Gail Ladner is an ambassador of hope. A president or other political person did not appoint her to a prestigious post in a foreign county. Instead, she was commissioned by God to go into Rayburn Correctional Center in November to serve as a mentor to a child who would spend the day with her incarcerated father. ANGIE – Gail Ladner is an ambassador of hope. A president or other political person did not appoint her to a prestigious post in a foreign county. Instead, she was commissioned by God to go into Rayburn Correctional Center in November to serve as a mentor to a child who would spend the day with her incarcerated father. This was Ladner’s third assignment as an ambassador of hope. “I think God’s hand is in this ministry,” Ladner said. “God has a purpose for reaching out to dads in prison and getting them to accept their responsibility.” The ministry is called One Day With God; it is a daylong children’s camp inside the chainlink fence. Forgiven Ministry sponsors camps like these in several states, under the leadership of Scottie Barnes, a woman who knows firsthand what it means to feel abandoned and unloved by an incarcerated father. “Seventy percent of the children of inmates end … [Read more...]

The need for physical rebuilding remained evident in Lake Charles when the Louisiana Baptist Convention held its Nov. 13-14 annual meeting. LAKE CHARLES, La. (BP)--The need for physical rebuilding remained evident in Lake Charles when the Louisiana Baptist Convention held its Nov. 13-14 annual meeting. Numerous blue tarp roofs continue to flap in autumn winds across the city. Located just 30 miles north of the Gulf of Mexico, Lake Charles first was inundated with Katrina evacuees and less than three weeks later with Rita’s 120 mph winds. Randy Roach, mayor of Lake Charles, was added to the annual meeting’s program so he could express appreciation for the thousands of Southern Baptist disaster relief and recovery workers who helped in southwest Louisiana. “I wanted to thank you, to thank Southern Baptists for what you have collectively done,” Roach said during the opening session of the annual meeting. “From my perspective you have made a difference and continue to make a difference. You’re carrying out God’s work and that’s making a difference.... America is who she is and will continue to be who she is as long as we have people like you.” Fred Luter, pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist … [Read more...]

From instruction on the gospel itself, to direction on what a man of God is to do, the 2006 Louisiana Baptist State Pastors’ Conference got back to the basics before it looked toward the “A Time to Rebuild” theme of the annual meeting of the Louisiana Baptist Convention. LAKE CHARLES – From instruction on the gospel itself, to direction on what a man of God is to do, the 2006 Louisiana Baptist State Pastors’ Conference got back to the basics before it looked toward the “A Time to Rebuild” theme of the annual meeting of the Louisiana Baptist Convention. Organized by Pastors’ Conference President Sonny Simpson, pastor of Willow Point Shreveport; Vice President Larry Thompson, pastor of First Westlake; and Secretary/Treasurer Frank Breithaupt, retired pastor, the Nov. 13 event drew about 450 people to First Lake Charles. Promise Ministries of Asheville, N.C., provided the music. Messages were brought by five men: Jimmy Millikin, professor of theology and chairman of theology at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary; Roger Haney, pastor of First Stilwell, Okla.; Danny Lovett, president of Tennessee Temple University in Chattanooga, Tenn.; Jeff LaBorg, pastor of College Heights Gallatin, Tenn.; … [Read more...]

With the help of 21 other churches and at least 92 volunteers, East Ridge Baptist Church conducted a day-long block party Saturday, Nov. 11, at Crying Eagle FEMA Park, bringing smiles to hundreds of residents displaced from their homes by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. LAKE CHARLES — With the help of 21 other churches and at least 92 volunteers, East Ridge Baptist Church conducted a day-long block party Saturday, Nov. 11, at Crying Eagle FEMA Park, bringing smiles to hundreds of residents displaced from their homes by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. “You couldn’t escape the gospel out there yesterday,” Weishampel told his congregation Sunday morning, including eight from Crying Eagle who’d caught the East Ridge van to church that morning. “You’re the reason we did what we did,” Weishampel told Amanda Marshal, a park resident who became a member at East Ridge on Sunday morning by profession of faith.  “God has many wonderful things in store for you but this is the best: all of your sins are forgiven.” Later, Weishampel addressed Southern Baptists at their annual meeting on Monday, Nov. 13. “Our church could not afford it,” said Alan Weishampel of the block party. “You paid the … [Read more...]

Thankfully, the founders of the United States were literate. Thankfully, the founders of the United States were literate. If they had been unable to commit their thoughts to writing, the rabid secularists that now infest our nation would have already succeeded in erasing the significant role Christianity played in America’s founding. There is no more poignant reminder of our religious heritage than the national holiday of Thanksgiving. Some historians try to deny the religious motivation for the Pilgrims’ voyage to the New World. However, upon reading the thoughts of these brave adventurers there is no doubt as to why they left family and friends to undertake such a difficult and dangerous journey. As they prepared to leave their ships and set foot on dry land, the Pilgrims drafted and signed the Mayflower Compact. In part, it reads: “In the name of God, Amen, We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God ... Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith and the Honour of our King and Country, a Voyage to plant the first Colony....” Given the context in which the Mayflower … [Read more...]

