By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer PELICAN, La. (LBM) – Several hundred people gathered during the Clara Springs Baptist Camp 70th anniversary celebration, March 24 and 26, to celebrate the life-changing impact the camp has had on their lives. Held on the grounds of the camp in Pelican, the event featured the traditional Fourth Friday Fish Fry, concerts by Southern Plainsmen and Vines and Company, fireworks, games, and the Overcoming Obstacles Ministry’s American Ninja Warrior course. The weekend also included a reunion of campers and a time for sharing memories of Clara Springs. Bubba Mills, who has served as director since 2007, said the celebration reminded him of how God’s hand has been on the camp for the past 70 years. “God has brought us through the good and bad times and blessed us tremendously,” Mills told the Baptist Message. “Most people would say God has blessed the camp through the buildings on the grounds and that certainly is true. But blessings also have come from those who have accepted Christ here and the hundreds we know committed to ministry and who are serving in ministry all over the world.” LASTING LEGACY The idea for the camp was presented and adopted at the 1952 District 8 … [Read more...]

DRY PRONG, La. (LBM) – The 30 churches of the Big Creek Baptist Association gathered for a joint revival, March 26-29, in preparation for a possible spiritual awakening in Grant Parish. Held at the B22 Auditorium in Dry Prong, the revival featured messages by evangelist Bill Britt of Haughton and music by Jimmy Crabtree, minister of music at New Prospect Baptist Church, Dry Prong, and other musicians in the association. Additionally, the Adult and Teen Challenge choir shared testimonies and special music and First Baptist Church, Dry Prong, hosted a pizza supper before the final night of the revival. Association moderator Travis Sanders, also pastor of Hebron Baptist Church, Dry Prong, said the revival has helped unify the churches as they seek the Lord for a great harvest of souls in their communities. “Churches feel more connected and less alone,” Sanders told the Baptist Message. “When God’s people are revived, then we will see a great crusade.” … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) – Journey Church is in revival and all signs point to this movement of the Holy Spirit continuing for some time. Since January, Pastor James Greer has seen lives changed as they have recorded 222 salvation decisions and 43 baptisms. “I’ve never seen anything like what has happened the first four months of this year,” Greer told the Baptist Message. “It’s not what we are doing but what God is doing.” Originally Lee Heights Family Church in Pineville, the congregation moved in 2009 to the former site of Donahue Family Church and changed the name to Journey Church. Since then, the congregation (which averages 562 in Sunday worship and baptized 105 in 2022) has celebrated the baptism of 1,072 new members into the body of Christ and witnessed hundreds of other spiritual decisions, including repentances to restore fellowship with Christ, and commitments to vocational missions and ministry. The congregation’s core value, “Growing People Change,” facilitates growth. Meanwhile, its message to the lost, “I mess up, you mess up, we all mess up,” helps start conversations to convey the truth that Christ is the answer. That mindset is what drew Arlene … [Read more...]