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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

2025 Resolution: Win souls

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Historians have traced the tradition of New Year’s resolutions to about 4,000 years ago and the ancient Babylonians, who celebrated a 12-day festival of planting at the start of their new year (March) by promising their gods to pay back debts and return borrowed items. Nearly 2,000 years later when emperor Julius Caesar established January 1 as the beginning of the annual calendar, the Romans adopted similar practices, offering sacrifices and promising to be good in the coming year. Today, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day are celebrated worldwide, and research indicates that in the United States up to half of adults make some sort of resolution (typically regarding health, fitness or finances, but Bible study and prayer are popular commitments among Christians). However, for 2025, I urge Louisiana Baptists to resolve to do something more meaningful than just “better oneself” – even spiritually. Instead, I call on Louisiana Baptists to make a specific commitment to win souls to Christ! Soul winning is not something new to Louisiana Baptists. Indeed, it is believed that in 1799 Baptist preacher Joseph Willis swam the Mississippi River on the back of … [Read more...]

Life Marches 2025: ‘Every life is worth living’

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – Anticipated thousands of Louisianians will stand together for life at five pro-life marches throughout the state in the coming weeks, according to the lead organizer. The theme for the marches is “Every life is worth living.” “We are thrilled in 2025 to proclaim that ‘every life is worth living’ in Louisiana from the unborn child in her mother’s womb to other vulnerable populations like the disabled and handicapped,” Louisiana Right to Life Executive Director Ben Clapper told the Baptist Message. “We know that we have been in uncharted territory since the reversal of Roe v. Wade with an uptick of propaganda in the press accusing pro-life groups, pregnancy centers, and pro-life people of harming women because of Louisiana's pro-life laws. The truth remains that the pro-life community loves both the unborn child and the mother. Our goal has always been to empower women to choose life in even the most difficult of situations. We, together with nearly 40 pregnancy centers across the state, continue to stand strong, but we need you to show our elected officials and the community that we will never sway in our mission to save lives.” -- Jan. 22 (Lake … [Read more...]

ECON 2025: Create a culture of evangelism

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer COVINGTON, La. (LBM) – During the upcoming state Evangelism Conference, Jan. 27-28, hosted by First Baptist Church, Covington, speakers will urge Louisiana Baptists to reach their friends and family for Christ and to create a culture of evangelism within their congregations. “When you come to ECON with a group of church members, you will be encouraged and equipped to return home with a renewed sense of urgency to reach your friends and family for Christ,” Louisiana Baptist Evangelism and Church Growth Team Director Keith Manuel told the Baptist Message. “It is powerful when a group attends and then goes home with a unified purpose.” PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS The first session will begin at 1:30 pm on Monday and will feature messages by Leroy Fountain, church health strategist with New Orleans Baptist Association and church planter consultant with Louisiana Baptists, and by Mike Courtney, itinerant evangelist in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and the surrounding areas. Bill Blackmon, president and chaplain with Truckstop Ministries, will share a testimony about his ministry. After a break for supper, the conference will continue at 6 p.m. with a message by Waylon Bailey, … [Read more...]

New Orleans pastors prayer walk site of terrorist attack

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer NEW ORLEANS (LBM) – A day after a terrorist used a truck to kill 14 people and injured more than 35 others on Bourbon Street, New Orleans pastors prayer walked the area, Jan. 2, before it reopened to the public. Among those Louisiana Baptist pastors and lay leaders participating were Page Brooks, senior pastor, Canal Street Church: A Mosaic Community, New Orleans; Larry Johnson, lay leader, Bridge Church, Madisonville; Ricky Murphy, associate pastor, Celebration Church, Metairie; Michael Raymond, Shiloh Christian Fellowship, New Orleans; and Dennis Waston, senior pastor, Celebration Church, Metairie. New Orleans Diocese Archbishop Gregory Aymond, Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell, other pastors and law enforcement leaders also participated in the prayer walk, which took place at the request of Cantrell. The group also left yellow roses along the street in memory of the victims. A second line band followed the group and played hymns such as “I’ll fly away” and “Just a closer walk with thee.” “It was surreal to see Bourbon Street so clean and without people, which is totally atypical of how it usually is,” Watson said. “We prayed for the … [Read more...]

LBC president, executive director issue prayer call for Jan. 5

By Baptist Message staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – In a joint statement released to the Baptist Message, Jan.2, Louisiana Baptist Convention President David Goza, pastor of Jefferson Baptist Church, Baton Rouge, and Steve Horn, LBC executive director, asked Louisiana Baptist churches to set aside time during Sunday services, Jan. 5, to pray for those affected by a terrorist's assault in the Crescent City, Jan. 1: “In light of the evil attack in New Orleans on New Years Day, we call upon our family of churches to designate specific time during worship services this Sunday, January 5, to pray ‘in one accord’ (Acts 4:24). “We recognize there is much to pray about. We pray for those who mourn. We pray for those who are injured. We pray for our law enforcement officers. We pray for our leaders. We pray for justice. “Let us also pray for protection, compassion, boldness and wisdom as we seek to be the hands and feet of Jesus to those around us. Finally, let us pray for God’s favor as we seek the lost who live among us.” At least 15 people died and 30 were injured after 42-year-old Shamsud Din Jabbar drove a white Ford F-150 Lightning EV truck around a police blockade and slammed into revelers before being shot dead by … [Read more...]

