Bert Langley, now director of missions here, never set out to become a pastor. GULF COAST BAPTIST ASSOCIATION – Bert Langley, now director of missions here, never set out to become a pastor. “After I got out of the military in 1964, I came to Lafayette to go to school at USL, now known as the University of Louisiana-Lafayette,” he said. “I first majored in business and then I decided on computer science, because it was an up and coming field.” “But I couldn’t find a peace in either of those fields,” Langley said. “I really didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life.” God did, however. “God began dealing with my heart,” Langley said. “Before long, I came to the decision He wanted me to serve him from the pulpit, so I found myself at the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. “Still, I really had no clear idea of what I would be doing … serving in an area of the ministry or working with churches,” he said, reflecting back on his indecision. “I believe God truly has a sense of humor and he must chuckle when he looks back on how he uses us. He really must have chuckled in my case.” Three years later (1978), Langley graduated with a Masters of Divinity, but decided not to pursue any more courses, as his … [Read more...]

Cliff and Betty Rogers were selected by their peers as Cottage Parents of the Year for 2006 at the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home. Cliff and Betty Rogers were selected by their peers as Cottage Parents of the Year for 2006 at the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home. The couple received the prestigious award at the annual staff recognition banquet held on the Children’s Home Campus. The Rogers, who are cottage parents in Rucker Cottage (the independent living cottage), have served the Children’s Home for six years. They have a son, daughter and four grandchildren who reside in Houston, Texas. “They are extra–mile Christians,” said Tommy Frost, LBCH Director of Cottage Life. “No matter what job I give them they always do more and they are always looking for ways to give extra to people who are in need, be it child, staff, or stranger,” he added. “They are willing in their work and glad in their giving.” The couple attends North Monroe Baptist Church with their cottage family. Executive Director Perry Hancock stands with them. … [Read more...]

LAFAYETTE – Nationally-known family humorist Charles Petty is to speak at 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 16 at First Baptist Lafayette. Steve Horn is pastor. DENHAM SPRINGS – Eastern Louisiana Baptist Association plans a ministers conference for 10 a.m., Monday, Sept. 10 at First Baptist Denham Springs. David E. Brown is director of missions. WALKER – Walker Baptist invites all men to attend their Men’s Ministry Day, Retooled for Jesus, at 7:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 8. Featured speakers to be Marty Haggard, Richard Blue, Jerry Carpenter, Steve Adcox and Richard Wales. The registration fee is $20 which includes a light breakfast and lunch. Child care is available. Richard Blue is pastor. LORANGER – Living Waters Baptist Assembly is the site for a Spa Day Get Away set for 9 a.m. through 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15. Praise and worship, dramas, Bible study, Suds Hands Pampering and spa treatments are on the schedule of activities. The cost is $12 per person or $10 per person with groups of 8 or more. Registration deadline is Sept. 12. NEW ORLEANS – Ridgecrest on the River is planned for 9 a.m. through 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8 at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. The theme is Embracing Excellence. ALEXANDRIA … [Read more...]

COMINGS, GOINGS Craig Forque new as minister of music and associate pastor at First Baptist Leesville coming from Colyell Baptist Livingston as minister of music and youth. Milton Pray resigned as pastor of Peniel Baptist West Monroe. Michael B. Raymond new as pastor of Shiloh Christian  Fellowship New Orleans. NEEDED Magnolia Baptist Holden seeks a full-time pastor. First Baptist Bastrop seeks a full-time youth minister. Forest Hill Baptist seeks a bivocational minister of music. Rob McLane is pastor. Colyell Baptist seeks an interim youth minister. Bill Holifield is pastor. Riverside Baptist Denham Springs seeks groundskeeper. ASSOCIATIONAL ANNUAL MEETINGS PLEASANT HILL – Spring Ridge Baptist is to host the North Sabine Association annual meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 18. Jim Townsend is the moderator; Buster Jordon will preach the annual sermon. RINGGOLD – Springhill Baptist is to host the Red River Association annual meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20. Billy Davis is the moderator, Gary Hahler, host pastor, will  preach the annual sermon. NATCHITOCHES – Trinity Baptist is to host the Natchitoches Association annual meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 25. Craig Beeman is the … [Read more...]

A tent, a carport, an old, deserted nightclub. Bobby Hodnett has used them all to spread God’s word in St. Mary’s Parish for the last 40 years. CHARENTON – A tent, a carport, an old, deserted nightclub. Bobby Hodnett has used them all to spread God’s word in St. Mary’s Parish for the last 40 years.  “When I came here in 1970 as a missionary, it was to revive the work that had been started in 1937, but had gone dead,” said Hodnett, the pastor of Little Pass Baptist Church in Charenton. “My first service was in a tent on the guide protection levee that separates the Atchafalaya Basin from the city. “As I recall, it was rather warm and we had more kids than adults in the beginning. I believe we eventually ended up with close to 52 adults before the year was out, ” he said. “We’ve been growing every since. “In 1973, there was a tremendous amount of high water throughout the state, and the Corps of Engineers told us we had to leave,” he said. “So, we found this old abandoned nightclub, cleaned it up, and began to hold services there,” said Hodnett. “I think I even had services in a carport at one time. We decided to have a Bible school and we held that in the city park in nearby Franklin.” Eventually, 1974, he turned … [Read more...]

