Bobby Franklin, pastor at First Baptist in Florien, has found a new way to spread the gospel among the nations. FLORIEN – Bobby Franklin, pastor at First Baptist in Florien, has found a new way to spread the gospel among the nations. Franklin has traveled to Mexico on a motorcycle mission four times already, and on April 25, he and six other motorcycle riders will ride again for the fifth time. “We like to say that we’re fishing for men and the bikes are the bait,” Franklin said. Franklin works with Southern Baptist Mexico missionary Randy Rister to get across the Mexican border and to do effective ministry. Rister is a full-time missionary on the Mexican border. He organizes and enables groups to go into Mexico for missions.  “The idea was originally to reach the young men, but it has grown to all walks of life,” Franklin said. Pastors in Mexico were concerned that young men, who had gotten into church at one point, were slowly drifting again. Young men in Mexico are concerned with not having a weak image, and church is often seen as a weakness.  “God called me to use motorcycles because they give a macho image to attract young men,” Franklin said. The motorcycle riders evangelize all along the way to Mexico … [Read more...]

Vacation Bible School is the premiere outreach event of the year for many churches. STATEWIDE – Vacation Bible School is the premiere outreach event of the year for many churches. Few other events offer the potential to reach out to children and adults in your community the way VBS can. It offers a powerful and unique opportunity for sharing Jesus Christ and positively impacting the kingdom of God. Statistics over several years have shown VBS to be  the number one evangelistic tool of most churches: at least 25 percent of baptisms are a direct result of VBS. Training for this summer’s VBS already is taking place in associations and churches across Louisiana. LifeWay Christian Resources, affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, has developedBoomerang Express and Club VBS: Truth Trek curricula for 2009. “As kids wind their way across Australia, they’ll discover the vastness of God’s love, and they’ll learn that no matter where they go or what they do in life, it all comes back to Jesus,” according towww.lifeway.com/vbs. Boomerang Express is designed for a 3-hour day. Its motto: Follow! Worship! Live through Him!” Club VBS: Truth Trek is designed for a 2-hour day. “Help kids uncover the treasures of … [Read more...]

Children in grades 4 through 6 who sing are invited to join the Louisiana Baptist Convention’s Children’s Honor Choir April 18-18 at Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center in Woodworth. WOODWORTH – Children in grades 4 through 6 who sing are invited to join the  Louisiana Baptist Convention’s Children’s Honor Choir April 18-18 at Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center in Woodworth. See www.lbc.org/music for more information; hear the two songs the children are to learn and see the requirements for participation. Bonnie Beeman is LBC Children’s Music Consultant; Neva Hayley, Honor Choir Director. For more information call 800.622.6549 or 318.448.3402 or email: lbc-music@lbc.org. … [Read more...]

As a scientist, I have listened, read, and observed with great interest the debate over global warming. It is a profound political, moral, and scientific issue of our time. As a scientist, I have listened, read, and observed with great interest the debate over global warming. It is a profound political, moral, and scientific issue of our time.  Depending on whom you believe, it is either of utmost importance, with our survival hanging in the balance, or much ado about nothing – or somewhere in between. As in most issues related to the environment, there is no clear ‘technical’ solution.  Environmental issues are always a cauldron filled with a complex brew of biological, physical, geological, social, and political facets of the same problem.  And, the best solution is often a balance of these aspects.  Global warming is no exception. To complicate things further for the believer, you can find evangelical Christians on both sides of the issue. For example: Evangelical Climate Initiative (ECI) at www.christiansandclimate.org, or American Scientific Affiliation (ASA) at www.asa3.org) This is but a further complication for both the scientist and the non-scientist who are trying to understand and take the proper stance … [Read more...]

Question: Why is the resurrection  of Jesus important? Bill Warren answers:  First, let’s get the historical context in mind about the death and resurrection of Jesus. Jesus was born between 6 to 4 B.C. (before Herod the Great died in 4 B.C.) and started his public ministry in A.D. 27 when he was “about 30 years old,” as Luke 3:23 tells us. Jesus was most likely crucified in A.D. 30 on a Friday afternoon in connection with the Jewish feast of Passover. The following Sunday, on the third day, the women found that Jesus was not in the tomb because he had been raised from the dead. As for his death, the reasons for his crucifixion from a human standpoint were the charges of blasphemy on the Jewish side and of sedition on the Roman side. Behind the Jewish charges, the Jewish leaders were motivated by jealousy, religious arrogance, and the intense desire to get rid of all threats to their leadership. On the other hand, the Roman verdict by Pilate was based on expediency in appeasing the Jewish leaders by way of the charge that Jesus was claiming to be a king, which amounted to rebellion against the Roman emperor. In the Roman Empire, crucifixion was the most degrading form of legally killing a person. The entire event from … [Read more...]

