By Message Staff ERWINVILLE – Police are searching for the suspect who allegedly crashed a truck into the sanctuary at Erwinville Baptist Church and fled the scene of the accident earlier this month. According to Pastor Tyler Saucier, the vehicle was traveling at 80 mph when it hit the building around 2 am on July 19, causing major damage including to the walls and foundation of the sanctuary. He estimates damage is between $50,000 and $60,000. Saucier lives in a parsonage next to the sanctuary and heard the truck crash into the building. He said the vehicle driven was a maroon Chevrolet extended cab Z71, with significant damage to the passenger side. Even though the sanctuary sustained damage, worship services still took place a few hours later. The church met for services in the fellowship hall, where the congregation that averages 50 for Sunday morning worship will continue to meet until the sanctuary is repaired. Saucier said he wants the driver of the truck to know he is forgiven. “I am more worried about giving him a second chance than making him pay,” Saucier said. “I think God can use of this to make our church realize we are more than just building and walls. “Our worship has been great in the Sundays … [Read more...]

By Philip Timothy Managing Editor LAFAYETTE – Two prominent Louisiana Southern Baptist pastors were among the more than 50 pastors who spoke and prayed Wednesday night, July 29, in what is being hailed as the ‘largest prayer event to ever take place in Lafayette.” Steve Horn, pastor of First Baptist Church, Lafayette, and Mike Walker, senior pastor of Bayou Church, in Lafayette, spoke and offered words of encouragement at the inter-denominational gathering, which was attended by more than 3,000 people from 50 churches. The gathering, which was held at the Crossroads Church in Lafayette, came in the wake of the deadly shooting July 23 at the Grand Theater by John Russell Houser during the showing of ‘Train Wreck.’ The drifter from Alabama shot and killed two young women and wounded nine others before taking his own life. Horn and Walker said during times like these there is a need for God. “Wow! Three thousand people are gathering to pray for the families of the victims and our community,” Walker posted to the church’s Facebook page during the event. “I’ve been ministering for more 38 years in this town and there has never been something [the prayer event] of this magnitude,” Walker said. “There is incredible power … … [Read more...]

  By Joe Dupree Message Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA - Making disciples that make disciples. That is the goal of the local church. To further grow the Kingdom of God for His glory. Since 2010, Louisiana has seen 114 Southern Baptist new churches spring up across the state. In 2015, Louisiana Baptists have already supported 26 church plants across the state with a projection of 40 new church plants by the end of the year. This summer, Church Planting Network, led by Lane Corley, Louisiana Baptist Convention church planting strategist, hosted luncheons across the state where over 100 leaders attended to get new ideas on how to start more church plants. These leaders learned that the best resource for church planting was the people. The Bible calls believers to go and spread the good news to all people. They learned how to gather, develop, encourage, deploy, and depend upon people.   … [Read more...]

By Philip Timothy, Managing Editor LAFAYETTE – First Baptist Lafayette is partnering with 34 other local churches to promote two city-wide prayer events tonight and Thursday evening. Tonight’s event – a city-wide prayer service – will be held at Crossroads Church, located at 150 Verona Drive at 7 p.m. while the second will be more of a community memorial service, which is being organized by the Lafayette Consolidated Government and will be held at Blackham Coliseum. These two community events are in response to the tragic shooting deaths of Jillian Johnson, 33, and Mayci Breaux, 21, who were killed by 59-year-old John Russel Houser, an Alabama drifter who opened fire inside a crowded movie theater in Lafayette. On July 23 around 7:30 pm on during a showing of the movie “Trainwreck”, Houser of Phenix City, Ala., got up from his seat at the Grand Theatre off Johnston Street and opened fire with a semi-automatic handgun according to Lafayette Police Chief Jim Craft. Johnson and Breaux, who were sitting in front of him along with nine others where shot killing both of them and wounding nine others who were transported to three area hospitals for treatment. Houser tried to escape by blending into the fleeing crowd after one of … [Read more...]

By Staff Baptist Message What’s more important … winning football games or building men? “They are both important,” according to Alexandria native and former NFL kicker Chris Boniol, who was formally introduced as Louisiana College’s new special team’s coordinator and running backs coach July 24 at a press conference at the school. “Chris is a great fit for our coaching staff, and I have every confidence in what he brings to the game as a special teams and running backs coach,” said Louisiana College’s Athletics Director and Head Football Coach Dennis Dunn. “But more than that, I am thankful to God a man of this caliber -- professional and personal -- will be a role model not only for our athletes, but for anyone else whose life he touches. “Louisiana College’s Athletic department is grateful to have someone like Chris Boniol join the Wildcats football coaching squad,” said Dunn. “His NFL record speaks for itself, and we couldn’t be happier about that. He is taking over for Josh Bonadona, who left to become the video coordinator at Southeast Missouri State. “I’m driven to succeed,” said the 43-year-old Boniol. “I want to see the fruits of our labor and hard work pay off. I want to see results. There are no … [Read more...]

