When ministers of education in Louisiana Baptist churches gathered recently at First Baptist Lafayette for the LBREA annual meeting, they heard from two high-powered guest speakers, elected officers for the next year and enjoyed the hospitality of a Cajun meal provided by the church’s cooks. LAFAYETTE – When ministers of education in Louisiana Baptist churches gathered recently at First Baptist Lafayette for the LBREA annual meeting, they heard from two high-powered guest speakers, elected officers for the next year and enjoyed the hospitality of a Cajun meal provided by the church’s cooks. They also voted to do away with annual dues. “I think our biggest goal is to grow,” said Cody Caywood, minister of education at Parkview Baptist in Alexandria, and incoming president of LBREA, the Louisiana Baptist Religious Education Association. “We want to help build camaraderie where we can help each other and help grow our churches.” To that end, LBREA will gather members together at three events during the year: a luncheon before the Louisiana Baptist Convention annual meeting; a fellowship during the annual evangelism conference, and the LBREA annual meeting. The two-day LBREA session started with a short welcome, short … [Read more...]

The Louisiana College Board of Trustees met on the campus of Louisiana College March 16-17. PINEVILLE – The Louisiana College Board of Trustees met on the campus of Louisiana College March 16-17. The 36-member board, Louisiana Baptist representatives from across the state, met to discuss and vote on important issues related to the college. LC President Joe Aguillard reported an increase in enrollment as a result of new programs and the introduction of the Masters of Arts in Teaching Masters Degree. “This semester the enrollment is 1,115, where last year at this time we had 944 students; this is a sign of growth.” Aguillard said. “Typically colleges and universities see a decrease in enrollment from the fall to spring semesters.” All indicators are pointing to an all-time record high enrollment topping 1,430 students next fall, Aguillard added. Regular business included the approval of the budget for the next fiscal year and the approval of the Louisiana College Board of Trustees Distinguished Service Award recipients – Judge Paul Pressler, David Barton and Rod H. Masteller. Other business included voting on candidates for graduation in May and August and candidates who will graduate with the Masters of Arts in … [Read more...]

Is it possible for me to be a missionary near my home? With so many people groups in the world having so little access to the gospel, some might say that North America is no longer a mission field that deserves our attention. Is it possible for me to be a missionary near my home? With so many people groups in the world having so little access to the gospel, some might say that North America is no longer a mission field that deserves our attention. On the other hand, I have heard people suggest that we should not send missionaries to other countries while we still have so many people to reach for Christ in our own country. Which is the correct view? Both views contain an element of truth. Most of the rest of the world does have a proportionally far greater number of those without Jesus. However, the number of lost people in America is such that only a few countries have more people in need of salvation. However, both views fail to take into account that the plan that Jesus gave to the church is a balanced plan; it leaves no part of the world untouched if His followers will obey his commission. He calls on us to be missionaries wherever we are. The Great Commission (Matthew 28: 18-20) is the overarching command Jesus … [Read more...]

Question: “Are the creation accounts in Genesis 1 and 2 really that different?” was a question asked of me last week – not by a theology student but by a high school teacher working through a textbook for her class. Question: “Are the creation accounts in Genesis 1 and 2 really that different?” was a question asked of me last week – not by a theology student but by a high school teacher working through a textbook for her class.  For years I’ve started lectures on the Book of Genesis, both at the undergraduate and the graduate level, with this simple question. Every semester I am appalled by the overwhelming super-majority of my students (add church members, too) who aren’t even aware that Genesis 2 presents a different order of creation than Genesis 1. Those who are aware of this have typically studied under professors who used such differences to question the truthfulness, accuracy, authorship, or inspiration of the Word of God. (Would it surprise you, further, to learn that one-fifth or less of university/seminary teachers of the Bible belong to a conservative society, which requires affirmation of the Bible as the inspired Word of God?) Archie England answers:  Now, to answer the question. Yes, there are real … [Read more...]

Editor’s note: Following is a listing that notes what Louisiana Baptist churches are doing in missions and ministry. If your church’s on-mission work is not here, it’s because we didn’t know about it. Please send it in – with photos if possible – by email, USmail or fax. See page 2 for addresses. JENA - First Baptist served as the relay center site for Operation Christmas Child ministry in 2008. The donations of filled shoeboxes from area churches were then delivered to a collection center in Pineville. Illustrated gospel storybooks “The Greatest Gift of All” in dozens of languages were included in the boxes and make it possible for millions of boys and girls to make decisions for Christ. WEST MONROE - The Armed Forces Ministry of McClendon Baptist recently participated in collecting boxes of beef jerky, dried fruit, nuts, crackers, popcorn, new and used books and DVDs for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. BATON ROUGE - First Baptist adopts and ministers to women and their children at Reality House, a home for women who are in treatment for addictions. The church is also involved in a downtown Break Room and Clothes Closet ministry. MINDEN - Senior Adult Mission trips taken by seniors at First Baptist recently include … [Read more...]

