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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

ECON to urge LBC to engage in SBC soul-winning efforts

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer WEST MONROE, La. (LBM) – At the upcoming state Evangelism Conference, Jan. 23-24 in the facilities of the First Baptist Church, West Monroe, speakers will urge Louisiana Baptists to play an active role in two evangelistic efforts tied to the 2023 Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting in New Orleans. SBC EVANGELISTIC PREVIEW Louisiana Baptist Evangelism and Church Growth Team Director Keith Manuel will encourage ECON participants to participate in Crossover, a large-scale evangelistic effort held before the SBC Annual Meeting, and the North American Mission Board SERVE Tour, an effort that seeks to involve participants in service projects as the foundation for evangelism the weekend before the SBC Annual Meeting. LBC staff will help coordinate enrollment for both initiatives. Manuel hopes to have a team from each association to participate in Crossover and SERVE. Previously, LBC Executive Director Steve Horn said he was praying for 2,023 people to be saved through these evangelistic efforts. “We’re attempting to encourage our congregations to participate in the SERVE/Crossover tour,” Manuel said. “We want to enlist and equip Louisiana Baptists for the … [Read more...]

Trinity Baptist education building damaged by early morning fire

HAMMOND, La. (LBM) – A lightning strike which caused a malfunction and a fire in an electrical panel in the education building at Trinity Baptist Church, Hammond, and caused a fire, Jan. 4. According to Pastor Avery Dixon, the damage was minimal and contained to two rooms. He added, no one was inside at the time of the fire which took place shortly after 2 a.m. Dixon said some of the children’s Sunday school classrooms will be relocated while the area is repaired. He thanked the Hammond Fire Department for their quick response and asked for continued prayers as they determine how to proceed. “Pray that our children and their parents don’t get too frustrated,” Dixon told the Baptist Message. “We have to move some children’s rooms to some other places until we get if fixed. We are hoping it just takes a couple of weeks.” … [Read more...]

Homewood Baptist blesses 21 kids at Christmas

By Message staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) - Homewood Baptist Church surprised 21 children with an early Christmas, Dec. 18. After Sunday evening’s worship service, the church presented the children with gifts, stockings and Bibles. Pastor Jimmy Koonce said the 45 members of Homewood Baptist pooled their financial resources and purchased the gifts after they learned of the need in early December from Gulf Coast Social Services. “It’s amazing the heart our church has for others,” Koonce told the Baptist Message. “Our church is so happy to have helped make this a special Christmas for the kids. “We want the children to have good exposure to church,” he said. “And, we want to show them what Christian love and hospitality is as we love them in Jesus’ name.” … [Read more...]

Huffman’s Fairhaven Ministry provides Ukrainians with early Christmas

By Baptist Message staff COVINGTON, La. (LBM) – Hundreds of Ukrainian refugees recently enjoyed an early Christmas when a 40-ft. container of needed supplies from the Covington-based Fairhaven Ministry arrived in Poland. Made possible through donations from individuals in Louisiana and beyond, the container was filled with clothing, medical supplies, hygiene products and toys. The container arrived in a Polish warehouse for early November distribution to Ukrainians who have sought refuge from the ongoing war in their country since February. Items from the container also were distributed to Ukrainian refugees in western Ukraine. Johnny Huffman, who has spearheaded the ministry with his wife, Sissie, for more than 30 years, said a businessman from Texas covered the estimated $7,000 in shipping costs. Fairhaven Ministry also helped God’s Warehouse (operated by Nolachunkcy Baptist Association, Morristown, Tennessee) cover the cost to ship another container to Ukrainian refugees in Israel. The shipment is the latest example of how God has guided and provided Huffman and the ministry with the means and finances to ship more than 150 containers to those in need in numerous countries over the years. “We try to leave … [Read more...]