The Message is preparing to launch a special feature on its website to celebrate every baptism of Louisiana Baptists by publishing a picture or brief video clip of each one on www.BaptistMessage.com as a kind of yearbook of evangelism within the Louisiana Baptist Convention. “Our aim in celebrating each walk of faith into the baptismal waters is that it will inspire Louisiana Baptists to be even bolder in proclaiming the Gospel and lead to even greater harvests of souls,” said Will Hall, editor of the Baptist Message. March 1 is the target start date for the initiative and The Message is asking churches as well as individual Louisiana Baptists to email a 10-15 second video clip or a high resolution photo file to brian@baptistmessage.com and include the baptized person’s name, pastor’s name, church name and date of baptism.​ … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer SHREVEPORT -- Snow and cold temperatures may have kept the numbers down but it could not dampen the enthusiasm as Saturday mornings 3rd annual Louisiana Life March North in Shreveport/Bossier. “We were delighted by the thousands of folks who braved the cold today to make this important stand for life,” said State Rep. Mike Johnson, event organizer and legal counsel for Louisiana Right to Life. “It was a great event, and a tremendous opportunity for all of us to reach out a renewed hand of compassion again and raise more awareness about this critical issue. “We can save more lives if we get more people talking and working for the cause,” said Johnson. Check back later for an in-depth story on the march. … [Read more...]

By Mark H. Hunter, Regional reporter An estimated crowd of 1,500 to 2,000 attending the 6th annual Louisiana Life March South, walked five blocks through downtown Baton Rouge on Saturday from the Old State Capitol to the new Capitol building. A bright, sunny day belied a bitter wind that howled through the canyons between the tall buildings chilling participants but they soon warmed up at the Capitol steps where speakers, including Tommy Middleton, Baptist Association of Greater Baton Rouge Director of Missions, encouraged the crowd to stay involved in pro-life issues. Check back later for an in-depth story and additional photos. … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer DOWNSVILLE – In early 2015, Bobby Kranz was brokenhearted. Facing personal setbacks in his own life, the long-time pastor was searching for God’s direction and wondering if he would preach again, so he prayed for direction. God answered those prayers and led him to a church seeking a pastor who would join them as they headed down the path in search of brighter days. When he became pastor of Mt. Ararat Baptist Church in Downsville, March 2015, attendance for Sunday morning worship was around 30. Today, the congregation regularly has 100 in worship and has baptized 20 people, including eight on one Sunday. Kranz believes the growth is nothing he has done as pastor but rather a gift from the miraculous hand of God. “If I had to boil it down to one word, it’s brokenness,” Kranz said. “This church was broken-hearted over strife. They realized if something didn’t change, and quickly, the life of the church could be gone. “I’ve been at a lot of churches and I’ve never seen anything like it,” he continued. “It’s all to the glory of God. It’s not about me. It’s about Him.” Early in his Christian life, he attended a church where Wayne Jenkins, now the Evangelism and Church … [Read more...]

By Mark H. Hunter, Regional Reporter BATON ROUGE - The day after President Barack Obama delivered his last State of the Union speech, evangelist Franklin Graham declared, “the state of the union is broken.” Graham spoke to an estimated 4,000 Louisianans in the capital city’s downtown N. Blvd. Town Square Park, as part of his ambitious 50-state “Decision America Tour” calling the nation back to biblical values, encouraging Christians to stand firm for their faith and to get involved in the political process. “We’re here today because we see that our nation is in trouble - that’s the state of the union,” Graham declared as the crowd agreed – many waving miniature U.S. flags. “We are in trouble spiritually, racially, economically and we’re in trouble politically,” Graham said. “No political party is going to be able to turn this thing around – only God can fix it.” “I have zero hope in the Democratic Party,” he said to more cheers, adding, “but before you Republicans start high-fiving each other – I have zero hope in the Republican Party – or any other political party. The only hope for our nation is the Almighty God.” Graham described how Nehemiah and the Jewish remnant rebuilt Jerusalem’s walls – destroyed by … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer In just eleven days (Feb. 9), thousands of festival-goers will descend upon the state for Mardi Gras and Louisiana Baptists are working to make sure the message of Jesus is the highlight of their experiences of a parade, king cakes and beads. Using different outreach methods, churches will be sharing the same Good News of Jesus Christ to those coming to the city for good times. “Our city knows how to party, admittedly often for the wrong reasons, but we see no better time to engage them with the gospel of Jesus Christ,” said Dean Ross, pastor of Restoration Church in Metairie. For the third year, his congregation will host Restoration Fest -- a block party on Feb. 6 featuring food, games, inflatables and opportunities to share the Gospel. Three churches are assisting in the effort: Broadmoor Baptist, Madison, Miss.; Agricola Baptist, Lucedale, Miss.; and Vaughn Forest, Montgomery, Ala. Every year, Ross and others are able to use the event to share the Gospel with people lining the parade route which runs near the church. During Restoration Fest in 2015, volunteers engaged a neighborhood Muslim family waiting for the parade to begin. “We offered them a time--before … [Read more...]

