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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

EARL HEARD: From LC dropout to media mogul

By Will Hall, Message Executive Editor LEAGUE CITY, Texas (LBM) – When Earl Heard dropped out of Louisiana College in 1962 he could not have imagined that he would be a featured speaker at a Texas A&M leadership symposium in 2014. But his dramatic change of fortune and the 52-year period in between reveal something about his struggles and successes as well as his unyielding drive to succeed. What is not evident from these bookends to this part of his life story is that he was successful in building his business and media empire only after finally surrendering his all to the Lord. Now, he spends a good deal of his resources creating faith-friendly books and films in his effort to promote greater faith and to support healthy, growing families. HARD LESSONS Heard’s departure from Louisiana College was set in motion while he was on semester break, when a roommate’s brother robbed the school bookstore and then hid the ill-gotten textbooks in Heard’s room. Neither Heard nor his roommate knew anything about the theft. But when the student body returned to campus, the discovery of the books put the thief, his brother and Heard under suspicion. “We got back up there and were guilty by association. I learned to … [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. HOMECOMING Second Baptist Church, Jackson: 60th Homecoming, September 15, 10 a.m. Pastor: Clark Fooshee. New Zion Baptist Church, Kentwood: 150th Homecoming Celebration, September 15, 10:30 a.m. A covered dish meal will follow the worship service. Speaker: Gibbie McMillan. Special Music:  Jimmy Falker. Pastor: Larry Blades. Christian Harmony Baptist Church, Natchitoches: 103th annual Homecoming Celebration, September 22, 10:30 a.m. Guest Speaker: George Holland. Special Music: HIS. Pastor: David Matlock. First Baptist Church, Anacoco: Homecoming, September 22, 10:30 a.m. There will be covered-dish lunch on the grounds following the worship service. Guest Speaker: Jason Nolde, Leesville. The congregation invites everyone to attend. The church is located at 4813 Port Arthur Ave, Anacoco. Pastor: Will Hall … [Read more...]

Emeritus missionary, Louisiana native James Madderson Young passes away at 94

By Mary Jane Welch James Madderson Young, an emeritus International Mission Board missionary who lived the gospel among Northern African and Middle Eastern people in the Gaza Strip and Yemen, died July 11, 2019. He was 94. Born November 13, 1924, in Choudrant, where he lived with his grandparents until age 6 when he moved to Ruston with his mother, Ila May Gibson. During World War II, he joined the Navy, where he completed training as a naval aviator. He was assigned to duty on an aircraft carrier just as the war ended. Young received a bachelor of arts degree with honors from Louisiana Tech University, Ruston. He married June Buckner of Ruston on August 24, 1946. The couple moved to New Orleans where he received a doctorate degree in medicine from Louisiana State University. They then moved to Panama, where Young completed his surgical internship in preparation for a medical career with the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board (now International Mission Board). Appointed as missionaries Oct. 10, 1954, the Youngs were assigned to the Gaza Strip in the Middle East, where Young headed up a local hospital for 10 years. In 1964, after learning that Yemen had very little medical care, the Youngs opened the first … [Read more...]

Louisiana College blessed with a week of generosity

By Norm Miller, LC News PINEVILLE (LCNews) -- The week of Aug. 26 – 30 revealed the blessings of God, the generosity of others, and the fruits of relationship building as Louisiana College received more than $300,000 in support. “The Lord has blessed the College in multiple ways this past week, which I know you want to share in praise and thanksgiving,” said Louisiana College President Rick Brewer in an email to LC leaders. “We received individual financial gifts of $100,000, $20,000, $10,000, $5,000, and several gifts ranging from $100 to $1,000.” One donor designated an additional $65,000 to equip a state-of-the art Computer Science lab. “This gift provides a huge lift to our emerging Computer Science major,” Brewer noted. “Glory to God!” Citing other methods of regular support, Brewer noted the Board of Visitors, whose gifts total about $250,000 annually in direct scholarship funds.  The Legacy Society and Wildcat Club reflect planned giving and resources for athletics, respectively. Brewer expressed “humble and heart-felt gratitude” for all the Louisiana Baptists who support the College through the Louisiana Baptist Convention Cooperative Program. “This underwrites tuition costs about $3,000 annually per … [Read more...]

Edwards makes pitch for re-election

By Message Staff PINEVILLE – Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards highlighted bi-partisanship and teacher pay raises during a meeting of the North Rapides Business Alliance at Louisiana College Aug. 26. “We can still get it done in Baton Rouge,” Edwards said, referencing bi-partisan passage of prison reform measures as an example. “We show up first and foremast as Louisianans, and we’re able to talk to one another, we’re able to work together, we’re able to move the ball forward. “Today in Louisiana we are doing better,” he continued. “We still have our challenges. But relatively speaking we can meet our challenges, the ones that remain, from a position of strength not the position of weakness which is where we were before.” Edwards touted a $1,000 annual pay raise for teachers and $500 raise for support personnel that won approval over a Republican proposal of $1,200 and $600, respectively. Edwards plan also kicked in $40 million to school districts. Republicans and Democrats passed the increases during the last legislative session after Louisiana’s economy saw a lift from the national economic improvement during the last two years. “All the school districts across Louisiana need the ability to attract and retain top … [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 Arron (wife Ashley) McGuffee is the new senior pastor at Trinity Baptist Church, Natchitoches. Paul DeRousse is retiring from Emmanuel Baptist Church, Shreveport. He has served the church as Minister of Music and Senior Adults then Associate Pastor and Senior Adults for the last 20 years. HOMECOMING Second Baptist Church, Jackson: 60th Homecoming, September 15, 10 a.m. Pastor: Clark Fooshee. New Zion Baptist Church, Kentwood: 150th Homecoming Celebration, September 15, 10:30 a.m. A covered dish meal will follow the worship service. Speaker: Gibbie McMillan. Special Music: Jimmy Falker. Pastor: Larry Blades. REVIVAL Palestine Baptist Church, Columbia: Revival, September 1-4. Evangelist: Scotty McDowell, chalk artist. Pastor: Hudey Beaubouef. First Baptist Church, Dubach: Revival, … [Read more...]

HomePlace offers women hope of heavenly abode

MONROE – Sarah Pierce spent nearly 15 years seeking freedom from alcoholism, but just a few months into 2017 she found deliverance in Christ when she entered HomePlace, the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home and Family Ministries program for homeless children and their mothers. Through HomePlace, Pierce received spiritual support from fellow mothers in the program and LBCHFM staff members, who encouraged her to share her testimony of salvation publicly, through baptism. On August 18 she took that step of obedience with another HomePlace resident as they were baptized during a worship service at the North Monroe Baptist Church in Monroe. The women are two of five HomePlace residents (out of 13 women currently in the program) baptized this year, and among numerous others in the program who have been plunged beneath baptistery waters since HomePlace began in 2010. Susan Clark, LBCHFM director of family care ministries, said she has been blessed to witness the life change in Pierce and many other women, who participate in daily personal devotional times, weekly small group Bible studies and monthly large group gatherings, featuring a speaker and testimonies, at the ministry’s Monroe campus. “We give them Jesus, every … [Read more...]