“The only hope for the world is for laborers to go to them with the gospel of salvation, and having won them to the Savior, not to leave them, but to work with them faithfully, patiently, painstakingly, until they become fruitful Christians savoring the world about them with the Redeemer’s love,” wrote Robert Coleman in The Master Plan of Evangelism. “The only hope for the world is for laborers to go to them with the gospel of salvation, and having won them to the Savior, not to leave them, but to work with them faithfully, patiently, painstakingly, until they become fruitful Christians savoring the world about them with the Redeemer’s love,” wrote Robert Coleman in The Master Plan of Evangelism. Read the previous eight articles about Jesus’ plan for world evangelization online at www.baptistmessage.com. Search for “evangelism.” Jesus started with 12 men. At the same time that he spread God’s love to the masses, he developed these 12 to do what he was doing. They watched him, listened to him, observed him, learned from him, and then he sent them out on a short-term assignment. They came back and reported in. Jesus fine-tuned them to be even more effective, and sent them out again. They returned and reported … [Read more...]

A gazebo in a southern Louisiana park converts mid-production to a scene from New Testament times. LAFAYETTE – A gazebo in a southern Louisiana park converts mid-production to a scene from New Testament times. A “Ho-Ho-Ho”-ing Santa during a community celebration in the park, confesses after everyone has gone but lonely Justin – whose mom works nights as a waitress – to being just Santa’s helper. (He’s also P.E. teacher Mr. Hemmings.) Lively-stepping Irish lasses delight. Cajun accordionist Hunter Hayes from Breaux Bridge delights. A parkful of people depicting Christmas cheer delight. Festival de Noel in the worship center at First Lafayette delights. It’s wondrous. It’s heart-thrilling. It’s Christmas like we want Christmas to be. It’s family, friends, neighbors – it’s the community we want to live in at Christmas and throughout the year. It’s a brilliantly conceived and flawlessly executed Christmas event under the overall direction of John Frank Reeve, First Lafayette music minister, and Beth Finch, production coordinator. It will not soon be duplicated. What makes it so special? In addition to being musically flawless, the choir and soloists – accompanied by a spot-on orchestra – put their hearts into their … [Read more...]

Zion Hill Baptist Church Winn Baptist Association WINNFIELD – God is doing things at Zion Hill, according to Pastor Bill Wagoner. “We had three baptisms and one moved their letter last week,” Wagoner said. “We average 50 to 70” people each Sunday. Approximately 15 of these people are children. Plus, this congregation is a giving church. He said they put together 47 Christmas Shoe Box gifts for Samaritan’s Purse this year. Besides giving to children overseas, Zion Hill was to perform a Christmas program on Dec. 21 for anyone who would like to attend. “We’ll have special music,” Wagoner said. Wagoner hopes that many will sense God’s presence during the service. He himself has sensed God’s love and presence while pastoring at Zion Hill, he said. In fact, he’s been pastor twice for the church. “First, I pastored there 8 and a half years, from 1980 to 1988,” Wagoner said. He moved onto another church, but the Zion Hill congregation wanted him back. He became the church’s full-time pastor once again in 2005 to the present. Wagoner said he doesn’t really know why God moved him away and then brought him back, but everyone seems pleased. The members say they are pleased with Wagoner and excited about what’s … [Read more...]

James (J.J.) McCracken, a fifth grade student from Tioga Elementary, hands Beach Jones, a shut-in and World War II veteran, gift socks as part of a community service project he took part in. James (J.J.) McCracken, a fifth grade student from Tioga Elementary, hands Beach Jones, a shut-in and World War II veteran, gift socks as part of a community service project he took part in. J.J. also visited the local Pineville VA Medical Center Nursing Home, where gifts of socks and sock hats were also given to the veterans. The gifts he distributed were donated by members of Homewood Baptist Church of Alexandria. James is the grandson of Dewey and Geraldine Millard of Tioga.   … [Read more...]

Giles penned a poem describing the conditions and the feelings being endured by our men and women overseas during the Christmas season. Lt. Commander Jeff Giles [USN] of the 30th Naval Construction Regiment stands in the snow on a hillside at  Al Taqqadum, Iraq. Giles penned a poem describing the conditions and the feelings being endured by our men and women overseas during the Christmas season.   … [Read more...]

