By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Organizers and participants of the recent Youth Evangelism Celebration praised God for the 830 students who made decisions for Christ, Nov. 20-21, at the Rapides Parish Coliseum in Alexandria. They also were grateful to Him for the estimated 5,300 teens who attended YEC (the largest annual gathering of Louisiana Baptists). Both numbers were significant increases compared to last year’s event, which drew a crowd of 4,500 and facilitated 719 decisions for Christ. "It is incredibly powerful to see more than 5000 students join in worship and engage with God's Word,” Louisiana Baptist Youth Strategist Brandon Lewis told the Baptist Message. “But to see them respond, whether they were accepting God's free gift of salvation or expressing a call to ministry, is evidence of their desire to know Him, to follow Him and to tell others about Him." YEC challenged the Louisiana Baptist youth to share their story of how Christ changed their lives through messages by Shane Pruitt, National Next Gen Evangelism Director for the North American Mission Board. During all four sessions, students were offered a chance to step forward and declare a decision for … [Read more...]
John Hebert retires as LBC ‘point man’
By Philip Timothy, Baptist Message managing editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – John Hebert has always been a team player -- first as a standout basketball player for Rapides High School in Lecompte, where he was named Most Valuable Player at the 1973 “Top 20” state tournament, to the present day. But after years of shunning individual attention, his record of service and personal achievement is in the spotlight after he announced his retirement date of December 31, 2022. Hebert shared his intention, Nov. 2, to end his 23 years of official service to Louisiana Baptists, the last 11 as team director of the LBC Missions and Ministry team. “It has been quite a ride,” Hebert told the Baptist Message. “I just feel it is the right time.” He joined the Louisiana Baptist staff on Oct. 18, 1999, working in the New Work Division/Department under Mike Canady. “It was basically compassion ministry,” Hebert said. But he would be challenged six years later when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in August 2005 and the storm surge breeched the levees in two places, ravaging the Lower Ninth Ward with catastrophic flooding. A month later Hurricane Rita slammed into the state. Reeling from the double whammy, Louisiana Baptists still … [Read more...]
ONCE IN A LIFETIME EVENT: Spiritual freedom erupts in a town called Independence
By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer INDEPENDENCE, La. (LBM) – Two years after seven pastors and other lay leaders in the Independence area began praying for a mighty movement of God to break out, 512 individuals have accepted Christ during extended revival services at Old Zion Hill Baptist Church, according to local reports. Now, leaders of Old Zion Hill Baptist and other area churches say they are bracing for what they believe could be the beginnings of a tremendous spiritual awakening in their communities. “Someone who has been at this church a long time told me they have not seen God move so many before at Old Zion Hill,” Associate Pastor Dave Ketchand told the Baptist Message. “The prayer all along has been that we would see an area-wide movement. This has never been about Old Zion Hill. This has been about God moving in a visible way.” From the very first revival service, Oct. 17, Ketchand said, he noticed a spirit of expectancy among the community. Each night, the pews were packed out in the 550-seat worship center and participants filled the altar as they cried out to God for their need for Him. The Holy Spirit continued to move and church leaders and evangelist D.R. Harrison of Kingsport, Tenn., … [Read more...]
Louisiana Notables
EDITOR’S NOTE: Do you have a Revival, Homecoming, a new pastor, a community outreach or a concert? The Baptist Message would love to share your church news with the rest of the state. It is very easy to do, just send in your information (who, what, where and when) to philip@baptistmessage.com or call 318.449.4345. To get your event in the paper, please submit your information three weeks prior to the event. ON THE MOVE John Hebert, Louisiana Baptist team leader for Mission & Ministry, will retire effective December 31, 2022. Steven Kelly is new Associational Missions Strategist (DOM) for the Northeast Louisiana and Morehouse Baptist Association. He is resigning as DOM for Gulf Coast Baptist Association and as pastor of Bayou Vista Baptist Church, Morgan City. Ronny, wife Kathy, Cooksey is the new pastor at Mandeville First Baptist Church. Ferran, wife Lynda, Bertrand is the new Associational Missions Strategist for Mt. Olive Baptist Association. Russell Hinson retiring from Holden Baptist Church, Holden at the end of the year. Pastor Mitch, wife Lily, Williams was recently honored by First Baptist Church, Independence for 30 years of service at FBC, Independence and 61 years in the … [Read more...]
Horn: Be ‘all in’ for 2023 SBC Annual Meeting
By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Director Steve Horn encouraged Louisiana Baptists to be “all in” for participation in the 2023 Southern Baptist Convention and related evangelistic events in New Orleans. Speaking to messengers to the 2022 LBC Annual Meeting, Nov. 15, held in the Calvary Baptist Church, Alexandria, Horn explained that the SBC gathering was originally scheduled to take place in Greensboro, North Carolina. However, the SBC Executive Committee, in April, voted to change the location to New Orleans, which has the meeting space to accommodate the large crowd that now is expected. “By the providential hand of God, the annual meeting of Southern Baptists has been adjusted to come to our state in 2023,” Horn said. “I don’t believe anything is by accident. Let’s believe that the reason that the SBC annual meeting has been moved to New Orleans is to have maximum Gospel impact in New Orleans and the entire region surrounding New Orleans.” Horn encouraged Louisiana Baptists to participate in Crossover, a large-scale evangelistic effort held before the SBC Annual Meeting, and the North American Mission Board SERVE Tour, an effort that … [Read more...]
