By Message Staff PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti – A Louisiana Baptist pastor stranded in Haiti as Hurricane Matthew slammed into the island on Tuesday is grateful for the outpouring of support and prayers he has received over the last two days. Steven Smithson, pastor of First Baptist Church in Winnfield, arrived in Haiti recently to participate in a mission trip with Hope Rising Children’s Home, but his plans were interrupted when the Matthew made landfall. Unable to leave the country because his flight was delayed until a scheduled departure today, Oct. 5, Smithson prepared the best he could – registering with the U.S. Embassy, downloading area maps and stocking up on food so he could ride out the storm in his hotel room. And, in the meantime, he prayed. His wife, Stephanie, also posted on Facebook a request for prayer for his safety, along with the well-being of others directly in the path of the storm. Thousands of people from all over the U.S. and world were quick to respond. Smithson posted on Facebook today, Oct. 5, a message of thanksgiving. “I want to thank everyone for their prayers and thoughts over these past several days,” he said. “They have definitely been felt. I am still scheduled for a flight out … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE – Evangelist Ken Freeman decided to have a heart to heart talk with the student-filled gymnasium Tuesday evening, Oct. 4 His message was simple and to the point … “for what comes out of the mouth reflects what is in the heart.” “If there is anything that you can guard … guard your heart,” said Freeman, citing Proverbs 4:20-23. “It determines the course of your life. If you died tonight, where would you spend eternity?” Freeman asked the question to more than 400 students and adults during the second evening of the Awaken youth rally. The three-day event, which is being held at Pineville High School's gymnasium, features inspiring messages, uplifting music, student testimonies and a time of prayer. Thirty five students accepted Christ Monday while another 34 came forward Tuesday. Freeman has spoken in 12 Central Louisiana schools since Monday. Each time he comes away energized. He is even more energized by what he is witnessing at the Awaken Youth Rally nightly because of the life-changing decisions students, their parents and others are making. “It gives me an incredible high to know God can take my mess and make it His message,” Freeman told the Baptist … [Read more...]

By Message Staff PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti – Hours after Hurricane Matthew made landfall in Haiti, the family of a Louisiana Baptist pastor stranded in the country was asking for prayers of safety for him and thousands of others in the path of the storm. Steven Smithson, pastor of First Baptist Church in Winnfield, is in Haiti on a mission trip. His wife, Stephanie, posted on her Facebook page that he experienced strong winds earlier this morning, Oct. 4, but by 8 a.m. CST was seeing only rain. His flight out of the country is delayed indefinitely. She said God is answering prayers for protection and peace. “We are forever grateful,” she said. “Mudslides and third world housing will be the main cause in which lives are lost. Haiti needs our prayers. Steven needs to get home. “But I want to say my fears are being set at ease because of your prayers,” she continued. “Thank you for you all for praying, please continue them.” Hurricane Matthew made landfall near Les Anglais, Haiti, around 6 a.m. CST today. The Category 4 Hurricane was packing winds of 145 mph and is forecasted to dump up to 40 inches of rain in some areas, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm is expected to remain a powerful hurricane … [Read more...]

By Norm Miller, Louisiana College communications PINEVILLE – Louisiana College assembled a world-class panel of bio-ethicists for its first annual “Values & Ethics” conference, Oct. 10-11. Slated to meet in LC’s Martin Performing Arts Center, the Oct. 10 session at 6 p.m. is free and open to the public and features nationally acclaimed author/scholars Dr. Ben Mitchell and Dr. Douglas Axe. Local health care specialist Mary Kienzle, MSW, of Christus St. Francis Cabrini Hospital completes the trio that will explore the interesting parallels between society’s view of origins and a rapidly changing culture. Subtitled “Origins,” the conference offers Cenla residents “the rare opportunity to hear from three top-flight experts whose credentials are as impressive as their content is stimulating,” said Louisiana College president, Dr. Rick Brewer. Former director of Social Services for New York State, Kienzle brings more than 30 years of experience in health care. A graduate of New York University and Hunter College, Kienzle is director for Missions Integration Services and Spiritual Care Departments at Christus Cabrini Hospital, which is sponsoring the conference. Author Doug Axe earned a PhD in biochemical … [Read more...]

By Gary D. Myers, NOBTS communications NEW ORLEANS (BP) - Discussing race in America is complex, difficult, risky and necessary. New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary joined the conversation with its "Talking about Race" conference Sept. 27. Sponsored by the seminary's Institute for Faith and the Public Square, the event brought together Andrew Young Jr., Noel Castellanos and Raymond Bakke -- three men who have given their lives and careers to some of the most vulnerable people in American society. Young, a civil rights icon, served as a pastor, mayor, congressman and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Castellanos, chief executive officer of the Christian Community Development Association, has ministered to urban Latinos since 1982. Bakke, a pastor and urban ministry professor, is founder and executive director of International Urban Associates, an organization dedicated to taking the Gospel to the urban centers of the world. The men set a hopeful tone from the start sharing stories from their own experiences, encouraging grassroots change, one person at a time. The solution, in their view, comes when people of different backgrounds and ethnicities live out life together. Ultimately, each speaker placed their … [Read more...]

