By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Messengers to the 2019 Louisiana Baptist Convention Annual Meeting, Nov. 11-12, will have the opportunity to learn about the status of the various goals and action steps outlined in the President’s 2020 Commission which is nearing its final year. Approved by messengers at the 2013 Louisiana Baptist Convention annual meeting, the 2020 initiative, led by then LBC President Waylon Bailey, pastor of First Baptist Church in Covington, seeks to reach every generation and every people group in Louisiana with the Gospel by the year 2020 through the avenues of congregational revitalization, church planting, communications and collaboration. The 2020 recommendations were crafted collaboratively by a commission of 400 Louisiana Baptist leaders, staff members and laypeople, working in 20 subcommittees of 20 members each. “I believe Louisiana Baptists will be encouraged by some of the progress made over the last six years,” said recently elected Louisiana Baptists Executive Director Steve Horn. “On the flip side, they’ll also discover many areas that need our continued prayers, attention and resources as we continue to work towards fulfilling the goals outlined in the … [Read more...]

By Message Staff PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) —Louisiana College has entered into an agreement to accept coursework completed by students at the Central Louisiana Community and Technical College in Alexandria who transfer to the Louisiana Baptist school. LC President Rick Brewer and CLCTC Chancellor Jimmy Sawtelle signed a memorandum of understanding Oct. 28 to create a partnership that grants qualified transfer students who have completed general education coursework the opportunity to enter the school as upper classmen. LC signed a similar agreement with the entire Louisiana Community and Technical College System – of which CLCTC is a part – Jan. 9. There are 13 schools in the system and Louisiana College is extending personal invitations to individual schools, already having signed letters with SOWELA Technical Community College in Lake Charles and Louisiana Delta Community College in Bossier City. Brewer said the agreement is effective immediately. “This is just a wonderful time for us to celebrate this partnership of this educational partnership in central Louisiana,” Brewer said. “We are really excited about what they are doing at the school and the growth they are going to experience and how this is going to help our … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) – Pastors will be reminded why they are called to carry out a great work during this year’s Pastors’ Conference, scheduled for Nov. 10-11 at the First Baptist Church in Pineville. The annual gathering’s theme is “Called To A Great Work,” based on Nehemiah 6:3. “Our calling from God as ministers of the gospel of Jesus should be one the highest honors any of us ever experiences, “ Justin Clark, president of the Pastors Conference and pastor of the First Baptist Church in Lake Providence, told the Baptist Message. “I believe we need to be reminded that we have a great calling, by a great God. My prayer in that we as ministers will be reminded of that calling and leave here more energized than ever to proclaim the Good News of Jesus. SCHEDULE HIGHLIGHTS The conference begins 5 p.m., Nov. 10, with music led by First Baptist Pineville’s worship team, and with messages shared by Robert Smith Jr., professor of Christian preaching at Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, Ala., and Paul Chitwood, president of the International Mission Board. A fellowship supper will follow the opening session. The next day, the conference will begin at 8:30 a.m., also with … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ST. GABRIEL, La. (LBM) – The temptation to forgo baptism was strong just a day after an inmate named Leann accepted Christ during a revival service at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women. But a nudge by the Holy Spirit helped her stay the course toward obedience. “She told one of her friends on the way to the [Sunday baptism] service she may not go through with it,” LCIW Lead Chaplain Debi Sharkey told the Baptist Message. “Then she felt like she heard the Lord say, ‘Come as you are.’ “She said she didn’t expect to feel anything except the sensation of the cold water. But to her surprise she felt refreshed, renewed,” Sharkey continued. “She said she felt ‘lighter’ like she knew Jesus carried her sins away.” During revival services attended by 413 women Sept. 27-29 at the maximum security prison nearly 10 miles east of Baton Rouge, 24 inmates made professions of faith and 17 of them were baptized. Approximately 65 volunteers from 15 Louisiana Baptist churches participated in the revival, which included three worship services on Saturday and a worship service and baptism opportunity on Sunday. Additionally, gift boxes were distributed to the inmates. The … [Read more...]

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 Johnny Wagner is the new pastor at Colfax Baptist Church, Colfax. He was ordained to the Gospel ministry during an October 6 ordination ceremony followed by a fellowship. He is the fifth generation grandson of Joseph Willis. Kevin Funderburk is the new Pastor for Discipling and Worship at First Baptist Church of Lake Charles. Kevin and family had previously been serving in East Asia. Delmar Bennett has resigned as Minister of Education & Outreach at Florida Blvd. Baptist Church, Baton Rouge. Galen (wife Robyn) Leger is the new music minister at Ellerbe Baptist Church, Shreveport. Trinity Heights: Collin Wimberly has resigned as pastor at Trinity Heights Baptist Church in Shreveport to church plant in Red River Parish. HOMECOMING Mangham Baptist Church, Mangham: Annual Homecoming … [Read more...]

