ON THE MOVE Brian, wife Melanie, McAllister is the new pastor at First Baptist Church, Jonesboro. Chris Hoyt is the new pastor at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, Independence. David Maxwell is the new minister of education & outreach at New Zion Baptist Church, Covington. Waylon McCormick is the new associate pastor of worship at Ouachita Baptist Church, West Monroe. HOMECOMING Lakeshore Baptist Church, Monroe: 63rd anniversary, July 2. Pastor: William L. Smith. Parkview Baptist Church, Alexandria: 75th anniversary, July 9, 10:45 a.m. Dinner on the grounds will follow the service. Special Music: The Sanctuary Quartet. Pastor: David Shaw. Salem Baptist Church, Plain Dealing: 173rd Homecoming Celebration, July 9, Sunday School 10 a.m., Worship Service, 11 a.m. Lunch on the grounds, noon; singing, 1:30 p.m. Special speaker: Ray Huddleston. Pastor: Larry Earhart. REVIVAL United Baptist Church, Jena: Revival, July 9-12. Evangelist: Lyndon Longoria. Pastor: Johnnie Phillips First Baptist Church, Minden: Summer Revival Series, July 9-23. July 9 – Speaker Will Simmons. Worship Leaders: Joe & Jody Nida; July 16 – Speaker: Beau Barton. Worship Leaders: Jeremy & Lexie Scriber; July 23 – Speaker: … [Read more...]

By Marilyn Stewart, NOBTS communications NEW ORLEANS – The addition of a new faculty member and several curriculum changes were approved by the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary board of trustees’ executive committee June 6. Jeff Audirsch, elected as associate professor of biblical studies in the seminary’s Leavell College, comes to NOBTS from his position as associate professor of Christian studies at Shorter University in Rome, Ga., and from prior service on the faculty of Brewton-Parker College in Mount Vernon, Ga., where he was named the 2010-2011 Outstanding Teacher. In action related to curriculum, the board approved course content filling out the requirements for the Christian leadership major in the doctor of philosophy program. Approved in the October 2016 board of trustees meeting, the new major is designed to prepare students to lead in local congregations, teach at colleges, universities and seminaries or serve in administrative or leadership roles within the various boards, entities and commissions of the Southern Baptist Convention. “Christian leadership is one of the areas about which students express the greatest interest,” NOBTS Steve Lemke said. “This new Ph.D. major, available either in person … [Read more...]

HAUGHTON – First Baptist Church in Haughton will host a Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief training session July 28-29. The two-day training will begin at 5:30 p.m. July 28, with training for those wanting to serve on a feeding unit. Supper is provided. Liz Landers, a chef for notable Hollywood celebrities who volunteered on the feeding unit during the March 2016 floods in northwest Louisiana, will lead the feeding training. The following day, training for mud-out and chainsaw team volunteers will begin at 8:30 a.m. Breakfast is provided for those participants. Marvin Leleux, pastor of Springhill Baptist Church in Ringgold, will lead the mud-out training. Toby Wilemon, a commercial construction superintendent and member of First Baptist Church in Blanchard, will head up the chainsaw training. Wilemon was among those Disaster Relief volunteers who helped with efforts to assist homeowners in DeSoto Parish clean up after storms caused damage in the month of June in the area. Registration costs vary. First-time attendees will pay $28, which includes a background check, training materials, ID badge, hat, shirt and lunch. Those renewing their certification will pay $13, which includes a background check and ID … [Read more...]

