Submitted by philip on Mon, 11/19/2012 - 13:47 During a recent presentation at Kingsville Baptist Church Henrry Calazacon (in white shirt) and his wife Diana (striped skirt) shared their testimony and Ecuadorian culture. Joining the couple at the presentation were (from left) Lydia Garza, Pastor Bart Walker of Kingsville Baptist, Pineville Mayor Clarence Fields and David Garza, a Hispanic pastor in Pineville who served as Calazacon’s interpreter. By Brian Blackwell, Marketing Director BALL – Henrry Calazacon arrived in Central Louisiana recently with a message of thanksgiving and hope nearly 2,500 miles from the rainforest in Ecuador. “So whatever language we speak, as long as we live in Christ, that points us to the way we should live,” Calazacon said during a presentation at Kingsville Baptist Church through interpreter David Garza, a Hispanic pastor in Pineville who with his wife Lydia worked as a missionary from 2001-2008 in Ecuador. “Our mission is to come and share the good news of Christ who saves us from the sins we have. That is the most important decision anyone came make in this life.” Calazacon and his wife, Diana, were at Kingsville Baptist to share their testimony and culture … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Mon, 11/19/2012 - 13:55 LBC Executive Director David Hankins told messengers during the annual meeting that in honor of 200 years of Baptist ministry in Louisiana, a GBO goal of $2 million has been set to meet mission needs in this state. WEST MONROE – As the North American Mission Board redi­rects resources to new work states and church plant­ing, southern states, includ­ing Louisiana, are faced with the challenge of meeting their own growing missions op­portunities. “Louisiana Baptists are happy for those resources to be re-routed to areas outside of Louisiana that do not have a strong Gospel witness,” LBC Executive Director Da­vid Hankins told messengers during the annual meeting in West Monroe. “I told Dr. Ezell that Louisiana Baptists will rise to the oc­casion so that mis­sion opportunities in our state will not go unattended.” Hankins noted that the Georgia Barnette State Mis­sions Offering is the way to ensure that Louisiana Baptists can walk through the doors of opportunity God is opening across the state. “Last year, even in a flat economy, Louisiana Baptists gave a record offering of $1.7 million to state missions,” said Hankins. “This year in honor of 200 years of … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Mon, 11/19/2012 - 13:58 Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers pray at the Baptist Building parking lot before leaving for New York on Nov. 3. The state’s chainsaw, mud-out and shower units have joined other Southern Baptist Disaster Relief teams, ministering to those in the Northeast affected by Hurricane Sandy. By Brian Blackwell, Marketing Director Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief crews often hear of the impact they make on-site but a caravan of its vehicles was the catalyst for a life-changing spiritual decision recently. Angela Young, a resident of Cincinnati, Ohio, said she was overwhelmed and moved to tears when she saw the Louisiana Disaster Relief vehicles traveling in early November to help with Hurricane Sandy efforts in New York. A professing Christian since 2005, Young said she stopped attending church shortly after making a decision for Christ because of the negative behavior of people who attended worship services in her area. Now, Young said, her faith in Christians has been restored. “It is hard to describe the feeling that overwhelmed me to tears but I felt closer to God than I had in a very long time because I saw your mission group,” Young … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Mon, 11/19/2012 - 14:00 Calvary Baptist Church of Bayou Chicot, today with a rural Ville Platte address, is the oldest continuously-serving Baptist church in Louisiana. Thomas Walker is pastor. VILLE PLATTE – When Joseph Willis crossed the Mississippi River at Natchez in 1799 to enter the untamed land known today as Louisiana, it was to find a place to settle where he, born of what then was socially unacceptable “mixed blood,” could make a home for his wife and five children. He found that place and people who accepted him in the forest near what today is Chicot State Park. Willis had come to know God in the Second Great Awakening that swept across the populated United States in the early 1790s, and like others touched by the hand of God in that revival, Willis was compelled to speak of Christ to everyone he met. A Bible study he started in 1803 or earlier grew into a church when he finally was allowed (because of his parentage) to be ordained in 1812. That church – Calvary Baptist Church of Bayou Chicot, which today has a Ville Platte address – celebrated Nov. 2-4 its 200th anniversary of continuous service to and for God. LBC Executive Director David Hankins was … [Read more...]

Arrivals/Departures Bubba (wife Linda) Talbert, new as music minister at Shreve City Baptist in Shreveport. Danny Campbell, new as young adult minister at Belle Park Baptist in Haughton. Brent Shoalmire resigned as pastor of Northwoods Baptist in Shreveport. Trey Lewis, new as associate pastor of Calvary Baptist in Shreveport, from Kingston Road. Church events/ac tivities Hebron Baptist Denham Springs: Fulton and Judy McGraw in concert at 6 p.m. Nov. 25. Emmanuel Baptist Oakdale began a partnership with the Italians of the United Kingdom, their chosen UUPG – unreached, unengaged people group – with an initial mission trip Nov. 10-17. Pastor: Nick Hodges. First Minden: Parade of Nations at 10:45 a.m. Dec. 2. Seasonal Events First Pineville: Lighting of the Green at 6 p.m. Nov. 25 in the worship center. Hebron Baptist Denham Springs: Hebron’s Holiday Helper Child Care with free gift wrapping, 2-6 p.m. Nov. 25 and noon to 4 p.m. Dec. 9. Thompson Road Baptist in Slidell plans a trip Dec. 2-7 to work in the Operation Christmas Child processing center in Boone, N.C. They have space for a few more. Cost: $135. Call Pastor Randy Boyett: 985.690.6077 if interested. Christmas … [Read more...]

By Jerry Love, LBF Communications ALEXANDRIA – Trustees of the Louisiana Baptist Foundation met for their regular quarterly meeting Oct. 30 at the Louisiana Baptist Building in Alexandria. The Board’s morning committee meetings were led by Travis Morehart of Shreveport, chairman of the Investment Committee, and Wayne Hunt of Houma, chairman of the Operating Committee. The afternoon Board meeting was presided over by Travis Morehart, LBF Board Vice President, in the absence of Board President Cornelius Tilton of New Orleans. After reviewing and approving the minutes from the previous meeting, Morehart introduced Lee Morris of Graystone Consulting to report on the investment returns of the various strategies employed by the Louisiana Baptist Foundation. Morris reiterated a statement from the July meeting regarding an environment of low rates and relatively low returns. Equities are inexpensive relative to fixed income securities and managers are going to have to accept more volatility to get the returns they need in their portfolios. Post-election will be better a time to give a forecast on what to expect for investment returns, Morris added. The LBF portfolio continues to perform well . The Group Investment Fund, … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Mon, 11/19/2012 - 14:09 rel, courtesy art by Darrin Badon, Tipton Associates, Baton Rouge, An architectural rendering of a prototype "Haiti House" designed by Baton Rouge architect Darrin Badon. He envisions a plan where shipping containers are purchased in Port au Prince and crafted into hurricane-proof homes by local workers and distributed to homeless families. By Mark H Hunter, Regional Reporter BATON ROUGE - Darrin Badon had just returned from his fifth mission trip to Haiti last winter when he said he had a “come to Jesus” moment. An award-winning architect and partner at Tipton Associates, Badon said he was inspired to utilize his professional skills to help the countless number of orphans and Haitian families who are still homeless following the massive 2010 earthquake. “I heard God say - are you going to do something or are you not going to do something?” Badon, 41, said. “I realized I needed to stop talking about it and start doing it.” “As an architect, seeing the level of destruction, I just had a very deep desire to do something related to housing - something affordable, earthquake resistant, hurricane and tropical storm resistant,” Badon said. A lifelong … [Read more...]