By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer NATCHITOCHES – When his son Cort was born, Josh Currie wondered what baptizing him would be like should that blessing come to pass. Nine years later, a variety of emotions overcame the pastor of Trinity Baptist Church in Natchitoches as Cort publicly declared his faith and was baptized by him. “I was joyful and a little relieved,” Currie said. “When he was relieved of the burden of sin and he had experienced salvation -- to now make that decision public through baptism, I felt like at that moment it doesn’t matter what else happens in his life. “I was baptized by my grandfather and I can remember when he brought me back up in the air he was so happy,” he continued. “I remember his excitement more than anything else from that day.” His son concurred. “I felt joy from head to toe when I was baptized,” Cort Currie said. “I had never felt anything like it before.” LEGACY OF FAITH The older Currie pointed to the crucial role Christian parents serve in a child’s spiritual development. But he also lauded various faith-based activities such as Sunday school, Christian camps and Vacation Bible School for contributing to the solid biblical foundation children need in making … [Read more...]

ALEXANDRIA -- Registration is now open for both the 2016 Ministers’ Wives’ Luncheon and childcare during the Pastors Conference. Scheduled for 11:30 a.m. at Kingsville Baptist Church in Ball during the Monday, Nov. 14, session of the Pastors Conference, the Ministers’ Wives’ luncheon will feature Meredith Floyd, wife of Nick Floyd, teaching pastor of Cross Church in Fayetteville, Ark. The first 100 ladies to register will receive a free gift. Tickets are $15 and can be reserved by visiting louisianabaptists.org/mwl by Nov. 1. Those seeking childcare during the Pastors Conference at Kingsville Baptist Nov. 13-14 should contact Jason McGuffie, vice-president of the conference, at fbcpastor.jason@yahoo.com by Nov. 6. … [Read more...]

DEVILLE – For more than 10 years, Philip Robertson, pastor of Philadelphia Baptist Church in Deville, had a vision for starting a second campus. During that time, he watched, prayed and waited for God’s timing, when in March 2015, Horseshoe Drive Baptist Church in Alexandria asked the 750-active-member-strong Philadelphia congregation for help in staying viable. Robertson knew that coming alongside this smaller congregation, which had dwindled to about 35 active members, was “God’s will for Philadelphia Baptist Church.” His faithfulness to the multi-site vision God had given him resulted in a re-launch celebration Sept. 18 with 338 in attendance on the Horseshoe Drive campus, now Philadelphia Baptist Church, Horseshoe Drive. A combined 1,022 worshipped on the two campuses that Sunday, and Philadelphia Baptist Church became one congregation in two locations. “It’s very humbling and an honor they would see us as someone they could reach out to,” said Philip Robertson, entering his 21st year as pastor at Philadelphia Baptist. “I have had multi-site ministry on my heart for more than a decade.... It became apparent very early on that God was in this conversation. There began to be affirmation upon affirmation that this … [Read more...]