PINEVILLE –Tommy French has been unanimously elected to serve as Louisiana College’s new Chairman of the Board by the LC board of trustees. “I am honored to welcome such a distinguished leader of our Baptist faith,” said Louisiana College President Joe Aguillard. “His leadership to our board will strengthen our effort to see Louisiana College grow, serve our students, and ultimately broaden our work throughout the world.” French founded and served as pastor of Jefferson Baptist Church for over 50 years in Baton Rouge. He has held various leadership roles in the Louisiana Baptist Convention and Southern Baptist Convention, which included a two-year term as LBC President and 2nd Vice President of the SBC in 2000. French also served as a trustee for the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary for over 10 years and was the board chairman from 2003-2005. … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message BATON ROUGE – A family advocacy organization is seeking to find the top 10 longest-married couples in the state. Louisiana Family Forum has opened nominations in its “Louisiana’s Top 10 Longest Married Couples” contest. Gene Mills, president of Baton Rouge-based Louisiana Family Forum, said the contest will honor the organization’s commitment to marriage and family. “We look forward to sharing incredible stories of faithfulness in an age when so many couples lose hope for their marriage and need a real life example to encourage their journey,” Mills said. “LFF celebrates life-long marriage and hopes to encourage Louisiana residents that love can last a lifetime.” Those eligible for the contest must have been married for at least 70 years. Eligible couples must submit their contact information and wedding date before Feb. 7 to info@lafamilyforum.org. The winning couples will receive an official statement of special recognition from Governor Bobby Jindal’s office as well as entrance into the Louisiana Family Forum Marriage Hall of Fame. Last year, Louisiana Family Forum named Norman and Norma Burmah of Marksville as the state’s longest-married couple at 82 years. They also were identified at the … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 01/31/2014 - 10:16 Members of Start Baptist Church attend a dedication ceremony on Oct. 13 for the church’s new fascinating children’s building. Using no borrowed funds (the work cost $160,000), the church’s old sanctuary was transformed into a vibrant, modern place for its youth. START – The members of one rural Northeast Louisiana church believe they are laying a foundation for growth for future generations, one building at a time. Located in a village of 657 and with an active membership of around 300, Start Baptist dedicated a new children’s building on October 13, 2013. This project will be one of several buildings for the congregation. Start Baptist Pastor Jeff Thomas said that God placed the idea in Brad Brazell’s heart while he was children’s minister of the church in 2007. Thomas believed that if the church were to have a thriving student ministry then it must also have a quality children’s ministry and thus needed such a building for that ministry. Rather than construct a new structure, the church’s old sanctuary was chosen as the future home of the children’s building. It would be the first of three phases, the other two being a fellowship building and a family life … [Read more...]

ON THE MOVE Fred (wife Leigh) Lowery retires from First Baptist Church, Bossier City. Brad Jurkovich new as pastor at First Baptist Church, Bossier City. Ron Butler new as pastor at First Baptist Church, Starks. John (wife Brenda) Blake resigns as Music Minister at First Baptist Church, Gibsland. Jeremy Spurling new as pastor at New Ramah Baptist Church, Castor. Matt Duff ordained to the gospel ministry at First Baptist Church, Vidalia. Damon Kirk resigns at Minister of Music at Tioga First Baptist Church. Tim Johnson ordained as a deacon in a ceremony Feb. 9 at Calvary Baptist Church, Natchitoches. Pastor: T.J. Boyd.   REVIVAL/HOMECOMING   Concord Union Baptist Association Evangelism Rally, Feb. 9, 6 p.m. First Baptist Church, Ruston. Message: David Hankins. Oak Grove Baptist Church, Bentley: Revival, Feb. 9-12. Feb. 9 11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.; Feb. 10-12 at 7 p.m.; Evangelist: David Hanna. Pastor: Jim Garlington. Highland Baptist Church, West Monroe: Revival, Feb. 9-12. Sunday Breakfast , 8 a.m.; Sunday, 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Feb. 10, Youth Meal, 6 p.m., Revival, 7 p.m.; Feb. 11, Children’s Nigh Meal, 6 p.m., Revival, 7 p.m. Feb. 12, Pack the Pew Meal for All 6 p.m., Revival, 7 p.m. Speaker: Don Harms. … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 01/31/2014 - 10:21 LBC Women’s Mission and Ministries Strategist Janie Wise (right) welcomes Jess Archer, the new children/youth mission