By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer KENTWOOD, La. (LBM) – Evangelist Steve Paysen was on the Northshore for another assignment when he felt prompted to contact Spring Creek Baptist Church about a last-minute speaking engagement for March 23. Fewer than 24 hours later, the Holy Spirit used the Wednesday evening message to bring three teenage boys to make decisions for Christ. “Friends invited their friends to this service,” Paysen told the Baptist Message. “When young people see the fruit of their labor it really helps them catch the vision of evangelism and discipleship. And they become even more excited about sharing Jesus with others.” He encouraged churches to consider holding more evangelistic events on Wednesday nights because of the fruit that is yielded. “You always get a more diverse crowd,” Paysen said. “It’s a one-hour commitment, where you get in and get out. We saw that play out with the three teenagers who made a decision for Christ at Spring Creek Baptist.” Paysen, an evangelist with the P230 Foundation, said he has seen students more open to the Gospel during a mid-week gathering during his 17 years of experience both as a student minister in three churches (two that ranked among the … [Read more...]

By John Marcase, Special to the Baptist Message WINNFIELD, La. -- Cranford Jordan awoke and had no idea where he was located. He did not even know the date, he recounted, explaining how five days on a ventilator impacted him. The Winn Parish sheriff is among the millions of Americans who have contracted COVID-19. He also feels he is one of the fortunate ones. “The experts tell us if you are over 65, overweight, have high blood pressure and are a diabetic, and you get the virus, you are not going to make it,” said Jordan. “Well, here I am. I have all four of them and I’m still here. I’m part of the 13 percent that gets off the vent.” Jordan gave two reasons why he is part of that select 13 percent -- the medical and nursing staff at Rapides Regional Medical Center, and his Lord and Savior. “I’m here today because one, my good Lord,” says Jordan. “Prayers went up for me. And two, God answered the prayers through the nurses and medical staff at Rapides Regional Medical Center.” The irony that Jordan would recover from COVID-19 at the Alexandria hospital was not lost on him. Several years ago, Jordan had to take his sister to the emergency room at Rapides and the experience was not a pleasant one. “I told my … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer HOUMA, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief recently completed a two-week pilot program dedicated to rebuilding homes damaged by Hurricane Ida in Houma. Florida and South Carolina disaster relief volunteers joined Texas Baptist Men to work alongside Louisiana team members, March 24-April 8, on 18 Houma homes. They also repaired the Bayou Baptist Association office (located in Gray) as well as buildings on the campuses of Christ Baptist Church and Couteau Baptist Church (both in Houma). Projects ranged from smaller jobs like replacing fence boards to more complex ones such as drywall installation, electrical line re-wiring and plumbing replacement. Teams were housed at Coteau Baptist Church, and funding for the project was provided by Louisiana, North Carolina and Texas Baptist Men disaster relief ministries. “We have learned during these two weeks what all is involved and chose to do projects of different magnitudes so we could learn what is needed logistically for all projects we would undertake in the future,” Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief Associate and Volunteer Mobilizer Mark Morelock told the Baptist Message. “Once this is over, we can take what we … [Read more...]

By Staff LAFAYETTE, La. – The Bayou Church will demolish a 45-year-old building damaged by Hurricane Delta on April 25 that will make way for expansion of the Church’s existing facilities. According to a news release, the 33,000-sq.-ft. building sustained significant damage to its roof and infrastructure after Hurricane Delta made its way through the Lafayette area in October 2020. Built in 1979, the former skating rink, known as Roller City, has served as a worship and event space since it was purchased by the church in 1986. Senior Pastor Sean Walker said once demolished, the space will allow the church to add onto its current worship center and educational space. With a completion date expected in 2023, the additional space will include a large central lobby, new children’s space, a 250-seat multi-purpose worship venue, a coffee shop, and restrooms. “It’s a bittersweet day as this building has had so much ministry for decades; so many small groups, worship services, gatherings, meetings, people finding community, and so many people led to Christ in this place,” Walker said. “We are thankful for this building, but we’re excited about what the future holds. The demolition is paving the way for something new as we … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer WOODWORTH, La. (LBM) – Doris Perkins, 99, recently paid a visit to the Georgia Barnette Conference Center prayer garden to view, for the first time, a brick that honored her missions-centered legacy. Perkins, the only living charter member of Homewood Baptist Church, Alexandria, shared the moment with family and friends at the garden, which is a large walled terrace made of bricks, each purchased in 2016 to honor individuals and loved ones. The sale of bricks during construction of the GBCC helped offset costs of building the facility. During their April 12 visit to the prayer garden, the group also viewed a brick that honored three other women (Lottie Knox, Essie Raxsdale and Mignon McDonald) who were leaders of the missions ministry of the church. All three women have since passed. Named after Georgia Barnette, the first elected Woman’s Missionary Union executive director/ treasurer in Louisiana, the 8,400-square-foot GBCC is located on the grounds of Tall Timbers Conference Center, Woodworth, and regularly hosts groups for conferences and camps. Though she no longer is active in the church’s WMU chapter, Perkins has remained steadfast in her support of missions. … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – The CENLA Pregnancy Center has seen a flurry of activity during the four months of 2022, from welcoming a new board president to starting construction on a third location in the state. After Brian Gunter resigned as board president in March, Ed Tarpley moved up from his position as vice president. Gunter moved out of the area to serve as the new pastor of the First Baptist Church in Livingston. Tarpley is a member of Kingsville Baptist Church, Ball. Todd St. Romain (a member of St. Paul the Apostolic Catholic Church, Mansura) was elected vice president of the 10-member board and Darryl Stagg (director of missions, CenLa and Big Creek Baptist Associations) was elected the new treasurer. Glen Harrigill (pastor, Riverside Baptist Church, Vidalia) is the representative from Delta Baptist Association, Vidalia, a new position on the board. CENLA Pregnancy Center Executive Director Claire Lemoine expressed appreciation for Gunter, whose vision to start a pregnancy care center in 2014 came to fruition when the doors opened in 2017 at 1254 MacArthur Drive, on the Louisiana Baptist Convention ministry center campus in Alexandria. “We are grateful for the … [Read more...]