BATON ROUGE, La – Governor Jeff Landry signed an Executive Order focused on identifying, quantifying, and mitigating the adverse effects of illegal immigration in Louisiana. This order will require the head of every executive branch entity throughout the state of Louisiana to capture certain data in order to determine the costs the state is having to incur due to those entering our country illegally. “The cost of illegal immigration in this state is falling on the shoulders of hard-working Louisianans. This Executive Order will analyze data to determine the financial burden our citizens are being forced to carry because of those who do not follow the law,” said Governor Jeff Landry. “Louisiana will always welcome those who legally immigrate, but taxpayers cannot continue to foot the bill for individuals who break the law and skip the line.” To view Governor Landry’s Executive Order, please click HERE. … [Read more...]

By LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) - Due to the inclement weather, the Louisiana Christian University campus will remain closed on Jan. 17. Faculty and students will continue to follow the continuity of 0perations plan guidelines and continue classes online through Canvas assignments. The drop/add date for classes will be adjusted and extended after the campus reopens. Food service will provide brunch and dinner on Tuesday and Wednesday. … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer POLLOCK, La. (LBM) – Eleven months after a fire destroyed most of the facilities of the New Friendship Baptist Church, the congrega­tion is amid a rebirth. While the church was devastated due to the loss of buildings, they have enjoyed the good­ness of God through donations, phone calls and in-person visits. Ad­ditionally, five new con­verts were baptized in a lakeside service in June. “I have never seen this many people join togeth­er to help a church out,” Pastor Lloyd Whitman told the Baptist Message. “Churches from differ­ent denominations have sent us money, called to ask what they can do and donated items, like chairs. It’s been a blessing to me as pastor to see the unity, not only with our people, but with people from all denominations. It’s been wonderful to see an outpouring of love from all areas and not just Baptists.” “The people of the church have experienced a true awakening of unity, not only from us but from the community and other communities,” he continued. “They feel blessed that people all over are giving and sharing with us. It brings tears to our eyes. Our people have been so en­couraged and are excited about even greater things to come.” The … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – The Louisiana Baptist Foundation has launched a new service aimed at helping individu­als with personal invest­ments that also advance the Kingdom. “Investments for Indi­viduals,” available through a partnership with Church Finance Corporation (affili­ated with the New Mexico Baptist Foundation), gives Louisiana Baptists the opportunity to put their money into short or long-term investments, LBF Executive Director Jeff Steed said. This allows indi­viduals the opportunity to earn interest on their funds and helps to fund church loans for building projects and other similar purposes to benefit the Kingdom, he noted. “The Louisiana Baptist Foundation is grateful for the partnership in minis­try with Church Finance Corporation to help Loui­siana Baptists with their personal investments and also advance the Kingdom,” Steed said. According to its web­site, the Albuquerque, N.M.-based CFC was established in 1960 to make loan funds available to churches and ministries for property acquisition, building construction, expansion and remodeling. CFC also provides invest­ment opportunities that grow existing resources and expand the body of Christ. CFC … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff LAKE CHARLES, La. (LBM) –Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief feeding and laundry teams have been activated for ministry to the homeless in Lake Charles. The team of 12 members from Carey Baptist Association and Rolling Hills Ministries will cook meals (using equipment provided by Philadelphia Baptist Church, Deville), Jan. 15-17, for an expected 125 homeless individuals who will be housed at Watersedge Church (non-denominational), Lake Charles. Reggy Saxon, DR coordinator for Zone 5 that encompasses southwest Louisiana, asked for prayers for those individuals the teams will minister to over the next few days. “God reminds us that He cares even for the least of these,” Saxon said. “These are folks without a home. Shame on us if we ignore them, especially in a time of need. This is an excellent time to share the Lord in tough conditions.” Lake Charles is among communities throughout the state and nation impacted by frigid temperatures and wintry precipitation from Winter Storm Heather. Across the state, roadways, businesses including all state offices and schools were closed as Heather blanketed parts of the state with snow, freezing rain and sleet. According to AccuWeather, the storm … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptist collegiate ministry leaders hope to equip students to intentionally share the Gospel in daily life during the upcoming Collegiate Evangelism Conference, set for Feb. 2-3 in Louisiana Chris­tian University’s Guinn Auditorium, Pineville. They said their goal is to prepare participants to establish personal out­reach as a lifestyle habit. CEC will feature three speakers: Chad Gilbert, First Baptist Church, New Orleans, Jordy McKaskle, Calvary Bap­tist Church, Alexandria, and George Lee, director, Grambling State Univer­sity Baptist Collegiate Ministry. The worship team from Istrouma Baptist Church, Baton Rouge, will lead music. Students also will have a chance to at­tend breakout sessions that center around the conference theme and learn about missions and ministry opportunities representatives of Loui­siana BCM GOLA Mis­sions, the International Mission Board and New Orleans Baptist Theo­logical Seminary. Chad McClurg, direc­tor of the Baptist Col­legiate Ministry with the University of Louisiana at Monroe, told the Baptist Message that the conference will be an opportunity for students from Louisiana Baptist church college … [Read more...]

By LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) - Due to the expected winter weather conditions, Louisiana Christian University officials have decided to cancel classes and close all campus offices on Jan. 16. Faculty and students will follow the continuity of operations plan guidelines in each course syllabus to continue classes online through Canvas assignments. Hattie B’s will be open for brunch and dinner on Tuesday.   … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ZACHARY, La. (LBM) – More than 40 students from First Baptist Church, Zachary, have embraced God’s call to be missionar­ies in their schools, and subsequently have begun to see a spiritual harvest from their collective outreach efforts, Andrew Forque told the Baptist Message. “We tell students their mission field is their school, but we never have commissioned them to be missionaries there,” said Forque, who is the FBCZ minister to students. “When we commissioned them, there was an excite­ment with them being a missionary to their lost friends at school.” Since the new school year started in August, students have been com­missioned by the church to go into their schools and share the Gospel with their friends who do not know Christ. Since then, dozens of classmates have visited the church, including one teen who accepted Jesus and was baptized. During the school year, Life Group members will team up with the student missionaries to coach and encourage them as they continue to shine the light of Christ. The church is part of a larger effort among Loui­siana Baptist churches to implement the student missionary evangelism strategy. The effort, launched in early … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer NEW ORLEANS (LBM) – Faith-based arts and crafts retailer Hobby Lobby has donated a historic church building to the members of the NOLA Baptist Church. The donation, which took place in late-Decem­ber, allows the congre­gation to move forward with plans to renovate the building and relocate from a leased warehouse space. “We trusted that He would provide all that we needed if He wanted us to steward this property,” Pastor Kyle Jagers told the Baptist Message. “God far exceeded our expecta­tions.” BACKGROUND NOLA Baptist Church began in 2013 as a church plant of Norris Ferry Com­munity Church, Shreveport. The church relocated a few times, including in 2017 to its current location on Tchoupi­toulas Street. Through conversations with New Orleans Baptist Association leaders, the church learned Valence Street Baptist Church (who donated the property to the association after they closed in 2016) was for sale. NOBA and NOLA Baptist Church then signed a pur­chase agreement. However, Hobby Lobby learned of the situation and in November 2022 purchased the facility for $275,000, with the end goal of one day donating the property to the church. Since then, NOLA Bap­tist … [Read more...]