By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Organizers and participants of the recent Youth Evangelism Celebration praised God for the 830 students who made decisions for Christ, Nov. 20-21, at the Rapides Parish Coliseum in Alexandria. They also were grateful to Him for the estimated 5,300 teens who attended YEC (the largest annual gathering of Louisiana Baptists). Both numbers were significant increases  compared to last year’s event, which drew a crowd of 4,500  and facilitated 719 decisions for Christ. "It is incredibly powerful to see more than 5000 students join in worship and engage with God's Word,” Louisiana Baptist Youth Strategist Brandon Lewis told the Baptist Message. “But to see them respond, whether they were accepting God's free gift of salvation or expressing a call to ministry, is evidence of their desire to know Him, to follow Him and to tell others about Him." YEC challenged the Louisiana Baptist youth to share their story of how Christ changed their lives through messages by Shane Pruitt, National Next Gen Evangelism Director for the North American Mission Board. During all four sessions, students were offered a chance to step forward and declare a decision for … [Read more...]

By Philip Timothy, Baptist Message managing editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – John Hebert has always been a team player -- first as a standout basketball player for Rapides High School in Lecompte, where he was named Most Valuable Player at the 1973 “Top 20” state tournament, to the present day. But after years of shunning individual attention, his record of service and personal achievement is in the spotlight after he announced his retirement date of December 31, 2022. Hebert shared his intention, Nov. 2, to end his 23 years of official service to Louisiana Baptists, the last 11 as team director of the LBC Missions and Ministry team. “It has been quite a ride,” Hebert told the Baptist Message. “I just feel it is the right time.” He joined the Louisiana Baptist staff on Oct. 18, 1999, working in the New Work Division/Department under Mike Canady. “It was basically compassion ministry,” Hebert said. But he would be challenged six years later when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in August 2005 and the storm surge breeched the levees in two places, ravaging the Lower Ninth Ward with catastrophic flooding. A month later Hurricane Rita slammed into the state. Reeling from the double whammy, Louisiana Baptists still … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer INDEPENDENCE, La. (LBM) – Two years after seven pastors and other lay leaders in the Independence area began praying for a mighty movement of God to break out, 512 individuals have accepted Christ during extended revival services at Old Zion Hill Baptist Church, according to local reports. Now, leaders of Old Zion Hill Baptist and other area churches say they are bracing for what they believe could be the beginnings of a tremendous spiritual awakening in their communities. “Someone who has been at this church a long time told me they have not seen God move so many before at Old Zion Hill,” Associate Pastor Dave Ketchand told the Baptist Message. “The prayer all along has been that we would see an area-wide movement. This has never been about Old Zion Hill. This has been about God moving in a visible way.” From the very first revival service, Oct. 17, Ketchand said, he noticed a spirit of expectancy among the community. Each night, the pews were packed out in the 550-seat worship center and participants filled the altar as they cried out to God for their need for Him. The Holy Spirit continued to move and church leaders and evangelist D.R. Harrison of Kingsport, Tenn., … [Read more...]

EDITOR’S NOTE: Do you have a Revival, Homecoming, a new pastor, a community outreach or a concert? The Baptist Message would love to share your church news with the rest of the state. It is very easy to do, just send in your information (who, what, where and when) to philip@baptistmessage.com or call 318.449.4345. To get your event in the paper, please submit your information three weeks prior to the event. ON THE MOVE John Hebert, Louisiana Baptist team leader for Mission & Ministry, will retire effective December 31, 2022. Steven Kelly is new Associational Missions Strategist (DOM) for the Northeast Louisiana and Morehouse Baptist Association. He is resigning as DOM for Gulf Coast Baptist Association and as pastor of Bayou Vista Baptist Church, Morgan City. Ronny, wife Kathy, Cooksey is the new pastor at Mandeville First Baptist Church. Ferran, wife Lynda, Bertrand is the new Associational Missions Strategist for Mt. Olive Baptist Association. Russell Hinson retiring from Holden Baptist Church, Holden at the end of the year. Pastor Mitch, wife Lily, Williams was recently honored by First Baptist Church, Independence for 30 years of service at FBC, Independence and 61 years in the … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Director Steve Horn encouraged Louisiana Baptists to be “all in” for participation in the 2023 Southern Baptist Convention and related evangelistic events in New Orleans. Speaking to messengers to the 2022 LBC Annual Meeting, Nov. 15, held in the Calvary Baptist Church, Alexandria, Horn explained that the SBC gathering was originally scheduled to take place in Greensboro, North Carolina. However, the SBC Executive Committee, in April, voted to change the location to New Orleans, which has the meeting space to accommodate the large crowd that now is expected. “By the providential hand of God, the annual meeting of Southern Baptists has been adjusted to come to our state in 2023,” Horn said. “I don’t believe anything is by accident. Let’s believe that the reason that the SBC annual meeting has been moved to New Orleans is to have maximum Gospel impact in New Orleans and the entire region surrounding New Orleans.” Horn encouraged Louisiana Baptists to participate in Crossover, a large-scale evangelistic effort held before the SBC Annual Meeting, and the North American Mission Board SERVE Tour, an effort that … [Read more...]