By Brian Blackwell, Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Keith Manuel and his Labrador retriever, Luke, have traveled thousands of miles across the state in 2022 to share the Gospel, and together have seen more than 160 individuals make decisions for Christ. Manuel said they are eager and ready to visit other Louisiana Baptist churches, too, at no cost. “Luke is a draw for people to come,” said Manuel, Louisiana Baptist evangelism and church growth team leader. “He’s a great evangelistic tool that people really seem to relate to.” Manuel purchased Luke in 2017 (his birth year) to calm victims of trauma he encounters in his law enforcement ministry. He also knew canines helped build confidence in children who struggled in school; and thought Luke might be useful to his wife, Wendy, a reading specialist with Rapides Parish Schools. But most importantly, Manuel believed Luke could be an effective tool to lead others to a relationship with Jesus. Earlier this year, Manuel noticed churches were beginning to re-engage in evangelistic outreach after COVID-related restrictions limited such efforts in 2020 and 2021. Several churches who were familiar with Manuel’s special ministry asked him to bring Luke to … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer KENNER, La. (LBM) – In Kenner, New Hope Community Church are bringing the light of Jesus to a community still recovering from Hurricane Ida and COVD-19. According to Pastor Mark Mitchell, the church has served more than 2,200 people since March 2020. Whether they are feeding the community, mentoring school children or conducting sports camps, the Gospel is being shared and souls are being saved. “We engage the community with the Gospel of Christ,” Mitchell told the Baptist Message. “When He calls us, it’s an opportunity on mission with Him. No matter what opposition we may face, God helps us overcome.” Among its most difficult trials the church faced was in late 2021, when Hurricane Ida damaged their facilities and caused a reduction in its membership from 250 to 125. Still, the church pressed on and continued pouring into its community. Some of their ministry efforts have included holding men’s and women’s Bible studies to help raise godly leaders, hosting “front yard” Bible clubs and “adopting” multiple schools to build relationships with the students, teachers and parents. By early January, the church hopes to complete renovations to its facilities as they … [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 James David Miller was licensed to the gospel ministry at Alto Baptist Church on August 14. He will attend Mississippi College and study Christian Ministry and be on the MC track and field team as a thrower. His father, Alan Miller, is the Alto pastor.  His grandfather is  James H. Miller, who is a retired pastor living in Dubach. Jerry Masters is the new pastor at Red River Baptist Church, Benton. Rick Draper, the minister of worship and music, has departed from First Baptist Church, New Orleans. Nate Jernigan will begin serving as First Baptist Church, New Orleans interim worship leader on September 11. Cassidy Richardson is the new children/family associate at Grawood Baptist Church, Keithville. Ashley Young is the new children’s minister at Grawood Baptist Church, Keithville. Haley Kemp … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message staff writer GLOSTER, La. (LBM) – For many years, Gloster Baptist Church has helped carry the torch of Georgia Barnette, who served as a missionary with a passion for sharing the Gospel as the first elected and paid Woman’s Missionary Union executive director/treasurer for Louisiana Baptists. Not only does the church have boots on the ground in their own community and other towns throughout Louisiana, but Gloster Baptist gives generously to the annual state missions offering named after “Miss Georgia.” According to Pastor Ron McLellan, the church (with an average of 100 in Sunday worship) in the last 12 months has given $14,638 to the annual offering which honors Barnette’s dedication to spreading the Good News in Louisiana; and they have set a giving goal of $16,000 for 2022. McLellan, who has served as pastor since 1995, said his church’s commitment to doing whatever it takes to further the Gospel nearby never ceases to amaze him. “Our Gloster family amazes me with their willingness to go on mission with God to places like Sulphur, after hurricanes ravaged the southwest; to Plaucheville to do a music and arts camp; to a foster care camp held in North Monroe; and most recently to the inner … [Read more...]

