By Staff, Baptist Message WOODWORTH – GA Camp changed in a big way this year, but the girls probably didn’t notice. The name changed – to Girls Mission Camp – and it became two, two-night events instead of one week-long camp, but it was opened to younger girls – from first- through sixth-graders, and everything – missions, Bible study, music, crafts and fun – somehow fit into the time available. “We did do camp in a new way, as befitting a year of celebrating the 100th birthday of GA and the 125th birthday of WMU,” said Janie Wise, the LBC’s women’s missions and ministry strategist. “Our name change did not change our purpose of missions or GA, but opened the door for every girl in our churches to find a place at mission camp. “Yes, we went to a two-night, 2 ½ day format, primarily because we needed to have two camps in one week,” Wise continued.  “This shortened format, though, also helped to meet the needs of younger girls.” A total of 215 campers – girls, church sponsors, camp staff and faculty – registered for the camps, which took place at Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center. Girls came from 22 churches, with Christ Baptist in Houma probably making the longest trek. In all, 29 girls made a profession of faith; one … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Tue, 08/27/2013 - 14:15 The interior of the old sanctuary of Sharon Baptist Church is known for its golden glow from the shellacked tongue and groove wood interior. By Mark H. Hunter, Regional Reporter PORT ALLEN – The old sanctuary of Sharon Baptist Church stood empty for many years, and now he knows why, says Pastor Shawn Ostoj. God had a plan for it. During a church business meeting in late March, church members prayed about what to do about the 2,940 square-foot structure that’s not been used since 2008, when the 200 members moved the church, day care and K-8 Academy into a new, spacious steel building. “Originally we had planned to tear it down but we couldn’t bring ourselves to do it,” Ostoj said. The day after the prayer was offered, Ostoj said, Sharon Baptist member Ernest “Nubbin” Swanson learned that the 50-member House of Restoration Outreach Ministries, which currently meets in Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Batchelor, was searching for a building they could call home. Ostoj contacted the House of Restoration, a predominantly African-American congregation, and quickly realized a prayer had been answered. Sharon Baptist “sold” the brick and wood building to House of Restoration … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Tue, 08/27/2013 - 14:18 Thieves broke into this safe at Crossgate Baptist Church and stole more $1,200 in funds raised by the children attending Vacation Bible school plus the Sunday offering and the payroll. By Karen L. Willoughby, Managing Editor ROBERT – Competition grew heated between the 60 boys and girls attending Vacation Bible School at Crossgate Baptist Church. They had a goal: Help a missionary in the Philippines buy a vehicle, so he could minister to people in mountainous areas. Each day they filled pockets, backpacks and even handkerchiefs of all the coins they could acquire. Each night they saw video clips of the missionary ministering, and his need for a vehicle; and by week’s end, they had raised more than $1,200. Cheers echoed through the worship center Sunday morning at the record amount given during VBS. Young girls squealed with glee that they had won the competition. But before the church could get the money to the bank, thieves stole the small, hidden safe the money was in, plus the Sunday offering, plus payroll, in the early-morning hours before dawn on the next day. “The alarm went off at 5 a.m.; that’s how we were notified,” said Louis Husser, pastor for 21 years … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Tue, 08/27/2013 - 14:21 Fifteen students and adults from Ebenezer Baptist Church in Jonesboro were part of a World Changers initiative in Louisiana in late July. The students concentrated their efforts in Shreveport. By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff WriterSHREVEPORT – Rosie B Howard spent some of a recent Monday morning crying, but she didn’t mind.   The Shreveport resident was overcome with joy when about a dozen students from throughout the South showed up at her doorstep to spend an entire week painting her home in the name of Christ. “I was crying my head off inside my house and after I was done crying I just said ‘Thank you Lord,’” Howard said. “I’ve never had anyone do anything like this for me. “You have to love what these kids are doing,” she continued. “They are beautiful kids and don’t mind working.” The students were one of 13 crews who volunteered in late July as part of World Changers, an initiative of LifeWay Christian Resources that works to improve substandard housing in cities throughout the US and Canada. The 126 students from six churches across the U.S. – including Sale Street Baptist in Lake Charles and Ebenezer Baptist in Jonesboro – spent $250 per student to take part in … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Tue, 08/27/2013 - 14:24 Pastors Gary Mitchell and Cornelius Williams shake hands outside the church building. By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer CHATAIGNIER – Not long ago, First Baptist Chataignier was a struggling congregation that was quickly dwindling to around two dozen in attendance on a regular Sunday morning. Three years later, the 103-year-old church is not the same, with an increase to between 130 and 160 in attendance most Sundays. Pastor Gary Mitchell said the dramatic rise in church attendance is due to a reorganization of its leadership model as well as intentionally reaching out to Chataignier, where the population is about 360, located about seven miles north of Eunice. Mitchell said once the congregation realized their need to become involved and change some of the ways they ministered both inside and outside the walls of the church building, things began to change. “My daddy used to say ‘If you look around the room and can’t see the problem, it’s probably you,’” Mitchell said. “We just took a look at ourselves and tried to correct the problem. “Complacent Christians are great people who have secured their place in Heaven but, have not worried too much about the … [Read more...]

