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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Great Commission champion Janie Wise will retire Dec. 31

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) - For the past 33 years, Janie Wise has been on mission to help Louisiana Baptists embrace a Great Commission lifestyle. Wise is set to retire Dec. 31 as Louisiana Baptist women’s missions and ministry strategist, but her quest to further the Gospel from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth is far from complete. “The greatest highlight has been the opportunity to work with girls who eventually became women that God still is using to make a difference in the world for Him,” Wise told the Baptist Message. “It’s beyond words knowing that I was able to have some part in God’s plan for them.” CALLED Wise’s journey began as a 15-year-old attending an Acteens camp for teenage girls in the New Mexico mountains in 1970. After seeing her cabin mate share the plan of salvation with another camper, Wise realized she had never made her relationship with Christ personal, she said. “I said at that moment, ‘Lord, I need you,’” Wise said. “I have never doubted God since.” A year later, Wise accepted the call to full-time ministry. Over the next 27 years, Wise served the Lord in various capacities including secretary in the brotherhood and evangelism … [Read more...]

Woman renews her faith during celebration of restored facility

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer LAKE CHARLES, La. (LBM) – Alexis Benoit was a faithful follower of Christ as a child until, at age 14, she succumbed to the desires of the world. But a recent invitation to attend services at Trinity Baptist Church, Lake Charles, brought the 22-year-old mother of two children back to church for the first time in eight years, and she renewed her relationship with Christ through baptism, Dec. 5, at a grand opening service of Trinity’s remodeled central venue worship center. “It had been heavy on my heart and mind to take this step,” Benoit told the Baptist Message. “I was sitting in the church service after my baptism and realized all my anxiety and negative thoughts had gone away. I am just trying to be a better example for my kids because they deserve a mom who is deeply committed to Jesus.” RESTORED Benoit was among three believers baptized during the special service, while another three converts stirred the baptismal waters, Dec. 1, during a special prayer and dedication time at the facilities. Since September, Trinity Baptist has baptized 21 persons who have made first time professions of faith, that compares to 29 for the prior 12 months, September 2020 to … [Read more...]

Jesus’ birth was meant for you and me!

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – When I read the Word, I try to remember that every verse is intended to reveal something about the character of God and to unveil something about the nature of the relationship He seeks with us. This is especially important when we celebrate the birth of our Savior -- He is the reason for the season; and the reason for His birth was to bring hope to you and me. Nothing underscores this fact more than the creation account, which shows that God designed the earth and the things in it and on it to sustain man’s physical existence (Gen. 1:1-31): -- On day 1, God said all that He had created was “good.” He did so again on days three, four and five. All that He had done up to that point He said was “good.” -- Even on the sixth day after creating all the animals on the earth and the creeping things (and before He was done with creation) the Bible records that “God saw that it was good.” -- But it was not until the end of the sixth day, after He had created man and established all of earth to sustain the life of man, that God “saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good,” and then He rested. Man is the crown of God’s … [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 weeks prior to the event. ON THE MOVE Rusty, wife Sandy, Richardson is the minister of education and discipleship at Airline Baptist Church, Bossier City. Billy Flowers is the new pastor at First Greenwood Baptist Church, Greenwood. Lee R. Darbonne is available for pastorate supply. He is a seminary graduate that lives in the Rayne, LA area but will go where needed. Please call 337.257.4787. Rick McPherson resigns as administrator after 30 years at Mt. Vernon Baptist Church, West Monroe. Bruce Butts is the new pastor at Shiloh Baptist Church, DeRidder. REVIVAL Mount Olive Baptist Church, Logansport: Revival, January 9-12. Evangelist: Sam Moore. Pastor: Rich Tull. LAGNIAPPE Bayou Rouge Baptist Church, Evergreen: Furniture for sale. 22 15-foot long pews (light maple in color) padded back and seat; matching Lord’s Supper … [Read more...]

