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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

TWO OPINIONS about the Annual Meeting debate regarding culpability for abortions

NOTES (Feb. 24, 2025): The following LETTER TO THE EDITOR and the EDITOR’S RESPONSE originally were published on Feb. 17, 2025, under the title “POINT <== ==> COUNTERPOINT  ‘Abortion: Jail / Don’t Jail The Woman?’ ” In response to Dr. Pourciau’s objection to this wording, the new headline “TWO OPINIONS about the Annual Meeting debate regarding culpability for abortions” was substituted on Feb. 24, 2025. Also, the subheadings “WOMEN ARE CULPABLE FOR ABORTIONS” and “WOMEN SHOULD NOT BE JAILED” were removed, respectively, from the LETTER TO THE EDITOR and the EDITOR’S RESPONSE. The heading “Letter to the Editor of the Louisiana Baptist Message” was part of the letter that was received, and this heading was included when the letter originally was published. In the case of the response, the heading “Editor’s response” was added as a substitute description.  As was the case when first published, the LETTER TO THE EDITOR is published in its entirety as it was received. Except for the new heading, the EDITOR’S RESPONSE remains the same. Nothing was changed in the introductory paragraph. Finally, new artwork was attached so that readers would take a fresh look at the LETTER TO THE EDITOR and EDITOR’S … [Read more...]

EVANGELISM 101 (Part 2): Four soul-winning approaches

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Leading someone to saving knowledge in Christ is not a “one size fits all” spiritual effort. Just as Christ used different methods to heal the sick and afflicted, the Holy Spirit offers different methods for different con­texts to successfully share the Gospel with the lost. Remember, the Holy Spirit was active in cre­ation (Gen. 1:1), as well as during the times of the Old Testament (consider the anointing on Moses, Saul, David, Bezalel & Oholiab, Othniel, Samson, etc.) and New Testament (e.g. Peter at Pentecost, Paul while confronting the sorcerer Elymas). Most importantly, He is active today (John 14:15-18; 15:26-27; 16:5-15), specif­ically in salvation (John 16:8; Ephesians 1:13-14) and in holy living afterwards (Galatians 5:22-23). There may be hybrids of each, according to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, but the following soul-winning approach­es largely define how to engage unbelievers in the four contexts for evange­lism presented in God’s Word. CONFRONTATIONAL Many people visualize all evangelism as publicly confronting sinners (some­thing akin to “street cor­ner” preaching). However, the Holy Spirit designed this … [Read more...]

ECON 2025: Continue to build a culture of evangelism

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer COVINGTON, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptists were en­couraged to reach their friends and family for Christ as part of the continuing effort to create a culture of evangelism within their congregations. during ECON 2025, held in the facilities of First Bap­tist Church, Covington, Jan. 27-28. ECON featured Louisiana Baptist pastors, seminary profes­sors, a women’s ministry leader, vocational evangelists, an evan­gelism vice president from the North American Mission Board, and the president and CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee. The event also included times of worship led by a combined choir (FBC Coving­ton and area churches) as well as Selah, an award-winning Christian contemporary music trio. MIKE COURTNEY Mike Courtney, itinerant evan­gelist in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas, reminded Louisiana Bap­tists to be faithful in their call to share the Gospel. “In spite of your failures, keep fishing,” said Courtney, draw­ing from Jesus’ commandment to the disciples to be fishers of men in Luke 5:1-11. “This is a call to faithfulness even when and if we have failed.” He reminded Louisiana Baptists that the passage is an example of … [Read more...]

2024 Send Network LA: Church planting outcomes reported

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptists can celebrate multiple spiritu­al milestones reported for 2024 church planting efforts, including: -- 11,748 Gospel conversations; -- 742 professions of faith; -- 361 baptisms; -- 2,839 people in combined average worship attendance; -- 1,186 people in intentional discipling relationships; and -- $183,000 given through the Coopera­tive Program to support cooperative missions and ministries. “The most exciting thing to see was those who professed their faith in Christ,” Send Network Louisiana Director Lane Corley told the Baptist Message. “These planters started a new church in a community and began to meet their needs in real, practical ways that opened the door for Gospel con­versations. Every time I see a new church start, it's just exciting because you know that there’s just going to be a lot of good things happening through the local church that produces the kind of results in this report.” BACKGROUND The Send Network Louisiana partnership between Louisiana Baptists and the North Ameri­can Mission Board that launched on Aug. 1, 2023, seeks to expand His King­dom in Louisiana by one percent (more than 28,000 … [Read more...]

Notables

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Baptist Message provides churches an opportunity to share with other Louisiana Baptists an upcoming revival, homecoming, new pastor, new staff member, a community outreach, or a concert in Louisiana Notables. To place your event in the paper, send your information (who, what, where, when, time) to philip@baptistmessage.com or call 318.449.4345. Please submit your information four weeks prior to the event to insure placement in the Message. ON THE MOVE Heath, wife Jenny, Peloquin has been called to pastor Rock Hill Baptist in Brownsboro, Texas and is leaving Summer Grove Baptist Church, Shreveport. His last day at Summer Grove is March 30. Lakeshore Baptist Church, Monroe: Derek, wife Kaylee, Dozier are the new associate pastor of education and youth. Andrew, wife Lydia, Ardoin is the new pastor of First Baptist Church, White Castle. Ardoin previously served 15 years in the foreign mission field. CRUSADES West Ouachita Crusade, March 30-April 2, 2025, 6 p.m. nightly. The Crusade is led by Evangelist Bill Britt and WeRCalled at West Ouachita High School and the crusade is hosted by churches of West Ouachita Parish. REVIVAL Philadelphia Baptist Church, Horseshoe Drive Campus, Alexandria: … [Read more...]

Save your Facebook Live videos

Every Sunday my Facebook Feed is filled with live streamed services from all over Louisiana and across the country. It is great to see so many churches using this platform to share the Gospel with their communities! And it is a great option for a lot of churches. Easy to use, great connection with people, and an affordable live stream option for churches. … [Read more...]