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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Executive Board: Horn underscores ‘we’

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer WOODWORTH, La. (LBM) –In his first Executive Board meeting as executive director, Steve Horn challenged Louisiana Baptists to focus on “we” and on sharing the Gospel. “The reason for our meeting today, the reason for the existence of the Louisiana Baptist Convention is ‘we,’” Horn said during the Sept. 24 meeting at the Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center in Woodworth. “’We’ believe ‘we’ can accomplish together what we cannot accomplish separately,” he explained. “‘We’ is the fuel behind opportunities such as YEC, ECON and others. ‘We’ is the reason Louisiana Baptists have planted more than 249 churches over the last nine years. ‘We’ have the ability, potential and power to get inside the hearts and homes of 4.6 million people through efforts such as Harvest and Here for You. Without ‘we,’ there is no reason for us to take time away from our busy schedules for meetings such as this. “Southern Baptists and Louisiana Baptists believe in the power of ‘we’ to advance God’s Kingdom in Louisiana and beyond,” he declared. Horn shared with board members that during his first four months on the job he has facilitated 11 listening sessions with pastors and an additional session with … [Read more...]

E4 conference elevates expositional exegesis

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE, La. (LBM)– God has the power to open even the most impossible door to make a way for sharing the Gospel, Stephen Rummage said during the recent E4 Preaching Conference. “There is someone who sits on high and is in control,” said Rummage, pastor of the Quail Springs Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. “God has the ability to open doors in ways we never could imagine. “Sometimes He opens up big wide doors to reach communities with the Gospel. Sometimes He opens up individual intimate doors to people. But God has the ability to give us opportunities we may not see.” Citing Colossians 4:2-6, Rummage encouraged the 82 pastors and 10 pastors’ wives in attendance at the First Baptist Church in Pineville to use prayer as a tool to open doors. “God who sits on high opens the door through prayer,” he said. “Prayer has the power to open up the doors. Continue steadfastly and don’t give up praying for someone. Being watchful and be alert. Give God thanks for the way He is answering the prayer.” Once that door is open, Rummage said Christ followers must be bold and take action by sharing the hope found in Jesus. “There is no one on the earth who God will not save … [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 Paul DeRousse is retiring as associate pastor at Emmanuel Baptist Church, Shreveport. James Franklin has left First Baptist Church, Blanchard for Calvary Baptist Church, Harlingen, Texas. Scott Sullivan has left First Baptist Church, Haughton as education minister to for the Georgia Baptist Mission Board (Discipleship). Kevin Smith has resigned as pastor at Northwoods Baptist Church, Shreveport. Steve Efferson is the new associate pastor at Woodridge Baptist Church, Shreveport. Katie Ashcraft is the new music associate at Airline Baptist Church, Bossier City. Barry (wife Carol) Headrick is the new music minister at Gray Baptist Church. He comes from Walnut Hill Baptist Church, Vivian. Alex Hawkins is the new children’s minister at Cheniere Baptist Church, West Monroe. Russ, wife Pam, … [Read more...]

Students encouraged to bring Bibles to school October 3

By Focus on the Family More than half a million students from across the United States will join the Bring Your Bible to School movement on Thursday, Oct. 3. The annual student-led event, now in its sixth year, provides a unique opportunity for young people to share about their faith by highlighting its source – the Bible. Throughout the day, children and teens will share their experiences via social media using the hashtag #BringYourBible. Partnership with Drew Brees This year, NFL Saints quarterback Drew Brees partnered with Focus on the Family to promote Bring Your Bible to School Day. Brees filmed a short video encouraging kids to participate on October 3. In the video, Brees says, “One of my favorite verses in the Bible is 2 Corinthians 5:7. ‘For we live by faith and not by sight.’ So I want to encourage you to live out your faith on Bring Your Bible to School Day and share God’s love with friends. You’re not alone.” After receiving criticism for partnering with Focus on the Family, the Christian quarterback responded by affirming that he obeys Scripture’s command to love everyone. Brees said that as a Christian he is called to “love all, respect all, and accept all. So that is actually how I live my … [Read more...]

