By Baptist Message staff SIMMESPORT, La. (LBM) – Presley Bordelon, minister of youth at Life Point Community Church in Mansura, died Sunday, Sept. 27. He was 58. “Presley loved God and he loved others, especially those who were hurting,” Jacob Crawford, former pastor of Life Point Community Church, told the Baptist Message. “All of the kids at church called him Pop.” A life-long resident of Simmesport, Bordelon accepted Christ as a teenager at Acadian Baptist Center in Eunice. Bordelon not only was licensed and ordained to the Gospel ministry at Life Point Community Church, but he became minister of youth in July 2016 and associate pastor in 2018 of the congregation. He also, in 2016, helped start Grace Point Ministry Center in Simmesport, a ministry of Life Point Community Church. Before pursuing a call to ministry, Bordelon worked in law enforcement as an employee at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola and later as warden of the Avoyelles Parish Jail in Marksville. He also served as alderman at large on the Simmesport Town Council. Bordelon is survived by his wife, Gloria; daughter, Liza Lyons (John) of Boyce; step-sons, Davilin Mose (Aerial) and Frank Mose (Kayla) of Marksville; sister, Suzanne … [Read more...]

By Louisiana College media relations PINEVILLE, La. (LCNews) - College students today face very different technological needs than their parents’ generation. The increased demands on their attention and seismic cultural shifts that have occurred in the last few years call for a college campus that can accommodate today’s needs without sacrificing integrity and rigor. With that at the forefront, Louisiana College President Rick Brewer has announced a restructuring of the organizational structure as well as a new mission statement for the school. The new mission statement: Louisiana College is a Christ-centered community committed to Academic Excellence where students are equipped for Lives of Learning, Leading, and Serving. The new mission statement of the college was unanimously approved by the Board of Trustees at its May 8 meeting. “It isn’t meant to disregard the elements of the previous mission statement established in 2006,” Brewer said, “rather to build on the strong foundation that already exists at LC. The former mission statement has become our Guiding Principle.” Brewer has worked diligently since taking leadership of the college in 2015 to address organizational and fiscal issues to lead the school … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptist leaders have announced that the 2020 Youth Evangelism Celebration will move to a regional format this year because of novel coronavirus pandemic attendance restrictions. YEC originally was scheduled to convene at the Rapides Parish Coliseum in Alexandria, Nov. 22-23. Brandon Lewis, youth ministry strategist for Louisiana Baptists, said his team has monitored the situation for several months and prayed about the best way to move forward. Though details have not been finalized, Lewis is thankful youth groups still will be able to gather at muiltiple venues to celebrate Christ. “YEC is going on the road!” Lewis said. “2020 has taken so much away from all of us, so we’re asking the Lord, and working with local churches, to provide a safe, fun and uplifting experience for students. We need a spiritual booster shot, if you will, to close out this crazy year.  While we are certainly disappointed that we aren’t able to gather in one group, we are excited about what God has in store for us.” New dates and locations are expected to be announced by mid-October. Groups who have registered will have their fees refunded automatically. Additional questions about YEC can be … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff FRANKLIN, La. (LBM) – Darrell Guy, a church planter in Franklin, died Thursday, Sept. 17. He was 62. Born in Franklin, Guy in 2016 started Unity One Baptist Church in his hometown. According to the Annual Church Profile, Unity One grew from 53 in worship attendance by the end of 2016 to 70 in 2019. Guy baptized 52 new converts during his time at Unity One Baptist, including a high of 35 in 2017. Though he continued to serve as pastor of Unity One Baptist, he recently started Unity Two Baptist in Morgan City. Additionally, he was moderator of Gulf Coast Baptist Association. When he was not serving as pastor, Guy worked as purchasing agent for the City of Franklin. He was a graduate of Grambling State University and later attended New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, where he earned a master of arts in pastoral ministry. Guy is survived by his wife, Gwendolyn Guy, three children, Darreon Griffin, Dana Guy, Darrell Guy Jr., and one adopted nephew, Troy Giddens. A memorial service is scheduled for 1 p.m., Saturday, at Unity One Baptist. Visitation will precede the service: 5-7 p.m., Friday, at MK Dixon Funeral Home in Baldwin and noon-12:45 p.m., Saturday, at Unity One … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptists are in the final year of implementing the President’s 2020 Commission Report, an initiative undertaken during the leadership of Waylon Bailey, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Covington, and the LBC president in 2012-2013. The 2020 recommendations were crafted collaboratively by a commission of 400 Louisiana Baptist leaders, staff members and laypeople, working in 20 subcommittees of 20 members each. Ten “key actions in reaching our state” – known as KAIROS – were developed to engage two audiences – the next generation and every people group. These measures for improving the spiritual health and growth of the state were adopted by messengers at the 2013 Louisiana Baptist Convention Annual Meeting. This article is the 10th in a series published by the Baptist Message to report what successes have been achieved toward the ambitious goals of the statewide initiative, as well as to note what objectives remain to be done. KAIROS NINE Increase financial support through the Cooperative Program and the special mission offerings. Several attempts have been made to increase Cooperative Program support over the seven-year span of the 2020 initiative. … [Read more...]

