HIS Church keeps baptism pace despite pandemic
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) - Quinton Aldecoa had heard about God's amazing grace before, but in January the concept resonated with him during a message by Pastor Steve Speer at HIS Church in Pineville. He confessed his sins, asked God's forgiveness, and was anxious to make a public profession of faith through baptism at an annual group baptism celebration at Lake Buhlow. After the novel coronavirus pandemic delayed the special service until after all restrictions on public gatherings are lifted, Aldecoa opted instead to be baptized with two others during the first available opportunity following the May 24 in-facility worship service. Friends and family, gathered in an area outside the worship center, cheered on the three new concerts whom Speer baptized inside a portable baptistery in front of a large photo of Lake Buhlow. "Getting baptized was a huge sigh of relief," Aldecoa told the Baptist Message. "I was hit hard a few months ago about my need to follow Christ and to lead spiritually. Our family's discipleship and spiritual growth starts with me." GROWTH THROUGH SALVATIONS Since HIS Church was formed in 2006, 659 persons have been baptized. Membership has grown from 22 … [Read more...]
2020 Commission update: Plant soul-winning churches that multiply
By Message Staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptists are in the final year of implementing the President’s 2020 Commission Final Report, an initiative undertaken during the leadership of Waylon Bailey, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Covington, and the LBC president in 2012-2013. The 2020 recommendations were crafted collaboratively by a commission of 400 Louisiana Baptist leaders, staff members and laypeople, working in 20 subcommittees of 20 members each. Ten “key actions in reaching our state” – known as KAIROS – were developed to engage two audiences – the next generation and every people group. These measures for improving the spiritual health and growth of the state were adopted by messengers at the 2013 Louisiana Baptist Convention Annual Meeting. This article is the sixth in a series published by the Baptist Message to report what successes have been achieved toward the ambitious goals of the statewide initiative, as well as to note what objectives remain to be done. KAIROS FIVE Partner with churches, associations and other Southern Baptist entities to plant healthy, culturally relevant, biblically sound, multiplying churches that seek to fulfil the Great Commission. Since 2010, the Louisiana … [Read more...]
Benjamin Watson: In your anger do not sin
2020 Commission Update: Engage churches in compassion ministries
By Message Staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptists are in the final year of implementing the President’s 2020 Commission Final Report, an initiative undertaken during the leadership of Waylon Bailey, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Covington, and the LBC president in 2012-2013. The 2020 recommendations were crafted collaboratively by a commission of 400 Louisiana Baptist leaders, staff members and laypeople, working in 20 subcommittees of 20 members each. Ten “key actions in reaching our state” – known as KAIROS – were developed to engage two audiences – the next generation and every people group. These measures for improving the spiritual health and growth of the state were adopted by messengers at the 2013 Louisiana Baptist Convention Annual Meeting. This article is the fifth in a series published by the Baptist Message to report what successes have been achieved toward the ambitious goals of the statewide initiative, as well as to note what objectives remain to be done. KAIROS FOUR Engage Louisiana Baptist Convention congregations in compassion ministries. Jeff Cook, compassion ministry strategist for Louisiana Baptists said that much progress has been made toward this objective. Nearly 70 … [Read more...]
2020 Commission update: Aid local congregations in disciple making
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptists are in the final year of implementing the President’s 2020 Commission Final Report, an initiative undertaken during the leadership of Waylon Bailey, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Covington, and the LBC president in 2012-2013. The 2020 recommendations were crafted collaboratively by a commission of 400 Louisiana Baptist leaders, staff members and laypeople, working in 20 subcommittees of 20 members each. Ten “key actions in reaching our state” – known as KAIROS – were developed to engage two audiences – the next generation and every people group. These measures for improving the spiritual health and growth of the state were adopted by messengers at the 2013 Louisiana Baptist Convention Annual Meeting. This article is the third in a series published by the Baptist Message to report what successes have been achieved toward the ambitious goals of the statewide initiative, as well as to note what objectives remain to be done. KAIROS TWO Assist churches with the development of a disciple-making process for the local congregation. The best strategy for making disciples is through small groups such as Sunday School, said Sean … [Read more...]
