By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer MARCALA, Honduras (LBM) – A team from First Baptist Church, Poncha­toula, experienced a “God-wink moment” during a recent mission trip to Hon­duras. While serving in the village of Marcala, the team stumbled upon a school bus formerly used by the Tangipahoa Parish School District, where Ponchatoula is located. Associate Pastor Robert Parkin said the group felt it was another confirma­tion that God had called them there to serve. “The best way to describe it is just a clear reminder of God's faith­fulness and his calling for our church to serve these people,” Parkin told the Baptist Message about the sighting of the bus, which was bought by someone with no connection to the team. “How else do you end up with the school bus from your parish in the same community that you are committed to serving and reaching with the Gospel? So, it was quite shocking to see, and (Honduran) Pastor Juan thought I was crazy, be­cause I had to chase down the bus while going up switchbacks in the moun­tains, to get a photo of it.” Parkin was among 14 members of the mission team that served in Mar­cala, Jan. 31 - Feb 7, as part of a medical effort that served 575 patients (rang­ing from two … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff TIOGA, La. (LBM) – Faith Baptist Church, Tioga, will host a hymn sing, March 8 at 6 p.m., to bring together Central Louisiana churches for a time of joint worship that also will include Scripture reading and prayer, according to an announcement by Clark Palmer, who is pastor of FBCT. Kevin Boles, bi-vocational pastor with Lone Star Baptist Church, Hineston, will direct the congregational singing and Sylvia Murrell will accompany on piano. “Hymns build our faith and lift our spirit,” Palmer told the Baptist Message. “We sing about the faithfulness of God and it gives us hope. We sing about the cross and we are moved to deep gratitude. We sing about the greatness of God and we are moved to worship. We hear the voices of the gathered congregation singing and we know we are not alone in our faith.” … [Read more...]

By the Office of Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill NEW ORLEANS (Office of Louisiana Attorney General) - The U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled against the American Civil Liberties Union, allowing Louisiana public schools to immediately start posting displays of the Ten Commandments. This comes only a month after the whole Fifth Circuit heard oral argument in the case. “Don’t kill or steal shouldn’t be controversial. My office has issued clear guidance to our public schools on how to comply with the law, and we have created multiple examples of posters demonstrating how it can be applied constitutionally. Louisiana public schools should follow the law," said Attorney General Liz Murrill on the ruling, issued on Feb. 20. When the law went into effect in the beginning of 2025, Murrill issued guidance to all Louisiana public schools regarding compliance with the law. You can find that guidance here. Read the ruling here. … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer MONROE, La. (LBM) – David Jeffreys, a long-time minister and most recently Louisiana Christian University administrator, will succeed Perry Hancock, effective Feb. 16, as president and chief executive officer of the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home and Family Ministries. Jeffreys told the Baptist Message he is excited about leading a time-honored institution that has impacted so many families. “The Children’s Home has always been one of those ministries where you get to do some incredible things and to really reach out and help people in their time of need with physical and emotional support, but also with the Gospel,” Jeffreys said. SAVED, CALLED A native of New Iberia, Jeffreys turned to Jesus at 14 years old while attending a youth camp at Acadian Baptist Center, Eu­nice. His parents and other members with Highland Baptist Church, New Iberia, continued to disciple him un­til he left to attend Louisiana College (now LCU) in 1988. During his sophomore year, while working as a summer camp counselor at Dry Creek Baptist Camp, Jef­freys responded to the Holy Spirit’s call for him to pursue vocational ministry, he said, noting that LCU Professor Welby Bozeman … [Read more...]

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Baptist Message provides churches an opportunity to share with other Louisiana Baptists an upcoming revival, homecoming, new pastor, new staff member, a community outreach, or a concert in Louisiana No­tables. To place your event in the paper, send your information (who, what, where, when, time) to philip@baptist­message.com or call 318.449.4345. Please submit your information four weeks prior to the event to insure place­ment in the Message. ON THE MOVE Cas, wife Kayla, Sullivan have been called to be the new BCM Director for the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. David, wife Stephanie, Jeffreys new President & CEO of the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home and Family Ministries, effective February 16, 2026. Mark, wife Karen, Robinson is the new interim pastor at Longview Baptist Church, Deville. David, wife Debbie, Martinez called as an associate Pastor at First Baptist Church, Zwolle. Corey Coleman is the new pastor at Bethesda Baptist Church, Shreveport. Marty Wright is the interim pastor at Oak Hill Baptist Church, Plain Dealing. Kelly McGuffee is the new Children’s director at South Bossier Baptist Church, Bossier City. Jeremy Fortenberry resigns as music director at Summer … [Read more...]

