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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

6,000 Baptist youth rally for YEC

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Ed Newton commissioned more than 6,000 students to leave the Rapides Parish Coliseum and be salt and light in their schools, communities and world during the 2019 Youth Evangelism Celebration. “I believe as the world grows darker, the light gets brighter,” Newton told the students. “And I believe God is rallying a group of teenagers who will say ‘We are the salt of the earth! We are the light of the world! God’s got a mission for us!’ “You have a choice to make,” he continued. “Are you going to be a thermostat or a thermometer? God’s trying to raise up thermostats in the world that will change the atmosphere of their campus, that will change the atmosphere of locker rooms, that will change the atmosphere of friendships that you have. God wants you to embrace that you are salt and that you are light.” EMBRACE THE CALL Newton, pastor of the 27,000-member Community Bible Church in San Antonio, Texas, headlined the gathering, Nov. 24-25. Newton challenged Louisiana Baptist teens in multiple sessions to share what Christ has done in their lives, and encouraged them to change the world for the Lord. By the end of the two-day spiritual encounter, 500 … [Read more...]

Backpacks to needy filled with gifts from Santa, Christ’s love

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer MANY, La. (LBM) – Christmas will be merrier in Louisiana and seven other states for more than 11,000 needy families, who have received a backpack filled with gifts and a message of hope for the holiday season. Included in that number are 4,500 backpacks filled with hygiene items, snacks, canned food items, school supplies, clothes, a Bible and a booklet of the Christmas story, contributed by 20 Louisiana Baptist churches and ministries. Throughout December, the Louisiana-based Mississippi River Ministry has coordinated the distribution of the backpacks to families at Christmas parties and other outreach events. Since the backpack giveaway began in 2015, more than 34,000 backpacks have been distributed that have resulted in 1,100 professions of faith in the eight-state region served by the ministry, according to Mississippi River Ministry regional backpack coordinators Marshall and Janell Ingle. Alabama’s Women on Mission has adopted the ministry and provided most of the backpacks since 2015. “The backpacks are more than just gifts to children who are marginalized,” Janell Ingle told the Baptist Message. “The backpacks not only meet physical needs but they are used as a bridge … [Read more...]

Cross on I-20 reminds believers Jesus watches over them

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer RAYVILLE, La. (LBM)--The community of believers in Rayville has erected a 120-foot cross near Interstate 20 to remind motorists that Jesus watches over them. The cross, which can be seen up to two miles from its location, was envisioned in 2017 by Timmie Ray Thames, a member of the First Baptist Church in Rayville. Thames was inspired after having noticed electrical wires near his backyard form the image of a cross. Several months passed and on Aug. 21, 2017, Thames’s longtime friend, Joe Bruynickx, noticed a giant cross on the side of Interstate 55 in Batesville, Mississippi. The friends previously had discussed different varieties of crosses, but Bruynickx said God revealed to them at that moment they should place the same design in Rayville. “I was on my way back from the solar eclipse in Missouri and called Timmie Ray to help me stay awake on the drive home,” he recalled. “We had finished discussing the eclipse when Timmie Ray made the statement that ‘I just don’t know if God is in this.’ It was at that very moment that I noticed the cross at Batesville, and I was stunned and awe struck, as was Timmie Ray when I told him what I was witnessing. I snapped that picture and sent … [Read more...]

Native Americans lead revival in state, and among Navajo nation

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer You are a sleeping giant, the original American. You are now awakening. Just around the corner, you may become a spiritual superpower in this country that could change not only America but the world. -- Billy Graham, 1975, speaking to a group of Native American leaders in Albuquerque, New Mexico God often chooses to use the ‘least’ of the peoples, much like He used the Israelites when He delivered them out of bondage. “These people are connected to indigenous peoples around the world. Should they gain a sense of divine purpose for their lives, they could travel down an established highway to carry the good news around the world. Henry continues to pray that God will begin a revival in a least-likely place among a least-likely people so that God receives all the glory. -- Richard Blackaby, son of Henry Blackaby, founder of Blackaby Ministries, in a 2019 statement to the Baptist Message. ELTON, La. (LBM)–An eight-week camp meeting in Oberlin and Elton has sparked revival in central Louisiana and among the Navajo nation in New Mexico, and there are no signs that it will end soon. The All Nations Camp Meeting kicked off Oct. 2 under a tent on the campus of Oberlin Baptist … [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 Terrell Suggs is the interim pastor at Calvary Baptist Church, Slidell. Jimmy Pitson is the new pastor at Baskin Baptist Church, Baskin. Cody Roberts is the new youth minister at Red Bluff Baptist Church, Folsom. Nichole Deline is the new music director at Serenity Baptist Church, Tickfaw. Codie (wife Kenzie) Smith is the new youth pastor at Airline Baptist Church, Bossier City. Randy (wife Chelby) Ziegler is the new youth pastor at First Baptist Church, Bossier City. Stephen (wife Amy) Cloud is the new youth pastor at Summer Grove Baptist Church, Shreveport. Tim (wife Casey) Purvis is the new children’s minister at Summer Grove Baptist Church, Shreveport. Chad Jackson has resigned as pastor at Liberty Baptist Church, Calhoun. Eastside Baptist Church, Ponchatoula: Pastor Wayne Hollie … [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. IN REMEMBERANCE Glen Wagnon, 80, a native of DeRidder and resident of Baton Rouge passed away November 3. He also served in full-time ministry for over 40 years in churches throughout Louisiana -- Ludington Baptist, DeRidder; Baptist Temple, Alexandria; Northside Baptist, Lafayette; First Baptist Church, Olla; First Baptist Church, Starks and Emmanuel Baptist Church, Oakdale. He also served on the Board of Trustees for the Baptist Message for a number of years. Following his retirement he continued to preach as an interim and had supply preaching roles for numerous churches. He preached his last sermon only four weeks before his death. In his spare time, he was an avid hunter, fisherman, and LSU sports fan. He was preceded in death by his mother, Elizabeth Sheppard; by his father, Malvin Wagnon, Sr.; and by his sister, … [Read more...]

