By Brian Blackwell,vMessage Staff Writer DEQUINCY – Phelps Correctional Center may not be the first place a person envisions as a place to meet for the National Day of Prayer. But for Paula Mitchell, she couldn’t imagine spending her Thursday evening on May 5 at any other place. Accompanied by Sam Carroll, pastor of Reeves Baptist Church and his wife, Connie, Mitchell spent two-and-a-half hours with about 20 inmates, praying with them for needs that thousands of others around the country did on this important day. “The men that come to the chapel are so hungry for God so they love praying, singing, and hearing Gods word,” said Mitchell, a member of Unity Baptist Church in DeRidder. “We all enjoyed having the privilege of praying together on our nation's day that we come together to ask the Lord's guidance for us, our county and our leaders. “There are no boundaries, inside or outside the walls that God doesn’t hear our prayers,” she said. “He looks for humble hearts, and those men have been so down that they know how to look up and beg for God’s grace, mercy and forgiveness.” Created in 1952 by a joint resolution of the US Congress and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman, the National Day of Prayer is an annual … [Read more...]

By Louisiana Right to Life staff BATON ROUGE -- Thursday, Gov. John Bel Edwards was joined at the Capitol by pro-life advocates as he signed HB 606 into law. HB 606, initiated by Edwards, authored by Rep. Frank Hoffman and carried on the Senate floor by Sen. Regina Barrow, ensures that businesses and organizations that perform abortions cannot receive taxpayer dollars, even for other purposes. At the signing, Edwards reaffirmed his commitment to policies that will encourage health facilities in Louisiana to offer true healthcare rather than getting into the abortion business. "I commend Gov. Edwards for signing this legislation today, and I thank him for asking me to author this important legislation. I also appreciate Sen. Barrow for carrying the legislation on the Senate floor. Louisiana taxpayers should not be asked to give their hard-earned dollars to businesses in our state that sell abortion," said Hoffman. Deanna Wallace, Legislative Director for Louisiana Right to Life, added: "Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, as Cecile Richards admitted last week, plans to sell abortions at their facility in New Orleans. We believe it is a reasonable policy that taxpayer dollars should never benefit those businesses that sell … [Read more...]

By Message Staff Doctors have discovered two brain tumors in Rose Landry Long, wife of Sen. Gerald Long (R-District 31), according to her daughter Pam Jordan and the family is asking for prayer. The tumors were discovered following a petscan June 1. “Doctors believe this is a primary brain tumor,” said Pam Jordan. “The only way we know what we are dealing with is to have a brain biopsy. We are in the process of having her information passed on to M.D. Anderson in Houston. “She will probably have this procedure next week,” Jordan continued. “Our family would like to thank everyone for their concern and prayers.” Long and her husband are members of First Baptist Church Natchitoches and strong supporters of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches. She also serves on the Louisiana Baptist Moral and Social Concerns committee. Sen. Long told the Baptist Message he appreciates the prayers and encouragement from many around the state and beyond. “We are overwhelmed by the show of support from our church family and the entire body of Christ,” said Sen. Long. “Our prayer is that God will be glorified through all of this as we work through this trying time.” The Long’s daughter, Pam … [Read more...]

By Message Staff Louisiana could see its highest Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting messenger count since 2013 if pre-registration numbers continue to rise. Through Wednesday afternoon, 208 messengers from Louisiana had pre-registered, according to SBC Vice President for Convention Finance William E. Townes Jr. Though an official number won’t be known until the actual annual meeting in St. Louis, Mo., ends on June 15, the 2015 SBC Annual reported that 175 messengers from Louisiana registered for last year’s meeting in Columbus, Ohio. The 2013 annual meeting in Houston, Texas, saw 383 messengers register from Louisiana. The pre-registration numbers for the annual meeting mirror a trend across the SBC, Baptist Press reported on Wednesday. Just under 5,000 have pre-registered so far. Townes told BP that he projects 6,000-7,000 messengers in St. Louis and 10,000-11,000 total attendees. Last year, 5,407 messengers attended the meeting in Columbus. Townes told BP in written comments his projection “is just an educated estimate at this point. Based on my best estimate at this point, I would suggest that the hotel reservations are a pretty good indicator of our anticipated increase in attendance. I think the pre-registered … [Read more...]

