By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE – Louisiana College celebrated several “firsts” Monday, April 10. During a press conference, the school announced a new degree, new scholarship and the grand opening of its first engineering classroom. To equip young men and women called to be marketplace missionaries from central Louisiana to the ends of the earth, LC will offer a new bachelor’s degree in missions and ministries. Those who qualify as freshmen automatically will receive $6,000 annually through the Dr. Fred Lowery Scholarship, named after the retired pastor of First Baptist Church in Bossier City. The degree will be offered through the School of Missions and Ministries, formerly the Division of Christian Studies. This school will have emphases on apologetics, biblical studies, church planting, evangelism, missions and pastoral ministry. “I see God lifting up, even in this room, young people who say, ‘I want to be like Paul, to be a tentmaker,’” said LC President Rick Brewer. “To go to an Omaha, a Kansas City, a Houston, a Dallas, a Los Angeles and plant churches and share the Gospel, but not to have to count and depend upon income from those people you are trying to reach. “I believe there’s a … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer WOODWORTH – Christians in law enforcement should think of their jobs as a mission field, a longtime Louisiana Baptist police officer said during the 2017 Royal Ambassador Congress Saturday, April 8. “Some of my best days were when I came home after changing a stranded motorist's tire or helping an elderly lady carry her groceries to her car,” said David Cheatwood, who retired in 2012 after serving with the Natchitoches Police Department and Natchitoches Sheriff's Department for 33 years. "We are God's ministers for good. Cops are ministers for good things and to resist evil.” LOTS OF FUN, ONE GOAL Cheatwood, now a Louisiana Baptist disaster relief coordinator, shared his message during the statewide gathering, which drew nearly 200 first through sixth grade boys and their adult leaders from 17 churches. Held April 7-8 at Tall Timbers Conference Center in Woodworth, the RA Congress featured testimonies from law enforcement and armed forces officers as an emphasis of this year’s theme, Honor the Protectors. During the Friday evening session, various police, fire and other agencies who are on the front lines of protecting the public presented hands-on exhibits for the … [Read more...]

BOSSIER CITY - Louisiana Right to Life recently obtained a letter filed as a public record in the federal case June Medical Services LLC, et al. v. Rebekah Gee, et al. that indicates the Bossier City Medical Suite, an outpatient abortion facility in Bossier City, has closed its doors. The letter from the Center for Reproductive Rights also says the facility's outpatient license was returned to the Louisiana Department of Health. A moving trailer was seen on location yesterday, April 11. Benjamin Clapper, Executive Director of Louisiana Right to Life, said the following on the release of the news: "With the closure of Bossier City Medical Suite, there is one less facility in Louisiana destroying the lives of innocent unborn babies. From 2006 to 2015, this facility sold 7,482 abortions. We mourn for these lives that will never enjoy life in Louisiana but rejoice that this facility will no longer be in the business of abortion. "We encourage the pro-life community to continue its efforts to provide help to mothers and babies, both before and after birth. We look forward to a day when all babies are protected by law and welcomed with joy," Clapper said. There are currently three facilities selling abortion in Louisiana: … [Read more...]