by Norm Miller Louisiana College Media Responding to his new assignment at Louisiana College, Coach Chris Boniol, who was named the Wildcats’ new special teams coordinator and running backs coach, sat down with LCNews and shared his thoughts in the following interview. “As a kicker in the NFL, I was judged on results only,” Chris Boniol said. “If you miss a big kick, there won't be much forgiveness from the critics. Jesus Christ, on the contrary, gave us a life-long contract of forgiveness when he died on the cross.” “For me, it is not about a Super Bowl ring; it's about my wedding ring. It is not about treasures on earth; it's about treasures in heaven. It is not about adoring fans; it's about my adoring family,” Boniol said. “Every year there is a new Super Bowl Champion,” he added. “Jesus Christ was crowned our Eternal Champion when he died for our salvation. I pray that others find the same unfailing peace that I have found in Christ.” LC president Rick Brewer said, “Chris Boniol fits the model of a Louisiana College professional. If you want to talk about relevant, relational and rigorous, then Coach Boniol has to be part of that conversation. Few things are more relevant to college life and the fabric of … [Read more...]

By Joe Dupree Message Staff Writer WOODWORTH - The building infrastructures of the new Georgia Barnette Conference Center are looking well as the weeks go by. Volunteers from across Louisiana and Texas have worked tirelessly through the summer heat on the campus of Tall Timbers Conference Center. We are still looking for some construction volunteers to help us build the Georgia Barnette Mission Conference Center at Tall Timbers Conference Center in Woodworth, beginning July 20 through August 28. Volunteers will be needed throughout the year until the building is completed. If youcan help between now and August 28, please contact Tall Timbers at (318) 445-6797 for more information. You can help build for the future! Meals will be provided for the volunteers as well as 24 RV hook ups will be available with limited housing at nearby Camp Brewer and/or The Wesley Methodist Center in Woodworth. Housing at Tall Timbers will be available in limited quantities after August 8 (no cost). Hotels/motels are also available in Alexandria. For cost and availability of housing, contact Julia Parker at Julia.Parker@LouisianaBaptists.org or Bill & Joyce Temple, on-site construction coordinators, at BJTemple71241@AOL.com. … [Read more...]

By Karen Pearce, Regional Reporter BOSSIER CITY – “You are what’s left of Christianity in America.” These sobering words were spoken by Louisiana Rep. Mike Johnson, R-Bossier City, July 20 to a standing-room-only crowd at First Baptist Church, Bossier City, where more than 200 church leaders gathered to learn next steps after the Supreme Court’s recent marriage ruling threatening religious liberty. Johnson said recent polls indicated that Louisiana is the most Bible-literate and most church-attending state in the nation, which leads to greater responsibility. “I really do feel like Louisiana Baptists have a particular responsibility. We shouldn’t take for granted what we have,” he said. “We need to be aware, but not afraid.” His legal organization, Freedom Guard, is ready to assist any organization that comes under fire. “On June 26th, five of the nine-member Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges to usurp the authority of the people and force same-sex marriage on all 50 states by judicial fiat,” Johnson said, expressing the outrage of his fellow conservative legislators as they watched years of hard-earned court victories disregarded and over-ruled. Johnson warned this latest ruling changed the playing field and … [Read more...]

ON THE MOVE Larry Sylvest is new as pastor at Lewiston Baptist Church, Kentwood. Scott Spins is new as pastor at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church, Mt. Hermon. Russell Zwerner is new as associate pastor at Victory Baptist Church, Walker. Mark (wife Paula) Norwood is new as pastor at First Baptist Church, Patterson. Kenneth Austin has resigned as senior pastor at Bayou Plaquemine Baptist Church. Nathan Coleman is new as youth director at North Shreve Baptist Church, Shreveport. Kelly (husband Chris) Pyle is new as children’s director at Koran Baptist Church, Haughton. HOMECOMING Turkey Creek Baptist Church, Gilbert: 97th Homecoming Celebration, Aug. 2, 10:45 a.m. The homecoming celebration will take place in the church’s new sanctuary in which the first service was held on July 5. The old sanctuary was destroyed by a fire Dec. 4, 2013. Everyone is invited to attend. Pastor: Kyle Spinks. Ebenezer Baptist Church, Jonesboro: 165th Homecoming, Aug. 9, 10:30 a.m. A meal will follow the service in the Family Life Center. Speaker: Clovis Sturdivant. Pastor: Randy Lee. First Baptist Church, Greensburg: 149th Homecoming and dinner on the grounds, Aug. 9, Sunday school, 9:15 a.m.; Worship services, 10:30 a.m. with dinner on the grounds … [Read more...]