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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Archives for 2021

Ida disaster relief a long-term partnership in the Gospel

By Brian Blackwell, Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Hurricane Ida operations are winding down at most sites around the state, but Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief coordinator Stan Statham emphasized volunteers will be needed for years to help residents rebuild. “The long-term rebuild phase is Katrina-like,” said Statham, referencing a multi-year effort following Hurricane Katrina in 2005. “With 116 churches damaged, including 28 significantly, it’s going to be a while before this area begins to get back on its feet.” Ida came ashore near Port Fourchon around 11:55 a.m. Aug. 29 as a Category 4 storm (maximum sustained winds of 150 mph, just seven mph short of Category 5 status), tying Hurricane Laura (2020) and the Last Island Hurricane (1856) as the most-powerful hurricanes to hit Louisiana. The storm dumped up to 15 inches of rain in some areas, knocked out power to more than 1.1 million at one time and spanned a diameter of 414 miles, according to AccuWeather. Statham praised the volunteers from 31 state conventions that deployed with Louisiana Baptist DR workers throughout the state at various times, ministering from 13 response centers. Through mid-October, there were 929 Gospel presentations, with … [Read more...]

2021 LBC messengers will be urged to seek personal revival

By Brian Blackwell, Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Messengers and guests to the 2021 Louisiana Baptist Convention Annual Meeting, Nov. 16, will be encouraged to seek personal revival. At the meeting, a 28-day personal revival guide authored by Louisiana Baptist Executive Director Steve Horn will be distributed and those in attendance will be encouraged to complete the “Change Me” booklet. “Our Convention president, Dr. David Cranford, has been gracious in working with me to establish the theme of our meeting — ‘Change Me,’” Horn told the Baptist Message. “‘Change Me’ is the title of a 28-day personal revival guide I’ve authored. Every messenger and attendee will have the opportunity to receive a copy of this resource during our Tuesday morning session. We’ve also enlisted the talents of ‘The Skit Guys’ to help us visualize and apply the themes of this emphasis. I’m asking God to use this year’s annual meeting, followed by hundreds of Louisiana Baptists using this tool, to bring personal revival to all of us. I have become more and more convinced that ‘great awakening’ begins at the individual level. God needs to work in us so revival can spread among us.” OTHER BUSINESS Messengers also will consider … [Read more...]

Credentials Committee: Messengers must register for annual meeting

By Staff, Baptist Message ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM)— In order for a church to be represented during the business portions of the Louisiana Baptist Convention to be held Nov. 16 in North Monroe Baptist Church, Monroe, it will need to elect messenger(s), who then must register and be certified by the Committee on Credentials. LBC Credentials Committee Chairman Mark Morelock noted to the Baptist Message that there are five ways for messengers to register and be approved: — The first and simplest way is for messengers to pre-register using www.LaOne.org and print out the registration card to bring to the annual meeting. This way allows messengers to be certified within a matter of minutes, Morelock said. — Second, a messenger may bring a note on official letterhead signed by the pastor or church clerk, stating that the individual was elected by the congregation. — Third, a church officer can phone in the names of elected messengers. — Fourth, a person can be vouchsafed as a duly elected messenger by a fellow registered church member. — Finally, when there are no other means by which to validate a person, the Committee on Credentials may be called into session to rule on the registration request. Morelock emphasized … [Read more...]

Louisiana Notables

EDITOR’S NOTE: Do you have a Revival, Homecoming, a new pastor, a community outreach or a concert? The Baptist Message would love to share your church news with the rest of the state. It is very easy to do, just send in your information (who, what, where and when) to philip@baptistmessage.com or call 318.449.4345. To get your event in the paper, please submit your information three weeks prior to the event.  ON THE MOVE Jim Wallace is the new pastor at First Baptist Church, Cotton Valley. Keith Dowden is the new pastor at Pine Hill Baptist Church, Leesville. He was the pastor at South Central Baptist Church, Wisner. REVIVAL Fellowship Baptist Church, Trout: Revival, October 31, November 3, Sunday, 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.; Monday-Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. Evangelist: Scotty McDowell. Music: Glenn Price, Philadelphia Baptist Church. A nursery will be provided. Pastor: Shad Tibbs. Trinity Baptist Church, Turkey Creek: The Mackey Willis Family in concert, November 7, Pastor: Eddie Douglas. Goodwill Baptist Church, Oak Grove: Revival, November 8-12. Evangelist: Malcolm Ellis. Pastor: Lucas House. First Baptist Church, Bernice: Revival, November 11-14, 7 p.m. nightly. Evangelist Stephen Laughlin. Music: Ted Bertand. … [Read more...]

Stone files defamation lawsuit against Moore

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor NASHVILLE, Tenn. (LBM)—The attorney for Mike Stone filed a defamation lawsuit against Russell Moore, Oct. 19, with the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee in Nashville, claiming libel (publication of false statements), false light, invasion of privacy (misleading and offensive portrayal) and intentional infliction of emotional distress as the causes of action. The lawsuit seeks $750,000 from Moore and requests a jury trial. Stone is pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church, Blackshear, Georgia, a member and former chairman of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee, and an unsuccessful 2021 candidate for SBC president. Moore is the former president of the SBC’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, who now serves as “public theologian and director of the public theology project” for Christianity Today, a religious media outlet, according to Moore’s page on the CT website. ALLEGATIONS The 62 pages on file include 26 pages relating to the complaint, as well as 36 pages containing two letters penned by Moore that are at the heart of the lawsuit as well as a copy of the SBC Constitution. The filing alleges that Moore “began a malicious, … [Read more...]