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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Joe Aulds awarded LACOSBE Lifetime Achievement Award for Vocational Evangelism

David Hanna, president of the Louisiana Conference of Southern Baptist Evangelists, presents Joe Aulds with the Lifetime Achievement Award in Vocational Evangelism. Aulds has shared the Gospel in the 38 states and at 900 crusades and revivals. Before entering evangelism in 1990, Aulds was a pastor of churches in Marion, Shreveport and Winnsboro. Aulds and his wife, Donna, are members of Calvary Baptist Church, Ruston. … [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@baptistsmessage.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 Jay Ellerman is the new minister of music at Alto Baptist Church, Alto. Gerald Martin has resigned as interim pastor at Gray’s Creek Baptist Church, Denham Springs. Howard Turner is resigning as pastor April 1 at Live Oak Baptist Church, Denham Springs and Johnny Morgan is the new pastor at Live Oak Baptist Church. Kevin (wife Joni) Brantley is the new youth pastor at Antioch Baptist Church, Farmerville. HOMECOMING Texas Avenue Baptist Church, DeRidder: 70th Homecoming, March 4, 11 a.m. A meal will follow services. Guest Speaker: J. P. Miles. The church is located at the corner of Bilbo and Texas St. in DeRidder. Pastor:  Lindsey Burns. REVIVAL Fullerton Baptist Church, Pitkin: Revival, February 21-25. Evangelist: Lyndon Longoria. Pastor: Steve Squires. Midway Baptist Church, Jena: … [Read more...]

Let the Foundation assist you in charitable giving to ministry

By Jerry Love, Director of Planned Giving Thinking of giving to ministry in 2018? Appreciated assets – Even with the volatility in early February, markets are still at all-time highs.  Give stocks or mutual funds that have increased in value to benefit your church or ministry. Retirement assets – You can redirect retirement assets as part of your estate plans.  These plans are taxable when distributed to individuals, but tax-free to charitable organizations. Consider leaving your church or another ministry as the beneficiary of your retirement plan, and other assets to your heirs. IRA Rollover – Those who are 70 ½ and above can distribute IRA assets directly to a church or ministry.  There are other stipulations so contact the Louisiana Baptist Foundation for more information. Donor Advised Fund – Use a DAF to ‘bundle’ 2 years of deductions into one, if possible, to take advantage of itemizing your deductions.  Take the standard deduction following, using the DAF to make distributions to ministry. Again, contact the Foundation for more details. The Louisiana Baptist Foundation is an agency of the Louisiana Baptist Convention and supported by the Cooperative Program.  The Foundation assists people who want to give … [Read more...]

Foundation addresses lack of information, confusion or misinformation about the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

By Jerry Love, Director of Planned Giving By now most people know about the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act passed by congress in the latter days of 2017. However there may still be a lack of information, confusion or misinformation that needs to be addressed. The Louisiana Baptist Foundation assists individuals with gifts that support Baptist ministry which can impact the tax picture of the donor. We attempt to stay abreast of changes in the US tax code, particularly as it relates to charitable giving.  Here are some highlights: Business Tax Reform – Without going into the depths of corporate tax changes, the reduction of the corporate tax rate from 35% down to 21% it is already adding to personal pocketbooks.  During January several companies, including Wal Mart, announced an increase in their base wages and other salaries.  Other companies such as Apple and AT&T have announced one time bonuses for employees to share their tax savings. In addition a number of corporations have announced expansion of their workforce with several announcing the return of overseas operations to US soil.  All these situations can be an encouragement to workers and allow them to give to ministry for the first time or increase the amount they … [Read more...]

Louisiana Baptist pastor wins Kung Fu gold medal

Randy Harper, senior pastor of Bellaire Baptist Church, Bossier City, recently returned from a trip to China as an international Kung Fu world champion. Harper, an instructor at Bellaire Wushu Academy, Bossier City, traveled with three of his students to compete in the World Kung Fu Championships in Emeishan, China. according to a recent article in the Bossier Parish-Tribune. More than 3,900 competitors from more than 70 countries participated in the event. Harper won a gold medal in the master’s division. One of his students took home a silver and bronze medal and another captured two bronze medals. … [Read more...]

Wales presents unique missions opportunities for Louisiana Baptists

By Message Staff Louisiana Baptist churches looking for a unique missions opportunity should consider partnering with a missions organization in Wales. Through a partnership with Missional Links Wales, churches have a variety of options available to share the Gospel in a country where just 60,000 out of a population of 3 million profess to be evangelical, according to Rob Burns, founder and international director of the organization. Opportunities include a one-week vision trip, one week missions trip, internships for college students and an apprenticeship for seminary graduates and other adults. Burns shared more about the options during a recent presentation at the Baptist Building in Alexandria to pastors, Louisiana Baptist Convention missions and ministry strategists and Baptist Collegiate Ministers. “We’d love to talk to any American missional oriented church who would like long term partnership in Wales and who would like to get involved in investing inside the counties and across the nation of Wales,” Burns told the Baptist Message. “In Wales, currently 2 percent or less are evangelical. But there is an openness to Americans and the American culture. The Welsh people like Americans and they love to talk to … [Read more...]

