WASHINGTON, D.C. - President Donald Trump delivered the annual State of the Union speech Jan. 30. Among those releasing a statement following the speech was U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana and a member of First Baptist Church, Bossier City. “This has been a historic year for the Trump administration, for Congress and for the American people," Johnson said in an e-mailed statement. "Many of the burdensome and duplicative regulations put in place under the previous administration’s regulatory state have been repealed, our military has once again become a priority, our economy is surging and people all across the nation have already begun to reap the benefits of our landmark Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. We should celebrate these achievements, but never rest—as there is much work yet to do.   “The president delivered a positive message and a bold vision for an even stronger and safer America. I look forward to investing again in our eroding infrastructure, solving the illegal immigration problems facing our nation and rebuilding our military to promote peace through strength. We have accomplished so much in just this first year, and I believe that momentum will continue through 2018 and beyond. We have a … [Read more...]

By Norm Miller, LC News PINEVILLE - Jeff Ginn, lead pastor of Istrouma Baptist Church, Baton Rouge, keynoted Louisiana College’s Jan. 23 chapel service, urging students to “love one another” as Romans 12:9-10 instructs. That love must be true, tough and tender, he said. “Biblical love by its nature hates what harms others and hates, as God does, what is evil,” Ginn said. He also said that the Greek word for brotherly love, which is prescribed by God’s word, literally means to be born “from the same womb. ... We are family.” “We are elated to have so many top-notch leaders, pastors and laypersons who ably encourage and challenge our Louisiana College family,” said LC President Rick Brewer, noting that the “common denominators among these speakers is a love for God, a love for the Bible, and a love for college students.” Others speakers scheduled for LC chapel include: Michael Wood, pastor, First Baptist Church, West Monroe; Jerry Pipes, president of Jerry Pipes Productions, Lawrenceville, Ga.; Fred Luter, pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church, New Orleans, and a former Southern Baptist Convention president; Steve Horn, pastor of First Baptist Church, Lafayette, and a former Louisiana Baptist Convention president; … [Read more...]

  By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer BENTON – Nearly 700 members of the Northwest Louisiana Baptist Association’s 117 churches came together to cry out to God to bring revival during the local fellowship’s third annual “Call to Prayer.” Hosted by Cypress Baptist Church, Benton, the Jan. 28 gathering brought together Christians of various ages and ethnicities to pray for law enforcement, the persecuted church, missionaries serving around the world, pastors and other church leaders. Just like the previous gatherings at First Baptist Church, Bossier City, and Summer Grove Baptist Church, Shreveport, this event was marked by prayer from the worship center stage, in small groups around the room and by individuals who pleaded with God for revival in their community, state and nation. URGENCY TO SEEK GOD During opening remarks, Lane Moore, NLBA director of missions, said that without God there is no hope, and, he emphasized how great movements of God have followed focused times of prayer by His people. “When Scripture talks about crying out to God, it is indicative of desperation,” Moore said. “This gathering tonight is about all of us by the hundreds calling out to God. “We are living in a country that … [Read more...]

By Message Staff Despite the threat of rain, more than 5,100 turned out for the fifth annual Louisiana Life March North Saturday, Jan. 27. Men and women, young and old, from various denominations and races joined together to make the 1.2 mile-journey from Bossier City to Shreveport. Speakers included several Louisiana Baptists, such as Brian Gunter, pastor of First Baptist Church, Pollock; Dennis Sims, pastor of Ellerbe Baptist Church, Shreveport; and U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson, a member of First Baptist Church, Bossier City, who addressed the marchers through an audio recorded message. The Louisiana Life Marches are a chance for different denominations, ages and ethnic and racial backgrounds to march together and pray to declare their opposition to the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion in 1973. The theme for this year’s marches is “Every Life Deserves A Lifetime.” Around 1,200 turned out Jan. 20 for the life march in Baton Rouge. A third march is scheduled Feb. 3 in central Louisiana, beginning at 10 a.m. on the campus of Louisiana College before ending in downtown Alexandria. Look for more on this story in a future edition of the Baptist Message and online later at … [Read more...]

ALEXANDRIA – Thousands of Louisianans are expected to pack downtown Shreveport and Bossier City Saturday, Jan. 27 for the Louisiana Life March North. The march is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. and last until noon. It will start at the Boardwalk area in Bossier City, crossing over a bridge before ending in Shreveport’s Festival Plaza. The Louisiana Life Marches are a chance for different denominations, ages and ethnic and racial backgrounds to march together and pray to declare their opposition to the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion in 1973. The theme for this year’s marches is “Every Life Deserves A Lifetime.” Around 1,200 turned out Jan. 20 for the life march in Baton Rouge. A third march is scheduled Feb. 3 in central Louisiana, beginning at 10 a.m. on the campus of Louisiana College before ending in downtown Alexandria. For more information on how to attend one of the marches or to download promotional material, visit prolifelouisiana.org. … [Read more...]

During the final moments of the 2018 state Evangelism Conference Jan. 23 at First Pineville, Louisiana College President Rick Brewer surprised Wayne Jenkins, who is retiring Jan 31 as evangelism director, with a humbling honor. The school has formed the “Dr. Wayne and Martha Jenkins Center for Evangelism and Missions.” According to LC public relations director Norm Miller, the center will be a resource of information and inspiration for Louisiana College students and Louisiana Baptist churches interested in training and mobilizing people for spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ at home and abroad.  The center will sponsor events and activities directly related to evangelism and missions, including evangelism endeavors and mission trips undertaken by students and faculty, and will forge and enhance an ongoing partnership with the Louisiana Baptist Convention’s evangelism and missions initiatives. … [Read more...]

By Message Staff Wayne Jenkins will soon retire after 27 years as evangelism director for Louisiana Baptists, and prior to his final day Jan. 31, Louisiana Baptists took a few moments during the closing session of the 2018 state Evangelism Conference to pray over him. Whether Jenkins, who has been battling cancer, was participating in a mission trip to Brazil or visiting with inmates at Angola, he has committed his life to sharing Christ with the lost, Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Director David Hankins said during the Evangelism Conference. “And he’s not only done it himself, but he’s called his parishioners and his colleagues and the Louisiana Baptist Convention to do the number one task given to us by our Lord and that’s to tell people about Jesus,” Hankins said. “We are better for it and the kingdom of God is larger for it. So on the occasion of Wayne’s retirement as director of evangelism for Louisiana Baptists, we thank God for the remarkable ministry of evangelism of Dr. Wayne Jenkins.”   … [Read more...]

Throughout his life, state Evangelism Director Wayne Jenkins has impacted thousands of people for Christ. Among those impacted has been his children and grandchildren. His family joined him on stage at First Baptist Church, Pineville, during the final session of the 2018 Louisiana Baptist state Evangelism Conference Jan. 23. Jenkins was honored with a presentation on his  retirement Jan. 31. … [Read more...]