Click to Login or Sign Up

Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Louisiana Baptists respond to Florida disaster

By Baptist Message staff MILTON, Fla. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief teams have been activated in response to Hurricane Isaias. Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief Associate Mark Morelock told the Baptist Message that chainsaw, chaplaincy and feeding teams will partner with Southern Baptists of Texas Convention Disaster Relief teams to serve in Milton, Florida. A departure date has not been set, but teams have been asked to prepare now to deploy. Isaias made landfall near Destin, Florida, on Oct. 9, as a Category 2 hurricane. The maximum sustained winds of 105 mph caused power outages and damaged homes and businesses. Heavy rainfall accompanied the storm. Hurricane Isaias, the first of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, is responsible for at least four deaths. Morelock asked Louisiana Baptists to consider donating money to offset some of the costs for helping those in need. "With the rising diesel fuel costs that it takes to run generators on site and transport equipment, giving to help would be appreciated,” Morelock said. Give and volunteer via the Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief webpage.   … [Read more...]

CENLA hymn sing scheduled for Oct. 25

By Baptist Message staff TIOGA, La. (LBM) – Faith Baptist Church will host a hymn sing, Oct. 25, 6 p.m., to bring together central Louisiana churches for a time of joint worship. The hymn sing, under the direction of Kevin Boles, pastor with Lone Star Baptist Church, Hineston, will include Bible reading and prayer. “The hymn sings are a powerful and uplifting experience,” Faith Baptist Pastor Clark Palmer told the Baptist Message. “As we sing, we realize we were made to sing together to God and about God. I hope many will join in.”   … [Read more...]

Grant Parish churches ‘reach’ their Jerusalem for Jesus

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer DRY PRONG, La. (LBM) – More than 200 volunteers from 12 churches showed the love of Christ in their Jerusalem through a weekend of acts of service, Sept. 18-19. The Grant Parish Reach Project involved volunteers from the Big Creek Baptist Association as well as other denominations. They completed 32 service projects that also provided opportunities to plant Gospel seeds, including: installation of two metal roofs; replacement of plumbing; building four wheelchair ramps; removal of a subfloor; yard work; and tree removal. Meanwhile, several churches provided meals for volunteers: Hebron Baptist Church, Dry Prong; Bethel Baptist Church, Colfax; New Prospect Baptist Church, Dry Prong; Fairfield Baptist Church, Dry Prong; Colfax Baptist Church; and Liberty Christian Church, Colfax. Kenny Bratton, pastor with Bethel Baptist Church, said he was thankful for those who ministered to the community through Grant Reach. “The biggest thing I noticed was the power of unity,” Bratton told the Baptist Message. “I told men from other churches that they are not from their own church that weekend but are just a church moving in a direction to help others in need. “It allowed us to … [Read more...]

Louisiana Christian holds Presidential Gala

By Al Quartemont, LCU News ALEXANDRIA, La. (LCU News) – On a night designed to celebrate its history and legacy, Louisiana Christian University’s first-ever Presidential Gala was a testimony to all that has been good and right with the institution over its first 120 years. The Gala, held at the Alexandria Convention Center Thursday night and attended by more than 300 people, was designed to honor this year’s Sports Hall of Fame inductees and Distinguished Alumni honorees, but made an even greater statement about the meaning of school to the community. “One of the things I’m finding out as the president of this university is the heart of the institution,” said LCU President Mark Johnson. “When I hear stories about Louisiana Christian University, very seldom are there dry eyes. There’s something about what this place means to so many, and we are honored to be able to carry this legacy forward.” The importance of LCU may have been stated the best by Distinguished Alum Lance Maxwell of the Class of 2000. Now the deputy chief of staff for Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, Maxwell said he would not be where he is had it not been for LCU and its professors. He said attending LCU was the defining moment of his professional … [Read more...]

Franklin Avenue prepares for Luter legacy to continue

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer NEW ORLEANS (LBM) – Fred Luter was in his 35th year of pastoring Franklin Avenue Baptist Church when he called his son to talk about the future of both men and the church. “Chip was pastoring in Florida, and he said ‘Dad, you know, you’re 65 next year. You think about re­tirement?’,” Luter recalled of the March 2021 con­versation. “I said, ‘Well, my retirement plan is in Florida. Are you thinking of coming home?’” Soon after, his son resigned as campus pas­tor with Idlewild Baptist Church’s Sulphur Spring campus in Tampa, Florida, and returned to the church where he was raised, and where he previously served as the pastor of students. On Oct. 18, Fred Luter will retire and the follow­ing Sunday, his son will succeed him. The church will host a celebration musical, Oct. 16, 6 p.m., featuring the FABC choir, who will sing Luter’s favorite Gospel songs. “Just looking back on from when it started to up until now, it’s been a joy pastoring Franklin Ave­nue,” Luter told the Baptist Message. “To see what God has done in this church, with a guy who never pastored before, and then being a part of a church that grew to be one of the largest churches in the state has been a … [Read more...]