By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer WOODWORTH – Louisiana Baptists are being asked to commit to a massive two-year evangelism initiative that could be the largest joint effort ever by the denomination to share the Gospel. WIN THE STATE During the Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board’s spring meeting at Tall Timbers Conference Center, state leaders announced a Harvest Initiative whose end goal is involve at least 700 churches to pray for and share Christ with every household in Louisiana. “The spiritual impact could be enormous,” said Wayne Jenkins, evangelism and church growth director for Louisiana Baptists. “It could be the thing God could use for a genuine awakening in the life of our state. “If 700 churches would get involved, it would create a greater concern for the lost, create a greater impact in our local churches for wining people for Christ and better discipleship, and create a greater excitement in the life of the church. What would it be like if we could say at the end of 2018 we have prayed for and shared with every dwelling place in Louisiana the Gospel? The thought of what could happen is exciting.” PILOT & PREPARE After spending 2016 planning and enlisting leaders and churches, and using … [Read more...]
Louisiana AG Jeff Landry declares Obama transgender mandate unlawful Federal overreach
BATON ROUGE – Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry announced he would vigorously defend the state and its citizens from unlawful action threatened by the Obama Administration’s recent mandate that public schools allow students to use bathrooms and locker rooms of the opposite sex. In a letter to the leaders of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, Board of Regents, Louisiana High School Athletic Association, Louisiana School Boards Association, Louisiana Community and Technical College System Board, and Office of Juvenile Justice – Landry asserted the administration’s threat to remove the state’s Title IX monies jeopardizes the safety of the student body and creates a public education funding crisis. “Let me be perfectly clear, President Obama and his appointees do not have legal authority to require our children to share locker rooms and bathrooms with children of the opposite sex,” wrote Landry. “The administration’s interpretation of Title IX constitutes an improper attempt to commandeer state-owned property in pursuit of a federal policy that has uniformly been rejected by the federal courts.” “The policy position adopted by the Obama Administration irresponsibly creates an environment in which children may be … [Read more...]
Franklinton layman given Natchitoches Rotary’s “Service above Self” award
NATCHITOCHES – Danny R. Von Kanel, a member of Trinity Baptist Church in Franklinton, received the Natchitoches Rotary’s “Service Above Self” award at their monthly meeting May 3rd. Over a five-year period, Von Kanel has raised $28,0000. Money raised was used to award a $192 scholarship to students who took one of 12 fine classes offered after school at the L.P. Vaughn School of Fine Arts in Natchitoches, which he directs. This year, he led the school to raise $15,582 through sponsorships and a brick memorial fundraiser. During the award presentation, Von Kanel said he was “totally overwhelmed. What a wonderful way to be honored.” Von Kanel has lived in Franklinton since 2002 and was minister of music at First Baptist Church there from 2002-2005. He also served as minister of music at Memorial Baptist Church in Bogalusa from 2005-2008. He and his wife, Beverly, has two grown sons and six grandchildren. … [Read more...]
Louisiana Baptist pastors speak out, take stand following transgender directive
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer An order by the Obama administration that public schools and universities permit transgender students to use restrooms and locker rooms that correspond to the gender identity of their choosing has drawn opposition from many Louisiana Baptists. Issued on Friday, the order signed by Department of Education and Justice officials threaten to pull federal funding for schools that do not comply. A letter on the matter was sent to all school districts in the U.S. “Schools have a responsibility to provide a safe and nondiscriminatory environment for all students, including transgender students,” the letter said. “Harassment that targets a student based on gender identity, transgender status, or gender transition is harassment based on sex, and the Departments enforce Title IX accordingly. If sex-based harassment creates a hostile environment, the school must take prompt and effective steps to end the harassment, prevent its recurrence, and, as appropriate, remedy its effects. A school’s failure to treat students consistent with their gender identity may create or contribute to a hostile environment in violation of Title IX.” The letter said a school can provide separate facilities based on the … [Read more...]
Memorial services set for Pastor Joe Senn
By Staff, Baptist Message WINNSBORO - Memorial services for Pastor Joel Senn, 63, of Rayville will be held at 10 a.m., May 16 at Crockett Point Baptist Church in Winnsboro, with Eddie Wren and Robert Warren officiating under the direction of Brown-Holley Funeral Home in Rayville Senn was born Feb. 25, 1953 in Rayville and passed away Friday, May 13, 2016 in Rayville. A member of the Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board and the Pledge Leadership team,. Mr. Joe was a member of the Louisiana Baptist Convention Properties, Executive Board, and the Pledge Leadership Program. Casey Johnson, pastor of Bonita Road Baptist Church in Bastrop and a former staff member at Crockett Point, wrote this on his Facebook page, “Words cannot express my heart. There are feelings of sadness, yet feelings of joy. The Apostle Paul said it best, "To live is Christ and to die is gain." His heart was to be with his people but he understood the glory that awaited him … glory that is indescribable. A glory that I heard Joe Senn speak of during the years of I spent in ministry with him. “Yesterday, that indescribable glory became His own,” Johnson continued. “His faith has now been made sight. His presence will be missed but his legacy lives … [Read more...]
