By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer
WOODWORTH, La. (LBM) – During the May 7 general session of the Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board, LBC Executive Director Steve Horn encouraged members to be passionate about sharing the Gospel.
He also provided an update about efforts to resolve the church insurance crisis plaguing congregations of all denominations across the state.
EVANGELISM MOVEMENT
Horn said that since the Aug. 1, 2023, launch of Send Network Louisiana, the evangelistic growth initiative has produced 35 church planters, with two more headed to an assessment retreat in late May and an additional 29 potential planters in the assessment pipeline. An assessment retreat center has been established with Istrouma Baptist Church, Baton Rouge, that will allow for two retreats annually, with the goal of producing 12 candidates per retreat.
The Louisiana Baptist partnership with the North American Mission Board has a God-sized vision to see His Kingdom expanded in Louisiana by one percent (about 28,000) over the next decade.
Researchers estimate that 60 percent of 4,648,794 Louisianans are lost (about 2,789,276). If successful, 28,875 Louisianans will be added to the Kingdom through 231 new churches planted in the state by 2033 (based on each reaching 125 people with the Gospel). These salvations will be in addition to those recorded by already established Louisiana Baptist congregations.
The goal of reaching 28,875 new people can be obtained with a combination of planting 231 new churches reaching 125 people with the Gospel. These salvations will be accomplished in a cooperative effort with already established Louisiana Baptist congregations.
Since the partnership began, Send Network Louisiana church plants have reported, collectively: 2,854 in weekly worship; 1,954 Gospel conversations; 183 salvation decisions; 79 baptisms; 1,506 discipled; and $21,350 given to the Cooperative Program.
Beyond the Send Network Louisiana church plants, Horn shared that other evangelism milestones have included 8,375 baptisms by Louisiana Baptist churches in 2023, an increase of 1,685 from 2022.
“And I believe that we can realistically see that soon, maybe even this year if the Lord wills, that we can get to 10,000 baptisms per year,” he said. “Let’s do it.”
Sharing Acts 17, Horn said there are at least six inescapable truths about people to whom the Apostle Paul addressed in that passage: they are religious; God appointed them to be among us in both time and space; God desires a relationship with them; they face judgement; each person will make a decision about Jesus; and in the end, this is deeply personal.
“As believers in Christ, the passing of our faith, the Gospel, from one generation to another is among the highest callings in life,” Horn said. “However, we do not have an infinite window to exchange the baton. Because passing our faith is of the highest callings, it must have the highest priority in our lives.”
CHURCH INSURANCE UPDATE
Horn said that since an advisory committee was formed, in late 2023, to help identify strategies and resources to secure one-time funding to launch the state legislature approved self-insurance program, 350 churches of various denominations have submitted the necessary historical insurance information. However, at least 650 more churches are needed to submit requested insurance policies and histories.
“This is not an immediate fix,” Horn said. “This is a long-term solution. This hurricane season, and maybe even the next, is going to come and go without any additional resolution in this matter. This can be a matter of concern and should be a matter of prayer. But this cannot mean that we give up on future solutions.”
Horn and Will Hall, Louisiana Baptist Office of Public Policy director, have met with legislators and other public officials and been assured of help in their attempts to secure some of the $8-9 million in funds that will be needed to start the program. He said several bills are awaiting Gov. Jeff Landry’s signature that Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple and others believe will bring some relief by bringing other insurance companies to the state.
Horn told board members they will continue to pray and work on Louisiana Baptists’ behalf and asked pastors of all denominations to submit the basic insurance information (a current policy and a five-year record of claims, known as a “loss run report”) needed to complete the modeling that has to be done to move forward.
