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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

2020 Commission update: Create mentoring and ministry networks

By Baptist Message staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptists are in the final year of implementing the President’s 2020 Commission Report, an initiative undertaken during the leadership of Waylon Bailey, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Covington, and the LBC president in 2012-2013. The 2020 recommendations were crafted collaboratively by a commission of 400 Louisiana Baptist leaders, staff members and laypeople, working in 20 subcommittees of 20 members each. Ten “key actions in reaching our state” – known as KAIROS – were developed to engage two audiences – the next generation and every people group. These measures for improving the spiritual health and growth of the state were adopted by messengers at the 2013 Louisiana Baptist Convention Annual Meeting. This article is the ninth in a series published by the Baptist Message to report what successes have been achieved toward the ambitious goals of the statewide initiative, as well as to note what objectives remain to be done. KAIROS EIGHT Create mentoring and ministry networks. Since 2012, the number of networks and fellowships has grown from two to 10, according to James Jenkins, director of church planting for Louisiana Baptists. Using ethnic … [Read more...]

Trinity is hub for disaster relief, ministry, sharing the Gospel

By Norm Miller, Baptist Message correspondent LAKE CHARLES, LA. (LBM) — When a hurricane leaves town, the ensuing days evoke whirlwinds of activity for Southern Baptist Disaster Relief. Trinity Baptist Church in Lake Charles is a hub of such ministry, reaching into the community with clean up efforts, 20,000 meals a day, tons of food and other life necessities, and sharing the gospel. As of September 10, the site had registered 115 professions of faith. Food, cleaning supples, personal hygiene items, diapers, paper towels, pallets loaded with cases of water, flashlights, bug spray, tarps are among the needs donated by church members and the community. “Just about as quickly as we can get it, it empties out,” said Trinity member Amy Langley. “The halls are full right now, but by the time we leave today, it all may be gone.” Amy’s husband Keith is Trinity’s director for buildings and grounds. “Donations to this ministry have been just as intense as the hurricane — even more,” said one worker who preferred anonymity. “The people share their stories as we help them, and that gives us the chance to pray with them and offer them the hope of Jesus. Just make them feel like they’re loved and that we’re walking … [Read more...]

Governor anounces Phase 3 for opening the economy

By Baptist Message staff BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – Louisiana officially has headed into the next phase of reopening the state’s economy -- with the exception of New Orleans. Gov. John Bel Edwards, during a news conference Friday, said while the mask mandate will remain in place in Phase 3, businesses and churches will be allowed to operate at 75 percent capacity, an increase from 50 percent under Phase 2 that expired earlier in the day. The new order will remain in effect until it expires Oct. 9. Under the new guidance issued jointly from the Governor's office with the state fire marshal and the Department of Health, indoor social gatherings like weddings and birthday parties can operate at 50 percent capacity, up to 250 people, and sporting event venues can open at 25 percent capacity. Nursing home visits still are not allowed in Phase 3, although the LDH soon will start a pilot program for some nursing homes in parishes which experience no new cases of COVID-19 for two weeks. Parishes without high case numbers also will be included in the trial run. “We have seen some improvement in decreased COVID-like illness, new COVID cases and hospitalizations in recent weeks, as our strong mitigation measures are working,” Edwards … [Read more...]