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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Angola Prison pastor set free! 

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ANGOLA, La. (LBM) – Paul Will, the immediate past pastor of Grace Baptist Church in the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola -- what is believed to be the first fully recognized Southern Baptist church inside the walls of a prison, has been granted parole and a second chance at life outside the prison. According to his fiancée, Amy Kossover, a parole board voted 3-0 to grant Will’s release Thursday, Dec. 10, and he was freed Friday, Dec. 11. “Many people have been asking me what is the one thing that mattered most on my journey to freedom,” Will said in a written statement to the Baptist Message. “I have believed there are many narratives to identify with in prison and I chose never to believe the ones that would keep me here. Kossover, who met Will many years ago while interviewing inmates as part of a video project at Angola, said she was moved to tears when the board announced their decision. “I am overjoyed for Paul,” Kossover told the Baptist Message. “It was pretty spectacular as I got to share the story of how Paul is a changed man of God. We now will look forward to all the things God will do in his life.” Will was saved while in transitional … [Read more...]

LC president releases holiday CD to support student scholarships

By LCNews staff PINEVILLE, La. (LCNews) – Louisiana College President Rick Brewer has released a Christmas album that not only can fill a loved one’s stocking but also will support student scholarships. The CD includes Brewer’s own arrangement of many beloved holiday favorites including “O Holy Night,” “Jingle Bells,” “White Christmas” and “Go Tell It On the Mountain.” “Christmas is a wonderful time to celebrate and rejoice,” Brewer said. “What would the holidays be without music?” Brewer recorded the album in his living room with assistance from LC Director of Technical Production Jeff Young. Brewer’s son, Jason, a Nashville, Tennessee-based musical artist, handled the post-production of the CD. “We recorded it in my living room on my piano with the acoustics in my house,” Brewer said. “Jeff recorded it with an Apple computer and microphones, and we emailed it to Jason.” This is the second album Brewer has released. In 2015, he recorded “Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs” alongside his son whose album, “The Explorers Club,” was released this summer and reached No. 5 on the United Kingdom Top 100 albums. Brewer said he is grateful to the Lord for his musical talents and for the support of both his family and … [Read more...]

YEC smaller and multi-site, but impact unchanged

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) – The format was different for this year’s Youth Evangelism Celebration but the message to proclaim the Gospel in the students’ schools and communities remained unchanged for the more than 1,100, collectively, who gathered for three one-night regional events in November. Originally, the largest annual gathering of Louisiana Baptists – typically counting 6,000 attendees -- was scheduled to convene at the Rapides Parish Coliseum in Alexandria, Nov. 22-23. But, novel coronavirus pandemic attendance restrictions caused planners to restructure the event into a regional format called “YEC: Limited Edition.” Importantly, the three gatherings combined resulted in 69 students making some type of faith decision: 16 statements of belief, 44 acts of repentance to restore fellowship with Christ and nine commitments to vocational ministry. “It was a blessing to even have the opportunity to do this,” Louisiana Baptist Youth Ministry Strategist Brandon Lewis told the Baptist Message. “I want to express to (Louisiana Baptist Executive Director) Dr. Steve Horn and the (Louisiana Baptist) administrative council my appreciation for even trying this and making a way for … [Read more...]

Billy Burkett, pastor for more than seven decades, passes away at 90

By Baptist Message staff MANY, La. (LBM) – Billy Burkett, a pastor of northwest Louisiana Baptist churches for seven decades, died Sunday, Nov. 1. He was 90. A native of Converse, Burkett preached his first message when he was 16 and one year later surrendered to the ministry at Fellowship Baptist Church in Converse, according to his obituary. Burkett served 70 years as a pastor in Louisiana and two years as missions pastor of College Heights Baptist Church in Alamosa, Colorado. Most recently, he was pastor of Bethany Baptist Church in Marthaville, one of 10 Louisiana Baptist churches he served. Burkett also was active in the District 8 Baptist Convention, helping to form Clara Springs Baptist Camp in Pelican. Burkett was preceded in death by his parents, John and Gladys Burkett; his first wife for 62 years, Mary Louise Pentecost; and his sister, Johnnie Mae. He is survived by his wife, Martha Jane; sister, Elaine Burkett; three children, Mike Burkett (Sue), Don Burkett (Virginia), and Lisa Graham (Randy); Martha's children, Robert Burleson and Jo Lynn Graham; and numerous grandchildren. Family and friends gathered for celebration of life services Tuesday, Nov. 3, at Fellowship Baptist. In lieu of flowers, the family is … [Read more...]

Reflections at the loss of a missionary son

By Tim Patrick DERIDDER, La. – Many of you know we lost our oldest son in October. David was an IMB (Southern Baptist) missionary. His death gives me an inside view that many of you do not possess. This year, that view carries greater weight than ever. I share this view with you so that (hopefully) you will consider your responsibility in supporting SBC mission causes. According to records, only about 50 percent of SBC churches give to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. That is tragic! If we worked together, think how much we could accomplish in reaching our world for Christ. This year’s Lottie Moon Christmas Offering goal is $175 million. According to records there are 14,525,579 members in Southern Baptist churches. If only 25 percent of our members would give $100, our income for the offering would be $400 million. When David died in October, I saw the caliber of missionaries we support. There were between 30 and 40 missionary units (families) who drove and flew from around the country to pay their respects and support David’s family. These missionaries share a strong camaraderie in their passion to see the Gospel touch every corner of our globe. Seeing the caliber of our missionaries reminds me, Lottie Moon is a … [Read more...]