An amazing outpouring of the Holy Spirit of God has been flooding through this small town of approximately 1,100 folks. Ground zero for the Lord’s work has been New Sarepta Baptist Church, which averages around 170 in worship on Sunday mornings. SAREPTA – An amazing outpouring of the Holy Spirit of God has been flooding through this small town of approximately 1,100 folks. Ground zero for the Lord’s work has been New Sarepta Baptist Church, which averages around 170 in worship on Sunday mornings.  ‘We had scheduled a typical spring revival meeting with The Lisembys leading the worship and Evangelist Jack Daniels preaching the Word of God,” said Mike Richardson, pastor of New Sarepta. The revival meetings began on Sunday, March 22, and as Easter Sunday, April 12, 151 people made public professions of faith; 63 were baptized. “New Sarepta Baptist Church went through a typical split about three years ago,” Richardson said. “My wife and I had been pastoring a small church in Abbeville and had seen many baptisms and growth in spite of being hit with two hurricanes and losing the financial support of the sponsoring church. Ultimately, God called us up here to Sarepta and we knew coming in that God was in it.”  Richardson … [Read more...]

Louisiana College recently announced an accelerated nursing program for people with an undergraduate degree. PINEVILLE – Louisiana College recently announced an accelerated nursing program for people with an undergraduate degree. Funded by a state grant that also helped establish LC’s Allied Health program, the degree is designed to provide a fast track to people who want to change careers, enter the workforce after rearing children, or to move into positions of higher responsibility in the medical profession. “We’ve got a desperate need for nurses,” said Kimberly Sharp, new as dean of LC’s Nursing and Allied Health programs. The 10-year national projection for registered nurses – needed as Baby Boomers age – is significantly less than the number of students enrolled across the nation in nursing schools, and at the present time there is a shortage nationally of about 118,000 nurses, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Successful completion of the LC accelerated nursing program will result – in 16 months – with a bachelor of science degree in nursing. “We are very excited about it,” said LC President Joe Aguillard. “We’ve had a lot of calls about it already. Especially with the downturn in the … [Read more...]

It’s a new day at First Baptist Church of Pineville. PINEVILLE – It’s a new day at First Baptist Church of Pineville. “The membership is growing, and the worship services are filling with praise, joy and excitement,” reports Chairman of Deacons Doug Ashe. “New prospects are showing up nearly every week to check out what all the buzz is about.” A little more than two years ago, the future didn’t look so bright, church leaders say. A split had occurred and the remaining members were discouraged, disillusioned and worried about the future of the church. Church members who stayed credit Director of Missions Herb Dickerson, who refused to let the venerable church die, and Reggie Ogea of NOBTS, who took on an intentional interim that lasted 15 months, which he says now was both the most difficult and most rewarding interim position of his life. Church members who left? Some are coming back, encouraged by the visits from the deacons and new pastor, Stewart Holloway, and by the buzz he’s generated as a gentle, loving, Christ-centered pastor. Some have moved on; they found new church homes. Some no longer go to any church. Doug Ashe was chairman of the deacons through it all. “We had to regroup and figure out what we … [Read more...]

A recent study discovered a trend toward irreligion in America. The American Religious Identification Survey, conducted by the Program on Public Values at Trinity College in Hartford, Conn., found that 15 percent of respondents said they had no religion. A similar survey conducted in 1990 found that 8.2 percent of Americans were irreligious. A recent study discovered a trend toward irreligion in America. The American Religious Identification Survey, conducted by the Program on Public Values at Trinity College in Hartford, Conn., found that 15 percent of respondents said they had no religion. A similar survey conducted in 1990 found that 8.2 percent of Americans were irreligious. While 15 percent does represent not a huge number of Americans, the figure is significant, especially in light of the fact that it represents an increase of 55 percent over a time frame of 18 years. If the trend continues at this same pace, in 18 years 23 percent of Americans will claim no religion. In 36 years the number will stand at 36 percent and in 54 years the number of irreligious in the United States will grow to 55 percent – a clear majority. It is interesting to note that the growth of irreligion in America has occurred at the same … [Read more...]

Did the headline get your attention? I hope so. Not only was it meant to “make you look” but it also contains an important truth from the Bible. Did the headline get your attention? I hope so. Not only was it meant to “make you look” but it also contains an important truth from the Bible. Malachi 3:6 starts with a call to revival. The Lord tells His people to “return to God.”  They respond by asking, “How are we to return?”  Malachi tells them that they are to stop robbing God by not giving their tithes and offerings to the Lord.  According to Malachi, “tithing” simply means you are “not a thief.” Malachi makes it clear that the tithe already belongs to God.  Giving God what already belongs to Him is not so much an act of stewardship; it simply keeps you from being a thief.  Some people are under the impression that “tithing” is all that is required in order for a person to be considered a good steward.  However, even if a person is faithful to tithe and then goes on to blow the rest of his or her money on “wine, women and song” it becomes obvious he or she is not a good steward.  Stewardship begins with tithing but continues with the remaining 90 percent.  The 90 percent actually belongs to God as well, because … [Read more...]