By Brad Welborn, LC Sports Information PINEVILLE – As the man following in the footsteps of legendary Louisiana College basketball coach Gene Rushing, Reni Mason knew the 2015-2016 season would pose a challenge. As a matter of fact, it would have been challenging regardless who followed Rushing, an LC icon who retired last year after 29 years as the Wildcats’ coach. “Coming into the season we knew it would be difficult because of the transition,” said Mason. “There were a lot of high expectations because of the talent returning.” The team, though, exceeded expectations, Mason said, explaining that the team made a first-ever trip to the American Southwest Conference Tournament Championship game. HOOPS JOURNEY “For seven years I coached at Evangel Christian Academy [in Shreveport] and I really enjoyed it,” said Mason. As Evangel’s head basketball coach, he guided the Eagles to a 154-53 record and three district titles in 2010, 2011 and 2015. He led them to the LHSAA Top 28 twice, including a runner-up finish in Class 2A in 2011. “However, it wasn’t until the last year or so there did I start to think about getting back into college basketball,” Mason said. The 44-year-old Mason played collegiately at Louisiana Tech before … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer FLORES, Indonesia – This month, a small group of Hispanic pastors will board a plane from Louisiana and head across several oceans to share the Gospel with Indonesians using an English-speaking interpreter. Using Spanish speakers to reach this country might seem unusual, but it is a perfect approach to winning souls among this mainly Muslim population, according to trip organizer Carlos Schmidt. “Indonesians accept Hispanics easier than Anglo people,” said Schmidt, Hispanic church planting strategist for Louisiana Baptists. “Even though the cultures are miles apart, they have similarities such as being very family oriented and having a unique colorfulness of the culture.” This is the third year Louisiana Baptist Hispanic pastors and church members have taken a trip to Indonesia, a country located in southeast Asia. The primary mission of the team is to assist the ministry of an English-speaking Christian couple, who live there and are trying to reach their people group for Jesus. During the first trip in 2014, the team worked through a small English-speaking grade school to share the Gospel in one town. When the team returned to the country last year, they built relationships with an … [Read more...]

By Chuck Kelley, President of New Orleans Baptists Theological Seminary The Great Commission is Matthew 28:18-20. Based on His authority as the Risen Lord, Jesus gives a very clear command. It is not a recommendation, a request, or a suggestion. He commands us to make disciples among all nations, noting that He will always be present with us as we go about the task. Note how Jesus explained “make disciples.” The mark of Great Commission progress is not how many hear the Gospel, nor is it simply making the Gospel known to an ever growing number of people. According to the text, new disciples who are baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who know and obey the commandments of Jesus, and who are themselves engaged in making disciples are the truest measure of progress. I call your attention now to a provocative chart on the Great Commission progress of SBC Churches. The chart begins on the left in 1881 and concludes on the right with the most recent year for which date is available, 2014. Conclusion #1: Lostness in North America is having a bigger impact on Southern Baptists than Southern Baptists are having on lostness. Put another way: The world is having a bigger impact on the behavior of Southern … [Read more...]

ON THE MOVE Jason, wife Jessica, Dubea new as pastor at Gateway Baptist Church, Ball. Joe Bob Alexander is the new pastor at Ferry Lake Baptist Church, Oil City. Chad Mills is the new pastor at Beulah Land Baptist Church, Haughton. Tommy McManus is the new pastor at Trinity Baptist Church, Eunice. Bryan Camp is the new youth minister at Beulah Land Baptist Church, Haughton. Mike, wife Arenda, Schultz is the new youth minister at Cross Point Baptist Church, Bossier City. Terry, wife Jennifer, Young is the new pastor at Airline Baptist Church, Bossier City. Jeff and Jan Shadoin are new as youth ministers at Bethany Baptist Church, Bethany. Ronnie, wife Kayla, Whitten is the music minister at Bethany Baptist Church, Bethany. Melvin Sharry resigned as pastor at Bethsaida Baptist Church, Shreveport. Michael Prescott resigned as pastor at New Bethel Baptist Church, Plain Dealing. Shelby, wife Devona, Cowling retires at First Baptist Church, Haynesville on May 15. REVIVAL Social Springs Baptist Church, Ringgold: Revival, May 8-12, Sunday 11 a.m. & 6 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, 6 p.m. Evangelist: Scotty McDowell, chalk artist. Pastor: James Hester. New Hope Baptist Church, Jonesboro: Harvest Sunday, May 15, 11 a.m. … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message RUSTON – The jobs have faded but the lives touched will never be the same. Southern Baptist Disaster Relief efforts in Louisiana, which were such a godsend in the state’s time of need, are finally starting to wind down. “We, the staff of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, can never say thank you enough to the 30 state conventions that responded and sent volunteers to help our recovery efforts,” said John Hebert, the LBC’s Mission and Ministry Director. “We are very grateful for their partnerships and applaud their commitment to helping people. “Thank you Southern Baptists for caring for Louisiana Baptists in their greatest time of need,” Hebert said. It has been 48 days since Louisiana was ravaged by a historical rainfall and flooding event that left more than 14,000 homes flooded and countless lives affected. Even though more than 85 percent of Louisiana’s DR volunteers were among those affected, churches rallied and rushed to help those in desperate need. The Southern Baptist Convention mobilized and soon DR units from state conventions began making their way into the state to offer their assistance. To those on the front lines, they more than a welcome sight. Unlike other disasters encountered by … [Read more...]

MONROE - The Louisiana Baptist Children's Home has dedicated its first cottage in more than 40 years. Children's Home staff, trustees and others gathered on April 22 for a ribbon cutting at a cottage designed to provide transitional living for women and their children as they prepare for independent living. The HomePlace Cottages at Martin Village provide a place for homeless women and their children to stay for up to one year at no cost to the residents. While there, the women receive a high school equivalency degree, life and employment skills training through the Christian Women Job Corps. Two additional cottages are planned for the near future from proceeds generated by the 12th Annual Roy O. Martin/Brenda Hall Abney Golf Classic. The tournament was created by Roy O. Martin, chairman, and CEO Jonathan E. Martin and his wife, Maggie, in memory of Abney, who passed away in 2005 from a rare form of breast cancer. Abney grew up at the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home in Monroe and attended Louisiana College, where she was figuratively adopted by the Martins in 1983. Over the years, more than $1.7 million has been raised from the golf tournament to support the LBCH.     … [Read more...]

Before the executive board of the Evangeline Baptist Association met on April 18, interim Director of Missions Bert Langley, who is retiring, and former DOM Wallace Primeaux shared a moment with incoming DOM David Carlton. Carlton, a former International Mission Board Missionary who served in various capacities for IMB and was a part of the IMB voluntary retirement initiative program, was the unanimous selection of the executive committee of the EBA on Feb. 22 to become the association’s next DOM. His first official day on the job was April 18 -- the day of the board meeting. Langley (left), Carlton (center) and Primeaux (right) have a combined 140 years in ministry – Primeaux, 69 years, Langley, 46 years, and Carlton 25 years. Primeaux is presently the pastor of Esther Baptist Church.     … [Read more...]