Click to Login or Sign Up

Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Wisner church loses fellowship hall during severe storms

By Baptist Message staff WISNER, La. (LBM) – High winds from a severe storm that passed through Wisner, Dec. 28, destroyed the fellowship hall of Holly Grove Baptist Church. One of several storms to strike communities in Louisiana that day, the damage occurred around 10:30 p.m. when 55 mph winds caused a tree to fall onto the roof of the facility, Pastor Dennis Fontenot told the Baptist Message. Fontenot said he is grateful that the church (which averages 40-50 in Sunday morning worship) had insurance and that no one was inside the building at the time of the storm. Until the church builds a new fellowship hall, the senior adult class that met there for Sunday school will be relocated to the worship center. “Even though it’s a loss, we are blessed,” Fontenot said. “By the grace of God, the incident occurred on a Saturday evening. If it had taken place a few hours later, some of our senior adults would have been injured or even killed because where the tree fell is the exact spot where they met for Sunday school.” Meanwhile, a Mississippi Baptist Convention congregation, O’Zion Baptist Church in Meadville, was destroyed when a tornado hit the facility around 3:30 p.m., Dec. 28. According to the Mississippi Baptist … [Read more...]

Life Marches 2025: ‘Every life is worth living’

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – Anticipated thousands of Louisianians will stand together for life at five pro-life marches throughout the state in the coming weeks, according to the lead organizer. The theme for the marches is “Every life is worth living.” “We are thrilled in 2025 to proclaim that ‘every life is worth living’ in Louisiana from the unborn child in her mother’s womb to other vulnerable populations like the disabled and handicapped,” Louisiana Right to Life Executive Director Ben Clapper told the Baptist Message. “We know that we have been in uncharted territory since the reversal of Roe v. Wade with an uptick of propaganda in the press accusing pro-life groups, pregnancy centers, and pro-life people of harming women because of Louisiana's pro-life laws. The truth remains that the pro-life community loves both the unborn child and the mother. Our goal has always been to empower women to choose life in even the most difficult of situations. We, together with nearly 40 pregnancy centers across the state, continue to stand strong, but we need you to show our elected officials and the community that we will never sway in our mission to save lives.” -- Jan. 22 (Lake … [Read more...]

ECON 2025: Create a culture of evangelism

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer COVINGTON, La. (LBM) – During the upcoming state Evangelism Conference, Jan. 27-28, hosted by First Baptist Church, Covington, speakers will urge Louisiana Baptists to reach their friends and family for Christ and to create a culture of evangelism within their congregations. “When you come to ECON with a group of church members, you will be encouraged and equipped to return home with a renewed sense of urgency to reach your friends and family for Christ,” Louisiana Baptist Evangelism and Church Growth Team Director Keith Manuel told the Baptist Message. “It is powerful when a group attends and then goes home with a unified purpose.” PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS The first session will begin at 1:30 pm on Monday and will feature messages by Leroy Fountain, church health strategist with New Orleans Baptist Association and church planter consultant with Louisiana Baptists, and by Mike Courtney, itinerant evangelist in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and the surrounding areas. Bill Blackmon, president and chaplain with Truckstop Ministries, will share a testimony about his ministry. After a break for supper, the conference will continue at 6 p.m. with a message by Waylon Bailey, … [Read more...]

New Orleans pastors prayer walk site of terrorist attack

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer NEW ORLEANS (LBM) – A day after a terrorist used a truck to kill 14 people and injured more than 35 others on Bourbon Street, New Orleans pastors prayer walked the area, Jan. 2, before it reopened to the public. Among those Louisiana Baptist pastors and lay leaders participating were Page Brooks, senior pastor, Canal Street Church: A Mosaic Community, New Orleans; Larry Johnson, lay leader, Bridge Church, Madisonville; Ricky Murphy, associate pastor, Celebration Church, Metairie; Michael Raymond, Shiloh Christian Fellowship, New Orleans; and Dennis Waston, senior pastor, Celebration Church, Metairie. New Orleans Diocese Archbishop Gregory Aymond, Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell, other pastors and law enforcement leaders also participated in the prayer walk, which took place at the request of Cantrell. The group also left yellow roses along the street in memory of the victims. A second line band followed the group and played hymns such as “I’ll fly away” and “Just a closer walk with thee.” “It was surreal to see Bourbon Street so clean and without people, which is totally atypical of how it usually is,” Watson said. “We prayed for the … [Read more...]

