By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer BENTON – Michael Permenter, 34, was challenged recently at Cypress Baptist Church in Benton to get off the sidelines and live out true biblical manhood – and he agreed. His decision to turn his whole life over to Christ helped Permenter better lead his family – as Jesus intended him to do – and also resulted in his baptism Feb. 11. CONVICTION & OBEDIENCE Although he had received Christ as a young man and had attended Cypress Baptist for five years, Permenter had not yet been baptized. But after counseling with Cypress Baptist Pastor John Fream, Permenter knew God was calling him to take this next step of faith as a public display of his relationship with Christ. “God had been laying on my heart for some time that I needed to get my baptism in order,” said Permenter, whose wife, Autumn, was baptized in 2013 at Cypress Baptist. “It took some time to soften my heart. I have no doubt that God led my wife and me here to a community where we didn’t have any roots, but yet had a purpose waiting for us.” Permenter credits the men’s ministry at Cypress Baptist as a driving force behind his commitment to grow deeper in his spiritual walk. He attends one of six men’s Bible … [Read more...]

By Message Staff BATON ROUGE – Legislators, pastors, businessmen and others from Louisiana started off the first few days of the 2018 state legislative session with a focus on God during the Governor’s Prayer Breakfast. Keynote speaker Reese Kauffman, president of the international interdenominational Child Evangelism Fellowship, and Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards were among those offering encouraging words to the more than 1,400 attending the event March 14 at the Raising Canes Center in Baton Rouge. Lafayette native and Grammy nominee Christian contemporary artist Lauren Daigle provided the special music. The event also featured times to honor the military, law enforcement, and the late evangelist Billy Graham, who died Feb. 21. Kauffman reminded those at the Prayer Breakfast God has appointed them to serve in their various leadership positions. Citing Romans 13:1-3, Kauffman said God has ordained all in authority. Likewise, Kauffman said the Lord has commanded everyone to pray for those in authority. “The purpose for that prayer is that we might live a peaceful life and that society might go on smoothly, that the authority structure would work,” said Kauffman, citing 1 Timothy 2:1-4. “And people might come to … [Read more...]

ON THE MOVE Charlie Westbrook, Jr., is the new pastor at Hebron Baptist Church, Denham Springs. David Brown is retiring as Eastern Louisiana Baptist Associational Missions Coordinator June 30. Gary (wife Beckey) R. Wolfe is the new bi-vocational pastor at Pioneer Baptist Church, Pioneer. David, wife Brooke, Scott is the new pastor to youth and collegiate students at University Baptist Church, Thibodaux. He begins June 1. Roy Davis is the new pastor at Gray Baptist Church, Jefferson, Texas. Brent Shoalmire resigned as pastor of Oak Hill Baptist Church, Plain Dealing. He is now the new pastor at Red River Baptist Church, Benton. Billy Pierce is the interim pastor at Oak Hill Baptist Church, Plain Dealing. HOMECOMING Old Union Baptist Church, Mansfield: 159th Homecoming, April 8, 11 a.m. A covered dish lunch will be held following Worship Services. Speaker: Lyndon Longoria. Special Music: Kerry Longoria. Music: Southern Plainsmen. Pastor: Alton Middleton. REVIVAL New Beginnings Baptist Church, Castor: Revival, April 5-8. Evangelist: Scotty McDowell, chalk artist. Pastor: David Boyler. Morehouse Association Harvest Roundup, April 6-8 at the Morehouse Activity Center, Bastrop featuring Dan Daly … [Read more...]

2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: 4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. 5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. 6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. Matthew 28:2-7 (KJV) … [Read more...]

By Message Staff WOODWORTH – First through sixth grade boys will have the opportunity the learn how to be champions on the playing field and mission field during the 2018 Royal Ambassador Congress. The event April 6-7 at Tall Timbers Conference Center in Woodworth will feature coaches and former professional athletes leading the boys in baseball, basketball, football and soccer mini-camps, as well as demonstrations by Todd Keene, president of the inter-denominational Power Team from Dallas, Texas. The sports camps and Power Team demonstrations will coincide with this year’s theme, “Mind and Body,” based on Titus 2:11-12. “Many times as ministers we focus on the soul and spirit but as Royal Ambassadors we focus on the mind and body as well,” said Gibbie McMillan, men’s and ministry strategist for Louisiana Baptists. “Our hope is to use the sports element to capture the attention of these young boys while they are developing.  The power team will do amazing feats of physical strength. However their main purpose is to share the gospel of our Lord Jesus. “We follow the RA track but are open to all young boys grades 1-6,” he continued. “Some churches don’t offer RA’s and this event can help them get started.  It is not … [Read more...]