Submitted by philip on Fri, 03/06/2015 - 09:34 Lynn Clayton and his wife, Leah, have enjoyed seeing the church grow and reach its community through its ministries which include bread distribution, Trunk or Treat and prayer. By Brian Blackwell. Message Staff Writer DERIDDER – Laughter of 25 little ones fills the room as Pastor Lynn Clayton walks into the children’s building at New Life Baptist Church. Not far away, a group of young adults huddles in a classroom for Bible study, enjoying the lesson and one another’s fellowship. But 12 years ago, the thriving children’s and young adult department were almost non-existent. Clayton had just come on the scene as interim pastor at the church while working as the editor of the Baptist Message. The church was averaging around 28 in Sunday morning attendance in what was at the time a mission of First Baptist Church in DeRidder. Then, God began to move in a mighty way. Within 18 months, they moved from mission status to a self-supporting church with 73 members. By 2008, the church had grown to the point where they needed a new worship center to accommodate what was now an average attendance of 100. Four years later the building was complete and today attendance on a … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 03/06/2015 - 09:36 Perry Hancock By Brian Blackwell. Message Staff Writer MONROE – Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home President and CEO Perry Hancock realizes the impact foster care and adoption has on children in the state. Currently, 45 foster homes are affiliated with the Children’s Home and are located in all areas of Louisiana. Hancock said the entity’s goal is to have hundreds of affiliated foster homes. To that end, the Children’s Home is looking for model churches in Shreveport and central Louisiana that would commit to establishing new foster care and adoption ministries. These model churches also could host monthly foster care and adoption support group meetings and possibly offer a parsonage not in use for a foster home. First Baptist New Orleans already is a model church for not only the New Orleans area but also the Northshore. The church’s Crossroads NOLA initiative promotes Christian foster care and adoption and provides support for Christian foster families in the New Orleans and Northshore areas. “When we at LBCH ask ‘where are the children who need us?’, foster care is one of the answers,” Hancock said. “With so many children in foster care (4,500), the opportunity to … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell. Message Staff Writer RUSTON – Ever wanted to minister to victims of a hurricane, tornado or flood in the United States? Then March 21 may be that chance when Temple Baptist Church in Ruston hosts a Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief roundtable. The roundtable offers one-day training for anyone interested in becoming a part of a Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief team. Stanley Statham, a blue hat (unit director) for the disaster relief team for the Baptist Associations of Southeast Louisiana, said disaster relief training is important because it prepares church members to respond to those in crisis in an effective way. “Often when a disaster strikes people want to respond but lack the skills and knowledge to do so in an effective way,” said Statham, who also is director of missions for the association. “Responding to disasters gives every believer an opportunity to demonstrate the love of Christ. James 1:27 states, Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction. “In the first century widows and orphans were the most vulnerable of society,” he continued. “Survivors of disasters are left in a vulnerable state and cannot pay back the good that … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message WOODWORTH – Young men will get a taste of pioneer days at this year’s Royal Ambassador Congress. Starting and extinguishing a fire, how a yoke of oxen work together as a team and eating a meal out of a chuck wagon are among the activities planned for this year’s annual gathering of first through sixth grade boys. RA Congress begins March 27 and concludes the following day at Tall Timbers Conference Center. “There are moments growing up that have created “snapshots” on the memory banks of my mind,” said Mike Collie. “An RA campout is one of those snapshots. I believe this is one of those snapshot events.” While RA Congress will feature events unique to its theme “Take Me Back To Pioneer Days”, the weekend will also include traditional favorites such as pinewood derby and soapbox car races, archery, rope crafts, bb gun shooting, slingshots, hatchet throwing and presentations from missionaries. The missionaries coming this year include those from the North American and International Mission Board. The cost for RA Congress is average of $76.00 per person, based on multiple occupancy. To register, visit LouisianaBaptists.org/RACongress or contact Tall Timbers by phone at 318.445.6797 or email at … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message Several hundred GAs and Children in Action will come together to not only learn about missions but do missions together at the annual Mission Jamboree later this month. Known as M-JAM, the event is scheduled at two locations in the state. The schedule will be the same at both locations, which allows for youngsters in first through sixth grade and their leaders to attend M-JAM at the church closest to where they live. Williams Boulevard Baptist in Kenner is hosting the first M-JAM on March 14 while First Baptist Church in Minden is the site for the event on March 21. The Scripture basis for M-JAM is Mark 8:34. “M-Jam is a day of mission’s awareness and mission activity that builds on their faith foundations with a Gospel presentation, that introduces children to ‘real live’ missionaries, and gives them an opportunity to do missions activities with children from around the state,” said Jess Archer, children/youth mission education strategist for Louisiana Baptists. Maegan Bruce on March 14 and Andy Partington on March 21 will use music and interaction during the main celebration sessions to tell the missions story, engage those attending in missions and present the Gospel. Chance Fussell and friends … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 03/06/2015 - 09:53 By Hannah Fleming, Message Staff Reporter PINEVILLE – God is revealing Himself in a new way through The Gathering Place church. Glen Whatley, pastor of The Gathering Place, says God has changed his perspective on church. And in so doing, The Gathering Place has expanded and is now meeting in not one but two locations. “Two years ago in November, I attended a conference where the speaker spoke about becoming a ‘sending’ church,” said Whatley. “The idea was to always be looking to send people out to plant new churches in your area, state, or wherever.” Whatley said when the church outgrew its existing building he wanted to follow the traditional trend of most churches and just build a new building or, perhaps, relocate the entire church to a bigger location. “It was very satisfying to think about expansion in that way. It would have made me look successful and the church proud,” said Whatley. But as hard as it was for Whatley to let go of the old ways, God had spoken and he began to follow God’s Call. He first took the idea to the elders, who began to pray about it, and then it was brought before the congregation where the idea received 100 percent affirmation. Upon … [Read more...]

