By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Katrina is indelibly inked in the memory of Louisiana and the world. Revised nationwide numbers by the National Hurricane Center show that 1,392 people were killed and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration estimates there was an economic loss of $201.3 billion dollars (adjusted for inflation), making Katrina the most expensive hurricane in U.S. history. Importantly, this enormous scope of tragedy combined with the thousands of triumphs that emerged demonstrate that God is stronger than the storm. This is particularly true in the disparate cases of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church (whose campus was inundated by nine feet of water) and First Baptist Church New Orleans (whose facilities escaped the floodwater). Due to the extent of facility damages and the dislocation across the country of so many church members who had no safe place to stay, Fred Luter was forced to be something of an itinerant pastor to his FABC congregation. He eventually set up a routine to preach first and third Sundays in New Orleans and the second and fourth Sundays in Houston, and he continued this schedule until the congregation was able to move back into renovated … [Read more...]
The race of faith: a marathon, not a sprint
When I ran cross country, our training involved running Monday through Friday and, occasionally, optional Saturday runs. We did “easy” days, long-distance days, sprint days (the worst), and more, all to make sure that we were in the best shape possible for our 5k race — a little over three miles — which occurred seven to eight times throughout the season. … [Read more...]
Ten biblical habits for every husband and father
By Clint Davis SHREVEPORT, La. (LBM) - Husbands and fathers, learn these ten biblical habits so you can lead and finish well. Own your mornings with God. Rise before the house. Spend time in prayer and Scripture. Move your body and clear your mind. When you start the day with the Lord, you’re not reacting to the world, you’re leading from His strength. “In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.” —Psalm 5:3 Stop using “tired” as an excuse. Yes, you’re tired. So is every father. But God has called you to perseverance. Do the work anyway. Your family needs your best, even when you feel your worst. “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” —Galatians 6:9 Pursue your wife like you did before marriage. Don’t let romance fade after the vows. Love her sacrificially and intentionally so she feels cherished and valued. “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her.” —Ephesians 5:25 Lead your home with steadiness and strength. Your attitude sets the atmosphere. If you walk in angry and rushed, your family feels it. If you walk in calm, steady, … [Read more...]
Spiritual preps for the new school year
By Mark Robinson ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) - The new semester is exciting for everyone — but especially for the campus minister, who is on the front lines of shaping disciples for Christ. In the coming weeks, campus ministers can better focus as they think and plan out the new school year: • Tackle administrative tasks early. Handle office work, phone calls and emails early in the day — before the “tyrant” called "Urgent" takes over the schedule; • Prioritize prayer; • Pray early and often; • Encourage a staff member or student to stop and pray with them throughout the day; • Keep prayers focused to help build a culture of prayer; • Foster a culture of evangelism; • Make transformation stories part of daily conversations; • Celebrate and share how God is working in students’ lives; • Keep the main thing the main thing. Preparing tacos for 300 is important — but spiritual growth is their true purpose; • Love family well. As they serve intensely, be intentional about loving their family even more intensely; • Record God’s faithfulness. Make notes of special acts of God to reflect on later when life slows down; • Stay rooted in the Word; • Don’t neglect your personal time in Scripture; and • Enjoy the energy of … [Read more...]
Finding hope amid the pain
After a painful experience, hope often feels fragile. I have learned to allow joy to begin in small moments. It might be a bird singing outside a window, a kind word from a stranger or a sunset painted across the sky. I’ve had to give myself permission to smile when laughter comes, even if it feels unfamiliar. Hope does not burst in all at once; it grows through noticing these gifts and letting your heart be touched again. … [Read more...]
EVANGELISM 101 (Part 7): Reach the world from Louisiana with technology
By Sammy Tippit, Special to the Baptist Message ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Technology has erased borders, and the Great Commission has never been more within the world’s reach. You can sit in your living room on a Tuesday evening and reach 100 people for Christ. The next day, from your home office, you can preach to 30,000 people gathered in a town halfway around the world. It sounds impossible, but these are realities that I have experienced first-hand and taught others to embrace. Yet few are seizing this opportunity. Digital Evangelism is Powerful Fifty years ago, my friend Wade Akins and I came to know each other because of our connections to Louisiana College (Louisiana Christiam University) -- a friendship that would span decades of ministry around the world. More recently, when Wade heard about my "Skype Evangelism" efforts, he called asking, "Can you teach me?" So, during his visit to San Antonio, I showed him how to use his cell phone to connect with the world and share the Gospel. The results were overwhelming. Wade began reaching thousands of people and training others to do the same, including Pastor Truman Herring, another Louisiana native and the first person to ever share the Gospel with me. … [Read more...]
It’s time to examine your faith – are you lukewarm?
“Don’t be a lukewarm Christian.” Ever heard that phrase? For some, it’s a familiar rallying cry; for others, it’s a grating cliché that sparks annoyance. Critics argue it’s nitpicky, overused, or even weaponized in judgmental ways. Sure, like any saying, it can be tossed around carelessly or misapplied. But how often do we pause to dig into what it truly means to be a “lukewarm” Christian? Not just the definition, but what it looks like in our lives — our choices, our passions, our daily walk. Why does it matter if someone labels us as lukewarm, and more importantly, why should we care? … [Read more...]
Texas tragedy coverage offers opportunities to minister, serve
Two things can be true at the same time. I never intended to become a fire chaplain. “It was never on my Bingo card,” as they say. For me, it came along with the job. I was going to be the pastor of the area church, so I became the chaplain for the volunteer fire department at the end of the street. Speaking of, “not on my bingo card,” how about being a pastor? That was never part of the plan either. I am a journalist. … [Read more...]
Am ambassador for Christ
A spiritual revival often begins with a sense of dissatisfaction, a realization that something is missing in your life. Have you experienced that? … [Read more...]
Dodgers’ Kershaw has pitch-perfect response to Pride Night
Clayton Kershaw may not have pitched Friday night, but he still made more headlines than most of his teammates. The Dodgers’ star, who happens to be an outspoken Christian, made a splash at the team’s Pride Night by putting a unique twist on Los Angeles’s gear. It was a simple but powerful statement that June will never be the same — not in Major League Baseball, and frankly, not anywhere. … [Read more...]
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