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Louisiana’s medical support industry has a shortage of educated personnel, according to health industry officials, and Louisiana College plans to address that need. PINEVILLE – Louisiana’s medical support industry has a shortage of educated personnel, according to health industry officials, and Louisiana College plans to address that need. Healthcare is either the largest or second-largest economic driver of the state’s economy, according to an LC news release. Half of the 30 fastest-growing occupations in the entire labor market today are in fields of allied health. Especially in the rural areas of the state, healthcare professionals are “desperately needed,” according to the news release. The state legislature on June 22 authorized the distribution of grants for the purpose of equipping allied health professionals, and LC recently accepted a grant of $2 million from this pool of money, which comes from the State of Louisiana in partnership with the Louisiana Rural Healthcare Association. The grants are administered by the Louisiana Board of Regents.  Receiving the grant was the result of much hard work from a coalition of influential people, said Louisiana College President Joe Aguillard. He expressed thanks to … [Read more...]

Matt Hancock of Monroe earlier this month signed a two-year recording contract with the Eugene, Ore.-based Incubator Records /Incubator Creative Group. Matt Hancock of Monroe earlier this month signed a two-year recording contract with the Eugene, Ore.-based Incubator Records /Incubator Creative Group. A singer/songwriter/solo artist, Hancock also is associate director of activities and education at the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home, and a graduate in 2000 of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. With bandmates Michael Howell on second guitar and Brandon White on drums, Hancock handles primary guitar and piano in addition to vocals. He’s available for bookings anywhere in Louisiana, so he can also promote the Children’s Home, where his father Perry Hancock is executive director. “My style is very much praise and worship-oriented, but also has a slight rock flair to it,” Hancock says. He’s developing a Vision Team of friends and new friends to help MPH Music Ministries grow from the ground up and reach as many lives as possible. If interested in joining the MPH Vision Team, contact him atmatthewperryhancock@hotmail.com.“It’s just been really amazing to see how much God had done this year and how many promises He has come … [Read more...]

Several members from Washington Baptist Church participated in a disaster relief mission trip in early June to Eagle Pass, Texas, where there had been a tornado. WASHINGTON – Several members from Washington Baptist Church participated in a disaster relief mission trip in early June to Eagle Pass, Texas, where there had been a tornado. They took groceries and other donations to Hispanic families there. The church plans to take shoes and bicycles as gifts during  an August mission trip to Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. Louis Charrier is pastor. SUNSET – Four members from Knoll Wood Ranch Cowboy Church participated in a recent Evangeline Baptist Association mission trip to Anchorage, Alaska, led by DOM Bert Langley. The mission team worked in partnership with the Baptist Collegiate Ministry group at the University of Anchorage. Chad Ramsey is pastor of Knoll Wood Ranch. TAYLOR – Kyndall Ardoin, a member at Taylor Baptist Church, recently repeated as champion of the Louisiana Women’s Amateur golf tournament. She has been invited to play in theWestfield Junior PGA Tournament in Ohio, one of the most important junior events in the PGA.  Jimmy Eppinette is pastor of Taylor Baptist. MONROE – First Baptist  reports additions and … [Read more...]

A high school student from Dubeck, Germany, would like to spend her sophomore year – starting this August – living in a city with a Baptist family. A high school student from Dubeck, Germany, would like to spend her sophomore year – starting this August – living in a city with a Baptist family. The youngest of three children in a home where the father is a customs officer and the mother a hairdresser, Sophie, 17, takes care of four rabbits daily, cooks dinner for her family on occasion, and keeps her room clean. She enjoys playing the drums and guitar, and has played drums at church. Her favorite sports are basketball and swimming. Her ability with English is ranked 9 out of 10; her English teacher writes that Sophie would be comfortable and at ease in an American classroom. Sophie’s mom plans to call her twice a week. Other high school students – male and female – also are interested in spending a school year with Louisiana families through ShareSouthwest, part of the highly-respected Educational Resource Development Trust. Host families are asked to provide a bed, meals, a warm family environment, and a willingness to share the American way of life. To learn more about hosting international students, contact … [Read more...]

