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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

2018 Pastors Conference to focus on ‘whole church’

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer RUSTON – Organizers of this year’s Louisiana Baptist Pastors Conference hopes to equip participants with the tools needed to lead people of all backgrounds within the church. “Our hope is that we can learn how to better reach and connect with people of different language groups and ethnic backgrounds, as well as families who deal with special needs or individuals who suffer with mental health issues,” said Pastors Conference President Kirk Jones. Scheduled Nov. 11-12 at Cook Baptist Church, the annual gathering’s theme is “Whole: Equipping the church to love the whole church.” “The passion behind this theme is to take a Biblical approach to some difficult topics,” Jones said. “Our heart is not to address what we should do but how we could and would lead our church to live out our shared convictions. We will provide this opportunity through times of biblical preaching and through times of practical instruction in breakout session.” The conference begins 6 p.m., Nov. 11, with music led by Fellowship Church of Prairieville and Istrouma Espanol of Baton Rouge, and with a message shared by Louisiana Baptist Church Planting Strategist Carlos Schmidt. Following the bi-lingual … [Read more...]

Annual meeting will highlight ‘reaching the next generation’

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer RUSTON – Under the mantle of  ”Imprint – Marking the Next Generation,” adapted from Deuteronomy 6:7, messengers to the 2018 Louisiana Baptist Convention will learn about progress being made toward completing the goal of sharing Christ with the next generation as outlined in the President’s 2020 Commission Report. The annual meeting will take place Nov. 12-13 at Temple Baptist Church in Ruston. “We see pockets of success of which we celebrate,” said LBC Executive Director David Hankins, “but we need to prayerfully seek God’s direction if we’re going to successfully imprint this generation with the Gospel.” The next generation is one of two groups identified as target audiences in the President’s 2020 Commission Report. Adopted by messengers at the 2013 Louisiana Baptist Convention annual meeting, the 2020 initiative seeks to reach every generation and every people group in Louisiana with the Gospel by the year 2020 through congregational revitalization, church planting, communications and collaboration. LEANER BUDGET Messengers also will vote on a reduced Cooperative Program budget. Approved during the Executive Board’s Sept. 25 meeting at Tall Timbers Baptist Conference … [Read more...]

Messengers must register to participate at Annual Meeting

By Shana Johnson, LBC IT Supervisor RUSTON – In order for a church to be represented in the business portion of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, November 12-13, at Temple Baptist Church in Ruston, it will need to elect messenger(s), who then must register and be certified by the Credentials Committee. Merelin McCon, chairman of the Credentials Committee, noted to the Baptist Message that there are five ways for messengers to register and be approved: -- The first and simplest way is for messengers to pre-register using the LaOne online program, print out the registration card, and bring it to the annual meeting. This way allows messengers to be certified within a matter of minutes, McCon said. -- Second, a messenger may bring a letter on official letterhead signed by the pastor or church clerk, stating that the individual was elected by the congregation. -- Third, a church officer can phone in the names of elected messengers. -- Fourth, a person can be vouchsafed as a duly elected messenger by a fellow registered church member. -- Finally, when there is no other means by which to validate a person, a meeting of the Credentials Committee may be called to make a determination. McCon emphasized that pastors are not … [Read more...]

LC, NOBTS to partner in graduate ministry degree

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE – Louisiana College students soon will enjoy access to a fast track for earning a graduate degree at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. NOBTS President Chuck Kelley and LC President Rick Brewer signed a memorandum of understanding, Oct. 29, to create a partnership that grants seminary-level credit for hours successfully completed by students in LC’s Missions and Ministries program. Brewer said he hopes the agreement will be finalized by the start of the spring semester in 2019. “This partnership agreement will be a win-win-win,” Brewer said, noting that the students and both institutions will reap rewards from cooperating. “Louisiana Baptist churches will profit, too, because more graduates will be on the field sooner than usual.” “We are exceedingly grateful for Dr. Kelley’s leadership throughout his long tenure at the seminary, and as well, his vision for the future of the seminary and Louisiana College,” Brewer said. “We look forward to a long and beneficial relationship with another Southern Baptist institution whose curricula are built upon a Christian worldview and that has a burden for both the Lord’s people and lost people.” Kelley said the … [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 Andy Buckley is interim pastor at Cornerstone Baptist Church, Jennings. Gabe (wife Audrey) McCormick is the new pastor at Belcher Baptist Church, Belcher. D. Jones is the new children minister at Calvary Baptist Church, Shreveport Kenny Joyner is the new pastor at Willow Point Baptist Church, Shreveport after resigning as pastor of First Baptist Church, Greenwood. Jeremy Spurling is the interim pastor at Kingston Road Baptist Church, Shreveport. Shane West is the interim pastor at Mansfield Road Baptist Church, Keithville. Jim Arrant is the new transitional pastor at Faith Baptist Church, Bastrop. Brock Huffpauir has resigned as pastor at New Life Church, Arnaudville. REVIVAL Superior Avenue Baptist Church, Bogalusa: Harvest Sunday, November 11, Evangelist: Joe Aulds. Special … [Read more...]

