Submitted by philip on Fri, 02/06/2015 - 12:58 Summer Grove Pastor Aaron Burgner prays for the speakers and participants at the beginning of the 2015 Evangelism Conference in Shreveport. By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer SHREVEPORT – Ike Reighard had become the pastor in 2007 of Piedmont Church in Marietta, Ga., when he noticed problems that, if not corrected, could have led to the church closing its doors within six to 12 months. Attendance had dwindled to around 200 in a worship center that seats 1,500, the HVAC system was in need of $600,000 worth of repairs and the carpet in the sanctuary was moldy due to seven buckets catching water from a leaky roof each Sunday. However, Reighard encouraged the church to dream and bit by bit, Piedmont Church began returning to the church it once was, making a difference in the community and reaching an attendance of more than 1,000 eight years later. The key to the turnaround, Reighard said, was found in the book of Nehemiah. By implementing three principles, Piedmont Church grew to the highest average in the 50-year history of the church. Define reality, inspire hope in people and take action, becoming a “why not” church. “Uncommitted hearts always look for an … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 02/06/2015 - 13:02 Several thousand pro-life supporters marched across the LSU campus on Jan. 24, for the annual Louisiana Life March. By Mark H. Hunter, Regional Reporter The sound of steel ball bearings falling into a galvanized bucket was absolutely chilling. The crowd of about 2,500 to 3,000 attending the 5th annual Louisiana Life March South was solemnly silent as Benjamin Clapper, executive director of Louisiana Right to Life Federation, slowly poured 9,976 bearings, each representing a baby aborted in Louisiana in 2013, into the bucket. “We commend them to you Lord, and we want to make sure that they did not die in vain,” Clapper prayed from the stage of the outdoor Greek Amphitheater on the LSU campus. “Show each of us how we are to defend the defenseless.” “The unborn child in our society doesn’t even get the fundamental right to life,” Clapper said to illustrate the Jan. 24 event’s theme, Defend the Defenseless. “The unborn child is denied their own birthday.” Jonathan Stockstill, lead pastor of Baton Rouge’s Bethany Church, told the group how, during a recent exam with his pregnant wife, they saw an ultrasound of their baby boy. “Every child is a gift from God,” Stockstill … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 02/06/2015 - 13:04 Warden Burl Cain told the Senior Adult luncheon at this year’s Evangelism Conference he hasn’t made up his mind about a potential run for governor of Louisiana. By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer SHREVEPORT -- Among the events apart from the main sessions of the evangelism conference was the senior adult lunch. Burl Cain, warden of the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola, was the guest speaker and shared about how New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary has helped turn what was once the bloodiest prison in America into a much safer place today. One topic he discussed was a potential run for governor of Louisiana. Though some in the state are hoping he runs for the office – with signs in support of his potential candidacy popping up around Louisiana and the Facebook page “We Want Warden Burl Cain La Governor 2015” garnering nearly 1,600 likes so far – Cain told a room full of more than 600 senior adults that he has not made up his mind yet to enter the race. Cain said that he hopes to make a decision whether to run in the next month or two. “I haven’t committed to that,” said Cain, who has the longest tenure of any warden of a state penitentiary in the United … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 02/06/2015 - 13:07 The Hispanic Evangelism Conference took place on Jan. 23 and 24 and was the second such conference put on by the Louisiana Baptist Conference. Here members of the crowd worship with the Emmanuel Worship Team from New Orleans. By Brian Blackwell. Message Staff Writer Shreveport -- Prior to the Louisiana Baptist Evangelism Conference, Hispanics met on Jan. 23 and 24 for an evangelism conference in their own language. The second such conference drew 80 in attendance. Rolando Rodriguez was the main speaker. He is director of Hispanic ministries for the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The Emmanuel Worship Team from New Orleans led the worship. Workshop leaders, along with their topics, were David Lema, First Hispanic American Baptist Church in New Orleans, “Diagnosis of a Deceased Church”; Jose  Perez  Sanchez, Trinity Hispanic in Lake  Charles, “Evangelism”; Juan Puente, Summer Grove Hispanic Church in Shreveport, “Reaching a new generation  with an old message”; and Daniel Hernandez, Broadmoor Hispanic in Shreveport, “Your  Kingdom Come.” “The response from the attendees was very positive,” said Carlos Schmidt, Louisiana Baptist Hispanic Catalytic Church Planter … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 02/06/2015 - 13:13 A crowd which varied from 5,000 to 8,000 turned out to pray for revival and God’s mercy on America at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on the LSU campus on Jan. 24. The presence of the Holy Spirit was evident throughout the day. By Mark H. Hunter, Regional Reporter BATON ROUGE – The powerful sound of praise music and fervent prayer filled the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on the LSU campus as about 5,000 to 6,000 believers pleaded for revival and God’s mercy on America at The Response on Jan. 24. The non-partisan, non-denominational event, called by Gov. Bobby Jindal, was also picketed by a few hundred noisy protesters who objected to the apparent association The Response group has with the pro-family and pro-life American Family Association. The protesters claimed AFA is a “hate” group while their picket signs and chants proclaimed their own hate toward Christians in general and Jindal in particular. Cordoned off by a phalanx of LSU police and state troopers, the only response the protesters got was prayers offered their way by many inside the cavernous building. Gov. Jindal, who calls himself an evangelical Catholic, spoke several times, including a testimony of … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 02/06/2015 - 13:19 Chaz Morgan (left) is presented the Clyde and Elizabeth Smith Scholarship by Louisiana College president Dr. Argile Smith Saturday. Paige Dubois (right), the recipient of the 2014 Smith Scholarship, looks on. By Al Quartemont, Special the Message PINEVILLE – A home-school student from Baton Rouge was the winner of Louisiana College’s prestigious Clyde and Elizabeth Smith Scholarship Competition for 2015 held Jan. 31 on campus. Chaz Morgan beat out 13 other invitees to win the scholarship that covers every expense at LC, including tuition, fees, books, residence and meals. Each student who competed also received a substantial scholarship offer for being among the top applicants of the 2015 freshman class. “I really wanted to win because it would be such an honor to be able to represent the school,” Morgan said. “When they announced my name, I said, ‘Thank you, Lord.’” Morgan, whose parents are Charles and Carletta Morgan, is the fifth home-schooled student to win the competition in the last seven years. He plans to major in pre-law at LC and has set a goal to one day become a judge. His sister, Kaeli, is also a sophomore at LC and is majoring in pre-med. The Smith … [Read more...]

DALLAS (BP) – GuideStone Financial Resources has released its Ministers’ Tax Guide for 2014 Returns. The annual handbook provides step-by-step instructions for both active and retired ministers, sample forms and detailed help in understanding the latest tax laws. Additionally, church treasurers and other church leaders will find a valuable resource in the guide’s special section about important federal requirements for churches. GuideStone participants can receive the free guide by visiting www.GuideStone.org/TaxGuide or can request a free printed copy by calling 1-888-98-GUIDE (888.984.8433). The guide was written again this year by Richard Hammar, a noted CPA, attorney and widely published author who specializes in legal and tax issues for ministers. Additionally, the material is edited by GuideStone’s compliance staff to ensure that it addresses tax issues in detail directly affecting Southern Baptist pastors. “Each year, federal tax law can change, and ministers have come to trust in the Ministers’ Tax Guide as they prepare their taxes or work with their preparer,” GuideStone President O.S. Hawkins said. “It is a joy to hear from so many pastors who tell us how thankful they are for this guide and how much it helps them … [Read more...]