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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

‘Value of a soul’ ignites Gilbert revival, awakening

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor GILBERT, La. (LBM)— It is not often that a revival begins with evidence of the work of the Holy Spirit already in sight. But the annual Bill Britt four-day event with the First Baptist Church in Gilbert began with 19 baptisms, reflecting transformed hearts before the first word was preached. Pastor Bubba Ezell told the Baptist Message that lives began to be changed after the congregation committed to showing greater respect for the value of one soul. He said he returned from the 2023 Louisiana Baptist Evangelism Conference in January and told his congregation, “I would sell this building for one soul. I would give it all up for a soul.” He said it was the challenge of “How far are we willing to go?” that created a spark in the church. Ezell emphasized this point by sharing about a particular example within their Amazing Grace addiction recovery ministry, which has about 30 members. “I started asking them to witness to one person a week, and to write it down,” he explained. “Three of our guys led people to Christ.” Other things began happening and before long, he said, “We started getting our hearts right with God about the value of a soul.” “The Holy Spirit is … [Read more...]

IMB: 1,200 missionary candidates in pipeline

By Will Hall, Baptist Baptist Message executive editor RICHMOND, Va. -- The SBC International Mission Board reported that its pipeline for missionary candidates has 1,200 trainees. This is a significant milestone for Southern Baptists, as the number of missionary candidates in 2019 was 300, according to the IMB press release. The goal is to always have more than 1,500 applicants in the pipeline. [This is the number of candidates in line prior to the 2016 drawdown (which focused on eliminating 50-year-old missionaries with five years of field experience) under former IMB President David Platt.] The announcement comes as IMB has suffered an ongoing decline in overseas missionaries for more than two decades, with a significant slide since 2010. IMB reported having 3,527 deployed missionaries (including 126 unpaid "team associates") on February 28, the lowest number of missionaries on the field since 1983 (3,386), counting only paid personnel (3,401) , or 1984 (3,432) if the 126 “team associates” are counted. In 1985, there were 3,597 missionaries on the field. Southern Baptists have given generously to abate the shrinking missionary force, donating record amounts to the last three completed Lottie Moon Christmas … [Read more...]

James to nominate Barber for second term as SBC president

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor LAKE CHARLES, La. – Steve James, pastor of the Trinity Baptist Church in Lake Charles, Louisiana, announced Feb. 13 his intention to nominate Bart Barber, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Farmersville, Texas, for a second term as president of the Southern Baptist Convention during the 2023 SBC Annual Meeting in New Orleans this June. James and Barber served together on the board of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. According to information supplied to the Annual Church Profile, FBC Farmersville reported 14 baptisms in 2022 and averaged 320 in weekly worship. The church collected $1,014,990 total undesignated receipts, with $108,276 given through the Cooperative Program. The church also gave $64,713 to the 2022 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering as well as $630 to the 2022 Annie Armstrong Easter Offering. Barber is a graduate of Baylor University and has both an M.Div. and Ph.D. from Southwestern. He and his wife, Tracy, have two teenage children. Based on reporting by Baptist Press. … [Read more...]

Dedicated FBC Longville serves in the storm

By Britney Glaser, Special to the Baptist Message LONGVILLE, La. (LBM) - August 27, 2020, will forever be a milestone in the life of the First Baptist Church in Longville, Louisiana. In the early morning hours, Hurricane Laura – a category 4 storm with 150 mph winds – struck, tearing off the worship center roof, and damaging sur rounding buildings. The 50 people who had taken refuge in the church found themselves moving from room to room as the roof began to pull free. Then, with the rising of the sun a few hours later, a new reality dawned. “I knew we needed to get started with something,” Pastor Corey Townsley told the Baptist Message. “We didn’t sleep the night before, but it wasn’t like we could get any rest that day with no power. The destruction was overwhelming. We knew we had to start working and serving. Some got to work at the church grounds, others went out to clear roads and people’s homes.” Dedication and service is not new to FBC Longville, a congregation that dates to 1907. The church has a longtime Helping Hands ministry that assists members as well as the surrounding community. Several congregants have trained and served with the Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief. “Immediately after the … [Read more...]

Luter to nominate Adkins for SBC first vice president

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor NEW ORLEANS – Fred Luter, pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist in New Orleans East, Louisiana, and a former Southern Baptist Convention president, announced Feb. 14 that he intends to nominate fellow Louisiana pastor Jay Adkins for the office of first vice president during the 2023 SBC Annual Meeting this June. Adkins is pastor with the First Baptist Church, Westwego, which he has led since 2002. He and Luter serve together in the New Orleans Baptist Association. According to information supplied to the Annual Church Profile, FBC Westwego reported seven baptisms in 2022 and averaged 85 in weekly worship. The church collected $125,970 in total undesignated receipts, with $250 given through the Cooperative Program. However, the SBC Executive Committee Finance Office reported FBCW sent $10,572.59 directly to the SBC EC toward the Cooperative Program Allocation Budget during fiscal year 2021-2022. The church did not report contributions to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering or the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering in the ACP report. However, the congregation listed $7,382 contributed to NOBA and total missions expenditures of $11,813. Adkins is a graduate of Leavell College and has … [Read more...]

