By Joanne Brechtel, Administrative Editor
SHREVEPORT – Summer Grove Baptist students shared a caring message of hope and love with low-income residents of several Shreveport and Bossier City neighborhoods in partnership with Community Renewal International in March. The volunteers made and delivered gift baskets. They also participated in clean-up projects. The outreach was part of the Disciple Now weekend at the church. Rod Masteller is pastor.
SIMPSON – Several Simpson Baptist members participated in the recent Vernon Baptist Association Oklahoma Mission trip. The group shared through Vacation Bible School and Bible studies at the Yardeka Baptist Church. Fundraising events for the purpose of buying building supplies for the trip included a donation-only gumbo meal. Another fundraiser lunch is planned for Sunday, April 18, for a mission trip to Haiti. Jeremy Blocker is pastor.
HOUMA – Bayou Baptist Association collected “Buckets of Hope for Haiti” during the month of March. Joe Arnold is director of missions.
WINNFIELD – The Rent-A-Kid service project of the First Baptist student ministry is to provide assistance in the areas of yard work, babysitting, furniture moving, etc. for residents of the community during the months of April, May and June. Financial donations will be accepted. Stephen Laughlin is pastor.
MORGAN CITY – First Baptist’s March collection for Operation Christmas Child included hair accessories, combs, bracelets, toothbrushes, soap, washcloths, cups, small stuffed animals, shoe boxes, small cups, pencil sharpeners, erasers, notepads and packs of paper. Nathan Rush is pastor.
RUSTON – Temple Baptist contributed 60 “Buckets of Hope for Haiti” to the project during the month of March and continues to contribute 55 2-pound bags of sugar to the Christian Community Action food bank each month.
The Temple Tech students’ involvement in Miami Mission 2010 during spring break took them to the campuses of Florida International University and the University of Miami. Activities included construction, student/faculty luncheons and presentation of the gospel. Students also collected $600 at a kickball tournament for Haiti Relief. A team visited the Children’s Home with the program director commenting the team “was the most outstanding group of young people that have ever visited the Children’s Home.” They performed tutoring and outdoor activities.
The church is taking groups to Nicaragua in August to do medical missions and has committed to reaching an unreached people group in India which will kickoff in the fall with the first team going over to do church planting. Rick Byargeon is pastor.
SLIDELL – Thompson Road Baptist has chartered with the F.A.I.T.H. Riders Motorcycle Ministry. The purposes of the ministry are worship, evangelism, discipleship, fellowship and ministry. Meetings and outings are planned for 1 p.m. the second Saturday of each month at the church which is located at 59008 Thompson Road. Call 985.649.2791 or visit www.faithriders.com for more information. Randy Boyett is pastor.
BLANCHARD – First Baptist’s World Missions Conference held in March honored missionaries from Central Asia, East Asia, South America and Romania. Missionaries met with children in kindergarten through 5th grade and youth and college students during the Sunday school hour. Items are still needed for a Mission Auction to be held May 7, and may be donated by calling 318.347.7444 or 318.296.4336. A Missions Golf Tournament held recently raised $1,819.86 for the “Women of Romania” Conference to be hosted this summer. Billy Crosby is interim pastor.
MINDEN – First Baptist is providing an opportunity for campers to worship at Lake Claiborne State Park from April through October. Services are to be conducted the third Sunday of each month. Teams are being enlisted to visit campers on Saturday afternoons who will invite them to the 9 a.m. Sunday worship service.
Bath or hand towels for the ladies’ jail ministry are being collected in April. The Missions Fest/Family Fest is offering pre-packaged mission trips to Cincinnati, Ohio and Wichita, Kansas for church members.
A medical mission team participated in a Nicaragua Mission Trip in March.
[img_assist|nid=6313|title=The Pine First Baptist Church ladies group of Franklinton have sewn and provided diapers and blankets for missions.|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=67]FRANKLINTON – Women of Pine First Baptist meet each Tuesday to work on a diaper and blanket project for Zimbabwe, Africa. Since March, 2009, the group has sewn and provided 3,667 diapers and 516 blankets, which have been divided among three of the areas’ missions. The ladies also traveled to Beaumont, Texas, where they learned of the work at the Zimbabwe missions and clinics from Zimbabwe missionaries. They visited a warehouse and delivered a shipment of diapers and blankets, which were sent to the missions. The Pine group is the largest supplier of diapers for the missions. Donations of fabric and supplies for the ministry may be made by calling 985.848.5994; 985.848.5898, 985.848.5416 or 985.515.9001.
ALEXANDRIA – Calvary Baptist is participating in the first of three Central American mission endeavors for the next three years. This year’s project is the construction of a one-room house for a family in Guatemala at a cost of $4,000 for materials. Pennies are to be collected during the Vacation Bible School Girls vs. Boys Penny Contest in June.
International mission trips to Guatemala are set for June 19-26 and October 16-23. The trips include medical and dental clinics, house construction, greenhouse construction, feeding the homeless, children’s ministry, senior adult ministry, adult and child evangelism.