Couple heaven-bound after Gospel dial-up

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer LEESVILLLE, La. (LBM) – For many years Gil James and his wife, Karen, believed they were Heaven bound based solely on their good deeds. But on a late July evening, during a phone call with Karen’s brother-inlaw, Eric Jarell, the couple finally accepted that they could enter Heaven only through a relationship with Christ. Moments later, they prayed to receive Christ in their living room, and months later they publicly declared their faith through baptism at Canaan Baptist Church in Leesville. “We had been going right along with our regular life for quite a few years and knew something was missing,” James told the Baptist Message. “One night it hit us we needed to change our life. The morning after we gave our lives to Christ we both woke up with this feeling of newness. Months went by and we realized that we needed to take that next step of obedience through baptism in front of our family members. Both of us lived all these years without Christ and now we can’t get enough of serving Him every day.” SOW AND REAP The Jameses were among four people baptized Sept. 8, and nine since January, at Canaan Baptist Church. Pastor Jason Nolde said the baptisms reflect an increased … [Read more...]

WRAPUP: Resolutions, motions, budget and elections

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptists enjoyed fellowship and worship during the LBC Annual meeting, but also conducted important business, passing resolutions, addressing motions, approving a budget and electing leaders. RESOLUTIONS Messengers approved four consensus statements, with three offering respectively: a statement of appreciation to the Randolph Riverfront Center in Alexandria for hosting the annual meeting and to individuals who contributed in important ways to the production of the twoday event; a declaration that being transformed from sinner to believer means our “old selves have passed away” as well as our old identity with those sins; and, a call for Louisiana lawmakers “to provide legal relief for churches to allow them the freedom to share information reasonably believed to be a true allegation about an individual to prospective employers or other congregations – as a means to prevent predators from continuing to harm others.” But the fourth stated Louisiana Baptists’ support for the proposed “Love Life Amendment,” slated to be on the statewide ballot in 2020. The resolution gives “our strongest possible endorsement of the Love Life Amendment and the … [Read more...]

LSU longsnapper an NFL prospect, but a confirmed follower of Christ

By Will Hall, Message Executive Editor BATON ROUGE (LBM) —Blake Ferguson has had a remarkable history in football in a unique position. He came to LSU as the number one long snapper as a senior in high school, and last year he was named the best collegiate long snapper in the nation. On top of that, he took over that job for the Tigers from his brother Reid who was signed after graduation as the long snapper for the NFL’s Buffalo Bills, and, scouts are predicting Blake will play at that level on Sundays, too. But Sundays have another special meaning for the professional football prospect. He is a committed Christian, and his hometown congregation in Smyrna, Georgia, is Christ Covenant Church, a Georgia Baptist member. Moreover, as much as Blake contributes to the success of the Tigers on the gridiron, observers say he makes an equally important impact off the field. Indeed, Andy Stroup, the greater Baton Rouge area director for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, called Ferguson “the main guy” in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter at LSU. “He has been a part of the leadership team -- going on his third year,” Stroup told the Baptist Message. “He is a tremendous man. “When Blake walks into the … [Read more...]

Pastors Conference offered renewal for the work

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) – During the 2019 Louisiana Baptist Pastor’s Conference, Nov. 10-11, at the First Baptist Church, Pineville, speakers offered words of encouragement and conviction to pastors. ROBERT SMITH Robert Smith, professor of Christian preaching at Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, Alabama, spoke during the opening session from Joshua 14:6-15 to urge the crowd to resist a “me first” attitude and instead to embrace God’s calling “to be second.” Pointing to the faithfulness of Caleb, who waited 45 years for God to fulfill his promise of a new land, Smith said Caleb saw his patient obedience rewarded. “God’s delays are not God’s denials,” he said. “It’s been 45 years.  How do you live with a dream, a vision for 45 years? It has been delayed. But God is not in time. Time is in God. If you will trust Him and be faithful, it may be a delay, but it’s not a denial.” PAUL CHITWOOD Paul Chitwood, who was elected president of the Southern Baptist International Mission Board in November 2018, told pastors to adopt the wisdom that Nehemiah displayed when he fought off the enemy who was trying to dissuade him from rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. “The … [Read more...]