With the Southern Baptist Convention presidential election just two months away, Brad Jurkovich, pastor of First Baptist Church in Bossier City, hosted separate lunches with both candidates who have announced their intentions to run for the office. Jurkovich now has released a series of video clips at www.firstbossier.com/sbcpresident containing the interviews he conducted with Ken Hemphill and J.D. Greear. … [Read more...]

By Will Hall, Message Editor ALEXANDRIA (LBM)—During an April 9 morning meeting and luncheon at Philadelphia Baptist Church, Horseshoe Drive, U.S. Congressman Ralph Abraham and evangelist Rick Gage shared inspiring words with 33 local pastors and other leaders gathered to get some political insights from Washington, D.C. and the latest updates about #Hope4U2018, an area-wide evangelistic crusade slated for CENLA, October 14-17. HOPE 4 CENLA Gage told the crowd the leadership teams are coming together, and that discussions with the local school systems were well under way. “The door has already been opened for us to speak in all of your high schools and all of your middle schools,” Gage shared regarding the On Track moral development program which covers issues like bullying, suicide and drugs and alcohol. But he emphasized the need right now is to “get your congregation to use their talents and gifts and callings to serve in this campaign. Using the decision counseling team (trained individuals who meet one-on-one with persons who come forward) as an example, Gage said there are opportunities “for your people” to serve “that will enhance and strengthen your local fellowship! “It’s going to set their souls on fire … [Read more...]

By Message Staff PINEVILLE (LBM) — Ken Hemphill, candidate for president of the Southern Baptist Convention, spoke during the Louisiana College weekly chapel service, March 27, encouraging students to be available as  instruments to advance Christ’s kingdom. Afterward, he spent time talking with groups informally and answering questions. Prior to the chapel message, LC President Rick Brewer introduced Hemphill, emphasizing Hemphill’s passion for the Cooperative Program, which helps reduce tuition costs for students attending the state’s only Baptist college, and endorsing Hemphill for SBC president. “Dr Hemphill has pastored some great churches,” he continued. “He’s been in ministry over 40 years. He earned seminary degrees from Southern Seminary [master of divinity, doctor of divinity], then he went on to Cambridge, a little school ‘across the pond,’ to get his Ph.D. “He’s served the Convention in tremendous ways – including as president of one of our seminaries -- and he’s written over 45 books,” he added. “But my ‘claim to fame’ about Ken is that he was an awesome football player at Wake Forest University. “I don’t know he’s as awesome as he tells me he was,” Brewer joked, “but he played football at Wake Forest … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer BOSSIER CITY – Ken Hemphill, a candidate for president of the Southern Baptist Convention, wrapped up a two-day visit to Louisiana Wednesday afternoon (March 28) in which he met with pastors to share his heart and vision. The noted author, pastor and Southern Baptist leader, who will be officially nominated during the 2018 SBC Annual Meeting, June 12-13, in Dallas, Texas, spoke to students at Louisiana College, and Southern Baptist pastors at McClendon Baptist Church, West Monroe (March 27) and at First Baptist Church, Bossier City (March 28). Hemphill shared about his vision for the Southern Baptist Convention, the Cooperative Program and God’s unlimited love. “I wanted people to have the opportunity to meet me, to ask questions, and to be able to share my heart with everyone,” said Hemphill. “This is why I speaking at these different places.” CHALLENGED STUDENTS He challenged students attending the Louisiana College weekly chapel service, March 27, to be available as instruments to advance His kingdom. “When you pray, say, ‘Today, Father, on campus, let me see what you are about, what you are doing,’” Hemphill said. Drawing from John 5, Hemphill said to help … [Read more...]