Comings, Goings James Larry Taylor is new as pastor of Calvary Baptist Church of Gardner. James (wife Lorraine) Sellers is new as pastor at Rocky Springs Baptist in Lisbon, effective July 29. He’s from San Juan, Texas. Jake (wife Karen) Roudkovski resigned in early July from First Baptist, Ponchatoula, for additional study at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Needed Full-time youth minister needed at First Baptist Leesville. Send resumes to First Baptist Church, 1400 Nolan Trace, Leesville LA 71446 or email to leesvillebaptist@bellsouth.net. Full-time pastor needed at First Baptist Kenner. Please send resumes to Pastor Search Committee, First Baptist Church of Kenner, 1400 Williams Blvd., Kenner LA 70063, or call 504.466.5381. n Part-time or bivocational minister of music needed at White Avenue Baptist, Bastrop. Please send resume to Music Minister Search Committee, White Avenue Baptist Church, 810 White Av, Bastrop LA 71220; email jlpsmay@bellsouth.net or call 318.281.1995 for more information. Jeff May is pastor. Deaths Carl Conrad died June 18 in Baytown, Texas. He was 96. Conrad served churches in Pine Prairie, Clearwater, Morgan City and New Orleans, and was a missionary to French-speaking … [Read more...]

More than 200 volunteers from 12 states surrounded the piers and floor structure at 1800 Bartholomew Street in New Orleans’ Upper Ninth Ward June 11 to witness the wall raising of the 41st home to be built as part of the Baptist Crossroads Project. NEW ORLEANS (BP – More than 200 volunteers from 12 states surrounded the piers and floor structure at 1800 Bartholomew Street in New Orleans’ Upper Ninth Ward June 11 to witness the wall raising of the 41st home to be built as part of the Baptist Crossroads Project. Construction on the new home marks the beginning of a new chapter in the partnership between New Orleans’ Habitat for Humanity and the Baptist Crossroads Foundation. Initially, plans for the Baptist Crossroads Project included 40 homes in the Upper Ninth Ward. The initiative was the vision of David Crosby, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in New Orleans. In 2004, long before Hurricane Katrina, Crosby heard New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin say that home ownership is the most effective way of lifting a family out of poverty. Crosby prayed for guidance, and soon, he and his church began making plans to build 40 homes. The Baptist Crossroads Project was the result. In August 2006, just before the first anniversary of … [Read more...]

Drawing the last blue butterfly on a get well card, she looks around at her other inmates also making cards for WorldCrafts, a nonprofit and fair-trade ministry of Women’s Missionary Union, and remembers that dreadful day at the airport. BIRMINGHAM, Ala.  – Drawing the last blue butterfly on a get well card, she looks around at her other inmates also making cards for WorldCrafts, a nonprofit and fair-trade ministry of Women’s Missionary Union, and remembers that dreadful day at the airport. With the metal from the handcuffs digging into her skin, she begged the Ecuadorian police to believe her innocence, but they ignored her pleas. After pulverizing her luggage with an ice pick and finding a black rubber pouch, the police labeled her “guilty” and disregarded the mention of her boyfriend, the man who gave her the luggage. Fear enveloped her, hopelessness gripped her and anger permeated her. Several days prior to this incident, Tamara Johnston* was excited about this romantic vacation in Quito, Ecuador, with her boyfriend because they hadn’t seen each other in nine months. Although he lived in California for six years, he moved back to his birthplace in Columbia. Living in different countries made the relationship … [Read more...]

Girls in Action and Children in Action offer education and involvement opportunities for children in grades one through six.   Missions education and involvement for girls and children: Instills godly characteristics in children as leaders mentor and minister to them each week. Demonstrates to children how God is at work in the world through stories from the missions field. Encourages children to learn and apply the Bible to their lives. Exposes children to the power of prayer as they are taught how to pray for needs around them, missionaries, people groups, and missions in general. Cultivates a healthy curiosity as children learn about different cultures and religions and realize that all people need to know Jesus. Develops a biblical worldview with a global perspective—children learn how they should treat and respond to others locally and globally. Provides opportunities for children to be personally involved in missions—their lives are changed as they see the impact of ministering to others through missions. Helps children realize the importance of giving financially to support missions as they learn about the impact that giving makes through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering®, Annie … [Read more...]

The first ever National Children’s Ministry Day promises to deliver active compassion as children are involved in missions projects across the country. BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The first ever National Children’s Ministry Day promises to deliver active compassion as children are involved in missions projects across the country. On Saturday, February 16, 2008, all children’s groups in churches are encouraged to join with members of GA and Children in Action to actively serve in their communities for a one-day, concerted effort to minister and witness together. According to Mitzi Eaker, children’s ministry consultant for national WMU, children involved in GA and Children in Action actively learn about and do missions throughout the year, but the focus on children doing missions across the country on a designated, special day will “be exciting to see.” Hope for the Hungry is the theme for the 2008 day of ministry as children are encouraged to serve those who are in need of food and nourishment. Eaker said a focus on hunger was chosen because it is tangible need and is part of WMU’s focus on poverty through its Project HELP ministry. The focus Scripture verse is Isaiah 58:10a (NIrV): Work hard to feed hungry … [Read more...]