Click to Login or Sign Up

Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

2018 Pastors Conference to focus on ‘whole church’

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer RUSTON – Organizers of this year’s Louisiana Baptist Pastors Conference hopes to equip participants with the tools needed to lead people of all backgrounds within the church. “Our hope is that we can learn how to better reach and connect with people of different language groups and ethnic backgrounds, as well as families who deal with special needs or individuals who suffer with mental health issues,” said Pastors Conference President Kirk Jones. Scheduled Nov. 11-12 at Cook Baptist Church, the annual gathering’s theme is “Whole: Equipping the church to love the whole church.” “The passion behind this theme is to take a Biblical approach to some difficult topics,” Jones said. “Our heart is not to address what we should do but how we could and would lead our church to live out our shared convictions. We will provide this opportunity through times of biblical preaching and through times of practical instruction in breakout session.” The conference begins 6 p.m., Nov. 11, with music led by Fellowship Church of Prairieville and Istrouma Espanol of Baton Rouge, and with a message shared by Louisiana Baptist Church Planting Strategist Carlos Schmidt. Following the bi-lingual … [Read more...]

Annual meeting will highlight ‘reaching the next generation’

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer RUSTON – Under the mantle of  ”Imprint – Marking the Next Generation,” adapted from Deuteronomy 6:7, messengers to the 2018 Louisiana Baptist Convention will learn about progress being made toward completing the goal of sharing Christ with the next generation as outlined in the President’s 2020 Commission Report. The annual meeting will take place Nov. 12-13 at Temple Baptist Church in Ruston. “We see pockets of success of which we celebrate,” said LBC Executive Director David Hankins, “but we need to prayerfully seek God’s direction if we’re going to successfully imprint this generation with the Gospel.” The next generation is one of two groups identified as target audiences in the President’s 2020 Commission Report. Adopted by messengers at the 2013 Louisiana Baptist Convention annual meeting, the 2020 initiative seeks to reach every generation and every people group in Louisiana with the Gospel by the year 2020 through congregational revitalization, church planting, communications and collaboration. LEANER BUDGET Messengers also will vote on a reduced Cooperative Program budget. Approved during the Executive Board’s Sept. 25 meeting at Tall Timbers Baptist Conference … [Read more...]

Messengers must register to participate at Annual Meeting

By Shana Johnson, LBC IT Supervisor RUSTON – In order for a church to be represented in the business portion of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, November 12-13, at Temple Baptist Church in Ruston, it will need to elect messenger(s), who then must register and be certified by the Credentials Committee. Merelin McCon, chairman of the Credentials Committee, noted to the Baptist Message that there are five ways for messengers to register and be approved: -- The first and simplest way is for messengers to pre-register using the LaOne online program, print out the registration card, and bring it to the annual meeting. This way allows messengers to be certified within a matter of minutes, McCon said. -- Second, a messenger may bring a letter on official letterhead signed by the pastor or church clerk, stating that the individual was elected by the congregation. -- Third, a church officer can phone in the names of elected messengers. -- Fourth, a person can be vouchsafed as a duly elected messenger by a fellow registered church member. -- Finally, when there is no other means by which to validate a person, a meeting of the Credentials Committee may be called to make a determination. McCon emphasized that pastors are not … [Read more...]

LC, NOBTS to partner in graduate ministry degree

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE – Louisiana College students soon will enjoy access to a fast track for earning a graduate degree at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. NOBTS President Chuck Kelley and LC President Rick Brewer signed a memorandum of understanding, Oct. 29, to create a partnership that grants seminary-level credit for hours successfully completed by students in LC’s Missions and Ministries program. Brewer said he hopes the agreement will be finalized by the start of the spring semester in 2019. “This partnership agreement will be a win-win-win,” Brewer said, noting that the students and both institutions will reap rewards from cooperating. “Louisiana Baptist churches will profit, too, because more graduates will be on the field sooner than usual.” “We are exceedingly grateful for Dr. Kelley’s leadership throughout his long tenure at the seminary, and as well, his vision for the future of the seminary and Louisiana College,” Brewer said. “We look forward to a long and beneficial relationship with another Southern Baptist institution whose curricula are built upon a Christian worldview and that has a burden for both the Lord’s people and lost people.” Kelley said the … [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 Andy Buckley is interim pastor at Cornerstone Baptist Church, Jennings. Gabe (wife Audrey) McCormick is the new pastor at Belcher Baptist Church, Belcher. D. Jones is the new children minister at Calvary Baptist Church, Shreveport Kenny Joyner is the new pastor at Willow Point Baptist Church, Shreveport after resigning as pastor of First Baptist Church, Greenwood. Jeremy Spurling is the interim pastor at Kingston Road Baptist Church, Shreveport. Shane West is the interim pastor at Mansfield Road Baptist Church, Keithville. Jim Arrant is the new transitional pastor at Faith Baptist Church, Bastrop. Brock Huffpauir has resigned as pastor at New Life Church, Arnaudville. REVIVAL Superior Avenue Baptist Church, Bogalusa: Harvest Sunday, November 11, Evangelist: Joe Aulds. Special … [Read more...]

