By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE – Ricky Chelette, a Louisiana College alum who turned from a lifestyle of homosexuality to one anchored in Christ, urged students attending a recent Baptist Collegiate Ministry meeting not to believe the cultural lie that people are born homosexual. “Some of you are struggling with this very issue,” Chelette said during the gathering, November 15. “The thing we have to do as people of the Gospel is to be able to say there is hope, there is hope to walk out of this.” Chelette founded Living Hope Ministries more than 25 years ago to help others who like him found freedom from the homosexual lifestyle through Jesus. He has discovered males are born with either a sensitive or rough and tumble personality, with the majority of boys experiencing traits of the latter. He said both personality types need affirmation that they have what it takes to be a man, attention from their fathers and affection to succeed. However, most dads do not know how to properly connect with their sensitive sons at early age. This causes a disconnect with the father and a stronger connection with the mother. Even so, the sensitive male craves affirmation, attention and affection from other … [Read more...]

By John Marcase, Special to the Message PINEVILLE (LBM) – Pineville native Jacob Sooter was doing what he does best and what he does for a living – writing Christian music – when one of his co-writers that morning in Nashville asked if he was going to the Dove Awards later that night. Sooter knew he had been nominated for Worship Song of the Year with “Spirit of the Living God.” It is a song he co-wrote with Mia Fieldes and which his wife, Meredith Andrews, was the lead singer as part of the Vertical Worship project. What Sooter did not know was he also received a nomination for Children’s Music Album of the Year, “Bright Ones.” “When he asked if I was going to the Dove Awards, that’s when I found out,” Sooter told the Baptist Message. He went and “Bright Ones” won. “It was a real treat and honor. The best thing is I tied Meredith now that I have two Doves,” he joked. PINEVILLE ROOTS A dry and sharp sense of humor has been part of Sooter’s life since birth. He grew up in Pineville, the oldest of two children to Alexandria attorney Vic Sooter and his wife, Molly, who teaches piano in Central Louisiana and who has performed with the Rapides Symphony Orchestra. So, music has been part of Sooter’s life … [Read more...]

By Jerry Love, Director of Planned Giving ALEXANDRIA (LBM) – Reports of a strong third quarter, the election of new officers, the addition of a new manager for the domestic equity pool and beefed up security against potential cyberattacks highlighted the Oct. 23 agenda of the final 2018 meeting of the Louisiana Baptist Foundation Board of Trustees. THIRD QUARTER RESULTS Lee Morris with Graystone Consulting reviewed the Foundation’s portfolio for the quarter, presenting a positive view of asset performance for the period. The increase in the portfolio was led by growth-oriented companies, primarily in the technology sector; and, fixed income investments also performed in line with expectations, he said. Alternative allocations, financial instruments other than standard stocks and bonds, also are adding value at both the performance and diversification/risk control levels. LBF portfolio year-to-date performances as of Sept. 30: -- Short Term Fund: 1.30% actual annualized yield; -- Group Investment Fund, comprised of various market sectors: 2.87% total return; -- Diversified Income Fund, conservative income-oriented fund: 0.16% total return. All funds are generating returns that are in line with their respective … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer METAIRIE – Memorial Baptist Church and School recently went “all in” for the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home Fall Food Roundup and collected more than 30,000 items that will be used to help feed and provide supplies for residents at the ministry’s campus in Monroe throughout the upcoming year. The effort was embraced by the students, parents and church members as they worked together to surpass their all-time record. One class at the 335-student school collected 5,000 items and was rewarded with a trip to a local restaurant. The congregation, which averages 125 in Sunday morning worship, also gave $2,200 and set up a Facebook donation page that raised an additional $1,000. Pastor Dan Pritchett even stepped up to provide extra motivation for the drive by offering to shave his head if more than 30,000 non-perishable groceries, paper products, and cleaning supplies were contributed to the drive. “In previous years, the school principal and I competed with one another, with the person coming in second sleeping on our church roof,” Pritchett said. “We finally had gotten at a place where we needed something fresh and wanted the Lord to blow this up. Then I walked in one day and … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA – Some members of the Louisiana Baptist Convention state mission services staff will be taking on new roles early next year. Stacy Morgan, church administration strategist for Louisiana Baptists, will transition to the role of Cooperative Program and stewardship strategist and Jeff Ingram, adult ministry strategist for Louisiana Baptists, will remain in his current role while absorbing Morgan’s church administration strategist duties in early January. The changes were approved by the LBC Executive Board. Both men told the Baptist Message they eagerly anticipate their respective new responsibilities. “I’m looking forward to responding to pastors, staff and the church’s needs in this critical area of church administration,” Ingram said. “I’ll be providing resources for churches regarding church administration. Specifically, this may include the church ministry assistants’ conference, church tax seminar, staff compensation research, as well as resources to help churches develop safety policies and marriage policies. I also will be responsible for the annual luncheon for retirees and bi-vocational pastors.” Morgan said he is excited about promoting the Cooperative … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell and Kirbi Cochran ALEXANDRIA – Hundreds of students embraced a call to “change the world for Christ” during the 2018 Youth Evangelism Conference, coinciding with a change in venue for the annual event as it returned to the confines of its traditional home at the Rapides Parish Coliseum in Alexandria. Extensive renovations to the coliseum had forced a move to south Louisiana for the past four years. “Being back at the Coliseum is like coming home; it’s a good fit,” said Keith Manuel, evangelism and church growth director for Louisiana Baptists. “We’ve been blessed to have a great response to YEC at every location, however, being in central Louisiana allows us to make the most effective use of our resources and strategically reach more students across the state for Christ. “The coliseum staff and upgrades made this a welcome and accommodating environment to freely share the Word of God and respond to spiritual needs,” he added. FOR CHRIST’S SAKE Evangelist Drew Worsham headlined the gathering, Nov. 18-19, challenging Louisiana Baptist teens in multiple sessions to share what Christ has done in their lives, and encouraging them to change the world for the Lord. “He is not done with you, … [Read more...]

