Archives for November 2016
HEALTH: An egg a day may slash stroke risk
RICHARD LAND: Hillary Clinton is the Richard Nixon of our time
Obamacare rates to soar in Louisiana
HEALTH: More sleep helps ease junk food cravings
Washington, D.C. city council votes to allow physician-assisted suicide
Church’s first baptisms opens door for more
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer CARLYSS – Not long after Brian Manuel started Carlyss Community Church in November 2014, his eight-year-old son Truett presented a simple yet life-altering request – a chance to be the church plant’s first baptismal candidate. His father could not help but grant it, with an attitude of thanksgiving. “To see that passion and desire by my son to get baptized was awesome,” Manuel said. “We did things we knew to be right, like expose him to reading Scripture and talking about our faith. “We were just obedient,” he continued. “When he finally decided to get baptized, it was one of those shining moments as a parent to be able to be that person who baptizes him.” His son’s baptism was the first of two for Carlyss Community Church, which meets in town at Cypress Cove School. Like most churches, building lasting relationships is vital for engaging potential members with the Gospel, because many previously have not attended a non-Catholic service and others rarely have stepped inside a church building. “The families that we are reaching mostly are not your typical church families,” he said. “We are making connections with families and letting them know we are here. It will take a … [Read more...]
Louisiana Baptists building hope in Haiti
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer HAITI – Wayne Sheppard has seen thousands of Haitian children during 15 mission trips there, but for him one young girl stands out among the rest, symbolizing the whole of the impact of Louisiana Baptists’ work there. During an October 2015 visit near the capital of Port-au-Prince, Sheppard was working in the medical clinic when 9-year-old Selena came seeking help for an injured leg. The following day she returned, but in worse condition, prompting the volunteer doctors and nurses to rush her to a local hospital. The team quickly fell in love with Selena, whose home life includes an absent father and a stepmother who shows little interest in her. One Louisiana Baptist couple, Terry and Shelley Hamilton, members of Mt. Vernon Baptist Church in West Monroe, was so moved in their love for Selena, they decided to pursue adoption of the young girl. Sheppard said he looks forward to many more visits, and encounters with many more children like Selena. Moreover, it made him even more determined to create a better opportunity for others who are not being adopted and remain either alone in Haiti, or unwanted in loveless homes. “Selena is a young lady we love who really represents … [Read more...]
Louisiana Baptists share the Gospel in Belarus
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer BELARUS – Organizers of mission trips to Belarus are adamant that ten dollars is a small investment that reaps a huge dividend for Louisiana Baptists sharing the Gospel in this country where 99 percent of its people do not believe in Christ. This amount is the cost of the Good and Evil Illustrated Bible, a full-color picture Bible, which explains the Bible from Creation to Christ with expressive drawings in a comic-book-type format. Leaders in Belarus are excited about the impact of this soul-winning tool, explaining that 40 percent of people who receive a copy give their hearts to Christ and commit to live for Him. Since 2014, Louisiana Baptist churches have sent teams to partner with Byelorussian Mission, an in-country ministry group, and have taken part in Bible distribution efforts to see first-hand the effectiveness of this outreach method. Wayne Sheppard, partnerships director for Louisiana Baptists, took part in the 2016 mission trip. “The Bibles we are giving out in Belarus are making a tremendous difference,” Sheppard said. “The Good and Evil illustrated Bible is so well-received by those who are lost, those who are agnostic, those who are atheistic. They are glad … [Read more...]
CHARLES STANLEY: If the Foundations Are Destroyed
God’s Word is a stabilizer in our lives. Within its pages we find comfort, strength, and guidance for every situation in life. But if we choose to live without the Bible, we won’t have the assurance of God’s promises to help us through hard times. These are some of the most difficult days we have ever faced in our country. We’ve lost our oneness, stability, strength, and care for one another. Now our nation is suffering from uncertainty, uneasiness, conflict, and distrust. If ever we needed to rely on the Scripture, it’s today. Such times should lead us to cry out to God, asking Him for the wisdom, courage, and obedience to do what’s right. David was familiar with difficult situations, and through them all, he learned to trust the Lord. When he faced Goliath, his confidence was not in himself but in the faithfulness of his God. And when King Saul became jealous of David and tried on several occasions to kill him, David fled for his life, hiding out in the wilderness. Psalm 11 gives us a glimpse into David’s heart at a time when his world was falling apart. His main question is found in verse 3. “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” When everything is crumbling beneath us, we must remember … [Read more...]