By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer DRY PRONG, La. (LBM) – More than 200 volunteers from 12 churches showed the love of Christ in their Jerusalem through a weekend of acts of service, Sept. 18-19. The Grant Parish Reach Project involved volunteers from the Big Creek Baptist Association as well as other denominations. They completed 32 service projects that also provided opportunities to plant Gospel seeds, including: installation of two metal roofs; replacement of plumbing; building four wheelchair ramps; removal of a subfloor; yard work; and tree removal. Meanwhile, several churches provided meals for volunteers: Hebron Baptist Church, Dry Prong; Bethel Baptist Church, Colfax; New Prospect Baptist Church, Dry Prong; Fairfield Baptist Church, Dry Prong; Colfax Baptist Church; and Liberty Christian Church, Colfax. Kenny Bratton, pastor with Bethel Baptist Church, said he was thankful for those who ministered to the community through Grant Reach. “The biggest thing I noticed was the power of unity,” Bratton told the Baptist Message. “I told men from other churches that they are not from their own church that weekend but are just a church moving in a direction to help others in need. “It allowed us to … [Read more...]
Louisiana Christian holds Presidential Gala
By Al Quartemont, LCU News ALEXANDRIA, La. (LCU News) – On a night designed to celebrate its history and legacy, Louisiana Christian University’s first-ever Presidential Gala was a testimony to all that has been good and right with the institution over its first 120 years. The Gala, held at the Alexandria Convention Center Thursday night and attended by more than 300 people, was designed to honor this year’s Sports Hall of Fame inductees and Distinguished Alumni honorees, but made an even greater statement about the meaning of school to the community. “One of the things I’m finding out as the president of this university is the heart of the institution,” said LCU President Mark Johnson. “When I hear stories about Louisiana Christian University, very seldom are there dry eyes. There’s something about what this place means to so many, and we are honored to be able to carry this legacy forward.” The importance of LCU may have been stated the best by Distinguished Alum Lance Maxwell of the Class of 2000. Now the deputy chief of staff for Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, Maxwell said he would not be where he is had it not been for LCU and its professors. He said attending LCU was the defining moment of his professional … [Read more...]
Franklin Avenue prepares for Luter legacy to continue
By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer NEW ORLEANS (LBM) – Fred Luter was in his 35th year of pastoring Franklin Avenue Baptist Church when he called his son to talk about the future of both men and the church. “Chip was pastoring in Florida, and he said ‘Dad, you know, you’re 65 next year. You think about retirement?’,” Luter recalled of the March 2021 conversation. “I said, ‘Well, my retirement plan is in Florida. Are you thinking of coming home?’” Soon after, his son resigned as campus pastor with Idlewild Baptist Church’s Sulphur Spring campus in Tampa, Florida, and returned to the church where he was raised, and where he previously served as the pastor of students. On Oct. 18, Fred Luter will retire and the following Sunday, his son will succeed him. The church will host a celebration musical, Oct. 16, 6 p.m., featuring the FABC choir, who will sing Luter’s favorite Gospel songs. “Just looking back on from when it started to up until now, it’s been a joy pastoring Franklin Avenue,” Luter told the Baptist Message. “To see what God has done in this church, with a guy who never pastored before, and then being a part of a church that grew to be one of the largest churches in the state has been a … [Read more...]
NSU BCM celebrates 100 years of Gospel reach
By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer NATCHITOCHES, La. (LBM) – The Baptist Collegiate Ministry with Northwestern State University kicked off its fall semester with a charge to further the Gospel and a slate of activities planned for its centennial celebration. Founded in June 1926 with what was then Louisiana State Normal School in Natchitoches, the ministry adapted as the university experienced a name change and growth but remained constant in its call to reach students for Christ on campus and beyond. CENTURY OF GROWTH According to a news release from the university, the BCM (originally, the Baptist Student Union until 2000) first met in a shared space in two on-campus religious centers. When these facilities burned, Louisiana Baptists purchased a large house on Second Street so ministry could continue. In August 1969, a 13,000-square-foot facility was constructed on what was then College Avenue, now University Parkway, across from Watson Library. Then in the early 2000s, the BCM relocated onto campus. Construction was delayed by hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005 and the ministry operated from several temporary locations before its current facility was completed on Organization Row in … [Read more...]
‘Evangelist to the stars’ to speak to YEC
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...]
GBO helps share Christ with Vietnamese
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...]
Eighty-one profess Christ during northeast Louisiana Serve Tour
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...]
Louisiana Notables
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...]
Baptist Message partners to publish in print for 2027
By Baptist Message staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – The Baptist Message, Louisiana Baptists’ news service, is working on a memorandum of understanding with The Baptist Paper to jointly provide a monthly print edition for Louisiana Baptist subscribers in 2027. BACKGROUND During a September 2025 meeting, the Baptist Message board of trustees approved a move to a digital-only format, beginning in 2027. Finances were the major factor in the decision because the news service will lose $100,000 in funding after 2026. But with the trustees’ vote in the most recent meeting, the Baptist Message will continue to offer a print product through a partnership with The Baptist Paper, launched in 2021 as a ministry of The Alabama Baptist newspaper which has been in print since 1843. The Baptist Paper will print a monthly Baptist Message special edition with Louisiana Baptist content populating the front and back pages as well as four center pages. The Baptist Paper will invoice Baptist Message sub scribers and Baptist Message advertisers will have access in this edition. Rates will be announced soon but are expected to remain close to what they are now. The board approved an addition of $30,000 to the 2027 budget to offset … [Read more...]
Israeli ambassador urges support at Cypress leaders forum
By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer BENTON, La. (LBM) – Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel “Michael” Leiter dispelled myths about Israel’s conflict in Gaza while thanking America for its support during a leader forum hosted by Cypress Baptist Church, Benton, Sept. 2. WORD OF SUPPORT CBC Pastor John Fream recounted during opening remarks how his most recent visit to Israel took place in the aftermath of Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas-led attacks killed about 1,200 people in Israel and resulted in 251 hostages being imprisoned in Gaza. He said the ambassador’s visit to the church was motivated by a biblical mandate and a desire to provide theological reasoning for standing with Israel. Leiter also shared his message during a service that evening. “A big portion of this is to really offset the lies (about the conflict),” Fream told the crowd. “If we’re not going to speak up, then who will for our friends in Israel? “And then obviously we believe there’s a biblical mandate,” he said. “I believe that God is the same yesterday, today, forever. He says what He means. He means what He says. And He says, I’ll bless you if you bless Israel. I'll curse you if you don’t. And so, I believe we are to stand with God’s … [Read more...]
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