By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer MONROE – For the first time since starting its off-campus foster care ministry five years ago, the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home has surpassed the benchmark of placing 100 children in foster care in a one-year period, and officials are asking more Louisiana Baptists to open their homes to foster children. While the milestone is worthy of celebration, Children’s Home President and CEO Perry Hancock said during the trustees’ Sept. 22 meeting that the potential exists to reach even more children and families with the Gospel through this home placement ministry. “With great need there is great opportunity,” Hancock said. “This is a tremendous opportunity to make a difference in the next generation. If we had more Louisiana Baptists open their homes for foster care, we would make a big difference in this coming generation in Louisiana.” Through the end of September, 100 children were on-campus residents and 102 were in foster homes. This increase is due in part to Connect 1:27, a network that assists churches with the development of foster and adoption ministries and that works with Christian families interested in serving as foster and adoptive parents. Connect 1:27 offers … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer WOODWORTH – Much like Nehemiah did with careful planning to build the wall in Jerusalem, Louisiana Baptists must continue plotting a course to shore up its various ministries at the half-way point of a seven-year initiative to reach the state with the Gospel by 2020. Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Director David Hankins gave an update during the Sept. 26 Executive Board meeting on the progress toward the goals of the President’s 2020 Commission Report, sharing good news about what had been achieved so far and offering observations about what is still needed to complete the work. Hankins said he is confident Louisiana Baptists can have great victory in the end, as long as they do not violate their convictions, compromise the truth or strive to please man over God. “We recognize that our tasks are spiritual, and we will not be successful unless God blesses us with His power,” Hankins said during the meeting. “We are not attempting to outwit the world. Strategies and studies are useful tools but they are no substitute for God’s Spirit bringing grace, mercy and revival. We must continue to give ourselves to prayer for spiritual renewal in our state.” Adopted by messengers … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer WOODWORTH – With rising enrollment that includes a record number of freshmen on campus, Louisiana College President Rick Brewer had much to be thankful for during the recent Executive Board meeting. “We are preparing graduates and transforming lives at Louisiana College,” Brewer said. “We love our job. We love our students, faculty and staff. We love and thank you for your support through the Cooperative Program. You are there when students’ lives are changed and when things happen for the kingdom, investing in the future.” He reminded Executive Board members that the goal of the school’s Vision 2020 plan is to have an enrollment of 1,500 students by that time. Currently, they stand at 1,210 for the fall semester, the second consecutive year of an increase. Brewer also celebrated that the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges has awarded the school four initiatives, which include a Master’s in Nursing, Master’s in Social Work, Bachelor’s in Computer Science and the ability to offer any course online. “We praise the Lord for what’s happening, what He’s doing and what’s to come,” he said. “It’s all part of the plan and what God’s leading us to do … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer WOODWORTH – Eddie Wren opened the fall Executive Board meeting with a challenge to pastors to set the example of the humbleness of David for their congregations. He faced the temptation to slay his enemy, King Saul, Wren said. But David resisted his own emotions and instead sought to honor God. “I want to be a pastor who, when people attack me, remains humble before the Lord and hears His spirit and is convicted in my heart,” said Wren, president of the Executive Board and pastor of First Baptist Church in Rayville. “In the end, I want them to see the righteousness of God in me because I humbled myself before the Lord. I hope we as pastors and leaders of this convention can have the same humility that David displayed that day.” Much like David, Wren said pastors are placed into spiritual battles in which they have opportunities to fight those attacking them. When those times come, Wren encouraged pastors to remember that if they will walk humbly before the Lord, He will convict their consciences, quiet their anger, and, shame their enemy. “Even when others want to choose the wrong path, if I walk humbly before the Lord I can help others to follow the right path,” Wren … [Read more...]