By Marilyn Stewart, Regional reporter The sold-out crowd of 1500 women at Celebration Church, Metairie, cheered when Jennifer Rothschild, noted author and accomplished singer, took to the stage for the recent women’s event Fresh Grounded Faith. With Rothschild were actress Karen Abercrombie, “Miss Clara” from the film War Room and Stormie Omartian, bestselling author of the Power of Prayer series. “It’s God’s love that makes you lovely,” Rothschild told the crowd of women from all backgrounds and age groups. Blinded at age 15, Rothschild is the author of 11 books including the bestselling Lessons I Learned in the Dark; Self Talk, Soul Talk; and the recently released Invisible: How You Feel is Not Who You Are. Rothschild is the author of the popular Me, Myself and Lies Bible study and the 7-session DVD-driven study, Hosea, carried by LifeWay. Trials and failures do not define a person’s value, Rothschild told the crowd. “Who you are and what you struggle with are not the same thing,” Rothschild said. “The Lord values who you are, not where you are.” A wife, mother, speaker and accomplished singer with six albums to her name, Rothschild has been featured on the Today show, Good Morning America, Dr. Phil, and the Billy Graham … [Read more...]

By Marilyn Stewart, Regional reporter NEW ORLEANS - When the team of 17 New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS) students and  faculty members stepped into the neighborhood under storm-threatening skies April 21 to hand out 9-volt batteries, they did not know what the Lord would do. Three members of the community near the seminary came to faith in Christ. “The Lord gave us a window of one hour before the rain came down,” said Preston Nix, professor of evangelism and evangelistic preaching at NOBTS. “Two people…in two different locations had just finished praying to receive Christ when the rain started.” Seven faculty members and 10 students formed teams to knock on doors and give away free batteries for home smoke alarms. The teams partnered with Gentilly Baptist Church (GBC) to show love to neighbors with the goal of sharing the gospel. Two weeks later, on May 5, seven students and seven faculty members went into the community. As a result of their witness one person came to faith in Christ. “This involvement of our NOBTS faculty and students on the streets of our city shows once again that when we obey Christ's Great Commission, the Lord has people ready to respond,” said Ken Taylor, professor of urban missions at … [Read more...]

By Message Staff BATON ROUGE – Zoar Baptist Church is hosting a one-night conference about Christian sexuality on June 3. Scheduled from 6:30 to 9:30 pm, the second G3 Conference will include topics about same sex marriage and the church, gender and American culture, and the meaning of biblical manhood and womanhood. Student Minister Obbie Todd said the church has a mandate to address such issues, especially in a world that seems increasingly hostile toward a biblical worldview. “Christian families are coming to the slow realization that even Bible Belt culture doesn’t necessarily share their biblical values about marriage and family,” Todd said. “The legal definition of marriage has changed. The cultural role of women, inside and outside the church, is changing. Public restrooms are even changing. But the Word of God has not changed. June 3 will be a night of encouragement, education, and exhortation for a church navigating the troubled waters of the sexual revolution.” Last year, nearly 130 people attended the conference and Todd expects 170 may attend this year. Those attending will receive a free meal, t-shirts and books. The cost to attend the seminar is free, though a box for donations to cover the cost will be on … [Read more...]

Our Father who art in heaven hallowed be Thy Name. We, your children, come with very grateful hearts for all You have done for us as individuals and as citizens of this great nation. We recognize it is because of Your Grace and the sacrifice of so many that we can call ourselves Americans and can be a part of the most blessed nation in the world. On this Memorial Day enable us to remember. To remember those who have given their all for the values we hold as Americans. To remember those who have returned with wounds so physically and emotionally deep, that they may never be the same as before. May we sympathize with those who will never see the birth of their child, their child’s graduation, see their daughter as the beautiful bride, or stand with their handsome son as the groom. May we also sympathize with the many who will never hold a grandchild, cruise the oceans, or live to see old age. Your Word says, “No greater sacrifice can be given than to give one’s life for his friends.” That is what so many have done. They have given their lives for their country, for the freedom and values we hold so dear. Father, as we remember on this memorial day, help us join with the grief stricken families that live every day with the … [Read more...]

By Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae Composed at the battlefront on May 3, 1915 during the second battle of Ypres, Belgium   On May 2, 1915, John McCrae’s close friend and former student Alexis Helmer was killed by a German shell. That evening, in the absence of a Chaplain, John McCrae recited from memory a few passages from the Church of England’s “Order of the Burial of the Dead.” For security reasons Helmer’s burial in Essex Farm Cemetery was performed in complete darkness. The next day, May 3, 1915, Sergeant-Major Cyril Allinson was delivering mail. McCrae was sitting at the back of an ambulance parked near the dressing station beside the YserCanal, just a few hundred yards north of Ypres, Belgium. As John McCrae was writing his In Flanders Fields poem, Allinson silently watched and later recalled, “His face was very tired but calm as he wrote. He looked around from time to time, his eyes straying to Helmer's grave." Within moments, John McCrae had completed the “In Flanders Fields” poem and when he was done, without a word, McCrae took his mail and handed the poem to Allinson. Allinson was deeply moved: “The (Flanders Fields) poem was an exact description of the scene in front of us both. He used the word blow in … [Read more...]