By Staff, LCNews PINEVILLE -- Louisiana College will celebrate its 110th annual Founders Day Oct. 6 at 11 a.m. in the Martin Performing Arts Center. Waylon Bailey -- noted Louisiana pastor of First Baptist Church, Covington -- will deliver the Founders Day message. Samuel L. and Judith Camp of Covington will receive the Trustees’ Distinguished Service Award as presented by Chairman of the Board of Trustees Randy Harper, who is pastor of Bellaire Baptist Church in Bossier City. Kate Rawls will sing “Give Me Jesus” accompanied by Joseph Kingma. Both are assistant professors of music at LC. “This Founders Day celebration will express appreciation for those who assist the College in fulfilling its Mission and Vision of ‘Preparing Graduates. Transforming Lives,’” Louisiana College President Rick Brewer said. “From 1906 and onward, Louisiana College has held a high standard of academic excellence built upon a Christian worldview. “I am certain the Founders Day message from Dr. Bailey will encourage us all as we acknowledge that we stand on the shoulders of those who planted this College 110 years ago,” added Brewer. … [Read more...]

By Tammy Sharp, Regional Reporter ZACHARY – Peace of mind for many here has been swept downstream. Not so for Cross Creek Cowboy Church member Melinda Michiels, who lost almost everything she owned when the Comite River, usually calm and shallow, spilled over its banks in August. “I lost stuff, but I gained a lot. You have things in your heart you don’t even realize until God pulls it out and waves it in your face,” said Michiels. “I know I have Cross Creek, I know I have God, but now I don’t have as much stuff.” ”We were meeting in the Cowboy Church in the arena before we got our building,” remembers Debi Morris about the first time she met Michiels. “She drove up a couple years ago on her tractor and said, ‘If God puts a church in your front yard you might ought to check it out.” “She didn’t know what she believed,” said Morris, whose son Josh preaches at Cross Creek. But over the last two years, through Cross Creek services, Bible study and mentoring, Michiels has come to a firm belief, as evidenced by her reaction to the flood. “It didn’t cross my mind that He would leave me hanging out there,” said Michiels. As the rain pelted down, water rose high and fast August 13. Friend Liz Markey, of Zachary … [Read more...]

By  Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer RUSTON – Wearing a shower cap only moments from entering the baptismal waters, Ophelia White was beaming with excitement. With the encouragement of friends gathered in the Cook Baptist Church worship center, the 94-year-old new believer was baptized, answering the prayers of those closest to her. “I want people to know it’s never too late,” White said. “Get with it.” When she was a young girl, White’s mom urged her to go forward and ask to be baptized. Not fully realizing why she was doing so, White obliged and for decades believed she had a relationship with Christ. But recently, roommate Joy Campbell noticed White lacked the confidence of Jesus in her life. So, Campbell took a bold step and asked White if she knew Christ as her personal Lord and Savior. For several weeks, Campbell continued the spiritual conversa tions and prayed for her roommate until one day in August when White made the decision she needed Jesus and publically announced her profession of faith to the congregation at Cook Baptist. The news stirred joy inside Campbell, who shared a house with White for eight years before discovering White was not a Christian. White’s conversion brought back … [Read more...]

By Norm Miller, LCNews PINEVILLE -- Louisiana College received grants totaling $208,416 to help support the arts, nursing, scholarships and entomology. Funds from the Louisiana Board of Regents Enhancement Grants will provide $55,000 to update sound and lighting equipment in the Martin Performing Arts Center, which will give “a full professional theater experience for the students as well as the local community of audience-goers,” said Tabitha Huffman, associate professor of Theatre. “Our audience numbers should grow as well as student involvement in the productions. Students within our Theater Arts program will have a competitive edge in the professional world, where previously their technical creativity was limited,” Huffman continued. A $58,416 grant to fund Nursing curriculum enhancements will provide state of the art projection and teaching equipment for classrooms in Cavanaugh Hall and the Nursing Skills Center practice lab. And a Lettie Pate Whitehead grant of $68,000 will fund Nursing scholarships. “These grants will afford better learning environments for students and instructional capabilities for instructors through three hi-tech lecterns with LCD projectors, dedicated computers, and drop-down screens. … [Read more...]

By Will Hall, Message Editor ALEXANDRIA – “I am a Christian, a husband, a father, a life-long conservative, constitutional law attorney and a small business owner in that order,” Louisiana Rep. Mike Johnson told the Louisiana Baptist Message, “and I think that order is important.” It reflects how his faith and his beliefs about family and freedom will influence his representation of Louisianans, if blessed to serve them in the U.S. House of Representatives, he said. Johnson is a candidate for the open seat of the 4th U.S. Congressional District, and he has 20 years of bona fides in protecting and advocating key issues of faith, family and freedom – experience he can apply in Washington, D.C., if elected to this position, he said. “Some people are called to pastoral ministry and others to music ministry, etc. I was called to legal ministry and I’ve been out on the front lines of the ‘culture war’ defending religious freedom, the sanctity of human life, and biblical values, including the defense of traditional marriage, and other ideals like these when they’ve been under assault. “As part of that work, I’ve been in and around the Louisiana legislature and other state legislatures, and the Congress, for many years,” he … [Read more...]