By Marilyn Stewart, NOBTS office of public relations NEW ORLEANS, La. (NOBTS) – David Sneed, 65, was plagued by life-long disabilities and health issues. The New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary doctor of ministry student once said he hoped to die in the pulpit, preaching. Those who knew him best say he did exactly that -- his life was a living sermon. Sneed prayed by name daily for about 2,000 people. Once homeless himself, Sneed preached and led Bible studies weekly in New Orleans’ homeless community. Sneed died Sept. 3 in his 12th-story apartment in a senior adult complex in downtown New Orleans—an apartment without an operating window that remained without electricity five days after Hurricane Ida’s landfall. Jacob Crawford, director of City Life NOLA, a ministry which serves the homeless, said Sneed’s life touched “thousands.” “He was the most humble man I’ve ever met,” Crawford said. “He was a man that had very few material possessions -- very few -- but he was the richest man I’ve ever met.” Sneed’s belongings fit into a single plastic tub after his death, a testimony to Sneed’s simple lifestyle, Crawford explained. On a professional networking site, Sneed described his health issues from birth as an “organic … [Read more...]
Kennedy, Judiciary Republicans push back on Biden Justice Department crackdown on parents’ freedom of speech
By Office of Sen. John Kennedy WASHINGTON, D.C. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) has joined Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and nine other senators in demanding that the Justice Department not interfere with local school board meetings or threaten the use of federal law enforcement to deter parents’ free speech. This comes after DOJ issued a memorandum suggesting federal law enforcement may need to assist policing local school board meetings. “We are concerned about the appearance of the Department of Justice policing the speech of citizens and concerned parents. We urge you to make very clear to the American public that the Department of Justice will not interfere with the rights of parents to come before school boards and speak with educators about their concerns, whether regarding coronavirus-related measures, the teaching of critical race theory in schools, sexually explicit books in schools, or any other topic. Furthermore, we urge you to instruct the FBI and the various United States Attorneys to make clear in the meetings discussed above that speech and democratic processes, like those that occur at a local school board meeting, must be respected,” wrote the senators. “It is not appropriate to use the awesome powers of the … [Read more...]
LBC messengers to consider committee’s five resolutions
By Message Staff MONROE, La. (LBM) – The Resolutions Committee has drafted five resolutions that it will present to messengers for consideration as consensus policy statements during the 174th Session of the Louisiana Baptist Convention. The committee’s recommendations will be offered for adoption by vote, 4:30 p.m., Nov. 16, at North Monroe Baptist Church, the host site for the 2021 LBC Annual Meeting. RESOLUTION: ON GRATITUDE FOR DISASTER RELIEF ‘PARTNERS IN THE GOSPEL’ WHEREAS, The Bible declares the church as Christ’s instrument to effect His will on earth (Ephesians 3:10) and that we are created for good works (Ephesians 2:10); and WHEREAS, In the New Testament, one of the ministries of the Church was to bring relief to those experiencing calamity (Acts 11:27-30); and WHEREAS, Disaster Relief is one of the most established and highly visible cooperative ministries among the state conventions of Baptists across the nation, providing emergency aid to churches, pastors and communities without strings attached or government assistance; and WHEREAS, Louisiana has experienced multiple disasters in 2020-2021 (four hurricanes, two named storms, and an ice storm), each with devastating impacts that created long-term … [Read more...]
Local congregation makes global impact with Honduras ministry
By Brian Blackwell, Message staff writer LA ESPERANZA, Honduras (LBM) –Verona Langford felt humbled and privileged to witness new converts step into the local river for baptism as part of a multi-church worship service in Honduras. One by one, eight individuals came in and out of the water and were greeted with applause and hugs from the 60 Hondurans in attendance for the occasion. Langford, who has taken multiple trips to the country with her husband, Marlyn, said the service that took place in 2017 signifies the fruits of the labor reaped from a multi-church, multi-state partnership that frequently sends teams to share Christ in La Esperanza. “The people were so excited to gather for what was, at the time, a rare thing,” Langford, a member of Woodridge Baptist Church in Shreveport, told the Baptist Message. “You could just see the excitement on the faces of those baptized and the gathered crowd. Another team witnessed 27 new believers baptized this spring. We return year after year there, and this was a blessing to see a visual picture of the harvest from the seeds that have been sown.” Woodridge Baptist, joined by First Baptist Church, Dry Prong, Forest Hill Baptist Church and Sweetwater Baptist Church, Quitman, are … [Read more...]
