By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer HOUMA, La. (LBM) – Pastor Steve Folmar baptized at least one new convert during Sunday morning worship services from March 7-June 6 at the First Baptist Church, Houma, and 76 collectively since January. If that pace continues the church will record the most baptisms in a year since Folmar became pastor in 1999, when he baptized 89 new believers. “This was unexpected, and we had no clue this was coming,” Folmar told the Baptist Message. “After five to six weeks we began to sense God was up to something unique. “Our people are loving what God is doing every Sunday with the baptisms,” he continued. “They are excited and come ready to applaud every time someone is baptized.” Ashley Golmon is among those who has shared her testimony through baptism. Golmon first attended worship services at First Baptist Houma in 2014 with her husband, Shane, and for the next seven years many at the church poured into her spiritual truths and on April 18 she finally surrendered her life to Christ. Two weeks later, she stirred the baptistery waters. “Over the years I have felt like I needed to do more, and it was an inner struggle because I was raised in the Catholic Church,” she said. … [Read more...]

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Reggie Bridges, pastor of the Temple Baptist Church in Ruston, will be nominated for president of the Louisiana Baptist Convention during the 2021 annual meeting. Eddie Wren, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Rayville and a past LBC president, alerted the Baptist Message, August 18, of his intentions to make the nomination, specifically highlighting Bridges’s “heart for evangelism.” The LBC annual meeting is scheduled to be held Nov. 16 in the North Monroe Baptist Church. STATEMENT OF SUPPORT Wren said he met Bridges in 2014 “on a vision trip to Los Angeles as we journeyed out west to consider supporting a church plant in Burbank, California,” adding that Bridges is “active in evangelism at home, too.” “Reggie has proven himself to be a servant leader of Louisiana Baptists as he has served our state well at all levels of Southern Baptist Life,” Wren also emphasized. In support of his statement, Wren listed Bridges’s denominational service with the Committee on Committees for the Southern Baptist Convention, as well as his 2007-2013 term on the LBC Executive Board (Bridges also is serving a term now, that runs through 2022). Wren also … [Read more...]

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 Chris Stephens is the new pastor at Rocky Springs Baptist Church, Lisbon. Thomas Worsham resigns as Louisiana College Baptist Collegiate Ministry campus director to become pastor of First Baptist Church Festus/Crystal City, Missouri. Tony Carter is installed as the new pastor of Unity 1 Baptist Church, Franklin. Rusty Shuler resigned to become pastor at Camden Baptist Church, South Carolina. Michael Burkes is the new pastor of Unity Baptist Church, DeRidder. Jonathan Weldon resigns from Ellerbe Baptist Church, Shreveport to become the youth minister at Georgetown Baptist Church, Texas. Gary Sumrall retires as chaplain after 30 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections. Eric Zimmer is the interim pastor at South Bossier Baptist Church, Bossier City. Peyton Speers is the new … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer LAKE CHARLES, La. (LBM) – Three hurricanes dealt Louisiana a vicious blow in 2020, but despite the destruction and emotional toll the storms left behind, Louisiana Baptists showed their resiliency in fighting back from historic weather events, Carey Baptist Association associational ministry strategist Bruce Baker said. “Churches are committed to their Gospel mission. They want to do Kingdom work. That’s been very, very positive in this whole rebuilding process” Baker told the Baptist Message. “There’s a strong community aspect among the people impacted by the storm,” he continued. “They want to be together. They want to be with one another in what has been a shared hardship. They are there to encourage one another in what has been a difficult time but also a time in which we have come together to move forward and build a better Louisiana.” Laura made landfall Aug. 27 as a Category 4 hurricane (150 mph winds) in Cameron. Then, on Oct. 9, Delta crashed ashore as a Category 2 storm (100 mph winds) in Creole, nearly 13 miles east of Cameron. And on Oct. 28, Zeta made landfall near Cocodrie as a Category 3 hurricane (110 mph winds). Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer LAKE CHARLES, La. (LBM) – Each Saturday morning, Bethel Metropolitan Baptist Fellowship Church’s parking lot is transformed into a massive feeding operation where up to 150 Lake Charles area motorists line up to receive a boxed meal, some as early as three hours before the official start. Since opening the parking lot ministry in September to serve individuals impacted by Hurricane Laura, the church whose worship attendance averages 15 members, has seen God move mightily, according to church pastor. Their efforts to show Christ’s love has encouraged many food recipients and even has led to 20 professions of faith. “The church is in worship on Sunday but on Saturday the church is working,” Pastor Clyde Lewis told the Baptist Message. “You see the cars line up around the building and block and it just fires me up. “The thing I keep pushing to my members is this is our assignment,” he continued. “We are called to the people’s business. People matter to God so people have to matter to us. You can’t do it unless they are your passion. When you talk about people, it’s all people. Jesus has called us to love all people. You get a chance to minister to people not just by telling … [Read more...]