By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA – For 24 years, Lou Warshaw prayed her husband would accept Christ as his personal Lord and Savior. After years of refusing to give up on the hope that one day her husband would become a Christian, God answered her prayers last month when 101-year-old George Warshaw made that decision and followed through with believer’s baptism. “That was an experience I never dreamed I would have,” said Lou Warshaw. “I almost had given up. The devil kept telling me it wouldn’t happen but I kept believing God would let it happen. I think I’m still on cloud nine.” His conversion story began on July 24, 1991, when Lou and George Warshaw became husband and wife. The two were of different faiths; Lou a Christian and George a Jewish non-believer. Even so, George attended Calvary Baptist Church in Alexandria most Sundays with Lou, where she was a member. They sat in the same pew every Sunday for wor ship and then attended a Bible study class afterwards. Throughout the years, Lou and other friends never pushed their faith on George, but rather showed him Christian love and prayed that he would come to know Christ. Recently, George was unable to continue attending Calvary or even … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer NEW ORLEANS – Ninety-two people went all in one recent Sunday at Celebration Church’s six campuses in the New Orleans area, participating in believer’s baptism. This “All In” weekend at Celebration Church was scheduled to stress the importance of baptism in a Christian’s life. Leading up to the weekend, Celebration Church staff prepared its members by explaining what baptism is about and the important role it plays in the life of a Christian. Fifteen people were originally scheduled for baptism in the middle of the services but many more came forward at the end of the worship services on July 18 and 19 to take this important step. To ensure those coming forward for baptism were confident in their decision, the candidates went to a counseling room, where afterwards they received a shirt and towel before participating in baptism. Through the first week of August, 384 people have been baptized at the church’s campuses. Lead pastor Dennis Watson believes the church can meet its goal of 520 for 2015 by the end of the year. Statewide, Louisiana Baptists have baptized an average of 11,261 per year since 2002. Prior to that, the average was 13,200, before LifeWay changed its method … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer Baptisms always are special time in the life of a minister, but they were an extra special memory one recent Sunday for two Louisiana Baptist pastors. Josh Adams, pastor of Pisgah Baptist in Forest Hill, and Brad Jurkovich, pastor of First Bossier, not only baptized a higher than average number but each baptized one of their own children. Adams baptized his son Jace on June 14 while Jurkovich baptized his daughter Catherine on July 19. “There’s no greater feeling in the world for a pastor to be in the baptismal waters baptizing others,” Adams said. “But to baptize your own son is emotional and so rewarding for everything you’ve been through.” Jurkovich echoed the thought. “My daughter had gone to kids camp and told me that she got it more now than ever and was ready,” Jurkovich said. “As a dad and pastor, it’s a wonderful moment to share with your church family. For her it was cool to have all of her fifth grader friends there cheering for her.” Embracing baptisms Both congregations have embraced baptisms in 2015. For the past three years, Pisgah Baptist has averaged 10 baptisms. But this year, this congregation that averages 70 on a Sunday morning has baptized 12 … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer LAKE CHARLES – Baptist Collegiate Ministry officials at McNeese State University have scheduled an open house for its new building. Scheduled from 2 to 4 pm on Aug. 15, with a dedication service at 2:30 pm, the open house will showcase a building nearly seven years in the making. “It’s been a long process,” said Keith Cating, director of the McNeese BCM. “This gives us an opportunity to reach out to a larger group of students, build relationships with them and hopefully lead some of them accepting Christ.” The new 10,000-sq.-ft. building is nearly double the size of its former structure, which was demolished before construction on the new structure began in late 2013. Among the features of the building is an office suite with four offices, reception area, game room, library, great room, prayer room, kitchen, pantry and a room for its weekly lunch and worship services. Cating said the lunches held once a week are their biggest outreach tool. He estimates they will be able to serve many more than the 250 who showed up in its former structure that was 60 years old. “Over half of those folks who came usually were not believers, so it offered a chance to connect with them,” he … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message ON THE MOVE Ryan and Katy Newsome James are new as minister of discipleship and student minister respectively at First Baptist Church, Crowley. Both are new positions in the church. Tim, wife Karen, Buford is the new pastor at First Baptist Church, Luling. Steven Kelly, pastor at Bayou Vista Baptist Church, Morgan City, is the Bi-Vocational DOM for the Gulf Coast Association. Stephen, wife Jessica, Jennings is the new associate pastor of music and worship at Colyell Baptist Church, Livingston. IN REMEMBERANCE Ralph Thomas Self, who ministered for more than 60 years, passed away July 8 at the age of 87. He was laid to rest in Memory Lawn Cemetery in Natchitoches. Licensed to preach at the age of 17, he was ordained into the ministry by Troy V. Wheeler in April of 1948 at First Baptist Church in Natchitoches. He served as pastor of various congregations for over 60 years. He is survived by his wife of 62 ½ years, Louise Cox Self; son, Dwayne Self and wife, Tami; daughters, Beth S. Laseter and husband, John, Charlotte S. Pate and husband, Randy, Sr.; grandchildren, Katie and husband, Bill Sargeant, Tiuana and husband, Jamey McDonald, Ashley and husband, Danny Mandolfo and Randy Pate, … [Read more...]

