By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Student ministry leaders and Baptist Collegiate Ministry campus directors were motivated to develop a strategy to help them continue discipleship of high school seniors as they embark for college or the workforce during the Forum. Held Feb. 23 at the Baptist Building in Alexandria, the Forum featured encouraging messages from keynote speakers Brian Mills, pastor of Together We Church, Yukon, Okla., and Anthony Vargas, student pastor at Together We Church, and a time of fellowship for the 36 student ministry leaders and eight BCM campus directors. Louisiana Baptist Youth Strategist Lee Myers said many churches report that seniors “check out” of their youth group and church before graduation and he hoped the Forum provided some tools to help them bridge that gap. “This year’s event was targeted towards the great senior drop-off that happens each spring,” Myers said. We wanted to address the issue of 12th graders in our ministries checking out before they head off to college or the work force. It was important that we have that conversation as Louisiana Baptists. We want to lead seniors to finish strong and stay involved in church and collegiate … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff WOODWORTH, La. (LBM) – First through sixth grade boys will hit the fast lane with Christ during the 2024 Royal Ambassador Congress, March 22-23, at the Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center, according to organizers. Keeping in step with the race car theme, the event will feature go kart racing, pit row (how to change a tire), classic car show and an encouraging message by “Champion Chaplain” Allen Huffman, the 2023 Southeast Super Truck Series champion. RA Congress also will include a Pinewood Derby, soap box races, breakout sessions with missionaries and a Gospel presentation. “RAs is a mission education ministry which seeks to teach and engage boys in first through sixth grade in missions,” said Louisiana Baptist Ministry and Disaster Relief Strategist Stan Statham told the Baptist Message. “One of the sessions will offer the RAs a chance to paint small wooden cars and pack them in gift bags with Christian-themed coloring books and crayons for the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home.” For more information or to download a registration form, please visit the RA Congress website. … [Read more...]

By LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) – Louisiana Christian University convergence media and public relations students recently swept the Southeast Journalism Conference on-site awards, Feb. 25. The students placed second in the overall number of awards given and brought home seven first place awards and a total of 14 top-three finishes. “Ecstatic doesn’t even come close to how proud I am of our entire team,” said Elizabeth Clarke, chair of the Department of Media and Communication. “These students earned so much validation for their hard work. LCU is the smallest member school in SEJC, and this shows the quality of education and time our faculty have to invest in our students, and it pays off when they are committed to their craft like these students are.” Nine students attended SEJC at Troy University in Troy, Alabama, Feb. 23-25, and participated in on-site competitions against students from other universities across the Southeast. The following LCU students placed: Victoria Watson – Arts and Entertainment Photography, third place; Nathan Roper – Arts and Entertainment Radio Reporting, third place; Cayden Walls – Arts and Entertainment TV Reporting, first place; Cayden Walls – Feature TV … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer WOODWORTH, La. (LBM) – When Brandon Penton was pastor of First Baptist Church, Archibald, and accompanied his students to Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center in 2021, he did not imagine that one day he would become director of the camp. “We just built a relationship with the camp and, when the job came up, I applied,” Penton told the Baptist Message. “I love the opportunity just to serve individuals and in the hopes of serving them, to strike up spiritual conversations that allow them to respond to the Gospel. It’s important to meet people where they are and create an avenue for spiritual conversations.” Penton, who was named the camp director in early February, has served as recreation and activities director of the camp since 2022. In that role, Penton supervised recreation programs, recruitment of summer staff and marketing. A native of Pearl River, Penton accepted Christ as His Lord and Savior at age 16 during a “See You At The Pole” rally in his hometown. A year later, he surrendered to a call to vocational ministry. Penton, who holds degrees from Louisiana College (now Louisiana Christian University) and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, said he and … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – For the past 19 years, Jeff Cook has been the point man for compassion ministry in Louisiana Baptist life. Cook, who retired Feb. 9 as the Louisiana Baptist compassion ministry strategist, said he was honored to help further the Gospel through ministries that met a physical need and opened up the door for conversations about a much greater need. “It’s been a privilege to serve Louisiana Baptist churches and ministries and help them to do work of the ministry across the state,” Cook told the Baptist Message. “The relationships formed through the years are really meaningful and I’m sure many of those relationships will continue. “Compassion ministry is defined as meeting every man’s needs so you can build trust and share the Gospel and connect people to the local church,” he continued. “Compassion ministry is a key part of evangelism in how it offers opportunities for the Gospel to be shared.” CALLED Cook’s journey began as a nine-year-old when he accepted Christ while attending a church in Houston, Texas. But his call to ministry did not occur until he was working as a sales representative at Xerox as a young adult. During the next 30 … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) – Five Louisiana Baptist pastors joined seven other ministers from various denominations and ethnicities for a one-day pulpit swap that created a sense of unity among churches in the Alexandria-Pineville area, Jan. 14, organizers told the Baptist Message. Nathan Martin, pastor of Christian Challenge Worship Center, a non-denominational church in Pineville, and a coordinator for the pulpit swap, said this was the first time that he recalls when so many central Louisiana churches of various denominations and ethnicities traded pastors for one Sunday. In addition to Louisiana Baptists, participating churches included Assemblies of God and non-denominational congregations. Each pastor agreed to preach a message from Matthew 9:35-38, respect the tradition of the church to whom they preached and decline any financial compensation from the host congregation, according to Martin. Since March 2023, the 12 churches have joined together for worship services and a monthly outreach to the community in conjunction with Time to Revive, a Richardson, Texas-based organization that travels throughout the nation and partners with local churches to further the Kingdom. … [Read more...]

