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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

YEC scheduled for Nov. 19-20

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptist youth and adult leaders are gearing up for the 36th annual Youth Evangelism Celebration, a statewide assembly focused on preparing the next genera­tion to share Christ with the world. Scheduled Nov. 19-20 in the Rapides Parish Coliseum, Alexandria, the largest an­nual gathering of Louisiana Baptists will feature messages by Daryl Jones, founder of Point Ministries, high-energy music, times of fellowship and much more. Last year’s event drew more than 5,300 youth and resulted in 830 decisions for Christ. “We are excited for this year’s lineup,” Louisiana Baptist Youth Strategist Lee Myers said. “I believe God is going to do some amaz­ing things over the course of those couple of days. I’m ask­ing folks to start praying even now before the event! Pray that God’s presence is felt by every person that comes in the building. Pray for those on the program and those in attendance. I really sense big things are going to happen at this event! Don’t miss it!” Caitlin Rolon is one of those who will be making a return trip to YEC. Rolon began coming to the event in 2006 as a student at Simpson Baptist Church and now as an adult … [Read more...]

Pastors to emphasize ‘joy’ during annual conference

By Baptist Message staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Organizers of this year’s Louisiana Baptist Pastors Conference in the facilities of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church, New Orleans, hope to remind participants, Nov. 13, about the joy of ministry. “Over the last three years of the COVID season, there has been much talk about persevering and not growing weary which is very important,” Pastors Conference President Michael Wood, also pastor of First West, told the Baptist Message. “We want to shed light on what an incredible honor it is to have joy in serving Christ. Each guy will have a different element to share on the theme of joy.” The program will begin, 9:30 a.m., with music led by Nate Jernigan, assistant professor of music and worship, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and others from the seminary, and messages by Leroy Fountain, an LBC church health consultant, and David Allen, professor, Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary, Cordova, Tenn. After lunch, the conference will continue, 1:30 p.m., with an afternoon session featuring messages by Ryan Rice, pastor, Connect Church, Algiers; Dean Inserra, pastor, City Church, Tallahassee, Fla.; and Clay Smith, pastor, Johnson Ferry Baptist Church, Marietta, … [Read more...]

Students urged to sign up to reach classmates for Christ

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – The Student Missionary evangelism strategy, launched in early August, is a guided, school-year-long training program for students to learn how to be intentional about being an evangelist on campus. Sixth to twelfth graders are commissioned by their respective churches to reach their classmates for Christ. Then each student is matched with a coach who will help him or her to grow in Christ and develop the skills needed to share Jesus with their classmates. Additionally, the student will have at least four prayer partners who will adjust their intercessions according to monthly updates from the student. Steve Masters, coordinator of the program and director of the Louisiana Baptist Collegiate Ministry at LSU, said he hopes many churches will partner with students and help foster a foundation of discipleship that will carry on past high school. “Many seniors have checked out of their faith and student ministry involvement by the time they reach the final year of high school,” Masters told the Baptist Message. “The best place to reach students is our schools. If we can walk beside our students, we can better help reduce that rate and help them reach … [Read more...]

2023 LBC: ‘Pursuit’ of soul winning

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Messengers to the 2023 Louisiana Baptist Convention Annual Meeting will be challenged with a theme of “Pursuit” to seek to grow a culture of evangelism as they celebrate the 175th anniversary of the state fellowship of churches, Nov. 14, in the facilities of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church, New Orleans. “We look forward to being in New Orleans for the 2023 Annual Meeting of Louisiana Baptists,” Louisiana Baptist Executive Director Steve Horn told the Baptist Message. “We are grateful for the hospitality of Dr. Fred Luter and the saints at Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in hosting us. As Louisiana Baptists will recall, we were scheduled to be there in 2020, but had to alter those plans due to COVID-19. I am excited that we will be able to finally gather at Franklin Avenue. “When Baptists gathered in 1848 in Mount Lebanon, Louisiana, to organize the Baptist State Convention of North Louisiana with 65 ministers, 88 congregations, and 3,650 members, I’m sure they could not envision the nearly 1,600 congregations and 425,00 baptized believers that comprise today’s Convention of churches,” he continued. “We will gather to celebrate their vision, their … [Read more...]

Responses reveal impact of La Baptists’ media outreach

By John Kyle, LBC Communications ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBC) – “I would like to know that I am not lost and will be forgiven,” Breaux Bridge, LA “I believe there is a God, but I need help really feeling He is there,” Hammond, LA “I prayed that prayer and started crying,” Belle Chase, LA Quotes along the lines of those above are received on a regular basis in response to Louisiana Baptists’ multi-media outreach strategy, “Here for You,” according to Louisiana Baptist Communication Director John Kyle. “We receive a monthly report from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association outlining responses 25,000 views of the Gospel presentation and more than 4,100 people have indicated a decision for Christ since 2019. There have also been over 1,400 searches for area churches through HereforYou.org. Individuals visiting the website have the opportunity to share prayer requests." Recent requests include: “… I pray for healing release and deliverance from current and past traumas …” “ … I’m going through a really tough time. My husband of 10 years wants a divorce for no specific reason. … Please pray over us …” “I have been having health issues … I’ve lost my job, including my insurance … I can use all of the prayers for … [Read more...]

