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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Louisiana’s Nix honored as minister’s wife with the Willie Turner Dawson Award

INDIANAPOLIS (LBM) - -The Willie Turner Dawson Award recognizes a minister’s wife for making a distinct denominational contribution beyond the local church and for modeling Christian character and service to others. Diane Nix fits the bill to a T. A longtime pastor’s wife, Nix received the Willie Turner Dawson Award at the sold-out luncheon of more than 1,600 women, at the SBC Ministers’ Wives Luncheon, June 11, Indianapolis. She has been a pastor's wife for almost 41 years, serving alongside her husband pastor/professor Preston L. Nix, a professor of evangelism and evangelistic preaching at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana. The couple married in 1983. They have two biological daughters (ages 26 & 28), two spiritual daughters (41 & 42), two special grands, and two sons-in-law. She and her pastor/professor husband served as lead pastor and wife in Texas and Oklahoma for 21 years. During the last 20 years, she and Preston, who have loved the local church, have served in 15 interim Pastorates. For the past 14 years, she has hosted the SBC Women’s Expo, and for 19 years, Diane has served on the board to help plan the SBC Women’s Monday Morning session held each year at the … [Read more...]

First Bossier to host Generate Conference in 2025

By YM360 BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (YM360) - Registration has opened for the Generate Conference at First Baptist Church, Bossier City. Scheduled for Jan. 24-25, Generate Conference will provide a weekend of dynamic worship and Word-filled weekends where attendees will be challenged to know Christ and make Him known. YM360, which coordinates the conference, also is the home of Generate Summer Camps which span more than 40 events in 15 states. In addition to FBCBC, Generate Conferences also are scheduled at: Jan. 31-Feb. 1, Hebron Church, Dacula, Georgia Feb. 7-8, Northland Church, Orlando, Floria Feb. 14-15, Morrison Heights Baptist Church, Jackson, Mississippi Feb. 21-22, Dallas Baptist University, Dallas, Texas Feb. 28-March 1 - Germantown Baptist Church, Memphis, Tennessee March 7-8, The Church at Brook Hills, Birmingham, Alabama YM360 President Roger Davis, a leader of nationwide student ministry events since 1993, said this is a perfect alignment with YM360’s mission and heart to serve as many churches as possible and see students have encounters with Jesus. "We simply want to say yes' to as many churches as possible as we create event experiences that help all those attending have a chance … [Read more...]

Baptisms mark launch of FBC Moss Bluff’s second campus

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer DERIDDER, La. (LBM) – Sensing God’s call to plant a church for several years, Bubba Sharpton said it was easy to say “yes” in June 2023 to an invitation to become pastor of a second campus of First Baptist Church, Moss Bluff. Ten months later, the church’s second campus celebrated its first service, March 31, with four baptisms and 420 people packing the congregation’s temporary home at the Wooten Theater in DeRidder. “We were overwhelmed and humbled at the tangible joy and excitement experienced by all who were able to join us,” Sharpton told the Baptist Message. “God exceeded our expectations and moved in a powerful way through baptism, song, and the sharing of the Word.” BACKGROUND In 2020, Sharpton was enjoying a career in the chemical plant industry when he and his wife, Brandi, who were both members of FBCMB at the time, sensed that God wanted them to get their finances in order. As the couple began to pay down their home mortgage, FBCMB staff conducted a survey on the church’s health and readiness to take the “next step” in following God. Compiling the inputs, a plan emerged to plant a second campus in DeRidder. By early 2023, FBCMB Pastor Bryan Carter … [Read more...]

SBC EC declines transparency motions

By Baptist Message staff INDIANAPOLIS (LBM) – Leading up to the 2024 Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting, the Executive Committee declined to act on two motions that called for enhanced transparency in the financial reports provided by Southern Baptist entities. Presented by messengers during the 2023 SBC Annual Meeting in New Orleans, the motions would have required Convention entities to provide Southern Baptists with detailed information about highly compensated individuals -- like other tax-exempt organizations that are mandated to submit the Form 990 to the Internal Revenue Service. The motions would not have required entities to submit Form 990 to the IRS, but only provide the detailed breakout information about executive salaries to Southern Baptists. Instead of requiring such transparency, the EC urged Convention entities to uphold all current reporting standards and promised to review the Business and Financial Plan “to determine ways to enhance transparency and clarity of reporting to the Convention, and will report its findings and recommendations to the messengers at the 2025 SBC Annual Meeting in Dallas.” … [Read more...]

Alabama native Ingram retiring to Mississippi after 16 years of Louisiana ministry

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – For the past 16 years, Jeff Ingram has traveled the state helping Louisiana Baptist congregations discover how to better carry out the God-given mandate to make disciples. Ingram, who is set to retire June 30 from the Evangelism and Church Grown team, told the Baptist Message he is thankful for having had the opportunity “to serve the churches.” “I really value the relationships I’ve had through the years with our LBC staff, but also with associational mission strategists, pastors, church staff and lay leaders,” he said. “Just ‘thank you’ for the opportunity to get to know you, to work with you and to see how God is working through Louisiana Baptists to reach and minister to the people in their communities.” CALLED TO SERVE Ingram grew up in a home where church attendance was a priority, but during his teen years he became less engaged. After he graduated high school and began attending the University of South Alabama, he felt the need to join the Baptist Student Union and attend Spring Hill Baptist Church, Mobile, Alabama, he said. However, it was during a revival service at Agricola Baptist Church, Lucedale, Mississippi, that Ingram made his … [Read more...]

Louisiana Notables

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Baptist Message provides churches an opportunity to share with other Louisiana Baptists an upcoming revival, homecoming, new pastor, new staff member, a community outreach, or a concert in Louisiana Notables. To place your event in the paper, send your information (who, what, where, when, time) to philip@baptistmessage.com or call 318.449.4345. Please submit your information four weeks prior to the event to insure placement in the Message. ON THE MOVE Andrew Ogea is the new pastor of First Baptist Church, Baton Rouge. His father, Reggie Ogea, has been Interim pastor at FBCBR since April 2023. Kevin, wife Melainie, Ulmer is the new Louisiana Baptists evangelism strategist on the Evangelism/Church Growth Team. He begins on July 1. Chuck Clinton is the new music minister at First Baptist Church, Greenwood. Russell, wife Hope, James is the new youth minister for Bonita Road Baptist Church, Bastrop. Kevin, wife Nichole, Seefried is the new student past at Mount Vernon Baptist Church, West Monroe. Lane Noakes is the new youth minister at First Baptist Church, Dry Prong. Riley Robertson is the new music minister at Victory Baptist Church, Monroe. Jeff Hoffman, Pastor of FBC Arcadia, is the … [Read more...]