Letlow’s Parents Bill of Rights Passes the House

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On a 213-208 vote, the U.S. House of Representatives today passed H.R. 5, the Parents Bill of Rights Act by Congresswoman Julia Letlow (LA-05). “As a mom of two and a former educator, I believe for children to succeed, they need families and schools to work together as partners throughout the learning process,” Letlow said. “After spending nearly a year and a half working to pass this bill, I’m grateful that we’re finally able to advance this critical legislation.” The Parents Bill of Rights is built on five, common-sense principles. Parents have the right to know what their children are being taught. Parents have the right to be heard. Parents have the right to see the school budget and spending. Parents have the right to protect their child’s privacy. Parents have the right to keep their children safe. The bill now moves to the U.S. Senate where it will await further action. Here is a transcript of her remarks. Mister Speaker, I rise today to join my voice with millions of American parents as the House considers H.R. 5 – the Parents Bill of Rights Act. H.R. 5 is about one simple and fundamental principle – parents should always have a seat at the table when it comes to their … [Read more...]

Dr. Maggie Martin Marketplace Leadership Summit to be held April 13

By Lexi Rachal, Wildcats Media PINEVILLE, La. (Wildcats Media) – Registration for the inaugural Dr. Maggie Martin Marketplace Leadership Summit is underway. The April 13 event will take place at 11:30 a.m. inside Granberry Conference Center and will feature keynote speaker Annie Beiler, founder of Auntie Anne’s founder of the international pretzel franchise. Beiler will share her story of faith—being raised in a traditional Mennonite community in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania—and despair following the death of her daughter. Out of this pain was born a purpose, and she now travels and speaks to audiences around the country on leadership, purpose and the power of confession. Martin’s daughter, Natalie, and husband Darryl Monroe announced the launch of the Dr. Maggie Martin Marketplace Leadership Summit, an annual event for business and industry leaders in Central Louisiana who live out faith in their work. They are legacy sponsors for the event. Individual tickets are $25, and sponsorship opportunities are also available. For more information or to register visit the LCU Dr. Maggie Martin Marketplace Leadership Summit web page. … [Read more...]

LBC offers sexual abuse prevention resources

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Twenty-one months after messengers to the 2021 Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting called for the creation of a task force to oversee an independent review of the SBC Executive Committee about allegations of mishandling reports of sexual abuse, the Louisiana Baptists Sexual Abuse Response Council has published a web page with prevention resources and response information. The page, found on LouisianaBaptists.org, offers phone numbers for reporting instances of abuse and to seek help for the victim; a proactive checklist to avert abuse; sexual abuse definitions and state statutes; how to protect minors; how to respond to an allegation; and resources for training and background screening. “As I promised Louisiana Baptists during our past two annual meetings, this issue remains a priority,” Louisiana Baptist Executive Director Steve Horn told the Baptist Message. “The Sexual Abuse Resource Council I appointed has met diligently and has collected resources that will prayerfully assist churches and individuals in the prevention and response to sexual abuse. I ask Louisiana Baptists to join me in asking God to protect our churches from all forms of … [Read more...]

He has risen: Easter’s offering of hope is not an empty promise

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – In Jericho, during His journey to Jerusalem for that last week before His crucifixion, Jesus declared to Zacchaeus His very nature, His very character, His very purpose for becoming fully God and fully man. Critics had questioned Jesus’ going into the home of a sinner, but after Zacchaeus repented, Jesus explained that “the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). Indeed, “Jesus saves” is the quintessential quality of His very being. Importantly, the promise of salvation is to both the lost sheep of Israel as well as other sheep “not of this fold,” meaning Gentiles like you and me (John 10:11-16). This is to fulfill the promise of Isaiah 49:6 that Jesus will “raise up the tribes of Jacob” and “restore the preserved ones of Israel” as well as be “a light to the Gentiles,” extending salvation “to the ends of the earth.” Moreover, it is no small matter that the promise of salvation was fulfilled on the cross and the fullness of salvation was completed in the tomb. Instead, the empty cross is a reminder that you and I don’t have to be crucified to pay for our sins. The Bible tells us that “God demonstrates His own … [Read more...]