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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Milestones

AVAILABLE -Glenmora Baptist has 91 Baptist Hymnals available; call Chad Foster at 318.452.7373. -CrossPoint Church, Baton Rouge has six “First Place for Health” member’s kits for $70 per kit; call 225.752.2400 or email michelle@crosspointchurch.org. -First Baptist, Leesville has several used baby beds for church nursery to donate to a church or mission; contact Jerry Penfield, 337.239.6535. -Baptist Missions Office, West Monroe has a large assortment of anthems, musicals, etc. for adult, youth and children’s choirs. Call 318.322.6760 or email baptmiss@aol.com orNELBADOM@aol.com. -First Baptist, Vivian has playground equipment available for sale; contact Marsha or Debbie at 318.929.4707. DEATHS -Walter Frank Horton died June 18. He was BCM director at LSU Baton Rouge from 1964 to 1993. His wife Sue can be reached at 216 Hwy 514 E, Enterprise MS 39330. NEEDED -Pastor at Unity Baptist, Pineville; send resume to Unity Baptist Church; c/o Pastor Search Committee, 6509 Magnolia, Pineville LA 71360. HOMECOMINGS -BAKER – First Baptist Homecoming and Patriotic Service 10:30 a.m. Sunday, June 28; fellowship and potluck meal following service; B. K. Miller, speaker; Bud Traylor, interim pastor. -JACKSON … [Read more...]

Vacation Bible schools hopping throughout the state

RAGLEY – Magnolia Baptist: Studio Go Game Show 8:50 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. Monday, June 29 through July 3; Michael Sanford, pastor. BATON ROUGE – Broadmoor Baptist: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Monday, July 13 through July 16; Jarrett Banks, pastor. DERIDDER – First Baptist: Watermelon Festival 5 k Run/Walk & Kids Fun Run 8 a.m. Saturday, June 27; Lindsey Burns, pastor.  LONGVILLE – First Baptist: Boomerang Express Monday, July 6 through July 10; Stuart Graves, pastor. METAIRIE – Lakeside Baptist: Boomerang Express 6:15 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Monday, July 6 through July 10; Adam Gillespie, pastor. NEW ORLEANS – First Baptist: Boomerang Express Monday, July 20 through July 24; David Crosby, pastor. SIMPSON – Simpson Baptist: Boomerang Express Monday, July 20 through July 24; Jeremy Block, pastor. OAK GROVE – First Baptist: VBS Monday, July 13 through July 27;  Carl Gulde, pastor. ALEXANDRIA – Baptist Temple: VBS Monday, July 13 through July 27; James Sample, pastor.  ALEXANDRIA – Emmanuel Baptist: Truth Trek  9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Monday, July 13 through July 17; Chris Thacker, pastor. SHREVEPORT – Pine- croft Baptist: Truth Trek 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. Monday, July 13 through July 17; Cecil Marr, interim pastor. WINNSBORO – … [Read more...]

Churches busy with summer missions

RUSTON – Cook Baptist: Faith Journey to Rogers, Arkansas to do light construction, painting, cleaning, planting, meal preparation set for July 9 – 12; Mike Holloway, pastor. MINDEN – First Baptist:  A Nicaragua mission trip is set for July 11; a Medical/Surgery Mission Trip is set for August 1-7; supplies such as vitamins, Tylenol, Benadryl, Ibuprofen, Hydrocortisone cream, Lamasil cream and Selsun blue are still needed; a Senior Adult workday at Rolling Hills Thrift Store is set for July 31; boxes are now available at the church for the Operation Shoe Box Project; Hope Youth Ranch Mission Project dates are July 9 and August 6; Wayne DuBose, pastor. WALKER – Judson Baptist: Assisted the Eastern Louisiana Baptist Association Builders Mission Project in building the Beulah Land Baptist Church in Bossier City; The “Jesus” film offering is to be collected on June 28; Merelin McCon, pastor. JONESVILLE – First Baptist: Katie McCormack is to participate in a mission trip to Honduras. Gary Norris, pastor. DEVILLE – Philadelphia Baptist: Several members are to participate in a New York mission trip; Philip Robertson, pastor. LAKE CHARLES – Sales Street Baptist: 7th graders through college students are working with World … [Read more...]

