First Baptist has completed Phase 1 of its multi-building renovation. WINNFIELD – First Baptist has completed Phase 1 of its multi-building renovation. A building dedication took place Sept. 16 for the sparkling-new Christian Life Center and education facilities. Phases 2 and 3 are not yet calendared. That’s not all that’s going on: Practices have started for the Judgement House dramatic production, which is set for 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21, Wednesday, Oct. 24, Saturday, Oct. 27, Sunday, Oct. 28, and Wednesday, Oct. 31 at the church. Reservations are required for space considerations. Call 318.628.3544 to reserve a place. A $2 donation per ticket is requested. First Winnfield has staged Judgement House for seven times in the last 11 years, most recently in 2005. A new script is presented each year. This year’s title – Web of Lies – plays off an internet theme. Co-directors: Brandon Lewis, youth pastor, and John Holland, minister of music and senior adults. Judgement House is a walk-through dramatic presentation of seven scenes that makes plain the choice between heaven and hell, and closes by providing the opportunity to make that choice, Lewis explained. The website www.judgementhouse.org provides a more … [Read more...]
Louisiana Landscape
girls, and personal worship time. The $65 cost includes two nights lodging and all meals. Call 225.654.8168 or or 225.654.5065. NEW ORLEANS – New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary alumni are to gather Nov. 13 at Calvary Alexandria for a noon luncheon. Cost: $10/person. Additional information:www.nobts.edu/alumni. EROS – First Baptist has set its homecoming for Sunday, Sept. 30. Singing is to commence at 10 a.m. J.W. Bunn is to be guest speaker. Those who can are asked to bring a covered dish. Elvin Wheelis is pastor. WEST MONROE – In a change from recent years, Peniel Baptist plans to host its annual homecoming Oct. 21, rather than in September. Cary Kimbrell is to preach; Brothers in Christ are to bring the music. The church is seeking a pastor. SHREVEPORT – A day-long Ladies Retreat is to take place Saturday, Sept. 29, at North Shreve Baptist. Guest speakers are to be Stephanie Holden and her daughters Elizabeth, Lydia and Lauren, from Meridian, Miss. They will be leading in a study of the Old Testament book of Ruth. The event, which also is to include singing and door prizes, is to begin at 8:30 a.m. with a continental breakfast, and conclude with a 1 p.m. luncheon. Tickets: $10. MANY – Siloam Baptist is to … [Read more...]
Louisiana Landscape
LAFAYETTE – Nell Lokey retired earlier this month after serving 47 years as organist at First Baptist. She is to be honored at the 9:45 a.m. worship Sunday, Sept. 30. A reception in her honor is to take place at 3:30 p.m. that afternoon. John Frank Reeve is minister of music at First Lafayette; Steve Horn is pastor. PINEVILLE – Mable Hargis Smith, longtime pianist/organist for Tioga First Baptist, and a retired music educator for Rapides Parish schools, is to be honored at 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 30, on the occasion of her 90th birthday, in the church fellowship hall. David Cranford is pastor. FOREST HILL – Cecil Gill was honored Sept. 15 for 50 years as chairman of the deacons at Calvary Baptist. Jack McMickin is pastor. SLIDELL – Thompson Road Baptist is to celebrate the dedication of its new building at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7. Randy Boyett is founding pastor of the church that started as a mission of Calvary Baptist Slidell. Charles Starnes is pastor of Calvary Slidell. RINGGOLD – Heaven’s Gates and Hell’s Flames is to be presented at 7 p.m. Sunday through Tuesday, Sept. 30 through Oct. 2 at First Baptist. Nursery will be provided. Ronnie Osborne is pastor. Heaven’s Gates and Hell’s Flames graphically depicts choices … [Read more...]