Two prominent Southern Baptists expressed thankfulness Aug. 28 that the Taliban apparently will release 19 South Korean Christian hostages, but dismay that as part of the deal the South Korean government will ban Christian missionary work in Afghanistan.  NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) – Two prominent Southern Baptists expressed thankfulness Aug. 28 that the Taliban apparently will release 19 South Korean Christian hostages, but dismay that as part of the deal the South Korean government will ban Christian missionary work in Afghanistan. The 19 hostages from Saemmul Presbyterian Church just outside of Seoul were kidnapped July 19 when armed Taliban gunmen stopped their bus as it traveled on a road to Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan. The party actually had 23 members at the time, but two later were executed and two were released. The 19 hostages aren’t free yet, though, and other details must be worked out, South Korea presidential spokesman Cheon Ho-seon said, according to various news reports. In return for the hostages’ release, Cheon said, South Korea agreed to keep its promise to pull its troops out of Afghanistan by the end of this year – something it had announced last year – and to ban “missionary work by Korean … [Read more...]

Pastors and lay leaders are learning how -– and why -- to expand Bible-based education at two-day “Christian School 101” workshops sponsored by the Southern Baptist Association of Christian Schools. WINDERMERE, Fla. (BP) – Pastors and lay leaders are learning how -– and why -- to expand Bible-based education at two-day “Christian School 101” workshops sponsored by the Southern Baptist Association of Christian Schools. “Our goal is to help pastors reduce the fear factor in starting a Christian school or home school network in their churches,” said Ed Gamble, executive director of the Florida-based association. “Nationally, we see a rising wave of pastors and lay leaders who feel God is calling them to this endeavor, but obstacles like the lack of how-to knowledge are preventing them from moving ahead.” A “Christian School 101” workshop just finished, but it will be repeated at least three more times at other locations to give participants the basic tools and information they need to plan and start a well-run Christian school. “God has impressed upon us the need to take what looks to some folks like an insurmountable wall and make it look more like a picket fence by teaching them how to start a school and providing them … [Read more...]

Ralph Hodge has a simple goal for LifeWay church relations and consulting: to help churches be healthy and effective. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) – Ralph Hodge has a simple goal for LifeWay church relations and consulting: to help churches be healthy and effective. Simple? Yes. Easy? No. Hodge is director of the newly created church relations and consulting area of LifeWay Christian Resources that will be working closely with churches by strengthening the coordination of services available from the Nashville-based entity of the Southern Baptist Convention. Toward helping churches become healthier and more effective, Hodge said, “One of the toughest issues for a church to face is getting a clear reality of where it is.” In any given church, he noted that the pastor may have one idea of where the church is, the deacons another idea, the missions committee another and the laity yet another. Bringing all these ideas together for a clear picture is crucial. LifeWay church relations and consulting uses a variety of assessment tools and processes to help churches discover their reality. “We offer a church health assessment that also involves a personal interview process,” Hodge said. “We can adapt it and expand it with a … [Read more...]

Prior to 2004, Macedonia Baptist Church’s heart beat almost solely for its members. FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (BP) – Prior to 2004, Macedonia Baptist Church’s heart beat almost solely for its members. “We were a bunch of older folks who pretty much attended church for ourselves,” said Gerald Williams, a member of the Fayetteville, N.C., congregation. “We were self-centered in a lot of our church work.” But three years ago, that all changed when the church underwent an EKG analysis. Not a medical procedure, EKG stands for “Empowering Kingdom Growth: The Heartbeat of God,” a 40-day Bible study by Ken Hemphill, the Southern Baptist Convention’s Empowering Kingdom Growth strategist. “EKG changed our total church outlook. It really got our minds on the future and helped us see that we’re all in a Kingdom process instead of a church process,” Williams said. “We have a totally different outlook at what work is going on not only in our community, but in North Carolina, the U.S. and the world. “It’s got us mission-minded,” he said. “That’s the biggest concept we’ve learned.” Today, the heartbeat of Macedonia Baptist, which averages 71 in Sunday School, shows such vital signs as: n the near-completion of a … [Read more...]

In a law enforcement career that has spanned 35 years, Sheriff William Earl Hilton has let his faith guide him. ALEXANDRIA – In a law enforcement career that has spanned 35 years, Sheriff William Earl Hilton has let his faith guide him. “My faith has always been a big part of my life and my work,” said Hilton, who has served Rapides Parish as sheriff since 1992. “I wonder at times what it would be like if everybody acted like Christians and did what was right? “There would be far less crime,” he said. “And people would be able to get along so much better with their neighbors.” While Hilton grew up in a law enforcement family, his parents, both Southern Baptists, made sure church was an integral part of his life, and taught him Christian values and morals. Some of his fondest memories, as a young boy growing up, centered on activities at Lone Star Baptist Church. “We went to church twice on Sunday and Wednesday evening,” he said. “I sang in the choir, went on wiener roasts, and participated in the cake walks. I always looked forward to going to church.” Throughout his career, he has used the lessons learned from his parents as well as those gained from his church upbringing in his dealings with the public, the … [Read more...]