By Message Staff SHREVEPORT – The 96-year-old steeple bells at First Baptist Church in Shreveport have seen their share of history, including renovations at their original structure and a move from downtown Shreveport to the current facility in the south side of town. In November 2015, the steeple bells experienced a renovation of their own. For three months, crews worked on improvements to the historic bells that were purchased from the McShane Bell Foundry in Baltimore, Md., and donated by Mrs. EM Layne in memory of her husband, Robert Thompson Layne. Repairs and updates include new clappers, improved audio for hearing the bells in the worship center, and computerized control of the ringing of the bells with a Schulmerich Electronic system. The cost for the renovation was $68,615. The congregation gathered with others from the community and state to celebrate the steeple bell renovations during a special service on Jan. 24. “We have discovered that our restored steeple bells are a great outreach tool for our church,” said Glen Adkins, minister of music at First Baptist Shreveport. “People both in the church and outside the church tell us how much they enjoy hearing the hymns at noon each day, as well as the … [Read more...]

By Gary D Myers, NOBTS communications NEW ORLEANS – Southern Baptist collegiate ministry groups outside the South are as unique and diverse as regions in which they are located. Ministries in these emerging regions use a wide variety of strategies to accomplish their goal of raising up discipled believers who make disciples themselves. When the Emerging Regions State Collegiate Leaders working group met at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Jan. 19-23, the participants included 25 leaders from places like Alaska, Hawaii, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and even Canada. The leaders represented a wide range of approaches from campus-based to church-based college ministries – each with a unique context and a unique approach. Robert Turner, state director of collegiate ministry with the Baptist Resource Network of Pennsylvania/South Jersey, facilitated the meeting as the leaders shared ideas and looked for new ways accomplish their work. Mark Whitt, collegiate and young adult ministry specialist for LifeWay Church Resources provided additional leadership for the meeting. Despite the wide range of contextual differences represented, the leaders share a … [Read more...]

By Gary  D Myers, NOBTS communications NEW ORLEANS - Chuck Kelley issued an urgent call to personal evangelism and intentional discipleship when THE New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary's president addressed the first chapel of the new semester. He also decried that Southern Baptists “are closer to losing the South than reaching North America” and called for greater emphasis on witnessing and disciple-making in North America. Kelley, speaking in Leavell Chapel Jan. 19, read Jesus' Great Commission from Matthew 28:18-20, calling it one of the most important passages of Scripture for Southern Baptists and for New Orleans Seminary. Missions and evangelistic zeal, flowing from the Great Commission, have been defining characteristics of the Southern Baptist Convention since its inception in 1845. When the SBC established the Baptist Bible Institute (now NOBTS) in 1917, the Great Commission was selected as the guiding verses for the new ministry training school. To this day, Kelley said, "Matt. 28:18-20" is prominently featured on New Orleans Seminary's official seal. In the passage, Jesus shares that He alone has been given authority over the church, Kelley said. Jesus then gives the church its assignment -- to go make … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message BASTROP -- A powerful movement of God is taking place. Two days into the city-wide Morehouse Crusade in Bastrop, there have already been 75 decisions, including 25 first time salvations, according to Bodie Spicer, pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Bastrop and one of the event’s organizers. The remaining 50 decisions have been re-dedications or those surrendering to the ministry. “The 75 decisions are what have come through our counseling office but we believe there have been more,” Spicer said. “We know others have made decisions as the Holy Spirit moves but this is what we have been able to record.” More than 2,650 people – 1,450 on the first night and another 1,200 Monday night -- have attended the first two days of the Crusade. Well-known evangelist Bill Britt, a native of Haughton, who has preached all over the world with his Compel Outreach International ministry, has stressed to the crowd nightly the need to get right with the Lord. “It’s not what people think, it is what God knows,” Britt said. “It is time to swallow your pride; take off your mask and confess your sins to the Lord. The big question is ‘If you died tonight, would you go to heaven? “If you are not sure, you … [Read more...]

LAFAYETTE – Carlos Schmidt, organizer of the Hispanic Evangelism Conference held Jan. 22-23 at First Baptist Church in Lafayette, said the event emphasized the importance of “not separating evangelism from discipleship.” Schmidt is a catalytic church planter and strategist for Louisiana Baptists. “God used the conference to remind us we are called to make disciples,” he said, adding that it was important to him the assimilation strategies and systems presented during the sessions “are reproducible” among Hispanic congregations. … [Read more...]

ALEXANDRIA/PINEVILLE - Around 1,200 united on Saturday morning to give central Louisiana a message - all life is priceless. The first-ever Cenla Louisiana Life March began on the Louisiana College campus and continued through Pineville on Main Street before crossing over the Red River at the Jackson Street Bridge before ending with a post-march rally at the Alexandria Riverfront Amphitheater. Other Louisiana Life Marches have taken place in Baton Rouge and Shreveport, most recently simultaneously on Jan. 23, but this was the first time such an event was held in the central part of the state. Brian Gunter, pastor of First Baptist Church in Pollock, was among the speakers at the march. He challenged the crowd to become a part of various pro-life causes. "You can be a part of this too," he said. "Will you go with me? Let's speak for those who cannot speak." The Louisiana Life March was a chance for different denominations, ages and ethnic and racial backgrounds to march together and pray to declare their opposition to the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion in 1973. The theme for this year’s march is “Life Is Priceless.” According to the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, … [Read more...]

Wayne Jenkins and Charles Billingsley shared moving testimonies of thankfulness with those attending Louisiana Baptists 2016 Evangelism Conference, their stories epitomizing the messages of God’s power and grace presented throughout the program. Impromptu testimonies of God's faithfulness, music by national recording artists Mark Lowry and Charles Billingsley and multiple times of individual prayer highlighted Louisiana Baptists 2016 Evangelism Conference. Held Jan. 25-26 at First Baptist Church Lafayette, the event drew between 2,000 and 2,5000 people and ended with 500 people coming forward at the end to make a commitment to lead at least one person to Christ in 2016. … [Read more...]

More than 800 attended the Senior Adult Luncheon at the Louisiana Baptists 2016 Evangelism Conference at First Baptist Church Lafayette. Comedian Mark Lowry brought his famous blend of humor and encouraging words to those in attendance. … [Read more...]

The African-American Fellowship met on Jan. 25 between sessions of the Louisiana Baptists 2016 Evangelism Conference. Ken Weathersby, vice president for convention advancement for the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention, was among the speakers. Weathersby planted the first African-American Southern Baptist Convention Church in Louisiana in 1988. Today, the Louisiana Baptist Convention is planting 10-plus African American churches every year in Louisiana. He now serves as vice-president of the Executive Committee of the SBC. … [Read more...]