Can I change my disposition?

By Waylon Bailey Can I change my disposition? I’m sure you’ve heard someone protest how they cannot change. Usually, they say something like this. “You have to take me the way I am. I can’t change. That just the way I am.” Is that true? Is it impossible to change? Are we destined for impatience, frustration, anger, and bitterness? Or, is it possible that God can do in my life what seems impossible to me? The Bible gives every indication that you are not stuck with the same old way that you’ve always been. What does the Bible say about change? First, the Bible is clear that to be “in Christ“ means to be a new creation. Being saved isn’t about trying harder or reforming our image. To be in Christ is to be made new. “Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old passed away; behold, new things have come“ (2 Corinthians 5:17). Second, the Bible says that we have been given the Spirit of Jesus to work within us. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is at work within us. When you think about that power, you must say, “I do not have to be the way I have always been.” Third, God produces fruit in the life of a Christian. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, … [Read more...]

Learn to be a better listener

By Rick Warren ”The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out” (Proverbs 20:5 NIV). If you want your prayers to be effective, you need to learn to be a good listener. Why? Because prayer is a conversation. While you may not hear God’s voice when you pray, he has still given you the Holy Spirit and Scripture to know how he wants you to live and to encourage you. But most of us are too busy, and we talk too much to really hear and understand what God—and others—may be trying to tell us.You may think you’re already a good listener. But there’s a big difference between hearing and listening! Hearing is simply the vibrations that take place in your ear. Listening is how you decode those vibrations in your brain. Many times I’ve heard my wife, my kids, or someone at church say something—but I didn’t listen. Listening is a skill. And if you’re going to be effective in your prayer life—and in all your relationships—you must develop it. Here are four tips to become a better listener. 1. Withhold judgment and criticism from the start. Don’t evaluate until you’ve heard and comprehended it all. I’ll admit that this isn’t natural. When someone else is talking and you hear something you … [Read more...]

LC announces military reserves will get scholarship assistance

By Norm Miller, LC News PINEVILLE (LCNews) -- Louisiana College will match up to $4500 in annual tuition assistance, matching federal tuition assistance available for the Army, Navy, Marine, Air Force, and Coast Guard reserve forces. “It is virtually impossible to offer sufficient gratitude to those who answer the call of their fellow citizens with such depth of commitment,” LC President Rick Brewer said in an October 24 press conference. “But is not impossible for Louisiana College to demonstrate its thankfulness for the constant blessing our military service personnel willingly provide.” Brewer said that when military personnel exercise their Constitutional duty, they “provide the protection for us to exercise our Constitutional freedom.” “Such freedom includes the opportunity to offer and experience a quality education because there are those who are willing to stand so sacrificially on our behalf,” he added. “Thank you for being so generous,” said Major General Glenn H. Curtis, Adjutant, who is commander of the Louisiana National Guard. “Thank you for another positive step for our young men and women who are willing to wear the uniform and defend our great nation.” “We answer the call when our nation and … [Read more...]

No ‘ifs’ in our victory over Satan

By Steve Horn Horatio Lord Nelson lived from 1758-1805. The son of a clergyman, he joined the British Royal Navy when he was 12 years old. He became a Captain when he was 20. He was heralded as a daring leader who won many a victory for the British. One of his greatest victories was over the French during the Napoleonic Wars. Napoleon planned to invade Egypt so to restrict Britain’s trade routes. On August 1, 1798, Nelson came upon the French Navy in the waters near Alexandria, Egypt, in what would later be referred to as the Battle of the Nile. Upon spotting the French warships, one of Nelson’s men said, “If we succeed, what will the world say?” Nelson immediately responded, “There is no if in the case. That we shall succeed is certain!” As believers in Jesus Christ—that we will succeed is certain! There is no “if.” But, we live like there is an “if.” We act like there is an “if.” In Ephesians 6:10-18, we are reminded that we are in a battle. The battle is real. The battle is intense. The battle is with a powerful enemy, Satan, who is out to destroy us. But, I don’t see the “if.” I see the victory, and the source of our victory is our faith. According to verse 16, we are to “in every situation, take the shield of faith.” … [Read more...]

Louisiana Baptists celebrate completion of children’s village in Haiti

By Message Staff The Children’s Village in Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti was dedicated Sunday, October 14. The dedication was the culmination of five years of hard work by LA Reach Haiti, which is sponsored by the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home, the Louisiana Baptist Convention, the Haitian Baptist Convention and 30 Louisiana Baptist churches. “What an emotional and exciting day of seeing vision become reality,” said Wayne Sheppard, the former executive assistant to Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Director David Hankins. “Thank you, Dr. Perry Hancock and the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home for your generous partnership in this work.” Haiti was devastated by a Jan. 12, 2010, earthquake that killed more than 250,000 people and left hundreds of thousands more homeless. Louisiana Baptists were among the first to provide disaster relief and have maintained a ministry presence through mission trips. In the time since the earthquake response, a vision developed for a permanent presence in Haiti, Sheppard said. The vision, called LA Reach Haiti, included building a mission center with a church plant and a children's village, a housing community, a micro-business center and trade school, and a school for educating … [Read more...]