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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Jenkins to lead LBC missions, ministry team

By Brian Blackwell, Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – James Jenkins, the new Louisiana Baptist missions and ministry team director, shared a God-sized vision to help advance the Kingdom by one percent and lead the way to having a 2000-church state conven­tion by 2033. Jenkins, who has served in the interim role since John Hebert retired from the posi­tion in late December 2022, was approved for the role on a permanent basis by the Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board during a Sept. 26 meeting. “I’ve been in this work for a while, so it’s not brand new to me,” Jenkins told the Baptist Message. “But I am excited to have that sense of stability. I now have been given the opportunity to impact the Kingdom in ways I’ve always wanted to. “I want to thank Dr. Steve Horn, Louisiana Baptist Executive Director, and the Executive Board of the Louisiana Baptist Convention for the opportunity to serve in this position,” he contin­ued. “I’m very mindful of the privilege of serving in this role and want to make sure Louisiana Baptists get a big return on investment.” “I want to also thank the men and women who serve on the mission and ministry team. We are dedicated team serve through women minis­tries, disaster … [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 Jerry Masters retiring as pastor at Red River Baptist Church Jack Norman is the new pastor at The Well, Monroe. HOMECOMING Welcome Home Baptist Church, Dodson: Homecoming service, October 8, 10:30 a.m. with Sanctuary Quartet. Pas­tor: Charles Wesley. Brushy Creek Missionary Baptist Church, Bancroft: 149th Year Homecoming, October 8, 10 a.m. – til. Speaker: Robet Gillis. Please bring your favorite covered dish for fellow­ship lunch. If you have any questions call Mike Streams 337.287.8367 or Velma Suchanek, 337.842.1569. Unity Baptist Church, Pineville: Homecoming, October 8, 11 a.m. Sunday school starts at 10 a.m. A meal will follow the worship service. Pastor: James Brown. Lakeside Baptist Church, Converse: Inaugural Harvest Reunion, October 14, noon until. Church members and … [Read more...]

SBC CP, designated giving down for month, year

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor NASHVILLE, Tenn. (LBM) – The Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee released the September 2023 financial summary, Oct. 4, reporting that monthly gifts to SBC causes through the Cooperative Program and via designated giving were down 1.95 percent and 4.13 percent, respectively, compared to September 2022. Year-to-date giving through both funding channels was also below 2022 levels: -- From Oct. 1, 2022, through Sept. 30, 2023, total SBC CP contributions were 4.29 percent lower compared to the same timeframe for the last fiscal year. -- Likewise, combined designated giving was 2.90 less for the same months, with both of the two largest designated funds down compared to last year. The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering was off 4.38 percent, and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering was lower by 0.22 percent (less than one-quarter of a percentage point). LBC Giving The national report showed monthly giving by Louisiana Baptists to SBC causes in September was up 6.73 percent through CP and 3.72 percent for special offerings. The yearly data was similarly positive. Louisiana Baptists’ 2023 contributions were higher by 1.50 percent through the CP and 9.36 percent via designated … [Read more...]

RPSO arrests LBC employee

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – The Rapides Parish Sheriff's Office website, rpso.org/inmates, has posted notice of the Oct. 6 arrest of Louisiana Baptist Convention employee Joshua Glenn Bumgardner. The online records state that Bumgardner was charged with two counts of “unauthorized entry: of an inhabited dwelling.” No other details were provided. Bumgardner has been employed at the LBC Tall Timbers Conference Center since 2013, according to his LinkedIn account, and news reports indicate he was named interim camp director in December 2017 with the provisional status removed the next year. Updates will be provided as new information becomes known. … [Read more...]

Southern Baptists fight for control of U.S. House

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor WASHINGTON (LBM) – Eight Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives together with 208 Democrats voted, Oct. 3, to oust Kevin McCarthy, a member of Valley Baptist Church in Bakersfield, California, as speaker. Matt Gaetz, a member of First Baptist Church, Fort Walton Beach, Florida, initiated the removal process, filing a motion, Oct. 2, to vacate the office of speaker, which precipitated the vote of no confidence that removed McCarthy from this key leadership role. McCarthy had known of his precarious position since January when he failed to win the office of speaker after 14 votes. He was successful on the 15th ballot only after he agreed to several concessions to a core group of Republicans, including Gaetz, who were reluctant to back him. One of the changes was made to the rule about the motion to vacate. McCarthy agreed to allow a single person to request such a vote instead of the previous requirement that a majority of the speaker’s party bring the issue to the floor. Consequently, eight Republicans, out of 220, were able to swing McCarthy’s ouster. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, a member of St. Catherine of Siena Church in Metairie, Louisiana, and Rep. … [Read more...]