By Will Hall, Message Executive Editor BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM)—LSU football Coach Ed Orgeron is lifting spirits on the field and off it. The Bayou Bengals have won their first six games, defeating the then Associated Press number six Florida Gators 42-28, vaulting LSU from fifth place to second in the latest sports writers’ poll. Fans and analysts are exuberant about game plan changes Orgeron has made, creating a highly effective air strike offense that has lifted the hopes of the Tiger Nation for an undefeated season. But Ken Ellis, team Chaplain, and Andy Stroup, greater Baton Rouge area director for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, also praised “Coach O” for what he has done off the field, too. Ellis, a former NFL Pro Bowl defensive back who serves as an associate pastor with Bethany World Prayer Center in Baton Rouge, lauded Orgeron for placing a high priority on the spiritual character of the players. “It starts with Coach O,” he said regarding the spiritual attitude in the locker room. “He attends all the chapel services. He doesn’t miss any. He’s there and shows how much he appreciates it. He also reaches out to me to pray after each game. “He leads by example,” Ellis told the Baptist Message.  … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer LEESVILLE, La. (LBM)--Xavier Tate found more than fun and games on the midway during the annual fair and rodeo in Vernon Parish. During his temporary reprieve from the confines of the local jail as a member of a work crew, he found freedom in Christ and was baptized the same day --  all because of an act of compassion by members of the Vernon Baptist Association of churches. Jearme Ousley, student pastor at the Pine Hill Baptist Church in Leesville, told the Baptist Message the associational team served breakfast to Tate and his jail mates and that that kindness softened his heart. Ousley said that Tate was baptized shortly after making a profession of faith -- with the Louisiana Baptist volunteers singing “Amazing Grace.” Larry Galloway, a member of East Leesville Baptist Church, baptized Tate in a trough provided by local feed shop owner Gil James, a member of Canaan Baptist Church in Leesville, in water contributed by the  fire department. “The goal was simple – to show the love of Jesus to lost, broken and hurting people who many look down on and consider outcasts,” Ousley said. “Xavier thought he was just there to clean up and wasn’t expecting a hot meal, let alone a … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer KEITHVILLE, La. (LBM) – Chris Willcutt spent nearly eight years on his knees, praying for his daughter, Brooklyn, to accept Christ. Then, a month before her eighth birthday, his prayers were answered when her sister, Ryleigh, led her to a relationship with Christ. Brooklyn was baptized on her birthday, August 25, to publicly declare her newfound faith in the same baptistery where her father was obedient in believer’s baptism 18 years earlier. “We prayed so long for Brooklyn and to see our prayers answered, watching her spiritual journey, and, to be able to baptize her made it a special time for sure,” Willcutt told the Baptist Message. “That day, I was thinking about the faithfulness of God and how He brought my life from the ashes,” he said. “To see what He has done with my own children is, oh, so special.” Brooklyn Willcutt was among 15 new converts who participated in the baptism and baby dedication service. The participants mostly were elementary-aged children, but included four adults and two high school students. During the service, a video was shown of four other students who were baptized in the ocean during the church’s summer camp in Panama City, Florida, in … [Read more...]

PINEVILLE (LBM)--During the campus revival at Guinn Auditorium, Sept. 17-19, seven students repented and professed Christ as Savior, 20 repented and restored fellowship with the Lord, and, countless others sought prayer. The seven new believers are among 57 students who have surrendered their lives to Christ since the start of the fall semester -- 25 during a seminar on personal evangelism in August. LC President Rick Brewer told the Baptist Message the college’s faculty and staff and local pastors have prayed many months for God to move among the students. “The awakening has just begun,” Brewer said. “We can sense what God is doing here. We’re excited and are anticipating a mighty movement of the Holy Spirit.” DISCIPLED IN CHRIST Already, faculty and staff as well as local pastors have begun discipleship training with the 57. In fact, the college has developed a study guide, “Joy Through Suffering,” as part of this semester’s eight-part chapel series on 1 Peter. It will be used to disciple new believers, Baptist Collegiate Ministry meetings will feature the studies, and, 35 discipleship small groups which meet weekly will use it for in-depth discussions. VALUED IN CHRIST The revival services featured … [Read more...]

By Norm Miller PINEVILLE, La. (LCNews) – Jennifer Dykes, a Louisiana College alumnus, has been chosen by President Rick Brewer to be the assistant to the president. The Shreveport native graduated from LC in December of 2014 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Management and Marketing. “Ms. Dykes brings an amazing array of skills that are evidenced through her initiative and hard work,” Brewer said. “She is a determined young woman who has a refreshing blend of professionalism and approachability. We are blessed to have someone so talented and who also commendably represents the vision and values of Louisiana College. “Jennifer exemplifies our best and brightest of alums who are equally qualified and gainfully employed in significant roles across the country,” he added. As a member of the President’s Leadership Team, Dykes reports directly to the president, providing him executive-level support. She is responsible for a broad and complex set of assignments related to the duties of the president, including resource development, event planning, marketing, external relations, technology, and chief of the president’s office staff. She also oversees LC’s social media and website “The opportunity to join my alma … [Read more...]

By Will Hall, Message Executive Editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) — Jeff Ginn, pastor of the Istrouma Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, which has a campus in Ascension as well as a Hispanic congregation at the main campus, will be nominated for president of the Louisiana Baptist Convention during the 2019 annual meeting. Kirk Jones, pastor of the Fellowship Church in Prairieville notified the Baptist Message, Oct. 3, of his intention to make the nomination because of Ginn’s “faithful service” as a pastor and his “heart for the Kingdom of God and the cooperative work of our Convention.” The LBC annual meeting is scheduled to be held in the Alexandria Riverfront Center, Nov. 11-12. STATEMENT OF SUPPORT Jones noted that he has known Ginn since 2011, especially in Ginn’s role of nurturing Fellowship Church, a congregation that averages nearly 1,000 in worship attendance now. “Istrouma was the sponsoring church of our church plant,” Jones told the Baptist Message. “Before Jeff arrived they had purchased property on our behalf and we had an agreement to pay them back when we were in the financial position to do so. “About the time Jeff arrived, Fellowship had grown enough to start paying back the loan,” Jones explained. … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer BOSSIER CITY, La. (LBM)--Nearly a year after fire destroyed a large part of the congregation’s facilities, members of the First Baptist Church in Bossier City joined community members for a Sept. 29 groundbreaking ceremony to launch a $20 million rebuild project. “First Bossier has endured and dealt with this incredible tragedy where we navigated a lot of things emotionally and on the practical side,” Pastor Brad Jurkovich told the Baptist Message. “Walking through all of that made this groundbreaking so special. We had a great crowd of around 2,000 who joined us to help us celebrate moving forward.” Construction of the new 70,000-square-foot building could take 18 to 24 months to complete, Jurkovich said, and will include a new chapel that will incorporate some of the more traditional features of the original building, such as pew seating, but will include modern elements, such as capabilities for multi-media presentations. The new facility also will feature a student center, foyer/event center and space for Sunday school classes and other small groups to meet. ENGULFED IN FLAMES On Dec. 10, 2018, a three-alarm fire began at 5:30 a.m., originating with an uninterruptible … [Read more...]