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- The trustees of two Baptist colleges, Tennessee Temple University and Piedmont International University, voted unanimously to merge the institutions March 3. The announcement comes a day after The Chattanoogan (Chattanoogan.com) reported TTU would be closing its doors at the end of this semester. The merger will be finalized April 30, pending the approval of the Transnational Association of Colleges and Schools, which accredits both universities. Established only a year apart in the mid-1940s, the two universities share a common mission that dates back to their founders, Charles Stevens of PIU in Winston-Salem, N.C., and Lee Roberson of TTU in Chattanooga, Tenn. TTU online students can expect decreases in their tuition rates and a seamless transition, according to PIU officials. Online programs will be transferred in their entirety to PIU. Residential students who move to Winston-Salem will experience a drop in tuition, room and board of approximately twenty-five percent. Several TTU board members will join PIU’s board, and some of TTU’s faculty and staff will move to Winston-Salem. PIU’s president, Charles Petitt, said the merged schools will have far greater potential together than either school can … [Read more...]

ON THE MOVE Mike Landry new as pastor at Bethany Baptist Church, Shreveport. HOMECOMING Cotile Baptist Church, Cotile: 33rd Homecoming Service, March 15, 11 a.m. Following the service, there will be dinner on the grounds. There will be a free concert at 1:30 p.m. with Paul’s Journey. A love offering will be taken. For more information, call the church office at 318.793.8847. Pastor: Johnny Miller. Calvary Baptist Church, Slidell: 56th Anniversary, March 15, 11 a.m. Meal will follow the service please bring desserts. Pastor: John Reid. REVIVAL Cotile Baptist Church, Cotile: Revival, March 12-14, 7 p.m. Speaker: Jimmy Koonce. Pastor: Johnny Miller. First Baptist Church, Ruston: Revival, March 15, Traditional Service, 8:45 a.m.; Contemporary Service, 11 a.m., evening service, 6 p.m. Speaker: William Blackburn. Childcare will be provided. Pastor: Chris Craig. Bethel Baptist Church, Colfax: Revival, March 15-18. 10:45 a.m. and 6 p.m.; March 15; 6:30 p.m. nightly, March 16-18. Evangelist: Joe Aulds. Music: Price Harris. Pastor: Carl Gulde. Crossroads Baptist Church, Marthaville: Revival, March 15-18, 7 p.m. nightly. Evangelist: Craig James. Pastor: Earnest Little. Memorial Baptist Church, Bogalusa: Revival, March 20-22, … [Read more...]

NASHVILLE (BP) – Year-to-date contributions to Southern Baptist Convention national and international missions and ministries received by the SBC Executive Committee are 4.81 percent above the year-to-date budgeted projection, and are 2.97 percent above contributions received during the same time frame last year, according to SBC Executive Committee President and CEO Frank S. Page. The total includes receipts from state conventions and fellowships, churches and individuals for distribution according to the 2014-15 SBC Cooperative Program Allocation Budget. As of Feb. 28, receipts totaled $82,098,104.34, or 104.81 percent of the $78,333,333.33 year-to-date budgeted amount to support SBC ministries globally and nationally. The total is $2,371,418.56 more than the $79,726,685.78 received through February 2014. The SBC-adopted budget is distributed 50.41 percent to international missions through IMB, 22.79 percent to North American missions through the North American Mission Board, 22.16 percent to theological education through the six SBC seminaries, 2.99 percent to the SBC operating budget, and 1.65 percent to the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. GuideStone Financial Resources and LifeWay Christian Resources are … [Read more...]

By Message Staff PINEVILLE – A team from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges has found Louisiana College is in compliance with all standards except one, ‘external influence.’ The SACS-COC team made the decision during its exit interview after a one-day visit to LC on March 11, according to a news release from the school. LC announced in June that SACS had placed the school on probation. The accreditation agency provided the specific reasons for the probation in a letter dated July 9. Six areas were cited by SACS that must be addressed if LC is to be removed from probation. The areas specified were: Principle of Integrity; External Influence; Personnel Appointment; Administrative Staff Evaluations; Control of Finances; Title IV Program Responsibilities. While colleges sanctioned by SACS seek to be removed from probation within the first year, schools have up to two years to address the issues cited by the accrediting agency. LC’s accreditation is not affected during the probationary period and the school remains fully accredited. LC must now wait to receive a written report from the SACS-COC team and will have the opportunity to respond. The school’s trustees and administration will … [Read more...]