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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

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...]

A statement by the Baptist Mission Center on the indictment of Daryl Stagg

The CenLa Baptist Association (Baptist Mission Center) board of directors released a statement after they learned of the grand jury's decision to indict Daryl Stagg: "The Baptist Mission Center has learned that a former employee, Daryl Stagg, has been indicted by a Grant Parish grand jury. Our prayers and support are with the families and affected persons involved that God will surely bring justice and healing in this difficult situation. Mr. Stagg has not worked with the Baptist Mission Center since early June 2023 and is no longer employed at the Center. It is our understanding that the charges involve allegations solely within his family and have never involved any of his responsibilities or interactions while serving at the Baptist Mission Center." … [Read more...]

Grand jury indicts Daryl Stagg

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor COLFAX, La. (LBM) – In a press statement, Oct. 16, Grant Parish District Attorney Jay Lemoine announced that a grand jury had indicted Daryl Ray Stagg on four counts of first-degree rape, five counts of sexual battery and one count of indecent behavior with a juvenile. In Louisiana, a grand jury conducts its investigation in secret with the state's attorney and determines whether there is enough evidence to proceed to trial. Members only hear the government’s case against the defendant and do not render a verdict. Stagg, 61, was arrested June 8, 2023, and charged at that time with 12 felony counts of sex crimes against at least one child in Grant Parish. Union Parish leveled an additional four charges, then, and noted that these crimes involved one juvenile victim in the Bernice area. The two parishes required a combined bond of $1.45 million. During a joint press conference, June 11, the sheriff’s from Grant, Union and Rapides Parishes revealed there also was an investigation of Stagg in Kenosha County, Wisconsin. At the time of his arrest, Stagg was the associational mission strategist, since October 2018, for the Big Creek and CenLa Baptist Associations (Grant and … [Read more...]

Despite heart attacks, stroke, Longoria thankful

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer DERIDDER, La. (LBM) – Evangelist Lyndon Longoria missed a year from the pulpit, 2019- 2020, during a battle with a stroke and other medical conditions, but through those trials he experienced God’s good­ness through the love displayed by thousands, he said. “I never thought about giving up or quitting. I just didn’t know if I would be able to continue to preach as an evange­list,” Longoria told the Baptist Message. “I knew I could still talk and the Lord could still use me to preach, even if I had to preach sitting down-which I did at the begin­ning. “My faith in the faith­fulness of God has been unwavering,” he contin­ued. “The Word of God has become precious to me again, and has fed my heart and my soul. My faith in God and His ability is in a place it has never been before. There are many struggles and I have battled moments of depression, but my faith in God has overcome it all. I have perfect peace that He will finish what He has started.” TRYING MOMENTS April 19, 2019, started like any other day for Longoria, who was preaching at a revival ser­vice in Cordele, Georgia. But the day turned out to be anything but normal. As Longoria began to preach an “assortment” … [Read more...]

Myers returns ‘home’ as LBC youth strategist

ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – A former Louisiana Baptist student minister who moved out of state in 2019 has returned as the youth strategist for Louisiana Baptists. Lee Myers, who began his new role Oct. 1, most recently was the student minister at First Baptist Church, Jonesboro, Arkansas. “Louisiana has always felt like my Jerusalem,” Myers told the Baptist Message. “The opportunity to come back and serve the state is what the Lord wanted me to do.” A native of Jayess, Mississippi, Myers has served 34 years, collectively, with local churches. In addition to his most recent role in Arkansas, Myers was a student minister with congregations in Mississippi (Shady Grove Baptist Church, Ruth, Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, Gloster, West McComb Baptist Church, McComb) and Louisiana (Immanuel Baptist Church, Hammond, First Baptist Church, Zachary, First Baptist Church, Baton Rouge, and Airline Baptist Church, Bossier City). He also has served as minister of assimilation with Cypress BaptistChurch, Benton; a teacher for Pine Hills Academy, Gloster, Mississippi, and Riverdale Christian Academy, Baton Rouge. He has also volunteered on numerous youth ministry planning committees and groups including the Youth Evangelism Celebration … [Read more...]

