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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Crusade bears fruit for FBC Denham Springs: 55 baptisms in one day

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer DENHAM SPRINGS, La. (LBM) – A celebration of 1,300 decisions for Christ at the Livingston Parish GO TELL AMERICA Crusade continued for First Baptist Church, Denham Springs, when it baptized 55 individuals on March 30 – the most ever on a single day for the congregation. “It was beyond our expectations, that’s for sure,” FBCDS Pastor Leo Miller told the Baptist Message. “We were anticipating maybe 40-45 before the service began, but we ended up having many more, so it was pretty neat. People throughout the crusade have been excited to see God on the move and this was another way for our congregation to express their appreciation and gratitude to the Lord with more applause and worship.” BACKGROUND The baptisms came two weeks after the crusade, held March 16-19 in the Denham Springs High School football stadium. The four-day spiritual encounter, including all related out­side events, yielded 1,316 persons decisions for Jesus, with 602 individ­uals stepping forward to accept Christ. Miller and other Eastern Louisiana Baptist Association pastors and leaders shared that they prayed and prepared for more than a year with anticipation of a mighty harvest during the crusade … [Read more...]

New Life Pregnancy Center schedules April 5 gala

By Baptist Message staff MAMOU, La. (LBM) - Pro-life supporters will take a step “back into the 1920s” during the upcoming New Life Pregnancy Center Gala, April 5. The largest fundraiser of the year for the pregnancy center will feature music and food from that era and all who come will be encouraged to dress in attire from that decade. This event also will include Christian comedian Dennis Swanberg, event emcee Michaella Fontenot, a testimony by a NLPC client, special music, and updates about how God has used this ministry to help serve “moms in need” so they can experience healthy pregnancies. Connie Landreneau, a member of Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church in Eunice and a board member, said the banquet is one way those from various denominations will come together for one common cause. “It's amazing to see the help from the community, and it’s wonderful to have them step up and say, ‘I want to help, I want to volunteer, I want to donate to the dinner,’ because it takes a giving heart,” she said. “It takes a servant’s heart to do what we all do together, and it takes a team. And I’m very grateful for the team that we’ve put together to save these babies. We’re very, very grateful that God has put us in that position to do … [Read more...]

FIRST PERSON: The LBC does not oppose Amendment 2

By Will Hall, director, LBC Office of Public Policy, and executive editor, Baptist Message ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptists saw a 19 percent jump in baptisms in 2022 and a 31 percent surge on top of that in 2023. Last week, many Louisiana Baptists took part in the Livingston Parish GO TELL AMERICA Crusade and witnessed more than 1,300 spiritual decisions -- with at least 602 new believers who are counted among that number. Moreover, there are similar evangelistic events planned around the state in 2025 as Louisiana Baptists commit to establish a culture of soul winning in our state. However, this week, all of that has been overshadowed in some circles because of the poor decision by a few individuals to wrongly characterize, or otherwise allow the wrong perception, that “Louisiana Baptists” oppose Amendment 2, a tax reform measure which is on the statewide March 29 ballot. Unfortunately, their misdirection on this issue involves a video clip of my testimony before the Senate Committee on Revenue & Fiscal Affairs regarding HB 7 (which removes language from the Constitution pertaining to property tax exemptions for ministries and nonprofits) and HB 11 (which transfers the exact same language to the statutes … [Read more...]

Johnston, former US Senator and member of First Baptist Shreveport, dies at 92

By Baptist Message staff MCLEAN, Va. (LBM) – J. Bennett Johnston, a U.S. senator who represented Louisiana for 24 years and a longtime member of First Baptist Church, Shreveport, died at a hospital in McLean, Virginia, March 25, from complications related to COVID-19. He was 92. Johnston served as a state representative and senator for eight years combined and U.S. senator for another 24 years. According to his obituary, Johnston was a “conservative Democrat known for working across the aisle, sometimes voting with Republicans when he thought it would serve his state. Johnston helped drive the creation of Interstate 49, brought money into the state to help protect wetlands (including helping establish two national parks and seven wildlife refuges), and in 1990, made national headlines when he defeated Ku Klux Klansman David Duke in that year's Senate race.” According to Lauren Ostendorff, a church secretary and long-time member of FBCS, Johnston joined the church in 1943 and was still a non-resident member when he died. He remained active in the church while practicing law in Shreveport and preparing to enter his first term as a U.S. senator. He served the congregation as a member of the board of directors, as did his … [Read more...]