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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Student recalls Graham’s visit to Louisiana College

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer Jackie Tucker was a student when Graham came to Louisiana College for the 1951 revival. Even though she doesn’t remember the particulars of his message, Tucker recalls the campus was abuzz with excitement about the fact the popular evangelist was preaching at the school. “We knew that this was a very, very special man,” Tucker recalled. “I can still picture him coming down that hill, with everyone thrilled he was there. Billy Graham’s main theme then was as it was right up to his death – that he wanted people to know Jesus loved them and wanted them to trust in Him so they could join Him in Heaven one day.” Tucker said she is thankful for the legacy Graham left behind and the lessons of integrity he taught during his ministry. “He’s one person that they haven’t found anything that is scandalous,” Tucker said. “When so many celebrities have fallen because of mistakes, you couldn’t find anything to mar his reputation. He was a real gentleman and we were very proud he took the time to come to LC.” … [Read more...]

Tullos pastor recalls encounters with Billy Graham

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer HOUMA – Scott Smith was a 13-year-old boy when he sat down with his mother, Penny, to watch a Billy Graham crusade on TV from inside the family’s living room in suburban New Orleans in August 1976. When the famous evangelist invited those inside the stadium in San Diego, Calif., and for TV viewers to accept Jesus -- with the iconic song “Just As I Am” playing in the background -- Smith knew he needed to say, “Yes,” to Jesus. “The Holy Spirit spoke to me and I realized I was lost,” said Smith, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Tullos since 2007. “When they were showing the invitation at the end asking people to give their life to Christ, I did.” The following Sunday, Smith walked across the street to the First Baptist Church in Houma for his baptism. Eight years later, while attending the First Baptist Church in Oloh, Mississippi, Smith accepted the Holy Spirit’s call to vocational ministry, subsequently serving as youth minister and pastor of several churches in Mississippi and Louisiana. Smith never forgot the day he watched Graham on TV and hoped one day he would have the chance to meet the evangelist in person. That encounter came just months after Hurricane Katrina … [Read more...]

Billy Graham shaped inmate’s heart who built his casket

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA (LBM) – David Bacon was one of two inmates who built the casket for Billy Graham and another for his son, Franklin, who is president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Four other Angola inmates built a casket for Graham’s wife, Ruth, who died June 14, 2007. Bacon, who was paroled in December 2016 after serving 29 years in the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola, is the only one of the six who still is living. In an exclusive interview with the Baptist Message, Bacon said the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association was instrumental in helping him seek forgiveness for a chaotic past life that included an absentee father and a life sentence for a 1988 murder. Bacon said that during a 1993 BGEA-led chapel service conducted on the prison grounds he repented of his sins and put his trust in Jesus. “While incarcerated, with help from ministries like Billy Graham’s, I got to know God, and developed a relationship with God, and, received Jesus as Lord and found love, guidance, acceptance and approval that I didn’t find with my biological father, my earthly father,” Bacon said. “I found it with THE Father.” Bacon was working in the prison carpentry shop … [Read more...]

The greatest legacy of Billy Graham: “The Bible Says”

By Keith Manuel, Evangelism/Church Growth Team Director The death of Billy Graham is grabbing the headlines in print, on a variety of screens, and over radio waves – avenues he used extensively to spread the gospel. Many are reminiscing on the spiritual counsel he provided Presidents of the United States. Others are remembering his impeccable character, especially during the eighties when ministry failures seemed all too common. While these and many other aspects of his ministry will be discussed, Graham’s use of a simple authoritative phrase, may be his greatest legacy – “The Bible says.” If one reads or listens to the sermons of Billy Graham, a consistent pattern will emerge. He reads the Scripture. He shares what some call “The Big Idea of the Sermon.” Next, he addresses what famous people say or how people live relative to the subject. Finally, he makes an appeal, not based on the authority of Billy Graham nor based on the ideas of great men and women. He makes his appeal on the only authority any preacher ever has. Graham cries out with a clear, resonate voice, “The Bible says…” The phrase flowed so freely from Graham that even a secular newspaper, the Chicago Tribune, used it to describe his pulpit … [Read more...]

Billy Graham’s lasting Louisiana legacy

By Will Hall, Message Editor ALEXANDRIA (LBM) — Billy Graham touched the world with the Gospel message for nearly 67 years after he was ordained in 1939. But he left a special imprint on Louisiana from almost the very start of his Billy Graham Evangelistic Association in 1950 through the first decade of the 21st century: leading crusades in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, and, at Louisiana College in Pineville; comforting victims after Hurricane Katrina; and, paying for the construction of two chapels at Angola prison. Meanwhile, Louisiana Baptists are engaging with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association in a project to extend his impact in the state for years to come. EARLY DAYS IN LOUISIANA In 1951, Graham conducted two evangelistic events in the state: April 8-29 in Shreveport, taking one day, April 25, to speak in Pineville at Louisiana College. In anticipation of the Shreveport campaign, M.E. Dodd, pastor emeritus of the First Baptist Church in Shreveport and a past president of the Southern Baptist Convention, wrote in the Baptist Message that 20,000 Louisianans had been gathering in special meetings to bathe the outreach in prayer. He described Graham as “a God intoxicated man” who was calling … [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@baptistsmessage.com or call 318.449.4345. To get your event in the paper, please submit your information three weeks prior to the event. HOMECOMING Cotile Baptist Church, Boyce: 36th Homecoming, March 11, 11 a.m. followed by dinner on the grounds. Paul’s Journey will be in concert at 1:30 p.m. A love offering will be taken only. For more information, contact the church at 318.793.8847 or 318.729.0317. Pastor: Johnny Miller. REVIVAL Open Door Baptist Church, Moss Bluff: Revival, March 11-14, Evangelist: Bill Britt. Pastor: Sonny Simpson. Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, Ringgold: Revival, March 11-14. Evangelist: Joe Aulds. Worship: Price Harris. Pastor: Danny Slack. First Baptist Church, Ruston: One Day Revival, March 11, Sunday, 8:45 & 11 a.m. Evangelist: Reggie Thomas. Pastor: Chris Craig. Beauregard Memorial Baptist Church, Longville: Revival, March 11-14. Evangelist: Scotty McDowell, chalk artist. Pastor: Jimmy Clark. New Hope … [Read more...]

