By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – A youth pastor known as the ‘celebrity evangelist’ is on a mission to share the Gospel with some of Hollywood’s most famous men and women, and during the upcoming Youth Evangelism Celebra­tion, Nov. 21-23, LaBorde Earles Coliseum, Alexan­dria, he wants to recruit Louisiana Baptist youth to join him in making Christ known across the state. “My heart is really to see this next generation be bold in the Gospel and be bold in their mission field,” Dylan Novak told the Baptist Message. “At YEC, there’s going to be celebrity ministry stories from what we do but most importantly we are going to challenge people to share the Gospel in their mission field with their platform. I feel like a lot of times we’ll get up and say this, ‘You need to go out, and you need to evange­lize,’ but we don’t properly explain ‘Here’s how you evangelize.’” Novak, founder of Celebrity Evangelist Minis­tries, a non-profit outreach dedicated to sharing the Gospel with the world’s most famous figures, has shared Jesus with more than 2,000 individuals in the entertainment indus­try. During his time with YEC students and their adult leaders, Novak will share how they too can use a … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – Vinh Nguyen be­lieved he had found happi­ness when he was granted refuge in the United States near the end of the Viet­nam War. But six years later, he learned that true happi­ness required something more — a relationship with Jesus. His life was so trans­formed by the Truth of the Person of Christ that he formed the congregation of Vietnamese Hope Baptist Church, Baton Rouge. “God has been using us to connect with Viet­namese and other Asians,” Nguyen told the Baptist Message. “The nations have come here, and some have heard the message of Christ, believed in Him, and become part of our church. We get to be a friend to them and let them know we are here to love them.” GUIDED BY GOD Nguyen arrived in Ha­waii in 1975 as the Vietnam War was ending. Two years later, he began studying with the University of Florida and upon graduation he accept­ed a position with Exxon in Baton Rouge. While living in Louisi­ana’s capital city, he ac­cepted a friend’s invitation to attend a Bible study with Riverdale Baptist Church. The kindness and welcoming spirit of the church touched his heart and soon afterward he accepted Christ. Three years … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer MONROE, La. (LBM) – A weekend of block par­ties, door-to-door witness­ing, compassion projects and other evangelistic efforts produced a spiri­tual harvest of at least 81 known decisions for Christ during the Serve Tour in Morehouse, Ouachita and Richland parishes, Aug. 21-22. The SEND Relief Serve Tour in partnership with the Northeast Louisiana Baptist Association and Louisiana Baptist Con­vention was an effort that involved 1,070 volunteers who participated in 48 ser­vice projects throughout northeast Louisiana as the foundation for evangelism. Projects included 10 block parties, eight grill walks, several church building upgrades, numerous school improvement projects and paying for others’ laundry at four laundromats. Steven Kelly, associa­tional mission strategist with Northeast Louisiana Baptist Association, said he was thankful for those who helped during Serve Tour, which resulted in 1,350 Gospel conversations. “Serve Tour defines what we have said for years about the impor­tance of cooperation,” Kelly told the Baptist Message. “What we have spoken of theoretically, we saw practically. Coopera­tive dollars from around the country poured into northeast Louisiana … [Read more...]

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 Jeff Harper is the new pastor at Bellaire Baptist Church, Bossier City. Brett, wife Erin, are the new Youth, Children and Family Ministers at New Chapel Hill Baptist Church, West Monroe. Matthew, wife Andrea, Cormier is the new pastor at Hessmer Baptist Church. Darren Guess is the new pastor at Ridge Avenue Baptist Church, West Monroe. HOMECOMING/ANNIVERSARY Olivet Baptist Church, Sulphur: 70th anniversary, Sept. 27, 10:30 a.m. Dinner on the grounds to follow worship. Pastor: Charles Burke. Bethel Baptist Church, Bastrop: 80th an­niversary, Sept. 27, 10:30 a.m. Praise in the Park will follow later at 4 p.m. at Chemin-a-Haut State Park. Pastor: Tim Post. Lone Pine Baptist Church, Lone Pine: 100th Homecoming, Sept. 27, 10:15am Worship: … [Read more...]