A Honduras mission trip is set for July 17-24, which includes medical and dental missions, clothes closet, eyeglasses, adult and child evangelism, pharmacy, Vacation Bible School and construction/maintenance work.
Every Sunday school class is being urged to participate in a quarterly local mission effort to do “hands on” mission work at numerous local organizations.
MINDEN – Freedom Bible Study Classes for post-abortion recovery are being offered at the Webster-Bienville Association Missions and Ministry Center hosted by the Northwest Louisiana Pregnancy Care Center during April and May. For information call 318.840.6162 or 318.371.1436.
DERIDDER – First Baptist’s Honduras mission team hosted a garage sale in March.
JENA – First Baptist’s Mission Action Food Pantry is collecting canned green beans during the month of April. Dominick DiCarlo Jr. is pastor.
ALEXANDRIA – Parkview Baptist’s Operation Christmas Child project for March was collecting soap and washcloths. Nicaragua Mission team members of the church are to be in Nicaragua April 11-16 to build a model home. David Shaw is pastor.
HODGE – Hodge Baptist participated in the “Buckets of Hope for Haiti” project by collecting 6 buckets. Norris Curry is pastor.
SHREVEPORT – Kingston Road Baptist is holding a benefit rummage sale for its Romanian ministry 7 a.m. Saturday, April 24. Donations may be made by calling 318.687.9885. Trey Lewis is pastor.
TULLOS – First Baptist’s Operation Christmas Child goal for March was 100 pairs of socks and combs and brushes are being collected in April. The February collection received 115 toothbrushes and 53 toothpaste. Scott Smith is pastor.
HAUGHTON – Two mission projects are underway at First Baptist — 125 hours of prayer and 125 Christian books for Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center. The church completed a collection of 148 buckets of food for the “Buckets of Hope for Haiti” project in March. Gevan Spinney is pastor.
NATCHITOCHES – District Eight Baptist Convention collected 300 “Buckets of Hope for Haiti” and financial gifts of $10,740 that are to be delivered by Baptist churches and missionaries living in Haiti. The value of the buckets was approximately $9,000. Lee Dickson is District Eight Missionary.
RUSTON – Concord Baptist Association reports a collection of 2,615 shoebox gifts, 150 school packs , school supplies, cases of Bibles, donations of blankets, baby quilts, scarves, gloves, used coats, used clothing, used toys and miscellaneous medical supplies for its 2009 Christmas Shoebox Ministry to Native American Reservations in Arizona and New Mexico. There were 39 churches in the association and seven churches outside the association as well as WMU groups, Sunday school classes and numerous individuals that contributed. Additional money was collected to purchase flour, pinto beans, and lard, which was divided between several California churches for their members.
LONGVILLE – Among the fundraisers of First Baptist for its Brazil Mission Trip in July were homemade ice cream, barbecue sandwiches, nachos and a Cut-a-Thon at a local hair salon which raised $23,000 for the 32 trip participants. Stuart Graves is pastor.
LAKE CHARLES – Sale Street Baptist’s Ladies Craft Group made Easter Baskets for a local women’s shelter.
ST. FRANCISVILLE – First Baptist member Matthew Allemond, Louisiana College freshman, is traveling internationally as a “student tourist” in the spring through the Baptist Collegiate Ministries. Church members participated in a recent Bible distribution by donating more than $850 to purchase Bibles. Joe Ratcliff is pastor.
WEST MONROE – Ridge Avenue Baptist continued its Family Promise ministry during the week of Easter to share “new life” with homeless families. David Brown is pastor.
HOUMA – Mulberry Baptist participates in mission projects for Haiti, The Haven, The Good Samaritan Food Bank, the Armed Forces, Spring Creek Missions and a number of others. Some of the items collected for these projects are toiletries, phone cards, chewing gum; diapers, first-aid supplies, sunscreen, eye drops and hand/body lotions. Steve Graves is pastor.
BERNICE – Pisgah Baptist plans “10,000 Touches in 2010” outreach campaign. Jerry Dark is pastor.
LAFAYETTE – Evangeline Baptist Association hosted a western theme mission banquet in March. The mission action project was a collection of women’s sweatshirts and sweatpants, underclothes and flip flops.
PONCHATOULA – First Baptist has set May 29 through June 4 for its Spoken 4 Mexico Mission Trip. Mission Friends learned about Ireland through fun games and activities in March. “Changepoint — seasons of a ladies life” Women’s Ministry Banquet was held in March. The church also participated in the community-wide Gospel Door-Hanger Distribution. Royal Ambassadors have planned a visit to Global Maritime Ministries in New Orleans. They are to deliver men’s jeans, knitted caps, dish towels, detergent, socks, underwear and toiletries to the seamen who visit the ministry. David Cranford is pastor.
BASTROP – First Baptist is participating in the Haiti Relief effort through the Disaster Relief office of the Louisiana Baptist Convention. Jim Ingram is pastor.
