By LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) – Robert Freeman challenged students during the Louisiana Christian University’s Christ, Church, Culture (C3) event, Feb. 27, to be the generation to bring about racial reconciliation by having authentic conversations with each other. Freeman, a nationally recognized speaker and facilitator on the issue, shared how a cultural and racial divide in the United States shaped his identity as a young man who grew up on the Mason-Dixon line, which is known as the boundary between the Southern slave states and Northern free states. “God surrounded me with people who were different from me to have conversations with,” said Freeman, founder of Robert Freeman Ministries. “Out the back door, it was the North, and out the front door was the South. I grew up on this Mason-Dixon line, and God has used me as an instrument of peace and reconciliation.” Freeman shared how he lost his mother as a teenager, and a family, she had worked for, filled the gap and treated him as their own. Alice and Edward Taylor (a white family) told him they felt led by the Lord to take care of him and at 16 he became a Christ follower. The Taylors, along with his high school cross country coach, later paid for him to … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) - College students from Louisiana and across the nation gathered on their respective campuses, Feb. 23, to cry out to God for revival during the 200th annual Collegiate Day of Prayer. Held the last Thursday each February, the event was a “united, multi-generational day of prayer for revival and awakening on college campuses in America.” According to the Collegiate Day of Prayer website, individuals, churches and other organizations signed up to pray for 4,323 campuses. Additionally, a ‘Day of Prayer’ simulcast took place at Asbury University where more than 50,000 people have been a part of revival from the past three weeks (Feb 8 to Feb 20). On Feb. 21, those services were moved off campus as the school continued to host evening services for college and high school aged students (25 and under) through Feb. 23. At LSU, more than 400 students gathered for a prayer and worship service at the Chapel on the Campus. The service was scheduled to end at 11 p.m. but 50 students remained past midnight to continue pouring out their hearts to the Lord. The event was sponsored by LSU’s BCM, Chi Alpha (Assemblies of God’s student organization), Campus Crusade for … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – On the heels of the sweeping revival at Asbury University, Baptist Collegiate Ministries and other Christian university organizations are gearing up for a possible outpouring of the Holy Spirit on their respective campuses during the 200th annual Collegiate Day of Prayer, Feb. 23. Held the last Thursday in February, the event is a “united, multi-generational day of prayer for revival and awakening on college campuses in America.” According to the Collegiate Day of Prayer website, individuals, churches and other organizations have signed up to pray on 4,323 campuses. Additionally, a ‘Day of Prayer’ simulcast will take place at Asbury University where more than 50,000 people have been a part of revival from the past three weeks (Feb 8 to Feb 20). On Feb. 21, those services were moved off campus as the school continued to host evening services for college and high school aged students (25 and under) through Feb. 23. "This week is particularly a good time to pray as revival breaks out on campuses across the country," Louisiana Baptist BCM Team Director Mark Robinson told the Baptist Message. "However, there is always a need to pray for our college … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer PARCHMAN, Miss. (LBM) – Robert Hyde, the immediate past pastor of Grace Baptist Church in the Louisiana State Penitentiary, who was granted parole in March 2022, has begun discipling inmates at the Mississippi State Penitentiary. In his role as a program supervisor, Hyde oversees more than 300 men who are taking classes in vocational school, adult basic education, Mississippi Delta Community College courses, careers services, book clubs via Zoom from Mississippi Library Commission and Jackson State University, and the extension center of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary classes. He also is an adjunct professor with the NOBTS extension center. Hyde, who began working at the prison in July 2022, said his new role is a way for him to give back to those who helped turn his life around while as an inmate. “It feels right to be here doing this,” Hyde, who shared his testimony at the 2023 Louisiana Baptist state Evangelism Conference, told the Baptist Message. “This is exactly where I am supposed to be, which is helping guys. I finally get to be for these guys what other men were for me at Angola. It’s the ultimate way to give back.” ROAD TO REDEMPTION Hyde grew … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer NEW ORLEANS (LBM) – Louisiana Baptists have a golden opportunity to reap a harvest of souls during a pair of evangelistic efforts preceding the 2023 Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting, which is scheduled for June 13-14 in New Orleans. The “Send Relief Serve Tour,” an effort that seeks to involve participants in service projects in Houma and New Orleans as the foundation for evangelism, will take place June 9-10. A celebration service will be held June 10 at First Bap[1]ist Church, New Orleans, with a meal at 5 p.m. and service at 6 p.m. Additionally, “Crossover,” a large-scale evangelistic effort, will take place in the New Orleans Baptist Association and North Shore Baptist Association, June 10. The “Serve Tour” and “Crossover” weekend will wrap up with a Harvest Sunday, June 11. Churches in these areas will be encouraged to utilize evangelists to fill the pulpit that day. Louisiana Baptist Executive Director Steve Horn has set a combined goal for soul-winning through these two evangelistic efforts. In his report to the Executive Board in September and then again at the LBC Annual Meeting in November, he shared that he is praying for 2,023 people to be … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer POLLOCK, La. (LBM) - Three days after a fire destroyed the facilities at New Friendship Baptist Church, more than 215 faithful members and guests gathered under a tent, Feb. 19, to praise God despite their loss. Pastor Lloyd Whitman said while he and his congregation are devastated over the fire that burned down the worship center, fellowship hall and education building on Feb. 16, the church has a bright future in Christ. Whitman said the church is looking forward to rebuilding on the grounds. “We are not quitting,” Whitman told the Baptist Message. “Quitters never win, and winners never quit. We are going forward.” Whitman said the church will continue to meet under the Louisiana Baptist Convention-owned tent for several more weeks and after that time could relocate temporarily for worship to one of the many churches that have offered their facilities. Whitman noted his thanks for the outpouring of support shown from sister Louisiana Baptist and other denominational churches. “There has been a tremendous outpouring of love for our church,” Whitman said. “I have always known we are together as churches but the love so many people have shown us is … [Read more...]

EDITOR’S NOTE: Do you have a Revival, Homecoming, a new pastor, a community outreach or a concert? The Baptist Message would love to share your church news with the rest of the state. It is very easy to do, just send in your information (who, what, where and when) to philip@baptistmessage.com or call 318.449.4345. To get your event in the paper, please submit your information three weeks prior to the event. ON THE MOVE Beulah Baptist Church Pastor Charles Blanchard was ordained January 29 n Don Francis, associate pastor at Eastwood Baptist Church, Haughton, has resigned to hospice chaplaincy. Mike Anderson is retiring as pastor at Haynes Avenue Baptist Church, Shreveport. Chris Keeny has resigned as pastor at Westlake Baptist Church, Shreveport to go on the foreign mission field. Kristen McAnelly is the new children’s minister at Covenant Benton. Hunter Johnson is the new music minister at Bonita Road Baptist Church, Bastrop. Don White has resigned as pastor of Jerusalem Baptist Church, Calhoun to accept a position in Texas. Oren, wife Ginger, Conner is the new pastor at Greenwell Springs Baptist Church. Matt Root is the new interim Student Ministry Leader at Greenwell Springs Baptist Church. Valerie … [Read more...]