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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Pineville plane crash tragic for Calvary Baptist family

By Message Staff PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) - Blake and Ben Cooper, two brothers who were members of Calvary Baptist Church in Alexandria, were killed in a private plane crash Sunday afternoon. According to City of Pineville officials, Ben was flying the plane when the accident occurred after take off from the Pineville Municipal Airport at 1:20 p.m. Blake’s son, Mason, was thrown from the wreckage, underwent survey and is expected to live, officials said. The crash remains under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board. Ben was owner and administrator of Oceans Behavioral Hospital in Alexandria while Blake was executive director of the Central Louisiana Regional Port.   … [Read more...]

2020 Commission Update Series (Articles 1-11 of 11)

Article 1: OVERVIEW -- Reaching the next generation as well as all people groups Article 2: KAIROS One -- Equip churches for effective evangelistic growth Article 3: KAIROS Two -- Aid local congregations in disciple making Article 4: KAIROS Three -- Promote stewardship to churches Article 5: KAIROS Four -- Engage churches in compassion ministries Article 6: KAIROS Five -- Plant soul-winning churches that multiply Article 7: KAIROS Six -- Launch multi-year multimedia campaign Article 8: KAIROS Seven -- Help churches use social media to share the Gospel Article 9: KAIROS Eight -- Create mentoring and ministry networks Article 10: KAIROS Nine -- Advance support for cooperative missions and ministries Article 11: KAIROS Ten -- Impact the culture, strengthen families   … [Read more...]

Dew, Horn sign statement of grief over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis

NEW ORLEANS (LBM) -- Jamie Dew, president of the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, has penned a joint statement with J.D. Greear, outgoing president of the Southern Baptist Convention and pastor of The Summit in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, expressing grief over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Steve Horn, executive director of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, signed onto the statement with all of his fellow state convention executive directors, as well as the officers and entity heads of the SBC.   Statement on the death of George Floyd As a convention of churches committed to the equality and dignity of all people, Southern Baptists grieve the death of George Floyd, who was killed May 25, 2020, in Minneapolis, Minn. While all must grieve, we understand that in the hearts of our fellow citizens of color, incidents like these connect to a long history of unequal justice in our country, going back to the grievous Jim Crow and slavery eras. The images and information we have available to us in this case are horrific and remind us that there is much more work to be done to ensure that there is not even a hint of racial inequity in the distribution of justice in our country. We grieve to see … [Read more...]

HIS Church keeps baptism pace despite pandemic

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) - Quinton Aldecoa had heard about God's amazing grace before, but in January the concept resonated with him during a message by Pastor Steve Speer at HIS Church in Pineville. He confessed his sins, asked God's forgiveness, and was anxious to make a public profession of faith through baptism at an annual group baptism celebration at Lake Buhlow. After the novel coronavirus pandemic delayed the special service until after all restrictions on public gatherings are lifted, Aldecoa opted instead to be baptized with two others during the first available opportunity following the May 24 in-facility worship service. Friends and family, gathered in an area outside the worship center, cheered on the three new concerts whom Speer baptized inside a portable baptistery in front of a large photo of Lake Buhlow. "Getting baptized was a huge sigh of relief," Aldecoa told the Baptist Message. "I was hit hard a few months ago about my need to follow Christ and to lead spiritually. Our family's discipleship and spiritual growth starts with me." GROWTH THROUGH SALVATIONS Since HIS Church was formed in 2006, 659 persons have been baptized. Membership has grown from 22 … [Read more...]