By Will Hall, Message executive editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Letters show that Georgia Barnette’s first impressions of the Pelican state were love at first sight. Arriving by train from Atlanta, Barnette remarked how moved she was by the landscape she saw. “Surely God loved Louisiana because He made it so beautiful,” she wrote to a friend. Years later, after having retired from serving 25 years as the director of the Woman’s Missionary Union in the state, and awaiting her last breath, she lay in her bed praying for her “beloved Louisiana people.” In between these two bookends in her life, Georgia Barnette was motivated by her “value of one soul” and tirelessly worked to build up the body of Christ and minister to those in need, while inspiring Louisiana Baptists to take the Gospel across the state. Her legacy of love for Christ and the people of Louisiana continues through the state missions offering that was named for her in 1936. The goal for the 2022 Georgia Barnette Offering is $1.7 million, an amount that supplements what Louisiana Baptists give through the Cooperative Program, the primary funding channel for state and national Baptist causes. for state and national Baptist causes. CP gifts provide … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) – U.S. Congresswoman Julia Letlow encouraged 70 ladies gathered for a Women on Mission meeting to remain hopeful in difficult circumstances. Letlow, during the monthly meeting, Aug. 11, at First Baptist Church, Pineville, shared how her faith in Christ sustained her after her husband, Luke, died from COVID-19 complications, Dec. 29, 2020. He was just five days from taking office after winning an election the month before to succeed Ralph Abraham, who retired from Congress. She later won the seat in a special-called election in March 2021. “He doesn’t waste an experience, good or bad, for His calling and His purpose in our lives,” Letlow said. “I am so thankful to be able to choose hope. I continue to choose hope. I think it’s so important for my children to see that in their mom, when life knocks you down you have a choice to make. You can either stay down or you can get up and you can continue to walk in faith.” Letlow said serving others is a way to move forward when tragedy strikes. “When you are hurting get outside of yourself, serve other people,” she said. “And that will provide healing and give you hope.”   … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptists Children and Youth Education Strategist Jess Archer has been named the new executive director and treasurer for the South Carolina Baptist Convention Woman’s Missionary Union. Archer will join the staff Oct. 24 and will assume her new role Jan. 1, 2023. She will follow Laurie Register, who retires Dec. 31 after serving South Carolina’s WMU for more than 29 years (including 14 of those as executive director-treasurer). “I am eternally grateful to the Lord for calling me by name to this new position,” Archer told the Baptist Message. “And I am ready to see what God has in store for South Carolina Woman’s Missionary Union.” A graduate of Nicholls State University in Thibodaux and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Archer has spent the last eight-and-a-half years helping women and young people develop a deeper passion for missions. During her time with Louisiana Baptists, Archer has served on the Women’s Missions and Ministry team as a catalyst to develop and encourage mission’s education through WMU for preschool, children and youth in the state’s Baptist churches. She also has trained countless leaders of all ages in … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff LAFAYETTE, La. (LBM) - Pastor John Fream said Cypress Baptist Church has several “non-negotiable” practices they use in their mission to reach Benton and beyond for Jesus Christ. Fream, during the ReGroup Sunday school training conference at First Baptist Church, Lafayette, Aug. 6, said his members at Cypress Baptist preach and live out the Word of God, are soul winners, follow the Great Commandment and use Sunday school, worship and big events to draw others to Christ. Fream was the keynote speaker for ReGroup that focused on strengthening discipleship efforts. The conference included breakout sessions for pastors/staff/key leaders; preschool/children, youth and adult leaders. ReGroup focuses on four areas – sharing the Gospel, developing biblical community, helping believers mature spiritually, and equipping believers to live missionally, with special emphasis on maximizing Gospel impact. Since he became pastor 14 years ago, Fream has seen Cypress Baptist grow from 450 in Sunday worship to 2,600 and baptize new converts each Sunday (including 173 since January). Fream said he reminds his members they are on mission to share the Gospel wherever they go. “Life’s too short,” he said. “The … [Read more...]