Women’s leaders goal: transformation

About 50 women’s ministry leaders who gathered at Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center one recent Saturday learned that their goal was to “bring women to a place where their lives can be transformed,” said Deb Douglas of First Baptist Bossier City. WOODWORTH – About 50 women’s ministry leaders who gathered at Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center one recent Saturday learned that their goal was to “bring women to a place where their lives can be transformed,” said Deb Douglas of First Baptist Bossier City. “We’re not accomplishing anything for Christ if we’re not seeing lives changed,” Douglas said in the first general session of the Women’s Enrichment Leader Training June 6. “God didn’t call us to be comfortable. He called us to lead women to live out Matthew 27:37-39 – Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and body. It’s an all-consuming love. “And to love others likewise,” the women’s ministry leader reminded her listeners. “That becomes our purpose: [To find the answers to] how to live that out, how to provide an environment in which women are growing.” Douglas spoke of a sea of senior adult women who populate casinos mid-week, bused in on low-cost private charters arranged as an “outing” by the casinos … [Read more...]

BCMs use new technology to find incoming freshmen

The National Collegiate Ministry Division of LifeWay Christian Resources has launched a new Transitions Ministry website to help connect high school seniors with the collegiate minister of the college or university they will attend. BATON ROUGE – The National Collegiate Ministry Division of LifeWay Christian Resources has launched a new Transitions Ministry website to help connect high school seniors with the collegiate minister of the college or university they will attend. The website – www.sbccampusconnect.net – is designed for access by youth ministers, parents, grandparents, Sunday School teachers, church staff members, and high school juniors and seniors. All the information the users provide to the site will be networked to the Baptist campus minister of the college or university the student will be attending. The campus ministers will pass names along to churches with a collegiate ministry in those specific communities. “Transitions” is a term that represents the ministry of Southern Baptist churches to, with, and for juniors and seniors in high school and freshmen in college,” said Steve Masters, Transitions Ministry contract worker for LifeWay. “Our local Southern Baptist churches are losing massive numbers … [Read more...]

Questions We’ve Pondered

What is the connection between Jesus and John the Baptist? And why was Jesus baptized by John? Question: What is the connection between Jesus and John the Baptist? And why was Jesus baptized by John? Bill Warren responds: According to Luke 1:36, Jesus and John the Baptist are relatives since Elizabeth (John the Baptist’s mother) and Mary were relatives. We don’t know if Jesus and John had much contact with each other during their childhood, but John’s recognition of Jesus when he comes to be baptized may indicate some familiarity, although the text itself does not mention this. What we do know is that at least two of John the Baptist’s disciples follow Jesus (John 1:35-40), namely Andrew and most likely John the Apostle.  Also, in Matthew the message that Jesus is proclaiming is the same as what John the Baptist was proclaiming, with the exact same words being used for both in the Greek text: “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is drawing near” (Matthew 3:2 and 4:17).  In sum, John the Baptist and Jesus are members of the same extended family, share some of the same disciples, and have the same basic emphasis on repentance and the coming of the Kingdom of God. The biggest difference between Jesus and John is that … [Read more...]