By Will Hall, Message Editor BOSSIER CITY (LBM) -- U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., has been elected chairman of the influential Republican Study Committee. Johnson, a member of the First Baptist Church in Bossier City, will assume his post while beginning only his second term as a congressman. With 150 members, the RSC is largest caucus of conservatives in the Congress, constituting more than a third of the 435 U.S. representatives. Former RSC chairmen include Vice President Mike Pence, who served in the position when he was a congressman from Indiana, and U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise, of Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, who has since been elected Republican whip, the number two GOP leadership spot in the House. After his election, Johnson released a statement, vowing to “continue to fight” for core values while helping to shape “the future of the conservative movement.” “As we become the minority party in the next term, we have a vital responsibility to present practical ideas and effective policy initiatives,” Johnson said, “and to unify as a conference to vigorously defend and advance our core conservative principles. Sodom and Gomorrah? Archaeologists excavating the Bronze Age city of Tall el-Hammam reported in … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer GILBERT – Sharon Ferrington’s heart went cold after her boyfriend passed away in February, but the Christ-like legacy he left behind combined with a profound question by her sister, Susan Hill, made Ferrington consider her eternal future. “She asked me, ‘If you died today, would you go to Heaven?’ and I told her, ‘I’m not sure because I’m not saved,’” Ferrington recalls of the September conversation. “That’s when I knew I needed to follow Christ.” She repented for salvation and that same month was baptized. Speaking to the Baptist Message Ferrington recalled her emotions afterward. “My baptism left me with this overcoming peace,” she said. “I wanted to throw my hands up and say, ‘Praise the Lord.’ God took a black hard heart, wiped it with red blood and it came out white.” IN GOOD COMPANY Ferrington is among 25 new believers who have been baptized at First Baptist Church in Gilbert since January. The baptisms give a glimpse of the revival First Baptist has experienced since Pastor Bubba Ezell arrived in October 2016. Before then the congregation averaged about 25 worshipers in Sunday morning services, and baptisms were a rarity. Two years later, attendance has more … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer COVINGTON – Fred Luter and David Hankins will share the stage with theirs sons, Chip and Eric, respectively, in a rare father-son preaching engagement during the 2019 Louisiana Baptist Evangelism Conference, Jan. 28-29, at the First Baptist Church, Covington. Fred Luter, pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church, New Orleans, and Chip Luter, pastor of Idlewild Baptist Church’s Sulphur Springs campus, Tampa, Florida, will preach during the opening session. David Hankins, executive director for Louisiana Baptists, and his son Eric Hankins, pastor of the First Baptist Church, Fairhope, Alabama, will be on the program for the morning session of the second day of the meetings. MAKING A CHANGE Chip served under his dad’s leadership at Franklin Avenue Baptist for five years; however, even then they rarely preached together at the same event. “To be able to have Chip at home and be a part of our state Evangelism Conference alongside me means a lot,” said Fred Luter. “The excitement of having my son preaching on the same day together, for only the third time, is hard for me to put into words.” Throughout his ministry, Fred Luter has emphasized the importance of men taking an … [Read more...]