Memorial service for Carlos Meza set for Friday

By Baptist Message staff SHREVEPORT, La. (LBM) – A memorial service for Carlos Meza, the first Hispanic elected to office in the Louisiana Baptist Convention, will be held Friday, Dec. 4, 10:30 a.m., at Calvary Baptist Church in Shreveport. Meza, who died Sept. 29, served several churches as pastor, including Calvary Baptist’s Hispanic mission church, Iglesia Bautista del Calvario, from when he was ordained to the ministry in 2007 until 2020, according to a Baptist Message story published shortly after his passing. He also planted two Hispanic churches (with First Baptist Church, Haughton, and New Zion Baptist Church, Bossier City). He was active in the LBC: serving as 2nd vice president of the convention in 2017; and, at the time of his death he was serving on the LBC Executive Board missions support committee. Meza also participated in 17 mission trips to Brazil, as well as to Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico and Nicaragua. He was well-known for being innovative in reaching the lost with the Gospel – leading a South American college student to the Lord using a mannequin and successfully sharing the Good News with a Brazilian businessman (whom no local pastor had been able to reach) by using an onion patch in the man’s … [Read more...]

5th US Circuit Court of Appeals rules against NAMB

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor NEW ORLEANS (LBM) – The North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention has received another setback with regard to a lawsuit filed by Will McRaney, former executive director of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware, and the decision sends the case back to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi for consideration on three key points. BACKDROP Previously, a three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals voted 3-0 against NAMB, ruling that McRaney’s lawsuit was wrongly dismissed by the lower federal court. NAMB subsequently asked the full federal appeals court to uphold the dismissal – now denied by the 9-8 vote against rehearing the case. Consequently, the district court will receive, again, McRaney’s case that alleges NAMB President Kevin Ezell played a role in McRaney’s termination from the state convention and in his being “uninvited” from speaking at a conference in Mississippi. The ruling specifically instructs the lower federal court “to determine (1) whether NAMB intentionally and maliciously damaged McRaney’s business relationships by falsely claiming that he refused to meet with Ezell, … (2) whether NAMB’s … [Read more...]

State returns to Phase 2, but churches remain at 75 percent capacity

By Baptist Message staff BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – Gov. John Bel Edwards announced at a Tuesday afternoon press conference that Louisiana will move back to a modified version of Phase 2 of reopening the state on Wednesday. Citing a continued increase in novel coronavirus related cases and hospitalizations, Edwards said the decision was necessary to keep the state from continuing to move in the wrong direction and for schools to remain open. The state saw 3,266 new cases and 39 deaths on Tuesday, and had 1,052 COVID-19 hospitalizations, an increase from fewer than 600 patients reported on Nov. 1.  Under the order that expires Dec. 23, attendance at churches will continue to be limited to 75 percent of a worship center’s seating capacity and businesses including restaurants, gyms and non-essential retailers will be limited to 50 percent capacity. A statewide mask mandate also remains in place for anyone eight years or older or with a major health condition. Social gatherings will be limited to 25 percent capacity and no more than 75 people indoors and 150 outdoors when physical distancing is not possible, bars in parishes with more than 5 percent test positivity must close to indoor consumption and sporting event venues can have … [Read more...]

Former pastor seeks gift of life from liver donor

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer CROWLEY, La. (LBM) – A former Louisiana Baptist pastor is hoping to receive an early Christmas gift – a living donor who would offer up a portion of his or her liver to give him a chance to regain some semblance of a normal life. In 2014, doctor's discovered David Kindred's liver had been damaged beyond its ability to restore itself because of complications from medications prescribed for an errant diagnosis of Parkinson's disease. Since then, his family has prayed fo find a qualified donor. Kindred, who accepted Christ while serving on a mission trip with First Baptist Church, Scott City, in 1973, last served as pastor of Rice City Baptist Church, Crowley, 2004-2006. Although he is no longer serving as a pastor, Kindred continues to be active in ministry as a Sunday school teacher and choir member at Community Baptist Church, Lafayette, where he and his family are members. DONOR INFORMATION The liver is one of the only organs in the human body that has the ability to regenerate, or regrow, according to medical textbooks. Between 8-10 weeks after the living-donor liver transplant, the liver will regrow to full size and function in both the donor and the recipient. The donor … [Read more...]

CENLA Pregnancy Center donates to two Lake Charles centers

By Baptist Message staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – The CENLA Pregnancy Care Center has donated $10,000 to two pregnancy centers in Lake Charles, an area hit hard by recent hurricanes. CENLA Pregnancy Care Center Executive Director Claire Lemoine said the gifts of $5,000 to both centers will cover 40 percent of the monthly budgets for ABC Pregnancy Resource Center and New Life Counseling. “Those involved in pregnancy center ministry support and encourage one another,” Lemoine told the Baptist Message. “Making these donations are another way of showing how we care for the mothers, fathers and children these Lake Charles ministries serve. They were faced with devastation from the storms and we wanted to help.” Board Vice President Ed Tarpley, a member of Kingsville Baptist Church in Ball, added that the checks will help the two centers get through what has been a difficult time. “Our job, whether it be in southwest Louisiana or Cenla, is to promote life and save lives,” he said. “Lake Charles was devastated and we’re trying to do our part to help in a small way.” Lemoine said helping other pregnancy centers in the state save babies and minister to their mothers has been one of the most rewarding aspects of her job … [Read more...]