By Message Staff LAFAYETTE – State officials have reassured Louisiana Baptists that the Cajundome will be ready for the 2016 Youth Evangelism Conference scheduled for the Lafayette facility, Nov. 20-21. A June 30 report in The Advocate created confusion among the public by stating the arena “won’t re-open for business until Dec. 1.” But apparently, the information was not correct in context of the YEC. “We have been given assurances the Cajundome will be ready prior to our event,” Louisiana Baptist Convention youth strategist Steve Maltempti said in a statement to the Baptist Message. Maltempi shared information with the Baptist Message which cleared up the misunderstanding caused by The Advocate article. “The reason you see Dec. 1st  in media reports is we don’t expect or plan to schedule basketball and, hockey games or any major concerts until Dec. 1st, or about 9 days after your event ends,” wrote one Cajundome official to Maltempi. “We have always expected and needed those 9 days to prepare the hockey rink and basketball court on top of the hockey rink in the new arena configuration for the upcoming season after your event.” This official noted that crews will continue the work, which began May 23, up until Nov. 18 and … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message SLIDELL – The pastor and the congregation of Bayou Baptist Church are resolute but still shocked after their church was torched by an arsonist for the second time in 10 months. "We don't know who would want to do this to us," Pastor Frank Treme shared with the Baptist Message, adding, "We have never had any prior incidents where someone accused us of ill will that I am aware of. “We are a church for all races and people,” he said. “This church is a safe haven for all people and we would like for all people to feel safe coming into God's house to worship and pray. “It is hard for everyone in our church,” Treme continued. “We have had to overcome so much. First, we had to rebuild after the flooding from Hurricane Katrina, then the fire in October, and now this.” Treme said his congregation of 50 or so came together to face these other challenges, and he is confident they will rise to the occasion this time, too. In the early morning of July 2, a neighbor called 911 to report flames engulfing the church according to a release by the Slidell Police Department. Firefighters arrived in just over two minutes after the 7:30 a.m. call and found flames leaping from the front and rear of the 2,500 square … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message SLIDELL -- It's happened again. Bayou Baptist Church in Slidell has been hit again by a suspicious fire. On July 2 at 7:30 a.m., a neighbor called 911 reporting flames pouring the church according to a release by the Slidell Police Department. Firefighters arrived in just over two minutes and found flames and smoke pouring from the front and rear of the 2,500 square foot building. Working quickly, the fire department was able to extinguish the fire in about 15 minutes. They reported no injuries in the blaze. According to the fire department, the church is considered “a total loss.” This is a second time in a year Bayou Baptist has been the victim of an arsonist. According to fire prevention officer Chad Duffaut for Fire District 1, the arsonist set the fire to cover up the burglary in October. After the October fire, Pastor Frank Treme said the church had been rebuilt after the flooding during Hurricane Katrina in 2005, but the fire was even more devastating than Katrina. “It’s hard for everybody in our church,” Treme said in an Oct. 27 article. “This is devastating. It’s not bad enough they violated and burglarized parts of our building but why did they have to put a fire to it?” Treme said his … [Read more...]

By Philip Timothy, Managing Editor “In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.” – Proverbs 16:9 LAFAYETTE – David Carlton never imagined he would leave the mission fields of Africa. After all, it is where God had led him and it was where he and his wife Pamela had spent the bulk of their 26-years in ministry. And after 18 years of developing and nurturing meaningful relationships in South Africa, the couple was entering a fruitful season in their work. But late in 2015, after much prayer, they made the extremely hard decision to accept early retirement from the International Mission Board and to leave their work in South Africa. “It was probably harder to leave than it was to go,” said Carlton.  “We were experiencing more fulfilment in ministry than we had had in all the 18 years we had been overseas. So, yes it was a very hard decision to leave it all behind.” Their decision was made even more difficult by the speed in which it all took place. “One of the things I think that made it so difficult was it happened so quickly.  You know we kind of got word this was going to be rolling out this way, and the decisions were going to have to be made pretty quickly.” The Carltons became two of the 983 … [Read more...]

By Message Staff The Louisiana summer humidity hasn’t stopped hundreds of students from coming to the state to help rebuild homes in the name of Jesus. The youth, who are part of World Changers, have projects across the state in which they repair houses, paint the outside walls of homes, complete landscaping and build wheelchair ramps. By the time they leave, the students have made sure to put hours of sweat equity into the home and shown Jesus’ love to the homeowner. “I have noticed so much selflessness,” said World Changers spokesperson Trace Lee. “The students understand they are here to bless others and serve them the best they can.” Already this month, teams have served in Covington and Ponchatoula with Baton Rouge and New Orleans next on their list. During the first two projects, the teams have shared the gospel 130 times, gave out 21 Bibles and led eight people to Christ. But Louisiana isn’t the only recipient to World Changers as the youth are spread out all across the United States. Middle school, high school and college students are working together on similar construction projects. Established in 1990 by what today is the Southern Baptist Convention’s North American Mission Board, the program was designed to … [Read more...]

By Norm Miller, Louisiana College communications PINEVILLE, La. (LCNews) - From Texas and across Louisiana, 78 students attended Louisiana College’s “Front of the Line” pre-registration event June 25. “The response is beyond encouraging,” said Dr. Brandon Bannon, vice president for Enrollment Management. “We had nearly twice as many students pre-register today as we did at last year’s event. The caliber and the character of these young people will boost LC in all the right ways.” The number of those pre-registering for the fall 2016 semester caused college officials to add classes. “We have three biology labs and three anatomy labs completely full,” said Dr. Wade Warren, professor of biology. “I can’t remember the last time that happened, if ever.” Warren said, “The word is getting out about the positive things happening at LC, and these students made the right decision to enroll with us.” Madison Schultz, a Nursing major from Houston, Texas, said, “Louisiana College was not my first choice, but I believe God has led me here. It feels like home.” Pineville resident Joshua Spurgeon came to LC “because of the Christian environment and the reputation for excellence Dr. Warren has. I also wanted to be close to home.” Spurgeon … [Read more...]