(Top photo) Nathan Lott, shown with his wife Dawn, daughters Alyssa, Alayna and Brayden, is the new pastor at Ethel Baptist Church, Ethel. He replaces John “Ed” Jelks, who retired July 31 after having served as pastor of Ethel for the past 12 years. (Bottom photo) In a celebration service, Jelks, who served as a Missions Builder, was recognized for his long service to the church and Mission Builders by having the newly completed children’s center named after him. … [Read more...]

By Norm Miller, Louisiana College News PINEVILLE, La. (LCNews)--Samantha Downey is a psychology major from Redondo Beach, California, and was heavily recruited to play collegiate softball. She chose to play for the Lady Wildcats because of the new challenge and a change of scene. Meeting the members of the softball team allayed one apprehension Downey had: “I knew I’d be far from my family, but I’m still going to have family here.” While playing softball, Downey sustained an injury that caused her to reevaluate why she came to Louisiana College. Appreciating the close-knit environment and “homelike atmosphere” of Louisiana College, Downey said her initial visit to the campus inspired her. “I fell in love with LC because of the one-on-one connection students have with professors.” “Before I came to LC, I had no relationship with God. I didn’t even know you could have a relationship with God,” she said. “My mom and dad believed in God but I never knew anything about that.” “And I didn’t understand why things happened,” she said. With a history of bad experiences with churches, Downey had difficulty even entering one. “But when I came here, my best friend -- and she’s my roommate -- she kind of introduced me to Christ. And the … [Read more...]

By Norm Miller, Louisiana College News PINEVILLE, La. (LCNews) – The Louisiana College Board of Trustees unanimously approved two scholarships and elected officers in their Oct. 28 meeting. By unanimous vote trustees elected as chairman, David Jeffreys, associate pastor of Highland Baptist Church in New Iberia; as vice chairman, Michael Evans, pastor of Elwood Baptist Church in Forest Hill; and as secretary, David Lane, pastor of Judson Baptist Church in Walker. The President’s Leadership Award and a STEM to STEAM scholarship were unanimously approved. Based on academic performance and need, the STEM to STEAM full tuition scholarship is limited to five qualified students, total, from the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts or other STEM accredited high schools. “We believe the Arts are no less important than science, technology, engineering, and math are to a holistic liberal arts education,” said Louisiana College President Rick Brewer. “This scholarship reflects our commitment for STEM to become STEAM at Louisiana College and adds our collegial support to what the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts in Natchitoches and other STEM accredited schools are consistently … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) –Louisiana College honored Carroll and Elizabeth Hixson with the unveiling of a historical marker in front of the student center that bears their name during its annual Founders Day celebration Oct. 24. “The Hixsons believed that everyone should have access to a Christian education,” LC President Rick Brewer read from a description on the marker. “Their gift of the Hixson Student Center testifies to the unified hearts, shared convictions and exemplary lives of Carroll and Elizabeth Hixson.” Carroll Hixson was a long-time co-owner of Hixson Funeral Homes, with multiple locations in the state, and served faithfully for 56 years at the First Baptist Church in Lake Charles in various roles that included deacon and Sunday school teacher. His love for Louisiana Baptists eventually led him to serve as a trustee with LC for 28 years, including a stint as chairman. The Hixson heritage traces back to 1907, when his father, J.E. Hixson, was an adjunct professor, according to the LC Office of Communication. In the ensuring years, other family members enrolled as students: Lauren Hixson Philips, an alumna and accountant in Lake Charles; Emma Hixson, a pre-med … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer SHREVEPORT, La. (LBM) – The Northwest Louisiana Baptist Association paid tribute to Cooperative Program father M.E. Dodd during its 50th anniversary celebration, Sunday, Oct. 20. Throughout the evening, Louisiana Baptist and Southern Baptist leaders honored the association with video tributes and statements of appreciation at Summer Grove Baptist Church in Shreveport. NWLBA Director of Missions Lane Moore stood behind the pulpit used by Dodd during his ministry as pastor of the First Baptist Church in Shreveport from 1912-1950 and shared how the legendary pastor helped lead an effort to form the Cooperative Program, Southern Baptists’ main channel of giving to fund cooperative mission causes. Moore recounted how during Dodd’s 1919 SBC Annual Meeting convention sermon, SBC leaders and messengers took up his challenge to increase the Convention’s missions fundraising goal from a previously planned $50 million to $75 million in a difficult post-World War I economy. “Chairman Dodd and his committee went back to work and for several more years revised, re-worked and re-structured a detailed plan that was presented at the 1925 Southern Baptist Convention,” Moore said. “The … [Read more...]