Kingsville hosts regional meeting for Operation Christmas Child

In celebration of the 65,546 Christmas shoeboxes given from the state of Louisiana last year, Kingsville Baptist in Pineville hosted the recent Operation Christmas Child statewide meeting. PINEVILLE—In celebration of the 65,546 Christmas shoeboxes given from the state of Louisiana last year, Kingsville Baptist in Pineville hosted the recent Operation Christmas Child statewide meeting. With 50 people in attendance from throughout the state, the gathering was to celebrate the past, look ahead, communicate goals for 2009, and provide promotional materials, said Mark Cooper, regional director for the Texas and Louisiana area. Cooper, along with Cheryl Forester, collection center coordinator in the central Louisiana area and a member at Kingsville Baptist in Pineville, coordinated the event in anticipation of the year to come. “This is not just another good project,” Forester said. “There are a lot of good projects, but this one has eternal consequences. “These shoeboxes are not just a gift, it’s a tool used for evangelism,” the collection center coordinator said. “The children who receive these shoeboxes hear the gospel and are enrolled in discipleship courses, and in them they have the chance to accept Christ. Many … [Read more...]

Children find success at Baptist Children’s Home

Jennifer was only eight years old when she came to live at the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home. She was a broken little girl. She was hurting and she was afraid. The adversity she had already faced in her young life was indescribable. BATON ROUGE – Jennifer was only eight years old when she came to live at the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home. She was a broken little girl. She was hurting and she was afraid. The adversity she had already faced in her young life was indescribable. That was 1998. Today, Jennifer is a lovely young woman of 19. Not only has Jennifer grown physically during the 11 years she has called LBCH home, she has grown emotionally and spiritually as well. Being able to grow up in a stable Christian home with the love and support of Christian Cottage parents changed Jennifer’s life. On May 14, Jennifer crossed the stage at the Neville High School football stadium to receive her high school diploma. She did it! And her LBCH family was there to cheer her on. Jennifer’s successes in life haven’t come easy, but they have come. They have come because of God’s undying love shared with her through the ministries of the LBCH. Every boy and girl in need of the services of LBCH has his or her own story. … [Read more...]

Kenner student goes to national youth Bible Drill competition

Fourteen-year-old Victoria Rutledge enjoys volleyball and basketball, and she also plays the flute in her high school band. Although she is as normal as any other teenager, she is unlike most because she has found importance in memorizing scripture. KENNER – Fourteen-year-old Victoria Rutledge enjoys volleyball and basketball, and she also plays the flute in her high school band. Although she is as normal as any other teenager, she is unlike most because she has found importance in memorizing scripture.  “Memorizing scripture is awesome because I’m not only learning it, but I’m putting it into practice in my life,” Rutledge said. On May 2, Rutledge became the state winner of Louisiana’s Youth Bible Drill. She will go on to compete and represent Louisiana Baptists in the national competition at First Baptist Covington on June 19. Rutledge first began competing in Bible drills as a fourth grade student at Crossroads Community Church in Kenner. When her church began offering Bible Drill she got into the competition and learned to love it. For Rutledge, Bible Drill is not only a competition, but it is a fun way to memorize scripture that will help in daily situations.  “We have a Bible study at school that I go to … [Read more...]

4 Wheels 4 Him trail ride heads south

Gibbie McMillan believes the same excitement, encountered at a 4 Wheels 4 Him trail ride at Tillou Baptist Church in Northeast Louisiana, can be duplicated in Southeast Louisiana. KENTWOOD – Gibbie McMillan believes the same excitement, encountered at a 4 Wheels 4 Him trail ride at Tillou Baptist Church in Northeast Louisiana, can be duplicated in Southeast Louisiana. New Zion Baptist Church in Kentwood will host the four-wheeler ride on Saturday, June 13. Registration is at 8 a.m. and the ride starts at 9 a.m. “We believe we have hit upon a way to provide a family with some good, family fun in a Christian setting,” said McMillan, the Louisiana Baptist Convention’s Men’s Ministry and Volunteer strategist. “Just like at Tillou, we will present the Gospel and a short plan of salvation. “We plan on having our block party trailer, inflatables, praise music, door prizes, and a meal for the participants,” McMillan said. The trail ride, which is being sponsored by Two Rivers Baptist Association, the LBC’s Men’s Ministry and Evangelism Departments, will cover 6-7 miles of rugged piney woods located deep in St. Helena Parish. The property sits adjacent to New Zion Baptist Church and riders will gather at the church before … [Read more...]