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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Louisiana Baptists prepare to rebuild paradise

By Philip Timothy, Message Managing Editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) -- Louisiana has withstood its share of devastating hurricanes but the destruction left by Hurricane Dorian to the Commonwealth of The Bahamas is hard to process, according a leading authority on disaster relief. “They have no electricity, no running water, no shelter, no trees on some parts of the island,” said John Hebert, missions and ministry team leader for Louisiana Baptists. “There are stories of rescuers on Sea-Doos riding 30-foot waves and going over raised bridges. “I just can’t fathom how people were able to survive a storm of that magnitude,” he continued. “God just laid on my heart the need for us, as a state, to come to the aid of these people. It is going to take a herculean effort to help get these people back up on their feet.” In the coming weeks Hebert wants to introduce Louisiana Baptists to a project called ‘Bahama Rebuild’ which will help restore the spiritual community on the island nation. “The churches are the center of the Bahamian culture and the majority of them were severely damaged or destroyed,” said Hebert. “We have pastors without churches and churches without congregations. I am currently trying to enlist the support … [Read more...]

Executive Board: Horn underscores ‘we’

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer WOODWORTH, La. (LBM) –In his first Executive Board meeting as executive director, Steve Horn challenged Louisiana Baptists to focus on “we” and on sharing the Gospel. “The reason for our meeting today, the reason for the existence of the Louisiana Baptist Convention is ‘we,’” Horn said during the Sept. 24 meeting at the Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center in Woodworth. “’We’ believe ‘we’ can accomplish together what we cannot accomplish separately,” he explained. “‘We’ is the fuel behind opportunities such as YEC, ECON and others. ‘We’ is the reason Louisiana Baptists have planted more than 249 churches over the last nine years. ‘We’ have the ability, potential and power to get inside the hearts and homes of 4.6 million people through efforts such as Harvest and Here for You. Without ‘we,’ there is no reason for us to take time away from our busy schedules for meetings such as this. “Southern Baptists and Louisiana Baptists believe in the power of ‘we’ to advance God’s Kingdom in Louisiana and beyond,” he declared. Horn shared with board members that during his first four months on the job he has facilitated 11 listening sessions with pastors and an additional session with … [Read more...]

E4 conference elevates expositional exegesis

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE, La. (LBM)– God has the power to open even the most impossible door to make a way for sharing the Gospel, Stephen Rummage said during the recent E4 Preaching Conference. “There is someone who sits on high and is in control,” said Rummage, pastor of the Quail Springs Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. “God has the ability to open doors in ways we never could imagine. “Sometimes He opens up big wide doors to reach communities with the Gospel. Sometimes He opens up individual intimate doors to people. But God has the ability to give us opportunities we may not see.” Citing Colossians 4:2-6, Rummage encouraged the 82 pastors and 10 pastors’ wives in attendance at the First Baptist Church in Pineville to use prayer as a tool to open doors. “God who sits on high opens the door through prayer,” he said. “Prayer has the power to open up the doors. Continue steadfastly and don’t give up praying for someone. Being watchful and be alert. Give God thanks for the way He is answering the prayer.” Once that door is open, Rummage said Christ followers must be bold and take action by sharing the hope found in Jesus. “There is no one on the earth who God will not save … [Read more...]

5. Skills of a church planter: Relating to the lost & unchurched

By John Hebert, Louisiana Baptists missions and ministry team director ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM)—You may not consider yourself a “people person,” but if you want to successfully grow your church or church plant you better become one. It is one of the most important skills a leader must develop. One of the masters of being a “people person” also happened to be the individual who launched the phrase, “What would Jesus do?” Charles M. Sheldon was the son of a minister and became one himself in the Congregational Church, starting his ministry in Topeka, Kansas, in 1889. He seemed to see things others could not or would not see and ministered in ways not imagined by others at the time. But his “secret” was that he actually put himself into situations to learn to empathize with others. In an effort to understand and minister to the unemployed, during an economic depression, he put on old clothes and went to every store in town to apply for jobs, learning what it was like to be turned down by everyone. Later, Sheldon noticed a colony of impoverished former slaves who had located near his church and took it upon himself to inspire Topekans to engage in relief projects for them. One of the outcomes of his efforts was the 1893 … [Read more...]

Louisiana Notables

EDITOR’S NOTE: Do you have a Revival, Homecoming, a new pastor, a community outreach or a concert? The Baptist Message would love to share your church news with the rest of the state. It is very easy to do, just send in your information (who, what, where and when) to philip@baptistmessage.com or call 318.449.4345. To get your event in the paper, please submit your information three weeks prior to the event. ON THE MOVE Paul DeRousse is retiring as associate pastor at Emmanuel Baptist Church, Shreveport. James Franklin has left First Baptist Church, Blanchard for Calvary Baptist Church, Harlingen, Texas. Scott Sullivan has left First Baptist Church, Haughton as education minister to for the Georgia Baptist Mission Board (Discipleship). Kevin Smith has resigned as pastor at Northwoods Baptist Church, Shreveport. Steve Efferson is the new associate pastor at Woodridge Baptist Church, Shreveport. Katie Ashcraft is the new music associate at Airline Baptist Church, Bossier City. Barry (wife Carol) Headrick is the new music minister at Gray Baptist Church. He comes from Walnut Hill Baptist Church, Vivian. Alex Hawkins is the new children’s minister at Cheniere Baptist Church, West Monroe. Russ, wife Pam, … [Read more...]

