By Quinn Lavespere, Message Staff Writer   [img_assist|nid=7968|title=Repairing homes|desc=In addition to repairing houses (and roofs), First Lake Providence has been blessed by God through the repairing of hearts because of its drive to save its town.|link=none|align=right|width=640|height=480]LAKE PROVIDENCE – A battle is being waged for the soul of a town filled with broken hopes and terrible poverty.   Pastor Mitch Minson, his congregation, and those helping them out have dedicated their lives to rescuing the town of Lake Providence, once referred to by TIME magazine as “the poorest place in America.”   “Seeing what we see day after day, our hearts simply cannot take the struggles we see these people go through,” Minson said.  “We cannot just sit back and watch while this town and its people are mired in such terrible conditions.”   Some of the statistics surrounding Lake Providence are staggering.   A small rural town with a population of 3,991, 84 percent being African-American and 15 percent being Caucasian, Lake Providence has had the highest unemployment rate in Louisiana for more than 20 years and has experienced a significant 17.64 percent decline in its population … [Read more...]

By Karen L. Willougby, Managing Editor   [img_assist|nid=7970|title=Listening to the good news|desc=A group of South Korean students listen intently as Man Chai Chang, governor of education in southwest South Korea, explains the benefit of a good education. “To be leader you have to have a good and right mind,” Chang told them in Korean. He later translated his own words for the Baptist Message.|link=none|align=right|width=640|height=427]PINEVILLE – Soccer stars David Kam and Youngsup “Ron” Soh until recently were the only South Korean students at Louisiana College.   But in early February they were joined by 18 high school students and three teachers from South Korea, on campus for three weeks to practice their English and experience an American college.   On Feb. 13, they were joined by Man Chai Chang, governor of education in southwest South Korea.   “It was in God’s plan for these students to be here at the same time as the South Korean education governor,” said Justin McCain, LC’s director of international students. “It brought about a great opportunity for these [Korean] students to meet and talk with Dr. Chang. They had never met him before.”   It also showed the … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Press   [img_assist|nid=7972|title=Lake St. John Community Church|desc=Lakeshore Baptist Church and Lake St. John Community Church, reconciling after a 35-year split, are symbolically burying a hatchet in concrete during the 10:45 a.m. worship service March 4. Both congregations will meet as one in Lake St. John’s building, seen above.|link=none|align=right|width=640|height=480]DELTA BAPTIST ASSOCIATION – Less than one mile but a lot of bad blood separated the members of Lakeshore Baptist Church, started in 1957,  and Lake St. John Community Church, started in 1982.   Yet the cause for two churches dividing 35 years ago has been lost to  history, and the two congregations are again becoming one.   A special ceremony during the 10:45 a.m. service March 4 at Lake St. John will include the burying in concrete of an actual hatchet, bought specially for the occasion.   “Reconciliation is always better than division,” says Mark Richardson, pastor for the last 11 years of the Lakeshore church. “Love and joy and peace and longsuffering is always better than wrath and bitterness.   “I just don’t believe it’s God’s will for God’s people to be divided,” the pastor … [Read more...]

By Tim Yarbrough, Baptist Press   SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (BP) – David E.  Hankins, executive director of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, was named chair of a special committee to evaluate relations with the North America Mission Board.   The committee was appointed by state convention executive directors during the mid-February annual meeting in Scottsdale, Ariz., of the Fellowship of State Executive Directors. State executive directors meet each year for fellowship and to discuss issues related to Baptist state convention work.   The name of the state executives’ special committee is “A Study Committee on Implementation of NAMB Initiatives with State Conventions.”   Emil Turner, executive director of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention and president of the fellowship for 2011-12, said the committee was established “to evaluate how state conventions and NAMB can maximize cooperation during the transition process of implementing the new NAMB initiatives.”   Announced in 2011, NAMB’s Send North America strategy focuses heavily on church planting and shifting funds to the field for church planting.   Members of the committee are David Hankins, chairman, executive … [Read more...]

By Karen L. Willoughby, Managing Editor [img_assist|nid=7975|title=First Baptist Black Forest|desc=First Baptist Church in Black Forest, Colo., on the cusp of Colorado Springs’ urban sprawl, is a growing church, as pastor Bob Bender puts it, committed to do “what non-growing churches refuse to do: Pray and work hard.”|link=none|align=right|width=640|height=511]BLACK FOREST, Colo. (BP) – A church that dwindled to 10 families in the 1990s then rebounded by prayer, faith and diligence has become a perennial leader in Cooperative Program giving in Colorado. “Growing churches do what non-growing churches refuse to do: Pray and work hard,” said Bob Bender, pastor of First Baptist Church in Black Forest, located on the cusp of Colorado Springs’ urban sprawl. “We strive to make evangelism [and] missions the point of the spear in penetrating the lostness of Colorado.” In a state where missions researchers say 86 percent of the population is unchurched, Bender noted that “you have to be highly relational. You pretty much have to earn the right to talk with someone about their faith. “Our people are excited about their church and invite others regularly. Most we reach are attending our church as a result of a personal visit.” Horse … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message   Arrivals/Departures   Richard (wife Norma) Arceneaux is new as pastor of Bellevue Jena.   Jay Miller, new as pastor of Hopewell DeRidder.   Jackie (wife Joanie) Gestes, new as pastor of First Many.   Jeffrey A. Raines, new as pastor of First Shreveport.   Roger (wife Carolyn) Whittington, new as transitional pastor at Pine Grove Jena.   Preston (wife Kathy) Allen, new as music minister at Emmanuel Monroe. Pastor Terry Mims.   Robert (wife Sheyanne) Dukes, new as pastor of Castor Leesville.   Needed/Giving   Crossroads Community (SBC) Church in Kenner seeks new pastor. Please submit resume via email tomjzsoutherland@yahoo.com.   Goodwill Baptist located in West Carroll Parish near Oak Grove needs part-time music director. Email:dougsims1@inetsouth.com or call 318.428.4962.   Plain Dealing Baptist seeks Pastor. Send resumes to Plain Dealing Baptist Church, PO Box 543, Plain Dealing LA 71064 or Email bethburkes@hotmail.com.   Kerry Lex Gerald available for interim or supply in East or West Baton Rouge or Livingston Parishes. Call: … [Read more...]