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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Celebration Church baptizes 17 during block party

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer VIOLET, La. (LBM) – Seventeen people went all in for Jesus, June 10, during a block party at Celebration Church’s Lower St. Bernard campus, participating in believer’s baptism. One by one, each person came in and out of a water-filled portable trough and was greeted with applause during the church’s first ever “Jesus Fest” block party. According to Pastor Trevor Truitt, Thirteen who were baptized made a decision during the block party and four others already had planned on being baptized during the event. Additionally, 19 children came forward at the block party and will be contacted for follow up. “We knew God was a part of this and He just blew our mind,” Truitt told the Baptist Message. “Our church is very evangelistically driven and understand what it means to be a fan of Jesus but not a follower. Because of that, we understand the need to win others for Jesus and help them grow deeper in the faith.” Truitt said he was grateful for each person who were baptized during the “Jesus Fest” block party that featured Gospel presentations, games, inflatables, face painting, cotton candy, music and food vendors. The evangelistic event was a combined effort by the Lower … [Read more...]

Alabama volunteer team encourages Vintage Church during playground build

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer METAIRIE, La. (LBM) - An Alabama church teamed up with Vintage Church in Metairie, June 9, to build a playground that not only will serve as a recreational gathering place for their community but will become fertile ground to develop relationships for Christ. The playground, built by 15 members of Mount Zion Baptist Church in Brantley and 25 members of Vintage Church, will feature slides, a small merry-go-round, stepping stones and alligator and frog spring riders. Additionally, elm trees soon will be planted and benches, picnic tables and fencing will be installed. Vintage Church Generations Director Nick Perret said his church was encouraged that the Alabama team gave up a portion of their summer vacation to assist them to build what will become yet another outreach arm. The church that averages 200 in Sunday worship also participates each month in food distribution in Metairie and hosts a Hispanic worship service. “For several years we have been wanting to complete this playground so we could have another way to connect with our neighborhood, and when we found out the Alabama team would help us, our church was very excited,” Perret told the Louisiana Baptist … [Read more...]

Louisiana Baptist leader, Daryl Stagg, arrested

By Baptist Message staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) -- Daryl Stagg, a prominent Louisiana Baptist leader in Central Louisiana has been arrested. A staff member with the Grant Parish Detention Center in Colfax confirmed by phone with the Baptist Message that Stagg is being detained, June 8, but declined to share about the complaint. Stagg has been the associational mission strategist for the Big Creek and CenLa Baptist Associations since October 2018. The Louisiana Baptist Convention released a statement that acknowledged Stagg's arrest, noting that officials were alerted on June 8. But they added that neither the "Convention nor its Executive Board have any knowledge" about what charges will be filed. Consequently, they offered "no comment" on the matter. However they indicated officials are praying for "all those involved." … [Read more...]

SBC CP dips in May, remains down for FY23

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor NASHVILLE, Tenn. (LBM) — The Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee released the May 2023 financial report, June 6, showing that gifts to SBC causes through the Cooperative Program dipped 0.95 percent while designated giving for the month was up 2.94 percent compared to May 2022. Meanwhile, year-to-date figures showed both funding channels were under 2022 levels. From October 1, 2022, through May 31, 2023, CP contributions were 5.75 percent lower compared to the same timeframe for the last fiscal year. Likewise, designated giving was 4.10 percent less for the same months. Both the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering were down for the year. LBC CP The national report showed giving by Louisiana Baptists to SBC causes in May climbed 8.95 percent through CP and surged 14.33 percent for special offerings. Likewise, the year-to-date data showed Louisiana Baptist contributions through the CP and to designated offerings trended higher for both funding channels, 2.54 percent, and 9.84 percent, respectively. … [Read more...]

‘Stop Harming Our Kids Act’ passes Senate with supermajority, heads to governor’s desk

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – The “Stop Harming Our Kids Act," which prevents doctors and therapists from performing irreversible transgender procedures on minors who are incapable of giving informed consent, passed the Louisiana Senate, June 5, by a vote of 29-10 (eclipsing an earlier Senate supermajority), giving it final passage in the legislature and sending it to Gov. John Bel Edwards’s desk. SHOWDOWN The bill, HB 648, by Rep. Gabe Firment, a deacon with the First Baptist Church, Pollock, now faces a showdown with the governor, who actively lobbied to successfully kill the bill, 5-4, in the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare, May 24, after the measure had sailed through the House Committee on Health and Welfare, 14-3, May 4, and on the House floor, 71-24 (a supermajority), May 16. The 29 favorable votes on June 5 were a pickup of three supporters since the Senate voted 26-12 (one absence) --  a supermajority -- on June 1. That vote removed responsibility for hearing the bill from the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare (which had tanked the legislation), and transferred it to the Senate Committee on Judiciary A, which favorably considered it (4-0, with three … [Read more...]

