ON THE MOVE   Jerry (wife Debra) Pipes new as executive pastor at First Baptist Bossier City. Kevin Willis new as pastor at Indian Village Baptist Church Kinder. Landon (wife Summer) Robin new as youth minister at South Bossier Baptist Church. Kristian Brown new as student/education minister at Trees Baptist Church. Jerry (wife Sandra) Martin has retired as pastor at Pine Grove Baptist Church, Castor after 37 years. David (wife Reta) Keeny new as minister of music at Koran Baptist Church, Haughton. Katie Golgin new as preschool director at Summer Grove Baptist Church, Shreveport.   REVIVAL/HOMECOMING   Trinity Baptist Church, Natchitoches: Celebrating the 62nd anniversary of Trinity’s founding on Feb. 23, 10:30 a.m. All former pastors, music/youth directors and former members are invited to attend. Lunch will be served. Speaker: Tom Curry. Music: Wayne Bridges. Pastor: Josh Currie. Southside Baptist Church, Shreveport: 100th anniversary and new church dedication on Feb. 23, 10:45 a.m. Pastor: Buddy Hankins.   LAGNIAPPE   First Baptist Church, Sulphur: “All One Body” a special Carey Association-wide worship service promoting racial unity on Feb. 16, 5-7 p.m. This service is open to all … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 02/07/2014 - 10:57 Bi-vocational Pastor Glen Harrigill and his wife Penny teach together but also serve together at Riverside Baptist Church in Vidalia. By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer RIDGECREST – The 3 o’clock hour has arrived at Concordia Parish Academy of Math, Science and Technology and Glen Harrigill is preparing to teach his weekly guitar lesson. “Try this bar,” Harrigill tells his attentive student on this January Tuesday afternoon. “I know you can get it right.”  A few minutes later, and to Harrigill’s delight, the student reproduces the note. Mission accomplished. But Harrigill is much more than a guitar man. When Harrigill and his wife are not at the school, he may be found visiting a nursing home, counseling, performing a wedding or funeral or preaching his Sunday sermon where he serves as pastor of Riverside Baptist in Vidalia. Such is the life of a bi-vocational pastor, who never has a typical day. “Depending on what a bi-vocational pastor has on his plate for the day often determines how much earlier he will get up in morning or stay up later at night,” Harrigill said. He recently was named as Louisiana Baptist Convention Exemplary Bivocational Pastor of the … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer A homosexual rights group has filed a lawsuit challenging Louisiana’s refusal to recognize same-sex marriages and Louisiana Baptist leaders are hopeful the courts will not comply. Filed by Forum for Equality on Feb. 13, the lawsuit charges that Louisiana’s refusal to recognize homosexual marriage is in violation of the US Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection and due process. Additionally, the lawsuit claims that same-sex couples are forced to lie when filing joint tax returns by claiming they are single on state returns. The Forum for Equality says that is against the couples’ First-Amendment rights to free speech. Three of the couples reside in New Orleans while the other couple lives in Shreveport. The amendment in the state was enacted by 78 percent in 2004, after it was first proposed and passed by a two-thirds, bipartisan majority of both houses of the Louisiana Legislature. The amendment was ultimately affirmed unanimously by the Louisiana State Supreme Court. “The lawsuit filed today by Forum for Equality is wholly without merit, and they know it,” said Mike Johnson, a Shreveport attorney who helped argue and win the case upholding Louisiana’s Defense of Marriage … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Mon, 02/24/2014 - 12:50 New Orleans television sportscaster Fred Hickman (left) moderates the panel of NBA greats at the Fatherhood and Family Summit hosted by Franklin Avenue Baptist Church. Participants included (from left) former NBA standout Keyon Dooling, former college coach Wade Houston, two-time NBA All-Star Allan Houston, New Orleans native and 2006 NBA Coach of the Year Avery Johnson, and New Orleans Pelicans head coach Monty Williams. By Marilyn Stewart, Regional Reporter NEW ORLEANS – When SBC convention president Fred Luter, Jr. got a phone call “out of the blue” asking Franklin Avenue Baptist Church to host the All-Star Fatherhood and Family Summit with former NBA star Allan Houston, he knew it would be a good fit. Luter, a father of two and grandfather of one-year-old Fred Luter IV, knows that fatherhood is a responsibility that has to be modeled. “I have the conviction that a kid can never be what he’s never seen,” Luter said. “I saw the difference growing up in a home without a dad, so fatherhood is something I’ve always, always promoted here at Franklin Avenue.” Luter said the church calendar is clear on Friday nights so families can spend time together. The All-Star … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Mon, 02/24/2014 - 12:53 Jordan Easley was the speaker for the two-day Collegiate Evangelism Conference held at East Bayou Baptist Church in Lafayette. Speaking from Matthew 14:22-32, he told students that ‘Faith pleases God.’ By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer LAFAYETTE – Many believers want to stay comfortable and remain in their boat of security. But God is calling believers to do just the opposite. When that happens, God will provide and blessings will follow, Jordan Easley said. “When God calls me to do something and I do it, I don’t have to have all the answers; I just have to have faith,” Easley told students during the recent Collegiate Evangelism Conference. “Faith pleases God.” Citing Matthew 14:22-32, Easley said that Peter had the faith to get out of the boat and walk on the water to meet Jesus. Easley said like Peter before he stepped out of the boat, many Christians may not be sure what God is calling them to do. “Jesus called Peter out of the boat and it was a call to the uncomfortable,” Easley said. “God may be calling us to be doing the uncomfortable as well.” Easley said that human nature is to gravitate toward that which is comfortable. He said just as Peter did in … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer NEW ORLEANS – Louisiana Baptists and others from the pro-life community are urging prayer and action to prevent the construction of a New Orleans Planned Parenthood abortion facility. After a May 2013 groundbreaking ceremony at the site on South Claiborne Avenue in New Orleans, construction on the facility has yet to begin. If built, the 8,000-square-foot facility originally scheduled for completion this year would become Planned Parenthood’s first location in the state to perform abortions. Since its announcement, those opposed to the facility have voice opinions through letters to the editor, on-site protests and campaigns. Not long after the groundbreaking, Franklin Avenue Baptist in New Orleans hosted a city-wide rally where community faith-based leaders educated the area on Planned Parenthood and also prayed. Fred Luter, pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist, said that the facility represents an example of spiritual warfare to destroy lives all over the United States. “To me it’s a trap for these young ladies who may feel abortion is the only option,” he said. “And we know it’s not. “That’s what we are trying to share, that there is an option,” he continued. “I ask the body of … [Read more...]

