By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer COVINGTON – Passing the Christian faith down to the next generation of leaders will be the central focus of next week’s Louisiana Baptist Evangelism Conference, Jan. 28-29, at the First Baptist Church in Covington. “We need to evangelize and disciple the next generation so that we may imprint the need for living for Christ as an important part of their life,” said Keith Manuel, evangelism and church growth director for Louisiana Baptists. “I encourage you to bring a van load of church members who are concerned about passing their faith down to the next generation. Those who attend will be encouraged and equipped when they return home to reach their Jerusalem for Jesus.” The first two sessions on Jan. 28 will feature Fred and Chip Luter, who will share the stage in a rare father-son preaching engagement, and Ed Newton. Fred Luter is pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church, New Orleans, and Chip Luter is pastor of the Sulphur Springs campus of Idlewild Baptist Church in Tampa, Florida. Newton is pastor of the Community Bible Church in San Antonio, Texas. Prior to Newton’s message, students will gather at the church’s youth building for a pizza party and … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer COTTONPORT – Prison ministry was not on Sammy Morrow’s radar when he first received the call in August to consider joining Raymond Laborde Correction Center as a chaplain. Morrow had served as pastor of the Alpine First Baptist Church in Tioga and then the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Pollock, and believed he would continue ministering in this way for the foreseeable future. But Warden Sandy McCain derailed his plans. “I got a call out of the blue asking if I had an interest in becoming the chaplain,” Morrow said. “That wasn’t on my radar. I didn’t even know there was a prison in Cottonport. “My wife, Paula, and I came down together and looked at everything and met with Warden McCain,” he continued. “He said, ‘We aren’t looking at anyone else and are waiting for the Lord to do this through you.’ I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt the Lord was leading me to do this.” Since he started serving as chaplain in September, Morrow has baptized three men inside the prison’s chapel. Every time he baptizes a new believer, the entire congregation of 150-200 men celebrates the chains that have been broken from bondage to sin. “To have these young men come to know the Lord in … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer SULPHUR – Volunteers with an after-school outreach are finding Jesus saves in the halls of Sulphur’s E.K. Key Elementary School. Since 2016, members of the Houston River Baptist Church in Sulphur have spent their Thursday afternoons serving up snacks, leading small group spiritual discussions and participating in games with 100 third to fifth graders at KiDs Beach Club. Every student who attends receives a Bible and t-shirt, and some even place their trust in Jesus. Four children have accepted Christ since the start of the school year last fall. “It’s very moving to see a child come to trust Jesus,” said Houston River Baptist Pastor Lonnie Gothrup. “We just want children to have an opportunity to see the Gospel lived out and presented. All of our volunteers are laypeople who see an opportunity to love the kids,” he continued. “We are not just going in there with a prayer. We are going to present them with the Gospel. “This is an example of a church investing in the school children spiritually,” he said. “Many parents see that and appreciate it. While we may not see every child come to Christ, we are doing all we can to show His love to kids who may not have any other … [Read more...]