Lawmakers rally to revive ‘Stop Harming Our Kids Act’

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – On June 1, 26 Louisiana lawmakers rallied on the Senate floor to resurrect HB 648, the “Stop Harming Our Kids Act,” by Rep. Gabe Firment, a deacon with First Baptist Church, Pollock. The bill protects underage children (who are not capable of giving informed consent) against irreversible chemical and surgical transgender procedures. The special legislative procedure was necessary after Gov. John Bel Edwards, according to NOLA.com, “whipped members of the [Senate] Health and Welfare Committee to vote against the bill [5-4] in the hours before the hearing," on May 24. BACKGROUND Before the May 24 interference by the governor, HB 648 had sailed through the legislative process on the House side with overwhelming support. After the special Senate action on June 1, HB 648 was recalled from the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare, essentially discharging them of responsibility for the bill, and then recommitted, or transferred, to the Senate Committee on Judiciary A for another hearing. On June 2, Judiciary A voted to favorably report HB 648, without objections from the four members who were present (three Democrats boycotted the vote), back to the … [Read more...]

Baptism to discipleship

By Steve Horn ALEXANDRIA, La. - Some years ago, I was on a follow-up visit with a friend, and we were visiting a gentleman who had recently prayed to receive Christ. The man had not yet been baptized, and we were going to talk with him about doing so. … [Read more...]

Louisiana legislature recognizes June as Sanctity of Preborn Life Month

By Baptist Message staff BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – The Louisiana legislature, during its May 25 session, approved a resolution that designates June as Sanctity of Preborn Life Month in the state. The resolution, which praises Louisiana Baptists’ role in the pro-life movement, notes “the Bible affirms that the preborn child is a person, bearing the image of God, from the moment of conception” and commends “the churches and individuals who worked tirelessly to cultivate a pro-life culture in our state through prayer, spiritual health and growth of our citizenry regarding pro-life matters, and public policy action including the overwhelming passage of the 2020 constitutional amendment, the Love Life Amendment.” Rep. Dodie Horton, member of First Baptist Church, Haughton, said she was honored to co-author the resolution with Rep. Valerie Hodges on behalf of Louisiana Baptists. “The majority of Louisiana citizens believe life begins at conception, and consistently support our pro-life laws,” Horton told the Baptist Message. “Although we celebrate the Sanctity of the Preborn Life each and every day, designating June as the month to celebrate the lives of our preborn is a sign of our commitment to never allow innocent lives to … [Read more...]

UK’s foremost expert: Gender ideology is ‘a cult belief’

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor CORRECTED JUNE 10 TO CLARIFY INFORMATION ABOUT DR. AZ HAKEEM IN PARAGRAPH FOUR.   BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – In a stunning interview on Louisiana Public Broadcasting, Dr. Az Hakeem, who was identified as “the only psychiatrist in the UK to specialize in working psychotherapeutically with gender dysphoria patients, which he has done for 23 years,” declared, “Gender ideology is made up. It’s a social construct. It’s a cult belief.” The interview was conducted, May 12, by André Moreau, an Emmy-winning journalist who anchors the half-hour LPB television newsmagazine “Louisiana: The State We’re In.” Moreau only asked two questions during the six-minute segment, inquiring about what had prompted the change in numbers of children who were transitioning, and what the statistics about transitioning procedures looked like. TRUTH Hakeem, whose testimony helped catalyze the National Health Service of England to commission the Cass Review which advises the country’s medical community about the transgender crisis in the country, said the surge is “a current form of youth subculture, you know, like punks and goths.” “The worst thing we can do is presume it’s a medical condition,” … [Read more...]

Louisiana lawmakers reject protections for vulnerable children

By Baptist Message staff BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – The Louisiana Senate Committee on Health and Welfare voted 5-4, May 24, to reject HB 648, the “Stop Harming Our Kids Act,” thereby defeating a bill that would have prevented children under the age of 18 years old from being subjected to chemical castration and other permanent procedures related to transgender transitioning. The bill specifically would have prohibited “healthcare professionals from knowingly committing any of the following acts that attempt to alter a minor’s appearance in an attempt to validate a minor’s perception of his sex if the minor’s perception is inconsistent with his biological sex.” The banned procedures would have included hormone blockers, “prescription or administration of testosterone, estrogen, or progesterone,” and sex reassignment surgeries. Another key provision in the "Stop Harming Our Kids Act" would have allowed children who were subjected to chemical or surgical transitioning to file lawsuits against the doctors and therapists who approved or performed such procedures. Moreover, the children’s right to sue would have extended until they reached the age of 30 years old. GLOBALLY The controversy is international. After … [Read more...]