With push from Abraham, Louisiana College receives $2.2 million grant

By Norm Miller PINEVILLE (LCNews) - Louisiana College received a $2.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to help expand online education capacity and quality. A Sept. 27 press release from Representative Ralph Abraham’s office said, “The education of our nation's youth is among my highest priorities and I’m glad to see these federal dollars coming home to Louisiana.” Abraham said the grant will help Louisiana College “to better serve the students of Central Louisiana as they seek to broaden their academic horizons." “We celebrate this single largest grant ever achieved in the history of Louisiana College,” said Louisiana College President Rick Brewer. “We spent nine months researching the needs of our community and how best to enhance technology to solve higher education access issues. We are beyond elated for what will become a transformational advancement in our curricular offerings and general overall enhancement.” The grant underwrites a project called IDEA -- Investing in Developing Expanded Access -- with three main objectives: expanding access through online courses, improving faculty capacity in online education, and creating flexible online student services. Elements of these objectives … [Read more...]

Joseph Willis: The story of the first Louisiana Baptist

Pilgrims and served as governor for over 30 years. As noted before, he is credited as the first government leader to proclaim the Thanksgiving holiday. Importantly, William Bradford’s Mayflower pedigree did not have as much influence on Joseph’s life as much as the religious movement that crossed with him on this ship. Bradford was a committed member of what was termed a “Separatist” church. Unlike Puritans who wanted to purify the Church of England, Separatists wanted to break from it because they felt it was beyond redemption due to unbiblical doctrines and teachings. It was Bradford’s Separatist views about religious freedom that would greatly influence Joseph Willis more than a century later. By 1790, Joseph and Rachel were living in Cheraws County (now named Marlboro County), South Carolina, just southwest of Bladen County, across the state line. The 1790 census lists him as the head of the household with two females and one male over 16. In South Carolina, two more children were born to the couple: Joseph Willis Jr., born in 1792, and Rachel’s last child, named after her, Rachel Willis, born circa 1794. Rachel died this same year at only 32 years old, but it is not known if she died in childbirth. Joseph was … [Read more...]

BAGBR dedicates annex to T.W. & Iris Terral

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer BATON ROUGE  (LBM) – After nearly 10 years of praying and planning, the Baptist Association of Greater Baton Rouge has opened its new Adoniram Judson, Jr. Missions and Ministries Center Annex. Pastors, seminary staff and other Louisiana Baptist leaders from around the state gathered Sept. 9 at the BAGBR office to mark the official opening of the facility that was dedicated in honor of T.W. and Iris Terral. He is a former pastor of Lanier Baptist Church in Baton Rouge and was instrumental in starting the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary extension center inside the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola. Tommy Middleton, director of missions for BAGBR, told the Baptist Message Terral was “due” the honor because of his contributions to Kingdom work in the state. “We stand on the shoulders of T.W. Terral,” Middleton said. “He’s been impacting the work in this area for six decades. His footprint is quite large, spiritually, and he is deserving of great honor.” The facility will house a church planting incubator -- where new church starts can use space for office and worship, a New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary extension center, a pastoral ministry training space, … [Read more...]

In memoriam: Emeritus missionary William H. Ichter, 93

By IMB Staff MINDEN - William Harold Ichter, an emeritus International Mission Board missionary who shared the gospel among the American Affinity Peoples in Brazil, died August 29, 2019. He was 93. Bill was born on Dec. 11, 1925, in Nanticoke, Pa., the oldest son of Harriet Ellen and Harold Lester Ichter. In his teen years, his family moved to Louisiana, and he graduated in 1942 from Bolton High School in Alexandria. During World War II, he joined the U.S. Army. Right before boot camp, he attended a campus revival and surrendered his life to Christ. He served in the European theater and received the Bronze Star and the Combat Infantry badge. After he returned to the United States, he met Jerry Catron at Louisiana College. They were married June 2, 1949, and were married for 69 years until her death Sept. 19, 2018. Ichter received the Bachelor of Arts from Louisiana College and the Master of Sacred Music from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. The Ichters served the Lord in three churches: Emmanuel Baptist Church in Alexandria, La., Istrouma Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, La., and First Baptist Church, Amite, La. After sensing God’s call to missions, they were appointed missionaries and went with their … [Read more...]