By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ZACHARY, La. (LBM) – Cross Creek Cowboy Church, Zachary, will host a summit, March 12, for those interested in starting cowboy churches and ministries. Scheduled from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m., the event at 21160 Plank Road in Zachary will include fellowship, a barbecue lunch provided by “United by Barbecue” (a non-profit organization) and messages from speakers: Louis Husser, pastor of Crossgate Church, Robert; Lane Corley, church planting strategist for Louisiana Baptists; Josh Morris, pastor of Cross Creek Cowboy Church; Randy Smith, pastor of Cross Brand Cowboy Church, Loranger; and Phillip Gilliland, church planting catalyst for the American Fellowship of Cowboy Churches. The summit is sponsored by Crossgate Church and the Louisiana Baptist Convention. “The main purpose is to encourage those who are either considering planting cowboy churches or those involved in one to receive encouragement and instruction,” said Husser, who is co-organizing the summit. “Our vision is to see multiple cowboy churches planted out of this summit. We are praying for a great harvest in the future and believe this summit could help play a key role in making that happen.” Corley echoed the … [Read more...]

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By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Applications are open for Louisiana Baptist churches who need a team of college students to coordinate their Vacation Bible School this summer. In its 15th year, GOLA (Go Louisiana) VBS is an emphasis by the Louisiana Baptist Collegiate Ministry that allows college students to serve on teams who spend the summer sharing God’s love through what is the largest evangelistic outreach of the year for many congregations. Churches in which the teams conduct a VBS normally have low baptisms and would have trouble coordinating such an event without the help of the GOLA VBS team. GOLA Strategist Ashley Jones expects to field two teams, each will comprise five college students. She also is seeking to hire two 23-25-year-old individuals to serve as team leaders. In addition to VBS, GOLA will utilize college students in three other areas of service this summer: as church staff, North American missionaries and international missionaries. Jones said the students who serve on GOLA teams are a blessing to both students and churches alike. “Our students are excited to serve, and we love our Louisiana Baptist churches,” Jones told the Baptist Message. “We want … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer LAFAYETTE, La. (LBM) – Pastor James Pritchard knew God could do something miraculous when he scheduled a four-day revival for February, but was amazed, nonetheless, when 56 baptisms took place during the final night of the revival meeting at First Baptist Church, Lafayette. A crowd of more than 900 cheered as individuals from 6 to 95 years old stepped either into a horse trough or the baptistery inside the worship center to symbolize death, burial and resurrection with Christ, Feb. 9. “What happened was the answered prayer of what we hoped the Lord would do,” Pritchard told the Baptist Message. “When He showed up like that, all we could say was ‘God showed up, look what God did!’” Leslie Hale was among the first to be baptized. During the first revival session, Feb. 6, Hale was convicted of her need to come forward and declare her faith in Christ. “It was like someone was pushing me forward that morning and I was obedient,” Hale said. “Once I came out of the baptismal waters, I felt completely clean. Seeing so many people baptized is something that is hard to describe, and I can’t wait to see what the Lord does with all of us who participated in baptism.” PRAYED … [Read more...]

By Craig Franklin, Baptist Message special JONESVILLE, La. (LBM)-- When 19-year-old Daniel Bordelon of Jonesville, Louisiana, agreed to travel to Ohio with two men he had met in an internet chat room, he had no idea what was awaiting him. But his father, Emile Bordelon, a Louisiana Baptist pastor, did, and he launched a rescue mission for his son from what the elder Bordelon described as a “sex-trafficking abduction.” The rescue, which the elder Bordelon described as miraculous, began on Feb. 8, when a text from Daniel to his mother, Cindy, revealed he was riding in a vehicle to Alexandria along LA 28 bound for the Alexandria International Airport with two men, and that he was scared. Upon learning of his son’s situation, Bordelon, pastor of Clayton Baptist Church, Clayton, and owner of Emile Bordelon Transport, Jonesville, immediately took to social media to call upon everyone to pray for his son. He also contacted Catahoula Parish Sheriff Toney Edwards who launched law enforcement efforts in the rescue operation. Hours later, Bordelon believes, a miracle occurred, when the plane bound for Ohio from Alexandria was mysteriously delayed, allowing just enough time to catch up with Daniel and bring him safely … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – For the last five years, Mike Shumock has helped restore numerous Louisiana Baptist churches as Gospel mission centers by leading the rebuild or repair of their facilities. Shumock is set to retire Feb. 28 as the mission builder strategist for Louisiana Baptists, but his calling to help churches with construction projects is far from over. “I realize God gifts everyone,” Shumock told the Baptist Message. “God gifted me to build and use my hands and come alongside and work with people in need. It’s satisfying to know without a doubt people who needed help rebuilding were able to fulfill that through the efforts of myself and so many volunteers who had a common love and that is to help others in Jesus’ name.” CALLED Shumock’s journey began in 1974 at Wade Baptist Church, Moss Point, Mississippi, when he realized he was a sinner and needed to surrender his life to Jesus. A year later, he accepted the call to ministry and became the church’s youth minister. For the next four decades, Shumock combined his passion for construction with a love for ministry. Shumock worked for several construction companies in the early 1980s, before he pastored … [Read more...]

By Elizabeth Christian, LC News PINEVILLE, La. (LC News) - Louisiana Christian University’s celebration of Black History Month will continue with the third annual Gospel choir concert Feb. 17. Scheduled for 6:30 p.m. inside Guinn Auditorium, the concert will feature both traditional and contemporary Gospel music sung by the school's choir, students, alumni and community members including the worship team from Zion Hill Church Family, Pineville. “It’s a different style of music that many students are not used to hearing,” said concert director Terrell Phillips. “It taps into a culture that I am used to and a lot of African Americans are used to but a lot of people haven’t heard before.” Next week, two more events will be held to celebrate Black History Month: a showing of the 2014 film “Selma,” which depicts the voting rights marches in Alabama from Selma to Montgomery led by Martin Luther King Jr. It will be shown in the Granberry Conference Center on Feb. 23 at 7.30 p.m. On Feb. 24 at 6:30 p.m.  a panel discussion will take place at Guinn Auditorium on King and the realization of his dream. “Diversity is something I want us to celebrate every day at Louisiana Christian University," LCU President Rick Brewer … [Read more...]

By Staff GONZALES, La. – The Louisiana Family Forum has named Gail and Patsy Richardson as the winner of its contest for the state’s longest married couple. Gail, a longtime member of First Baptist Church, Gonzales, and Patsy, who attends St. Mark’s Catholic Church, Gonzales, married on Sept. 1, 1940. Gail Richardson said the key to marriage is a faith centered on God and trusting in Him. “He handles all of the little and big things in our lives,” he told the Baptist Message. “For those who want to have a long, happy marriage, treat your spouse well and have lots of one on one time. Love one another and help each other in whatever way you can. And, forgive and forget.” The longest-known married couples are honored yearly for their commitment to building a culture of strong marriages in Louisiana and for being examples of lasting love. "We want to remind the next generation that marriage is good for both men and women. Married couples are healthier, wealthier, love more often and more deeply… and are less trim!” commented LFF President Gene Mills stated in a LFF press release. "We are honored to shine a light on these examples of lasting love." The Richardsons are among 15 couples who have been inducted into … [Read more...]