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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Border closure cuts short Louisiana DR mission, puts ‘Bahama Rebuild’ on hold

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer PELICAN POINT, Bahamas (LBM) – An unexpected announcement July 20 that the Bahamian government was closing its border to most travelers from the United States on July 22 forced a Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief team to cut short their mission two days earlier than planned. The 11-man team had arrived at Pelican Point, Bahamas, July 13, to help with rebuilding the 128-year old St. Matthew Baptist Church destroyed by Hurricane Dorian Sept. 2, 2019. The team had planned to mount trusses through Friday for the church’s new worship center. However, out of precaution for any potential travel issues that might arise because of the border closure, the team boarded a ferry to Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Wednesday and returned to Louisiana Thursday evening. “When it came to our attention the borders were closing, we began to pray and asked others to pray for options that would allow us to complete our work and still get out of the country,” Louisiana Baptists Disaster Relief Strategist Gibbie McMillan told the Baptist Message. “Our prayers were answered. And it is comforting to know we have prayer partners that we can call upon in our Baptist family.” The order closed the … [Read more...]

Despite canceled season, NOBTS excavation graces cover of BAR summer issue

By Gary D. Myers, NOBTS director of communications NEW ORLEANS, La. (NOBTS) – Archaeologists from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary planned to spend much of June and July excavating at Tel Hadid, the site of a biblical city in Israel. But like so many other events in 2020, their dig season was a casualty of COVID-19. Despite the loss of this summer’s excavation season, the Tel Hadid dig was the featured cover story of the Biblical Archaeology Review (BAR) summer issue. The BAR feature, “Tel Hadid: Through the Ages,” was co-authored by NOBTS and Tel Aviv University professors. The popular magazine enjoys broad readership which ranges from members of the general public to professional archaeologists and scholars. “Being on the cover of BAR offers the opportunity for excavations to gain significant notoriety in the field of archaeology,” said Dan Warner, professor of archaeology at NOBTS and co-director of the Tel Hadid Expedition. “Being on the cover also creates an interest factor for excavations to gain volunteers to come join the fun in the dirt. So, it is prized by all excavations.” Tel Hadid is located approximately three miles southeast of the Ben Gurion Airport and nine miles from Tel Aviv. The park … [Read more...]

Louisiana Legacy: Family and Kingdom – providing for family needs and impacting the Kingdom

By Jeffrey Steed ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBF) – Christians are motivated to meet the needs of family members because of our love and loyalty to them. Many have minor children who are understandably heavily dependent on parents for their needs to be met. There are others who have parents depending upon their children because of unforeseen circumstances in life. Some have adult children who have special needs and are financially dependent upon their parents. Others are the legal guardians of grandchildren because of challenging circumstances and those grandchildren are financially dependent upon their grandparents. Life seems to have some unusual circumstances placed before us occasionally. What most individuals have in common is the motivation to step-up and help family members in times of need. The above provides some real life circumstances that occur in the lives of many. There are charitable tools to help address some of these life circumstances as well as impacting the Kingdom one day. Consider the significance of that last statement. You have the ability to meet the needs of family as well as impacting the Kingdom one day! For more information, please contact the Foundation at 877.523.4636. Jeffrey Steed is executive … [Read more...]

Are you just sitting around?

By Stewart Holloway PINEVILLE, La. – When asked to engage in a new ministry, a pastor declined to even think about it saying, “We’re just waiting on this whole virus thing.” Essentially, this pastor and his church are doing nothing while a world crisis rages. That means they have lost five months of gospel impact while ministry is on pause. They are just sitting around waiting. I’m grateful that our church has decided not to do that. I do not see how any church CAN do that! The work of Christ must continue even in the midst of some of the oddest circumstances we have ever experienced. Like most churches, only about half of our people are back in person. At times that is discouraging (ok, it is always discouraging!), but then we hear of ministry happening outside the walls of the church - some of that in person but even more by phone, mail, and internet resources. Those reports encourage us that ministry is happening in multiple ways and places and lives are being touched. I am also encouraged by the giving of our people. In the middle of a pandemic and with half of our people still at home, we are closer to meeting budget at mid-year than I can remember. In addition, we have reduced our debt by almost $200,000. We have … [Read more...]

