By Baptist Message staff MONROE, La. (LBM) – Oleta Gibson, a 104-year-old resident of the Avalon Place Nursing Home in Monroe, received a surprise visit in early April from some Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home youngsters who delivered special birthday gifts. The children surprised Gibson with homemade pictures and a rendition of the classic song “Happy Birthday” from outside her window. “We try to teach these kids from an early age we need to serve as Jesus did and look for ways to encourage others,” Lisa Vaughn, who serves as a cottage parent with her husband, Larry, told the Baptist Message. “It was such a blessing to see them on board with this from the time we told them about this idea.” A few weeks after the novel coronavirus pandemic shut out visitors to nursing home facilities in the state, Vaughn learned that Gibson’s family would not be able to come to Avalon Place for the birthday celebration. Th e children quickly volunteered to color the pictures that subsequently brought smiles to Gibson on her special day. “Larry and Lisa Vaughn do a great job serving as cottage parents,” shared Marc Eichelberger, vice president of development and public relations for the Children’s Home. “We are grateful for them taking … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) – Curtis Zackery challenged Louisiana College students to move beyond only knowing about the Bible and to enter into a life centered on following Christ. “Right now in this cultural moment some of us have been wooed and have been deceived to think the most important thing is we need to know stuff,” Zackery said during the “Awakening” revival series. “What we really need is to understand the power of Jesus Christ. “We don’t need to just know in our heads ideas about the Bible,” he continued. “We need to believe in our hearts that awakening can actually happen in our city, in our country, in our world.” Zackery, a youth evangelist from Franklin, Tennesee, shared from Mark 8 about how Jesus used the healing of a blind man to move the disciples from knowing about Christ to understanding Him. “This is going to be the thing that will help as a community going into the school year with some purpose, some vision and direction,” he said. “This difference between knowing and understanding is such a big deal that I think it can be the key for us to navigate our current cultural moment.” Zackery’s message during the revival, Aug. 14-16, was among many … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff WALKER, La. (LBM) – Eastern Louisiana Baptist Association is hosting a focused prayer event later this month and is asking other associations and churches to join them in the effort. The event, 24-hours of continuous prayer, begins at 8 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 22, and continues through 8 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 23. Each church has been asked to recruit members to pray in one-hour increments that will focus on confession of sin, revival in the church, awakening, unity and healing for the novel coronavirus pandemic. The event is based off Psalm 57:1-2: “Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me, For my soul takes refuge in You; and in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge until destruction passes by. I will cry to God most high, oh God who accomplishes all things for me.” Eastern Louisiana Associational Missions Coordinator Richard Blue said he is excited about how God will move from this time of focused prayer. “It's time to pray,” he said. Our land needs to acknowledge God, repent of our sins, and return to God so He might return to us.” … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) – Louisiana College experienced a move-in day unlike any other in its history Wednesday, Aug. 12. The usual flow of incoming students was instead only staggered groups that moved into dorm rooms, and all were encouraged to wear masks and observe proper social distancing because of novel coronavirus pandemic concerns. Schools officials reported less than 250 incoming freshmen participated in move-in day, and were assisted by upperclassmen, faculty members and church groups. Another 50 will commute from home this semester. Wednesday’s move-in day kicked off Welcome Week, a time of orientation and numerous activities that will include “The Awakening” revival featuring evangelist Curtis Zachary Aug. 14-17, 6:30 p.m., inside Guinn Auditorium. Upperclassmen will return to campus this weekend, and classes will resume Aug. 17. While final enrollment numbers will not be available until later in the semester, LC President Rick Brewer is optimistic the school will enroll at least 300 new freshmen for the fourth consecutive year. He asked Louisiana Baptists to pray for students as they begin classes and noted that 70 students professed their faith in … [Read more...]

By LCNews PINEVILLE, La. (LCNews) - Louisiana College will begin welcoming its students back to campus this week. Like most college campuses, LC students were forced to complete their spring semester with online learning due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Freshmen will be the first to arrive throughout the day Wednesday, Aug.12, and will begin freshmen orientation activities that afternoon. Move-in times have been staggered to ensure social distancing can be maintained in the residence halls and across campus, according to Hannah Nyman, director of residence life and campus engagement. Masks will be required to enter the buildings, and each student will receive a mask upon arrival to campus, she said.   … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer SHREVEPORT, La. (LBM) – Herb Armentrout could barely hold back the tears as he recently reflected on the more than 1,000 high school students with whom he has had the privilege of serving as Louisiana Baptists’ music consultant. After 12 years of seeing Christ move in the students who participated annually in Louisiana Baptist All State Youth Choir tours in which he coordinated, Armentrout announced his departure from the position, effective Aug. 1. A native of Daytona Beach, Florida, he surrendered his life to Christ at the age of 11 during a revival at the First Baptist Church in Daytona Beach. Eight years later, while attending Baylor University, he discovered a call to the music ministry. While he served churches in Texas and Louisiana, Armentrout would eventually join the staff of Broadmoor Baptist Church in Shreveport in September, 1999. During his time at Broadmoor, the music consultant position became open and his daughter, Casey, asked if he would consider serving as the LASBYC coordinator. Armentrout said the opportunity to lead choir on tour with his daughter as one of the participants was a motivating factor in his decision to take the position. His other … [Read more...]