By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer JENA, La. (LBM) – For more than 35 years, Buddy Willis has been one of Louisiana Baptists’ faithful “utility” men in ministry. Since he was called to serve the Lord in vocational ministry, Willis has served in seven different roles that all have pointed others to the cross. “I loved working with our state people and making plans and seeing things come together and seeing things done,” Willis told the Baptist Message. “None of it was ever done for the glory of anyone. It was done for the glory of the Lord.” In 2022, Willis was named a Louisiana Baptist Convention Exemplary Retiree of the Year for his dedication to ministry. He retired in December 2021 as director of missions of LaSalle Baptist Association after serving in that capacity for eight years. Born in Jena, Willis gave his heart to Christ as a 9-year-old on June 9, 1949, during a revival service at Temple Baptist Church in that city. Sixty-two years later, Willis felt called to the ministry while he was transporting servicemen as they arrived and departed New York City during the Vietnam War era. However, he felt serving as a pastor would not financially support his family. But, the Holy Spirit continued … [Read more...]

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By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – An evangelistic and ministry strategy aimed at inviting and mobilizing Louisiana Baptist middle and high school students to reach their classmates for Christ is ready to roll out for the upcoming school year. The Student Missionary evangelism strategy, which will launch in early August, is a guide for a training ground for students to learn how to be intentional about being an evangelist on their campus over the school year. Sixth to twelfth graders will be commissioned by their church to share the Gospel at their school. Once a student enrolls in the effort, he or she will be matched with a coach who will help the student grow in Christ and receive the tools necessary to share Jesus with their classmates. Moreover, the student will have at least four prayer partners who will receive a monthly update from the participant. Steve Masters, coordinator of the program and director of the Louisiana Baptist Collegiate Ministry at LSU, said he hopes many churches will partner with students and help foster a foundation of discipleship that will carry on past high school. “Many seniors already have checked out of their faith and student ministry … [Read more...]

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Baptist Message provides churches an opportunity to share with other Louisiana Baptists an upcoming revival, homecoming, new pastor, new staff member, a community outreach, or a concert in Louisiana Notables. To place your event in the paper, send your information (who, what, where, when, time) to philip@baptistmessage.com or call 318.449.4345. Please submit your information four weeks prior to the event to insure placement in the Message. ON THE MOVE First Baptist Church, Wisner: A retirement reception will be held July 30 from 2-4 p.m. to celebrate the 32-year ministry of the pastor and his wife, Thomas and Loretta Peoples. The public is invited to attend. The church is located at 9402 Natchez Street in Wisner. Cory Barnes leaving First Baptist Church, New Orleans to serve as Dean of Doctoral Studies and Distance Learning at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Gary Myers, Executive Pastor of Discipleship, will assume Barnes duties of working with the Bible Study Group leaders to equip, encourage and lead these important leaders in the church. Scott, wife Bethany, Shirley is the new pastor at Emmanuel Baptist Church, Shreveport. Garrison, wife Braiden, Griffith is the new pastor from … [Read more...]

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – Key protections for vulnerable children and parents’ rights, championed by three Louisiana Baptist legislators, were vetoed by Gov. John Bel Edwards following the regular legislative session. -- House Bill 648, authored by Rep. Gabe Firment, a deacon with the First Baptist Church in Pollock, prohibits physicians and therapists from performing surgeries or providing puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to children, because minors are intellectually and emotionally incapable of giving informed consent to these irreversible procedures. Additionally, any medically exploited child is permitted to file lawsuits against the medical professionals who approved or performed such procedures – and this right to sue extends until the victim reaches the age of 30 years old. -- Meanwhile, Rep. Raymond Crews, a member with FBC Bossier City, successfully shepherded H.B. 81 through the legislative process. It allows only the parents of a child to determine the name and pronouns that will be used to address that student in school. -- Finally, Rep. Dodie Horton, a member with FBC Haughton, championed H.B 466 that prevents anyone connected with the school system … [Read more...]

WISNER, La. – For the last 32 years, Thomas Peoples has called First Baptist Church, Wisner, “home.” Peoples, who has served as pastor for one-third of the church’s 100-year existence, has faithfully walked alongside his members as they have strived to be a light house for Christ in Wisner. Many of those individuals, along with others from the community, will be on hand to honor Peoples during a special retirement service, July 30. The day will include a lunch and reception at 2 p.m. in the church’s family life center. “This was a great church when we arrived,” Peoples said. “And hopefully we’re leaving it even better than we found it.” CALLED TO SERVE Peoples trusted Christ as his Savior at nine and embraced a call to ministry at 16, serving as youth minister at Poplar Springs Baptist Church, Newton, Mississippi. Over the next two years, Peoples continued to serve as a youth minister at First Baptist Church, Taylorsville, Mississippi, and then as pastor at Oak Grove Baptist Church, Bentonia, Mississippi (1979-84), Parkerson Avenue Baptist Church, Crowley (1985-1991), and FBC Wisner (1991-present). ON MISSION TO SERVE While Christ has been at the forefront of his ministry, Peoples said he could not have enjoyed … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) — Louisiana Baptists are invited to recommend candidates to serve on state convention boards and committees, and are asked to submit resolutions for possible consideration by messengers during the 2023 Louisiana Baptist Convention. COMMITTEES The Louisiana Baptist Committee on Committees is beginning its work to fill 18 openings on five state convention committees: Credentials; Moral and Social Concerns; Nominations; Order of Business; and Resolutions. Nominations should be sent no later than Aug. 11 to Joel Williams, pastor, First Baptist Church, Francisville, who is the committee chair, via email, joel@fbcsfla.com, or the U.S. Mail, Dr. Joel Williams, P. O. Box 1339, St. Francisville, LA 70775. BOARDS The Louisiana Baptist Committee on Nominations also is beginning its work to fill 20 vacancies on the LBC Executive Board as well as the trustee bodies of the Louisiana Christian University, Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home and Family Ministries, Baptist Message, and Baptist Foundation. Nominations should be sent no later than Aug. 11 to Leo Miller, pastor, First Baptist Church, Denham Springs, who is the committee chair, via email, leo.miller@firstdenham.com, or … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – The Louisiana Baptist Pastoral Leadership Team has scheduled an event, Sept. 11, to welcome to new pastors and their wives. Held at the Baptist Building in Alexandria, the program will begin at 9:30 a.m. and will include remarks by Louisiana Baptist Executive Director Steve Horn, introductions to the state missions ministries by their respective directors and greetings from the leaders of the four Louisiana Baptist entities. Participants also will be given a tour of the state missions center and have a time of fellowship during a catered lunch. In 2022, 19 pastors and eight spouses attended a similar meeting. “Last year we had such great success with this event, and we are looking forward to hosting it again in September,” Louisiana Baptist Pastoral Leadership Team Director Ray Swift told the Baptist Message. “This opportunity gives our new Louisiana Baptist pastors a great time to meet other new pastors, to meet many of the state missions staff and to walk through the Convention building. Additionally, we have all kinds of SWAG to share with each pastor and a special gift for his wife. Dr. Horn and the entire state missions team are excited to welcome all our new … [Read more...]