Churches’ decisions produce Kingdom decisions at GO TELL camp

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer TOCCOA, Ga. (LBM) - The 2020 GO TELL Camp almost did not happen for two Louisiana Baptist churches, but divine intervention provided a way for the students to experience a mighty movement of God. Like many others around the country, churches who planned on participating in the annual camp organized by GO TELL Ministries faced novel coronavirus pandemic-related challenges. While some opted not to attend, Spring Creek Baptist Church in Kentwood and First Baptist Church in Houma were among seven churches who attended the camp June 25-29 at the Georgia Baptist Conference Center in Toccoa, Ga. Spring Creek brought 42 students and 16 adults and First Houma brought 14 students and four adults. By the end of the week, Spring Creek Baptist reported four professions of faith, 19 restorations of fellowship with the Lord and one commitment to Christian vocational ministry. First Houma’s students indicated a number of decisions for personal spiritual renewal. “We are very grateful to GO TELL founder Rick Gage and his camp staff. They could have pulled the plug but they made the decision to make it happen,” Spring Creek student minister Eric Latham told the Baptist Message. “That’s … [Read more...]

LC takes over ownership of Louisiana Athletic Club in Pineville, Alexandria

By LCNews staff PINEVILLE, La. (LCNews) – Louisiana College has become the sole owner of the Louisiana Athletic Club’s two locations in Pineville and Alexandria. According to a memo from CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini Hospital CEO Chris Karam, the organization made the decision this month to withdraw its ownership of the athletic clubs due to the financial challenges caused by the novel coronavirus pandemic. They also re-evaluated their focus on what the organization could best provide the community. “Customer service has been central to the mission of the LAC, and that will remain of utmost importance,” said Louisiana College President Rick Brewer. “LC and CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini have similar missions, which makes for a great partnership. We look forward to the opportunity to provide health and fitness services to our community.” With the change in ownership comes a new manager, Ronnie Schwartz. Schwartz, who has been a personal trainer in the area for 24 years, has served on the staff at LAC since May 2005, including the last 13 years as fitness manager. A member of Calvary Baptist Church in Alexandria, Schwartz serves as worship assistant and has worked with the youth for many years. “We have added … [Read more...]

Health concerns force cancellation of LBC Champions Camp

By Baptist Message staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – The Champions Camp for individuals with special needs has been cancelled because of novel coronavirus pandemic concerns. Originally scheduled for June 11-13, the start of the camp was pushed to Sept. 18-20. Concerns over health issues of the campers forced the camp’s cancellation. “This is such a special camp that fills a great need that we did everything we could to try and make it happen in 2020,” David Anderson, children’s ministry strategist for Louisiana Baptists, told the Baptist Message. “Instead of just cancelling it this summer we chose to postpone it, hoping that things would look much better in September. “At this point, however, we are not where we feel comfortable moving forward with the plans for Champion’s Camp,” he continued. “So many of our campers deal with so many various and unique health issues that we do not feel that we can take that risk of exposure at this time. We want to be clear though in that Champion’s Camp will be back in 2021 stronger than ever.” Anderson said next year’s camp is scheduled for June 10-12.   … [Read more...]

Gov. Edwards extends Louisiana’s Phase 2 restrictions until Aug. 7

By Baptist Message staff BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – Gov. John Bel Edwards announced at a Tuesday afternoon press conference that Louisiana will remain in Phase Two of reopening the state for at least two more weeks, Citing a continued increase in novel coronavirus related cases and hospitalizations, Edwards said the decision was necessary to keep the state in Phase Two until at least Aug. 7. Phase Two was set to expire Friday, July 23. Edwards said as the number rose to No. 2 per capita in COVID cases in the state behind only New York. Louisiana's hospitalizations also continue to rise, as has the percentage of coronavirus tests coming back positive. All restrictions issued under the current phase will remain in place. This includes: --a 50 percent capacity restriction for businesses and churches --a statewide mask mandate for anyone eight years or older or with a major health condition --limitations of bars to curbside food service only --and a reduction of indoor social gatherings to 50 people. Louisiana Baptists’ Executive Director Steve Horn told the Baptist Message he was not surprised by Edwards’ decision to keep the state in Phase Two. “Gov. Edwards has indicated from the beginning that he … [Read more...]