education strategist, to the Louisiana Baptist Convention staff. Archer, a Cut Off native, had her first day on the job Nov. 25. By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA – For the past 11 years, Cut Off native Jess Archer has spent a lot of time traveling in the service of the Lord. She has traveled to California and Illinois and as far away as Malawi, Africa, and Kaneohe, Hawaii to serve as a missionary. Now, she hopes to bring that same passion and skillset as the new children/youth mission education strategist for the Louisiana Baptist Convention. “Honestly, the Lord paved the way for me to be here and all credit is due to God,” said Archer, whose first day on the job was Nov. 25, 2013. “Five months ago, as I was praying about where to serve Him full time in ministry work, I knew working at the LBC was exactly where He wanted me to be as I walked with Him by faith. “God has given me a heart for ministry, missions education and discipleship and I believe my job here as a strategist is a very fitting position,” Archer continued. A graduate … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 01/31/2014 - 10:22 By Sara Shelton, Baptist Press ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) – When the Baptist Convention of New England came into possession of an old church building in Massachusetts, BCNE leaders knew exactly what they wanted to do with it. “We were fortunate enough to have the building donated to us, and now we hope to turn it into a church planting center for training planters in the New England area,” Tim Buehner, evangelism consultant and mission mobilization leader for the BCNE, said of the building in Worcester given to the convention earlier this year. Yet the renovation is daunting and costly, requiring everything from demolition and construction crews to painting, carpentry and masonry skills. Simply put – they can’t do it alone. “We have a huge need and not enough resources,” Buehner said, noting, “I’m sure we’re not the only ones with this dilemma. There are extreme needs in areas like ours all over the nation where the majority of churches are small and pastored by bivocational leaders. In places like this, you can’t do everything on your own; you need a little help.” That’s why Buehner chose to post the convention’s need on the North American Mission Board’s Volunteer … [Read more...]

By Tom Strode, Baptist Press NASHVILLE (BP) – Southern Baptists and other Christians have a new means of being equipped to address the culture’s contentious issues with the Gospel of Jesus – thanks to the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. The Southern Baptist Convention’s ethics entity unveiled Jan. 8 its ERLC Leadership Network and its related advisory council of SBC pastors and leaders. The ERLC describes the new network as a blend of “university alumni association” and “comprehensive digital equipping hub.” It is designed to provide outlets for “affinity” with and “resources” from the ERLC, and is open to men and women who seek to identify with the ERLC’s Gospel-focused approach to cultural issues in their roles as pastors, leaders or lay people. The ERLC Leadership Network Council consists of 31 Southern Baptist pastors and leaders, including David Platt, Matt Chandler and J.D. Greear, who will guide the network and receive training from the ERLC staff. “The ERLC Leadership Network is about ministering in the midst of a devil-haunted universe,” ERLC President Russell D. Moore said. “As we come alongside one another, we’ll talk about crucial ethical issues confronting churches and how we can engage the culture … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 01/31/2014 - 10:26 Forest Hill Baptist Church placed 3,500 12-inch by 9-inch white wooden crosses lined-up in 37 perfectly straight rows next to the four lanes of U.S. Hwy 165 in Forest Hill on Saturday, Jan. 18, the day before Sanctity of Life Sunday. The crosses represent the 3,500 babies aborted daily in the U.S. By Philip Timothy, Managing Editor FOREST HILL – A woman tapped her brakes and slowed her car to get a second look. The driver of an 18-wheeler did a double take as he slowed his rig to make a turn. The occupants of a pickup truck blew their horn and gave a friendly wave as they drove past the scene. It seemed there wasn’t a car, truck or 18-wheeler driving along U.S. Hwy 165 in Forest Hill on Saturday, Jan. 18 that didn’t acknowledge in some manner the work taking place in front of the small rural Baptist church. The reason for the numerous double takes, second glances and blowing of the car horns were the 3,500 12-inch by 9-inch white wooden crosses lined-up in 37 perfectly straight rows set out near the highway and directly in front of the church. Representing the estimated 3,500 abortions performed on a daily basis in the United States, the crosses were achieving what … [Read more...]