Louisiana’s Pourciau to lead search for new IMB president

By Staff, Baptist Message RICHMOND, Va. –During the Feb. 28-March 1 trustee meeting of the International Mission Board, trustee chairman Rick Dunbar named a 16-person president search committee to name a replacement for David Platt who announced Feb. 12 his intention to resign but to stay on board during the search for his successor. The president search committee will be led by Chuck Pourciau, pastor, Broadmoor Baptist Church, Shreveport, Louisiana, committee chair; and Andy Davis, pastor, First Baptist Church, Durham, North Carolina, committee vice-chair. Other members include David Sills, professor, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, president, Reaching & Teaching International Ministries, and, member, Ninth & O Baptist Church, Louisville, Kentucky; Lisa Lovell, physical therapist, and, member, First Baptist Church, Fayetteville, Arkansas; Ken McLemore, missions pastor, Liberty Baptist Church, Hampton, Virginia; Nancy Patrick, licensed school psychologist, professor of special education, and, member, Living Legacy Church, Hershey, Pennsylvania; Will Payne, FCA campus director, Syracuse University, and, member, Central Baptist Church, Syracuse, New York; and, Seth Polk, pastor, Cross Lanes Baptist Church, … [Read more...]

Billboard sharing Pro-Life message vandalized in NOLA

NEW ORLEANS - A billboard sponsored by Louisiana Right to Life and located at Franklin and N. Robertson in New Orleans has been vandalized. The pro-life message has been displayed in that location for several weeks. The vandalism occurred within the past few days. Benjamin Clapper, executive director of Louisiana Right to Life, said: "The pro-life message espoused by Louisiana Right to Life is one of peace. We believe every unborn baby should be protected from the violence of abortion and that mothers deserve to be supported. We are disappointed that people would stoop as low as vandalizing this peaceful message. "Sadly, our messages have been consistently vandalized over the years. We call on Mayor Mitch Landrieu and the New Orleans City Council to denounce these destructive acts in hopes of stopping them before they continue on our future billboards." … [Read more...]

Speaker challenges audience at NOBTS Chapel to “Do Your Part”

By Marilyn Stewart, NOBTS Communications NEW ORLEANS -- Rear Admiral Endel Lee, a Navy Reserve chaplain officer and North American Mission Board church planting catalyst in military communities, challenged a chapel audience at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary to "Do your part" for the Kingdom. The Feb. 8 service included the commissioning of a new Navy chaplain. NOBTS President Chuck Kelley encouraged the audience in opening remarks to consider the varied service opportunities available to chaplains. "It is a special day on our campus because we are focusing our attention on a very particular calling in ministry, one which does not get much attention -- that is, the chaplain," Kelley said. "They make a great impact." Kelley noted chaplains serve in settings ranging from "military to hospital to industry." More than in some fields of ministry, Kelley added, chaplains are "expected" to lead out in spiritual conversations. "They expect a chaplain to be a representative of faith," Kelley said. "This is a high calling indeed." Lee's 35-year military career includes more than 10 years in the Marines and 22 years as a Navy Reserve chaplain, encompassing deployments overseas and mobilizations to New York City … [Read more...]

Famed evangelist Billy Graham’s legacy left lasting impression on Louisiana, pastors

By Staff, Baptist Message News that Billy Graham died during the early morning hours of Feb. 21 prompted reaction from those who admired the famous evangelist, including those in Louisiana Baptist circles. Fred Luter, pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church, New Orleans, said a highlight of his time as president of the Southern Baptist Convention was a 2012 visit to the home of Graham. “I felt like I was in the presence of Moses on Mt. Sinai,” Luter told the Baptist Message. “For a kid from the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans to be in the home of the greatest evangelist that ever lived was an unforgettable moment I will cherish for the rest of my life.” Six years earlier, Graham came to New Orleans to lift the spirits of Luter, area pastors and the residents of the area who had lost so much in Hurricane Katrina, which made landfall in August 2005. During his message, Graham told the overflow crowd of 17,800 people at Celebration of Hope in the New Orleans Arena in late February 2016 that it was one of the last evangelistic sermons he would preach and that he was looking “forward to a big reunion one day in heaven” with his long-time crusade colleagues George Beverly Shea and Cliff Barrows.” The … [Read more...]