By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer TALLULAH – World-renowned professional fisherman Hank Parker helped reel in 10 lost souls for Christ during a one-night Harvest Night at First Baptist Church in Tallulah. Nearly 200 attended the evangelistic outreach May 9 to hear Parker share about the outdoors and the Gospel. Jason McGuffie, pastor of First Baptist Tallulah, said people attended from as far away as Monroe and Vicksburg, Mississippi. “We desired for the Gospel to be proclaimed and the Lord to be glorified,” McGuffie said. “Hank shared about outdoor things, and then tied it in so well to how God moved in his life. He spoke from a perspective that we could all relate to about brokenness and imperfection. Hank simply preached the Gospel and God blessed the evening. Lives were changed and we in Madison Parish are grateful.” Madison Baptist Association Director of Missions Jay Morgan is excited about the seeds planted among the crowd, including a large segment of men who attended. “I’m hoping the men who came will apply what they learned and it will have a far reaching impact among males from all across the association and beyond,” Morgan said. “God used Hank Parker in a powerful way to bring people in who … [Read more...]

By Philip Timothy, Managing Editor FORT JESUP – A love fund has been established for the family of Rev. Matt Haggard at MidSouth Bank in Natchitoches to help with expenses. Haggard was tragically killed Thursday, June 7. Interim pastor of First Baptist Church in Fort Jesup, Haggard was on his daily jog along state Highway 6 near the Fort Jesup Community which is located six miles east of Many, Louisiana, when he was hit by a teenage driver. According to a press release from Louisiana State Police Troop E, troopers responded to the crash on LA Highway 6 at Melody Lane around 6:50 a.m. The release stated the 17-year-old juvenile driver, who was from Many, lost control of his 2004 Cheverolet pickup and exited the right side of the roadway. After exiting the roadway, the vehicle collided with Haggard, as he was jogging eastbound on the westbound shoulder. The 46-year-old Haggard died at the scene of the accident according to Sabine Parish deputy coroner Ron Rivers. “Matt was just a good guy,” said Ron Thompson, Director of Missions for the District Eight Baptist Convention, “He was always smiling. He enjoyed life and celebrated it. And, he was never shy about bragging on his wife April and their two sons. “Matt … [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 Ben (wife Savana) Alderman is the new youth pastor at Barksdale Baptist Church, Bossier City. Allen (wife Lindsay) Flood is the new youth pastor at Calvary Baptist Church, Shreveport. David Venable is retiring as pastor of Westwood Baptist Church, Shreveport. Joe Jenkins has retired as Pastor of Teche Baptist Church, Breaux Bridge. Jake (wife Diana) Bondurant is the new pastor at Teche Baptist Church, Breaux Bridge. Steve Jensen has resigned as pastor of New Prospect Baptist Church, Dubach. HOMECOMING Johnson Bayou Baptist Church, Cameron: 83rd Homecoming, June 16, 11 a.m. Speaker: J.P. Miles, pastor Choupique Baptist Church, Sulphur. A covered dish luncheon will follow the service. All present and former members are invited to attend. Pastor: Jack Gandy. Philadelphia Baptist Church, … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA (LBM) – With hurricane season officially here, Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief state director Gibbie McMillan said churches and residents of the state must not delay preparations for the next big storm. “For the most part, people live for the moment and what they can see, not thinking about what emergencies might happen,” McMillan said. “Unfortunately, if they don’t take the initiative, they will be unprepared when something major happens. You can’t be ready for every contingency, but we want people to understand that having a plan in place for hurricane season is important.” Hurricane season was off to a busy start even before it officially began June 1. A sub-tropical system developed in the Gulf of Mexico and formed into the first named storm of the year. Alberto produced heavy rainfall and was cited as the cause for multiple deaths. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasts an average to above-average intensity hurricane season for the year, predicting 10-16 named storms with five to nine of these becoming hurricanes -- and one to four of these strengthening into Category 3, 4 or 5 hurricanes that pack winds of more than 110 miles per … [Read more...]

By Philip Timothy, Managing Editor ALEXANDRIA – Mike Shumock knows the day is coming and he wants to be ready. “In the 2020 plan, the vision is to plant more than 300 churches by the year 2020,” said Shumock, the Missions Builder Strategist for Louisiana Baptists. “Since 2013, we are already more than two/thirds of the way toward reaching that goal. “It will not be long before those church plants will want their own buildings,” he said. “And we need to be ready to assist with their building needs.” Shumock plans to mobilize church-based teams, consisting of five to 10 members in different regions of the state through the associations. His regionalized approach would allow associations and churches to better organize resources to help church plants because of close proximity. “It would cut down on the cost, travel, and possibly give teams additional time on the job,” he said. “I am emphasizing associations and churches to organize teams that can meet the needs already here and in the future.” SUCCESSFUL TEST He already has successfully tested his plan. Gulf Coast Baptist Church in Golden Meadow – a two-year-old church plant – needed help remodeling a recently purchased building into a worship center. “We … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer SOUTHBURY, Conn. (LBM) – A Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief team’s week in an area of Connecticut devastated by a tornado in May started off on a high note when they saw a married couple accept Christ. Chaplain Fred Hart had just finished handing off a Bible signed by members of the Eastern Louisiana Baptist Association chainsaw team, May 28, when he asked the male homeowner an eternally significant question – “If you were to die this evening, would you know for sure you would go to Heaven?” “He said, ‘I think so’ and I said, ‘We can make sure of that right now,” Hart recalled. “He was very open to the Gospel and after I walked him through the plan of salvation, he prayed right there to accept Jesus as his Savior. His wife was right there beside him and did the same. I cried because this is what we are all about. It’s not about just cutting up fallen trees or mudding out a home, but presenting the Gospel.” Hart was among nine members of the disaster relief team from Louisiana who were in Southbury May 27-June 2. The team comprised members from Live Oak Baptist Church and Amite Baptist Church in Denham Springs, First Baptist Church in Livingston, Judson Baptist Church in Walker … [Read more...]