MARINGOUIN – Jamie Womack is a living miracle. By Brian Blackwell Staff Writer MARINGOUIN – Jamie Womack is a living miracle. Her prognosis at birth was hopeless. Without oxygen the first 32 minutes of her life, Womack’s doctors believed her future was bleak. Though she survived her birth, doctors informed Womack’s parents that she would be a vegetable the rest of her life and should be institutionalized. But God had other plans. “God miraculously intervened,” said the 32-year-old Louisiana Baptist. “Though I was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, God has blessed me tremendously. It’s taken me longer to do things, but He’s given me the strength to overcome physical challenges.” The youngest of four sisters, Womack endured years of therapy to master walking, talking and eating. Through the faith her family exhibited, Womack persevered. “It has been a blessing in a way because it has taught me to lean on God’s Word and grace more,” Womack said. Perhaps her biggest struggle has been discrimation. Throughout high school, Womack said it was an everyday battle to gain acceptance from classmates who teased  her on a daily basis. “The other kids would not know how to relate to me,” Womack … [Read more...]

ALEXANDRIA – God intends tension be a blessing and not a burden, Joe Loughlin said last week. By Brian Blackwell Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA – God intends tension be a blessing and not a burden, Joe Loughlin said last week. “Tension is one of those things where you’ll learn to master it or it will master you,” he told 43 people attending the  Youth Ministers Network Friday Forum at the Louisiana Baptist Convention Building in Alexandria. One of three such events scheduled this year, the forum was a day of spiritual inspiration, worship and networking among the state’s youth ministers and lay leaders. Loughlin, founder and president of ReKindle Ministries in Waco, Texas, told participants five facts about tension. They are: • Tension is a constant reality. “You have to make sure your life is built on a solid foundation when storms come,” he explained. • Too much or too little tension is harmful. “What we have to understand is tension has to serve us rather than us serve it,” Loughlin said. • Tension validates and redifines a person’s foundation. “If you want to see what you hold dear, be under tension,” he said. “Then it will validate and redefine your priorities.” • Tension does not … [Read more...]

PINEVILLE – “God has a heartbeat to bring revival to our nation,” Ken Hemphill told participants at the Encouraging Kingdom Leaders Minister’s Conference last week. “But it will not occur until we have a revival in our giving.” By Kelly Boggs Editor PINEVILLE – “God has a heartbeat to bring revival to our nation,” Ken Hemphill told participants at the Encouraging Kingdom Leaders Minister’s Conference last week. “But it will not occur until we have a revival in our giving.” Hemphill, former president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and currently national strategist for the Southern Baptist Convention’s Empowering Kingdom Growth (EKG) emphasis, was the featured speaker at the conference which took place April 4 - 6 at Louisiana College in Pineville. The inaugural conference, a joint venture of the Louisiana Baptist Convention and LC, offered a variety of workshops ranging from “Understanding the DaVinci Code” and “Nine Critical Questions for the 21st Century Church” to “Building a Kingdom Church” and “Encouraging the Discouraged.” Hemphill, who spoke five times during the three-day conference, debuted material from Making Change: A transformational guide to Christian Money Management, a … [Read more...]

While on a preaching tour of Japan several years ago, I was given the opportunity to visit a Buddhist temple. My guide was a young lady who appeared to be in her early 20s. We discussed a variety of topics during the course of the tour. Eventually, our conversation turned toward religion. By Kelly Boggs Editor While on a preaching tour of Japan several years ago, I was given the opportunity to visit a Buddhist temple. My guide was a young lady who appeared to be in her early 20s. We discussed a variety of topics during the course of the tour. Eventually, our conversation turned toward religion. When I asked the young lady her thoughts about Jesus Christ, she was polite but pointed. She believed that Jesus was a good teacher but nothing more. When I pressed her about his claim to be God, she dismissed the notion. “In the history of the world,” she said, “many have claimed to be divine.” I smiled and replied, “Perhaps, but only one rose from the dead!” Easter is the exclamation point to Jesus Christ’s claim that he is “the way, the truth, and the life,” and that “no man comes to the Father, but through Me.” The resurrection of Jesus from the dead is the event that sets Christianity apart from all … [Read more...]

ALEXANDRIA – Some of the best-known names among Southern Baptist women will be speaking Saturday, April 29 at Calvary Baptist here. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing Editor ALEXANDRIA – Some of the best-known names among Southern Baptist women will be speaking Saturday, April 29 at Calvary Baptist here. It’s the annual Kaleidoscope event for women, hosted by the Louisiana Baptist Convention’s Women’s Missions and Ministry Team, where Cindy Townsend is team leader. “You’re going to discover practical ways you can impact your Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth every day of your life,” Townsend said about the conference with an Acts 1:8 theme. “You’re going to learn how you can make a difference in the world right where you are.” Carrie McDonnall, IMB missionary to people from Iraq; Terri Blackstock, best-selling novelist; Paula Hemphill of IMB and Jaye Martin of NAMB are among the headliners. Participants will find out answers to questions like “How can my home become a haven of hope for those in need?” Registration opens at 8:15 a.m. April 29. Tickets: $25. … [Read more...]

