By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer Since the historic 1,000-year flood hit southern Louisiana, Leo Miller’s time has been split between two roles – pastoring First Baptist Church Denham Springs and rebuilding his own home that took in 2 feet of water. Though he has received financial assistance from churches, the Louisiana Baptist Convention, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and North American Mission Board, Miller has completed most of the work on his house himself during his free time, mostly at night and on weekends. Sheetrock has been installed and soon he hopes to begin putting in floors, doors and cabinets. Progress is slow, but Miller is hopeful he can move back into his house by March. First Baptist Denham Springs took in 10 feet of water and is worshiping at Denham Springs Junior High School until they move to another area of town in late 2017. “The entire area was devastated, so it makes the resources very limited so you do what you can when you can,” Miller said. “When the opportunity presents itself, you try to do things in your personal dwelling. You just realize it’s a marathon and not a sprint.” Indeed, Miller is not stressing about the situation but is embracing what God is teaching him … [Read more...]

The U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee has named a prominent Louisiana Baptist congressman as a member to the committee for the 115th Congress. “I am delighted by this appointment because the Judiciary Committee handles some of the nation’s most important issues, and many that I have been working on my entire career,” said Mike Johnson, who was elected Dec. 10, 2016, to serve Louisiana's 4th Congressional District. The Judiciary Committee is often referred to as “the lawyer for the House of Representatives” because of its broad jurisdiction over matters relating to the administration of justice in federal courts, administrative bodies, law enforcement agencies, espionage, terrorism, the protection of civil liberties, constitutional amendments, immigration and naturalization, interstate compacts, and oversight of the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security, among other areas. Johnson is a member of First Baptist Church in Bossier City.   … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer RUSTON – In the 23 years Gary Frost has traveled the country as a pastor, he has noticed a steady increase in the breakdown of society, particularly in urban America. The solution, Frost believes, is simple yet profound. “I am of the conviction that the social ills plaguing our urban environments are stubbornly resistant to remedies that are not birthed and sustained through the united, concerted and fervent prayers of God’s people in these communities,” Frost said. “Maladies such as fatherlessness, family dysfunction, drug addiction, sexual promiscuity, crime, incarceration, economic blight, inadequate education and more are spiritual at the very core. Good strategies to resolve these matters cannot be effective apart from strongholds of darkness being broken by the spirit of God, in the name of Jesus Christ.” A true believer in a spiritual cure, Frost has invested his energies into his role as national facilitator of prayer and compassion initiatives for Mission America Coalition, organizing prayer-based fellowships across the nation. Since joining the organization in 2015, he has helped start four such networks and has seen countless lives changed in dramatic ways. “I … [Read more...]

