ON THE MOVE Jeff (wife Andrea) Tinsley is the new pastor at First Baptist Church, Haynesville. Marty (wife Joy) Williams is the new associate pastor at First Baptist Church, Zwolle. Marvin  (wife Dianne) Cooper is the new pastor at Bethany Baptist Church, Bethany. Billy Flowers is the new pastor at Emmanuel Baptist Church, Vivian. Kevin Kellow is the new youth minister at Ferry Lake Baptist Church, Oil City. Blade Foster is the new youth minister at First Baptist Church, Oil City. Jason Harp is interim pastor at Brookwood Baptist Church, Shreveport. Bill Stroud resigned as pastor at Caddo Prairie Baptist Church, Hosston. Wayne Dubose is the interim pastor at Trinity Heights Baptist Church, Shreveport. Bob Heustess retired January 31 after serving 46 years as pastor at Grace Memorial Baptist Church, Slidell. Dennis Hackler is the new pastor at Cherry Ridge Baptist Church, Bastrop. HOMECOMING Trinity Baptist Church, Natchitoches:  65th Anniversary, Feb. 19th, 10:30 a.m. Lunch and concert will follow the service. Friends and families are invited to attend. Speaker: Wayne Bridges. Music: Bob Adams. Pastor: Josh Currie. REVIVAL Wilda Baptist Church, Gardener: Revival, Feb. 8-12. Evangelist: … [Read more...]

By Message Staff WOODWARD, Okla. – A small team of Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers was removing debris from the yard of a home damaged by a mid-January ice storm when they encountered a resident in need of Jesus’ love. By the end of their conversation, the team members had accomplished their mission – sharing a cup of cold water in Jesus’ name. According to Louisiana Baptists state disaster relief director Gibbie McMillan, Woodward, Okla., resident Linda Hunter suffered a stroke a few days before an ice storm snapped trees in half and knocked down power lines. Noticing Hunter was in need of equipment to help exercise her arm weakened by the stroke, the team members traveled to the local hardware store, where they purchased a pulley apparatus that would enable her to strengthen her arm. The team returned a day later, finding Hunter in good spirits for their service. “When disaster relief workers respond they are ready to help people deal with their needs if at all possible,” McMillan said. “These people care about people first then do what they can to make a difference. “ The teams from Eastern Louisiana and Washington Baptist associations worked in Woodward from Jan. 22 to 31. They were part of a … [Read more...]

