By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALBANY (LBM) – Liz Lowe was at a breaking point while recovering from a serious illness, but the long-time attender at Blood River Baptist Church, finally found peace in the person of Jesus Christ after sitting for 30 years in the pews. Lowe, who had been enduring years of health concerns, finally humbled her heart to Christ in March. But she resisted being baptized for months, until realizing her need to be obedient if she truly had surrendered her life to Him. “After having such a difficult time in my life, the baptism was a really nice way to celebrate what God was doing for me,” Lowe said. “It was a great feeling to have my church and family members there to see this God-moving experience.” Pastor David Collins celebrated Lowe’s salvation and her obedience through baptism, and he said her story is representative of how God has moved through the congregation since August 2016, when its educational building, worship center and parsonage all took in between 4 inches and 2 feet of water when the area flooded. Since the flood, the congregation has witnessed 14 baptisms and added 32 new members. “Through this situation, God has increased our faith and the blessings have been … [Read more...]

By Message Staff GREENWELL SPRINGS, La. (LBM) - Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry and retired U.S. Army Lieutenant General Jerry Boykin headline a slate of personalities set to speak to a pastors’ rally at Greenwell Springs Baptist Church Sept. 12, from 9 a.m. to noon. The event is co-sponsored by the Louisiana Baptist Convention Office of Public Policy, Louisiana Family Forum and the Washington, D.C.-based Family Research Council as a way to inform pastors about key issues that are developing in the state and across the nation and how to “fight the fight” against these very real moral and social threats. Other speakers include FRC President Tony Perkins, who also is the interim pastor of Greenwell Springs Baptist Church; LFF President Gene Mills; Will Hall, director for the LBC OPP, Pastor J.C. Church of Victory in Truth Ministries in Bucyrus, Ohio; and, Pastor John Mendez, culture impact team coordinator for FRC. “Attorney General Landry has successfully defeated the governor’s proposal to create a category of special rights for people who claim a transgender or gender fluid identity,” Hall said. “But, there are a number of other key social issues developing in the state that need a strong unified Christian … [Read more...]

By Holly Jo Linzay, Regional Reporter PLAUCHEVILLE (LBM) – God’s provision through the Georgia Barnette State Mission Offering is being felt at every step of way in building Point of Life Community Church, the first evangelical church to be established in the Plaucheville community. “We didn’t have any money, but we had faith,” said Norris Landry, the founding pastor. He was thankful for the many contributions from sister churches and individuals, but expressed special appreciation for the $35,000 Point of Life received from the Georgia Barnette Offering. Jacob Crawford, the newly commissioned director of missions for the Louisiana Baptist Association which includes Point of Life Community Church, said the Georgia Barnette Offering gift was not was not just a help to a local congregation, but also a strategic investment in reaching the lost. “Often, when you think of communities with no evangelical witness, you immediately think of other areas of our nation or world,” Crawford offered. “Few people would think of Louisiana communities in this case. Yet there are many towns in South Louisiana that have no Gospel witness. “Plaucheville literally is an unreached people group in our backyard,” he added. “It was … [Read more...]

By Message Staff WOODWORTH – Southern Baptists of Texas Convention African American Fellowship President Tony Mathews will headline a Louisiana Baptist conference next month for African American pastors and their wives wanting to be intentional in Acts 1:8 missions. Scheduled Sept. 8-9 at the Tall Timbers Conference Center in Woodworth, the conference also will feature worship by Thomas Eugene Keys III, worship minister at Calvary Baptist Church in Shreveport. The conference will include a wives event on Saturday morning led by Carolyn Fountain, spouse of Leroy Fountain, church health strategist for the New Orleans Baptist Association. During the 25 years he has served as pastor of North Garland Baptist Fellowship, Matthews has led the congregation to help plant eight churches and sponsor church mission trips to Brazil, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Paso, Guatemala, India, Japan, Kenya, Laredo, Madagascar, Mexico, Montreal, Panama, Peru, Romania, South Africa, Spain, Tanzania and Venezuela. He is a published author of several books, and he has preached, lectured and conducted seminars in a number of cities across the United States. The idea for the conference and retreat was birthed in a conversation between Wayne … [Read more...]

