By Alliance Defending Freedom ALEXANDRIA, La. (ADF) – On behalf of the Rapides Parish School Board, serving more than 20,000 students, Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys filed a federal lawsuit April 30 against the Biden administration for what they described as unlawfully rewriting Title IX. Louisiana House Speaker Pro-Tempore Mike Johnson began preparations to file a lawsuit during the summer of 2023, when he heard of possible federal rule changes. In October, he began working with ADF to file the lawsuit as soon as the revisions were enacted. "Our children are our most precious gift from God and our responsibility is to protect them," Johnson, a member of First Baptist Church, Pineville, told the Baptist Message. "This rule change is a direct threat upon our youth and particularly our girls. It presents a danger and a threat to their rights under Title IX and an assault on our values and norms cannot stand." On April 19, the Biden administration announced it would redefine “sex” in Title IX rules to include “gender identity,” requiring schools to ignore the biological distinction between male and female in favor of “an individual’s sense of their gender.” According to ADF, the Department of Education’s … [Read more...]

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – During a press conference held April 29 in the Capitol, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry introduced the state’s Attorney General Liz Murrill who announced that her office had filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration for rule changes that she said “eviscerate Title IX,” referring to a landmark civil rights law that is best known for the protections it provided women in any school or education program that receives federal funds. “So, here are some of the consequences of the rule,” she explained: -- “Boys and girls will be forced to share bathrooms, locker rooms and perhaps lodging on overnight field trips with members of the opposite sex. -- “They'll be forced to use the preferred pronouns or face punishment. It raises distinct free speech and free exercise problems. -- “Parents may never hear about unapproved, so-called gender-affirming counseling that their children receive, because the rule allows the school to conceal that information from parents in certain circumstances. -- “Teachers and other school administrators are forced to create and carry out employee training programs on the 423-page rule to change school policies and begin … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff BLANCHARD, La. (LBM) – Members of the chainsaw team at First Baptist Church, Blanchard, recently to serve and to share Jesus in the aftermath of an April 28 storm. During one of their stops, the team ministered to a widow who not only had a tree blocking her driveway but had lost her husband in January and her son a month before. In the end, the team left the house “feeling more blessed than we ever thought that we could have been a blessing to her,” according to Craig Bond, unit director for the chainsaw team and task force leader for the Louisiana Baptist Incident Management Team. “She had already received one quote earlier in the morning for a significant amount that she could not afford, and others were circulating through the area handing out cards,” Bond told the Baptist Message. “I told her what we were there to do, and it was going to be no charge to her, just let us handle it. She immediately began to cry, and hugged me, thanking me and saying that she had been standing out there praying for some kind of answer. I told her we were there to bring her hope.” The team also helped a fellow church member remove a large limb hanging from a tree that posed danger to the homeowner and the … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ZWOLLE, La. (LBM) – Staff and supporters of Toledo Bend Resort Ministry recently celebrated the dedication and grand opening of a new 4,000-sq.-ft. meeting facility that will allow others not only to grow in their relationship with Christ, but become better equipped to share the Gospel in the area and beyond. Toledo Bend Resort Ministry Director Mary Gore said the new building replaced a meeting facility used since it was built in the early 1970’s. “Just as many of us have dedicated our lives to making Christ known to others, now others can also have that personal relationship with Jesus that you and I enjoy,” Gore told the crowd during the April 28 celebration. “It is for this reason this building was built and is now being dedicated to God and for His service. My prayer is that many will be trained and sent out from this place to share the love of Jesus with individuals and families.” Jerry Crooks, who previously served on the board for 18 years, shared that the resort has been reaching others with the Gospel since its establishment in 1971 on the east side of Toledo Bend Lake in Sabine Parish. The ministry center has seen many souls added to the Kingdom through the … [Read more...]