ON THE MOVE Kyle, wife Rachel, Pieri is the new pastor at White Castle Baptist Church, White Castle. Mickey Alexander is the new pastor of Cedar Baptist Church, Archibald. Andrew Voss has resigned as pastor of Hillcrest Baptist Church, Franklinton. David Barnard is the new worship leader at Philadelphia Baptist Church Horseshoe Drive, Alexandria. David Montgomery has resigned as music minister at First Baptist Church, Livingston. Gary Johnson is the new pastor at Waller Baptist Church, Bossier City. Roy Davis has resigned as pastor of North Shreve Baptist Church, Shreveport. Jason Frazier has resigned as pastor of Woodland Hills Baptist Church, Shreveport. Billy Flowers is the interim pastor at Emmanuel Baptist Church, Vivian. Howard Cole is the interim pastor at Kingston Road Baptist Church, Shreveport. Rick Carter was licensed to the ministry in November by his father Pastor Paul Carter at Conway Baptist Church, Farmerville. REVIVAL Washington Baptist Church, Washington: Revival, Jan. 13-15, 6:30 p.m. nightly. Evangelist: Lyndon Longoria. Music: Brad Mount. Pastor: Louis Charrier . LAGNIAPPE Calvary Baptist Church, Shreveport: Price Harris’ 25th annual Night of Praise, Jan. 13, 6 p.m. … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer DECATUR, Ala. – Phil Waldrep, a long-time evangelist who has offered the hope of the Gospel to thousands of the lost, has a message of hope for the faithful who are experiencing life crises as parents and grandparents with prodigal children or grandchildren. “All is not lost,” Waldrep contends. He is the author of “Reaching Your Prodigal: What Did I Do Wrong? What Do I do Now?” Moreover, Waldrep told the Baptist Message believers should be excited, regardless of the circumstances. He said he will explain “why” to people at the Senior Adult Luncheon, Jan. 24, during the 2017 Louisiana Baptists Evangelism Conference (ECON) Jan. 23-24 at Temple Baptist Church in Ruston. He also will speak during one of the sessions scheduled during the two-day evangelism training event. “They will leave there with a skip in their step, knowing how vital they are and to be encouraged, not discouraged,” he said. “I am more encouraged today than ever before,” Waldrep said. “I think we live in an unprecedented age that we can share the Gospel. More than any time in our history people are asking basic questions of “Why am I here?”, “Where do I come from?” and “Where am I going? “As … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer LAFAYETTE – Sharing the Gospel with a stranger is as simple as starting a conversation about sweet tea and ending with an invitation to accept Christ. During a session of the Youth Evangelism Celebration, Nov. 21, keynote speaker Ed Newton shared with nearly 6,000 students a “conversational” method for witnessing to their friends and others. Newton said it is simply a matter of starting the conversation, finding something in common with that person, then looking for an opportunity to turn the discussion to Christ. He said something as simple as a comment about sweet tea can lead to a chance to share about Him. But, he underscored, the conversation must be authentic, and he said, you have to be intentional about asking some key questions, like: “What do you think it takes to go to Heaven?” “Do you mind if I tell you how the Bible answers this question?” and “Would you like to give your life to Jesus right now?” “Right there at that sweet tea fountain machine, you can lead somebody to Jesus Christ, calling on the name above all names, right there in that divine appointment,” said Newton, pastor of Community Bible Church in San Antonio, Texas. “Could we live life that way? … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer Louisianans will have the opportunity to celebrate the lives of children in the womb and their mothers during marches scheduled during three consecutive weekends in some of the state’s larger metropolitan areas. Scheduled for Jan. 21 in Baton Rouge, Jan. 28 in Shreveport/Bossier City and Feb. 4 in Alexandria/Pineville, the Louisiana Life Marches are a chance for people of different denominations, ages, ethnicities and races to come together across lines that might normally separate them to unite in prayer and in the effort to push back on the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade that legalized abortion in 1973. The theme for this year’s marches is “Protect Them Both.” According to the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, preliminary numbers for 2015 show 9,311 abortions took place, an average of 26 per day. The total represents a 10 percent decrease from the 10,211 abortions performed in 2014. That figure also is the lowest number of abortions performed in the state since 2012, when 9,225 were reported. Louisiana Right to Life Executive Director Benjamin Clapper said he and other march organizers wanted to remind those in the state that the pro-life movement is … [Read more...]

By Norm Miller, LC communications Vincent Smith is a lot of things: husband, father, pastor, church planter, college grad, seminary student, counselor, and confidant. Certain aspects of all those roles equip Smith for his service to Louisiana College; he is dean of students. Smith defines this function as one who is an “integrator of relational activity that flows into student discipline, an administrator who helps connect students to success in the classroom.” This is not bureaucratic psychobabble. It is who Smith is. He relates to and reaches students right where they are. “Sometimes I function as a big brother, and others times I’m a father figure,” Smith said. “Discipline comes easier when I have such a relationship with students that they know I care, even if I have to be the ‘bad guy.’ I do care about our students, but I also have a backbone.” Smith said he is “okay with being the bad guy. I realize that not everyone is going to like me. But I am called to more than just tough love. My role is about honesty.” That includes telling students about behaviors that will harm them. Athletes expect you to talk about sports, and Christian Studies majors expect you to talk about theology, Smith said. “But I’m … [Read more...]