LBC president, executive director issue prayer call for Jan. 5

By Baptist Message staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – In a joint statement released to the Baptist Message, Jan.2, Louisiana Baptist Convention President David Goza, pastor of Jefferson Baptist Church, Baton Rouge, and Steve Horn, LBC executive director, asked Louisiana Baptist churches to set aside time during Sunday services, Jan. 5, to pray for those affected by a terrorist's assault in the Crescent City, Jan. 1: “In light of the evil attack in New Orleans on New Years Day, we call upon our family of churches to designate specific time during worship services this Sunday, January 5, to pray ‘in one accord’ (Acts 4:24). “We recognize there is much to pray about. We pray for those who mourn. We pray for those who are injured. We pray for our law enforcement officers. We pray for our leaders. We pray for justice. “Let us also pray for protection, compassion, boldness and wisdom as we seek to be the hands and feet of Jesus to those around us. Finally, let us pray for God’s favor as we seek the lost who live among us.” At least 15 people died and 30 were injured after 42-year-old Shamsud Din Jabbar drove a white Ford F-150 Lightning EV truck around a police blockade and slammed into revelers before being shot dead by … [Read more...]

Public safety a top priority amid ongoing New Orleans terror attack investigation

By Baptist Message staff NEW ORLEANS (LBM) – City, state and federal officials, during a news conference Jan. 1, praised the response by law enforcement following a terrorist attack on New Orleans’ Bourbon Street and promised a safe environment for the Sugar Bowl, which has been postponed to Jan. 2. “We are committed, no doubt, to uncovering all details surrounding this tragedy,” said New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell. “And we’re taking every necessary step to put even more safety procedures in place, especially given the nature of the investigation.” Around 3:17 a.m. on Jan. 1, a man identified as U.S. born citizen 42-year-old Shamsud Din Jabbar, drove a white Ford F-150 Lightning EV truck around a police blockade and slammed into revelers before being shot dead by police. Authorities said at least 15 people, two from Louisiana, have now died including 28-year old Lafayette native Tiger Bech, 37-year-old Reggie Hunter, a father of two, and 30 sustained injuries. Multiple individuals were reportedly struck before the vehicle crashed. Once the vehicle stopped, the suspect reportedly opened fire on responding officers, who then returned fire. Two officers sustained injuries and were transported via emergency medical … [Read more...]

Louisiana Baptist leaders following terrorist attack: pray for New Orleans

By Baptist Message staff NEW ORLEANS (LBM) – Hours after an individual intentionally drove his truck down Bourbon Street and killed at least 10 people and injured 35 on New Year’s Day morning, Louisiana Baptist leaders expressed sympathy and asked for prayers for those impacted by what the FBI is investigating as a terrorist attack. According to a New Orleans Police Department news release, at around 3:17 a.m., multiple law enforcement officers responded to a report of a vehicle having driven into a crowd of pedestrians on Bourbon Street after exiting Canal Street. Multiple individuals were reportedly struck before the vehicle crashed. Once the vehicle stopped, the suspect reportedly opened fire on responding officers, who then returned fire. Two officers sustained injuries and were transported via emergency medical services to a local hospital and were last listed in stable condition, while the suspect died. A news release from the FBI said the suspect has been identified as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, a U.S. citizen from Texas. He was driving a Ford pickup truck, which the FBI said that it appears to have been rented. The FBI said an ISIS flag was located in the vehicle, and they are working to determine the subject's … [Read more...]