East Bayou Baptist Church in Lafayette recently was named “Healthy Church of the Month” by the Leavell Center for Evangelism and Church Health and the Baptist Center for Theology and Ministry at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. NEW ORLEANS – East Bayou Baptist Church in Lafayette recently was named “Healthy Church of the Month” by the Leavell Center for Evangelism and Church Health and the Baptist Center for Theology and Ministry at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. East Bayou received the honor in May. The joint initiative highlights growing churches at a time when 89 percent of Southern Baptist churches are plateaued or declining. East Bayou Baptist has enjoyed consistent growth since pastor Mike Walker came to the church 23 years ago. However, over the past decade, the church has witnessed its greatest growth.  Sunday morning worship nearly quadrupled from 427 in 1996 to 1,576 last year. Over the same period, membership has more than doubled, from 866 to 1,757; baptisms from 59 to 112; undesignated receipts from $830,000 to $2,794,000; total receipts from $958,000 to $5,138,000 and Cooperative Program giving from $54,000 to $225,000. East Bayou recently agreed to host the Southwest … [Read more...]

Former First Lady Barbara Bush is to read the Christmas story Dec. 1 at Louisiana College. PINEVILLE – Former First Lady Barbara Bush is to read the Christmas story Dec. 1 at Louisiana College. LC administrators recently announced the college’s first annual “Follow the Star – a Louisiana College Christmas,” with a special guest appearance by Mrs. Bush. She is to read the Christmas story as an integral part of a performance of Handel’s Messiah at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, in Guinn Auditorium on the LC campus. This event is part of a three-day Christmas celebration that is to kick off on the evening of Thursday, Nov. 29 and continue through Saturday, Dec. 1. During this time the LC campus is to have special Christmas lighting displays, community choirs will perform, children’s activities will abound, and much more. Mrs. Bush is traveling to the campus of Louisiana College to help raise funds for Louisiana College student scholarships. On the afternoon of Saturday, Dec. 1, Mrs. Bush also is to participate in an afternoon high tea in the Granberry Conference Center. This also is a fundraising event for student scholarships. More details about “Follow the Star – A Louisiana College Christmas” are to be released … [Read more...]

The first Baptist association in America will mark its 300th anniversary in September. PHILADELPHIA – The first Baptist association in America will mark its 300th anniversary in September. Founded in 1707, the Philadelphia Baptist Association has assisted countless churches in starting, developing, growing, and extending the Gospel through a unified message and effort. Today, however, the constituency that the Philadelphia association reaches is vastly different. They are no longer mostly white and scattered across the countryside as they were in the Colonial era. The Philadelphia Baptist Association today represents 128 churches in its region, but in its line of descendants are more than 1,200 Southern Baptist associations representing more than 43,000 churches with 16.4 million members around the country. And Southern Baptists have learned a great deal from the history of their progenitor, especially in the area of cooperative missions and church planting. The first association in America proved at a time when being Baptist was not popular that “churches can do far more by working together than any size church can do working alone,” Tom Biles, president of the Southern Baptist Conference of Associational Directors … [Read more...]

“If you just give Christian people a structure to express their Christianity, they will jump on it,” Pastor Stephen Davis says. DARDANELLE, Ark. (BP) – “If you just give Christian people a structure to express their Christianity, they will jump on it,” Pastor Stephen Davis says. He was speaking of the flood of believers from a variety of denominations who have volunteered to meet needs and share the love of Christ with people in need at the River Valley Christian Clinic, a free medical, dental and vision clinic that opened on Jan. 11 this year. So far, the clinic has been able to provide more than $246,000 worth of healthcare services and medication free of charge to people who meet federal poverty guidelines, who are without insurance and who cannot yet qualify for Medicare/Medicaid. More than 70 churches across various denominations in Pope County, Ark., and about 650 volunteers, some medical and some non-medical, have united for the purpose of demonstrating and sharing the Gospel. Over a year ago, two separate groups began to explore the possibility of meeting the healthcare needs of the county’s poor. Davis, pastor of First Baptist in Russellville, said the church had had a vision for a couple of years to do … [Read more...]

Volunteers at the River Valley Christian Clinic often hear Dr. James Carter cite the story of the Good Samaritan to keep them mindful to treat each patient who comes through the clinic with dignity and respect. DARDANELLE, Ark. (BP) – Volunteers at the River Valley Christian Clinic often hear Dr. James Carter cite the story of the Good Samaritan to keep them mindful to treat each patient who comes through the clinic with dignity and respect. A semi-retired family practice physician, Carter is the head of the free clinic’s board of directors, whose vision, and whose passion for people and for Christ, has helped to ignite an army of about 650 volunteers with the same vision and passion. Carter’s heart for people and missions has been demonstrated at First Baptist Church in Russellville since 1987, including numerous short-term mission trips to Brazil. Health concerns limited his ability to travel, but he said the River Valley Christian Clinic in Dardanelle, Ark., has brought him an opportunity to give back, as it has for many others. Optometrist Jim Lieblong became involved because of Carter’s passion. “He was our family physician – he was our pediatrician who took care of our son when he was born. He asked me to become … [Read more...]

