By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Reggie Bridges, pastor of the Temple Baptist Church, Ruston, will be nominated during the 2022 annual meeting to serve again as president of the Louisiana Baptist Convention. Jason Walsworth, TBC minister of discipleship and administration, notified the Baptist Message, Sept. 8, of his intentions to make the nomination. The 2022 LBC annual meeting is scheduled to be held Nov. 15 in the Calvary Baptist Church, Alexandria. INVOLVEMENT Bridges will complete his first term as LBC president at the November meeting. He also has served as a member of the Committee on Committees for the Southern Baptist Convention (2018), as well as on the LBC Executive Board (Bridges is serving a term, now, that runs through 2022) and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary board of trustees (2022-2027). Bridges has served on the Georgia Barnette Louisiana Missions Offering Committee (2010), as a trustee for Louisiana Christian University (2014- 2017) and on various committees with the Baptist Associations of Southeast Louisiana and Concord[1]Union Baptist Association. BY THE NUMBERS The database of the Annual Church Profile shows that the Temple Baptist … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer LAKE CHARLES, La. (LBM) – For several months straight, Trinity Baptist Church prayed for changed hearts to result from their four-day revival Aug. 28-31. God answered those prayers with 119 professions of faith and 92 other decisions that resulted from “Revive 22.” Fifteen of these new believers were baptized during revival sessions, and overall 4,064 individuals attended and 400 volunteers participated during the four-day event. “Some folks live a lifetime and never see the spirit of God move like that,” Pastor Steve James told the Baptist Message. “We put a lot of preparation and prayer into this and saw God touch the hearts of our people and others who experienced Him.” SUSTAINED MOVEMENT “Revive 22” added to nearly two years of personal renewal among members of Trinity Baptist and an awakening among the lost population in the region. Moreover, since Oct. 31, the church has baptized 200 new converts, collectively, every Sunday for 48 consecutive weeks. This is the third time the church in its 96-year history the church has baptized 200 or more new believers in a 12-month period. INTENTIONALITY James recognized that for the Holy Spirit to move, the … [Read more...]

By LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) - Curtis Zackery, a pastor at the rapidly growing multi-campus Church of the City in Franklin, Tennessee, will return to Louisiana Christian University to deliver the messages for this fall’s revival. The revival will be held Monday through Wednesday, Sept. 20-22, at 11 a.m. in Guinn Auditorium. “Curtis Zackery is one of LCU’s favorite speakers,” said President Dr. Rick Brewer. “We know from previous times of ministry CZ will challenge all with the claims and power of The Gospel of Jesus Christ. How blessed to serve at a university that makes it a priority to provide ther campus with an extended time of spiritual renewal.” Zackery, known as “CZ,” is the author of Soul Rest: Reclaim Your Life. Return to Sabbath. He has worked in ministry for more than 15 years, delivering a gospel perspective that is raw, accessible and relevant to college students and all audiences. "I'm looking forward to having CZ on campus,” said Dean of Chapel Nick Maricle. “He spoke during the Wildcat Welcome Weekend last fall, and the students connected well with him. So, I'm praying for the revival and expect it to be wonderful.” … [Read more...]

By Message staff PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) - Louisiana Christian University faculty and staff and community members gathered Sept. 15 at Granberry Conference Center to dedicate the school's new Jonathan E. Martin Master of Business Administration program. The MBA is the newest graduate degree offered in the Young School of Business at LCU. Martin, a deacon at Calvary Baptist Church, Alexandria, began his career in his family’s business in 1971 and remained with the business until his death in September 2019. During the time with the company, Martin served as chairman, CEO and past president. … [Read more...]

By Victoria Watson, Wildcats Media PINEVILLE, La. (WildcatsMedia) -- Kyah Iles, founder of Six Feet Above, a non-profit organization dedicated to mental health awareness and suicide prevention, will speak at Louisiana Christian University today, Sept. 15, during a Suicide Awareness Event titled “Six Feet Above.” Iles is a resident of Central Louisiana and certified suicide interventionist and crisis interventionist instructor. Additionally, Iles has told her story of survival after her own suicide attemptto hundreds of students, educators, law enforcement officers, and mental health professionals throughout Louisiana. Taylor Dauzat, the mental health counselor at LCU, believes that suicide awareness and prevention affects everyone. “Suicide is definitely a big and growing area of concern over the last several years, especially among college students,” Dauzatsaid. “I was really inspired by her and her story and thought that she would be a perfect speaker for our students because when you are able to talk to someone who has really went through it and hear a story about a survivor, it impacts in a different way.” Iles said her focus is to break the stigma around mental health, notably in the Christian … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Former childhood television star Kirk Cameron encouraged more than 1,100 guests gathered at the CENLA Pregnancy Center’s Gift of Life Banquet to continue the fight in the pro-life movement that is gaining more and more momentum across the nation. The annual event was held at the Randolph River Front Center. “When I think of all that is going on at the CENLA Pregnancy Center, I see this whole strategy being carried out in a beautiful little microcosm right here in Alexandria and in your satellite locations,” Cameron said during the Sept. 13 event. “It’s driven by faith. The Gospel is shared. More importantly, people are coming into a relationship with God. “They are educating and talking to these young ladies about how they are made in the image of God, and these young women are learning about God’s value for families and children,” he continued. “They have an educational component for their clients and the community that is helping to liberate little babies, allowing them to live and giving all of us an opportunity to join in on what God is doing at the CENLA Pregnancy Center. “And the center, also, is involved in making people understand that … [Read more...]

By Message staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptist state missions and ministry directors and entity heads rolled out the welcome mat for more than 19 new pastors and eight spouses, Sept. 12. Held at the Baptist Building in Alexandria, the event featured remarks by Louisiana Baptists Executive Director Steve Horn, introductions by state ministries and entities, a tour of the building and lunch for those in attendance. The event was open to any pastor or staff member who had transitioned to the role of pastor since 2020. “The strength of our cooperation rides on the back of the strength of our relationships,” Horn told the Baptist Message. “Central to that cooperation is the strength of our relationships with pastors. And, how can we have strength in those relationships with those with whom we haven’t even met? “So, our ongoing vision is to start that relationship as early as possible when a new pastor arrives for his first pastorate in Louisiana,” he continued. “The intention of this event was to open the physical front door of our convention so pastors could hear the presentations from state missions’ directors and entity leaders and also tour our facilities,” Louisiana Baptists Pastoral Ministry Team … [Read more...]