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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

LBDR wildfire response wraps up in Beauregard Parish

By Baptist Message staff DERIDDER, La. (LBM) – Nearly two weeks after wildfires broke out in Beauregard Parish, Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief teams have wrapped up efforts in the area. According to LBDR Strategist Stan Statham, teams prepared 5,509 meals, distributed 50 tracts, had 27 Gospel conversations and saw one individual come to faith in Christ from Aug. 23 to Sept. 2. “This DR deployment demonstrated the true spirit of the Cooperative Program,” Statham told the Baptist Message. “Local churches, the Beauregard Baptist Association and the LBC joined together to meet the needs of evacuees and first responders.” Statham said the Georgia Barnette Louisiana Missions Offering provided half the funds to assist Philadelphia Baptist Church Deville in purchasing the quick response feeding unit trailer that proved to be a great resource in this disaster. “Our first meal was served just four hours after we received the request for help,” Statham said. According to a news release from the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, crews are battling fires in four areas: Tiger Island, Highway 113 near Oakdale, Lions Camp Road and Elizabeth Tiger Island A fire was first reported Aug. 22 in Tiger … [Read more...]

LCU begins faith integration workshops for faculty

By Elizabeth Clarke, LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) – Louisiana Christian University has adopted a new initiative during the 2023-2024 school year to integrate faith into every academic course. “Students coming to LCU expect to learn about faith and theology in the religion classes and in Chapel, but we want to be intentional about our mission and vision here,” said LCU President Rick Brewer. “We want students to know that no matter what their individual callings are professionally, that the Lord expects all Christians to be evangelists. We are preparing graduates and transforming lives because we know transformed people transform culture.” Each syllabus will include references to faith and how it will be tied to the individual disciplines students are studying. Additionally, workshops throughout the year will be held to train faculty how to be purposeful not only with integrating faith into their courses but tying it to the specific learning outcomes and subject matter of their courses. Louisiana Baptist Executive Director Steve Horn commended LCU faculty for their efforts to incorporate faith into the classroom, during the first faculty workshop on Aug. 31. He encouraged them to continue creating a culture of … [Read more...]

‘Miracle from God’ saves Brushy Creek Baptist Church from wildfire

By Brian Blackwell, Message staff writer BANCROFT, La. (LBM) – When all hope was fading, the Father in Heaven intervened to protect the Brushy Creek Baptist Church facility from a wildfire that came as close as 50 feet in late August, according to Pastor Mike Streams. “It was a miracle from God,” Streams told the Baptist Message. “About the time the firefighters could no longer control the fire from coming across the road and to the church, the good Lord switched the wind and killed it. It was an amazing thing to see God work through it all. I don’t see how God did it, but he did.” Like much of Beauregard Parish, Brushy Creek's grounds had not received any measurable rain since mid-July. On Aug. 22, the dry conditions in the region were exploited by arson, according to the Louisiana State Department of Agriculture and Forestry, which determined the wildfire was deliberately caused. The blazes began to engulf the area near Brushy Creek in the Bancroft community. Initially, firefighters were able to contain the conflagration. However, on Aug. 25 the flames on the other side of the road nearly jumped across the pavement and threatened to move toward the congregation's building. Streams arrived on the scene that evening … [Read more...]

VIDEO: CENLA Pregnancy Center announces theme for ‘Gift of Life’ banquet

ALEXANDRIA, La. - The CENLA Pregnancy Center has announced the upcoming Gift of Life banquet's theme, "A Royal Homecoming." The largest fundraiser of the year for the pregnancy center, the event will feature Claire Lemoine (former CPC executive director, who will emcee of the event), a testimony by a former CPC client, music by a local band comprising members from area multi-denominational churches and updates about how God has used this ministry to help serve moms in need so they can experience healthy pregnancies. To purchase individual tickets, call 318.314-3061 or visit the event website. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtLipLePvV4&feature=youtu.be … [Read more...]

FIRST PERSON: God was at work in the rescue of a Louisiana family on a Tennessee lake

By Laura Holeman Trahan, special to the Baptist Message DANDRIDGE, Tenn. (LBM) -- In the Bible, the Hebrew word “ruach” is translated as wind, breath and spirit, interchangeably. How ever one chooses to interpret it, God was undeniably hovering over our family this past Independence Day holiday in the form of “ruachַ” to guide us safely through a storm. In the hustle of church activities, work, summer sports, camps, trips, and more, summer in this season of life with two adolescent kids is not quite as free and easy as is often advertised. Consequently, when we realized all four of us were free on the same days of July 3 and 4, we decided to relive some of our best family memories of primitive camping on one of the many TVA-owned islands on Douglas Lake. Excited by the possibility of disconnecting from the outside world and connecting with each other, we loaded our four kayaks with camping gear and launched our boats across the street from our house. After paddling a mere 100 feet from shore, the blue sky turned black, and a heavy downpour drenched us for roughly five minutes. We could not communicate in the storm, and my husband and the kids continued to paddle forward while I turned back to the shore. When the rain … [Read more...]