By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer SHREVEPORT, La. (LBM) – David Shelton was left homeless after a fire destroyed his Shreveport condominium, April 21, but within a few hours God provided new accommodations at the recently opened Northwest Louisiana Baptist Association temporary living facility. Since then, Shelton has felt the love of Christ at his one-bedroom apartment and been reminded of a hope for the future. “I am now in the midst of Matthew 25:40, which says ‘and the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, In as much as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me,’” Shelton said. “I praise God for the love and compassion shown to me during this time.” Shelton’s story is like so many other residents who are grateful for the opportunity to stay at the center. The vision for Masada Transitional Living Center was cast in 2016 after Western Hills Baptist Church Pastor Joey Ketchum indicated an interest in opening the facility on his church property. After discussions with associational leadership, renovations to the building were begun a year later. Much of the $350,000 needed to renovate the facility was funded through the sale of … [Read more...]

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By Baptist Message staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Gibbie McMillan, who served at the forefront of Louisiana Baptists’ disaster relief responses and men’s ministries for 15 years, died Tuesday, Aug. 17. He was 68. McMillan, who retired April 30 as a strategist in these two areas with the Louisiana Baptist Convention, was remembered by those closest to him as a warrior in the faith who had a passion to see others come to Christ and grow deeper in their spiritual walks. In a joint statement on McMillan’s Facebook page, his wife, Katera, and two children, Rachel and Rebekah, expressed appreciation for the prayers and support they had received during McMillan’s extended hospitalization with COVID-19: “To God be the glory! On August 17, 2021, at 1:49 p.m. Gibbie McMillan went to be with the Lord! We do not grieve without hope knowing that because of his salvation through Jesus Christ he will spend eternity in heaven. “Many of you have been so faithful to pray for healing and comfort. We so appreciate those prayers and know they have been answered! The Lord saw fit in His perfect will to heal Gibbie in Heaven rather than here on earth.” ‘WELL DONE’ Louisiana Baptist Executive Director Steve Horn echoed the … [Read more...]

By Elizabeth Clarke, LC News PINEVILLE, La. (LC News) - Curtis “CZ” Zackery challenged the incoming freshman class at Louisiana College’s “The Awakening” worship service on Aug. 15 to find their calling and be encouraged. “Today some of us may feel like we are cursed because of conditions we are born with, but remember we were created in the image of God,” said Zackery, teaching pastor at Church of the City in Nashville, Tenn. “We may not always get it, but we are born in His image. We are born so God can receive glory.” Zackery, referencing John 9:1-12, shared that Jesus healed a man who was blind from birth. In biblical times, people believed those with disabilities of any kind were a result of sin in their lineage, Zackery said, and Jesus taught them otherwise. He told the students to be encouraged, even in dark seasons, or when they wished life was different, because Jesus can change everything. In addition to an encouraging message from Zackery, The Awakening also featured music and a testimony by Nashville-based worship band lead vocalist Rose Factor. A native of Charleston, South Carolina, Rose dedicated a song to his home church, Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, the site of a mass shooting that … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message WEST MONROE, La. (LBM) – Allan Taylor challenged ReGroup participants to be like the believers in the early church, who were biblically driven and not culturally driven in their zeal to share the Good News. Despite experiencing persecution, they were bold in their witness for Christ, he noted. ““Your state leaders are emphasizing Maximum Gospel impact as the core theme,” Taylor told those in attendance Aug. 14 at McClendon Baptist Church in West Monroe. “If we’re going to have maximum Gospel impact, we are going to have to open our mouths and speak boldly.” An estimated 170 people from 33 churches attended the event. Taylor, executive pastor of ministries at First Baptist Church in Concord, Tennessee, was the keynote speaker for ReGroup Conference that focused on strengthening discipleship efforts. The conference included breakout sessions for pastors, Sunday school directors, small group leaders, church staff, preschool, children, youth and adult leaders, discipleship leaders and Bible study leaders. ReGroup focuses on four areas – sharing the Gospel, developing biblical community, helping believers mature spiritually, and equipping believers to live missionally, with special emphasis on … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptists are passionate about missions in North America and around the world, but this fall they will be encouraged to look closer to home for ways to advance the Gospel, according to state leaders. Taken from Mark 1:38, which records Jesus reminding his followers, “We must go to the nearby towns, so that I can tell the good news to those people,” this year’s giving theme is “Nearby – the needs next door.” Louisiana Baptist Executive Director Steve Horn noted this is an important focus. “One of the commitments I made to Louisiana Baptists when I accepted this position was that Louisiana will be evangelized,” Horn said. “Our participation in the Georgia Barnette State Missions Offering plays a critical role in seeing this become a reality.” Some of the missions and ministries dependent upon the Georgia Barnette Offering are church planting; compassion ministries; prison outreach; ministry to victims of sex trafficking; Disaster Relief efforts; Louisiana Baptists’ multi-media outreach strategy, “Here for You”; and Woman’s Missionary Union Scholarships to Louisiana College. “It can be easy to overlook local issues like homelessness … [Read more...]

By Elizabeth Clarke, LC News PINEVILLE, La. (LC News) – Louisiana College has launched the Center for Calling and Career, a one-stop shop for students seeking internships, career advice and information about jobs available in their majors, according to Wildcats press release. The CCC, located on the third floor of the Hixson Student Center, will help students gain an understanding of how their values and spiritual gifts should be assessed to fully know what God is calling them to do in their lives and careers, school officials said. “Students can go online and compare their values to jobs that would be a best fit for them,” Center for Calling and Career Executive Director Meredith Rennier said. “Students enrolled in CC 100 will get to utilize this through our website. CC 100 is a required course of all entering freshmen.” The CCC will host events throughout the academic year to teach resume writing and interview skills and will hold career fairs. Services will be provided to alumni, as well, she said. This year’s theme is ‘I am called,’ which Rennier said will coincide with the Quality Enhancement Plan of service learning that kicks off in the fall. QEP Chair Vanessa Graves, who is an associate professor of social work, said … [Read more...]

By Elizabeth Clarke, LC News PINEVILLE, La. (LC News) - More Wildcats than ever will be arriving on campus starting Aug. 12 as Louisiana College is expected to welcome its largest class in the institution’s 115-year history, 350 freshmen, according to the school's president, Rick Brewer. “I am so grateful for the favor of the Lord on Louisiana College,” Brewer said. “All our faculty, staff and I are ready to get on campus and meet our new Wildcats and welcome back our returning ones. It’s going to be a blessed year.” Brewer noted in particular that Gage Dowling, the new director of residence life and student engagement  "is roaring to go!" “This will be one of the largest classes in LC’s history; that means it will be more fun than ever,” Dowling said. “Students are very excited and can’t wait to arrive on campus.” Dowling, who began in his position this summer; has worked in residence life for other institutions for six years, and he “can’t wait to serve the Lord here.” His wife, Casey Dowling, is the college’s first director of international student affairs and expects to welcome more than 40 international students this fall - up from eight last year. Incoming freshman Julia Thompson, the youngest of three from … [Read more...]