Georgia Barnette Offering assists Angola graduate to pursue his ministry dream
By Brian Blackwell, Message staff writer NEW ORLEANS, La. (LBM) – Bobbie Wallace was headed on a path of hopelessness when he was sentenced to a 66-year sentence on two counts of armed robbery, but his Georgia Barnette Offering assists Angola graduate to pursue his ministry dream life was forever changed when he found restoration through Christ inside the walls of the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola. Through the encouragement of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary staff and other Louisiana Baptists, Wallace earned his bachelor’s degree through the seminary classes taught in the prison and became a sold-out follower of Christ. Wallace, who miraculously was released in 2014 after only 20 years at Angola, used the years of biblical knowledge gained inside the prison to become a missionary outside the walls and eventually met Jacob Crawford, director of City Life NOLA. Crawford presented Wallace with the opportunity to offer the hope of Christ to others in the city who were struggling and overlooked. Since 2020, Crawford has helped former Angola inmates like Wallace grow deeper in their faith and participate Jacob Crawford, director of City Life NOLA, joined others in prayer for the lost to discover the hope … [Read more...]
LSU drops mask mandate, other COVID-19 protocols for Tiger Stadium
LBC entities share reports with Executive Board
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer WOODWORTH, La. (LBM) – The Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home and Family Ministries’ campus is bustling with activity lately, President and CEO Perry Hancock told Executive Board members, Sept. 28. He said that three years after the project was announced, a new recreation and activity center has opened that replaces the former gymnasium and pool, which were more than 60 and 40 years old, respectively. Hancock also said Hope Cottage has been transformed into a building that houses the Ministerial Care Residential Program, which was restarted after COVID-19 temporarily halted it. Louisiana Baptist terminated ministers, and International Mission Board missionaries on stateside assignment, transitioning to a new ministry or recently retired are eligible to receive a free apartment on the LBCH[1]FM’s campus in Monroe for up to one year. “It is very easy to overlook the needs of pastors and missionaries in crisis,” said Dennis Phelps, director of the Ministerial Care Residential Program and director of church and alumni relations. “And we hope that this relaunch of this ministry will respond to the desperate need of our pastors as well as missionaries.” Hancock thanked Louisiana … [Read more...]
LC football players experience victory in Christ
By Brian Blackwell, Message staff writer DEVILLE, La. (LBM) – On Oct. 2, the Louisiana College football team posted their first victory as a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, but the following day scored an even bigger win as six players shared their newfound faith before classmates and friends during a special baptism service at Philadelphia Baptist Church, Deville, which also has a campus on Horseshoe Drive in Alexandria. Coach Drew Maddox said he was overcome with emotion as he watched so many of his players, one[1]by-one, stir the baptistery waters. Fifteen other new believing wildcats were unable to attend the special service but have since been baptized at other churches or they plan to take part in baptism soon. “It’s such a great feeling seeing these guys take such a bold step in their faith,” Maddox told the Baptist Message. “From the first day we meet as a team, I share with them my testimony and use others to also plant those seeds that hopefully will result in some of them accepting Christ. Anytime you meet the Lord it’s bigger than football.” Jaden Conley, a freshman from Springfield, said he was convicted to give his life to Christ after hearing Maddox share his testimony … [Read more...]
Executive Board meeting highlights personal revival, disaster relief
By Brian Blackwell, Message staff writer WOODWORTH, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptist Executive Director Steve Horn encouraged Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board members to seek revival, and others shared an encouraging update on the massive disaster relief response to Hurricane Ida during the Sept. 28 meeting. DISASTER RELIEF UPDATE Horn distributed copies of his newly published devotional, Change Me, and invited the Executive Board to be part of the 28-day experience that is shaped to spur personal revival. He also thanked those who have led and responded in the wake of Hurricane Ida, and shared a large portion of the time allotted for his report to allow disaster relief officials to present an update on recovery efforts. “It’s one thing to just hear a report but it’s another thing to be encouraged that mission dollars that have been given through churches, individuals, other state conventions,” Horn said in a prayer he led at Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center in Woodworth. He asked anyone present who had been impacted by the hurricane to stand, and for the remaining Executive Board members to silently pray for them. “We rejoice in the salvations, some 150 that have been reported, over 500 Gospel … [Read more...]
Louisiana Notables
EDITOR’S NOTE: Do you have a Revival, Homecoming, a new pastor, a community outreach or a concert? The Baptist Message would love to share your church news with the rest of the state. It is very easy to do, just send in your information (who, what, where and when) to philip@baptistmessage.com or call 318.449.4345. To get your event in the paper, please submit your information three weeks prior to the event. ON THE MOVE Roland Fontenot is the new pastor at First Baptist Church, New Iberia. His first day at the church was Oct. 10. Aaron Watson is the new music minister at Calvary Baptist Church, Shreveport. Will Englerth will be ordained for the Gospel ministry October 17, 3:00 p.m. at Conway Baptist Church, located at 4323 HWY 549 in the Conway community in Union Parish. The council will meet at 2 p.m. Friends and family are invited to attend. HOMECOMING New Prospect Baptist Church, Dry Prong 97th annual Homecoming, October 10, 10 a.m. Dinner will be served after the service. Speaker: John Willie, pastor of Alpine Baptist Church. Worship: Robert Willie. Pastor: Trey Lewis. REVIVAL New Hope Baptist Church, Elmer: Revival, October 10-13; Sunday 10:45 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday-Wednesday 6:30 p.m.. Evangelist: Sam Moore. … [Read more...]