LBC entities report good news
By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, (LBM) – Messengers to the 2022 Louisiana Baptist Convention Annual Meeting, Nov. 15, held in the Calvary Baptist Church, Alexandria, heard encouraging updates from the state’s four entities. LBF Louisiana Baptist Foundation President Jeff Steed explained how the entity helps increase God’s presence and prominence through financial ministry. Steed announced the LBF has launched Giving Gateway, an initiative that helps churches and individuals build a legacy and develop a giving culture through various options that will impact future generations for Christ. More information can be found at giving-gateway.net. He reported more than $2.2 million in special gifts set up during the last 12 months have benefited churches and other ministries, and that the Foundation’s short-term fund during that same timeframe yielded more than $1.9 million for church and other ministry accounts. Furthermore, $20.9 million in ministry support overall has been realized since the July 2020 launch of the LBF’s Vision200 (with a goal of impacting the Kingdom with $200 million through the LBF in 20 or fewer years). Through LBF’s ChurchBiz services, the entity recently added … [Read more...]
Speakers: Dwell on God
By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Dwell on that which honors God, Reggie Bridges said in his 2022 Louisiana Baptist Convention Annual Meeting presidential address, Nov. 15, held in the Calvary Baptist Church, Alexandria. Drawing from Philippians 4:8-9, Bridges, pastor, Temple Baptist Church, Ruston, urged messengers to allow their minds to dwell on the praise of God, allow their feet to follow in the paths of God and let their hearts dwell on the peace of God. “I don’t believe in the power of positive thinking, but I do believe in the power of praiseworthy thinking,” Bridges said. “We need to think Christianly and allow our hearts and minds to dwell on the praise of God.” Bridges said in the 175 years the LBC has been in existence, many faithful Louisiana Baptists have walked down a path that exemplified a Christ-centered life. He encouraged messengers to follow their example. “I want to encourage you to keep dwelling on the path of God and his truth,” he said. “If we abandon God’s truth, we abandon God; and if we abandon God, we abandon life and hope.” Bridges cautioned messengers to be mindful of anxiety that can impact their ministry negatively. “If our minds are right … [Read more...]
Pastors Conference: Endure for Christ
By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – During the 2022 Louisiana Baptist Pastor’s Conference, Nov. 14, in Calvary Baptist Church, Alexandria, speakers offered words of encouragement and conviction to pastors. TODD STRAIN Todd Strain, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, Alexandria, spoke during the opening session from 1 Corinthians 1:13-17, 15:1-6 and 2:1-2 to urge the crowd to endure for the Gospel. Ministry at times is difficult and pastors may be tempted to drift away and pursue other things, Strain said. However, the cross provides the fuel to endure to the end. He further shared how pastors can influence others to experience the power of the cross through the delivery of their message, content of their message and how they live their personal life. “A lot of times you step in mud holes because ministry is messy,” Strain said. “But what is going to keep you going to the end? The Gospel is going to keep us going each and every day; that Christ died for our sins, He was buried and raised, and He gives us power. That Gospel is enough.” VINCE SMITH Vince Smith, pastor of the Circle Church, Alexandria, encouraged the pastors to endure groaning they might experience during … [Read more...]
Horn: Be ‘all in’ for 2023 SBC Annual Meeting
By Baptist Message staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptist Executive Director Steve Horn during 2022 Louisiana Baptist Convention Annual Meeting, Nov. 15, at Calvary Baptist Church, Alexandria, encouraged messengers to be “all in” for participation in the 2023 SBC Annual Meeting and related evangelistic events in New Orleans. Originally scheduled to take place in Greensboro, North Carolina, the SBC Executive Committee, in April, voted to change the location to New Orleans, which has the meeting space to accommodate a larger crowd. “By the providential hand of God, the annual meeting of Southern Baptists has been adjusted to come to our state in 2023,” he said. “I don’t believe anything is by accident. Let’s believe that the reason that the SBC annual meeting has been moved to New Orleans is to have maximum Gospel impact in New Orleans and the entire region surrounding New Orleans.” Horn encouraged Louisiana Baptists to participate in Crossover, a large-scale evangelistic effort held before the SBC Annual Meeting, and the North American Mission Board SERVE Tour, an effort that seeks to involve participants in service projects as the foundation for evangelism the weekend before the SBC Annual Meeting. LBC staff … [Read more...]
Messengers broaden definition of ‘cooperating church’
By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Messengers, during the 2022 Louisiana Baptist Convention Annual Meeting, Nov. 15, adopted an amendment to the Louisiana Baptist Convention Articles of Incorporation that allows a church to contribute solely to state causes and still be an LBC congregation. Previously a church was required to support Southern Baptist causes to be considered “in friendly cooperation” with the LBC. Louisiana Baptist Executive Director Steve Horn, also speaking as a messenger from Calvary Baptist Church, Alexandria, noted he was in favor of the change. Horn said the change is not about redefining the Cooperative Program. “The Cooperative Program is not Louisiana Baptists’ definition,” he said. “It is the Southern Baptist Convention’s definition. So, we could not change the definition of the Cooperative Program. We are not seeking to do that with this particular article change. We are merely seeking to keep engaged the churches that have already made the decision and asked us not to send their gifts, through to us, to the Southern Baptist Convention.” Horn said the move is not anti-SBC or anti-CP, but “a conviction that if somebody is giving to Louisiana Baptist … [Read more...]
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