Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
The Baptist Paper
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds

Louisiana Baptists celebrate newly elected House speaker Mike Johnson

“To have someone with Mike’s intellectual acumen, love for America, principled convictions and Christian worldview as speaker of the House gives me great hope,” said Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Director Steve Horn.
  • October 26, 2023
  • Louisiana Baptist Message
  • Latest News, Louisiana
During the Louisiana Family Forum’s Pastor’s briefing following the 2016 Governor’s Prayer Breakfast in Baton Rouge, then-state Rep. Mike Johnson was prayed over by a group of pastors. At the time, Johnson had filed in the state legislature the “Pastor Protection Act,” a bill that would have provided a simple protection for pastors — prevent the state from forcing religious leaders to participate in same-sex wedding ceremonies.
(Photo by Mark H. Hunter/Baptist Message)

Louisiana Baptists celebrate newly elected House speaker Mike Johnson

U.S. Congressman Mike Johnson, a member of Cypress Baptist Church in Benton, Louisiana, has been elected House speaker.

Johnson garnered 220 Republican votes in favor versus 209 Democrat votes against in the Oct. 25 House vote. Two seats in the House are vacant — one Democrat, one Republican — and four members did not vote (three Democrats, one Republican).

The office of speaker has been vacant since Oct. 3, when Matt Gaetz, a member of First Baptist Church Fort Walton Beach, Florida, led a GOP minority (eight congressmen) to join with Democrats to oust Kevin McCarthy, a member of Valley Baptist Church in Bakersfield, California, from this key leadership position.

Praised for faith, convictions

Johnson has enjoyed overwhelming praise from conservatives.

Yesterday, when Johnson was named the GOP nominee by his party peers, Gaetz praised Johnson as a “good godly man who’s going to advance Republicans.” Speaking to reporters, he also described Johnson as “the best possible candidate” to lead the House.

Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Director Steve Horn also expressed high praise for Johnson.

Horn told the Baptist Message, “This is an exciting day for Louisiana. This is an exciting day for Louisiana Baptists. More than anything, this is an exciting day for America.

“To have someone with Mike’s intellectual acumen, love for America, principled convictions and Christian worldview as speaker of the House gives me great hope,” Horn said. “We need to be praying for Mike, Kelly and their children.”

Meanwhile, Johnson’s pastor, John Fream, called Johnson “a tremendous man of God, a historian, constitutional expert, biblical scholar and great family man.” He also described Johnson as an “humble servant.”

“Mike and [wife] Kelly are stars and so willing to follow the Lord wherever and however He leads them,” he told the Baptist Message. “I am fired up for my friend and this nation!”

Fream added that his congregation is committed to praying for Johnson and his family “as they are called for such a time as this to lead.”

Principled conservative

In the U.S. House, Johnson has championed protection of pro-life groups from threats and attacks, advocated for the criminalization of knowingly taking a minor across state lines for an abortion and opposed the use of federal funds for sexually oriented events for kids. He also pushed the Oath Act to force all House witnesses to be sworn in before being allowed to testify.

In 2018 he served as chairman of the Republican Study Committee, the largest caucus of conservatives in the Congress. Subsequently, he was elected vice chairman of the House Republican Conference in 2021 and 2022.

Johnson’s conservative principles have been evident in his private life, as well.

In 2015 he founded Freedom Guard, a non-profit legal ministry to defend people and institutions of faith. In this capacity he has successfully represented Answers in Genesis against opposition to the development of its Noah’s Ark theme park, and he defended the sports chaplaincy program at Louisiana State University from attacks that it was unconstitutional.

Meanwhile, in 2022, he and Kelly launched a ministry podcast, “Truth be Told,” which focuses on hot topics and current events from a Christian perspective.

Before going to Congress, he was a Louisiana legislator who pushed pro-life and pro-family bills for one term after a special election in 2015 to fill the vacant 8th district seat.


EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Will Hall and originally published by the Baptist Message.

Share with others:

Facebook
X/Twitter
LinkedIn
Email
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • First person: ‘Lord, get into my head before I do.’
    First person: ‘Lord, get into my head before I do.’
    May 23, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • Churches mobilize to serve tornado-stricken communities
    Churches mobilize to serve tornado-stricken communities
    May 23, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • Study: Nearly 1 in 3 Americans consult astrology, tarot cards or fortune teller
    Study: Nearly 1 in 3 Americans consult astrology, tarot cards or fortune teller
    May 23, 2025/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

First person: ‘Lord, get into my head before I do.’

“Let me tell you something that may not surprise you: my head can be a mess first thing in the morning,” writes Tony Martin, editor of The Baptist Record.

Churches mobilize to serve tornado-stricken communities

Life for Kentuckians in Somerset and London was thrown into chaos after an EF-4 tornado ripped through their communities on May 16, killing 19.

Study: Nearly 1 in 3 Americans consult astrology, tarot cards or fortune teller

With tarot cards showing up on Barnes and Noble shelves, in viral TikToks and in cutesy Jane Austin-themed sets, perhaps it’s no surprise that 30% of U.S. adults consult a fortune teller, tarot cards or astrology on a yearly basis.

Jack Graham picked to serve on Trump’s new Religious Liberty Commission

President Donald Trump has appointed Jack Graham, senior pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas, to the advisory board of the newly established Religious Liberty Commission.

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2025 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

About

  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church
  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church

Explore

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news

Subscribe

  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel