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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Funeral arrangements released for Seal

By Baptist Message staff BOGALUSA, La. (LBM) - Funeral arrangements have been released by Nelda Seal, former Louisiana Baptist Woman's Missionary Union director who passed April 28. According to her obituary, Seal's visitation will be held May 1, 9-11 a.m. at First Baptist Church, Bogalusa, with the service afterward. Burial will take place at Bonnie Cemetery in Angie following the service. Janie Wise, who worked with Seal as a member of the Louisiana Baptist missions and ministry team, said she left behind a legacy of training others in furthering the Great Commission and a love of missions. “She took seriously the promotion end of it,” Wise said. “That’s what motivated people to give. And she taught us the same thing.” Wise had fond memories of traveling the state with her and learning new details about churches. “She knew the state upwards and backwards,” she said. “It would always play into the churches we passed. She knew the history of Louisiana missions so well.” She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Henry Lavelle Seal; her parents, Hermon Crotwell, Sr. and Eula Summers Crotwell; siblings Hermon Crotwell Jr., Dalton Crotwell, and Gloria Crotwell Graham. She is survived by her sons, Ryan B. Seal (Tonia) … [Read more...]

Former Louisiana WMU Director Nelda Seal passes

By Baptist Message staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) - Nelda Seal, former director of the Louisiana Baptist Woman’s Missionary Union, passed April 28. She was 91. “Ms. Nelda was a Missional force in the state of Louisiana that was felt beyond our borders,” Louisiana Baptist Missions and Ministry Team Director James Jenkins told the Baptist Message. “I believe she will be remembered among those who were just below Georgia Barnette in women missions and ministry. I was personally influenced and enjoyed my time of working with her to make Christ known in our state.” Louisiana Baptist Women’s Missions and Ministry Strategist Christine Gill echoed the thought. “We mourn the passing of Nelda Seal, a strong WMU leader and devoted champion of missions,” she said. “Her legacy of faith, compassion, and unwavering dedication to the Great Commission will continue to inspire all who follow in her footsteps.” Seal served as the state WMU director from November 1986-June 1995. She also was interim director of the state WMU from August 1998-June 2001. Arrangements are pending. … [Read more...]

Hisaw retires after 20 years at Tioga FBC

By Baptist Message staff TIOGA, La. (LBM) – Friends, family and members of Tioga First Baptist Church gathered April 27 to honor long-time Pastor Tim Hisaw, who is retiring April 30. Born in Jackson, Miss., and spending his grade school years in Huntsville, Ala., Hisaw’s spiritual journey began in 1972, when he accepted Christ and was baptized at Whitesburg Baptist Church.  But it was during a move to Lafayette -- shortly before he began high school – he began pursuit his calling in ministry. Through the discipleship efforts of Lafayette pastors Perry Sanders and Mike Walker and other godly men and women, Hisaw eventually felt called to ministry while a freshman at the University of Southwestern Louisiana (now the University of Louisiana-Lafayette). After earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology from USL and later a master’s degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Hisaw served as youth minister at Bayou View Baptist Church, Gulfport, Miss. (86-89), First Baptist Church, Mansfield (89-92), Highland Baptist Church, New Iberia (92-99), The Bayou Church, Lafayette (99-2001) and Tioga FBC on May 15, 2005. He later became pastor on Jan. 11, 2009. “During my time as pastor, the church has loved Jesus, my … [Read more...]

The bittersweet moments of college ministry

By Michael Aguillard “And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’” - Romans 10:15 BATON ROUGE, La. – I am four years into my role as the Baptist Collegiate Ministry director with Southern University. The typical four-year degree plan made last spring a bittersweet time in our ministry. It was bitter because a good crop of students, who had been involved with our ministry, graduated. They were not students who simply attended our meetings and added to our numbers. They were leaders. They planned outreaches, on and off campus. They fervently shared their faith. They led small groups and even led our large group gathering when I fell ill once. After spending the past four years pouring into them, watching them grow, and watching them serve the Lord, it was a bitter moment to see them go. But it also was a sweet moment. One thing that has been reinforced within me is the fact that college ministry is not an end, in and of itself. Our goal as Baptist Collegiate Ministry directors is not just to reach our campuses. Our goal is to meet students at a critical stage of their lives, teach them to follow Jesus, and equip them to serve the … [Read more...]

LCU alumna attorney
doing Lord’s work in Grant Parish

By Elizabeth Clarke, LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) - The adage “The Lord works in mysterious ways” is definitely true for Louisiana Christian University alumna Bonita Preuett Armour. What started as a desire to remain young and healthy has become a growing ministry in Grant Parish. “It’s not about me; this is the Lord’s place,” Armour said. “This campus is a ministry for the Lord. I’m just His hands and His feet. He does it all.” Armour, a native of Grant Parish, is a 1989 pre-law and history LC graduate, attended LSU Law School, and has been a successful practicing attorney in Central Louisiana for decades. She has recently turned the former Dry Prong Junior High School into a thriving location for fitness, a community garden, her law office and a pizza restaurant—and more is in the planning. The school had been in operation until 2011 before it was auctioned off. The owner, James Crooks, listed the gymnasium for sale on Facebook in 2018. So, when Armour saw the gym at the old school campus (where she had attended as a child in 1978) up for sale, she felt like the Lord was telling her something. “I had started B22 in my garage in 2012, and we had outgrown my garage and backyard,” she said. “I called … [Read more...]