By Message Staff BOSSIER CITY – With a decrease in baptisms across the Southern Baptist Convention and the reality that the International Mission Board is cutting back its missionary force, SBC President Ronnie Floyd believes he knows what the No. 1 need is for Louisiana. “We need the power of God upon our churches and upon our ministries,” said Floyd, pastor of Cross Church in northwest Arkansas. “We have too many pastors and churches that are contented to go forward, doing ministry without the power of God.” Speaking to messengers during the final session of the Louisiana Baptist Convention Annual Meeting at First Baptist Church in Bossier City on Nov. 10, Floyd said he is convinced Southern Baptists are drifting away and moving away from the mission of God. “When we move away from the mission of god, you also move away from the power of God,” he said. “And when you move away from the power of God, you don't have a heart to move toward the mission of God.” Floyd's urgent words closed the final day of the LBC Annual Meeting, which featured a Bible study, reports from state entities, a message by Kirk Jones of Fellowship Church in Prairieville, election of next year's officers and high-energy music. A … [Read more...]

By Message Staff BOSSIER CITY – The biblical character Nehemiah can tell believers a lot about victory. Burdened that the walls of Jerusalem had been torn down and burned with fire, restoring them despite obstacles he faced along the way became his life mission. And those same problems Israel encountered help Louisiana Baptists see what will keep them from fulfilling the Pledge – a pastor-driven initiative designed to increase Cooperative Program giving – Louisiana Baptist Convention Steve Horn told messengers during the opening night of the LBC Annual Meeting. “As Nehemiah, we have a great work for a great God,” said Horn, pastor of First Baptist Church Lafayette. “When there is a great God and great work, there will usually be great obstacles.” In Nehemiah’s story, Horn said there are five obstacles that will keep Louisiana Baptists from obtaining victory. They are disobedience, disunity, discouragement, personal distractions and doubt. At the end of Horn’s message, messengers had the opportunity to come forward and lay down on the altar decision cards they filled out regarding the Pledge. In addition to a report on the Pledge, the first session of the LBC Annual Meeting included reports from Louisiana … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer BOSSIER CITY – Brad Jurkovich believes if they are not careful, that pastors can develop a dull heart. When that happens, pastors should do like King David – come to the point where they realize they need God more than anything again. “When our desire is more of everything else but God, then that is when our heart becomes dull for the Lord rather than on fire,” said Jurkovich, pastor of First Baptist Church in Bossier City. “And Pastor, when your heart is dull for God then there will be a lack of passion to live the holy life He is calling you to live.” Preaching from Psalm 51:1-13, Jurkovich told those attending the 2015 Louisiana Baptist Convention Pastors Conference that King David was a man passionate in his praise and worship of God. The author of many of the Psalms in the Bible, David committed a sin with another man’s wife and thus suffered consequences. Much like David did, pastors who are suffering a lack of passion for God should get to the point that they need the Lord. “When you desire God more and more then you will have a heart that hungers for God then His high call of holiness will be a very real passion of yours,” he continued. “In your heart, do you desire … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer LAFAYETTE – For the second consecutive year, the Cajundome is the site for the annual Youth Evangelism Celebration. The largest gathering of Louisiana Baptists each year, YEC is scheduled for Nov. 23-24 and will feature high-energy music, inspiring messages, fellowship and much more. Due to on-going renovations at the Rapides Coliseum in Alexandria, and an unknown date of completion, the Cajundome will be the home for YEC through 2017. The theme for this year’s YEC is Moments, based off Psalm 119:32. This year’s lineup includes: Acton Bowen, a speaker and New York Times best-selling author who has served in the local church, led a city-wide student Bible study in Gadsden, Ala., and was the host of x|roads TV, a worldwide broadcast viewed weekly by millions of teens and adults in every city in America and over 170 countries around the world on network television. Bowen is now co-host of Top3 on the JuceTV Network and a regular contributor on Fox News Channel where he serves as a correspondent on Faith and Religion. Isaac Wimberly, a worship pastor at the Village Church in Texas, is a featured “spoken word” artist. Meredith Andrews & Vertical Church Band, a … [Read more...]

By Message Staff MARKSVILLE – The pastor of LifePoint Church is asking for urgent prayers after two shootings just blocks away from each other has left the community of Marksville hurting. One of the incidents – a nine-hour standoff -- involved several members of his church while the other, which took place the night before, saw a 6-year-old autistic boy tragically killed. “Pray for our community,” said LifePoint Pastor Jacob Crawford said. “It is hurting and in shock. “Pray for the family involved and also the officers who risked their lives,” he said. “We are trying to minister to all those affected and are asking for your prayers.” The incident, which directly affected Crawford’s church members – the police officers who responded and the suspect’s mother, a member of the church for the last eight years -- happened Wednesday morning, when members of the Avoyelles Parish Sheriff’s Office, Marksville police, Moreauville police and Simmesport police responded to a shooting on Addison Street in Marksville. According to KALB News Channel 5, the suspect, Will Lachney, stole a shotgun from a hunter, returned to the Marksville Housing Authority with the weapon. A neighbor saw him and called the Marksville Police … [Read more...]

  By Will Hall, Message Editor ALEXANDRIA – Louisiana State Rep. Mike Johnson has weighed in on the governor’s race, comparing and contrasting U.S. Senator David Vitter with State Rep. John Bel Edwards on the issues, but also bluntly addressing the “very serious sin” Sen. Vitter admitted to in 2007 when his phone number was found in a list of the infamous “D.C. Madam.” FORGIVEN In a post titled “Louisiana for Liberty,” Johnson reminded “Christian friends” that Vitter “had asked for forgiveness, worked towards restoration, and sought reconciliation.” “He was forgiven by God and his extraordinary wife, they saved their marriage, and they are faithful believers,” Johnson wrote. “They have a truly inspiring Christian testimony.” Moreover, Johnson assured evangelical voters “that David Vitter is already privately assembling an incredible group of some of the most wise and widely-respected pastors in our state, from multiple Christian denominations, to serve in a spiritual advisory capacity once he is elected.” He added his endorsement that “A leader who recognizes such a need is precisely the kind of leader we want.” TWO “GOOD MEN,” TWO DIFFERENT VISIONS Although going to lengths to vouchsafe for … [Read more...]