By Kirbi Cochran, Message Staff Writer MELVILLE – For more than a decade, the First Baptist Church in Melville had declined in numbers, dwindling to just nine members as recently as 2015 and at risk of closing its doors for good. But in just three years, the congregation has experienced revitalization with more than 30 worshipers regularly attending Sunday services. Pastor Nathaniel Dutton told the Baptist Message he sensed a spiritual malaise among the members during his first Sunday in the pulpit in December 2015. “They were in a deep funk,” said Dutton, “They were playing church: Come Sunday morning -- come to Sunday school, come in and listen to the service -- and go home. “That was their church life,” he said. Dutton, who was named a 2018 Louisiana Baptist Convention Exemplary Bivocational Pastor of the Year for his dedication and hard work at his secular job and his congregation, is pastor of First Baptist Church, Meville. Also photographed are Stacy Morgan, church administration strategist for Louisiana Baptists, and Jacob Crawford, pastor of Life Point Community Church in Mansura and director of missions for Louisiana Baptist Association. said the key to his revitalization approach has been to love them, … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer MONROE – Greater New Antioch Baptist Church accepted God’s call to take a leap of faith in late June and move from their long-time home to another area of Monroe, and the blessings have been supernal. Since relocating, the Lord has blessed the obedience of the African-American church re-plant with a 20 percent increase in attendance, including 15 new members by baptism since moving. The success of the relocated congregation might have been foreseen from the huge welcome the congregation received at the new location, when more than 750 individuals from the community attended the initial service. The June 24 service was a combination of the launch of Greater New Antioch and the dissolution of College Place Baptist (a predominately Anglo congregation), which was transferring its property to the incoming group. Now running an average of 150 in morning worship, Greater New Antioch members truly understand the importance of them taking the step of faith to move. “We all had the emotional attachment to the old building we had been in for 20 years but we prayed the Lord would open the door to move,” said Pastor John Russell. “My members had faith in the leadership and vision of … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer CROWLEY – Reaching some of the 100,000 people who attend the annual International Rice Festival seemed daunting, but members of the First Baptist Church in Crowley embraced the challenge using jambalaya, antique tractor demonstrations and train rides to plant Gospel seeds in the community. The 15th annual Harvest Fest, held on the grounds of First Baptist Crowley, drew nearly 15,000 people who enjoyed a wide selection of Cajun foods, Zydeco music, family activities such as a petting zoo and bouncy houses and more. While organizers did not see many commitments to Christ at the festival, the results usually are seen several months later, they said. “For many people, it’s an introduction to our church,” said Michael Doughty, one of the Harvest Fest coordinators. “The harvest is seen not the following weekend, but 6-9 months down the road. When we see someone come to Christ it makes all the hard work of planning months in advance worth it. The festival began in 1995 when a few church members served water on the church grounds to Rice Festival goers. Through the years, the congregation added activities and has used Harvest Fest to build a bridge between the community and 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 Randall Gill has been called as pastor of New Bethlehem Baptist Church, Denham Springs. Chris Camp is the new pastor at Big Cane Baptist Church, Lonnie Wascom has been called as the interim pastor of Walker Baptist Church, Walker. Larry Baldridge is the new pastor at Life Point Church, Cottonport. Jack Varnado has been called as the interim pastor of Red Oak Baptist Church, Livingston. Brian Prucey is retiring as pastor of Elm Grove Baptist Church, Bossier City. Shelby (wife Summer) Thomas is the new youth pastor at Bethany Baptist Church, Bethany. James Snyder moves from youth pastor to interim pastor at Elm Grove Baptist Church, Bossier City. Courtney Rainey resigned as pastor at Greenacres Baptist Church, Bastrop. REVIVAL First Baptist Church, Robeline: Revival, January … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer COVINGTON – Ed Newton, pastor of the Community Bible Church, San Antonio, Texas, will emphasize reaching the lost of the next generation during Student Night, Jan. 28, at the 2019 Louisiana Baptist