By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer In the midst of challenging economic times, supporting missions and ministries in the state can prove difficult. However, over the last 10 years Louisiana Baptists have demonstrated a strong commitment to state missions by their growing support of the Georgia Barnette State Missions Offering. The offering has gone from approximately $1.2 million in 2005 to just under $2 million in 2013 [thanks in part to a large one-time gift], and $1.6 million in 2014. “Louisiana Baptists want to be a part of reaching the world and North America,” said David Hankins, executive director for Louisiana Baptists. “But when it comes to reaching those living inside our borders, it becomes personal. They want to do whatever needs to be done to reach the estimated 2 million people who don’t know Jesus.” “Be Something” taken from Ephesians 5:1, where Paul encourages the believers living in Ephesus to “be imitators of Christ,” is the theme for this year’s offering. The offering is named after Georgia Barnette, the first elected and paid WMU executive director/treasurer in the state. She would travel by boat, pirogue, horse and buggy, and train from her home in New Orleans to other areas of Louisiana to visit … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer FOLSOM – Addison Hill steps up onto the quarter horse, glowing with excitement. Moments later, the 11 year old rounds the pin inside the Good Guys Farm arena. A girl of few words, this first-time horse rider communicates the feelings of the other 15 youth present on a humid summer evening in south Louisiana. “It’s fun and different,” Hill said. “I don’t have a horse myself and finally get to ride one, so I’m pretty excited.” Fifteen minutes later, the horse riding stops momentarily while Pastor Louis Husser brings a message, not only about the horse, but the hope of Jesus Christ. Riding his team roping/heel horse, Husser brings a 20-minute ‘Sermon on the Mount,’ mixing stories about the relationship of trust and voice command he has with his horse with sharing details about how to have a relationship with Christ. “We’ve built a relationship where I expect him to recognize my voice,” Husser tells a crowd of 55. “I’m going to be patient with him so he’ll hear my voice. “How you hear from God is very simple,” he continues. “God will speak to us through His word, through the Bible. If we listen, God’s word will tell how to have a relationship with Him.” This is the fourth time this … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE – A former president of both the Louisiana Baptist Convention and Southern Baptist Convention Pastors’ Conference is the keynote speaker for the seventh annual E4 Preaching Conference. Fred Lowery, who is pastor emeritus of First Baptist Church in Bossier City, will bring messages during three sessions of the conference Sept. 18 at First Baptist Church Pineville. In addition to Lowery’s messages and music by the First Baptist Pineville praise team, the conference will also feature breakout sessions on such topics as Preaching Jude, Preaching the Story of David and Goliath, and Three Essentials for Effective Ministry. Professors from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary will lead the breakout sessions. Those attending the conference will have the opportunity to win numerous giveaways, valued at a total of $5,000, thanks to the North American Mission Board, LifeWay, and friends of the E4 Conference. Logos Bible software will also be on hand to present information about their software that helps pastors in preparation for sermons. The E4 Conference began in 2009 with a vision to exemplify, encourage, equip and empower our … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer MANAUS, Brazil – Even a battle with cancer could not keep Wayne Jenkins from helping lead his 31st consecutive mission trip to Brazil. “I’ve been doing this 31 years and I couldn’t see me not going,” Jenkins said. Jenkins, who serves as evangelism and church growth director for Louisiana Baptists, was among 162 men and women who were on mission in Manaus, Brazil, as part of the Louisiana Baptist-led evangelism outreach in the country. While there, the teams participated in street evangelism, puppets, Vacation Bible Schools, drama, sports clinics, construction of churches, BMX demonstrations and medical, dental and eye clinics. The majority of those ministering in Brazil were from Louisiana, though a handful came from Canada and states including Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas and Utah. By the end of the group’s mission trip, 3,500 people accepted Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. Among those who went on the trip was Brad Bennett, who led the BMX and gospel presentations. Bennett is president and founder of Real Encounter Ministry of Springfield, Mo. “We counted it a blessing to be able to work with the Louisiana Baptist Convention on the mission trip to … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer MORGAN CITY – A Morgan City pastor has begun serving as bi-vocational director of missions for Gulf Coast Baptist Association. An association of 15 churches primarily in St. Mary Parish, Gulf Coast Baptist Association previously shared with a director of missions with Evangeline Baptist Association. Steven Kelly assumed his role as director of missions on Aug. 1. Bert Langley, who has retired as director of missions for Evangeline Association, but is remaining as interim, approached Kelly with the idea a few months ago and the churches in Gulf Coast Baptist Association agreed the timing was right to make the move. “Before, we shared a director of missions with an area much larger than our own,” said Kelly, who is pastor of Bayou Vista Baptist Church, where the new associational office will be located. “Bi-vocationally I can give it the same attention a new director of missions would do. For our churches, we now have our own identity.” Kelly will continue to serve full time as pastor and will work one day a week as director of missions. While his role as pastor will prevent him from serving as an interim pastor at other churches on Sundays, Kelly plans to meet with pastors during … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer LAKE CHARLES – Parents and children will have the opportunity to serve alongside one another during the upcoming Family Serve weekend in Lake Charles. Scheduled for Sept. 25-26, Family Serve will encourage families to be on mission through a variety of local ministries in the city. The weekend begins on Sept. 25 at 5:30 pm, with a dinner, opening worship and mission team social at First Baptist Church in Lake Charles. The following day, families will eat breakfast and worship together before heading out to work at mission sites. Mission opportunities on Sept. 26 include sharing the gospel at block parties, prayer walking in neighborhoods, operating free wellness checks at a block party and assisting church plants with outreach. The Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home will have its Mobile Pregnancy Care Center stationed at Mt. Pilgrim Baptist Church to offer free ultrasound and pregnancy testing. Family Serve weekend will conclude with a worship celebration, led by Jeff Slaughter who wrote songs for LifeWay Christian Resources’ Vacation Bible School for 16 years. The $40 registration cost per person includes program fee, three meals, church lodging, t-shirt and funds for local … [Read more...]