WASHINGTON, D.C. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) announced October 24 that the largest oil and gas lease sale in U.S. history is scheduled to be livestreamed from New Orleans in March.  Proposed Lease Sale 250 encompasses 76,967,935 acres of waters, including blocks off Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. “This is great news. This is exactly the type of job-creating activity that the oil and gas industry needs,” said Sen. Kennedy.  “This lease sale is an economic bonanza for Louisiana and makes us less dependent on foreign oil.  The last lease sale generated $121 million in high bids.  That translates into countless jobs, especially for Acadiana.  Our oil and gas families want to work.  They just need the jobs.” “In today’s low-price energy environment, providing the offshore industry access to the maximum amount of opportunities possible is part of our strategy to spur local and regional economic dynamism and job creation and a pillar of President Trump’s plan to make the United States energy dominant,” U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke said. “And the economic terms proposed for this sale include a range of incentives to encourage diligent development and ensure a fair return to … [Read more...]

By Cole Avery, Office of U.S. Rep. Ralph Abraham WASHINGTON - Congressman Ralph Abraham (R-Alto) has joined 18 other members of Congress in calling on the House and Senate Judiciary Committees hold hearings to examine Special Counsel Robert Mueller and his team’s potential conflicts of interest and political bias. “This team has sweeping authority and an open-ended mission, yet they are allowed to operate largely in secret, selected by and ultimately accountable to only one person: Mr. Mueller himself,” the members wrote in a letter dated Oct. 13. “With numerous reports emerging almost every day on possible conflicts of interest and allegations of political bias, it would be in the interest of both the public and the Special Counsel team to speak to the American people through their elected representatives in Congress.” “Almost daily another red flag is raised over this team’s ability to remain impartial during this investigation," said Abraham, a member of Alto Baptist Church. "If they have nothing to hide, let them come forward to a hearing and be accountable to the American people.” Other members of Congress signing the letter include Brian Babin, Jody Hice, Bob Gibbs, Doug LaMalfa, Ralph Norman, Bill Flores, Bill … [Read more...]

By Norm Miller, LC News PINEVILLE (LCNews) -- Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Director Dr. David Hankins addressed the Louisiana College President’s Club dinner as part of the College’s homecoming festivities, October 13. Hankins’ alliterative remarks noted the primacy of convictions, the prayer of Christians, and the power of cooperation. Louisiana College was founded in 1916 and today is supported by Louisiana Baptists not merely to have “a fine institution of higher education” or to “give young people an excellent education” because those distinctions would make LC only one among many similar institutions, Hankins said. Some of the convictions that began and sustain Louisiana College are “based on the fact that there is a God in heaven, who made this universe, who made us, who has a purpose for our lives, and who has revealed himself to us ultimately through his son, Jesus Christ.” Hankins said that God has a “message for us that can redeem us from our sins and bring the kingdom of heaven to come to pass on this earth. That’s why this institution exists.” Other institutions don’t have such goals but “work pretty hard to disabuse children that come from faithful families of those notions of belief in God, … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ORANGE, Texas – A Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief volunteer recently was reminded how ministering on the field can lead to changed lives for Christ. Sharon Luke and her husband, Charles, were assessing a house damaged by Hurricane Harvey when they encountered a homeowner named Angel, whose home in Orange, Texas, took in nearly five feet of water. Not knowing what the future held, Angel was comforted by Sharon Luke’s invitation to receive hope in the person of Jesus Christ – and she accepted. “There was a peace I felt came over her,” Sharon Luke, a member of Broadmoor Baptist Church in Shreveport, said. “It was a great joy to be able to bring the reminder of the peace Christ can give us and the hope He offers. When I returned to the command center, I told everyone this made all we worked on worth it.” The Lukes were in the Texas communities of Vidor and Orange, Sept. 11-14. While there, they shared Christ’s love at each of the 10 homes and one church they assessed. At each site, they prayed with the homeowner and handed out a New Testament Bible, an experience Sharon Luke described as humbling – and much needed for those impacted by Harvey. Because of these efforts, she … [Read more...]