On Valentine’s Day, strengthen your marriage

By Waylon Bailey Marriage is good. In fact, it’s very good. This is what I say repeatedly to couples contemplating marriage: “I highly recommend marriage!” I really do recommend it. My marriage to Martha has blessed my life immensely and immeasurably. It would be easy to say, I can’t imagine living without her, but several years ago I had to deal suddenly with that reality. While I wouldn’t want that to happen to anyone, it made me think more carefully about the blessing of living with someone for a lifetime and getting to care for one another. Yesterday, I read about Louisiana’s longest married couple (83 years) in a blog post from Louisiana Family Forum. At the same time, I read of a report from Fox News citing the Brookings Institution study of marriage. Marriage is the greatest anti-poverty tool we have. The report showed that we would reduce poverty 25% if we had the same marriage rate as the 1970’s. In 1970, 79% of adults were married while the rate is 52% today. You would never think of marriage being a value for a stable and more prosperous life, but it is. We live in a society that has ridiculed and devalued marriage. That attitude is harming marriage and harming the well-being of children and … [Read more...]

Louisiana Congressmen urge support of bill to fund military, community health centers

By Message Staff WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following a vote Feb. 6 in the U.S. House of Representatives to provide full funding for the military and community health centers, several members of Louisiana's delegation to Congress released statements urging members of the Senate to pass the bill. “Our Armed Services and community health centers need and deserve certainty, regardless of the political climate in Washington," said U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson, a member of First Baptist Church, Bossier City, in a statement e-mailed to the Baptist Message. "Unfortunately, some Democrats have attempted to use the men and women of our military and vulnerable Americans as bargaining chips in their efforts to secure amnesty for illegal immigrants. Tonight, House Republicans passed legislation to fully fund our defense programs and community health centers. Now, we call on Senate Democrats to put aside their own political agendas and pass this critical measure.” U.S. Rep. Ralph Abraham, who also is a physician, weighed in on the issue through his Facebook page. "The House has voted to fund our military, give pay raises to our troops, fund community health centers and prevent a government shutdown," said Abraham, a member of Alto Baptist … [Read more...]

First Pineville hosting Jerry Pipes for a family workshop Feb. 11

PINEVILLE -- First Baptist Church, Pineville will host Jerry Pipes for a Building a Successful Family Workshop February 11. This high impact, one day workshop provides opportunities for parents, grandparents, and children to grow in their relationship with one another. At 9 a.m., Pipes will meet with students in grades 7-12 to discuss “Why Try with Your Parents?” In a humorous hard hitting format he provides students with three reasons why selling out to Christ and working with Him and their parents to be their best is the smartest possible decision they can make.   In the worship gathering at 10:15 a.m., Pipes will talk about Keys to Intimacy. The message provides hope from God’s Word through sharing the Keys to Intimacy. Though the message targets married couples, the relational principles shared apply to everyone. No one, regardless of family status, will feel left out. At 5 p.m., Pipes will lead a Parenting Conference during which he will cover such topics as “Understanding Students in the New Millennium,” “Passing the Baton of Your Faith on to Your Children and Grandchildren,” “Creating a Culture of Encouragement,” and “Keys to Discipline.” At 6:00 p.m., during the evening worship celebration, Jerry … [Read more...]

‘Retracing’ his faith, LC athlete recommits life to Christ

By Victor Villevieja PINEVILLE (LBM) - James Preston Mayo III - Trace to his friends - was wandering in life, depressed, lost in his own lusts and temptations. Having stepped away from God, he was following a worldly path until he remembered the forgiveness Christ offers and resolved to live for Him again. Trace’s grandparents were missionaries in Mexico for over 20 years, and he went on mission trips he barely remembers. Yet, he still recalls his encounter with God when he was only 5 years old and “met” Jesus during a school assembly. “I was sitting in the back of the room and I saw this face on the wall. I did not know what was going on,” Mayo recalled. “Later, I realized I had been looking at Jesus’ face.” Sometime after that encounter, maybe a couple of days or even a week, at his grandparents’ house, he remembers feeling God’s presence. “I felt something pressed upon me, and I could recognize Him knocking on the door of my heart.” He heard that voice encourage him to preach, and that is what he did. Shortly after that, James Preston Mayo III began to share his innocent and unassuming understanding of the Gospel in churches. Unfortunately, Trace’s joy in the Lord – at being a child of God – was soon … [Read more...]