Downtown Winnsboro will be the sight of a National Day of Prayer event, May 2 at noon. … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff ALEXANDRIA (LBM) – Louisiana Baptists will gather at churches and other venues across the state, May 2, with the single purpose of calling out to God as part of the National Day of Prayer. Tom Harrison, coordinator for the Louisiana National Day of Prayer Task Force, is anticipating a mighty movement of God throughout the state on this special day. “The mission of the National Day of Payer is centered on the Lord Jesus Christ,” said Harrison, executive pastor of the Broadmoor Baptist Church, Shreveport. “We try to unify the public for prayer for the United States of America.” This year’s National Day of Prayer theme is “Life up the word – light up the world,” based on 2 Samuel 22:29-21. “For you are my lamp, O Lord, and my God lightens my darkness. For by You I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall. This God — his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; He is a shield for all those who take refuge in Him.” According to the National Day of Prayer websites, numerous events are planned throughout the state including: Highland Baptist Church, New Iberia, 7-8 a.m. Monroe City Hall, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. First Baptist Church, Sterlington, 11 a.m.-2 … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer QUITMAN, La. (LBM) – Shortly after Jason Womack arrived as pastor with Beech Springs Bap­tist Church, he and other members of a men’s prayer group made a “dream list” of prayer concerns and took those requests to the Lord. Fifteen months later, the church has seen God answer those prayers through personal revival, lives transformed and a rise in baptisms, including 16 since January. “There just seems to be true revival taking place in individuals and in the church at large,” Womack told the Baptist Message. “God is moving through this church and in this community just like we are praying about. “I know it’s not me,” he continued. “All I’m doing is preaching the Gospel, loving on people, sharing the Gospel. But I’m not the only one. Others are sharing the Gospel. God is moving through our church, and He is using the church to build His Kingdom.” Womack, now 51, was a member of BSBC until he was 34 years old and returned as pastor in May 2022. When he arrived, the church had baptized just a handful the previous year. He sensed the church’s hunger for growth and believed God had some­thing special in store for BSBC and the commu­nity. “When I met with the pulpit … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer WEST MONROE, La. (LBM) – Patrick Adams had been in and out of multiple state detention centers for 22 years when an encounter with Jesus changed his life. In September, Adams was released from Rich­land Parish Detention Cen­ter in Rayville after serving a conviction of simple bat­tery and three days later found freedom in Christ during a service at Rescue Church, West Monroe. “I let it go and gave it to God,” Adams told the Baptist Message. “That’s a hard thing for me to do and while I knew there was a God, I didn’t know a per­son like me could change. “But the love I felt the moment I walked into this place really grabbed my heart,” he continued. “I felt tingly all over and heard a voice saying, ‘I’ve got you son.’ At that moment I turned to Christ, and I haven’t looked back since.” Adams, who responded to a Gospel invitation from Pastor Russell Caldwell, Sept. 5, attended the ser­vice as part of his participa­tion in a recovery house on the church grounds – a ministry that includes daily small group Bible studies at 5:30 a.m., nightly meetings, a work requirement and Sunday morning services with Rescue Church. He is thankful for the men who pour into him … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer WOODWORTH, La. (LBM) – The recent Royal Ambassador Congress, March 22-23, saw an increase in attendance and fathers accompanying their sons (first through sixth grades) at the Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center event. The two-day conference drew 160 boys and adult leaders from eight churches and featured: Gospel presentations by “Champion Chaplain” Allen Huffman, the 2023 Southeast Super Truck Series champion; go-karting; pit row (how to change and plug a tire); a classic car show; and the Pinewood Derby and Soap Box car races. Louisiana Baptist Men’s Ministry and Disaster Relief Strategist Stan Statham believes the event reflected a renewed interest in RAs around the state. He noted the RA Congress drew 160 participants and fathers. “More churches are wanting to get back to emphasizing missions education and RAs is a great way to do that for young men who will carry on that passion for missions into their teenage and adult years,” Statham told the Baptist Message. “Events like RA Congress helps to train young boys to become godly men. I’m very encouraged to see more dads come out here and spend quality time for a couple of days with their sons. Additionally, the … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer BENTON, La. (LBM) – Cypress Baptist Church recently celebrated the grand opening of a new field house that will serve as place not only for fellowship and recreation but to plant Gospel seeds. Dedicated on March 24, the 81,687-sq.-ft., named the 3:16 Field House, features two courts that can accommodate basketball, pickleball and volleyball competition; a 48-yard by 66-yard indoor turf field; and a mezzanine to hold spectators. The church also will offer seasonal leagues and camps for a variety of sports and is available for local schools to use the facility year-round, including for non-sports community events. The first event featured a 5K and 10K race, age-based egg hunts (kindergarten through fifth grade) and a sports skills competition as part of its Easter Family Day, March 30. Cypress Baptist Recreation Pastor Brian Loe believes the facility will reach beyond the Shreveport-Bossier City area. “This is bigger than just Shreveport-Bossier,” Loe told the Baptist Message. “I envision we will draw people from the Ark-La-Tex and impact those who don’t go to church but want to play basketball, flag football or another sport. “This is a wonderful facility but … [Read more...]