By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer FOLSOM – Addison Hill steps up onto the quarter horse, glowing with excitement. Moments later, the 11 year old rounds the pin inside the Good Guys Farm arena. A girl of few words, this first-time horse rider communicates the feelings of the other 15 youth present on a humid summer evening in south Louisiana. “It’s fun and different,” Hill said. “I don’t have a horse myself and finally get to ride one, so I’m pretty excited.” Fifteen minutes later, the horse riding stops momentarily while Pastor Louis Husser brings a message, not only about the horse, but the hope of Jesus Christ. Riding his team roping/heel horse, Husser brings a 20-minute ‘Sermon on the Mount,’ mixing stories about the relationship of trust and voice command he has with his horse with sharing details about how to have a relationship with Christ. “We’ve built a relationship where I expect him to recognize my voice,” Husser tells a crowd of 55. “I’m going to be patient with him so he’ll hear my voice. “How you hear from God is very simple,” he continues. “God will speak to us through His word, through the Bible. If we listen, God’s word will tell how to have a relationship with Him.” This is the fourth time this … [Read more...]
Fred Lowery headlines 2015 E4 Preaching Conference
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE – A former president of both the Louisiana Baptist Convention and Southern Baptist Convention Pastors’ Conference is the keynote speaker for the seventh annual E4 Preaching Conference. Fred Lowery, who is pastor emeritus of First Baptist Church in Bossier City, will bring messages during three sessions of the conference Sept. 18 at First Baptist Church Pineville. In addition to Lowery’s messages and music by the First Baptist Pineville praise team, the conference will also feature breakout sessions on such topics as Preaching Jude, Preaching the Story of David and Goliath, and Three Essentials for Effective Ministry. Professors from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary will lead the breakout sessions. Those attending the conference will have the opportunity to win numerous giveaways, valued at a total of $5,000, thanks to the North American Mission Board, LifeWay, and friends of the E4 Conference. Logos Bible software will also be on hand to present information about their software that helps pastors in preparation for sermons. The E4 Conference began in 2009 with a vision to exemplify, encourage, equip and empower our … [Read more...]
Brazil mission trip sees 3,500 accept Christ as their Savior
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer MANAUS, Brazil – Even a battle with cancer could not keep Wayne Jenkins from helping lead his 31st consecutive mission trip to Brazil. “I’ve been doing this 31 years and I couldn’t see me not going,” Jenkins said. Jenkins, who serves as evangelism and church growth director for Louisiana Baptists, was among 162 men and women who were on mission in Manaus, Brazil, as part of the Louisiana Baptist-led evangelism outreach in the country. While there, the teams participated in street evangelism, puppets, Vacation Bible Schools, drama, sports clinics, construction of churches, BMX demonstrations and medical, dental and eye clinics. The majority of those ministering in Brazil were from Louisiana, though a handful came from Canada and states including Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas and Utah. By the end of the group’s mission trip, 3,500 people accepted Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. Among those who went on the trip was Brad Bennett, who led the BMX and gospel presentations. Bennett is president and founder of Real Encounter Ministry of Springfield, Mo. “We counted it a blessing to be able to work with the Louisiana Baptist Convention on the mission trip to … [Read more...]
Kelly takes over as Gulf Coast Baptist Association bi-vo DOM
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer MORGAN CITY – A Morgan City pastor has begun serving as bi-vocational director of missions for Gulf Coast Baptist Association. An association of 15 churches primarily in St. Mary Parish, Gulf Coast Baptist Association previously shared with a director of missions with Evangeline Baptist Association. Steven Kelly assumed his role as director of missions on Aug. 1. Bert Langley, who has retired as director of missions for Evangeline Association, but is remaining as interim, approached Kelly with the idea a few months ago and the churches in Gulf Coast Baptist Association agreed the timing was right to make the move. “Before, we shared a director of missions with an area much larger than our own,” said Kelly, who is pastor of Bayou Vista Baptist Church, where the new associational office will be located. “Bi-vocationally I can give it the same attention a new director of missions would do. For our churches, we now have our own identity.” Kelly will continue to serve full time as pastor and will work one day a week as director of missions. While his role as pastor will prevent him from serving as an interim pastor at other churches on Sundays, Kelly plans to meet with pastors during … [Read more...]
To our readers there is Good News in Louisiana!
By Dr. Will Hall, Editor ALEXANDRIA – Great reports are coming in about the impact of the Good News across Louisiana. Baptist Message readers might have made note of George Warshaw in our last edition. He became a babe in Christ in July at the age of 101 years old! Warshaw has been a faithful attender for many years at Calvary Baptist Church in Alexandria, and his wife Lou had been faithfully praying for his salvation since they married in 1991. Other churches, large and small, have shared great reports about the power of the Good News working in their communities as well. Pisgah Baptist in Forest Hill, which has about 70 worshippers Sunday mornings, reported baptizing 10 new believers this summer, 12 for the year (a marked increase over the 4 baptisms it averaged per year for the last decade or so). Likewise, First Bossier reported baptizing 22 born again disciples July 19, including 17 at Splash Kingdom, and has baptized 171 converts total through the first week of August. Meanwhile, Celebration Church in New Orleans baptized 92 during its “All In” weekend in July, bringing their total to 384 baptisms for the year and keeping them on pace to meet their goal of 520 baptisms by the end of the 2015. Louisiana Baptists’ … [Read more...]