By John Kyle, Louisiana Baptists communications KENNER, La. – Joshua Leiva was borderline suicidal following the loss of his grandmother, whom he affectionately called, Mama Sonia. Diagnosed with lung cancer in August of 2018, she lost her battle just a few months later. “I knew exactly how I wanted to take myself out -- I’m going to be in my room,” he recalled. “I’m going find a noose and I’m going to hang myself in the closet. “I was the last person to see her alive,” continued Leiva. “I remember breaking down a couple of times when my family was not around, because I am more of a private person.” As he battled feelings of despair and suicide, his mother began attending Iglesia Celebration in Kenner in early 2019. Initially, he declined her invitation to attend -- until she said Iglesia was the kind of church she would have wanted to take Mama Sonia too. “How could I turn that down?” Leiva said. “I went and that’s when I felt something at this church that I had never felt before. I felt embraced by all these people I didn’t know. It was awesome” Jhorman Rivera, campus pastor of Iglesia Celebration, recalls contacting the family following their visit. “I went to their home and they told me about what they … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer LAKE CHARLES, La. (LBM) – Paige LeDoux was deeply troubled when she encountered Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief chaplain Mark Morelock, pastor of Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, Bogalusa, in the Trinity Baptist Church feeding line. Since the beginning of the year, LeDoux had seen a family member succumb to a life of drug addiction, and on top of that the novel coronavirus pandemic had cut short the baseball season for her two sons, which was a weekend passion for the family. But when Hurricane Laura made landfall Aug. 27, it destroyed LeDoux’s home in Lake Charles, and she fi nally felt hopeless and helpless. Laura was the last straw, and she was a broken person, emotionally. However, a visit to Trinity Baptist Church on Sept. 4 changed her life: She is one of 152 storm victims who have turned to Christ at Trinity Baptist during the aftermath of Laura through Sept. 17. “She had continued to express how she didn’t know where else to turn,” Morelock told the Baptist Message. “After a time of listening I told her there is no way to return to how things were but she had a hope. I asked if she had placed her faith in Christ and after a conversation she accepted the … [Read more...]

By Norm Miller, Baptist Message correspondent VINTON, La. (LBM) — Like many churches in Louisiana, First Baptist Church, Vinton, had the interior of its facilities deluged after Hurricane Laura ripped off a section of roof and blew away large potions of metal sheeting. The auditorium is now completely under tarp, but the damage was not limited to that area. “Our church will have to be completely gutted,” said Pastor Bobby Daniel, whose office carpet squishes underfoot. Soaked but salvageable items are being wiped with an anti-mold solution, catalogued, and safely stored by a disaster recovery company, he said. However, Hurricane Laura’s downpours did nothing to quench the congregation’s desire to worship on Sunday, Sept. 13, when about 40 people gathered on the lawn. With sweat rolling down his back and face with the heat index topping 100 degrees, Daniel poured out his heart while preaching from Isaiah 41:10, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” God’s strength, protection, and provision have shown up in many ways, Daniel said, including several sizable monetary gifts from friends and relatives. … [Read more...]

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CHURCHES FEMA Public Assistance grants are open to Houses of Worship located within presidentially-declared disaster areas (Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis and Vernon Parishes) and typically reimburse 75 percent of eligible costs for Permanent Work—repair, replacement or restoration of certain disaster-damaged facilities. Houses of Worship must have in excess of $3,300 of damages related to Hurricane Laura; produce an IRS nonprofit letter; and, must have received insufficient funding or no funding after applying for a Small Business Administration disaster loan, www.sba.gov/disaster. Time is of the essence (deadline: 9/27/2020), and Houses of Worship do not have to wait for an SBA decision to apply to FEMA, www. LousianaPA.com. Houses of Worship may apply directly to FEMA for Emergency Work—debris removal and emergency protective measures (also 75 percent of eligible costs)—and an expanded area is eligible (Acadia, Grant, Natchitoches, Vermilion, Winn are eligible along with the six parishes above). Call or write state FEMA contact Joe Costello, (225) 339-3724 or joseph.costello@la.gov, for assistance or information. INDIVIDUALS Individuals in Acadia, Allen, Beauregard, Caddo, Calcasieu, … [Read more...]