By Joe Dupree, Message Staff Writer WOODWORTH -- If you have been to Tall Timbers Conference Center in Woodworth recently, you may have noticed some construction going on in the middle of the campus. What is being built between the main offices and the cafeteria is the $1.255 million, 8,400-square-foot Georgia Barnette Mission Conference Center. “The Georgia Barnette Conference Center will be a valuable asset to recapture missions as a primary goal of our work in reaching Louisiana for Christ,” said John Hebert, Missions & Ministry Director “The building will contain an on-site office, coffee bar in a spacious foyer, an assembly area that will seat 280 (400 with wings expanded), and seven conference/training.” "We are very excited about getting this project going," said Robert Woods, Louisiana Baptist Convention's Mission Builder Strategist. "When it is finally finished, it will be a great building for Louisiana Baptists. It's something we've been looking forward to starting and the groups who will be coming to help us build it." The pouring of the concrete slab took place Monday (June 29) and framing of the building will begin July 13 when 45 Kingdom Builders volunteers from Louisiana and Texas come to lend a … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer NEW ORLEANS – Investigators are seeking any additional information on a former youth minister arrested on allegations of sexually abusing two teenage boys. Ryan Rodgers, who was a youth minister at several churches in Jefferson, Orleans and Plaquemines parishes, turned himself into authorities the morning of June 26. Rodgers is accused of touching two teenage boys in appropriately while they were sleeping, according to a press release from the New Orleans Police Department. The victims informed detectives that Rodgers woke the boys and fondled them. They told Detective Stephanie Taillon this went on for more than a year. Taillon learned Rodgers bought the victims underwear and made them pose in front of him. Most of the encounters occurred inside Rodgers’ Baronne Street apartment in New Orleans, the press release said. Detectives believe Rodgers assaulted other victims as well and are asking anyone who is a victim to contact Taillon at 504.658.5733. When the news first broke, some media outlets implied Rodgers had an ongoing affiliation with New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, identifying him as a youth minister with the seminary. However, according to Kelley, these … [Read more...]

By Norm Miller, Louisiana College Communications PINEVILLE --  Rick Brewer, president of Louisiana College, keynoted the June 26 afternoon session of the Bi-vocational and Small Church Leadership Network National Celebration, held June 26-27 on LC’s campus. Prior to his remarks, Brewer invited the Blackwell Trio -- who had opened the meeting -- to join him around the piano in an impromptu mini-songfest. “I want to share with you a few words of challenge and commitment,” Brewer later said, referring to Micah 6:8 as “a summary statement for those of us as Christ followers.” Brewer quoted the verse: “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” “If we could just simply do those things daily, what an impact we would have on the world around us,” Brewer said. “To act justly. You know what that means: do the right thing … be men and women of integrity … be a peacemaker. Do the things that bring about healing.” Loving mercy means to be merciful, “to extend acts of kindness, random acts of kindness” and practice the “Golden Rule -- to treat people even better than you would expect to be treated -- to leave places … [Read more...]