PowerPlant students taught to utilize their diversity
Conjure up Phoenix in the summertime and you think about desert, cactus and heat, especially with this summer’s record 29 straight days of 110-degree or higher temperatures. PHOENIX, Ariz. (BP) – Conjure up Phoenix in the summertime and you think about desert, cactus and heat, especially with this summer’s record 29 straight days of 110-degree or higher temperatures. But for 90 students from across the United States who spent a week of their summer vacation in Phoenix, sharing the Gospel of Christ in the “Valley of the Sun” became a mountaintop experience. The students were part of PowerPlant, an initiative of the North American Mission Board designed to teach students the principles of church planting and evangelism – skills they can use long after their time in sweltering Phoenix. PowerPlant participants presented the Gospel 314 times, resulting in 13 decisions for Christ, and they distributed more than 3,000 tracts and free Bibles. While each PowerPlant project and venue is unique, the theme of the Phoenix outreach was diversity, said coordinator Daniel Stancil, a Southern Baptist church planter from Canton, Ga. Among the students and adult leaders who journeyed to Phoenix to work with seven church plants … [Read more...]
Retired missionaries celebrate God’s call
When you’ve served for more than 26,000 years, you deserve to celebrate. RIDGECREST, N.C. (BP)--When you’ve served for more than 26,000 years, you deserve to celebrate. As part of the International Mission Board’s “Year of Emeriti” observance, nearly 1,000 retired missionaries united for the first time at LifeWay Ridgecrest Conference Center in North Carolina, the very location where many of them first heard God’s call to missions. The retirees who attended comprise two-thirds of the approximately 1,400 living emeritus Southern Baptist missionaries and served a cumulative total of more than 26,000 years on mission fields around the world, according to IMB estimates. “You may feel that old, but you really aren’t,” IMB President Jerry Rankin joked as he paid tribute to the retirees at the Sept. 10-13 event. “As I look at you and realize what has gone before, how grateful we are that it didn’t start with us youngsters. You represent a biblical model of following God as Abraham did. You represent a passion to worship God as Isaiah did, to say to Him, ‘Here am I, Lord, send me.’ You had the vision of Paul, who was called to regions beyond and to do whatever it takes to get the Gospel to the ends of the earth. “And long … [Read more...]
Louisiana Landscape
BREAUX BRIDGE – Music Director Dot Schexnider announces an “Old Fashion Gospel Singing and Fellowship” is set for 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 5, at Teche Baptist Church. “We’re going to have a good time,” Schexnider said. “The congregation will be joining in to sing a lot of the old favorites that aren’t used so much these days, such as This World is not my Home; I Saw the Light; When They Ring Those Golden Bells; Mansion Over the Hilltop; Precious Memories; and I’ll Fly Away, just to name a few.” The Ladies Ensemble is to perform, plus additional soloists and instrumentalists, including Rob Burdeaux, pastor of Parks Baptist Mission, as a special guest performer. “We are especially glad to have the Rev. Burdeaux join us,” Schexnider added. “He is an accomplished musician and I know everyone will enjoy hearing him sing.” There is no admission fee; the public is invited and nursery care will be provided for younger children. “I hope everyone who likes good old gospel music will come enjoy this time with us,” Schexnider said. Wayne Lyons, pastor. BETHANY – First Bossier donated a mobile home to Camp Bethany for use in additional housing. Lumber has been purchased for the 20 bunk beds that will be going in the new mobile … [Read more...]