From Message News Services PINEVILLE – Louisiana College’s Division of Nursing had a 90 percent first-time pass rate for the NCLEX exam, according to the 2013 annual report of the Louisiana State Board of Nursing. The state average for Louisiana bachelor of science in nursing programs in 2013 was 87 percent. “This is a remarkable achievement for our program in a year when the pass rate lowered nationally,” said Dr. Kimberly Sharp, dean of the Division of Nursing and Allied Health at LC. “The results are a testament to the hard work of our students and the dedication to academic excellence among our faculty and staff.” The NCLEX is the exam that is taken by students when they graduate from a nursing school to determine whether they will be granted a license by the State of Louisiana in order to practice in the profession. The LC Division of Nursing has previously seen success in its pass rates for the NCLEX exam with results traditionally reaching as high as 96 percent for BSN programs and 100 percent for ABSN (Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing) programs over the past three years. The NCLEX exam is a computer adaptive test with a minimum of 75 and a maximum of 265 questions – depending on the ability of the students … [Read more...]

By Mark H. Hunter, Regional Reporter The home of Rev. Randy Johnson, pastor of Florida Blvd. Baptist Church in Baton Rouge was completely destroyed by a fire on Friday, Feb. 21. Church members are asking Louisiana Baptists to pray for them and help financially if possible. Livingston Parish firefighters said the blaze, located at 30947 Caney Branch Road near Denham Springs, was so hot it melted the boots and mask of one firefighter and caused another one to be  temporarily overcome by heat. Johnson did not preach on Sunday morning. The church has set up an account to help the family that lost everything. Fire Chief Joe Koczrowski told the Baton Rouge Advocate newspaper that the house, a restored 1966 Mustang and a minivan, were all destroyed at an estimated value of $330,000. The fire apparently started, the chief said, by a 9 year old boy playing with a lighter in the garage that ignited a bag of clothes that quickly spread. The son is distraught church members reported on facebook links. Johnson and his wife Leigh also have a 12 year old daughter and 15 year old son. For more information and to help please visit the church web site at: www.fbbc.org … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message Children will have two chances in March to experience a full day of a celebration of missions with other first through sixth graders. Based on Acts 4:20, M-JAM (short for Mission Jamboree) will allow the children  a chance to meet missionaries, learn about missions and have an opportunity to take part in a hands-on mission activity. “At M-JAM, children will explore missions, build on their faith foundation and hear the gospel presentation,” said Jess Archer, Louisiana Baptist Convention Children/Youth Mission Education strategist. John Frady, executive worship pastor at Celebration Church in Metairie, along with his wife Kathy will lead the group in worship and dramatic arts. They will address the theme “Hear and Tell.” Individuals in church leadership and directors of (students involved in…instead of directors of) Louisiana Baptist Collegiate Ministries will lead breakout sessions. They will include topics on the International Mission Board, church planting, salvation and chaplaincy. The children will also participate in a hands-on mission activity. They will make salvation bracelets for use during a Beyond the Walls Brazilians mission team this summer. M-Jam is schedule at First Baptist … [Read more...]

By Kelly Boggs, Message Editor God once used a donkey to alert a wayward prophet that he was on the wrong track. Could it be the Lord is using a “bear,” a Russian Bear, to do the same with the nations of the West, in particular the United States? “Many Euro-Atlantic countries have moved away from their roots, including Christian values,” Russian President Valdimir Putin said in his state of the nation address in mid-December, The Washington Times reported. Putin continued, “Policies are being pursued that place on the same level a multi-child family and a same-sex partnership, a faith in God and a belief in Satan. This is the path to degradation.” Some have dismissed Putin’s rhetoric as nothing more than political posturing. However, leaders of the Russian Orthodox Church have echoed their president’s assessment. Patriarch Krill I of Moscow, the leader of the Orthodox Church, “accused Western countries of engaging in the ‘spiritual disarmament’ of their people,” The Times reported. “The general political direction of the [Western political] elite bears, without a doubt, an anti-Christian and anti-religious character,” Patriarch Krill said. “We have been through an epoch of atheism, and we know what it is to live without God. … [Read more...]