By Gary D. Myers, NOBTS public relations NEW ORLEANS (BP) -- When New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Chancellor Chuck Kelley announced his "Different Voices Initiative" in 2018, a top priority involved encouraging students from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds as well as women to pursue a calling to academia. A May 6 workshop, "Faculty Hiring 101," marked a key step toward that goal, offering practical tips for those sensing a call to teach in a Baptist institution. About 25 students from a variety of ethnic backgrounds including African American, Asian and Hispanic attended the event. About a third of the attendees were women, more than half of whom were white. The group included students at all stages of study in the master's and doctoral programs at NOBTS. Most were either master's students considering doctoral work or students in the early stages of doctoral study. Presenters discussed the preparation for academia, the doctrinal expectations of Southern Baptist schools and institutional fit as well as practical matters like developing an academic resume. Informal conversations like these take place between professors and students on a daily basis. Some of the NOBTS academic divisions host … [Read more...]

By Message Staff Hours after a round of powerful storms moved across the state, Louisiana Baptists Disaster Relief crews were on the ground Thursday, May 9. According to Louisiana Baptists Disaster Relief Director Gibbie McMillan, volunteers were assessing 22 damaged homes east of Jonesboro and the Caney Lakes Recreational Area in Webster Parish. The storm also damaged the home of Chad McClurg, the Baptist Collegiate Ministry director at the University of Louisiana-Monroe. According to a Facebook post by LSU BCM Director Steve Masters, McClurg was in his house when the tree fell onto his home in Monroe, but he was not injured. Masters posted that McClurg's homeowners' insurance will cover the damages, but he will have to pay a deductible. Contributions can be made by sending a personal check to 1005 University Avenue, Monroe, Louisiana 71203. A tornado was preliminary reported to have touched down in Jonesboro. Other locations where a tornado possibly touched down included the Panola County, Texas-Caddo Parish, Louisiana line; southeast of Stonewall; near Robeline; and south of Ruston. Additional tornadoes were preliminarily reported north of Marshall, Texas, and Columbia and Union counties in Arkansas. … [Read more...]

Editor’s Note: After being elected the new executive director, Steve Horn shared his vision for the Louisiana Baptist Convention in the following message to the Executive Board. ALEXANDRIA -- I am humbled and honored to be elected as your Executive Director. I am excited about God’s call and the call of the Executive Board. I cannot wait to get started. Though I have much to learn and analyze before major decisions are made, I want to share with you my hopes for the Louisiana Baptist Convention. As I have prayed about my role, I want to share seven hopes for us as a Convention. Jesus will be exalted. If we can agree on anything, we should be able to agree that Jesus should be exalted. Jesus is the Head of the Church. If He is the Head of the Church, then He is the Head of the LBC. I look forward to times of gathering when we will together exalt Jesus. Let me offer the challenge now that we strive toward the largest attendance in years to our Annual Meeting. Make attending this year in Alexandria, Nov. 11-12, a real priority. Yes, we will conduct business and hear reports, but let’s gather to exalt Jesus. Since churches are essential to our work, churches will be equipped. Baptists are different. As a cooperative … [Read more...]

By Norm Miller, LCNews PINEVILLE (LCNews)—Louisiana College has named Jerry Pipes to lead its Office of Institutional Advancement. No stranger to Louisiana, Pipes was executive pastor at First Baptist Church Bossier City for “three incredible years,” he said. “I had the humbling privilege to build deep relationships with the evangelical community in Shreveport-Bossier. I found the people to be deeply devoted, biblically conservative, missions and evangelism minded, and extremely generous with their resources.” Having spoken hundreds of times in Louisiana churches as part of Jerry Pipes Productions -- an itinerant pastoral and discipleship ministry -- Pipes has traveled the world speaking to millions of people at schools, businesses, civic organizations, military bases, and regional events. “I want my service at Louisiana College to be the best years of my career,” Pipes told LC President Rick Brewer. “With an outlook and commitment like that, I have every confidence that God will bless the efforts of my friend Jerry Pipes,” Brewer said. “He has been a close friend for more than 30 years and is one of the most well-rounded and thoroughly equipped followers of Christ I know.” “Dr. Pipes will be a strategic member … [Read more...]

