By Baptist Message staff BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry announced, April 30, he has suspended the state's upcoming congressional primaries. According to an Executive Order issued by Landry, the suspension pertains only to the primary elections for the U.S. House scheduled for May 16 and June 27. Other offices and ballot measures will continue both dates. The Executive Order comes a day after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the state’s sixth congressional district was an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. Louisiana in 2024 passed the map after a court mandate required a second Black-majority district, which drew concern that some minority voters were being given unfair representation. … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff WASHINGTON (LBM) – The United States Supreme Court ruled, April 29, that the current congressional map in Louisiana is unconstitutional. The Court found that the state’s sixth congressional district was racially gerrymandered. Louisiana, in 2024, adopted the map after a court mandate required a second Black-majority district, which drew concern that some minority voters were being given unfair representation. The more than 200-mile district connects parts of Shreveport, Alexandria, Lafayette and Baton Rouge. Louisiana House Speaker Pro Temp Mike Johnson, a member with First Baptist Church, Pineville, told the Baptist Message that the Supreme Court decision is an important moment for the state and for the principle of equal representation under the law. “Over the past year, I have taken the fight for fair maps all the way to the Supreme Court — twice because I believe deeply that every citizen deserves to be represented based on the whole population, not divided by race or political agendas. “I voted against the current maps and my position has been consistent from the beginning,” he continued. “We must draw congressional districts that respect our Constitution, treat every voter equally, … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer WINNSBORO, La. (LBM) – A spiritual awakening is taking place inside Franklin Parish Detention Center, with 12 incarcerated men celebrating freedom in Christ through baptism on April 12. Each of the inmates, who are serving sentences ranging from six months to 10 years, were met with cheers as the men individually emerged from the water in a horse trough during a worship service. Cary Collier, a member with Friendship Baptist Church, Baskin, said watching the men step in and out of the water was a powerful reminder that no wall can stop the reach of God’s grace. “There is no greater joy than seeing new creations emerge, chains broken and lives changed forever behind those bars,” Collier told the Baptist Message. “Praise God for His Amazing Grace and Mercy. We’ve had the opportunity to witness these moments at the prison with over 100 inmates, and it gets sweeter and sweeter.” The baptisms took place six days after the inmates turned to Christ during a worship service attended by 55 inside the detention center. Collier said once they began praying and singing the song “Amazing Grace,” the Holy Spirit moved among the inmates, prompting 19 of them to accept … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Send Network Louisiana has launched an effort that invites Louisiana Baptists to pray for at least 1 percent of those in the state who do not know Jesus to be reached with the Gospel over the next decade. Based on Luke 10:2 which asks the Lord to send out workers into the harvest, the emphasis encourages Louisiana Baptists to set their alarm for 10:02 a.m. or p.m. and pray during that time for workers to be sent into the harvest and for those who do not know Christ to be reached. “This is a God-sized goal,” Louisiana Baptist Church Planting Strategist Jacob Crawford told the Baptist Message. “And the truth is, ‘unless the Lord builds the house, the laborers labor in vain.’ “I think one of the things that God has really been dealing with us about is, or convicting, at least, me personally, about, is that we can strategize all day long,” he said. “We can have all these plans that look amazing on paper, but if God’s not in it, it will mean nothing.” GOSPEL VISION The Send Network Louisiana partnership between Louisiana Baptists and the North American Mission Board, which went into e­ffect Aug. 1, 2023, has helped the state further its God-sized … [Read more...]

Courtesy of the North American Mission Board MARRERO, La. (NAMB) - Church business meetings are not normally fertile ground for happy accidents. But Ames Boulevard Baptist Church’s tiny remnant of elderly members unintentionally set a miracle in motion when they voted to hire Troy Gause to mow their grass. Every year, 700-800 Southern Baptist Convention churches cease to exist. “That’s how I got to know the church,” Gause said. “I started taking care of their property and learned how they’d dwindled down to just a few faithful members. They were probably just a couple months away from closing their doors.” When longtime Ames’s members like Linda Morrow realized “Troy Gause, landscaper” was also “Troy Gause, church planting missionary,” they began to pray. “He’d just started a church but needed a place to meet,” she said. “When we met, it was so clear God was putting us together to replant something new.” Now, the sign out front says Cross Community Church, and the name is not the only thing that’s changed. “There’s life back in this building,” Gause said. “Baptisms are happening, salvations are happening, and this church has been raised from the dead.” Prayers on multiple fronts are requested for Gause … [Read more...]

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Baptist Message provides churches an opportunity to share with other Louisiana Baptists an upcoming revival, homecoming, new pastor, new staff member, a community outreach, or a concert in Louisiana Notables. To place your event in the paper, send your information (who, what, where, when, time) to philip@baptistmessage.com or call 318.449.4345. Please submit your information four weeks prior to the event to insure placement in the Message. ON THE MOVE Matt, wife Whitney, Cate, discipleship pastor with Istrouma Baptist Church, Baton Rouge, is the new Louisiana Baptist Sunday school/discipleship strategist. He began on April 20. Gene Gibson is the new pastor at Beech Springs Baptist Church, Minden. Mickey Christy is the pastor at Gardiner Baptist Church, Gardner. Mike Schultz is the new senior pastor at Woodland Park Baptist Church, Hammond. Chuck Foy is the new pastor at Aimwell Baptist Church, Aimwell. Clayton, wife Gracie, Bryan is the new pastor at Cheniere Baptist Church, West Monroe. Britney Allen is new minister to children and families at First Baptist, Ponchatoula. HOMECOMING Centerville Baptist Church, St. Landry: 100th Anniversary Celebration, July 26, Sunday School, 9:30 a.m., … [Read more...]