LBC has provided annual keyboard festivals for 30 years. Teresa Thomason has been a part since the beginning. STATEWIDE – LBC has provided annual keyboard festivals for 30 years. Teresa Thomason has been a part since the beginning.  “It is our desire that ministers of music and keyboard teachers will see the festivals as an opportunity to challenge and inspire students to play hymns and share their faith through music,” Thomason writes on the LBC website. The keyboard festivals provide the competition that helps spur piano students to practice playing hymns, which is more difficult than most age-level piano music, explained Pat Marr, who coordinated the keyboard festival that took place recently at Waller Baptist Church in Bossier City for about 85 youngsters and maybe a dozen judges. That’s down from a fairly constant 120 participants pre-Katrina, she said. Most music requires the pianist to play two notes with the right hand and one with the left, at the same time, but hymns require four notes, and six for organists, said Marr, who also has been part of the keyboard festivals since their inception in 1979. She is pianist at Waller Baptist, and a long-time piano teacher. “For hymns you have to read more … [Read more...]

Twenty-nine churches and 396 boys, leaders and workers representing 29 churches participated in the annual RA Congress at Tall Timbers Conference Center in Woodworth. The Power Team from Dallas performed at Friday evening’s general session, and when the invitation was given, 101 responded – three men and 98 boys. Joe Waggoner from First Mansfield received the Dan Hogan Lifetime Achievement award; Mike Collie from Ruston received the Leader of the Year award. More than $800 was collected for the Bayou Baptist Association for storm repairs. (Top photo) Racers from First Lafayette and Temple Ruston line up for the start of the Soap Box car race. Seven cars participated in the first-ever event. (Photo below, from left) Graham Ancelet, First Lafayette and Timmy Thibodaux, First Pontchatoula, received Lad of the Year and Crusader of the Year trophies. … [Read more...]

First Baptist Church Sicily Island Ouachita Baptist Association SICILY ISLAND – First Baptist had been in a time of declining attendance and participation when the men of the church decided to pray at the altar each Sunday and ask God to bless with a pastor and spiritual growth. For 17 months they prayed, and within six months of the arrival of James Gass as pastor, the congregation began to grow. During a revival, 15 professions of faith were made, as well as other decisions. Attendance has increased as well as church membership.  Members are now actively involved in the choir, Bible study, and mission outreach. The men continue to meet at the altar each Sunday during the morning worship service to seek God’s guidance and blessings. The church began to seek ways to get involved in the community, reported Jackie Myers of the church. “Bro. Gass, through God’s leadership, has helped the church to have a vision for growth and outreach,” Myers wrote in an email to the Message. “The people are truly seeking revival for the community.  They have a zeal and desire to share Christ and His abundant life with all.” Ideas have coalesced into a community tent revival April 24-25 and May 1-2, with Evangelist Casey Johnson as … [Read more...]

COMINGS AND GOINGS -Adam Whitney new as youth minister, First Baptist, Broussard. -Andy Partington resigns as minister to children, Amite Baptist, Denham Springs. -Craig James resigns as pastor, Don Avenue Baptist, Denham Springs. NEEDED -Robert Tanner available for pulpit supply; call 318.939.2218 or email robvi@bellsouth.net. -James Pitts available for pulpit supply and interim pastor; call 225.664.0437. -Piano needed; Esther Baptist, Esther; contact Reverend Wallace Primeaux at 337.837.1627. -Volunteers needed for cabin construction; Acadian Baptist Center; contact James Newsom at 337.457.9047. -Part-time Music Minister at First Baptist Bernice; call 318.285.9336 for more information. -Bi-vocational Music Minister at Vienna First Baptist; contact Frank Manning at 318.255.8050. -Bi-vocational Music Minister at Mineral Springs Baptist; send resume to Doyce Britt, 4566 Highway 822, Dubach, LA 71235. -Pianist at Paron Baptist, Sterlington; send resume to Tom Nix, Paron Baptist Church, P.O. Box 221, Sterlington LA 71280; send email to paronbc@centurytel.net. -Youth Director at Pine Grove Baptist; send resume to Mike Smith, Pine Grove Baptist, 1167 Pine Grove Church Road, Bernice LA … [Read more...]

Pistol Pete Maravich is remembered by most sports fans for his floppy socks, shaggy hair, showmanship and unprecedented scoring records. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) – Pistol Pete Maravich is remembered by most sports fans for his floppy socks, shaggy hair, showmanship and unprecedented scoring records. But Maravich, who died of a heart attack in 1988 at the age of 40, no doubt would want to be remembered more for something else – his Christian faith. By his own admission, the Pistol spent most of his life idolizing basketball, but in his final years, he accepted Christ and wasn’t shy about telling everyone. Maravich’s faith is back in the spotlight with the release of an inspirational edition of the popular 1991 movie “The Pistol” (rated G), which tells the story of Maravich’s exploits as a boy. Among the bonus footage on the inspirational edition – which is available at LifeWay and other Christian stores – is a 50-minute personal testimony that Maravich gave to a group of inner-city kids about two years before he died. The DVD testimony serves as sort of a mini-autobiography of his life: how he slept with a basketball until he was 13 years old, how he ran from God as a collegian and pro and how his life turned around when … [Read more...]