By Jerry Love, Director of Planned Giving Logged into my childhood memories is a place that still brings a smile and a warm feeling – Saint Rest Baptist Church on the White Lightning Road. It is a quaint red-brick, two-story church about halfway between Vienna and Homer on LA Hwy 146. The building itself is interesting with the sanctuary sitting atop a partial-basement bottom floor that housed classrooms and a fellowship hall. The pews were made from 1-by-4 lumber cut at my granddad’s sawmill. Before cushions were added, a wrong move meant a pinched bottom from those pew slats. The church also came complete with a “ghost” in the cemetery and a “boogie-man” in the dungeon (closet) under the stairs. But what I remember most about those days were the people. Every Sunday and Wednesday, they faithfully gathered to worship and pray. Another thing I remember was that almost everyone was related to someone else in the church which made for one big family of believers. Here are a few who come to mind: – Aunt Alvice with a beautiful smooth-as-silk, lilting voice – I didn’t know then that she had a Southern drawl, it was just the way she talked – could tell a Bible story to a room of squirmy kids like no one … [Read more...]

By Holly Jo Linzay, Regional Reporter DENHAM SPRINGS – Johnny Morgan’s life has really gone to the dogs, and he could not be happier. “I’m getting to use a passion of mine for God. It’s a blessing to use my Labrador retrievers to teach about obedience and present the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a unique way,” Morgan, the founder of the ministry, Obedience 2 Death, said. The non-profit organization, based in Denham Springs, uses dogs as visual illustrations and blends humor with timeless biblical truths to show the power of obedience in the life of the believer. Morgan named his ministry based upon Philippians 2:8 “Jesus humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” “We have to die to ourselves,” Morgan said. A life-long avid hunter, Morgan was raised around hunting dogs. While growing up he trained and hunted with rabbit dogs, coon hounds and squirrel dogs; and, he is amazed at the quirks and turns in his life that opened the door to a ministry for him where dogs help lead folks to the Lord. “God can use anything we have if we make ourselves available. It’s very humbling to me that God is using a country boy and his dogs for His glory,” Morgan said. Obedience 2 Death ministry was … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer VINTON – Father’s Day was especially memorable for Hernan Irizarry, one of four dads who participated in a special outdoor baptism service June 17 at Magnolia Baptist Church in Vinton. One by one, Irizarry, his fiancée, Jo Neil, and six others stepped in a horse trough on the church lawn and stirred the baptistery waters as around 40 members and friends cheered on each new convert. Irizarry, who has four children living in his native Puerto Rico, said the baptism was symbolic of how Christ helped him overcome an addiction to drugs. He and Jo Neil both accepted Christ in March after attending a worship service at Magnolia Baptist. “This baptism was a reaffirmation we were on the right track in our walk with the Lord,” said Irizarry, who travels with Jo Neil most Sundays by bus from Corpus Christi, Texas, to attend Magnolia Baptist. “I feel committed to share Him with other people as a member of a church that really cares about its community and world.” SWEEPING REVIVAL The baptism service signifies a revival sweeping throughout Magnolia Baptist since Pastor Rick Edwards’ arrival in January 2017. When Edwards became pastor of Magnolia Baptist, the Sunday morning worship … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer WOODWORTH – A meeting room at Tall Timbers Conference Center was transformed to a karaoke hall for 14 people with special needs during the first ever Champions Camp in late June. Some sang country tunes while others tried their best to mimic popular pop artists on stage as each participant enjoyed their moment in the spotlight. Among those was Amber Gillespie, who like many others savored her first camp experience. “I got to sing and it was so much fun to be up there,” said an elated Gillespie, a member of Dixie Baptist Church in Sieper. “I would tell anyone who is thinking of coming to come because you will really have a fun time out here.” The first-ever Louisiana Baptist summer camp for people with special needs matched participants with buddies who accompanied them during the event June 25-27 at Tall Timbers Conference Center in Woodworth. The camp featured games, activities, worship and Bible study designed for children and adults from ages 8 and up who have intellectual or development disabilities. “Every one of them heard clearly how much they are loved by God and that He has a plan for their life,” said camp organizer David Anderson, children’s ministry strategist for … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer MANDEVILLE – Tears rolled down the face of Ethel Jenkins as she gazed at students repairing the roof of her Mandeville home. The crew of 15 students and adults from World Changers modeled Christ’s love by painting, mowing the lawn and remodeling Jenkins’ home during the final week of June. “These young people just bring tears to my eyes every time I look at them,” said Jenkins. “Seeing them come and work on my home is something I never dreamed would ever happen to me. I thank God for using them to touch my life.” Jenkins’ home was one of 14 substandard houses improved by 207 students and adults from nine churches in Alabama, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. The group worked June 25-29 on sites in 11 communities throughout the Northshore. Away from the worksites, the students and adults camped in the Sunday school classrooms and worshipped in the youth building at First Baptist Church in Covington. The students shared the Gospel with 26 people during prayer walks around the community that prompted one statement of belief, one act of repentance and 22 requests for prayer. Madison Cleveland, project director for the Northshore, said … [Read more...]