FIRST PERSON: A father’s answered prayer at 2021 YEC

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand,” (John 10:27-28). The prayer of any Christ-following parent is that one day your child will turn to Jesus and also embrace God’s calling on his or her life. Even before the birth of our oldest daughter, my wife, Ashley, and I had lifted those two requests to the Lord. Isabella, now 12, placed her trust in Christ several years ago. But on Nov. 22 God answered yet another prayer at the 2021 Louisiana Baptist Youth Evangelism Conference. She was attending her first YEC, joining other students from Calvary Baptist for the event in Alexandria. During each decision time, students were encouraged to come forward and make their salvation decisions public in front of more than 4,600 teens and some younger children who were packed inside the Rapides Parish Coliseum. After the final session and the salvation invitation, those who felt a call to ministry were asked to come forward. Isabella shared with me that then she moved out of her seat and joined other students near the main stage to … [Read more...]

Bibles continue to reap bounty in Belarus

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer MINSK, Belarus (LBM) – Andrew Ryzhkov has good news about an international partnership to share with churches in our state: Though Louisiana Baptists are 6,000 miles away, they are helping to change the spiritual future for thousands of Belarusians, one Bible at a time. GIVING Ryzhkov, founder of the Byelorussian Mission in-country ministry, said financial gifts from Lousiana Baptists have helped purchase some of the more than 30,000 Good and Evil Illustrated Bibles that have been distributed in the country from January through early November, compared to 27,000 Bibles that were handed out in 2020. He said that four out of 10 people who have received the special Bibles have turned to Christ, and such evangelistic success only cost just $10 per Bible. “With Louisiana’s help, we can be stronger and go to even 40,000-50,000,” he said. “We need Bibles. And we need people to come and join us in spreading the Gospel.” GOING Louisiana Baptists have been actively engaged in evangelizing Belarus since 2014, helping to establish local churches, complete construction projects and conduct training of pastors and lay people. This year a major focus of the ministry has … [Read more...]

First West celebrates 100 years of changed lives

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer WEST MONROE, La. (LBM) – More than 1,200 members and guests of First Baptist Church, West Monroe, gathered in late October to celebrate 100 years of impact[1]ful ministry, missions, baptisms and changed lives in northeast Louisiana and beyond. The 100th anniversary weekend at First West included a panel, Oct. 23, featuring Pastor Michael Wood, Associate Pastor Mark Fenn (also the longest-tenured staff member) and former pastors Dennis Swanberg, David Uth and John Avant. Swanberg, who served from 1991-1995, uses humor at events to encourage others around the world; Uth, who served from 1996-2005, is pastor at First Baptist Church, Orlando, Fla.; and Avant, who served from 2007- 2013, is president of Life Action Ministries, Buchanan, Michigan. The following day, members and guests gathered for a special worship service that featured a prayer time at the altar and three baptisms. Since the church began, more than 9,500 new believers have been baptized. “I’m so grateful for what God has done in this church over the last 100 years,” Wood told the Baptist Message. “Words don’t describe the incredible honor to get to be a small piece of what God has done and is doing in this … [Read more...]

Lawmakers vote down school requirement for ‘deadliest’ vaccine

By Baptist Message staff BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – The Louisiana House Health and Welfare Committee, during a hearing Dec. 6, voted 13-2 against Gov. John Bel Edwards’ effort to mandate that students take the COVID-19 vaccine before being allowed to attend school. The supermajority vote came after explosive testimony by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., son of the late U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of the late President John F. Kennedy, who described the COVID-19 vaccine as the “deadliest” ever made. Kennedy is founder and chairman of the Children’s Health Defense, which describes itself as dedicated to ending childhood health epidemics. Meanwhile, Joseph Kanter, state health officer with the Louisiana Department of Health, called Kennedy’s presentation of Pfizer data “gross distortion” and “misinformation.” TESTIMONY Landry During the hearing, Attorney General Jeff Landry spoke strongly against the proposal that would have added the COVID-19 vaccine to the list of required shots for students 16 and older, declaring that the proposed requirement did not pass state constitutional muster. “I’m asking you to take back the police powers of this state,” Landry said. “We cannot allow an executive branch to … [Read more...]