Click to Login or Sign Up

Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Louisiana Notables

Submitted by philip on Mon, 11/17/2014 - 11:52 Joshua Spinks of The Way Church of Denham Springs (center) is presented a check for $35,000 from Louisiana Baptists Executive Director David Hankins (left) and Mission and Ministry Director John Hebert (right). The Spinks received a $35,000 check from the North American Mission Board Legacy Church Program and a matching $35,000 from the Georgia Barnette State Missions Offering for the renovations at the former Calvary Baptist Church property in Denham Springs. The new location will be the new home for The Way, which is in its third year as a church plant. In January, Steve Beckham with Church of Life Fellowship in Baton Rouge received the $35,000/$35,000 match for their restoration of the Brookstown Church property in Baton Rouge. ON THE MOVE Steve (wife Amy) Beard new as pastor at New Bethel Baptist Church, Arcadia. Kenny (wife Anna) Rowe new as pastor at Temple Baptist Church, Springhill. Trey Waldrop new as pastor at First Baptist Church, Amite. David Tassin new as pastor at Bonner Creek Baptist Church, Franklinton. Wilton McMorris new as Associate/Youth Pastor at Milldale Baptist Church, Zachary. Billy (wife Stephanie) Stevens new as pastor at Willow Point … [Read more...]

Pilgrims & Baptists: the little known connection

By David Roach, Baptist Press NASHVILLE (BP) -- If not for a Baptist church split, the Pilgrims might never have come to America. Sort of. John Smyth, who often is credited with being the first Baptist, pastored a church where many of the Christians who later came to be known as Pilgrims were members. But when Smyth began to argue with the future Pilgrims over church government, they formed another church under the leadership of John Robinson. In 1620, a portion of Robinson's congregation sailed to Plymouth, Mass., aboard the Mayflower. Following the split, Smyth became convinced that the Bible teaches believer's baptism and launched the Baptist movement. "Most people don't realize how closely the Pilgrims and the first Baptists were related. John Smyth and [Plymouth Colony governor] William Bradford knew each other, and in fact Smyth pastored the church where many of the Pilgrims were members before they left England for Holland and then sailed to America," Jason Duesing, provost at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, told Baptist Press in written comments. "The world of English Separatism was very intertwined. Those that became Baptists were a formative part of the story that led to the first Thanksgiving." Smyth and … [Read more...]

LBC Officers and Wives

Submitted by philip on Mon, 11/17/2014 - 12:22 Newly elected officers and their wives were introduced at the end of the annual meeting. (From left) President Steve Horn, pastor First Baptist Church in Lafayette, Linett Horn; Brenda Senn, second vice-president Joe Senn, pastor of Crockett Point Baptist Church in Crowville; first vice-president Lonnie Tucker, pastor of Stillwater Baptist Church in New Orleans and Frankeya Tucker. Select rating Give it 1/5 Give it 2/5 Give it 3/5 Give it 4/5 Give it 5/5 Give it 1/5 Give it 2/5 Give it 3/5 Give it 4/5 Give it 5/5   … [Read more...]

BiVocational Pastors honorees and wives

Submitted by philip on Mon, 11/17/2014 - 12:24 Gregory Gaspard, pastor of Unity Baptist Church in Opelousas, and Mark Crook, pastor at Trees Baptist Church in Vivian, were named Exemplary Bi-Vocational Pastors of the Year. The award is given annually. This year’s awards were given during the Louisiana Baptist Retirees Lunch. Standing beside the two award winners were the spouses, Elizabeth Gaspard and Karen Crook. Select rating Give it 1/5 Give it 2/5 Give it 3/5 Give it 4/5 Give it 5/5 Give it 1/5 Give it 2/5 Give it 3/5 Give it 4/5 Give it 5/5   … [Read more...]

Bill Collins honored

Submitted by philip on Mon, 11/17/2014 - 12:25 Bill Collins, Baptist College Ministry Director at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, was recognized by Baptist Collegeiate Ministry Director Mark Robinson during the 167th annual meeting at First Lafayette. Collins has served as NSU’s BCM director for the past 25 years. Select rating Give it 1/5 Give it 2/5 Give it 3/5 Give it 4/5 Give it 5/5 Give it 1/5 Give it 2/5 Give it 3/5 Give it 4/5 Give it 5/5   … [Read more...]