By Message Staff How do you plan to celebrate the July 4th holiday weekend? Here is what several of our Louisiana Baptist churches have on tap. Let us know what your church is planning to do by emailing Brian Blackwell at brian@baptistmessage.com Riverview Baptist Church has placed 300 American flags to coincide with its July 4th holiday celebration. The flags will go hand in hand with their patriotic musical July 1 at 6 p.m. followed by free bar-b-que, a cake auction and fireworks on the schedule. Temple Baptist Church in Ruston will host its Faith and Freedom July 2 and 3 at 7:30 p.m. The 20th annual patriotic celebration will feature the Temple choir and orchestra and a special guest artist, Brothers in Christ. A fireworks show will follow the second day’s performance. Philadelphia Baptist Church in Deville will celebrate with a service July 2 at 7 p.m. and a hot dog and dessert fellowship afterwards. The evening will end with a fireworks display at 9 p.m. First Baptist Church in Jonesboro will host a patriotic music program July 2 at 10:30 a.m. Dinner on the grounds will follow the program. Alto Baptist Church will celebrate God and Country Day July 2 at 10:30 a.m. The day will include a concert by Brothers … [Read more...]

RUSTON – Members of First Baptist Church in Ruston celebrated the arrival of summer with a BBQ, games, fellowship and even a baptism during its annual Picnic in the Park. Held June 25, the event at Lincoln Parish Park was a chance for current and former members to have a time of extended fellowship. “As a church grows its more difficult for people across different services to get to know each other and events like this, along with our Harvest Festival and Thanksgiving meal provide additional connection opportunities,” said Clayton Owen, minister of education for First Baptist. “We also find the baptisms at a setting like Lincoln Parish Park are not only a great way to celebrate baptism but it also provides us with a wonderful opportunity to further teach about the meaning and importance of baptism.” … [Read more...]

Riverview Baptist Church in Alexandria will hold its 3rd annual Fourth of July Bash featuring the patriotic musical Sweet Land of Liberty July 1 at 6 p.m. There will be free bar-b-que, a cake auction and lots of fireworks. The music minister is Mike Boone and the pastor is David Newton. If your church has an event to coincide with Independence Day, please e-mail philip@baptistmessage.com. … [Read more...]

By Message Staff While Tropical Storm Cindy is still in the Gulf of Mexico and moving slowly, Louisianans are already experiencing the effects of the storm and state officials are taking no chances with the approaching storm. Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards has declared a state of emergency Wednesday, June 21, for the entire state. “All arms of the state’s emergency preparedness and response apparatus are taking Tropical Storm Cindy seriously, and we are calling on all Louisianans throughout the state to do so as well,” Edwards said. “State and local officials are working around the clock to monitor and respond to dangerous situations as they develop. In the meantime, please do all you can to prepare for the worst while praying for the best.” Voluntary Evacuations According to the Associated Press, workers on Grand Isle were trying to reinforce a rock levee protecting the island’s west side, which is vulnerable. They were advising anyone wanting to head for the mainland to do so, though an evacuation was not issued. The Vermillion Parish Office of Homeland Security also was encouraging residents in low lying areas in the parish or special needs residents to voluntarily evacuate. The AP also reported that the … [Read more...]

UPDATED 1:47 P.M. JUNE 20 Early Tuesday afternoon, June 20, the National Hurricane Center upgraded Potential Tropical Cyclone Three to Tropical Storm Cindy. The third named storm of the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season, Tropical Storm Cindy was about 265 miles  south of Morgan City at 12:30 p.m. and had maximum sustained winds near 45 m.p.h., with some gusts higher. Tropical Storm Cindy is expected to approach the coast of southwest Louisiana late Wednesday or Wednesday night, and move inland over western Louisiana and eastern Texas on Thursday, the National Hurricane Center said. ORIGINAL STORY By Message Staff The entire Louisiana coast is under a tropical storm warning and is bracing for a “significant rain event Wednesday, Thursday and possibly Friday.” In their latest update, National Weather Service officials said Potential Tropical Cyclone No.3 has become better organized since Monday but still not enough to the point of being upgraded to a tropical storm. "The system could be classified as a tropical or subtropical cyclone later today," the NHC said. Depending on which expert one listens to, projected rainfall totals from the storm could produce three to five inches of rain with locally higher … [Read more...]