Milestones
Comings, Goings Bill Holifield, new as pastor of Colyell Baptist, Livingston. Tim Stewart has resigned as BCM director in Shreveport for a similar position in Columbia, S.C. Wayne Shew, new as pastor of Gray Baptist, Jefferson. Bill Lott, new as pastor of Pilgrim Home Baptist, Benton, from interim at the church. Mike (wife Mai) Scott resigned as pastor at Woodland Hills Baptist, Shreveport. They are moving to Viet Nam, Mai’s homeland. Bill Crosby, new as interim pastor of Northwood, Shreveport. Steve Wilson, from associate pastor to fulltime marriage enrichment seminars ministry. Joe Bob Alexander, new as interim pastor of First Baptist, Oil City. Charlie Fowler, resigned as music minister of Ellerbe Road Baptist, Shreveport, to relocate to Colorado Springs, Colo. “Sonny” Simpson, new as pastor of New Hope Willow Point Shreveport. John Walker, resigned as music minister of Summer Grove Shreveport. Chris Albritton, new in May as fulltime ministry coordinator for Rolling Hills Ministries; he had been part-time in that role for a year. David Abernathy is director. Billy Carter resigned as pastor of Spencer Baptist. Needed Sicily Island First Baptist Church seeks a bivocational pastor. Please send resumes … [Read more...]
Puppets preach joy
Brian and Vicki Cockerham, members at Woodlawn Baptist Church in Rayville, don’t just speak for themselves. They speak for a host of others – puppets that is. WEST MONROE – Brian and Vicki Cockerham, members at Woodlawn Baptist Church in Rayville, don’t just speak for themselves. They speak for a host of others – puppets that is. 2Talk42 Ministries, the Cockerham’s puppet ministry, has been sharing the gospel with children and adults since 1998, Brian said. Using ventriloquism, puppetry, drama, illusions and songs at family crusades, children’s camps and elementary school assemblies, Brian, along with his wife Vicki, present the gospel to thousands of children and adults each year. “It’s amazing what God will do when you do what He wants you to, then step out of the way and let Him handle it,” Brian said. “I knew God was calling me to a deeper commitment, I just didn’t know what it was,” continued Brian, explaining how he became involved in puppetry. Though he’d never seen a ventriloquist, his interest was piqued by a site on the Internet. Then, in June 1998, after taking a correspondence course in ventriloquism, Brian answered God’s call to evangelistic ministry while attending the International Festival of … [Read more...]
Brazil builds for eternity
When the dust settles and five more churches report in, more than 3,000 people are expected to have made professions of faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior during the late July visit of about 150 people in the annual Louisiana mission trip to Brazil. BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil – When the dust settles and five more churches report in, more than 3,000 people are expected to have made professions of faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior during the late July visit of about 150 people in the annual Louisiana mission trip to Brazil. “Overall, for a new city it was the best prepared for the first year,” said Wayne Jenkins, LBC evangelism and church growth strategist. “One of the team members got saved. We treated a little over 2,000 people both in medical and dental clinics. We built four chapels in a week, and some of them had up to 200 people in them for their day of dedication.” The team also was involved in four vacation Bible schools, ministry in at least six prisons, and street ministry as part of their partnership with missionaries from the Southern Baptist Convention’s International Mission Board, and pastors with the Brazilian Baptist Convention, Jenkins said. “Overall, it was a great trip,” Jenkins … [Read more...]
Event celebrates 50 years of music
A 50th anniversary celebration in a new location plus reinstated handbell training and the addition of a contemporary component are parts of this week’s annual Louisiana Baptist Convention Music Conference being held at Summer Grove Baptist Church in Shreveport. SHREVEPORT – A 50th anniversary celebration in a new location plus reinstated handbell training and the addition of a contemporary component are parts of this week’s annual Louisiana Baptist Convention Music Conference being held at Summer Grove Baptist Church in Shreveport. “This is a wonderful opportunity,” said Randy Turner, LBC music strategist. “Our weekend will include many training sessions from graded choirs to praise band and praise teams.” The LBC department of church music was started in December 1947, with L.C. Alexander as first ‘secretary’ – ‘strategist’ would be the updated term. When he retired in 1966, Carroll Lowe moved into that position, according to a Louisiana Baptist history, House Upon A Rock, by Glen Lee Greene. Jim Faull followed Lowe, and Turner took over in 2006. “There were music conferences prior to 1957. However, it became an annual event and officially called the Louisiana Church Music Conference in 1957,” Turner said. “That is … [Read more...]
