By Karen L. Willoughby, Managing Editor   [img_assist|nid=7758|title=Luter Honored|desc=Philip Williamson, pastor of New Zion Baptist Church in Bossier City, presents to Fred Luter Jr., pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, an award from the Louisiana African American Fellowship in recognition of Luter’s election last June as the Southern Baptist Convention’s first vice president. Williamson completed his two-year term as president of the Fellowship at the group’s annual banquet in conjunction with the Louisiana Baptist Convention’s annual meeting. About 90 churches in Louisiana worship in an African American context.|link=none|align=left|width=640|height=480]COVINGTON – Southern Baptist churches across Louisiana that worship in an African American context are pooling mission dollars to build a church in northern Ghana next summer.   They plan to build a second church in a nearby village the following summer.   “Let’s do something,” said Philip Williamson, pastor of New Zion Baptist Church in Bossier City and president of the Louisiana African-American fellowship, during the group’s annual fellowship dinner. The event took place in conjunction with the annual meeting of the … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message   NORTHSHORE – Twenty-seven churches participated in 21 Crossover events during the week that preceded the 164th annual meeting of the Louisiana Baptist Convention.   As a result, more than 200 people were trained in evangelistic encounters, 2,700 prospects were found, 1,500 Bibles and tracts were distributed, and 162 people made professions of faith, reported Keith Manuel, associate director of the LBC evangelism/church growth team during the annual meeting’s Tuesday morning session.   The event with the largest attendance was the Saturday evening Christian rodeo in Franklinton. Leaders estimated nearly 2,000 people participated. About 200 people participated in the Hispanic Health Fair at First Baptist Church of Slidell, and about 150 people in the Women’s Health Fair at Redemption Christian Center in Hammond.   “Crossover gave us the opportunity to begin compassion ministries,” said Tobey Pitman, staff liaison and associate director of missions for community ministries in the Northshore Baptist Association, where Lonnie Wascom is director of missions. The Crossover events came under the oversight of the association’s missions and ministries team; Joe Wiggins … [Read more...]

by Kelly Boggs, Message Editor   PINEVILLE – After climbing to a No. 20 ranking in one national poll, the Louisiana College football team closed out the season with back-to-back losses to finish third with a 5-3 record in the very tough American Southwest Conference and 7-3 overall.   LC traveled to Seguin, Texas, on Oct. 29 and came away with a hard-fought 37-16 win over Texas Lutheran University. The victory over the Bulldogs kept the Wildcat’s hopes for their first NCAA Division III play appearance alive.   LC’s hopes for the post season were dashed on Nov. 5 when the Cats fell to McMurry University 49-28 at home on Nov 5. The War Hawks from Abilene, Texas, ended the regular season with a record of 8-2, 7-1, and ranked 19 in the nation.   McMurry finished second in the ASC behind conference champion University of Mary Hardin-Baylor of Belton, Texas.   McMurry and UMHB both earned playoff spots.   UMHB finished unbeaten, ranked No. 4 in the nation and was selected as the top seed in Division III South Region playoffs.   The Wildcats went on the road for the final game of the season Nov. 12 and fell to Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas, by a … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message   ARRIVALS/DEPARTURES   Brad (wife Kristin) Delaughter, new as pastor of Satsuma Livingston.   Barry Dunlap resigned as pastor of Agape Denham Springs.   Michael Wilkes resigned as youth pastor of New Covenant Denham Springs.   Jerry Dark resigned as pastor of Pisgah Bernice.   Bernard Canterbury died Aug. 24. He was the first pastor of Midway Baptist Church in Serepta in the early 1950s. Sixty years later, he retired from active ministry at Old Union Baptist Church, and returned to membership at Midway. A memorial service was to take place Nov. 20 at Midway, which was to include dedication of a “Heaven’s Rain” mural in his honor for the baptistry.       Needed/Giving   Bellevue Jena seeks bivocational pastor. Send resumes to Bellevue Baptist Church, PO Box 1583, Jena LA 71342 or call Lee Robbins: 318.992.5491.   Mt. Tabor seeks bivocational pastor. Send resumes to Pastor Search Committee, Mt. Tabor Baptist Church, PO Box 336, Farmerville LA 71241.   First Simsboro seeks pastor. Send resumes to Pastor Search Committee, First Baptist Church, PO Box 158, Simsboro LA … [Read more...]

[img_assist|nid=7768|title=Christmas At First Lafayette|desc=First Baptist Church of Lafayette – like many churches across Louisiana – will again this Christmas season (Dec. 9-12 at First Lafayette) be bringing a holiday production as a ministry to its community.|link=none|align=left|width=640|height=427] … [Read more...]

[img_assist|nid=7770|title=Pastor Bob Adams|desc=Bob Adams is pastor of First Baptist, one of 14 Southern Baptist churches in Bogalusa, Washington Baptist Association. He has written the page one devotionals for the Baptist Message for the last three years with a grace and gentleness that bring readers to a deeper worship of the Most High and Holy God, many have said. At right is a glimpse of the First Bogalusa worship center on a recent Sunday, with Adams in the pulpit, a choir behind, and – as in many churches – youth sitting down front.|link=none|align=left|width=640|height=480] … [Read more...]

[img_assist|nid=7772|title=LBC Executive Committee Officers|desc=Bob Heustess, pastor of Grace Memorial Baptist Church in Slidell, was named vice president of the LBC Executive Committee during a short meeting before the start of the 2011 annual meeting Nov. 14-15 at First Covington. Rick Byargeon, pastor of Temple Baptist Church of Ruston was named president.|link=none|align=left|width=640|height=424] … [Read more...]

[img_assist|nid=7774|title=LBC Bi-Vo breakfast|desc=Tim Patrick, DOM Beauregard Association, Alfred Kennedy, Sugartown Baptist Church, and Prentis Gandy, Friendship Baptist Church, Baskin, Exemplary Bi-Vocational Pastors of the Year, and James Carson, DOM Deer Creek Association. The award is given annually at the Bi-Vocational Breakfast.|link=none|align=left|width=640|height=480] … [Read more...]

[img_assist|nid=7777|title=New LBC Officers|desc=Waylon Bailey, pastor of First Baptist Church of Covington, was elected president of the LBC for 2012. To his left is Michael Shamblin, pastor of New Prospect Baptist Church in Dry Prong, elected first vice president, and Ken Fryer, pastor of College Place Baptist Church in Monroe, second vice president.|link=none|align=left|width=640|height=424] … [Read more...]

img_assist|nid=7779|title=Bentley Dove Award|desc=Danielle Flintroy of Monroe received during the annual meeting from David George of Woman’s Missionary Union the WMU Foundation’s Sybil Bentley Dove award for her progress through the Christian Women’s Job Corps. “Without Him, none of this would be possible,” Flintroy said. The Monroe CWJC site, led by Tonya Hancock, is one of 250 sites across the nation that help women enter the work force.|link=none|align=left|width=640|height=427] … [Read more...]