New Executive Board Officers

Submitted by philip on Mon, 11/17/2014 - 12:26 Bobby Stults, pastor of Oak Park Baptist Church New Orleans, (left) was elected as vice president of the Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board while David Cranford, pastor of First Baptist Church Ponchatoula, was elected as president. Select rating Give it 1/5 Give it 2/5 Give it 3/5 Give it 4/5 Give it 5/5 Give it 1/5 Give it 2/5 Give it 3/5 Give it 4/5 Give it 5/5   … [Read more...]

David Hankins honored

Submitted by philip on Mon, 11/17/2014 - 12:30 Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Committee President Bobby Stults (left) presented David E. Hankins and his wife Patty on the ‘occasion of his 10th anniversary as Executive Director of the Louisiana Baptist Convention,’ with a plaque and an arrangement of roses. The resolution passed by the executive committee stated “the board’s gratitude for Hankins’ ministry, consistent walk with Christ, his commitment to the work and ministry of the LBC, and a pledge to lift him in prayer and support for the causes of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, … [Read more...]

Day of Prayer set for Central Louisiana

Director of Missions Robert Daniel By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer WOODWORTH – Building on a movement of prayer in the state that began in June, a third prayer gathering has been scheduled for Oct. 22 in central Louisiana. Scheduled at Tall Timbers Conference Center’s Magnolia Room, the prayer gathering will focus primarily on the needs of the central part of the state, though some attention will be given to needs in Louisiana and the nation. Pastors from Big Creek, Central Louisiana and North Rapides associations will lead prayers and a praise team from one of the churches in the area will lead the music. Robert Daniel, who is director of missions for the three associations, said the prayer gathering was scheduled after Louisiana Baptist Convention President Steve Horn began calling for an emphasis on prayer, including the idea of people holding prayer gatherings for pastors in their specific area of the state. “We are responding because our hearts are drawn to what our state convention president has asked, which is for us to pray,” Daniel said. “Our hearts resonate with that need and we want to be a part of that. “We believe there are many church needs to focus on and our college, though we won’t get into any … [Read more...]

Don Wilton: Despite challenges, pastors must still press on

Submitted by philip on Fri, 10/03/2014 - 10:28 Don Wilton was the keynote speaker for the E4 Preaching Conference at First Baptist Pineville. Wilton, who is pastor of First Baptist Spartanburg, SC, delivered three messages based out of the book of Hebrews. By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE – In a time when it is becoming easier to be disheartened in ministry, Don Wilton encouraged pastors to press on despite challenges. “If there is anything that we need and if there is anything I need, if I could make any recommendation to you, it would be simply this,” Wilton said. “Preach Jesus. How can anything be so simple and yet so deeply profound?” Wilton said that too often, people are gravitating toward the more popular things, which can make it difficult for a pastor trying to preach God’s word. He said pastoring is becoming more difficult by the day. “And if you are not careful, you will very quickly become disheartened in your ministry, and you will start asking the wrong questions and looking for the wrong solutions,” he said. “It’s very easy today to get swept up in what someone may or may not be doing. It’s very easy to become impressed by large crowds and methods and methodologies that seemingly … [Read more...]

Executive Board receives 2020 update; deals with budget issues

By Philip Timothy, Managing Editor WOODWORTH – Louisiana Baptists you have the power. You also have a plan to unleash that power. Better known as the 2020 Report, the plan is a carefully drafted seven-year strategy in which Louisiana Baptists can do a more effective job of reaching and engaging the lost for God’s Kingdom. At its annual Fall meeting on Sept. 30 at Tall Timbers Conference Center, the Executive Board of the Louisiana Baptist Convention got a progress report on the implementation of the 2020 Commission’s action plan for reaching the next generation and every people group in the state. “If you came to the executive board meeting hoping 2020 would reveal to you the silver bullet that would solve all of your ministry problems, sorry, we don’t have it,” LBC Executive Director David Hankins said. “It doesn’t work that way.” In his report to the executive board, Hankins used his time by allowing the chairmen of the different committees to detail the work that has taken place since the convention approved the 2020 Commission Report last November. The board heard about the progress being made on reaching the next generation and every people group in the state. They heard about congregational revitalization, church … [Read more...]