GBO: Reynolds Scholarship a huge help to collegians

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer VILLE PLATTE, La. (LBM) – For the last 25 years, the Hannah Reynolds Women’s Missions and Ministry Scholarship has given Louisiana Christian University students financial aid as well as encouragement to press on with the Great Commission in their future careers. Throughout the year, WMM associational leaders across the state “adopt” the scholarship recipients. In addition to praying for the students, they also send encouraging cards. Kevin West, pastor of First Baptist Church, Ville Platte, and the father of two of the scholarship recipients, was touched by the prayer cards his children, Ethan and Kamryn, have received during their time at Louisiana Christian University. “With our children going to college, they’re going to go out and graduate one day and be professionals in whatever chosen area (which) for both of them is medical,” West said. “They are going out as Christian doctors, as Christian researchers. They are taking a worldview of Christ out into the world, and everyone that contributed through Georgia Barnette to the WMM scholarship has had an instrumental part in getting them there.” Ethan West said he was impressed the WMM leaders in his association would … [Read more...]

Horn emphasizes need for culture of evangelism

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer WOODWORTH, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptist Executive Director Steve Horn emphasized the need for and results of a culture of evangelism among Louisiana Baptists when he addressed Executive Board members during their Sept. 26 meeting. “By God’s grace, this will always be our priority for us,” Horn said. “I have shared with you and in various ways the idea of a culture of evangelism. This is what we think about. This is what we do. This is what drives us. This is our prayer. “Louisiana is known for its culture,” he said. “Sometimes that’s good. Sometimes that’s not so good. What it would be like if it would be said of us that there’s a culture of  evangelism.” Horn told board members he has been encouraged in several areas of evangelism this year: -- Crossover and Serve Tour, a pair of evangelistic efforts that took place June 9-10 before the 2023 Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting in New Orleans, saw 336 recorded professions of faith; -- 207 decisions for Christ took place during LBC-sponsored camps at Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center, Woodworth; and -- ‘Here for You,’ Louisiana Baptists’ statewide multi-media campaign, resulted another 206 spiritual … [Read more...]

Freshman Fresina crowned Miss LCU 2024

By Elizabeth Clarke, LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) – Ailynn Fresina, a freshman theatre major from Zachary, took home the title of 2024 Miss LCU along with a full one-year scholarship, Oct. 5. “I am so incredibly honored to have received this title and represent LCU at the upcoming Miss Louisiana pageant in June,” Fresina said. “Receiving this title has already proven to be a wonderful experience, and I can't wait to get even more involved in the community of Pineville and the student body here at LCU.” Fresina will compete in the Miss Louisiana Pageant in Monroe in June 2024 and will represent the university at all functions this academic year. She is a member of BCM, ballet, lyric theater and musical theater. Her career plans are to direct musicals at a Louisiana high school. LCU President Rick Brewer, along with Miss LCU 2023 Jocelyn Holt, crowned Fresina and presented her with flowers. Five candidates vied for the title of Miss LCU 2024. The other four candidates were: Victoria Watson, a senior convergence media major concentrating in journalism, New Iberia Kristin McKee, a freshman elementary education major, Benton Samantha McCollough, a junior psychology major, Oakdale McKenzie Young, a … [Read more...]

Louisiana church self-insurance advisory board OK’d

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer WOODWORTH, La. (LBM) – In response to the church insurance crisis that is pressing on congregations across the state, Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board members approved, during their Sept. 26 meeting, an advisory committee to help identify strategies and resources to secure one-time funding to launch the state legislature approved self-insurance program. BACKGROUND Louisiana lawmakers passed legislation in June, now signed into law by the governor, that established a church self-insurance trust. However, a separate funding line item for the trust was deleted during negotiations between the Senate and House. Consequently, multiple approaches are underway to secure one-time funding from the state and federal governments and possibly other sources to assist with setup costs. In the meantime, efforts are beginning to complete “no cost” steps while the funding appeals proceed. The push to help churches began in March when Steve Horn, executive director of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, reached out to the Louisiana Baptist Office of Public Policy to share that churches were contacting his office about insurance nonrenewal notices and soaring premiums due to … [Read more...]