes from the three largest insurers of … [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 Caleb Adams is serving as full-time interim student minister at Trinity Baptist Church in Lake Charles. HOMECOMING/ANNIVERSARY Westside Emmanuel Baptist Church, Bogalusa: 75th Anniversary, February 25, 10:30 a.m. Dinner on the grounds follow­ing the worship service. Guest Speaker: Perry Hancock, former pastor and Presi­dent and CEO of Louisiana Baptist Chil­dren’s Home & Family Ministries in Mon­roe. Music: Westside Worship team. Pastor: Marcus Rosa. REVIVAL Alabama Baptist Church, Arcadia: Re­vival, January 28-31; Thursday-Saturday noon and night service, 6:30 p.m. with meal beginning at 5:45 p.m. Sunday, 10:40 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Worship: Mackey and Gail Willis. Pastor: Roland Hebert. Fort Necessity Baptist Church, Columbia: Revival, … [Read more...]

ECON 2024: Share Christ with the world

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer RUSTON, La. (LBM) – Louisi­ana Baptists were encouraged to embrace an evangelistic mindset in at home and abroad during ECON 2024, held in the facilities of Tem­ple Baptist Church, Ruston, Jan. 22-23. ECON featured Louisiana Bap­tist pastors, seminary professors, a representative from the Interna­tional Mission Board, a comedian and other evangelism associates from across North America. The event also included times of worship led by the Temple Bap­tist praise and worship team and Charles Billingsley, an award-win­ning Christian contemporary artist, as well as breakout sessions. GEORGE LEE George Lee IV, minister of com­munity engagement at Temple Bap­tist, reminded Louisiana Baptists to develop a heart of service and win others to Jesus. “How badly do we want to win as a body of believers?” said Lee, drawing from 1 Corinthians 9:19-23. “A win is seeing somebody who has a one-way ticket to hell being redeemed and reconciled to the Father by the power of the Gospel.” He reminded Louisiana Baptists that they cannot win those they do not serve, they cannot serve every­one the same way and they cannot serve God without serving people. “Every day you wake up you … [Read more...]

Cassidy receives A+ rating from Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America

By Office of Sen. Billy Cassidy WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) has released a statement following his A+ rating on Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America’s 2023 national pro-life scorecard. The rating recognizes his work in Congress to protect the lives of innocent unborn children. “Being pro-life means being pro-mothers, pro-babies, and pro-healthy futures - a philosophy I carry with me in the Senate,” said Cassidy. “Proud to receive this recognition and looking forward to continuing my efforts in Congress to protect an unborn child’s right to life.” Some of Cassidy’s efforts in 2023 to protect the lives of unborn babies include: Cassidy introduces permanent ban on taxpayer funding for abortions Cassidy votes to block illegal VA abortion rule Cassidy demands answers on HHS promoting “AbortionFinder” website, targeting of minors to get abortions without parents’ knowledge Cassidy sounds alarm over the potential use of taxpayer dollars to promote abortion services in schools Cassidy urges HELP Chair Sanders to ensure pro-life protections, protect parental consent in funding for school-based health centers … [Read more...]

Kennedy receives “A+” rating for championing pro-life values

By Office of Sen. John Kennedy MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) has earned an “A+” rating for his commitment to protecting the lives of the unborn through his pro-life legislative record during the first session of the 118th Congress. The Susan B. Anthony List’s national scorecard recognizes lawmakers who have consistently championed life through their voting records and legislative leadership. “All human life, whether its 82 years or 82 seconds old, is precious. I will never stop defending America’s defenseless unborn children,” said Kennedy. During the first session of the 118th Congress, Kennedy cosponsored legislation to prevent the Biden administration’s Department of Defense from facilitating abortions. The senator also cosponsored the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act to permanently stop federal funding for abortions. In the 117th Congress, Kennedy opposed using taxpayer money to fund abortions and voted against Democrats’ attempt to force states to legalize abortion up to the point of a child’s birth. He also helped lead an effort to defund Planned Parenthood. Prior to the Supreme Court’s ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, Kennedy co-led the pro-life … [Read more...]

LCU’s Tinsley thankful for how Lord has guided her path

By Elizabeth Clarke, LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) – Sonia Tinsley's life has been one filled with "eating her words." Tinsley said she never would get a Ph.D. after the exhaustion of going to graduate school at night to earn her master’s degree, after teaching school all day. But 20 years ago, she did just that. She also said she swore she never would run a marathon, despite the fact she had been active her entire life. But after she graduated from college, she started running and got hooked. “The Lord opened that door, too,” she said. “I said I’d never do one, and I’ve run three.” The chair of the Department of Health and Exercise Science at Louisiana Christian University, Tinsley said she is thankful that the Lord knows best because her plan didn’t include all that she has accomplished in her life. But that’s what “they” say about never saying never. It doesn’t stop what God has in store. Tinsley grew up in Dry Prong and attended Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, where she played basketball. It was there that she met her husband, Jason, while they were both students. They married in 1995, and Sonia began the life of a basketball coach’s wife. “College coaching is tough … [Read more...]

Landry’s Executive Order addresses illegal immigration in Louisiana

BATON ROUGE, La – Governor Jeff Landry signed an Executive Order focused on identifying, quantifying, and mitigating the adverse effects of illegal immigration in Louisiana. This order will require the head of every executive branch entity throughout the state of Louisiana to capture certain data in order to determine the costs the state is having to incur due to those entering our country illegally. “The cost of illegal immigration in this state is falling on the shoulders of hard-working Louisianans. This Executive Order will analyze data to determine the financial burden our citizens are being forced to carry because of those who do not follow the law,” said Governor Jeff Landry. “Louisiana will always welcome those who legally immigrate, but taxpayers cannot continue to foot the bill for individuals who break the law and skip the line.” To view Governor Landry’s Executive Order, please click HERE. … [Read more...]

LCU to remain closed through Wednesday

By LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) - Due to the inclement weather, the Louisiana Christian University campus will remain closed on Jan. 17. Faculty and students will continue to follow the continuity of 0perations plan guidelines and continue classes online through Canvas assignments. The drop/add date for classes will be adjusted and extended after the campus reopens. Food service will provide brunch and dinner on Tuesday and Wednesday. … [Read more...]