Crockett Point Pastor Joe Senn suddenly passes away
By Staff, Baptist Message CROWVILLE -- Joe Senn, the pastor of Crockett Point Baptist Church in Crowville, passed away today according to the church’s Facebook page. “Please pray for our church. Bro. Joe Senn went to his heavenly reward this afternoon,” read the Facebook post. “Pray for his wife, Brenda and his children and grandchildren.” Pastor Craig Beeman, pastor of First Baptist Winnsboro, and Bodie Spicer, pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Bastrop, confirmed Senn’s passing asking for prayers for him, his family and his church. Both men are trustees for the Louisiana Baptist Message. “It appears Brother Joe passed away today,” said Beeman. “Pray for the Joe Senn Family. Also, please be in prayer for Crockett Point.” Spicer added, “Praying for Crockett Point Baptist Church and for Brother Joe’s family.” Crockett Point’s pastor for the past 16 years, Senn, a former evangelist, was preparing to lead revival services beginning Sunday at Mineral Springs Baptist Church in Dubach. He spent more than 30 years in ministry. When Senn took over in 1990, the church had fewer than 100 people. But in 15 years, he has helped the congregation to more than 250 participating at Sunday morning worship. In 2015, Crockett Point … [Read more...]
32 Louisiana lawmakers ask AG to address Edwards and Obama transgender demands
By Will Hall, Message Editor BATON ROUGE — Almost one-third of Louisiana’s 105 members of the state’s House of Representatives signed a letter Friday asking Attorney General Jeff Landry to determine the constitutionality of separate executive orders issued by the U.S. president and Louisiana’s governor pertaining to the apparent creation of a new protected class, “gender identity.” In a joint letter to the attorney general, 32 representatives said President Barack Obama’s directive issued Friday which “implements new policies to allow ‘transgender’ students to use the bathrooms and locker rooms of the opposite sex” was in direct conflict with federal and state court rulings that “already rejected arguments that Title IX and related federal regulations require schools to provide student access to opposite-sex restrooms and changing areas.” The legislators noted Louisiana law does not recognize transgender persons as a special class, but the signers of the letter still believed “every person deserves respect and dignity.” However, they clarified that “keeping the sexes separate for the purposes of bathroom and locker room access, for example, is important for the privacy and safety of the children and adults of our state.” The … [Read more...]
Baptist Golf Fellowship winners announced
By Jerry Love, LBF Communications ALEXANDRIA – Columbia’s Bruce McGee won individual honors and First Baptist Church of DeRidder convincingly reclaimed team title honors May 9-10 at the annual Baptist Golf Fellowship. McGee, a retired pastor who is now serving as an evangelist, shot an impressive one-over par (73) at the 18-hole, par 72 Oak Wing Golf Course facility to earn the title of Grand Champion while First Baptist DeRidder, after having their win streak stopped six months earlier, reclaimed the team title with a combined 314 score. Last fall First DeRidder lost by two strokes to Unity Baptist Church in Cotton Valley. Members of the winning team included Tony Branham, Jerry Istre, Eddie Joslin and Chad Johnson. Eighty pastors and laymen enjoyed pleasant weather, good fellowship and a couple rounds of golf May 9-10 at the annual spring Baptist Golf Fellowship held recently at Oak Wing. The Fellowship, sponsored by the Louisiana Baptist Foundation and the Baptist Message, is a time for pastors and laypersons to come together for a little light-hearted competition around the game of golf. Medalist and Team play was completed on Monday afternoon. During the evening banquet at the Baptist Building trophies were given … [Read more...]
Take advantage of these revivals in these Louisiana Baptist churches
Horseshoe Baptist Church, Mer Rouge: Spring Revival, April 15-18, Sunday and 6 p.m.; Monday-Wednesday, 7 p.m. Speaker: Greg Pierce. Pastor: Bob Lonadier. New Hope Baptist Church, Jonesboro: Harvest Sunday, May 15, 11 a.m. Evangelist: Scotty McDowell, chalk artist. Pastor: Hudey Beaubouef. First Baptist Church, Albany: Revival, May 15-18. Evangelist: Lyndon Longoria. Music: Scott Munson. Pilgrims Rest Baptist Church, Spearsville: Harvest Day, May 15, 10:45 a.m. Evangelist: Sam Moore. Pastor: Adam Hill. Lake St. John Baptist Church, Ferriday: Revival, May 18-21, 6:30 p.m., Evangelist: Scotty McDowell, chalk artist. Pastor: Mark Richardson. Bellwood Baptist Church, Provencal: May 22-25. Evangelist: Scotty McDowell, chalk artist. Pastor: Roger Matkin New Hope Baptist Church, DeQuincy: Revival May 22-25. Evangelist: Bill Britt. Worship: Mackey Willis Family. Pastor: Roland Hebert Mt Pleasant Baptist Church, Columbia: May 29, Evangelist: Lyndon Longoria. Pastor: Jerry Hendrickson New Beginnings Baptist Church, Castor: Revival, May 29-June 1. Evangelist: Scotty McDowell, chalk artist. Pastor: David Boyler … [Read more...]
Dirt work has begun on new ULM BCM
MONROE -- A construction company has started to move dirt today in preparation of pouring a foundation for the new $1.2 million University of Louisiana at Monroe BCM. An official groundbreaking is scheduled but no date has been released yet. The cost of project is $1.2 million but includes volunteer labor. The new BCM will be located at 1005 University Avenue and is scheduled for completion July 1, 2017. The new 10,000-square-foot BCM will feature expansive worship, office and meeting room space, lobby and student apartments. "We have already raised about 80-85 percent of the $1.2 million," said Chad McClurg, BCM campus director. "We were at a point that it would have cost just as much to renovate our old building what with the problems to our roof, heating and cooling system than to go ahead and build a new building. "This building will be functionable for at least the next 50 years and will allow us to impact students for a long, long time," McClurg continued. "We will be across the street from two dorms and two blocks away for a new international center. So, we are strategically placed to reach the campus. We are excited to get started. "As the university is growing, the sky is the limit for what we can accomplish because … [Read more...]
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