By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer
ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – More than 2.4 million Louisianians do not know Christ, but thanks to Louisiana Baptists’ generous gifts to the Georgia Barnette Louisiana Missions Offering, life-changing ministry is possible around the state through church plants, compassion ministries, disaster relief efforts, church construction scholarships and media outreach.
This year, Louisiana Baptists are asked to pray about what they might contribute to this offering which has a 2026 goal of $1.8 million. This amount will supplement the financial support for statewide ministries given through the Cooperative Program, the primary funding channel for state and national Baptist causes.
Named for the first elected and salaried executive director of the Woman’s Missionary Union in Louisiana, the offering will be promoted throughout September via a video for each Sunday of the month plus print and electronic articles.
This year’s four featured stories show how the state special offering strengthens missions throughout the state:
— “Gift boxes” tells how hygiene products show inmates of the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women that they are loved by God;
— “Vietnamese Hope Baptist Church, Baton Rouge,” relays how the congregation is reaching Vietnamese families and connecting Asian Baptist leaders across Louisiana;
— “New Friendship Baptist Church, Pollock,” offers hope through the details of how they rebuilt their campus after a devastating fire in 2023; and
— “Mission Builder” describes how volunteers are helping Church Acadiana establish a permanent Gospel presence in a rapidly growing community.
Resources (e.g. videos, prayer guides, social media kits, small group lessons, and sermon outlines) are available via GeorgiaBarnette.org.