NEEDED Part-time Children’s Ministry Intern needed at First Baptist, Covington; contact Kelley James 985.892.2149. AVAILABLE Choir robes to be given away; 60 plus assorted colors; call Memorial Baptist, Bogalusa 985.735.8880. ANNIVERSARIES AND CELEBRATIONS JONESVILLE – First Baptist: Retirement reception for Marshall Douglas, pastor, and wife Teresa 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 28. CHURCH AND ASSOCIATION EVENTS BOYCE – St. Clair Baptist: The Greenes in concert 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9; love offering and refreshments; for information call 318.542.6352 or 318.277.6993; Patrick Willis, pastor. CLINTON – Bluff Creek Baptist: The Greenes in concert 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10; love offering; Jay Avance, pastor. MINDEN – First Baptist: “Where Will You Be When Reality Strikes? Last Chance” multi-media event 6 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 11; 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 12; 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 13; Wayne DuBose, pastor. BATON ROUGE – Woodlawn Baptist: Boat Regatta 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 11; Tommy G. Middleton, pastor. DEVILLE - Philadelphia Baptist: True Woman’s Retreat Friday, Jan. 16 through Saturday, Jan. 17; Nancy Leigh DeMoss, Mary Kassian, speakers; Tracy Orr, worship leader; Philip Robertson, pastor. MANY – First Baptist: Sermon … [Read more...]

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (BP) – It took Daniel White and his family about a week to reach their new home in the Mongolian countryside. They traveled in a four-wheel vehicle, bypassing sheep and goat herds, to haul family possessions to this remote spot. He selected an adobe-walled plot in a small town for their home – price tag: $500. Over the next few weeks, he and his wife, Allison, and their daughter, Mandy, built an outhouse, located a water source and commissioned the building of a family ger, a round, white house made of felt stretched over a wooden frame. When their nomadic Mongolian neighbors returned that fall, they took note of the Whites’ move into the area. In beginner’s Mongolian, the Whites quelled suspicions over their rumored status as Russian spies. Moving to the Mongolian countryside was the answer to Daniel’s question – “What’s the hardest job nobody wants to do?” Mongolia team leader Jeffrey Dawes answered: Nomads. “As a believer, I’ve always been called to the edge,” Daniel said. “This is a very joyful place to be. It’s a hard place. If you make a mistake, you pay for it. But we’re where we’re called to be.” Aerial views of this rural area justify Mongolia’s reputation as the least densely … [Read more...]

In an Ulaanbaatar conference room, five Mongolian men ages 26 to 57 sit around a table, fanned out like spokes of a wheel. One is a former Buddhist artist. Another served as an army officer for 26 years. ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (BP) – In an Ulaanbaatar conference room, five Mongolian men ages 26 to 57 sit around a table, fanned out like spokes of a wheel. One is a former Buddhist artist. Another served as an army officer for 26 years. Along one wall is a map of Mongolia with pinned-on yellow triangles. The plain ones stand for ministry sites visited. The 10 with an adorning cross represent new, indigenous churches. Lines partition the Mongolian region into five slices – one for each of the men gathered around the table. For two years, these men have traveled the countryside together, bringing the Gospel to isolated, nomadic communities. Now they will ride out separately, each carrying the Good News to an outlined region. These are the men of Steppe-by-Steppe (named after Mongolian prairielands, called steppes). Each month these believers travel to the outlying areas of Mongolia, showing Bible movies and discipling believers to establish churches and strengthen existing ones. Under the discipleship of Southern Baptist … [Read more...]

Jane Hinrichs has a passion for Jesus and a calling to the ministry God has entrusted to her. BLUNT, S.D. – Jane Hinrichs has a passion for Jesus and a calling to the ministry God has entrusted to her. Jane says she would gladly serve God in any capacity in any place, but He has called her to be a wife to Shannon and a mom to Ryan, Cheyenne, Hawken, Magdalena, and Peter in Blunt, S.D. She is living like a missionary. “I’d love to go to Africa,” she says, “but God has called me to ministry to my family.” Jane met Jesus when she was a young college student; He became the central focus of her life. She did go to Africa after that, as an Army journalist, and it was there beneath the sparkling Somalian stars that she met her husband Shannon, who was an Army interrogator. Upon their return to the States, they married, and now have five children. He’s now a state trooper with the South Dakota Highway Patrol. Having a family has deepened and increased her faith, Jane says. “I depend on Him so much more,” she explains. “I understand more about how God is our Father – His dedication and commitment.” The Hinrichs have Ryan, 13, Cheyenne, 11, Hawken, 9, and Magdalena and Peter, who are 7. She lifts each one up in prayer … [Read more...]