First Baptist Church, Harrisonburg, held an ordination service Aug. 20 for Youth Minister Justin Hardie. Photographed are the church's ordained deacons, Hardie (front row, second from left) and Louisiana Baptist Executive Director Steve Horn (front row, third from left). The church currently does not have a pastor. … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer FOREST HILL, La. (LBM) – Almost 150 Baptist churches in Louisiana, five other states and Paraguay may not realize they share a common bond inside their baptistries. Phil Preddy, who died in 1995, spent decades painting murals of scenes depicted in the Bible that were placed inside baptistries of churches in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Paraguay (some of those worship centers have been destroyed by hurricanes, fire, floods or tornadoes). Such was a labor of love for a man who did not charge churches for his work but only wanted to honor the Lord by using his artistic gift. His daughter, Judi Kent, who along with her husband, Tom, served as International Mission Board medical missionaries in Paraguay for 33 years and recently paid a visit to view one of his paintings at Elwood Baptist Church, Forest Hill. His granddaughter also served as an IMB missionary and a great granddaughter is nearing her departure for mission work (their names and locations are with held because of security reasons). “God had given him the talent of art, and he wanted to give back to the Lord in a way that would have a presence in baptisms,” Kent told the … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff MERRYVILLE, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief crews have been deployed to minister to those impacted by wildfires in the Merryville-Singer area. According to LBDR Strategist Stan Statham, a feeding unit will serve lunch at First Baptist Church, Singer, to firefighters and other first responders on Aug. 23 and chaplains will be on hand. Additionally, LBDR will distribute bottled water and Gatorade to those impacted by the fires. Beauregard Baptist Association Mission Strategist Tom Bruce said that Green Oak Baptist Church, Merryville, and Dry Creek Baptist Camp have offered their facilities to shelter evacuees and that FBC Singer will serve as a cooling station for first responders. The fire broke out Aug. 22 near Highway 110 between Merryville and Singer. The Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office issued a mandatory evacuation Wednesday morning for residents on Neale Oil Field Road, where the fire was just one-half mile away Wednesday. Additionally, a voluntary evacuation had been issued for the town of Merryville as crews continue to battle the wildfire. Wildfires have been an issue in Louisiana with the ongoing lack of rainfall. In mid-August, LBDR teams prepared 545 meals at First Baptist … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff WOODWORTH, La. (LBM) – Individuals with special needs will experience a full slate of activities with the upcoming Champions Camp, Sept. 8-10 at Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center, Woodworth. The camp will match participants with buddies who will accompany them throughout the weekend. The camp will feature games, activities, crafts, karaoke, worship and Bible study designed for children and adults from ages 8 and up who have intellectual or development disabilities. “This is a time for people to enjoy a camp in a Christian atmosphere who otherwise may not be able to attend one,” said David Anderson, camp organizer and Louisiana Baptist children’s ministry strategist. “All of the teaching and activities are geared to their level and most of those who come return each year. They have a blast, and we would love to have many more people join us for a fun-filled weekend.” Anderson said individuals with special needs along with their families are one of the most unreached people groups in the state. “We have so many who need a church to plug into,” Anderson said. “If you have an individual with special needs to come into your church, then you need a ministry for that group. I would love to help set … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff LORANGER, La. (LBM) – Sixth through twelfth grade girls will be reminded how God treasures them during the upcoming Teen Girl Retreat. The multi-site event will take place Sept. 8-9 at Camp Living Waters, Loranger, and then again on March 15-16 at Clara Springs Baptist Camp, March 15-16, offering participants to attend at the location closest to them. “Our heart for this event is for girls to know how truly treasured they are by God, the creator of the universe,” said Louisiana Baptist Children and Youth Mission Education Strategist Erin Jones. “He loves them and created them for such a special purpose. Our prayer is that teen girls will walk away from this weekend reassured of who they are in Christ no matter what the world around them may try to tell them.” Samantha LaRocque and Andrea Bourgeois, founders of “Holy Restored Ministry,” will be the main speakers. They will share about the importance of mental health awareness and provide coping skills from a biblical perspective. The event also will feature a pajama, popcorn and pamper party, times of worship, missions moments, and breakout sessions. Sept. 1 is the registration deadline. The retreat will start at Friday, 6 p.m., with … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer SHREVEPORT, La. (LBM) – Twenty-one people were obedient in believer’s baptism, making a splash during a recent service at a Shreveport water world. Organized by 29 churches of various denominations in the Shreveport-Bossier City area, the June 24 event at Splash Kingdom drew 156 people who looked on and cheered as each person came in and out of the water. Eric Cunningham, pastor of Narrow Gate Cowboy Church, Vivian (a congregation planted in 2021 by First Baptist Church, Oil City), said the evening was a highlight of his time in ministry. “We didn’t even know this many people would want to get baptized but they kept lining up after the devotion I gave,” Cunningham told the Baptist Message. “The Holy Spirit was really working on people that night and they were excited to have the chance to show others how they had accepted Christ. “With all the things going in the country today, you wonder if people are still looking for truth,” Cunningham said. “That night showed me people still hunger for Christ and we had so many, including a lot of young people, who took part in baptism that night.” The baptisms were part of a follow up event for individuals who made decisions … [Read more...]