LC announces military reserves will get scholarship assistance

By Norm Miller, LC News PINEVILLE (LCNews) -- Louisiana College will match up to $4500 in annual tuition assistance, matching federal tuition assistance available for the Army, Navy, Marine, Air Force, and Coast Guard reserve forces. “It is virtually impossible to offer sufficient gratitude to those who answer the call of their fellow citizens with such depth of commitment,” LC President Rick Brewer said in an October 24 press conference. “But is not impossible for Louisiana College to demonstrate its thankfulness for the constant blessing our military service personnel willingly provide.” Brewer said that when military personnel exercise their Constitutional duty, they “provide the protection for us to exercise our Constitutional freedom.” “Such freedom includes the opportunity to offer and experience a quality education because there are those who are willing to stand so sacrificially on our behalf,” he added. “Thank you for being so generous,” said Major General Glenn H. Curtis, Adjutant, who is commander of the Louisiana National Guard. “Thank you for another positive step for our young men and women who are willing to wear the uniform and defend our great nation.” “We answer the call when our nation and … [Read more...]

Louisiana Baptists celebrate completion of children’s village in Haiti

By Message Staff The Children’s Village in Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti was dedicated Sunday, October 14. The dedication was the culmination of five years of hard work by LA Reach Haiti, which is sponsored by the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home, the Louisiana Baptist Convention, the Haitian Baptist Convention and 30 Louisiana Baptist churches. “What an emotional and exciting day of seeing vision become reality,” said Wayne Sheppard, the former executive assistant to Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Director David Hankins. “Thank you, Dr. Perry Hancock and the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home for your generous partnership in this work.” Haiti was devastated by a Jan. 12, 2010, earthquake that killed more than 250,000 people and left hundreds of thousands more homeless. Louisiana Baptists were among the first to provide disaster relief and have maintained a ministry presence through mission trips. In the time since the earthquake response, a vision developed for a permanent presence in Haiti, Sheppard said. The vision, called LA Reach Haiti, included building a mission center with a church plant and a children's village, a housing community, a micro-business center and trade school, and a school for educating … [Read more...]

Increased benefits in store for GuideStone’s health plans in 2019

By Roy Hayhurst, GuideStone Communications DALLAS -- Consultations with doctors through telemedicine will be available at no out-of-pocket charge for the majority of participants in GuideStone’s health plans in 2019. The popular Teladoc® service provides a consultation with board-certified physicians via phone or computer; participants can have a prescription sent to a local pharmacy for pickup. Prescription co-pays still apply. Additional enhancements include a new diabetic management program, elimination of some inpatient co-pays in comprehensive plans and reduced individual maximum out-of-pocket charges. All of these valuable enhancements were implemented while keeping average rate increases below 3 percent for Group Plans. Personal Plans participants will see rate increases related only to participant ages. These are the lowest rate adjustments GuideStone® has been able to provide in many years, with many groups experiencing no rate change, even with the added benefits. “Our insurance team worked diligently to add significant value to our health plans while mitigating the impacts of medical inflation,” said GuideStone President O.S. Hawkins. “While the impacts of medical inflation due to high utilization and … [Read more...]

Tireless Louisiana DR teams providing aid, hope to hard hit Florida Panhandle

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer More than a dozen Louisiana Baptist Disaster relief teams and almost a 100 volunteers are working tirelessly to aid the Florida panhandle two weeks after Hurricane Michael dealt a crippling blow to the area. While a large area of the panhandle was impacted by Michael, Louisiana teams have centered most of their efforts in Marianna, Florida, 75 miles north of Mexico Beach which took the brunt of the storm when it made landfall Oct. 10. There have also been several teams from Louisiana working in and around Panama City. As of Tuesday, Oct. 23, the seven Southern Baptist Feeding Units there have served an estimated 243,961 meals. The Rolling Hills Ministry’s feeding unit, which is located in Marianna, has averaged roughly 5,200 to 6,200 meals daily. Louisiana Baptist Convention State Disaster Relief Director Gibbie McMillan said he is thankful for the turn out but there is a great need for even more volunteers to assist the people impacted by the hurricane. “I cannot thank these volunteers enough for what they have done so far but we are still in great need of even more volunteers, especially in the area of feeding,” said McMillan. “These volunteers are being the hands and feet … [Read more...]

Seeds planted, 400 saved at Hope4U

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA – The Rapides Parish Coliseum became a house of prayer and repentance during the Hope4U GO TELL Crusade Oct. 14-17. By the end of the multi-event Harvest effort, 420 new believers had declared Christ as Lord and 401 had made other decisions for a total of 821 transformed lives. The highest attended session was the youth emphasis night Oct. 17, which drew 1,983 people. Hope4U had the support from at least 50 churches in the CENLA Baptist Association as well as congregations from other denominations. The crusade was one of many events held or scheduled this year as part of the statewide Harvest campaign to “pray for every home and share with every person” in Louisiana. “One of the things mentioned over and over was the amazing presence of God’s Spirit and unity among our local churches as we gathered together for this endeavor,” said crusade co-chair Andrew Orr, who also is minister of education and outreach at Philadelphia Baptist Church in Deville. “I feel like it will be a continuous effort moving forward of community and working together across racial and denominational lines because there was a sweet spirit. It’s been refreshing to watch so many come together … [Read more...]