Messengers to consider LBC resolutions

NEW ORLEANS - Messengers to the 2023 Louisiana Baptist Convention Annual Meeting will consider five resolutions. RESOLUTION 1: ON PARENTAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES WHEREAS, Marriage is the first institution established by God, modeled after the relationship of Christ and His Church (Genesis 2:24; Ephesians 5:31-32), and fundamental to the family which is a key construct on earth (Genesis 1:28) and in Heaven (John 1:12; Romans 8:15, 29; Galatians 3:26, 4:6-7); and WHEREAS, God has indicated the importance of the relationship between parents and their child, specifically highlighting this special bond in His first instructions to Israel on how to be a people of God (Exodus 20: 3-17); and WHEREAS, The Bible calls for parents to pray for their child (2 Samuel 12:16; 1 Chronicle 29:16-19; Job 1:5); set an example for their child (Proverbs 20:7); provide their child with food, clothing, shelter and even an inheritance (1 Timothy 5:8; Proverbs 13:22); ensure the safety, supervision and control of their child (Proverbs 13:24; 22:6, 15; 23:13-14; 29:15; Ephesians 6:4; Colossians 3:21; Titus 2:1-5); and educate their child, especially spiritually (Deuteronomy 6:6-9; 11:18-21; Johsua 24:15); and WHEREAS, Louisiana law … [Read more...]

LBC needs Louisiana Christian University

By Eddie Wren ZACHARY, La. (LBM) -- I am not a graduate of Louisiana Christian Uni­versity. But I have served on the board of trustees, two years as president of the Louisiana Baptist Convention and then as an elected member for two terms. In that time, I have come to love and support our university, and I believe we need LCU more than ever and that we need to support her like never before. We need LCU because it is a distinctively Chris­tian voice in an increas­ingly secular society. There are many state universities that can pre­pare students for the job market. But none of them emphasize the Christian worldview in every dis­cipline the way that LCU does. Unfortunately, when many of our Louisiana Baptist children go to state schools, they sit under professors who scoff at Christianity and even try to kill the faith that parents spent years nurturing in their children. Young people have shared with me about the ridicule they endured in classes because of their faith in Christ. Sadly, I have wit­nessed more than a few leave for school as active members of the body of Christ only to return from college no longer living the faith they once possessed. Regret­tably, research shows that 66 percent of Christian students … [Read more...]

Former Louisiana Baptists aid violence-ravaged Israelis

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ISRAEL (LBM) – Mike and Suzanne Shumock watched in disbelief at footage from news outlets detailing the atrocities committed by Hamas forces against the Israeli people and knew they could not sit idle. They boarded a plane and arrived in the country in early October to serve on a Texas Baptist Men feeding team in southern Israel. Since then, the Shumocks have helped prepare thousands of meals and seen first-hand the need to be a shining light for Christ amid darkness. Shumock is the former Louisiana Baptist Mission Builders coordinator and now resides with his wife, Suzanne, in Mississippi. “We have not been around many Israelis other than the few volunteers who were preparing meals when we arrived,” Shumock told the Baptist Message. “They are heartbroken and devastated to hear about the horrific events carried out by Hamas. According to John Hall, director of communications for Texas Baptist Men, the Shumocks are among 20 members of a Texas Baptist Men feeding team who are preparing meals that are delivered by Israeli volunteer teams to rocket-ravaged neighborhoods and a hospital in southern Israel. The team arrived in Israel on Oct. 10 and the next day prepared … [Read more...]

LCU awards first grad certificates at CHRISTUS

By Lexi Rachal, Wildcats Media Louisiana Christian University presented four CHRISTUS Health System employees with graduate certificates in healthcare administration at the hospital, Oct 18. Before the ceremony began, LCU President Rick Brewer spoke to the awardees about their time in the program and about what sets LCU’s programs apart—faith and values. “We are pleased to partner with the CHRISTUS Health Systemto offer a Certificate in Healthcare Management at the graduate level,” Brewer said. “Our shared mission for faith integration underscores the strength of this key academic offering under the umbrella of the Jonathan Martin MBA program at LCU. We are confident the Healthcare Management Certificate will produce transformational leaders for Christus Cabrini now and in the future.”  Monte Wilson, CEO of CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini Health System, attended the ceremony and said the faith aspect of the program is what will bring more employees to it. “Faith and values are what matters,” Wilson said. “There’s so many crazy things going on around here, and I think that will help to get more people engaged.” Brewer presented each student with a certificate and invited them to complete one of LCU’s master's … [Read more...]

Louisiana Notables

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 to four weeks prior to the event. ON THE MOVE Andy Jacobson is the interim worship leader at Trinity Baptist Church, Lake Charles. HOMECOMING Green Oak Baptist Church, Merryville: 139th Homecoming, October 22, 11 a.m. Dinner on the grounds will follow the worship service. Pastor: Mark Norwood. New Prospect Baptist Church, Dubach: Homecoming Sunday, October 22, 10:45 a.m. Guest Speaker: Terry Ganey, Dunn Baptist Church. Special Music: TBA. A potluck meal and congregational singing will follow. Pastor: Marvin Winham. Main Street Mission, Pineville: Homecoming, October 29, 10:30 a.m.. Dinner on the grounds follows the worship service. Pastor: Sam West. Colfax Baptist Church, Colfax: Homecoming Service Nov. 5, 11 a.m. Following the service enjoy a cake/coffee fellowship. Pastor: Shane Anderson. New Hope Baptist Church, Elmer: 150Th … [Read more...]