By Message Staff COVINGTON – Lonnie Wascom, director of missions for Northshore Baptist Association since its formation in 2011, has announced his resignation from the position Oct. 1. In a letter sent through his e-mail blast Thursday, May 10, Wascom said he has served in vocational ministry for 55 years, beginning with the role of “assistant music director” at Judson Baptist Church in Walker as a 15-year-old boy. Therefore, Wascom said the decision was one he did not take lightly. “But as each of you know, God is faithful,” Wascom wrote in the letter. “He demonstrated that faithfulness by giving Linda and me the clarity we needed to reach this decision. His peace accompanied that decision. His word is true: ‘You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.’ Isaiah 26:3” Associational Moderator Jay Johnston said in a statement attached to the letter that a search committee has been named to begin the search for a new director of missions. “We will share more information with the churches and the process in the days ahead,” wrote Johnston, associate pastor at First Baptist Church in Covington. “Please join me in celebrating this decision of Bro. Lonnie’s pending retirement. I … [Read more...]
Louisiana congressional delegation praises President’s Iran decision
WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw Tuesday, May 8, from the Iran nuclear agreement drew praise from most members of Louisiana's delegation to Congress who released statements, including its two members of Louisiana Baptist churches. Negotiated by former President Barack Obama in 2015, the deal lifted most U.S. and international economic sanctions from Iran in exchange for the Middle Eastern country agreeing to restrictions on its nuclear program. Trump called the deal "one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into." U.S. Rep. Ralph Abraham, a member of Alto Baptist Church, called the decision wise and calculated. "The Iran Deal was not a deterrent to a nuclear weapon; it was a pathway to a nuclear weapon," Abraham said in a statement. "The President has always put the security of the United States and our allies first and foremost above politics. This is another example of solid, positive leadership." U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson, a member of First Baptist Church in Bossier City, agreed. "Rather than curbing the nuclear ambitions and dangerous activities of Iran, this deal did the opposite and further emboldened the world's leading state sponsor of … [Read more...]
Call your lawmaker to vote “no” on S.B. 316 (expanding casinos)
Please call and ask your Louisiana lawmaker to vote "no" on S.B. 316 which purports simply to "move the casinos from water to land," but actually massively expands the size of the gambling facilities. Phone numbers are provided below. Louisiana Baptists have declared casino gambling "a system of exploitation" that preys upon the most vulnerable of our citizens by promoting "highly addictive behaviors." Indeed, research shows that 40 to 60 percent of casino revenues come from problem gamblers and increasingly from the ranks of the vulnerable elderly: HALF of casino visitors are over age 50, and, casinos are marketing more and more to those over 70 -- even to those who are 80 years old and more. Moreover, the Picard Center of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette conducted research for the Louisiana Department of Health and confirmed that gambling addiction is an overwhelming and growing problem in our state and that gambling is a growing presence among our vulnerable children: -- Louisiana has the 4th highest incidence of problem gambling in the country -- More than 179,000 problem gamblers and 96,000 pathological gamblers are in the state. -- 40.6 % of 6th graders, 44.1 % of 8th graders, 40.8 % of … [Read more...]
Let us pray: Students briefed on religious rights in school
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer BOSSIER/WEBSTER PARISHES – Students received a crash course on the right to freely express their religious beliefs in public schools during the Student Freedom Summit in Bossier and Webster parishes Sunday, April 8. Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry and Congressman Mike Johnson briefed the students about the legal rights they have to share their faith in public schools. The summit was held at First Baptist Church in Minden and Bossier Parish Community College, located in parishes where atheist groups are targeting the school administrations for allegedly promoting Christianity. Community members, pastors, parents and some school officials joined the students at the summit. Supporters were encouraged the following day to draw a blue line on their hands and post photos on social media using the hashtag #STANDUPBOSSIER and #STANDUPWEBSTER. Johnson, a member of First Baptist Church in Bossier City, challenged students to mirror their actions after Elijah, who stood up for God’s truth. He stressed the importance of engaging in respectful debate that could change minds. “Be like Elijah,” he said. “You stand for your freedom. You stand for the truth. There is a time to draw a … [Read more...]
Cassidy challenges LC grads to dream, make a difference for God
By Message Staff ALEXANDRIA – Louisiana College celebrated its 163rd commencement May 5 by conferring the most degrees since Rick Brewer became president of the school in 2015. The school presented 155 undergraduate and 46 master’s degrees at the Rapides Parish Coliseum in Alexandria. In a special recognition during the ceremony was Clavoisiea Dupree, a member of the basketball team who was on pace to graduate with this classmates. However, on March 31 Dupree passed away. Brewer awarded Dupree with an undergraduate degree posthumously during the ceremony. “We are preparing students not to just get a degree,” Brewer told students. “We are not just preparing you for careers. Our job as faculty and administrators has been to prepare you for life. “Education that instructs the mind without deepening the soul is not true learning,” he continued. “Louisiana College’s goal is to graduate students to make a difference for the common good as a redemptive voice in the world. Our graduates are hopeful realists who recognize the brokenness of the world, but believe God has called them to work for its healing and restoration.” During the keynote address, U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy challenged the students to dream and make … [Read more...]