By Will Hall, Message Editor ALEXANDRIA (LBM) – A growing list of Louisiana Baptist pastors, including the present and a number of former presidents of the Convention, have announced their support of Ken Hemphill as president of the Southern Baptist Convention. The information found on KenHemphill2018.com includes strong statements extolling Hemphill’s theology as best representing the consensus beliefs of Southern Baptists, and describing his lengthy record of cooperation at all levels in SBC life as most consistent with what SBC leaders should personify. Some referred to his extensive executive experience with the SBC as the key qualification in these times of turmoil within the Convention. ENDORSEMENT STATEMENTS Steve Horn said Hemphill’s Cooperative Program record “resonates best with me.” Horn is pastor of the First Baptist Church in Lafayette, and served as LBC president from 2014-2015. “I am excited he is on record as saying, ‘The traditional cooperative means of giving should be the default method of giving, receiving the majority of each church’s mission dollars,” Horn continued. “Mission trips and special initiatives that a church wants to fund should be above and beyond the normal means of supporting … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer BENTON – Michael Permenter, 34, was challenged recently at Cypress Baptist Church in Benton to get off the sidelines and live out true biblical manhood – and he agreed. His decision to turn his whole life over to Christ helped Permenter better lead his family – as Jesus intended him to do – and also resulted in his baptism Feb. 11. CONVICTION & OBEDIENCE Although he had received Christ as a young man and had attended Cypress Baptist for five years, Permenter had not yet been baptized. But after counseling with Cypress Baptist Pastor John Fream, Permenter knew God was calling him to take this next step of faith as a public display of his relationship with Christ. “God had been laying on my heart for some time that I needed to get my baptism in order,” said Permenter, whose wife, Autumn, was baptized in 2013 at Cypress Baptist. “It took some time to soften my heart. I have no doubt that God led my wife and me here to a community where we didn’t have any roots, but yet had a purpose waiting for us.” Permenter credits the men’s ministry at Cypress Baptist as a driving force behind his commitment to grow deeper in his spiritual walk. He attends one of six men’s Bible … [Read more...]

By Message Staff BATON ROUGE – Legislators, pastors, businessmen and others from Louisiana started off the first few days of the 2018 state legislative session with a focus on God during the Governor’s Prayer Breakfast. Keynote speaker Reese Kauffman, president of the international interdenominational Child Evangelism Fellowship, and Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards were among those offering encouraging words to the more than 1,400 attending the event March 14 at the Raising Canes Center in Baton Rouge. Lafayette native and Grammy nominee Christian contemporary artist Lauren Daigle provided the special music. The event also featured times to honor the military, law enforcement, and the late evangelist Billy Graham, who died Feb. 21. Kauffman reminded those at the Prayer Breakfast God has appointed them to serve in their various leadership positions. Citing Romans 13:1-3, Kauffman said God has ordained all in authority. Likewise, Kauffman said the Lord has commanded everyone to pray for those in authority. “The purpose for that prayer is that we might live a peaceful life and that society might go on smoothly, that the authority structure would work,” said Kauffman, citing 1 Timothy 2:1-4. “And people might come to … [Read more...]

ON THE MOVE Charlie Westbrook, Jr., is the new pastor at Hebron Baptist Church, Denham Springs. David Brown is retiring as Eastern Louisiana Baptist Associational Missions Coordinator June 30. Gary (wife Beckey) R. Wolfe is the new bi-vocational pastor at Pioneer Baptist Church, Pioneer. David, wife Brooke, Scott is the new pastor to youth and collegiate students at University Baptist Church, Thibodaux. He begins June 1. Roy Davis is the new pastor at Gray Baptist Church, Jefferson, Texas. Brent Shoalmire resigned as pastor of Oak Hill Baptist Church, Plain Dealing. He is now the new pastor at Red River Baptist Church, Benton. Billy Pierce is the interim pastor at Oak Hill Baptist Church, Plain Dealing. HOMECOMING Old Union Baptist Church, Mansfield: 159th Homecoming, April 8, 11 a.m. A covered dish lunch will be held following Worship Services. Speaker: Lyndon Longoria. Special Music: Kerry Longoria. Music: Southern Plainsmen. Pastor: Alton Middleton. REVIVAL New Beginnings Baptist Church, Castor: Revival, April 5-8. Evangelist: Scotty McDowell, chalk artist. Pastor: David Boyler. Morehouse Association Harvest Roundup, April 6-8 at the Morehouse Activity Center, Bastrop featuring Dan Daly … [Read more...]