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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Arrested pastor had abandoned Louisiana Baptist congregation in February

By Baptist Message staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – In an email to the Baptist Message, Chris Holloway, senior pastor with Little Pass Baptist Church, Charenton, Louisiana, which sponsors Baldwin Baptist Mission Church, Baldwin, Louisiana, said that the former mission pastor, Shane Wiggins, who was arrested April 9, had abandoned the Baldwin congregation at least as early as the first Sunday in February. Holloway also serves as the associational mission strategist for the Gulf Coast Baptist Association that includes the Little Pass congregation as well as the Baldwin mission. Wiggins is being held in the Lamar County Jail in Texas while awaiting extradition to Morgan City, Louisiana, to face allegations of rape and molestation of a child. Hollaway said that Wiggins had previously served as pastor of the Baldwin Baptist Mission Church prior to 2011 and had returned in 2015 to again lead the small congregation (which averages 10 in worship services according to the Louisiana Baptist database). “Shane left town around the first of February,” Holloway wrote. “My last conversation with him was on Jan. 28, 2025.” Holloway also noted that Wiggins had been replaced as pastor on Feb. 12 by Warren Guidry, the associate pastor … [Read more...]

ERLC hosts Spinney, other pastors for advocacy trip

By staff WASHINGTON (LBM, BP) – Gevan Spinney, senior pastor with First Baptist Church, Haughton, was among 16 pastors who recently gathered in Washington, D.C., to champion pro-life causes and advocate for other positive policy changes. Hosted by the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, the trip that took place March 25-26 included meetings with three Southern Baptist congressional leaders – House Speaker Mike Johnson, a member of Cypress Baptist Church, Benton, and Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and James Lankford (R-OK). While there the pastors hand delivered, to Lankford and the office of Sen. Majority Leader John Thume (R-SC), letters containing 10,000 signatures for the ERLC's campaign that asks Congress to defund Planned Parenthood The pastors from Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Tennessee and Texas also met with Timothy Goeglein, vice president of external and government relations with Focus on the Family, Rep. Mark Harris (R-NC) and the White House Faith Office. They ended their trip with a visit to the Museum of the Bible. Spinney, in comments to Baptist Press, said he left with a strong burden to pray for those fellow believers in the fight. “I wish that every Southern Baptist … [Read more...]

FIRST PERSON: Silent Saturday

By John Kyle, special to the Baptist Message ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) -- It’s what’s commonly referred to as “Holy Week,” the week leading up the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. We just celebrated Palm Sunday and later this week is Maundy Thursday which gives way to Good Friday and last, but certainly not least, is Easter Sunday. In the midst of this busy, significant week, let me suggest a new day for you and I living on this side of the resurrection - Silent Saturday. Allow me to elaborate … Two thousand years ago the events leading up to what we now call Easter were a whirlwind - to say the least. And things certainly didn't turn out the way the way those early Christ followers envisioned.  So there they were, after a bizarre week that began with a celebration and ended with a crucifixion.  It was Saturday. The crowds gone. Their minds and hearts numb. And they were not sure what's next. Now, on this side of history we know what's next - but they didn't. Our lives are often the same way - crazy busy – and sometimes bizarre.  Our smartphones light up with one notification after another. Great anticipation is often replaced by great disappointment in our careers, in our relationships and even with God. And … [Read more...]