PINEVILLE – Former members of the Louisiana College Baptist Student Union worship band Hosanna will meet in late July to remember the early years of the group during a special weekend reunion. The Hosanna reunion weekend and concert July 21-22 will feature the band’s original members from 1981-84. The band began in 1981 and held its final concert in 1987. The reunion will begin at 9 a.m., Saturday, July 21, with a day full of rehearsals. Later that afternoon, Hosanna members and their families will tour the campus and head over to Kingsville Baptist Church in Ball for a catered supper. The following day the group will rehearse at Kingsville Baptist and their reunion concert will begin at 5 p.m., followed by a fellowship for the general public at the church. Deloy Chapman, who started the band with then-LC BCM Director John Moore, said he is anticipating reuniting with some members he has not seen since they graduated. “Looking back, we were young, idealistic college students who enjoyed spending time together and serving God,” said Chapman, who was a member of the group from 1981-84. “I know how busy college students are and I’m amazed we committed like we did. We’d practice two to three times a week and then we … [Read more...]

ALEXANDRIA (LBM) – Louisiana Baptists are invited to recommend candidates for service on state convention boards and committees, and, to submit resolutions for possible consideration by messengers at the 2018 Louisiana Baptist Convention. COMMITTEES The Louisiana Baptist Committee on Committees is conducting its work, Sept. 6, to nominate persons to serve on various state convention committees. Currently, 17 nominees are needed for service on committees for Credentials, Moral and Social Concerns, Nominations, Order of Business and Resolutions. The Committee on Committees chairman is Scott Sullivan, minister of education for the First Baptist Church in Haughton. Nominations for committees should be sent to him via U.S. Mail at the address of 105 East Washington Avenue, Haughton, LA 71037, or electronically to scott@fbchaughton.org. The deadline to receive inputs is August 18. BOARDS The Louisiana Baptist Committee on Nominations is beginning its work to fill vacancies on state boards. Currently, 19 nominees are needed to serve on the LBC Executive Board and as trustees of Louisiana College, the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home and Family Ministries, the Baptist Message, and the Baptist Foundation. Andy Buckley, a … [Read more...]

Elizabeth “Ann” Hyatt, the wife of long-time Louisiana Baptist Convention director of church extension Leon Hyatt and a life-long encourager to Louisiana Baptists, passed away Wednesday, July 4. She was 90. Hyatt, a Louisiana College and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary graduate, began serving  Louisiana Baptists at an early age. She collected pennies to help build Daddy Flowers Chapel on the campus of the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home as a young person and shared the Gospel in prison, on the streets and on the Red River levee as a member of First Baptist Church in Pineville as a college student. While at Louisiana College, Hyatt met and married her husband, Leon. For the rest of her life, Hyatt encouraged her husband as her served on the Louisiana Baptist Convention staff and in churches. She also was active with ministry efforts when Main Street Mission in Pineville began, served as a trustee of the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home and LBC Executive Board, was director of the Woman’s Missionary Union of North Rapides Baptist Association, taught English as a Second Language classes and participated in numerous mission trips. She is survived by her husband, Leon, who she was married to for 68 years, her … [Read more...]