By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer WOODWORTH (LBM) – Despite baptisms dropping below 10,000 in the state for the first time in several decades, Keith Manuel told Executive Board members he is optimistic the trend can turn around because of the cooperation by Louisiana Baptist churches through the Harvest evangelism initiative. “There’s good news in the bad news,” said Manuel, Louisiana Baptists Evangelism and Church Growth director. “We have a great opportunity. We’ve been there before; we can do it again. We know what we need to do. We just need to get our eyes back on the fields that are white unto harvest. “We’ve got to make what’s important ‘important,’ and those souls are important,” he said. In his report to the Executive Board May 1 at Tall Timbers Conference Center in Woodworth, Manuel updated board members on the Harvest, the largest joint effort for evangelism ever undertaken in the state. The end goal of this initiative was to involve at least 700 churches to pray for every home and share Christ with every person in Louisiana. By early May, 876 churches had signed up to participate. Manuel said his office has partnered with 16 different Harvest events involving many associations and … [Read more...]

By Will Hall, Message Editor REVISED 5:55 p.m. May 11. BOSSIER CITY (LBM) – Brad Jurkovich, the 44-year-old pastor of the First Baptist Church in Bossier City, Louisiana, has announced he will nominate Ken Hemphill for president of the Southern Baptist Convention during the denomination’s 2018 Annual Meeting, June 12-13, in Dallas, Texas. In a social media message shared with the Baptist Message, Jurkovich described both candidates as “godly men” but that “after much prayer” he said he was “convinced that Dr. Ken Hemphill is the man who is capable, ready, resourced, and has the capacity and wisdom to lead us at this critical time.” Jurkovich, who attended Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C., was a classmate with J.D. Greear and calls him a longtime friend. He told the Baptist Message he had known Hemphill only by reputation until he personally interviewed him in March, but he said he had known of him since the 1990s, especially for his work in “growing churches.” He hosted livestreamed interviews of both candidates:  J.D. Greear, Feb. 27, and Hemphill, March 28. Jurkovich closed his endorsement of Hemphill by mentioning his wife Paula and their three children, describing them as “a … [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@baptistsmessage.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 Jonathan Weldon is the new student/education minister at Ellerbe Baptist Church, Shreveport. Austin Bedwell is the new youth pastor at Emmanuel Baptist Church, Shreveport. Doug Graham is the interim pastor at New Bethel Baptist Church, Bossier City. Terry Mims has resigned as pastor at Emmanuel Baptist Church, Monroe. Ellis Auttonberry, Velton Frost, and Dave Rodgers were given the title of Deacon Emeritus on April 29 at Ridge Avenue Baptist Church in West Monroe. The three were honored with a fellowship after the evening service. Lauren Brown is the new Children’s Minister at Brookwood Baptist Church, Shreveport. She was previously at Woodridge Baptist Church, Shreveport. Alex Davis resigned as youth pastor at Summer Grove Baptist Church, Shreveport. Dwayne McDow resigned as executive … [Read more...]

Pastors of smaller membership churches are eligible for help with expenses for attending the Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting by applying through the Caskey Center for Church Excellence at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Surplus funds from last year's Pastors' Conference costs were placed in reserve by the conference's officers and designated for convention travel scholarships for smaller membership pastors, with NOBTS' Caskey Center designated to distribute the funds. Scholarships in the amount of $1,000 each will be awarded to qualified applicants on a first-come, first-served basis. Funds must be used for flight, hotel, mileage, rental car, meals, books and resources or other convention-related expenses. If awarded, the $1,000 check will be mailed directly to the church with a letter designating the funds for the pastor's convention expenses. Pastors of congregations with less than 150 in average attendance and whose churches are unable or unwilling to fund convention expenses may apply. Applicants will be asked a series of questions to determine eligibility. Personal contact information as well as church contact information will be required. By applying, applicants agree to use the funds to … [Read more...]

WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw Tuesday, May 8, from the Iran nuclear agreement drew praise from most members of Louisiana's delegation to Congress who released statements, including its two members of Louisiana Baptist churches. Negotiated by former President Barack Obama in 2015, the deal lifted most U.S. and international economic sanctions from Iran in exchange for the Middle Eastern country agreeing to restrictions on its nuclear program.  Trump called the deal "one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into." U.S. Rep. Ralph Abraham, a member of Alto Baptist Church, called the decision wise and calculated. "The Iran Deal was not a deterrent to a nuclear weapon; it was a pathway to a nuclear weapon," Abraham said in a statement. "The President has always put the security of the United States and our allies first and foremost above politics. This is another example of solid, positive leadership." U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson, a member of First Baptist Church in Bossier City, agreed. "Rather than curbing the nuclear ambitions and dangerous activities of Iran, this deal did the opposite and further emboldened the world's leading state sponsor of … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer BOSSIER/WEBSTER PARISHES – Students received a crash course on the right to freely express their religious beliefs in public schools during the Student Freedom Summit in Bossier and Webster parishes Sunday, April 8. Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry and Congressman Mike Johnson briefed the students about the legal rights they have to share their faith in public schools. The summit was held at First Baptist Church in Minden and Bossier Parish Community College, located in parishes where atheist groups are targeting the school administrations for allegedly promoting Christianity. Community members, pastors, parents and some school officials joined the students at the summit. Supporters were encouraged the following day to draw a blue line on their hands and post photos on social media using the hashtag #STANDUPBOSSIER and #STANDUPWEBSTER. Johnson, a member of First Baptist Church in Bossier City, challenged students to mirror their actions after Elijah, who stood up for God’s truth. He stressed the importance of engaging in respectful debate that could change minds. “Be like Elijah,” he said. “You stand for your freedom. You stand for the truth. There is a time to draw a … [Read more...]

By Message Staff ALEXANDRIA – Louisiana College celebrated its 163rd commencement May 5 by conferring the most degrees since Rick Brewer became president of the school in 2015. The school presented 155 undergraduate and 46 master’s degrees at the Rapides Parish Coliseum in Alexandria. In a special recognition during the ceremony was Clavoisiea Dupree, a member of the basketball team who was on pace to graduate with this classmates. However, on March 31 Dupree passed away. Brewer awarded Dupree with an undergraduate degree posthumously during the ceremony. “We are preparing students not to just get a degree,” Brewer told students. “We are not just preparing you for careers. Our job as faculty and administrators has been to prepare you for life. “Education that instructs the mind without deepening the soul is not true learning,” he continued. “Louisiana College’s goal is to graduate students to make a difference for the common good as a redemptive voice in the world. Our graduates are hopeful realists who recognize the brokenness of the world, but believe God has called them to work for its healing and restoration.” During the keynote address, U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy challenged the students to dream and make … [Read more...]