By Marilyn Stewart, NOBTS Communications NEW ORLEANS – New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary kicked off its 100th anniversary celebration with special events Oct. 3 and the announcement of upcoming centennial initiatives focused on evangelism and missions. Activities began with the annual Founders Day chapel service, as NOBTS President Chuck Kelley pointed past the seminary’s 1917 founding to the true “seed” from which the seminary sprang -- the Acts 1:8 commission by Jesus to take the Gospel to all nations. Kelley asked Southern Baptists to join with NOBTS in reaching 100,000 Gospel conversations during the centennial year in honor of that commission. “We were created to be a lighthouse as well as a schoolhouse,” Kelley said. “We’re asking all Southern Baptists, not just our seminary family, to help us tell 100,000 people about Jesus.” NOBTS has created a smartphone app to help track the 100,000 Gospel conversations. It offers evangelism helps, a reporting tool and follow-up assistance to help connect individuals with a local church. The app can be downloaded here. Kelley’s sermon marked the first in a series of chapel sermons preaching through the book of Acts that will continue throughout the centennial and … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE – Not to be self-serving but Robert Daniel is hoping a large crowd will be in attendance for his Oct. 29 retirement reception. Not because he wants to bask in the compliments but to show his appreciation. Daniel, the outgoing director of missions for three central Louisiana associations, wants to humbly thank the churches for allowing him to serve them for the last eight years and to thank them for helping him get through one of the most difficult periods in his life. Four months after stepping into the role in August 2009, Daniel received devastating news his wife of 38 years, Trudy, had developed a treatment-related issue requiring her to undergo a stem cell transplant. From that moment until her death on April 29, 2010, Daniel – who in December 2011 remarried – witnessed first-hand the love of Christ and the compassion of an association of Baptist churches. That outpouring of God’s love, even though it was difficult to experience, remains one of his most cherished memories during his time as DOM for Big Creek, Central Louisiana and North Rapides associations. “If I could put all of the thoughts and feelings I have for central Louisiana Baptists, in the myriad … [Read more...]

ALEXANDRIA  (LBM) – Messengers attending the LBC Annual Meeting in Baton Rouge will have the opportunity to support GOLA missions and avoid Baton Rouge rush hour traffic when the Annual Meeting convenes Monday, Nov. 13, at Istrouma Baptist Church. “With the notorious traffic in Baton Rouge, we’re offering messengers the opportunity to receive free meal tickets or purchase them onsite,” said John Kyle, Director of Communications for Louisiana Baptists. “This enables them to stay on campus, enjoy a good meal, support BCM summer missions (also known as GOLA Missions), and avoid rush hour traffic. You could call this a win, win - win!” Free meal tickets can be obtained by visiting one of the state mission services booths Monday afternoon. Booths offering the free meal tickets include the Evangelism and Church Growth Team and the Communications Team, both of which will be located in the foyer of the main worship center. Missions and Ministries, Pastoral Leadership, Collegiate Ministries and Cast the Net Partnership Missions will be located in the Bain building next to the worship center. Supplies of the free meal tickets are limited and must be secured in person. Messengers unable to visit the booths can purchase tickets … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer EUNICE – A crowd of more than 800 reminisced about the life-changing impact Acadia Baptist Academy and Acadian Baptist Center had on them during its Centennial Celebration Oct. 13-14. Held on the grounds of Acadian Baptist Center in Eunice, the event featured a cookout which included several Cajun dishes, games, a historical exhibit of the school and camp, classic car display, hayride and music. It also included a reunion of residents of the school and a group time for sharing memories of the camp and school. Among the former campers present was Jessica Chapman, who made a decision to accept Christ while attending camp 30 years ago. “Getting to meet lots of new people and making friends with kids from other churches was a highlight for me,” Chapman said. “The camp has changed a lot but in good ways, especially with the way it’s grown. Coming back here brings back lots of fond memories; including the time I made a decision to follow Christ.” Jimmy White, a student at the school from 1964 to 1968, drove in from Rowlett, Texas, for the reunion. He enjoyed the stability and love the teachers and staff gave to each student. “It was a good life while we were here,” White said, … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE – Louisiana State Sen. Gerald Long challenged students, pastors and community members to become difference makers and shape the culture in Louisiana and beyond during the second annual Values and Ethics Series. “What are you willing to die for?” Long said during a panel discussion on religious liberty at Louisiana College Oct. 9. “There’s got to be something in your life far more than just the everyday ordinary things that we do. I challenge you to look deep within and find that thing that can be a game changer and can touch the lives of people for years to come.” A state senator from District 31 since 2007, Long said the concept of government is biblical, grounded in Romans 13. Because of that, Christians are needed to be salt and light. “We need men and women who are willing to step up and enter the public arena of public service,” said Long, a member of First Baptist Church in Natchitoches. “There is not a more noble cause than when men and women say I want to serve for the right reason; I want to be a game changer.” He said if a Christ follower accepts the call to politics, the temptation persists to establish one’s position based on party affiliation. However, … [Read more...]