NEW IBERIA – Highland Baptist sponsored a Heavenly Fish Dinner in March to support the American Belarussian Relief Organization. David Denton is pastor.
TIOGA – Tioga First Baptist participated in the “Buckets of Hope for Haiti” ministry and served gumbo to students of the BCM at LSU-Alexandria. Tim Hisaw is pastor.
WEST MONROE – Faith Sunday school class of Fair Park Baptist was in charge of administering the “Bucket of Hope for Haiti” project. Waymond Warren is pastor.
ZACHARY – First Baptist participated in the “Buckets of Hope for Haiti” relief effort through cash donations of members with buckets being filled by the WMU. Reggie Bridges is pastor.
LAKE CHARLES – Grace Ministries continued their mission to 80 local third grade students by tutoring and sharing the Gospel.
SHREVEPORT – The LSU-S Baptist Collegiate Ministries held its 2nd annual BCM Rummage Sale for Missions in March. Jamey Droddy is BCM director.
NATCHITOCHES – Westside Baptist has monthly collections for Operation Christmas Child. Beads were collected during the month of March. Bill Hudson is pastor.
DENHAM SPRINGS – Hebron Baptist made scholarships available to church members wanting to participate in its upcoming July Nicaragua Mission trip. Those applying for the scholarships were required to write an essay and submit them to the Missions Committee in early April. Joe Alain is pastor.
LAFAYETTE – Evangeline Baptist Association is sponsoring a mission opportunity in El Salvador July 7-16. For information, call 337.237.6956. Bert Langley is director of missions.
LAFAYETTE – Baptist Collegiate Ministries of University of Louisiana recently sponsored a crawfish boil to help fund BCM Summer Missionaries.
ZWOLLE – First Baptist provides bags of groceries for the local House of Hope ministry and snacks for Wednesday night worship services at the BCM of NSU Brett Campbell is pastor.
RUSTON – Cook Baptist is celebrating Missions Mania and recently completed a youth/adult spring break trip to Lisemby’s Psalms Camp in Arkansas. Other upcoming trips are the Navajo Reservation, Sanostee, New Mexico at Mesa Baptist Church in June. The team is to conduct men’s and women’s conferences, distribute fliers for VBS and a new church start in Shiprock, New Mexico. They are to conduct Vacation Bible School as well. A July missions opportunity is Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada.
Children in Action recently sorted through hundreds of canned goods for a local food bank and were given “gold” medals for being zealous champions for God.
RUSTON – Baptist Collegiate Ministries of Louisiana Tech students were involved in mission trips to Miami, Fla., Mobile, Ala., Memphis, Tenn., and Nashville, Tenn. Kevin Inman is director.
BERNICE – Pisgah Baptist is offering an upcoming mission trip to Montegut Baptist in Houma, La. June 20-25 where the team is to conduct Vacation Bible School. Jerry Dark is pastor.
HOUMA – Two high school teams of First Baptist participated in Mission Arlington in late March and early April. Steve Folmar is pastor.
MINDEN – Master’s Church Builders from Bienville and Webster-Claiborne Associations are to be the lead construction team for the Wichita Community Church, Anadarko, Oklahoma that serves the Wichita Indian Nation. The 100-plus year old church was destroyed by a tornado last year. The building project is to begin May 31. An 80-person team is to be divided into smaller teams responsible for building, cooking, revival and VBS. Volunteers are still needed. Ron Flurry of New Ebenezer Baptist, Castor is the Master’s Church Builders Team Coordinator and may be contacted at 318.583.0338 or email flurry@gmail.com.
HOMER – First Baptist participated in the “Bucket of Hope for Haiti” mission project. James Simeon is pastor.
DEVILLE – Longview Baptist started The Helping Hands Shop which accepts gently used clothes for adults and children. All proceeds are to fund the school uniform program. A Bible is to be placed in each bag of clothes given. A garage sale/bake sale fundraiser was held for the July Brazil Mission Trip. Robbie Poole is pastor.
JACKSON – First Baptist participated in the “Buckets of Hope for Haiti” mission project with assistance from the WMU. Joe Nesom is pastor.
KINGSVILLE – Members of Kingsville Baptist are to participate in mission trips to Canada in June and Ecuador in July. Bart Walker is pastor.
DEQUINCY – The youth of First Baptist sent an offering to aid the Haiti relief effort and adopted a child through Compassion International.
BOGALUSA – Youth of First Baptist spent a week doing mission work in New York City in March. Also, two church members served in Haiti with the Louisiana Baptist Convention Disaster Relief Team. Bob Adams is pastor.
OAK GROVE – First Baptist contributed funds for Mission to Alaska with the Baptist Collegiate Ministries at Tulane University. The team is to work in Anchorage at Calvary Baptist and a food bank as well as lead in worship and witnessing in a nearby bush village. Carl Gulde is pastor.
WINNFIELD – A student missionary trip of First Baptist is set for July to Scott Lake Baptist Church in Lakeland, Florida. Stephen Laughlin is pastor.
MANY – Toledo Bend Baptist Resort Ministry held its spring workday in March.