Baptists are a peculiar people. We insist that one make a profession of faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. We insist that they be baptized before they can join our church. And, yet, some of us insist upon nothing else once they’re members. By Peter Beck LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)--Baptists are a peculiar people. We insist that one make a profession of faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. We insist that they be baptized before they can join our church. And, yet, some of us insist upon nothing else once they’re members. Equally peculiar is the fact that we Baptists claim to be a “people of the book,” putting the Bible before all else when it comes to defining and defending our faith. Yet, we ignore its teaching on church membership. The writer of Hebrews paints a clear picture of what God expects of His children in His church. “And let us be concerned one about another in order to promote love and good works, not staying away from our meetings, as some habitually do, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:24-25). Notice the three privileges/benefits that we enjoy as members of the church. 1) We are to promote … [Read more...]

As the season fades from Thanksgiving to Christmas, two entities in Louisiana need help to finish strong. MONROE and OBERLIN – As the season fades from Thanksgiving to Christmas, two entities in Louisiana need help to finish strong: Additional Christmas gifts are needed for youngsters at the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home and Seller’s Maternity Home; Finishing work  and landscaping needs to be done at the Oberlin Baptist Church construction site. “Christmas is an important time in the lives of the children at the Home,” said LCBH spokesman Darrell Washam. “For many, the gifts they receive from Christmas sponsors will be the only gifts they receive for Christmas. It is important for us to show them that they are worthy of our love.” The deadline for requesting children to sponsor at Christmas was Oct. 31, and all the children did receive a sponsor, Washam said. The problem is that some people give perhaps 10 or 12 gifts to a child, while others give just two or three. “We always need miscellaneous gifts,” Washam said. “Some children don’t get as many as the others, and some [sponsors] fall through the cracks.” Open House at the Children’s Home is Dec. 21. That’s when … [Read more...]

The ministry teams at the Louisiana Baptist Convention explained during their reports at the annual meeting how they serve the churches. LAKE CHARLES – The ministry teams at the Louisiana Baptist Convention explained during their reports at the annual meeting how they serve the churches. The Executive Board has planned a  multi-year missions renewal emphasis called “Empowering Kingdom Growth-Louisiana” designed to address spiritual renewal, Acts 1:8 mission strategy and stewardship/Cooperative Program education. About 50 churches are involved in a pilot project as the emphasis is fine-tuned to be as effective as possible in Louisiana churches. The Baptist Collegiate Ministry team played musical chairs over the last  year. John Moore, who had built the program over the last 30 years, retired to a consultancy with LifeWay Christian Resources. Mark Robinson, a BCM director at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, moved to the state director position. Todd Strain took Robinson’s position, which left his at McNeese University vacant. Keith Cating, moved from New Orleans to McNeese,  his alma mater. John Shaffner began a BCM at Southeastern; Reginald Alford did the same thing at … [Read more...]

For the first time in memory, 10 churches in this part of Southwest, Louisiana united to present a gift to their community. SULPHUR – For the first time in memory, 10 churches in this part of Southwest, Louisiana united to present a gift to their community. It was a five-day crusade led by Team Impact, a group of evangelistic bodybuilders affiliated with the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention. About 1,100 people attended the evangelistic performances each night, and 529 people made professions of faith, organizers said. “From the beginning we prayed there would be a holy buzz,” said David Holder, pastor of First Sulphur, to those who gathered Monday night at Trinity Baptist in Lake Charles for the annual meeting of Louisiana Southern Baptists. “Every pastor in West Calcasieu agreed to be a part of the effort.” The event was only the beginning and a template for what the Spirit can do in Southwest Louisiana, the First Sulphur pastor said. Garren and Grayson Benoit, students in the Sulphur area who saw a Team Impact performance at their school, begged their parents, Russell and Rhonda, to attend Friday night’s Team Impact event. The brothers are two of the 529 who accepted … [Read more...]

From a hand-made choo-choo train big enough to ride on at Bethel Metropolitan Baptist, to a 1930 Model A Ford restored to pristine condition at Westside Baptist in Moss Bluff, Crossover Lake Charles had something for everyone. LAKE CHARLES – From a hand-made choo-choo train big enough to ride on at Bethel Metropolitan Baptist, to a 1930 Model A Ford restored to pristine condition at Westside Baptist in Moss Bluff, Crossover Lake Charles had something for everyone. The events that preceded the Pastors Conference and annual meeting of the Louisiana Baptist Convention included the evangelistic Team Impact, an awareness-raising rally at McNeese  University, and distribution of the Campus Crusade for Christ’s Jesus film on video in the Grand Lake/Sweet Lake area, in addition to three block parties – the two mentioned above and at Crying Eagle FEMA trailer park. “We were able to cover all but one of the areas we wanted [for the Jesus film distribution], and that was the one furthest separated from the others,” said J.P. Miles, Carey Baptist Association director of missions. “That was about 540 to 580 homes in what essentially is a couple of villages that have grown together.” Two dozen people … [Read more...]