By Message Staff ALEXANDRIA (LBM) - As Tropical Storm Harvey continues to slowly make its way up southeast Texas, Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief State Director Gibbie McMillan is joining others around the country in urging prayers, donations and volunteers to help thousands of residents affected. "With all the flooding in Texas we must remember that a year ago many Texans came to Louisiana to help," McMillan said. "And they sent thousands of dollars as well to help us. Now, it is time to pay it back. "They didn't ask us to give but they did," he continued. "Now, we must respond in like manner. That is how Christian brothers and sisters act. They show the love of Christ." Harvey made landfall near Rockport, Texas as a Category 4 hurricane late Friday night, but downgraded to a tropical storm by Saturday. The hurricane center in its Sunday update the tropical storm has maximum sustained winds of 45 mph and remains stationary about 45 miles northwest of Victoria, Texas. At least five deaths and more than a dozen injuries were reported by Sunday afternoon in Harvey's aftermath.rHarve In Houston, the nation's fourth-largest city, rescue personnel made more than 1,200 rescues and were answering thousands of calls from people … [Read more...]

By Message Staff LAFAYETTE - When many in the culture are urging a foundation built on worldly ideals, Christians should instead focus on one centered on God, Terry Young reminded more than 350 pre-teens on Saturday, Aug. 26. "You have a purpose," Young said during PreTeen Invasion at First Baptist Church in Lafayette. "Your purpose can be great or you can settle for less. "Don't listen to the lies of the world," he said. "Satan wants to tell you all kinds of lies. But God came to build our life, to make it better." Young, pastor of Airline Baptist Church in Bossier City, was the main speaker for PreTeen Invasion at First Baptist Church in Lafayette. The event also featured music by the worship team from Cypress Baptist Church in Benton and games led by the Louisiana College Interactive Team. Participants had the choice between two locations – Temple Baptist Church in Ruston on Aug. 19 or First Baptist Church in Lafayette on Aug. 26 – for this age group’s annual evangelism conference. Though the event took place at two separate locations on two separate dates, it offered the same games, interactive activities, worship and Gospel opportunities. More than 550 attended PreTeen Invasion in Ruston and 350 more came to … [Read more...]

By Message Staff ALEXANDRIA – Supporters of the first pro-life pregnancy center in central Louisiana gathered Friday, Aug. 25, to celebrate both the hiring of a director and the announcement of when the highly anticipated center would formally open its doors. Marksville’s Claire Lemoine was introduced as the director of the Cenla Pregnancy Center. Following her introduction, she addressed a supportive gathering. The facility is located in the old Baptist Bookstore, next to the Baptist Building in Alexandria. “Because of a group of passionate, Christian, pro-life leaders in central Louisiana, you are standing in this Cenla Pregnancy Center,” Lemoine said. “And what an exciting time it is to be part of the pro-life movement here in our own community. “This community has said yes to the fight for life,” she continued. “This community has say yes to supporting our mothers and babies and families. This community has said yes – we need a pregnancy center in central Louisiana.” She shared God has been preparing her for the position for some time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYxMwXb1me0 For the past 10 years, Lemoin has worked with low-income, first-time mothers in a home setting. She also has served for more than … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer FOREST HILL (LBM) – Michael Evans will be nominated for the office of second vice president for the Louisiana Baptist Convention during the 2017 LBC Annual Meeting. Tim Lee, pastor of Smyrna Baptist Church in DeRidder, plans to nominate Evans for the position. “Mike is very mission minded and sees the best in people,” said Lee, who has been mentored by Evans for 22 years. “He loves the church and the mission of the church, and he has a heart for evangelism and for just encouraging and uplifting others. His example as second vice president would greatly benefit all Louisiana Baptists.” Evans, who is pastor of Elwood Baptist Church in Forest Hill, is the only announced candidate for the office. Evans said, if elected, he would be honored to represent his fellow bi-vocational and smaller church pastors with the state convention. Elwood Baptist Church averages 75 in worship service and 50 in Sunday school attendance, according to Annual Church Profile statistics. He said he also would like to help facilitate greater cooperation and stronger fellowship among pastors of churches of all sizes. “I would like to see the Barnabas spirit spread throughout our Convention,” he said. … [Read more...]