Arrivals/Departures Gary (Pam) Richardson, new as pastor of First Baptist Baker. David Whitehead, new as pastor of Beech Ridge Baptist Livingston. Nathan Jernigan, resigns as associate pastor of music and outreach at Mulberry Baptist Houma. John (wife Lea Anne) Campbell, new as pastor of Holly Springs Baptist in Homer. Edwin “Max” (wife Doris) Rasbury, new as pastor of First Bienville; ordained July 21 at First Bienville. Cliff (wife Stephanie) Ford, new as youth leader at First Baptist Oil City. Glen (wife Clista) Adkins, new as music leader at First Baptist Shreveport. Henry Richerson, resigns as associate pastor of Emmanuel Shreveport. Regina Glascock, new as minister of music at First Baptist Springfield. Emily Thomas, new as children’s minister at Northshore, Slidell. Joshua Powell, new as pastor of Woodland Baptist Springfield. Ed Herring, new as associate pastor/music at Red Bluff Baptist, Folsom. Don Gauthier, new as interim pastor of St. Clair Baptist Boyce. Derel Griffon, resigns as youth minister at Simpson Baptist.   Needed/Giving Larry Baldridge, available for pulpit supply, worship leader and Christian Cajun comedy. Call 337.250.3954. Bivocational pastor needed; send resumes to Frierson Baptist … [Read more...]

By Tom Strode, Baptist Press WASHINGTON (BP) – Widespread agreement on immigration reform exists among Americans in spite of differences on how to achieve it, Southern Baptist ethicist Russell D. Moore said at a Capitol Hill news conference. The president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission gave a hopeful assessment to reporters Wednesday, July 24, as about 300 evangelical Christians gathered to pray and persuade members of the House of Representatives to reform a flawed system that has resulted in an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants living illegally in the United States. The future of immigration reform remains uncertain in the House, where Republican leaders have said they will work on their own legislation and not take up a bill approved by the Senate in late June. Some conservative Republicans have sharply criticized the Senate measure, especially its approach to border security. Moore described the consensus as remarkable “not only among people who agree with us on immigration reform. “Most of us in this country agree the system is broken,” he said. “Most of us in this country agree we have to have some way of addressing the 11 or so million people who are living in invisibility right now. “I … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Tue, 08/27/2013 - 14:33 By Staff, World News Magazine The cultural shift on same-sex marriage can be traced in large part to people who personally know someone who identifies as homosexual. If a friend is gay, it becomes harder for the average person – who doesn’t have biblical convictions – to oppose the behavior, which is why homosexual activists have for decades urged people to “come out of the closet.” In late July, a small band of former homosexuals representing about 10 organizations stood on the steps of the Supreme Court to demand recognition and equal rights under the Constitution. “Anti-ex-gay extremists say that I do not exist – that we don’t exist,” said Christopher Doyle, president of Voice of the Voiceless and Equality and Justice for All. “Tell that to my wife of seven years. Tell that to my three beautiful children.” Organizers had originally planned a reception to be held at the Family Research Council, but emailed and phoned threats from homosexual activists caused them to postpone the event until September at an undisclosed location. Greg Quinlan, president of Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays (PFOX), said homosexual activists have no room for other opinions because they … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Tue, 08/27/2013 - 14:36 E.J. McCann, a bivocational pastor at Indian Village Baptist Church in Buller, uses his love for blacksmithing to relax and express himself artistically as a traditional coal fire blacksmith. By Rachel Ortego, Regional Reporter BULLER – At 4:30 each morning E.J. McCann, pastor of Indian Village Baptist Church in Buller, cracks open his Bible to work on his Sunday sermon. By 6:30 a.m. he is 25 minutes away in Lake Charles, where he dons his hat as welding supervisor for the chemical company Axiall, where he has worked for 24 years. Then, at 4 p.m. McCann heads home to his wife Nancy and his other job as owner of 3 Nail Forge and Welding. McCann is a bivocational pastor, one who has a full-time occupation in the secular workplace and also shepherds a church, which in his case is an 80-member church in Jefferson Davis Parish. Ironworking brings in a third income as well as being a hobby, and it is where he says he can back away from church or work to relax and express himself artistically as a traditional coal-fire blacksmith. A gentle giant, friendly and expressive, E.J. McCann seems to be more at home in his blacksmith apron than anywhere else. As he worked on a … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Tue, 08/27/2013 - 14:42 World Changers students pause in their work at an elderly woman's home near Covington at 10:02 a.m. to say a Luke 10:2 prayer, where Jesus told his disciples the harvest is great but the laborers are few By Mark H. Hunter, Regional reporter Ponchatoula, Covington – Bernadine Cattladge couldn’t get outside of her Ponchatoula home to see what dozens of World Changers teens were doing to it, but she could hear laughing voices and pounding hammers. When she was shown digital photos of a dozen teens putting a fresh coat of paint on the exterior walls, tears welled up in her brown eyes. “Oh - I appreciate it so very much,” the bedridden woman, 68, said. “It looks so much better!” Chandra Jackson, Miss Bernadine’s adult daughter and caregiver, stepped out onto the front porch to see how Bailey Newton, 15, of South Crescent Baptist of McDonough, Ga., was doing painting the ceiling. “You’re doing a great job!” she told him with a big smile. “I’m just here to serve,” he humbly replied. Two World Changers projects were held in Louisiana in June: the first in the Hammond-Ponchatoula area and the second in the Covington area. Another two projects, all with the theme “Change the … [Read more...]