Family Serve weekend a unique chance for parents, children to serve together
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer LAKE CHARLES – Parents and children will have the opportunity to serve alongside one another during the upcoming Family Serve weekend in Lake Charles. Scheduled for Sept. 25-26, Family Serve will encourage families to be on mission through a variety of local ministries in the city. The weekend begins on Sept. 25 at 5:30 pm, with a dinner, opening worship and mission team social at First Baptist Church in Lake Charles. The following day, families will eat breakfast and worship together before heading out to work at mission sites. Mission opportunities on Sept. 26 include sharing the gospel at block parties, prayer walking in neighborhoods, operating free wellness checks at a block party and assisting church plants with outreach. The Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home will have its Mobile Pregnancy Care Center stationed at Mt. Pilgrim Baptist Church to offer free ultrasound and pregnancy testing. Family Serve weekend will conclude with a worship celebration, led by Jeff Slaughter who wrote songs for LifeWay Christian Resources’ Vacation Bible School for 16 years. The $40 registration cost per person includes program fee, three meals, church lodging, t-shirt and funds for local … [Read more...]
American Sniper’s widow to share testimony Aug. 30 at First Bossier
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer BOSSIER CITY – The widow of American Sniper Chris Kyle will share her testimony during two worship services at First Baptist Bossier City on Aug. 30. Taya Kyle will share about her husband’s commitment to fighting for his country and the impact his Christian faith had on him. Throughout his book that became a New York Times bestseller, Chris Kyle mentions numerous times of his reliance on Christ. Known as the most lethal sniper in US military history with more than 160 kills, Kyle was honorably discharged in 2009. He died in 2013 while visiting a shooting range with a friend when another man, Eddie Ray Routh, allegedly killed the two men. His story was made into the movie “American Sniper” and was released in 2014. She will speak during the 9:15 and 10:45 am worship services as part of the church’s “Honor Our Heroes Sunday.” Active military, police, firemen and first responders will be honored during the services and at a breakfast reception at 8:15 am and lunch at 12 pm. Brad Jurkovich, pastor of First Bossier, said the day allows his church to actively serve those who protect them. “We need to encourage these families as much as possible,” Jurkovich said. “They all are on the … [Read more...]
Long-term investors should focus on objectives during market volatility
By Timothy Head, GuideStone Financial Resources DALLAS — Monday’s stock market drop, on the heels of disappointing performance over the last few days, led to headlines and some investor concerns, but long-term investors should continue to consider their objectives and time horizons. David S. Spika, global investment strategist at GuideStone Capital Management, LLC, offered a commentary posted on GuideStone’s website explaining the nature of current volatility, as well as offered perspective on the current market. “As volatility rises, the best course of action is to ensure you invest with active managers who possess a strong track record, stay focused on the long term, and remain well diversified,” Spika wrote, likening market volatility to a roller coaster. Many observers have expected some level of correction to occur at some point given that markets had been on a long-term growth pattern since the market trough in 2009. The S&P 500 Index®, spurred on by quantitative easing and a near-zero Fed Funds rate, had gained more than 200% since 2009 and has not had a 10% or greater correction in more than three years, Spika observed. Active management firms, like GuideStone, are thought by many to be better suited for … [Read more...]
Janet Huckabee to visit Louisiana College
By Norm Miller, Louisiana College communications PINEVILLE, La. (LCNews) - Mrs. Janet Huckabee, wife of presidential hopeful Governor Mike Huckabee, will visit Louisiana College Aug. 26 for an hour-long open forum. Mrs. Huckabee will arrive at approximately 11 a.m. and will address the public shortly thereafter in the Granberry Conference Center. She will entertain questions from the media following her public comments. Pastors are cordially invited to attend as honored guests with reserved seating. At the close of Mrs. Huckabee’s remarks there will be a time for prayer. Pastors and/or church groups planning to attend should notify Louisiana College via the contact info above. This event is free and open to the public. … [Read more...]
Chick-fil-A blocked from Denver airport for now
By David Roach, Baptist Press DENVER (BP) - A committee of the Denver City Council has stalled what was expected to be routine approval of a Chick-fil-A restaurant at the Denver International Airport after at least four council members expressed disapproval of the company's alleged opposition to same-sex marriage. During an Aug. 18 hearing, council member Robin Kniech said she was concerned about a local franchise generating "corporate profits used to fund and fuel discrimination," The Denver Post reported. Councilman Paul Lopez compared the pro-family stances of some Chick-fil-A leaders to presidential candidate Donald Trump's comments about immigration and other issues, calling opposition to the airport restaurant "really, truly a moral issue." The council's Business Development Committee will take up the matter again at its Sept. 1 meeting. At issue is whether to approve a seven-year lease for a Chick-fil-A that would be operated by a 60-40 partnership involving Atlanta-based Concessions International and Denver's Delarosa Restaurant Concepts. Chick-fil-A would receive 7 percent of the restaurant's profits, according to The Post. If the committee rejects the lease, an individual member could still introduce the matter … [Read more...]