Public safety a top priority amid ongoing New Orleans terror attack investigation

By Baptist Message staff NEW ORLEANS (LBM) – City, state and federal officials, during a news conference Jan. 1, praised the response by law enforcement following a terrorist attack on New Orleans’ Bourbon Street and promised a safe environment for the Sugar Bowl, which has been postponed to Jan. 2. “We are committed, no doubt, to uncovering all details surrounding this tragedy,” said New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell. “And we’re taking every necessary step to put even more safety procedures in place, especially given the nature of the investigation.” Around 3:17 a.m. on Jan. 1, a man identified as U.S. born citizen 42-year-old Shamsud Din Jabbar, drove a white Ford F-150 Lightning EV truck around a police blockade and slammed into revelers before being shot dead by police. Authorities said at least 15 people, two from Louisiana, have now died including 28-year old Lafayette native Tiger Bech, 37-year-old Reggie Hunter, a father of two, and 30 sustained injuries. Multiple individuals were reportedly struck before the vehicle crashed. Once the vehicle stopped, the suspect reportedly opened fire on responding officers, who then returned fire. Two officers sustained injuries and were transported via emergency medical … [Read more...]

Louisiana Baptist leaders following terrorist attack: pray for New Orleans

By Baptist Message staff NEW ORLEANS (LBM) – Hours after an individual intentionally drove his truck down Bourbon Street and killed at least 10 people and injured 35 on New Year’s Day morning, Louisiana Baptist leaders expressed sympathy and asked for prayers for those impacted by what the FBI is investigating as a terrorist attack. According to a New Orleans Police Department news release, at around 3:17 a.m., multiple law enforcement officers responded to a report of a vehicle having driven into a crowd of pedestrians on Bourbon Street after exiting Canal Street. Multiple individuals were reportedly struck before the vehicle crashed. Once the vehicle stopped, the suspect reportedly opened fire on responding officers, who then returned fire. Two officers sustained injuries and were transported via emergency medical services to a local hospital and were last listed in stable condition, while the suspect died. A news release from the FBI said the suspect has been identified as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, a U.S. citizen from Texas. He was driving a Ford pickup truck, which the FBI said that it appears to have been rented. The FBI said an ISIS flag was located in the vehicle, and they are working to determine the subject's … [Read more...]

LCU narrows pool of presidential candidates

By Baptist Message staff PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) - Louisiana Christian University has narrowed down its list of candidates for the next president to five individuals. According to Presidential Search Committee Chairman Tommy Kiker, the committee met Dec. 11 and chose the finalists from a list of nine semi-finalists. “What I am most encouraged by is that I believe we are trying to pull the best fit and follow God’s direction in making this decision among a pool of excellent candidates,” Kiker, also pastor of East Leesville Baptist Church, told the Baptist Message. “Any one of these five men, I’d be proud to introduce as LCU's next candidate. “Pray that God would give us wisdom and make it very clear the choice He has for LCU,” he said. “There is really not a bad selection among this group. We don’t just want a good choice; We want God’s choice.” The committee will conduct in-person interviews with the finalists in January and hope to have a final candidate by the time the board of trustees meet Feb. 25. LCU has conducted a nationwide search for the 10th president of the nearly 120-year-old institution since June. Since then, the search committee has received applications and recommendations from alumni, community … [Read more...]

Haitian congregation reaching New Orleans for Jesus

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer NEW ORLEANS (LBM) – Escalating gang violence in Haiti’s capital city had forced Louisiana Reach Haiti to refocus its ministry on several fronts in 2022, but in New Orleans God was opening a door for Dawest Louis to share Christ’s love with his fellow countrymen, including those forced to move to the U.S. due to the situation in the Caribbean nation. Dawest, who graduated from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary two years earlier, had longed to reach the more than 10,000 Haitians living in New Orleans with the Good News and began the process through the North American Mission Board to plant a church. Without a church building to call home, Louis and 11 others gathered for prayer and sought the Lord for His direction. God answered in April 2022 when Connect Church, Algiers, offered a space in their facility and Eglise Connect International was born. The church continued meeting and has grown to 65 who attend Sunday worship services. Of those, 12 have been baptized since its inception. In addition to holding Sunday worship and Tuesday Bible study and prayer, the church brings water to and shares the Gospel with taxi drivers at Louis Armstrong International Airport. … [Read more...]

Drive-by prayer ministry a soul-winning mission

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer HAMMOND, La. (LBM) – Door-to-door evangelism has been a way of life for Pastor Les Fogle­man for the last 40 years but in 2023 he felt led to use the parking lot of New Beulah Baptist Church in Hammond as a Gospel tool. Since June 2023, Fogle­man has placed signs on grassy areas near the parking lot to alert motor­ists to the opportunity of sharing their prayer needs. Through this ministry that operates on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday afternoons, Fogleman has shared the Gospel with more than 350 people and seen 10 of them surrender their lives to Christ and follow through with bap­tism in a portable baptis­tery on the church parking lot. “A lot of people will honk and wave at me as they see me on the park­ing lot,” Fogleman told the Baptist Message. “I never know what problems and difficulties people may share when they come and ask for prayer. I’m thankful the Lord has allowed me the opportunity and honor to be there to pray with someone in need.” The idea to start the parking lot prayer ministry came to Fogleman while he was praying in front of the church. He noticed 15-45 cars at a time would pass through a red light by the church and knew that the community could … [Read more...]