By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer BALL – Two former Southern Baptist Convention presidents will headline Louisiana Baptists 2016 Pastors’ Conference, scheduled for Nov. 13-14 at Kingsville Baptist Church in Ball, with a focus passage of Romans 13:11. “Urgency is the theme of this year’s pastor’s conference because pastors should have a sense of urgency in the pulpit for people to have it in the pew,” said Nathan Davis, president of the Pastor’s Conference and pastor of First Baptist Church in Coushatta. “Our prayer and hope is that this conference will encourage and challenge pastors, staff members, and lay leaders to realize now is time to be urgent about preaching the Gospel, evangelizing the lost, and encouraging the brethren.” DAY ONE The conference will begin at 6 p.m. Sunday with music by Todd Dubose, minister of music at First Baptist Church, Minden, along with participation by area choirs. David Allen, dean of the School of Preaching at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, will preach the first sermon. James Merritt, pastor of Cross Pointe Church, Duluth, Ga., will close out the opening session. Merritt served as SBC President from 2000-2001. Monday, the conference will … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA – Louisiana Baptists have a unique opportunity to be part of one of the largest joint efforts for evangelism ever undertaken in the state – an initiative that figures to be a major catalyst for spiritual awakening. During the Louisiana Baptist Convention 2016 Annual Meeting, Nov. 14-15, messengers will have the chance to learn more about how they can say yes to the Harvest – a two-year effort to involve at least 700 Louisiana Baptist churches to “pray for every home and share Christ with every person” in Louisiana, according to Wayne Jenkins, Louisiana Baptists director of evangelism. “The plan is simple,” he explained. “Dates and the kind of events are set by the churches in the association and the state mission services team serves as a resource to train and implement.” Jenkins will share more about the Harvest initiative during the Monday evening session of the annual meeting, which will be held at Calvary Baptist Church in Alexandria. After spending 2016 to plan and enlist leaders and churches and using 2017 to conduct statewide evangelism training and pilot different methods, Louisiana Baptists will join together across the state in 2018 in prayer events … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message ALEXANDRIA – History could be made at the upcoming Louisiana Baptist Convention Annual Meeting, Nov. 14-15, with the possible election of the first Hispanic to serve as second vice president of Louisiana Baptists. Carlos Meza, pastor of Iglesia Bautista del Calvario (Calvary Baptist Church) in Shreveport, is expected to be nominated for the office by Lane Moore, director of missions for the Northwest Louisiana Baptist Association. Meza is the only candidate announced for the office. “If elected, I would be honored to serve as second vice president because it would afford me greater opportunities to connect with the large segment of Hispanics and other minorities in the northwest Louisiana area,” Meza shared with the Baptist Message. “This would open more opportunities to lead many to the saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. “I am excited and delighted to be considered for serving with the second-to-none leadership team of our Louisiana Baptist Convention,” he added. Moore said Meza is one of the most passionate soul winners in the state. “You cannot be around Carlos Meza long before the conversation turns toward sharing Christ with others,” Moore said. “Carlos Meza also is a … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA – In a year that has seen record flooding twice in the state, Louisiana Baptist Convention President Gevan Spinney has seen the power of cooperation at work among Louisiana Baptists and the impact of this manifestation of Christ’s love within the state. Even Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards took notice of Louisiana Baptists’ disaster relief response, praising Southern Baptists for getting the job done while most government agencies were still “getting a game plan together to help,” according to one report. Now, Spinney hopes to energize this same spirit of cooperation and commitment of physical energy for the Harvest – a two-year initiative designed to engage at least 700 churches to “pray for every home” and “share Christ with every person” in Louisiana – if he is blessed to be elected to a second term as president during the LBC annual meeting, Nov. 14-15, at Calvary Baptist Church in Alexandria. Wayne DuBose, interim pastor at Cook Baptist Church, Ruston, and retired director of missions for the Northwest Louisiana Baptist Association, said it is because of Spinney’s passion for evangelism that he plans to nominate him for a second term as LBC president. “During … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE – Central Louisiana saw 432 lives lost to abortion in 2015, but Brian Gunter is confident that trend can be reversed, if thousands of believers stand strong in unison. “We need to join together in central Louisiana,” said Gunter, pastor of First Baptist Church in Pollock. “We may have different religious beliefs but we are in full agreement that we must stand up for the unborn,” he told a diverse religious group gathered in Louisiana College’s Granberry Conference Center, Oct. 26, during the CENLA Pro-life Prayer Breakfast. “The 432 lives that were taken in central Louisiana through abortion need to be saved,” he continued. “And we are going to do it.” Gunter is spearheading efforts to bring the first pregnancy care center to central Louisiana. Multiple speakers added to Gunter’s message about how to reduce abortions in this area of the state. Last year, 9,311 abortions were performed in Louisiana, down from 10,211 abortions reported in 2014. The 2015 figure is the lowest number of abortions in the state since 2012, when 9,225 abortions were reported. Hosted by Louisiana Right to Life, the breakfast program increased awareness and raised funds for the … [Read more...]

ALEXANDRIA – As 2016 comes to a close, remember IRA accounts can be used to support local churches and ministries. At the end of 2015, Congress made the IRA Charitable Rollover a permanent part of the tax code so individuals who are 70 ½ years of age and above can make distributions from either traditional or Roth IRA’s directly to the donor’s selected charitable organization(s) without being included as taxable income to the donor. The rollover provision particularly benefits those who do not itemize on their federal income tax return and those who do not need the income from the minimum required distribution (MRD). The basic facts regarding the IRA Charitable Rollover: -- Donor must be at least 70 1/2 years of age. -- Donations of up to $100,000 from an IRA made directly to charitable organizations are not included in taxable income. -- Donations count toward donor’s Minimum Required Distribution. For more information refer to www.LBFinfo.org or contact your CPA or tax advisor.   … [Read more...]

ALEXANDRIA – The Louisiana Baptist Foundation is continuing to use Give-A-Gift to illustrate how the Foundation assists individuals with gifts that benefit Baptist churches and ministries. Each month in 2016 the Louisiana Baptist Foundation is giving away $1,000 and you decide where it goes. In each issue of the Baptist Message and online at www.baptistmessage.com/give-a-gift a submission form is available to participate. Once a month, a name will be randomly drawn from those who submit a form. The person, randomly selected, will have the opportunity to direct a $1,000 gift to the Louisiana Baptist church, ministry or organization they choose. Since March, the Foundation has distributed $7,000 to 6 churches and the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home. For more information go online to BaptistMessage.com/give-a-gift/ or call the Foundation at 877.523.4636. … [Read more...]

By Jerry Love, Director of Planned Giving ALEXANDRIA – Recently I was visiting with a friend whom I’ve known for a number of years. He is retired from a full time church staff position but still actively involved in ministry. He asked me a question that caught me by surprise, given his involvement in Baptist life. “What does the Louisiana Baptist Foundation do?” As I attempted to give him a quick explanation, I wondered how many others understood the work of the Foundation. As an agency of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, the Foundation encourages and assists with gifts that benefit Louisiana Baptist churches, and Baptist institutions that are affiliated with the LBC or the Southern Baptist Convention. The church or organization is selected by the donor. Sounds pretty straightforward but giving can be complicated. The LBF typically does not receive gifts for its own benefit. The beneficiary of gifts directed to the Foundation, whether a “pass-through” gift or an endowment managed by the Foundation, is a church or Baptist purpose selected by the donor. There are many ways to give, some as simple as writing a check while other gifts can be fairly complicated. The Louisiana Baptist Foundation can help a donor … [Read more...]