By Will Hall, Message Editor WASHINGTON —Two of Louisiana’s three newest elected U.S. officials recently spoke with the Baptist Message to share their thoughts about the wholesale change of attitude in the White House with regard to respect for the life of the unborn since the inauguration of the 45th president of the United States, with both men commenting on the participation of the vice president in the March for Life, Jan. 27, in Washington, D.C., as historic. “I’ve gotten to know Vice President Pence, starting with my campaign. He’s a godly man and believes as I do that every life is precious,” Sen. John Kennedy said. “He is soft-spoken, but he knows who he is and he knows what he believes, and, he’s not afraid to stand up for what he believes.” Kennedy garnered nearly two-thirds of the runoff vote, Dec. 10, to represent the state in the Senate. Likewise, his counterpart in the House, Mike Johnson, also won with a landslide margin, and now serves as Louisiana’s representative from the U.S. 4th Congressional District. Rep. Johnson said it was “a shame that it took 44 years for someone of his stature to appear,” and he said all the pro-life advocates who had worked “so many years in this arena” celebrated the fact … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer SHREVEPORT – U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson believes 2017 will be the most pro-life year in America in a half-century. “We are just getting started, so buckle up,” Johnson told a record crowd gathered for the Louisiana Life March North Saturday, Jan. 28. “Thank you for standing for life. This is an important historic moment for our nation, for our state and for this community that all of us love so much.” More than 9,000 people turned out for the fourth annual march to stand for life. The theme for this year’s march was “Protect Them Both.” Organizers wanted to emphasize the pro-life movement values not only the unborn child but their mothers who have alternatives to abortion, such as crisis pregnancy centers in the state. The march included speakers and musicians from various denominations, including a number of Louisiana Baptists such as Lane Moore, director of missions for the Northwest Louisiana Baptist Association. He told the Baptist Message after the march that he always is amazed at the diversity represented in the march. “The young families with strollers and small children is encouraging,” Moore said. “The people that attended seemed to be more excited about the future … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer SHREVEPORT – Nearly 900 members of the Northwest Louisiana Baptist Association ended their final days of January by crying out to God to bring revival to a nation becoming increasingly filled with turmoil. Much like the first Call to Prayer at First Baptist Church Bossier City in January 2016, this gathering brought together Christians of various ages and ethnicities to pray for law enforcement, the persecuted church, missionaries serving around the world, pastors and other church leaders. Some pastors, ministers’ wives and associational leaders led prayer from the stage inside the worship center at Summer Grove Baptist Church in Shreveport. Other prayers took place individually and in small groups. But in the end, the Holy Spirit moved in a mighty way as pleas for revival were lifted up. During Northwest Louisiana Baptist Association Director of Mission Lane Moore’s opening remarks, he said the culture is desperate for the love of Christ and is watching how believers live. “My desire tonight is that we would not leave this place the same way we walked into this place,” Moore said. “We are going to invite Him, and praise Him, and bless Him and worship Him and talk to Him … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer WASHINGTON, D.C. – More than 2,000 Louisianans joined 500,000 others from across the nation and world to stand up for the unborn in the 44th Annual March for Life Friday, Jan. 27. Ben Clapper, executive director of Louisiana Right to Life, told the Baptist Message that he was encouraged to see so many people brave the cold weather to march for life. “These brave warriors, most of them young people, send a strong message to our nation that life must be protected from beginning to end,” Clapper said. “Over 2000 Louisianians joined the crowd and brought the “Preaux-life” message to Washington DC.” During the pre-march rally, Vice President Mike Pence told the crowd he was humbled to become the highest ranking U.S. official to speak at the event. He said ending tax-payer funded abortions and appointing a pro-life Supreme Court judge are among the priorities of the administration of President Donald Trump. Pence encouraged all supporters of life to show compassion as they continue the pro-life battle. He encouraged supporters of the pro-life movement to show compassion. “Because of all of you and the many thousands who stand with us in marches like this all across the … [Read more...]

WASHINGTON,  D.C. – More than 2,000 Louisianians are expected to be among those from across the nation participating in the annual March for Life this Friday, Jan 27. Held since the first anniversary of Roe v. Wade – a case that legalized abortion in the U.S. – the march will begin at noon EST. The event will also include a rally featuring such speakers as Kellyanne Conway, senior counsel to President Trump; Benjamin Watson, former New Orleans Saint and current Baltimore Raven; Abby Johnson, former Planned Parenthood director; and Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York City. Benjamin Clapper, executive director of Louisiana Right to Life, is in D.C. and is hopeful eventually abortion will become a thing of the past. “We are excited that more and more young Louisianians continue to stand for human rights for all, born and unborn,” Clapper said. “We also march with a renewed sense of hope that we can end tax-payer funding of abortion, defund the abortion industry, and place pro-life justices on the Supreme Court.  The pro-life movement will continue to march until legal protection is assured for the weakest among us, the unborn child.” For more information about the march and how to watch the event online, visit … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer BATON ROUGE – On a day when many pro-abortion activists participated in marches nationwide, supporters of life took to the streets in downtown Baton Rouge to proclaim their message that every person matters in God’s eyes. Held Jan. 21, the Louisiana Life March South drew around 1,500 people, despite the possibility of rainfall in the forecast. "Even though storms threatened the Louisiana Life March South, pro-lifers stood strong to protect both mom and baby," said Louisiana Right to Life Executive Director Benjamin Clapper. "Representative Katrina Jackson inspired the audience with the call to never quit defending life and helping mothers." The theme for this year’s march was “Protect Them Both.” Organizers wanted to emphasize the pro-life movement values not only the unborn child but their mothers who have alternatives to abortion, such as crisis pregnancy centers in the state. Among the speakers at the march was Katrina Jackson, a state representative who authored legislation that requires admitting privileges for doctors who perform abortions. She encouraged the marchers to be an advocate for life, showing women facing a difficult decision that they have another option … [Read more...]