Editor’s Note: After being elected the new executive director, Steve Horn shared his vision for the Louisiana Baptist Convention in the following message to the Executive Board. ALEXANDRIA -- I am humbled and honored to be elected as your Executive Director. I am excited about God’s call and the call of the Executive Board. I cannot wait to get started. Though I have much to learn and analyze before major decisions are made, I want to share with you my hopes for the Louisiana Baptist Convention. As I have prayed about my role, I want to share seven hopes for us as a Convention. Jesus will be exalted. If we can agree on anything, we should be able to agree that Jesus should be exalted. Jesus is the Head of the Church. If He is the Head of the Church, then He is the Head of the LBC. I look forward to times of gathering when we will together exalt Jesus. Let me offer the challenge now that we strive toward the largest attendance in years to our Annual Meeting. Make attending this year in Alexandria, Nov. 11-12, a real priority. Yes, we will conduct business and hear reports, but let’s gather to exalt Jesus. Since churches are essential to our work, churches will be equipped. Baptists are different. As a cooperative … [Read more...]

By Message Staff WOODWORTH (LBM) – The Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board voted unanimously to elect Steve Horn as the 19th executive director of the organization during the entity’s spring meeting at the Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center in Woodworth, May 7. There are 86 members of the Executive Board, but attendance numbers were not immediately available. He was nominated by a search committee comprised of board members and led by Waylon Bailey, president of the Executive Board and the senior pastor of the First Baptist Church in Covington. Horn will succeed David Hankins, who retires as executive director June 30. “I am honored and humbled to be selected to lead Louisiana Baptists in our cooperative efforts at this crucial time,” Horn said. “I want to thank the search committee and entire Executive Board for their confidence in me. I look forward to earning the trust of all Louisiana Baptists. I am ready to go to work listening and learning. “My prayer for Louisiana is as the Apostle Paul said about his people – ‘My heart’s desire and prayer to God concerning them is for their salvation.’” “Dr. Steve Horn is uniquely qualified and equipped to lead Louisiana Baptists at this time,’ Bailey told … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer LAKE CHARLES – The sale of facilities that formerly belonged to a struggling Anglo church in Lake Charles has breathed new life into an African- American congregation in the city. The property, located at 3007 Enterprise Boulevard and which used to house the once-thriving Boulevard Baptist Church, was sold Feb. 22 to Mount Olive Baptist Church. At one time Boulevard Baptist Church had as many as 1,320 members, according to Annual Church Profile statistics. But as the demographics of the neighborhood changed, attendance steadily declined, with fewer than 15 members attending in late 2017. Rather than close the doors, Boulevard Baptist chose to sell the property to Carey Baptist Association the following year. The association continued to allow the congregation to worship in the facilities while a new buyer was found. Meanwhile, Mt. Olive Baptist was praying about its vision for the future when the Holy Spirit orchestrated a conversation in October 2017 between Carey Association Director of Missions Bruce Baker and Pastor Braylon Harris about a possible relocation to Boulevard Baptist’s property. Instead of focusing on adding onto its existing facilities at its 37-acre property, … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer HAUGHTON – More than 550 people turned out at 6:30 a.m. for an annual Easter sunrise service at Hillcrest Cemetery in Haughton, 8 miles from the First Baptist Church in Haughton, which provided the music and message for the special service. Gevan Spinney, pastor of First Haughton, said the cemetery was a fitting backdrop to share the timeless story of Christ’s victory over death, and that 15 former sinners were rescued from a spiritual grave that day. “For many of those in attendance the cemetery has been a place of heartache and defeat, this Sunday morning it was a place of victory.” Spinney said. “We use this service as an opportunity to share the Gospel with our community and it is always a special service, but this year the Holy Spirit showed up in an especially powerful way.” Though the service was conducted by First Haughton, the event drew members from surrounding churches as well as people who rarely attend any worship service. Spin­ney said the service has be­come a tradition for those not connected to a church, which he sees as the perfect opportunity to share the hope of Christ. “Hillcrest sends out invitations to all the people who have loved ones buried there, … [Read more...]