BOSSIER CITY – Christian Contemporary artist Jeremy Camp is coming to Bossier City April 21 for his “I Will Follow Tour.” A Dove award-winning and Grammy nominated artist, Camp has garnered 37 No. 1 radio hits during his career. With a career that has seen him on tour in more than 32 countries, Camp said on his website that he is a “minister who happens to play music as a way to minister.” Away from the music stage, Camp has experienced his own set of heartaches. At age 21, Camp lost his first wife to cancer and a baby to miscarriage with his current wife, Adrienne. Camp said the first song “He Knows” off his latest record is one God used to bring him comfort from his past. “When I sat down with this record, I just said, God, ‘I feel like I still have a song pertaining to all that. Just give me wisdom,’” he said. “I was drawn to the Hebrews 4:15 scripture where it says that we have a high priest that can empathize with our weaknesses. Jesus Christ is our high priest. Jesus is my everything. “The whole concept of the song is saying, Listen, in the midst of all these pains and wounds that may come up, He knows,” Camp continued. “Christ knows every single thing. We have to come to that peace and that rest of just going … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE – Louisiana College celebrated several “firsts” Monday, April 10. During a press conference, the school announced a new degree, new scholarship and the grand opening of its first engineering classroom. To equip young men and women called to be marketplace missionaries from central Louisiana to the ends of the earth, LC will offer a new bachelor’s degree in missions and ministries. Those who qualify as freshmen will automatically receive $6,000 annually through the Dr. Fred Lowery Scholarship, named after the retired pastor of First Baptist Church in Bossier City. The degree will be offered through the School of Missions and Ministries, formerly the Division of Christian Studies. This school will have emphases on apologetics, biblical studies, church planting, evangelism, missions and pastoral ministry. “I see God raising up even in this room young people who say I want to be like Paul, to be a tentmaker,” said LC President Rick Brewer. “To go to an Omaha, a Kansas City, a Houston, a Dallas, a Los Angeles and plant churches and share the Gospel, but not to have to count and depend upon income from those people you are trying to reach. “I believe there’s a … [Read more...]

By Joseph Willis Spring, 1780 Present-day Kingston, Tennessee The confluence of the Tennessee River and the Clinch River It was in the Spring of 1780, that Richard Curtis and others left South Carolina and traveled by land to the northeastern corner of Tennessee, to the banks of the Holston River. There they built three flat boats, and when the Holston River reached sufficient depth toward the end of that year, they set out for the Natchez country of Mississippi by way of the Holston, Tennessee, Ohio, and Mississippi Rivers. When they reached the confluence of the Tennessee River and the Clinch River (near present-day Kingston, Tennessee) they were attached by Cherokee. The first two boats escaped, but the third, which was traveling at a distance from the other two, was captured. The price paid for this attack was high, for the  Cherokee contracted smallpox from them and many died. Those on the first two boats continued on their voyage and landed safely at the mouth of Cole's Creek about 18 miles above Natchez. Twelve years past, in 1792,  before Fort Southwest Point was built at the location of this attack.  Fort Southwest Point was situated on a hill overlooking the confluence of the Tennessee River and … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer HAMMOND – Revival came to the Southeastern Louisiana University campus in early April but is expected to continue in nearby communities for the foreseeable future. Held at the campus’ University Center April 3-5, the Hope, Love and Freedom crusade featured messages by Walt Barnes, associate pastor of student and discipleship ministries at New Palestine Baptist Church in Picayune, Miss. It also included testimonies from SLU students and music by praise and worship bands from Natalbany Baptist Church, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the school’s Baptist Collegiate Ministry. The revival is one of 10 Harvest events planned in 2017, according to Wayne Jenkins, evangelism and church growth director for Louisiana Baptists. Harvest officially launched Louisiana Baptists’ campaign to “pray for every home and share Christ with every person” in Louisiana. Attendance ranged from 200 the first night to more than 700 the final night of the crusade. Lonnie Wascom, director of missions for Northshore Baptist Association, said an estimated 30 of the 90 churches in his association had members in attendance the last evening. Wascom said even though he did not see many step forward during a … [Read more...]

By Matt Tullos, Louisiana Baptists Bring the full tenth into the storehouse so that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this way,” says the Lord of Hosts. “See if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out a blessing for you without measure.” Malachi 3:10 ALEXANDRIA -- So your pastor preaches on giving? Thank him! He’s giving you some important news about one of life’s greatest secrets. A pastor who invites members to tithe invites them into a life-changing, soul-transforming experience that affects every area of their lives. In truth, it’s unfair to you if he’s not teaching you about this principle that’s changed history in ways we’ll never completely know until we get to heaven! So here’s the short list of reasons you should be giving a tithe (10% of your income) to your local church. It’s worship Whether you’re in a church with electric guitars or pipe organs, everybody should have an opportunity to give because from Genesis to Revelation, giving is true worship. Think about what you are doing when you illogically say goodbye to a large slice of your income that you could be using somewhere else, doing something else. You are saying, “Lord, above everything, I believe in You. It all belongs to … [Read more...]