REVIVAL United Baptist Church, Jena: Revival Services, Jan. 29, 6 p.m. Speaker: Carl Gulde. Morehouse Revival Crusade Jan. 31-Feb. 3. Pre-session music: 6 p.m. Sunday, 6:30 p.m. Monday-Wednesday 6:30 p.m. Evangelist: Bill Britt. Worship: 11th Hour. The event will be held  at the Morehouse Activity Center. Director of Missions: Jerry Price. LAGNIAPPE Jim Garlington is available for supply preaching, pastorate, interim or Bible studies. If interested, please call 318.312.2339 or 318.312.2338. First Baptist Church, Anacoco: Kingdom Heirs in concert, Jan. 29, 7 p.m. A love offering will be taken. Pastor: Durhl Davis Tall Timbers Conference Center, Woodworth: Louisiana Campers on Mission will kick off their 2016 schedule Jan. 24-29 with its annual work week at Tall Timbers Conference Center in Woodworth. The major project to be undertaken will be the continued construction of the Georgia Barnette Conference Center. There will be a variety of other projects from general cleaning, landscaping and remodeling. All skill levels are welcomed.  Having an RV is not necessary; Tall Timbers has accommodations. For reservations contact Tall Timbers at 318.445.6797 or email to talltimbers@talltimbersbcc.org or for more … [Read more...]

By Will Hall, Message Editor There is good news in New Orleans. Preliminary data for 2015 indicates baptisms by Louisiana Baptists’ church plants in the city are above the national average within the Southern Baptist Convention. The numbers compiled by the Louisiana Baptist Convention Missions and Ministry Team and released to the Baptist Message indicate the 19 church plants, ranging from one month to three years old performed one baptism for about every 7 weekly worship attenders. By comparison, information shared by the North American Mission Board for the 757 churches in its Class of 2010 showed each typically baptized one new believer for about every 13 weekly worship attenders. This is the latest information NAMB has shared about its church plants formed in 2010 or after, and was highlighted by NAMB President Kevin Ezell in his report at the 2015 SBC Annual Meeting which was held in Columbus, Ohio. Meanwhile, figures published in the SBC Annual indicate that among established Southern Baptist congregations, one baptism is performed for every 18 or so weekly worship attenders across the denomination. John Hebert, director of the LBC Missions and Ministry Team said LBC church plants are not in competition … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA/PINEVILLE –The inaugural Louisiana Life March in Central Louisiana will be held Jan. 30, and organizers say it has been a long time in the making. The procession will begin on the Louisiana College campus and continue through Pineville on Main Street before crossing over the Red River at the Jackson Street Bridge to end at the Alexandria Riverfront Amphitheater. Other Louisiana Life Marches have taken place in Baton Rouge and Shreveport, most recently simultaneously on Jan. 23, but this is the first time such an event will be held in the central part of the state. “I’m very excited and amazed at the strong response we have received so far from people throughout central Louisiana,” said Ryan Verret, associate director of Louisiana Right to Life. “It has been our desire for quite a while to bring together the pro-life community of this part of the state as well as create a unified voice working together to end the great injustice of abortion that was imposed upon Louisiana women and unborn children in 1973. “We are preparing for a historic event for our state with the Life March from Pineville to Alexandria on Saturday, Jan. 30,” he continued. “We hope everyone who … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE – Several major life experiences have shaped the character of Debbie Stuart but perhaps none has been more impactful than her own prodigal son’s wanderings. In October 2010, Stuart was on staff at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas, when her son Jarrad was arrested at the age of 27. “That journey was the most painful season of our lives and led us to unexpected places with the Lord and taught us about obedience, forgiveness, deliverance and a few other very important lessons about life and ministry,” she said. Stuart will share the rest of her story – relating it to Paul’s shipwreck experience reported in Acts 27 – during the Kaleidoscope conference on Feb. 6 at First Baptist Church, Pineville. “In this passage we will discover a few reasons why the Lord allows shipwrecks especially in the lives of people who are trying to be faithful and obedient,” Stuart said. “We will learn how to have a successful shipwreck as well as what to do when the Lord takes us to unexpected places for unknown reasons.” The overall theme for the event is “Delight,” based on Psalm 119:174 and organizers are expecting 300 women to attend. A Shreveport native, Stuart served on … [Read more...]