By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer PELICAN, La. (LBM) – Several hundred people gathered during the Clara Springs Baptist Camp 70th anniversary celebration, March 24 and 26, to celebrate the life-changing impact the camp has had on their lives. Held on the grounds of the camp in Pelican, the event featured the traditional Fourth Friday Fish Fry, concerts by Southern Plainsmen and Vines and Company, fireworks, games, and the Overcoming Obstacles Ministry’s American Ninja Warrior course. The weekend also included a reunion of campers and a time for sharing memories of Clara Springs. Bubba Mills, who has served as director since 2007, said the celebration reminded him of how God’s hand has been on the camp for the past 70 years. “God has brought us through the good and bad times and blessed us tremendously,” Mills told the Baptist Message. “Most people would say God has blessed the camp through the buildings on the grounds and that certainly is true. But blessings also have come from those who have accepted Christ here and the hundreds we know committed to ministry and who are serving in ministry all over the world.” LASTING LEGACY The idea for the camp was presented and adopted at the 1952 District 8 … [Read more...]

DRY PRONG, La. (LBM) – The 30 churches of the Big Creek Baptist Association gathered for a joint revival, March 26-29, in preparation for a possible spiritual awakening in Grant Parish. Held at the B22 Auditorium in Dry Prong, the revival featured messages by evangelist Bill Britt of Haughton and music by Jimmy Crabtree, minister of music at New Prospect Baptist Church, Dry Prong, and other musicians in the association. Additionally, the Adult and Teen Challenge choir shared testimonies and special music and First Baptist Church, Dry Prong, hosted a pizza supper before the final night of the revival. Association moderator Travis Sanders, also pastor of Hebron Baptist Church, Dry Prong, said the revival has helped unify the churches as they seek the Lord for a great harvest of souls in their communities. “Churches feel more connected and less alone,” Sanders told the Baptist Message. “When God’s people are revived, then we will see a great crusade.” … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) – Journey Church is in revival and all signs point to this movement of the Holy Spirit continuing for some time. Since January, Pastor James Greer has seen lives changed as they have recorded 222 salvation decisions and 43 baptisms. “I’ve never seen anything like what has happened the first four months of this year,” Greer told the Baptist Message. “It’s not what we are doing but what God is doing.” Originally Lee Heights Family Church in Pineville, the congregation moved in 2009 to the former site of Donahue Family Church and changed the name to Journey Church. Since then, the congregation (which averages 562 in Sunday worship and baptized 105 in 2022) has celebrated the baptism of 1,072 new members into the body of Christ and witnessed hundreds of other spiritual decisions, including repentances to restore fellowship with Christ, and commitments to vocational missions and ministry. The congregation’s core value, “Growing People Change,” facilitates growth. Meanwhile, its message to the lost, “I mess up, you mess up, we all mess up,” helps start conversations to convey the truth that Christ is the answer. That mindset is what drew Arlene … [Read more...]

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor GILBERT, La. (LBM)— It is not often that a revival begins with evidence of the work of the Holy Spirit already in sight. But the annual Bill Britt four-day event with the First Baptist Church in Gilbert began with 19 baptisms, reflecting transformed hearts before the first word was preached. Pastor Bubba Ezell told the Baptist Message that lives began to be changed after the congregation committed to showing greater respect for the value of one soul. He said he returned from the 2023 Louisiana Baptist Evangelism Conference in January and told his congregation, “I would sell this building for one soul. I would give it all up for a soul.” He said it was the challenge of “How far are we willing to go?” that created a spark in the church. Ezell emphasized this point by sharing about a particular example within their Amazing Grace addiction recovery ministry, which has about 30 members. “I started asking them to witness to one person a week, and to write it down,” he explained. “Three of our guys led people to Christ.” Other things began happening and before long, he said, “We started getting our hearts right with God about the value of a soul.” “The Holy Spirit is … [Read more...]

By Britney Glaser, Special to the Baptist Message LONGVILLE, La. (LBM) - August 27, 2020, will forever be a milestone in the life of the First Baptist Church in Longville, Louisiana. In the early morning hours, Hurricane Laura – a category 4 storm with 150 mph winds – struck, tearing off the worship center roof, and damaging sur rounding buildings. The 50 people who had taken refuge in the church found themselves moving from room to room as the roof began to pull free. Then, with the rising of the sun a few hours later, a new reality dawned. “I knew we needed to get started with something,” Pastor Corey Townsley told the Baptist Message. “We didn’t sleep the night before, but it wasn’t like we could get any rest that day with no power. The destruction was overwhelming. We knew we had to start working and serving. Some got to work at the church grounds, others went out to clear roads and people’s homes.” Dedication and service is not new to FBC Longville, a congregation that dates to 1907. The church has a longtime Helping Hands ministry that assists members as well as the surrounding community. Several congregants have trained and served with the Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief. “Immediately after the … [Read more...]

EDITOR’S NOTE: Do you have a Revival, Homecoming, a new pastor, a community outreach or a concert? The Baptist Message would love to share your church news with the rest of the state. It is very easy to do, just send in your information (who, what, where and when) to philip@baptistmessage.com or call 318.449.4345. To get your event in the paper, please submit your information three weeks prior to the event. ON THE MOVE Les Colvin has retired as pastor at First Baptist Church, Zachary. n Coy (wife LeAnne) Fuqua is the new pastor at North Keithville, Keithville. John Oswalt retiring as music director at Belle Park Baptist Church, Haughton. Mickey Alexander is the new pastor at Enterprise Baptist Church in Farmerville. Eric Green is the new pastor at Bayou Vista Baptist Church, Morgan City. Luke (wife Jenn) Lusted is the new music minister at First Baptist Church, Shreveport. He comes from Camelback Bible Church, Paradise Valley. Aaron (wife Seana) Greenwood is the new music minister at Woodridge Baptist Church from Farley Street Baptist Church, Waxahachie, Texas. J.D. Jones has resigned as Children’s minister from Calvary Baptist Church, Shreveport to become associate pastor at Fellowship Community Church, … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff WOODWORTH, La. (LBM) – First through sixth grade boys will embark on a “Quest for truth” (Eph. 6:11) during the 2023 Royal Ambassador Congress, March 31-April 1 on the Tall Timbers Conference Center campus. The event will feature jousting; an archery exhibition led by David Easterling, pastor of First Baptist Church, Pine; a petting zoo; and an encouraging message by Jonathan Murphy, connections pastor at Calvary Baptist Church, Alexandria. RA Congress also will include a Pinewood Derby; soap box races; and a Gospel presentation from Keith Manuel, Louisiana Baptist evangelism and church growth team director, and his dog, Luke. Additionally, participants will help assemble hygiene kits with Matt Tyson, pastor of 318 Church, Shreveport. “RA Congress is a time of fellowship and celebration for RA groups across the state for their work throughout the year,” Louisiana Baptist Men’s Ministry and Disaster Relief Strategist Stan Statham told the Baptist Message. “It’s also a time to further their missions education and have a hand-on missions experience.” For more information or to download a registration form, please visit https://louisianabaptists.org/event/ra-congress/ … [Read more...]