By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer COLFAX, La. (LBM) – On his most recent birthday, World War II veteran Willis Prather celebrated a century of memories, with special appreciation for his time of service to the country. The 100-year-old Prather was a member of the famed 82nd Airborne Division. As he scanned the crowd during the Sept. 22 party at the Bethel Baptist Church in Colfax, he was speechless while remembering those who served with him overseas and those who were waiting for him when he returned home. “It was just a time when we had to be very, very, very thankful,” Prather, who accepted Christ when he was eight, told the Baptist Message. “I knew the good Lord had to be there taking care of His people. He wasn’t visible, but in your heart you knew He was there right beside you in each battle. I prayed and talked to Him many times, and thanked Him for the day He brought me home.” Prather joined the 82nd Airborne Division in 1943 as a 23-year-old from Eunice, and was assigned to a field artillery regiment at Fort Sill in Lawton, Oklahoma. From there, he traveled to several states and countries until he reached Normandy, France, on D-Day, June 6, 1944 -- when Allied forces invaded northern France by … [Read more...]
West Point grad ‘promotes’ from military to ministry
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – Jeff Vincent was running from the call to pastor after he completed his tour of duty with the Army in 2010, but a burden to see his community reached with the Gospel prompted him to reverse course and plant Hope Church in Baton Rouge six years later. Vincent’s obedience has allowed him to see the church grow from just a handful in 2016 to more than 50 in early October. “We planted Hope Church at a moment in our lives when we really needed hope,” Vincent told the Baptist Message. “We were recovering from some pretty serious hurt and disappointment, and struggled and wrestled with God because we thought we had hit a dead end. After some serious prayer and investment into our healing by other leaders, we realized that this pain had a purpose and there are no dead ends when living on mission for Jesus.” Vincent was raised near Jennings in an impoverished family closely tied to the biker culture. His desire was to flee the situation one day, and the only way out was through the military. After graduating from the United States Military Academy, also known as West Point, injuries abruptly ended his military career. Vincent then moved with his wife, … [Read more...]
How your toothbrush can help you pray for your friends
Pringles ups Thanksgiving turkey-flavored snack game with Turducken stackable chips
Florida could require engaged couples to read ‘healthy marriage’ guide
American Girl catalog features model with Down syndrome
Patiently wait on the Lord
Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. - Psalm 27:14 By Stewart Holloway PINEVILLE, La. - Do you ever get tired of waiting? I do. I’m especially not a fan of waiting rooms. If my appointment was at 8:00, why am I still sitting in the waiting room at 8:27 and don’t see the doctor until 8:45? Waiting bothers most of us. Traffic. Drive thru lanes. Check-out lines. Anticipation of big events. We don’t want to wait. We especially don’t want to wait on God. Unfortunately, it seems God makes us wait more than any doctor’s office. We think surely that the God of the universe - the One who created and sustains all there is - could answer, provide, or direct quickly, even instantaneously. But He seldom does. Often (usually!) He allows us to wait. Why is that? Sometimes it’s to let us realize that what we are waiting for is not really what we need. Other times, God makes us wait to prepare us for what He will do. At still other times, God makes us wait to help us be even more grateful when He does answer. And sometimes God allows us to wait simply to help us grow in our faith and patience. At our church's business leader luncheon on Monday, John … [Read more...]
LC, ETBU to team up to bless needy Pineville residents
By Message Staff PINEVILLE – Louisiana College and East Texas Baptist University will use their annual rivalry game to come together and help needy individuals in central Louisiana. Fans of both schools that bring canned goods to Wildcat Field Nov. 16 will be granted free admission to the LC-ETBU football game. Items will be donated to restock LC’s Blessing Box, which was created earlier this year by Brewer’s wife, Cathy. The box, located at the school’s main entrance, is filled with canned goods and non-perishable items for needy individuals to take, and are routinely restocked with items donated by students, faculty and community members. “I am grateful for Dr. Blair Blackburn, president of ETBU, who shares the same passion for extending the love of Christ to others who may be at a place economically where the basic needs for nutrition are not easily met,” Brewer told the Baptist Message. “The Blessing Box ministry will continue to flourish as a local service given the support fans who attend this football game provide.” Blackburn said in an e-mail that his school has been promoting the food collection drive at its campus, and ETBU fans are excited about the opportunity to bless individuals in Pineville. “Our … [Read more...]
Truckstop Ministries reaches ‘highways and hedges’
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ANACOCO, La. (LBM)—In the past Bill Blackmon drove his big rig cross-country in pursuit of big hauls and big bucks. But since 1993, after repenting for salvation at Good Hope Baptist Church in Anacoco, he has been driven by the desire to share Jesus among truckers, treating them as a unique people group who need to hear the hope of the Gospel. “I didn’t go to church growing up and the trucker lifestyle was really all I knew,” Blackmon said “The last thing I was thinking about was where I would spend eternity. But when I found Jesus, my purpose changed from hanging out at the bars, during my off time, to spending time with others to share with them the Good News of Jesus. “Truckstop Ministries has given me another tool to share the hope that is found in Jesus with so many people whom I share a common bond with across our country,” he added. Since 2017, Blackmon has served as a chaplain with Truckstop Ministries and has seen hundreds saved at nearly 80 truck stop chapels in 29 states. He is among 600 volunteer chaplains and “missionary” truckers who have a presence at the ministry’s designated truck stop chapel buildings. According to the group’s website, the Jackson, … [Read more...]
Guidelines for making a motion at the LBC 2019 Annual Meeting
ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – It is important to remember that motions may only deal with one topic at a time. When making a motion, you should be as brief as possible and always begin with the phrase “I move that...” If you are making a subsidiary motion (one that deals with a motion already on the floor), it must be relevant to the motion currently under consideration and not be a motion that is the same or substantially similar to one already dealt with by this convention. If your motion is a privileged motion, it must not be dilatory (unnecessary or made only to delay the conduct of business). If your motion seeks to amend the Louisiana Baptist Convention Articles of Incorporation or Louisiana Baptist Convention Bylaws, please review these documents in advance for special rules regarding the process of amendment prior to offering your motion. A copy of the LBC Articles of Incorporation and LBC Bylaws are found in your Book of Reports. Important steps in wording your motion: A motion should direct that the Convention take some sort of action or refrain from taking some action. Include only the action you want to see taken in your motion. Do not include supporting reasons for adopting your motion in the motion … [Read more...]
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