By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer CROWLEY, La. (LBM) – A former Louisiana Baptist pastor is hoping to receive an early Christmas gift – a living donor who would offer up a portion of his or her liver to give him a chance to regain some semblance of a normal life. In 2014, doctor's discovered David Kindred's liver had been damaged beyond its ability to restore itself because of complications from medications prescribed for an errant diagnosis of Parkinson's disease. Since then, his family has prayed fo find a qualified donor. Kindred, who accepted Christ while serving on a mission trip with First Baptist Church, Scott City, in 1973, last served as pastor of Rice City Baptist Church, Crowley, 2004-2006. Although he is no longer serving as a pastor, Kindred continues to be active in ministry as a Sunday school teacher and choir member at Community Baptist Church, Lafayette, where he and his family are members. DONOR INFORMATION The liver is one of the only organs in the human body that has the ability to regenerate, or regrow, according to medical textbooks. Between 8-10 weeks after the living-donor liver transplant, the liver will regrow to full size and function in both the donor and the recipient. The donor … [Read more...]
CENLA Pregnancy Center donates to two Lake Charles centers
By Baptist Message staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – The CENLA Pregnancy Care Center has donated $10,000 to two pregnancy centers in Lake Charles, an area hit hard by recent hurricanes. CENLA Pregnancy Care Center Executive Director Claire Lemoine said the gifts of $5,000 to both centers will cover 40 percent of the monthly budgets for ABC Pregnancy Resource Center and New Life Counseling. “Those involved in pregnancy center ministry support and encourage one another,” Lemoine told the Baptist Message. “Making these donations are another way of showing how we care for the mothers, fathers and children these Lake Charles ministries serve. They were faced with devastation from the storms and we wanted to help.” Board Vice President Ed Tarpley, a member of Kingsville Baptist Church in Ball, added that the checks will help the two centers get through what has been a difficult time. “Our job, whether it be in southwest Louisiana or Cenla, is to promote life and save lives,” he said. “Lake Charles was devastated and we’re trying to do our part to help in a small way.” Lemoine said helping other pregnancy centers in the state save babies and minister to their mothers has been one of the most rewarding aspects of her job … [Read more...]
World’s first Christian airline set to launch from Shreveport in 2021; aims to transport missionaries worldwide
LC Values and Ethics Conference: Racial unity through Christ
By Alena Noakes, Wildcats Media PINEVILLE, La. (LCNews) – “God’s plan is to unite us as one, and you have the opportunity to be a part of that process,” Alexandria physician Gregory Bevels said at the recent Louisiana College’s 5th annual Values and Ethics Conference. The conference, Nov. 4-5, featured speakers from various backgrounds who addressed one of the most critical issues in today’s culture, racism. Bevels, a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Alexandria, was joined by Louisiana state Rep. Katrina Jackson, author of the Louisiana Right to Life amendment and an equal rights proponent in the legislature, and Joshua Joy Dara, Sr., dean of the department of human behavior and associate vice president for student engagement and enrichment at LC and pastor of Zion Hill Church Family in Pineville. Chris Singleton, a former minor league baseball player whose mother was one of nine people killed during a 2015 deadly shooting at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C., shared his message virtually. “I think this mission of unity that we have … that’s Jesus’ mission,” Singleton said. “And I think if we lead people, no matter where they’re from or what they look like … if we lead them to the Lord, I … [Read more...]
Lee Wesley, prominent pastor and church statesman, passes
By Baptist Message staff BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – Lee Wesley, a pastor who started one of the first predominantly African American Louisiana Baptist congregations in the Baton Rouge area, died Nov. 10. He was 76. Wesley had served as pastor of Community Bible Baptist Church in Baton Rouge since 1989, but he also was a well-known leader at all levels of Louisiana Baptist life. Friends and colleagues described him as a champion for bringing churches together to make the greatest Gospel impact on the community. According to information compiled from the Annual Church Profile, Tommy Middleton, director of missions for the Baptist Association of Greater Baton Rouge, and James Jenkins, Louisiana Baptist director of church planting, Wesley was the first African American moderator of BAGBR; he helped Middleton establish inner city camps for children in Baton Rouge; and, he also identified potential Black church planters. During his tenure at Community Bible Baptist Church, which averages 125 worshipers for Sunday morning service, 676 new converts were baptized since 1989. Statewide, Wesley was chairman of the Every People Group Task Force of the LBC President’s 2020 Commission since 2012. He also was an LBC Executive Board … [Read more...]