By Office of Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill BATON ROUGE, La. (Office of Louisiana AG Liz Murrill) - Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill is thanking her fellow Republican attorneys general and 60 U.S. lawmakers for filing amicus briefs in support of her lawsuit against the FDA to vacate a Biden-era rule that removed a longstanding in-person dispensing requirement for the chemical abortion drug mifepristone. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court of the Western District of Louisiana in December of 2025. Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers led 21 States in filing a brief in support of our lawsuit challenging a Biden-era rule that expanded access to abortion drugs through mail and telehealth, despite contrary state laws. Nebraska’s filing argues that the rule unlawfully overrides state laws protecting unborn life and intrudes on states’ sovereign authority following the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs. U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, and U.S. Representative Chris Smith, led 58 Republican lawmakers in filing an amicus brief in the U.S. Western District of Louisiana supporting Murrill’s lawsuit to protect women and their unborn … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – State Rep. Julie Emerson, a member with First Baptist Church, Lafayette, has been named chief of staff for Gov. Jeff Landry. Most recently, Emerson ran for the U.S. Senate, but on Jan. 22 ended her campaign citing a “diminished” path to victory once Congresswoman Julia Letlow entered the race. “As we all know when God closes one door, he often opens another,” Emerson told the Baptist Message. “The offer from Gov. Landry came as a surprise, but after much prayer, it was clear that this was the best way I could continue to serve the state I love so much.” Landry in a statement commended Emerson, saying her skill set is such a good fit for this position. “Julie Emerson is a proven leader with a deep understanding of Louisiana’s people, our state legislature, and the work that needs to be done to move Louisiana forward,” he said. “Her experience and commitment to conservative reform makes her the perfect person to help lead this administration as we continue fighting for a stronger, safer, and more prosperous Louisiana.” During her time as a state representative, Emerson served as the chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means and was the first woman to chair a … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff MONROE, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptists will have the chance to show the love of Christ through clearing of debris in yards in the Monroe-West Monroe area that were impacted by Winter Storm Fern. “Operation Love Your Neighbor,” set for Feb. 14-19, will allow churches, businesses and civic organizations to take a one-day mission trip there to encourage homeowners. Groups will check-in at 8:30 a.m. at the Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief Incident Management Team trailer on the parking lot of McClendon Baptist Church, West Monroe, receive their assignments and return to the church by 4 p.m. Sack lunches, rakes, shovels and bags to place debris in will be provided. LBDR State Director Stan Statham told the Baptist Message that more than 200 work orders have been received since they arrived in the area on Jan. 29. Since half of those work orders are for cutting down and removing trees, the debris removal performed by groups during “Operation Love Your Neighbor” will allow DR teams more time to take care of the more pressing needs. “When folks experience something like this, people’s presence in their lives really helps them to overcome a sense of loss,” Statham said. “It helps people to overcome the … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer WEST MONROE, La. (LBM) – John Broussard, a Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief chaplain/assessor from Live Oak Baptist Church, Watson, had assessed a house damaged by Winter Storm Fern when he had a “God moment,” Feb. 2. Moments after praying with a homeowner, two other assessors “happened” to arrive on scene and they all prayed with the grandmother who soon after shared about the personal struggles of her grandson, Eric. Through a series of questions with Eric, Broussard sensed he may not have a relationship with Jesus. Initially, he did not turn to Christ but soon after he accepted the Lord. “It was no coincidence that two other assessors arrived at the house when we were about to pray for Eric,” Broussard told the Baptist Message. “It was no coincidence that I am a chaplain at a recovery house where I get to minister to people like Eric. And it was no coincidence that I had left my cap at the house and when I called to see if the homeowner had it, she wanted me to come back and lead her grandson to a relationship with Jesus.” Clark Fooshee, white hat for the Incident Management Team working out of McClendon Baptist Church, West Monroe, said the incident is a … [Read more...]