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Baptist Message provides churches an opportunity to share with other Louisiana Baptists an upcoming revival, homecoming, new pastor, new staff member, a community outreach, or a concert in Louisiana Notables. To place your event in the paper, send your information (who, what, where, when, time) to philip@baptistmessage.com or call 318.449.4345. Please submit your information four weeks prior to the event to insure placement in the Message. ON THE MOVE Tre LeMalle is the new Elevate worship leader at Summer Grove Baptist Church, Shreveport. Jeff Segner has retired as Associate Pastor at Springs of Grace, Shreveport. Brandon Penton is the new Director of Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center, Woodworth. Waylon McCormick has served the past 29 years as a music minister but will now be transitioning to new church responsibilities at Ouachita Baptist Church, West Monroe. Hugh Hodge is the new worship and youth pastor at Ouachita Baptist Church, West Monroe. Katie Gordy is the new children’s minister at North Church, Bastrop. Liz Pospisil has retired after serving for the last 21 years as Longview Baptist Church’’s secretary. HOMECOMING/ANNIVERSARY Westside Emmanuel Baptist Church, … [Read more...]

By LCU News NASHVILLE (LCU News) – Students from Louisiana Christian University’s Convergence Media and Theatre programs earned several awards at this week’s National Religious Broadcasters Convention. The students competed in the convention’s iNRB collegiate division, which includes other colleges from across the United States. LCU placed in the following categories: 12-Hour News Challenge, First Place – Victoria Watson and Carmen Taffi. 12-Hour Audio Challenge, Second Place – Lexi Hubbard and Korey Kincade. 24-Hour Film Challenge, Second Place – Cayden Walls, Caleb Cole, Camdyn Fehr and Olivia Huffman. … [Read more...]

By LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) - Louisiana Christian University will hold its annual spring revival series, Feb. 27-29, at 11 a.m. in Guinn Auditorium. John Fream, pastor of Cypress Baptist Church in Benton, will base his messages on Galatians 5:16–25 each day. Elevate and Voices, LCU’s musical ensembles, will lead worship. The revival services are free and open to the public. … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff PELICAN, La. (LBM) – Sixth through 12th grade girls will be reminded how God treasures them during the upcoming Teen Girl Retreat, March 15-16, hosted by the Clara Springs Baptist Encampment, the Baptist Message has learned. “I’m excited about what God has in store for the first Teen Girl Retreat,” Erin Jones, Louisiana Baptist children and youth missions education strategist, told the Baptist Message. “Our heart for this event is for girls to know how truly treasured they are by God. The creator of the universe loves them. He created them for such a special purpose.” Samantha LaRocque and Andrea Bourgeois, founders of “Holy Restored Ministry,” will be the keynote speakers. They will share about the importance of mental health awareness and provide coping skills from a biblical perspective. The event also will feature a pajamas, popcorn and pamper party, times of worship, missions moments, and breakout sessions. March 1 is the registration deadline. The retreat will start on Friday, 6 p.m. (check-in from 4:30-5:30 p.m.) and end Saturday, 4:30 p.m. For more information, visit the Teen Girl Retreat website. … [Read more...]