By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer SHREVEPORT, La. (LMB) – Summer Grove Baptist Church recently celebrated the last payment on $12 million debt that was previously owed for its 900,000-square-foot facility. Members of the church, who purchased a vacant Shreveport shopping mall in 2003 and relocated there a year later, rejoiced during a unique Nov. 26 note-burning service that featured encouraging remarks by Pastor Heath Peloquin, Pastor Emeritus Wayne DuBose, Pastor Emeritus Billy Crosby and former Senior Pastor Aaron Burgner. Prayers were led by Northwest Baptist Associational Missions Strategist Lane Moore and former church member Ronnie Smith, and there was a substantial celebratory atmosphere. “I’m so proud of our people because they never stopped giving and never gave up,” Peloquin told the Baptist Message. “This has given us a renewed sense of why God has brought us here to do our part to reach Shreveport and be that light of Jesus to a lost and dying world that needs it. Now, I believe there will be new ministry opportunities because of retiring our debt, and we will have a renewed sense of being able to help more in areas where we have not been able to in the past.” When Peloquin became pastor in … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer LAFAYETTE, La. (LBM) – A spiritual awakening is gaining momentum among college students and young adults at First Baptist Church, Lafayette. Since 2019, the group has grown from 25 col­lege students and 15 young adults to 100 college students and 50 young adults, with 12 students and three young adults having been baptized since January (compared to none in 2019). Scott English, who serves as the minister to young adults, attributes the growth to an emphasis on evangelism and dis­cipleship. “There are a lot of good quality young people who are being responsive to the Gospel and obedient to the Lord’s calling on their lives,” English told the Baptist Message. “They are embracing the need to share Jesus and be dis­ciples.” GROWING IN CHRIST Each week, the col­lege students and young adults meet separately for Bible study on Sundays and discipleship sessions on Wednesdays. They also meet at other times throughout the week when they sharpen each other further to become fully devoted followers of Christ. The group’s lead­ers gather every Tuesday for prayer and purposeful in-person outreach, and others are invited to join them. Additionally, they share the Gospel on … [Read more...]