New Orleans: No parades allowed for Mardi Gras 2021, but other celebrations still possible
Evangelists press on against obstacles of COVID-19
By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer HAUGHTON, La. (LBM) - Evangelist Bill Britt, in early 2020, was looking forward to preaching at crusades and revivals over a 45-week period, but in mid-March COVID-19 brought his schedule of events, like every other evangelist’s, to a near close. Britt saw 14 events cancelled, yet he is confident about his calling no matter the crushing burden caused by the COVID-19 shutdown. “You can’t stop the Gospel,” Britt told the Baptist Message. “When you have the opportunities to preach to the crowd, it’s exciting because you get to exercise your calling and gifts. Seeing Him move when people are full of fear and then to see some turn to the Lord is such a blessing.” In July, the evangelist from Haughton resumed his slate of crusades and revivals, though the crowds have been smaller because of COVID-19 attendance restrictions. Then Britt tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Although only a mild case, he had to cancel two more of his preaching assignments. “The Lord provided healing for me, finances and met all of my needs,” Britt said. “It has made me more sensitive to pray for those who are battling with this disease.” Despite these challenges Britt has seen multiple … [Read more...]
‘Who’s Your One’ inspires pastor to prioritize Gospel with daughter
By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer COUSHATTA, La. (LBM) – Nathan Davis, pastor of First Baptist Church, Coushatta, accepted the “Who’s Your One” evangelistic challenge by sharing the Gospel with someone especially close to him -- his daughter, McKinley. Throughout the year, Davis planted Gospel seeds with his daughter and prayed she would become a follower of Jesus. His evangelistic efforts and daily prayers finally were answered during a revival service, Sept. 28, when McKinley, upon the invitation of evangelist Bill Britt to the First Baptist congregation, stepped forward to declare she had repented of her sins. A month later, on Oct. 25, McKinley proudly declared her newfound faith through baptism in front of her FBCC family. “It’s awesome to know that McKinley will join the rest of our family in Heaven one day,” Davis told the Baptist Message. “I tell our kids salvation is the starting point but not the finish line. I’m thankful we will get to spend life in Heaven together but also hopefully have a long life here to influence others for Christ.” McKinley said she and her dad have shared many joyful times, but that her baptism is perhaps the most memorable. “I was excited to show everyone I am a … [Read more...]
Baptist Message changes print schedule for 2021 to offset costs
By Baptist Message staff ALEXANDRIA, LA (LBM) -- Starting in January 2021, the Baptist Message will change its annual production run from 24 editions to 14 editions. The new printing schedule is basically a monthly plan, except two editions will be printed in October and January to meet the needs of covering Louisiana Baptist cooperative missions and ministries as well as key organizational events, including the fall annual meeting as well as winter evangelistic meetings. Importantly, the yearly subscription rates will remain the same: $14 for an individual subscription and $9.25 for a church group discount. Will Hall, executive editor of the Baptist Message, explained that the $14 individual subscription rate went into effect January 1, 2003, and since then has lost about 31 percent of its buying power. “We need to do something to make up the shortfall that has taken place during that long haul,” he said. “However, the economy in the state and the financial pressure it is placing on our households and our churches, means instead of raising rates for subscribers, we will cut costs, moving from 24 to 14 printed editions each year. Taking this step will reduce our costs an estimated 35- 40 percent, which essentially … [Read more...]
Messengers adopt ‘Gospel Resolve,’ asked to oppose SBC Resolution 9
By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) – The Committee on Resolutions presented a single resolution “On Gospel Resolve” and the Committee on Moral and Social Concerns Committee addressed Critical Race Theory and Intersectionality in a separate report at the Louisiana Baptist Convention 2020 Annual Meeting, Nov. 10, at Louisiana College in Pineville. RESOLUTIONS Committee on Resolutions Chairman Steve McAlister, pastor of Westside Baptist Church in Natchitoches, said the committee considered possible resolutions, including one against Critical Race Theory and Intersectionality – which have become hot topics since messengers to the 2019 Southern Baptist Convention in Birmingham, Alabama, adopted Resolution 9 which describes these two controversial Marxist concepts as “analytical tools subordinate to Scripture” to “aid in evaluating a variety of human experiences.” In the end, McAlister said, the committee decided that a single resolution drafted by Steve Horn, Louisiana Baptist executive director, was preferred in the face of overcoming the obstacles of multiple hurricanes, the COVID-19 pandemic and political tensions related to hotly contested national elections. McAlister said once the … [Read more...]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 94
- 95
- 96
- 97
- 98
- …
- 338
- Next Page »