By Baptist Message staff BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) — Early voting for the General Election will take place Oct. 18-29 (excluding Sundays during that time period) and polls will be open from 8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. Voters must show one of the following picture identifications in order to vote: Driver's license; Louisiana Special ID; United States military identification card that contains your name and picture; or some other generally recognized picture ID that contains your name and signature. … [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 Chris, wife Jasmine, Culpepper is the new music minister at Eastwood Baptist Church from Longwood, Fl. Ben Martinson is the new youth minister at Vivian First Baptist Church. Charlie, (wife April) Miller is the new pastor at Woodland Hills Baptist Church. Bobby Rodrigue, pastor of Belle River Baptist Church, passed away suddenly on September 14. HOMECOMING/ANNIVERSIES Bayou Macon Baptist Church, Gilbert: Homecoming, October 13, Evangelist: Waylon Tibbs. A fish fry will follow the worship service. Pastor: Larry Russell. Pine Grove Community Church, Bastrop: Homecoming, October 13, 10:30 a.m. Special Music: Louisiana Melody Boys. Pastor: James Moffit. First Baptist Church, Folsom: Homecoming, October 13, 9 a.m.- noon; 9 a.m. Fellowship; … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff CLEARWATER, Fla. (LBM) - Two Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief feeding teams have been deployed ahead of Hurricane Milton’s expected landfall in Florida. According to LBDR Strategist Stan Statham, the Rolling Hills feeding team and the Philadelphia Baptist Church, Deville, quick response feeding team will head to Clearwater, Florida, to support Florida Baptist Disaster Relief. The feeding teams will partner with the Salvation Army to feed residents impacted by Milton, which is expected to make landfall late Wednesday. The storm, which was a Category 4 (with sustained winds of 130 mph) at 1 pm CST, had already produced several tornadoes Wednesday afternoon. “Please pray for our team as they seek to prepare their first meal for Saturday,” Statham said. To give to DR efforts, visit https://louisianabaptists.org/about/teams/missions-ministry/disaster-relief/donate/ (https://louisianabaptists.org/about/teams/missions-ministry/disaster-relief/donate/ … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff ROAN MOUNTAIN, Tenn. (LBM) – The Carey Baptist Association laundry team recently wrapped up a short but fruitful trip to deliver a laundry trailer for use by members of First Baptist Church, Roan Mountain, Tennessee. Team members Reggy Saxton and Tom Waites arrived on Oct. 5 to deliver a trailer equipped with five washers, five dryers and two generators and returned to Lake Charles the following evening. While in Roan Mountain, the team saw the church spreading Jesus’ love through distribution of meals, water, clothes and toys. Additionally, a medical team was on hand to offer care to residents, many whose homes were inundated by the floodwaters of Hurricane Helene. “We witnessed the church of FBC Roan Mountain at its best, taking charge and sharing God’s love to the community,” Saxton told the Baptist Message. “The church members were managing the crisis like seasoned pros.” To give to DR operations, visit https://louisianabaptists.org/about/teams/missions-ministry/disaster-relief/donate/ … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff ROAN MOUNTAIN, Tennessee (LBM) – A Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief laundry team from Carey Baptist Association has been deployed to First Baptist Church, Roan Mountain, Tennessee. According to Carey Baptist Association leaders, the team is expected to arrive at the church on Oct. 5 and set up the newly renovated trailer that volunteers at the church will operate. The trailer is equipped with five washers, five dryers and two generators. Roan Mountain was among the many communities that was inundated by the floodwaters of Hurricane Helene. The storm is blamed for more than 200 deaths. According to WJHL-TV, retired National Weather Service Meteorologist Tom Niziol said the flooding was historic. “The damage here in the Roan Mountain area is what I would refer to as unprecedented,” Niziol told the news stations. “In fact, many locals here had experienced the last major flood back in 1998 that wiped out this area and unfortunately led to some fatalities from drowning. All of those individuals have said to me unequivocally that this event is much worse.” The laundry team is the latest LBDR team to be sharing Christ's love in areas hit hard by Helene. A feeding team from the northern and … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff MOUNT VERNON, Ga. (LBM) – Less than a week after Hurricane Helene devasted parts of the US, a Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief feeding team is on the ground to “give a cup of cold water in Jesus’ name” to those affected by the powerful storm. According to Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief Associate and Volunteer Mobilizer Mark Morelock, a feeding team comprised of members from the northern and central regions of the state has prepared and served 600 meals a day at First Baptist Church, Mount Vernon, Georgia, since operations began on Sept. 28. A team from the southeast and northern regions of Louisiana is expected to arrive by Oct. 2 to replace the feeding team currently there, though it is unknown when DR operations will end. Helene made landfall after 11 p.m. Sept. 26, near Perry in the Big Bend area of Florida’s Gulf Coast as a Category 4 storm, packing winds of 140 mph. The storm is blamed for at least 160 deaths, according to the Associated Press. Since relief operations began, $30,000 has been given through LBDR for bottled water, food and transportation of those goods to FBCMV. Another $60,0000 through LBDR has been given in direct assistance to Baptist state convention DR entities … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message Staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – The first Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief teams have been activated for a response to Hurricane Helene. Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief Associate and Volunteer Mobilizer Mark Morelock told the Baptist Message that a feeding team and a generator from the northern and central part of the state, and a chainsaw team from the southwest area of the state, arrived Sept. 28 at Brewton-Parker College, Mount Vernon, Georgia. While there, the teams will serve students and faculty that are on campus without electricity. Statham said they will know additional details in the next couple of days about the duration of their deployment. Louisiana joins other state conventions who have sent teams to impacted areas. Helene made landfall after 11 p.m. Sept. 26, near Perry in the Big Bend area of Florida’s Gulf Coast as a Category 4 storm, packing winds of 140 mph. Helene, which is the eighth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, is blamed for at least 107 deaths across six states, including 30 in Asheville, North Carolina, that was left isolated after floodwaters destroyed roads, caused a water and food shortage and knocked out cell phone service and electricity to much of … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer JONESBORO, La. (LBM) – Craig James, associational missions strategist with North Central Baptist Association, will be nominated for the office of second vice president with the Louisiana Baptist Convention during the 2024 annual meeting of church messengers. Clark Palmer, pastor with Faith Baptist Church, Tioga, contacted the Baptist Message, Sept. 25, to share his intention to make the nomination. The yearly gathering of Louisiana Baptists is scheduled to be held in the facilities of Broadmoor Baptist Church, Shreveport, Nov. 12. STATEMENT OF SUPPORT James, who is a member of Atlanta Baptist Church, has faithfully served the Lord and churches for decades, Palmer said. “Over the years when I mention his name I have found that his former church members love him,” he said. “His fellow pastors love him. His family loves him. And recently the thought came into my mind, that I should nominate him for one of our LBC offices. “If you know him you probably agree that he is a great representative of Louisiana Baptist pastors and leaders,” he continued. “He was surprised when I asked him if I could do this but agreed to allow me to nominate him as second vice-president … [Read more...]