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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

FBC Dallas’ historic sanctuary damaged by fire

By Baptist Message staff DALLAS (LBM) – A fire burned the original sanctuary of First Baptist Church, Dallas, Texas, July 19. According to the Dallas Morning News, the structure partially collapsed after 7:30 p.m., an hour-and-a-half after Dallas Fire-Rescue crews were called to the building in downtown Dallas. Pastor Robert Jeffress told Fox 4 News Dallas-Fort Worth that the sanctuary was the site of many cherished events, including his own baptism when he was 6 and his ordination as a 21-year-old. He expressed gratitude that no one was injured, including the more than 2,000 children who attended Vacation Bible School on campus earlier in the day. The building was used as the sanctuary from 1890 until 2013, when the church moved into its current worship center. “I’m grateful that the church is not bricks and mortar or wood,” he said. “It’s people. And the people of God will endure, First Baptist of Dallas will endure, and we thank so many of our friends around the country who are praying for us right now.” … [Read more...]

VBS reaches seven for Christ at FBC Leesville

LEESVILLE, La. (LBM) – Leaders with First Baptist Church, Leesville, changed their approach to Vacation Bible School and in the end witnessed six children and one student volunteer make decisions for Christ. Held June 24-29, the VBS drew 69 youngsters in the mornings, a departure from previous years when the outreach was held in the evening. Children’s Minister Kiersten Nolen told the Baptist Message that they incorporated more time for Bible study and missions and on the final day presented the Gospel during a group assembly time. “All of our decisions were by boys and some of them have been coming to activities at our church for several months,” Nolen said. “Throughout the week they heard the Gospel in the classes and by that final night decided to come forward. It was just exciting to see all the hard work of Bible school pay off for these kids who made decisions.” Once the VBS concluded, church leaders followed up with the youngsters, and three were baptized on July 7. Among those was Kacen Smith, who accepted Jesus during the large group Gospel presentation June 27. Smith said he “felt relief” after he was baptized alongside his cousin, Damian Berrios, and classmate John Rogers. His dad, Dustin, said he prayed … [Read more...]

2024 LEGISLATIVE WRAP-UP: Ten Commandments restored; ‘woman defined; children protected from pronouns, but not dope

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor TEN COMMANDMENTS The Ten Commandments law, Act 676, championed by Rep. Dodie Horton, a member with First Baptist Church, Haughton, gained the most press around the country for its first-in-the-nation requirement to restore, after about a 50-year absence, the Ten Commandments to every publicly funded classroom, kindergarten through college, in Louisiana. The law uses a version of the Ten Commandments that is adapted from the King James Bible, and it requires the 11 inches by 14 inches display to include a “context statement” about “The History of the Ten Commandments in American Public Education.” Already, four liberal political activist groups have joined litigation against the law, but Horton said the Ten Commandments are in the core of our nation’s laws and that their historical significance has been acknowledged in multiple U.S. Supreme Court decisions, which were used to craft the law in anticipation that bad actors would try to challenge it in the courts. The law asks for the displays to be paid for by public donations, and proponents estimate that about $100,000 in gifts are needed to outfit all Louisiana schools. SCHOOL CHAPLAINS Act 293, authored by Sen. … [Read more...]

Legislature strengthens laws on sex trafficking, baby safe havens

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor As recently as 2016, Louisiana was rated the best in the nation for combatting human trafficking. However, since 2014 when the state first began collecting human trafficking data, cases have risen from 206 to 1,743 in 2023. Moreover, recent numbers show that 86 percent of those rescued were sex trafficking victims, and 83 percent were under the age of 18 years. With Act 586 as the legal vehicle, Sen. Stewart Cathey, a member with First Baptist Church, West Monroe, significantly strengthened penalties for human trafficking based on a graduated scale, with the harshest punishment for those who prey on minors (persons under the age of 18 years) for commercial sex: “life imprisonment at hard labor without benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence and fined not more than seventy-five thousand dollars.” These more stringent sentencing requirements could figure prominently as deterrents to sex crimes early in 2025, when Super Bowl LIX comes to New Orleans. Sports championship events like it have been linked with surges in human trafficking for sexual activity. NEWBORN SAFE HAVENS Sen. Adam Bass, a member with Cypress Baptist Church, Benton, expanded access in … [Read more...]

Louisiana sheriff’s officer gives a kidney to Mississippi coach

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer WEST MONROE, La. (LBM) – Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office Captain Patrick Johnson has put himself in harm’s way to protect and serve the public for 23 years as a law enforcement officer. But recently he risked his own health and safety to extend the life of a stranger by donating a kidney. Johnson, a member of Ce­dar Crest Baptist Church, West Monroe, gifted the organ on Dec. 11, 2023. For his courageous act, Johnson was awarded the 2024 Heart of Law Enforcement Service Before Self Award dur­ing a ceremony in Baton Rouge. The award is given each year to Louisiana law enforcement of­ficers who have been nominated by their agencies or the public for acts of kindness they performed outside the scope of their normal duties for the previous year. “Looking back on it, I can say Jesus was there to help me the whole way,” Johnson told the Baptist Message. “And I see how he made me strong through the process. You don’t have to look very far to see somebody in seri­ous need that you can help. And I’ve seen what Jesus did for me and I just wanted to be part of this process. “It never was ‘my’ kidney,” he added. “I was just keeping it warm for Jesus until someone needed … [Read more...]

Louisiana Notables

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Baptist Message provides churches an opportunity to share with other Louisiana Baptists an upcoming revival, homecoming, new pastor, new staff member, a community outreach, or a concert in Louisiana Notables. To place your event in the paper, send your information (who, what, where, when, time) to philip@baptistmessage.com or call 318.449.4345. Please submit your information four weeks prior to the event to insure placement in the Message. ON THE MOVE Emily Slay is the new Production Coordinator for the Louisiana Baptists Communications Team. T.J. (wife Kaycie) Weed is the new Youth Minister at Alto Baptist Church, Alto, Louisiana. Alan Miller is the Pastor. Paul (wife Sue) Perry will celebrate 50 years in the ministry, August 17 from 2-4 p.m., in Fellowship Hall at Coax Baptist Church, HWY 868, Winnsboro, La 71295. In a special services August 18, Jerry Grant will provide the music at 10 a.m. and Jim Richards was the guest preacher at 10:45 a.m. Lunch would follow after the worship service. Kevin (wife Malanie) Ulmer, formerly senior pastor at First Baptist, Ferriday, has joined the LBC Evangelism/Church Growth Team as the new evangelism strategist July 1. Blade (wife Lalynn) Foster is the new … [Read more...]