2020 Commission update: Equip churches for effective evangelistic growth
By Message Staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptists are in the final year of implementing the President’s 2020 Commission Final Report, an initiative undertaken during the leadership of Waylon Bailey, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Covington, and the LBC president in 2012-2013. The 2020 recommendations were crafted collaboratively by a commission of 400 Louisiana Baptist leaders, staff members and laypeople, working in 20 subcommittees of 20 members each. Ten “key actions in reaching our state” – known as KAIROS – were developed to engage two audiences – the next generation and every people group. These measures for improving the spiritual health and growth of the state were adopted by messengers at the 2013 Louisiana Baptist Convention Annual Meeting. This article is the second in a series published by the Baptist Message to report what successes have been achieved toward the ambitious goals of the statewide initiative, as well as to note what objectives remain to be done. KAIROS ONE Equip churches with a proven evangelistic church growth implementation process Nearly 900 of 1,650 Louisiana Baptist churches signed up to participate in a statewide Harvest campaign to “pray for every home and share … [Read more...]
Working together: Mineral Springs receives $10,000 from Louisiana Baptists
By Message Staff DUBACH, La. (LBM)– Louisiana Baptists donated $10,000 to the Mineral Springs Baptist Church in Dubach to help offset expenses incurred after a fire destroyed most of the congregation's facilities on Saturday. A check from the Louisiana Baptist Convention was presented on Tuesday. John Hebert, Louisiana Baptists missions and ministry team director, presented Pastor Greg Tipton with the funds from the LBC disaster relief ministry. He said he hopes the gift will encourage the congregation as they rebuild. “Our friends at Mineral Springs where Pastor Greg Tipton serves have experienced a tremendous tragedy in the loss of their church,” Hebert told the Baptist Message. “The thoughts and prayers of Louisiana Baptists are with them and this money from the Disaster Relief Fund is a symbol of our support. We pray that this money will help them in the short term take care of some things that are needed so that they can continue to worship together as a congregation.” The fire was discovered around 9:30 a.m. Saturday, and despite valiant efforts to extinguish it, the flames destroyed the congregation’s worship center, sound room, office space and nursery. The fellowship hall received smoke damage. The … [Read more...]
Evangelist asks Louisiana Baptists to join Gospel event to 15 million this weekend
By Message Staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM)--Evangelist Sammy Tippit has planned a special online outreach event this weekend that may reach up to 15 million people in 68 countries in what could be one of the largest evangelistic efforts ever. Tippit has established partnerships with more than 1,000 churches worldwide, the Brazilian Baptist Convention National Mission Board, the Northwest Baptist Fellowship of India and many others for the evangelistic event. This past month he and his international partners trained around 2 million people through Facebook and the What's App messaging platform in how to share their faith with family and friends. These trained volunteers are now conducting outreach in their respective communities to invite others to watch the weekend broadcast. The one-hour program will be streamed live on Friday at 8 p.m. across social media channels and satellite television, and will be available throughout the weekend at facebook.com/sammytippitministries. The special broadcast in English and 10 other languages will feature a message by Tippit, president of the Conference of Southern Baptist Evangelists, and music by Jennifer Turner, the wife of country music star Josh Turner. Jay Begbie, pastor of … [Read more...]
Skills of a church planter: Resilience
By John Hebert, Louisiana Baptist missions and ministry team leader ALEXANDRIA, LA. (LBM)--Do you know what Winston Churchill, Bill Gates, Walt Disney, and Colonel Sanders have in common? It has nothing to do with their fame or notoriety, I would suggest. Instead, it is the trait that I contend was the cause of their renown -- resilience. I have observed that resilience is a characteristic most successful people possess, and I know firsthand that this is certainly true of successful church planters and church leaders. -- Winston Churchill was defeated in every election for public office until he became prime minister at age 62; -- Henry Ford went broke five different times before founding Ford Motor Company and becoming one of the wealthiest men in history; -- Bill Gates was a Harvard drop-out who founded a failed business (Traf-O-Data) before launching Microsoft; -- Colonel Sanders hawked his secret recipe hundreds of times before he found a restaurant that would accept it; and, -- Walt Disney was fired by a newspaper editor because he “lacked imagination and had no good ideas.” These men were resilient when they failed and church planters and leaders must be resilient to succeed. There is a rather … [Read more...]