4.6 magnitude earthquake in Gulf of Mexico south of Louisiana coast
Mexico trip proves no spring break for BCM students
By Brian Blackwell, Message staff writer MEXICO – Nearly 200 members of the LSU, New Orleans Metro and Southern University Baptist Collegiate Ministry took a trip south of the border over their spring break to give the gift of salvation to more than 60 people. During the March 23-30 evangelistic outreach, they witnessed a mighty movement of the Holy Spirit in a variety of ministry opportunities in which they participated, according to LSU BCM Director Steve Masters, including seeing five members of their own team put their trust in Jesus Christ. UNIFIED FOR SERVICE The team included 178 LSU, 11 New Orleans Metro (comprised of Loyola and Tulane University students) and five Southern University students, BCM staff, pastors and van drivers. Masters said the cooperation among the three BCMs with churches in the Baton Rouge area made for a memorable trip. “The Mexico mission trip was a great week of missions, ministry, sharing and connection,” Masters said. “The participating students slept on the floor, worked long hours, had to take cold showers, much of the time ate sandwiches for lunch each day, gave up time with their families and loved every minute of it.” Florida Boulevard Baptist Church, Istrouma Baptist … [Read more...]
Speakers challenge celebration attendees to embrace missions
By Holly Jo Linzay, Regional Reporter WOODWORTH – It’s time to embrace your own inner “Queen Esther” to fulfill God’s purposeful plan for your lives. This was the challenge participants at the Louisiana Baptist WMU Mission Celebration were encouraged to embrace by Sandy Wisdom-Martin, the event’s keynote speaker. “God’s best for us lies just beyond our comfort zone. God calls us to remember our past, but He does not want us to stay there. You have been made ‘queen’ for such a time as this,” Wisdom-Martin, executive director-treasurer of the Woman’s Missionary Union of the Southern Baptist Convention, told the attendees at the two-day conference. The celebration, which was the 118th, was held at the Georgia Barnette Conference Center at Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center April 13-14. Courage, passion and humility are three traits needed to be like Queen Esther for “such a time as this,” Wisdom-Martin said in the afternoon session on Saturday. “What fear is holding your heart captive?” she asked, adding that God has a plan for everyone’s lives and we need to stand with courage. “The future requires boldness.” With boldness, Wisdom-Martin explained, God’s providence for everyone’s life can unfold. “There is … [Read more...]
Deer Creek Harvest Revival sparks long-awaited decision
Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer WINNSBORO – For three years, Zach Smith planted Gospel seeds in the life of his father-in-law, Frank Knox, with the hopes of seeing a great harvest. Smith’s persistence paid off in early April, when Knox, 46, accepted Christ as his Savior during a session of the Deer Creek Association Harvest Revival in Winnsboro. “My wife, Hailey, and I cried to God for his soul for so long, and to see him alive in Christ is so beautiful,” said Smith, youth minister at Temple Baptist Church in Winnsboro. “Glory be to God for what transpired during the revival and for what God has planned for him.” Knox was so passionate about his newfound faith that he made it known the following Sunday in his desire to join Temple Baptist and share his testimony through baptism. A week after joining the church, Knox was baptized April 15 by Smith. “I was blind my whole life and now my eyes have been wiped clean,” Knox said. “Having my son-in-law and my daughter not give up on me means so much. My plan now is to reach out to as many people as possible to let them know about Jesus.” Knox was one of five people to come forward and accept Christ during the Deer Creek Association Harvest Revival April 2-7 at … [Read more...]
Jeremy Shepherd viewpoint: I support J.D. Greear and here is why
By Jeremy Shepherd, Pastor Pineville Park Baptist Church, Pineville, LA I am proud and thankful to be a Louisiana Baptist. As the pastor of Pineville Park Baptist Church, I do not pastor one of the larger churches in our state. While this is true, I have been pleased to learn firsthand that every Louisiana Baptist can have a voice. I have been concerned with the amount of politicking that feels so pervasive in our state convention right now regarding the upcoming SBC presidential election. I have also felt that the Louisiana Baptist Message has been one-sided in its coverage concerning the candidates participating in this event. Others have expressed those same concerns. It has been my experience as a pastor that I much prefer an individual coming to me with an issue rather than speaking with everyone else first, so I sought to do the same. As Louisiana Baptists, we have the opportunity to address our concerns through the trustee system of our various state Baptist entities and to speak directly with the heads of those organizations. In the last week, I have had the opportunity to address these matters with the board of the Louisiana Baptist Message and Will Hall. Without exception, every board member has been … [Read more...]
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