PINEVILLE – In addition to celebrating the $100,000 gift received from Southern Baptists of Texas, as reported in the April 6 issue of the Baptist Message, Louisiana College board of trustees unanimously passed a revised Christian commitment policy at the board’s late-March meeting. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing Editor PINEVILLE – In addition to celebrating the $100,000 gift received from Southern Baptists of Texas, as reported in the April 6 issue of the Baptist Message, Louisiana College board of trustees unanimously passed a revised Christian commitment policy at the board’s late-March meeting. They also passed revised committee structure and personnel issues policies. “We want our faculty, staff and administrators to exemplify a Christian lifestyle,” said Tim Johnson, chairman of the board of trustees and pastor of First Baptist Church of Choudrant. “That’s what sets us apart from other institutions: We are a liberal arts college that is distinctively Christian. “The issue here is not individual sin, but the concept of exemplifying a Christian lifestyle,” Johnson continued. “What we’re trying to do is to impact our world for Christ, and we expect our administrators and faculty to set the … [Read more...]

FLORIEN – Nearly 400 people gathered April 7 at a benefit singing at Florien’s Pisgah Baptist Church for burn victim Donald Spears, his wife Connie, and their family. By Tammy Sharp Special to the Message FLORIEN – Nearly 400 people gathered April 7 at a benefit singing at Florien’s Pisgah Baptist Church for burn victim Donald Spears, his wife Connie, and their family. “Jesus said that all will know that we are His disciples by the love we show one another,” said Jimmy Clark, pastor of Pisgah Baptist. “And that’s what we’re here to do tonight, show Brother Donald and Sister Connie how much we love them.” Six-Mile Baptist Church Choir, the Slaughter Family, the Crosby Trio, and the Southern Plainsmen Quartet among others performed Southern Gospel favorites to a crowd that spilled into the church’s foyer, parking area and fellowship hall, where technicians quickly set up video and audio equipment for the overflow. Pisgah Baptist deacons, who organized the singing, also presented a love offering for the Spears family that totaled more than $12,000.  At least $9,000 of that offering was taken up Friday night. On November 3, 2005, Spears, a Southern Baptist minister, was engulfed in flames when a … [Read more...]

rst time students from Corban College in Salem, Ore., came here, it was over Christmas break. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing Editor NEW ORLEANS – The first time students from Corban College in Salem, Ore., came here, it was over Christmas break. They’ve been to New Orleans on disaster relief mission trips twice since, and plan to return in May. “I saw how much need was left to do and it wasn’t getting done,” said Freshman Jennifer Thorpe during the spring break missions trip, her second to New Orleans. “... The hardest thing for me was removing people’s possessions, realizing it’s their whole life and having it taken away.” Corban College students traveled perhaps farther than did any other group – 2,700 miles – to be among the 2,500 or more Baptist college students from across the nation who converged on New Orleans for Spring Break mission trips in March. Students also were from New York (1,300 miles), Washington state (2,557 miles from Pullman) and even Canada – 2,489 miles from Calgary. “We’re in a pretty safe part of the world in Oregon,” said first-timer and Junior Brent Fahsholz. “I can’t really understand what they went through here; I can’t really sympathize. But I can help. I’m not … [Read more...]

BAY MINETTE, Ala. (BP) – In the late 1970s, First Baptist Church of Bay Minette was reminded of a biblical principle about stewardship – God will honor our faithful giving. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing Editor BAY MINETTE, Ala. (BP) – In the late 1970s, First Baptist Church of Bay Minette was reminded of a biblical principle about stewardship – God will honor our faithful giving. When they dropped their Cooperative Program (CP) Missions giving from 18 to 12 percent, the church’s total receipts dropped to the point that for the first time in years, they didn’t meet their budget needs. The pastor wanted to drop the percentage to 10 percent – the deacons held the line at 12, but for a second year, the church failed to meet its budget needs. Henry Cox was called as senior pastor in 1981 and that year the CP Missions percentage was raised to 14 percent. “We met our budget in that next church year and we have met and exceeded our budget needs every year since,” Cox said. “CP Missions fits in with God’s wonderful plan of economy. I think as you give, God allows you to become a channel rather than a reservoir. If you stop up that channel by hoarding the money, you abort God’s plan … [Read more...]

ALEXANDRIA – Baptist Collegiate Ministry in Louisiana will change forever May 15. By Brian Blackwell Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA – Baptist Collegiate Ministry in Louisiana will change forever May 15. That’s when long-time state collegiate director John Moore will leave Louisiana to work with LifeWay Christian Resources’ network partnership program in Nashville, Tenn. “I’m so grateful to Louisiana Baptists,” Moore said. “They invested in me as a young person. “Their giving to the Cooperative Program helped pay my expenses to go to New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary,” continued Moore, who was recently named as one of the school’s 2006 distinguished alumni. “And they’ve provided a place of service for 29 1/2 years. “Even in difficult days financially, Louisiana Baptists saw the value of investing in college students through the BCM,” Moore added. “They have invested their time, money and energy so we could serve college students.” A former BCM campus president and summer missionary, Moore felt called to work in collegiate ministry while attending Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, La. “I had a real sense that God was calling me to do that sort of ministry,” Moore said. “When I went to … [Read more...]