Burgers, motorcycles, a Super Bowl champion, a former player for the St. Louis Cardinals and a marathon-running retired Army officer. No wonder they called it “Manly Night.” WILDWOOD, Mo. (BP) – Burgers, motorcycles, a Super Bowl champion, a former player for the St. Louis Cardinals and a marathon-running retired Army officer. No wonder they called it “Manly Night.” “Manly Night” is an effort by West County Community Church in Wildwood, Mo., to draw in men -– especially non-Christians -– and then challenge them to live up to the ultimate example of manliness, Jesus Christ. “All of us want to be treated as a real man, but it’s amazing how often we can live in selfishness and sin,” said West County pastor Phil Hunter. “’Manly Night’ is just a time for our men to invite their friends who do not yet know Christ to step up.” A motorcycle stunt show by Brad Bennett and the chance to meet a few celebrities, namely former St. Louis Cardinals catcher Mike Matheny and former St. Louis Rams offensive tackle Grant Williams, helped bring in the crowd. “About 70 percent of our people were raised Catholic,” Hunter said, “so we must emphasize, especially to men, the importance of having a personal relationship with Jesus.” It … [Read more...]

Louisiana Baptists are invited to submit names of nominees for service on state convention boards and committees and to submit resolutions for possible consideration for the 2007 Louisiana Baptist Convention. ALEXANDRIA – Louisiana Baptists are invited to submit names of nominees for service on state convention boards and committees and to submit resolutions for possible consideration for the 2007 Louisiana Baptist Convention. The Louisiana Baptist Committee on Committees is beginning work to nominate persons to serve on various state convention committees.  At the present time, 22 nominees are needed for service on committees on Convention Arrangements, Credentials, Louisiana Baptist History, Moral and Social Concerns, Nominations, Order of Business and Resolutions. Committee on Committees Chair is Jerry Chaddick. In addition, the Louisiana Baptist Committee on Nominations is beginning work to fill vacancies on state boards. At this point, 21 nominees are needed to serve on the Convention Executive Board and as trustees of Louisiana College, the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home, the Baptist Message, and the Baptist Foundation. The Committee on Nominations Chair is Dan Munson. As in previous years, persons … [Read more...]

Disaster Relief workers spent a busy Saturday recently going through all the LBC-owned trailers to make sure everything is in good working order. They weren’t called out last year and hope they aren’t this year, because it would mean “bad luck” for someone, one harried worker said. But they want to be ready, just in case. WEST MONROE – Ridge Avenue Baptist college and career group is to attend National Collegiate Week at Ridgecrest, N. C., where more than 100 spiritual/educational sessions and conferences are to be held along with two worship services each day during the seven-day worship experience beginning the second week of August. Some scholarships have been offered for the event. Tim Coats is the collegiate minister and John Yeats is interim pastor. FERRIDAY –  Wayne Gray, pastor of First Baptist, invites everyone to address the issue of superficial Christianity with his two-part sermon series topic “Attitudes for Better Living,” based on Matthew 5. You are invited to be among those who believe that the transformation of our lives is a goal worthy of our best effort. KENTWOOD – School uniforms are being collected by the Friendship Circle Sunday school class of First Baptist. School supplies are also being collected … [Read more...]

COMINGS, GOINGS Steve Wilson resigned Jefferson Baptist Baton Rouge as minister of students. Melisa Harris is new as director of student ministries at Horseshoe Drive Baptist, Alexandria. Josh Dickson is new associate pastor of worship. Aubrey Whitlock is pastor. Sandra George is now full-time minister to children and their families at Calvary Baptist, Ruston. She formerly was part-time minister. Bill Reid is pastor. Dick Paige is new as interim pastor at Edgewood Baptist, West Monroe. Thomas Bowen is youth intern at Don Avenue Baptist, Denham Springs. Craig James is pastor.  William Rogers is new as interim minister of education at Riverside Baptist, Denham Springs. Larry Hubbard is pastor. Billy Carpenter is new as pastor at New Beginnings Baptist, Walker. Chris Wales is new as interim pastor at Boulevard Baptist, Lake Charles. Tim Johnson resigned First Baptist of Choudrant to become a vice president of Louisiana College in Pineville. Mickey Bounds retired July 31 from Pleasant Hill Baptist, Farmerville. NEEDED Calvary Baptist, Denham Springs, needs a part-time secretary. Send resume to Calvary Baptist Church, 9270 Cockerham Road, Denham Springs LA 70726. Rhett Major is pastor. Satsuma … [Read more...]

The youth group at Forest Hill Baptist Church went on a fishing expedition in mid-June to Holly Beach and returned with 30 speckled trout, three redfish, three gaff-top catfish and one black drum. Shown above, from left, Nathan McLane, Britt, Trevor and MeKensie Maxwell, and Nick Setliff. In photo at left, MeKensie Maxwell of Glenmora shows off the 24-pound redfish he caught.   … [Read more...]