Don’t make a move without God

By Stewart Holloway How do you know when you should make a move? I’ve run into this question by different people on different matters at different times. Should I seek a different job? Should I change majors? Should I make that leap of faith? Should I seek a different church? Should I . . . make this, that, or another move? It’s a question that confronts us, challenges us, and consumes us. How do you know when you should make a move? Prayerfully look for at least four indicators: 1. There is an unsettling in your spirit. God tends to prepare us on the inside before He moves us on the outside. You may feel like a change is coming, though you don’t know when or how. 2. You experience dissatisfaction. By this, I don’t mean that you are disgruntled, though negative circumstances may play a part in your dissatisfaction. (Disappointments can become overwhelming leading us to need change in order to heal). Rather, this dissatisfaction is based in a sense that God has more for you to do and become. He wants to stretch you wider, grow you deeper, use you more, or provide for you in a different place or way. However, let me be clear - this dissatisfaction is not just about you getting more; it’s about God gaining more glory … [Read more...]

Students encouraged to bring Bibles to school October 3

By Focus on the Family More than half a million students from across the United States will join the Bring Your Bible to School movement on Thursday, Oct. 3. The annual student-led event, now in its sixth year, provides a unique opportunity for young people to share about their faith by highlighting its source – the Bible. Throughout the day, children and teens will share their experiences via social media using the hashtag #BringYourBible. Partnership with Drew Brees This year, NFL Saints quarterback Drew Brees partnered with Focus on the Family to promote Bring Your Bible to School Day. Brees filmed a short video encouraging kids to participate on October 3. In the video, Brees says, “One of my favorite verses in the Bible is 2 Corinthians 5:7. ‘For we live by faith and not by sight.’ So I want to encourage you to live out your faith on Bring Your Bible to School Day and share God’s love with friends. You’re not alone.” After receiving criticism for partnering with Focus on the Family, the Christian quarterback responded by affirming that he obeys Scripture’s command to love everyone. Brees said that as a Christian he is called to “love all, respect all, and accept all. So that is actually how I live my … [Read more...]

With push from Abraham, Louisiana College receives $2.2 million grant

By Norm Miller PINEVILLE (LCNews) - Louisiana College received a $2.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to help expand online education capacity and quality. A Sept. 27 press release from Representative Ralph Abraham’s office said, “The education of our nation's youth is among my highest priorities and I’m glad to see these federal dollars coming home to Louisiana.” Abraham said the grant will help Louisiana College “to better serve the students of Central Louisiana as they seek to broaden their academic horizons." “We celebrate this single largest grant ever achieved in the history of Louisiana College,” said Louisiana College President Rick Brewer. “We spent nine months researching the needs of our community and how best to enhance technology to solve higher education access issues. We are beyond elated for what will become a transformational advancement in our curricular offerings and general overall enhancement.” The grant underwrites a project called IDEA -- Investing in Developing Expanded Access -- with three main objectives: expanding access through online courses, improving faculty capacity in online education, and creating flexible online student services. Elements of these objectives … [Read more...]

Takeaways about prayer

By Waylon Bailey Prayer is at the heart of our Christian faith. In Scripture, we find many examples of prayer including and culminating with Jesus’ model prayer (the Lord’s Prayer). We also find exhortations to pray, and we find different aspects of prayer. One of the great passages about prayer is Paul’s writing to the Ephesians. In this passage, Paul described prayer as essential to our living faithfully. As we pray urgently, fervently, and constantly, we equip ourselves for the onslaught that we receive from the world, the flesh, and the devil. Paul wrote these powerful words as encouragement for God’s people to pray. “Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that utterance may be given me in opening my mouth boldly to  proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak” (Ephesians 6:18-20). Here are some takeaways about prayer from this passage of Scripture. First, prayer should be more “all” and less “some.” Notice that Paul uses “all” four times in Ephesians 6:18. We pray at all times with all prayer with all … [Read more...]

Joseph Willis: The story of the first Louisiana Baptist

Pilgrims and served as governor for over 30 years. As noted before, he is credited as the first government leader to proclaim the Thanksgiving holiday. Importantly, William Bradford’s Mayflower pedigree did not have as much influence on Joseph’s life as much as the religious movement that crossed with him on this ship. Bradford was a committed member of what was termed a “Separatist” church. Unlike Puritans who wanted to purify the Church of England, Separatists wanted to break from it because they felt it was beyond redemption due to unbiblical doctrines and teachings. It was Bradford’s Separatist views about religious freedom that would greatly influence Joseph Willis more than a century later. By 1790, Joseph and Rachel were living in Cheraws County (now named Marlboro County), South Carolina, just southwest of Bladen County, across the state line. The 1790 census lists him as the head of the household with two females and one male over 16. In South Carolina, two more children were born to the couple: Joseph Willis Jr., born in 1792, and Rachel’s last child, named after her, Rachel Willis, born circa 1794. Rachel died this same year at only 32 years old, but it is not known if she died in childbirth. Joseph was … [Read more...]