By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptists Children and Youth Education Strategist Jess Archer has been named the new executive director and treasurer for the South Carolina Baptist Convention Woman’s Missionary Union. Archer will join the staff Oct. 24 and will assume her new role Jan. 1, 2023. She will follow Laurie Register, who retires Dec. 31 after serving South Carolina’s WMU for more than 29 years (including 14 of those as executive director-treasurer). “I am eternally grateful to the Lord for calling me by name to this new position,” Archer told the Baptist Message. “And I am ready to see what God has in store for South Carolina Woman’s Missionary Union.” A graduate of Nicholls State University in Thibodaux and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Archer has spent the last eight-and-a-half years helping women and young people develop a deeper passion for missions. During her time with Louisiana Baptists, Archer has served on the Women’s Missions and Ministry team as a catalyst to develop and encourage mission’s education through WMU for preschool, children and youth in the state’s Baptist churches. She also has trained countless leaders of all ages in … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff LAFAYETTE, La. (LBM) - Pastor John Fream said Cypress Baptist Church has several “non-negotiable” practices they use in their mission to reach Benton and beyond for Jesus Christ. Fream, during the ReGroup Sunday school training conference at First Baptist Church, Lafayette, Aug. 6, said his members at Cypress Baptist preach and live out the Word of God, are soul winners, follow the Great Commandment and use Sunday school, worship and big events to draw others to Christ. Fream was the keynote speaker for ReGroup that focused on strengthening discipleship efforts. The conference included breakout sessions for pastors/staff/key leaders; preschool/children, youth and adult leaders. ReGroup focuses on four areas – sharing the Gospel, developing biblical community, helping believers mature spiritually, and equipping believers to live missionally, with special emphasis on maximizing Gospel impact. Since he became pastor 14 years ago, Fream has seen Cypress Baptist grow from 450 in Sunday worship to 2,600 and baptize new converts each Sunday (including 173 since January). Fream said he reminds his members they are on mission to share the Gospel wherever they go. “Life’s too short,” he said. “The … [Read more...]