By Karen Pearce, Regional Reporter SHREVEPORT – When Keith Payne left Broadmoor Baptist Church (BBC) to pastor his own congregation three-and-a-half years ago, he had a healthy model of church to follow. But when he returned last year to become BBC’s part-time missions pastor, something dramatic had shifted. In Pastor Chuck Pourciau’s words, they had become missionaries. “When I came back it was just exploding – I was blown away at everything they were doing,” Payne said.  “I just had no idea that there were so many places where we had missionaries and where we were getting involved. It had doubled, it seemed, since I had left three years before.” In fact, it had more than doubled. They went from having around 200 people participating in part-time mission trips, to well over 500 as well as multiple local and regional mission partnerships. What happened? B-groups happened “We used to call it Sunday school but realized that didn’t communicate to the modern mind what all it was – it communicated something that only happened on Sunday and something that’s school.” Pourciau said. “We finally just made up a word – B-groups. That’s the first letter of our churches name and what we’re saying is it helps you believe, … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message LAFAYETTE – It’s time to ReGroup. That’s the goal of an upcoming conference for Louisiana Baptist churches wanting to multiply but unsure as to why the growth in their congregations is not happening. Scheduled for Aug. 15 at First Baptist Lafayette, ReGroup Conference will focus on four areas of the ReGroup Strategy – sharing the gospel, developing biblical community, helping believes mature spiritually and equipping believers to live missionally. “My goal for the ReGroup Conference is that participants would be challenged and inspired as leaders in the local church to go home understanding that we are called to make disciples,” said Sean Keith,  Sunday School and discipleship strategist for Louisiana Baptists. “The churches best strategy to make disciples is through small groups of people like a Sunday School class. We want to challenge every group to: share the gospel with the lost, develop true biblical community in the group, help members to grow spiritually and equip members to serve missionally.” Jeff Iorg, president of Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, is the keynote speaker for the conference. The Matt Papa Band will lead music. The conference also will feature lunch and … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message SHREVEPORT – Linwood Baptist Church is searching for answers after a fourth incident of vandalism on its property in the past several years. The incident occurred sometime between late Aug. 3 and early Aug. 4 at Linwood Baptist Church. According to Pastor Ed Gonzalez, the person responsible drove through a chain held up by two steel beams on the church parking lot. The result was steel beams that are now leaning, with repair costs estimated to be at least $3,000. Gonzalez said signs are posted warning people not to back into the area that was damaged. Linwood Baptist Church has surveillance near the front of the property but does not have cameras in the back of the parking lot to possibly capture the person who committed the act of vandalism. Gonzalez said the church is unable to pay for repairs and is pleading for someone to come forward with information. Even with the setback, Gonzalez said the church is committed to serving its community. Linwood Baptist Church operates a food bank, clothes closet and area to wash clothes and take a shower to others from the community in need. For more information to help with repairing the damage or if anyone has information about the incident, … [Read more...]

By Joe Dupree Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE/PONCHATOULA – Coming from South Korea to the United States of America, more specifically Louisiana, can be quite the culture shock for most people.  But not for 50 Korean children, who say it is something they look forward to every year. The children are part of a cooperative area between churches in South Korea and Louisiana. “It is a large cooperative effort here,” said Susan Duke, Camp USA coordinator. “It brings our local churches together, working towards the same thing. It's foreign missions taking place right here at home.” Having around 50 Korean children was a chance for local churches, such as Gateway Baptist, Kingsville Baptist, Faith Baptist, The Gathering Place, and Cross-Branded Cowboy Church to experience their culture and to also share the American culture with the children as the gospel is displayed each day through Vacation Bible School and other activities put on by the different churches. “Most of the children go to church and believe in Jesus,” said BongJun Ko, one of the Korean adult sponsors. “After they spend time here they can take what they have learned and bring it back home to their families and churches.” One local family, who happened to … [Read more...]