Evangelism Conference. The pre-session will begin at 5:30 p.m. in “The Rock” youth building of First Baptist, Covington, and feature a pizza party, games and music by an area youth choir. The main session will follow immediately afterward with music presented by the First Covington choir and a message by Newton. Keith Manuel, evangelism and church growth director for Louisiana Baptists, said Student Night will build on the challenge “to share Christ with others” presented in November during the 2018 Youth Evangelism Celebration in Alexandria. “We are investing in a nationwide youth speaker for churches to come and be part of a large evangelistic event that is absolutely free,” Manuel said. “While we are targeting students, this night is for everyone as we seek a great harvest of the lost.” Newton spoke at Student Night as part of ECON 2017, held at Temple Baptist Church, Ruston, when dozens of students came forward at the invitation. By the time the service ended 34 … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer NEW ORLEANS – Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans celebrated a new chapter in ministry Dec. 9 when congregants gathered for the first worship service in their new home, six miles from where they had ministered for 21 years. “It’s the talk of the town,” Pastor Fred Luter told the Baptist Message. “The New Orleans East area is excited about us being here and we are excited as well. It is one of the most populated areas of the city, and we are excited about doing all we can to revitalize the community. The excitement level was so high that we decided to have several weeks of special dedication services in December to celebrate all that God has done through this move.” The new $35 million facility includes a 3,500-seat worship center, a fellowship hall, offices, a kitchen, conference rooms, Sunday school rooms and youth and children’s areas. The property also has 1,200 parking spaces, a dramatic increase from the 25 spots available at its former location, 2515 Franklin Avenue. Averaging nearly 3,100 for morning services, the congregation formerly had to lease a nearby parking lot to accommodate worshippers’ cars on Sundays. “That first Sunday at our new location our … [Read more...]

By Marilyn Stewart NEW ORLEANS - The "one word" that brought students to seminary must now guide them as graduates, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Chancellor Chuck Kelley told them, Dec. 15, at NOBTS' Leavell Chapel. "'Yes' is the word that brought you to New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. 'Yes' is the word I want you to take with you as you depart," Kelley said. "But, I warn you. Not every 'yes' is easy." Kelley reminded graduates they answered "yes" when God called them to seminary knowing the road would be long and difficult. Kelley recalled trying personal times he and wife Rhonda Kelley faced when he came to seminary 43 years ago -- first as a student, then faculty member, and then president. Life turned upside down during Kelley's student days to the point he considered leaving the ministry and joining his father in business, Kelley explained. His father's reminder that God had not rescinded Kelley's call to ministry helped him stay the course, Kelley said. "It was a hard 'yes,'" Kelley said. "But it wasn't our toughest 'yes.'" Kelley went on to describe an unexpected change of direction when he was asked to join the NOBTS faculty following his doctoral graduation. The decision was … [Read more...]

By Message Staff NEW ORLEANS – An urgent call to prayer has been issued for the safe return of David Plessy, a missing New Orleans pastor whose wife was tragically killed in a carjacking incident Nov. 27. Authorities and family members are pleading for help finding the father of two young children, whose family has already been struck by tragedy once. According to WVUE-TV in New Orleans, Plessy was last seen around 8 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 1 as he left his residence in the 3600 block of Havanna Street in New Orleans. His car was found in the Treme neighborhood of New Orleans Tuesday night, and his cell phone was inside the vehicle. Plessy’s disappearance comes a month after his wife, Jeannot, was tragically killed in a carjacking incident in New Orleans. Three teenagers were charged Dec. 1 in connection to her death. Plessy is pastor of the non-denominational Crossover Christian Fellowship in New Orleans, and the father of Nadia Sanchez, a member of Celebration Church, Metairie, and the father-in-law of facilities manager Kristian Sanchez. “Pray for David Plessy's safety,” Celebration Church Lead Pastor Dennis Watson said in an e-mail statement to the Baptist Message. “Pray that if he has been apprehended that he … [Read more...]