By Louis Husser ROBERT, La. (LBM) -- On a dreary Sunday morning in January 1992, my family and I drove from our home in Picayune, Mississippi, to the little town of Robert, Louisiana. I had been asked to preach in view of a call to be the senior pastor of what was then known as First Missionary Baptist Church of Robert (and later became Crossgate First Baptist Church). I told my wife, “If the church does three specific things we will not be coming back.” In all honesty I am not sure why I accepted the invitation to interview for this position. I was formerly a senior pastor and the experience, to say the least, had been tumultuous and not one that I wished to repeat. On our drive home, we laughed as we discussed the three “forbidden things,” as the church did all three and that I had accepted their invitation to return the very next Sunday! I wanted to build men. My heart burned to teach the word by example and to allow God to work through my human efforts to change the lives of families by building strong men to be the spiritual leaders of those families. The only way I knew to accomplish this was to be in a leadership role as the senior pastor. My confirmation of this call occurred that day at that little church in … [Read more...]
Louisiana Notables
NOTE: The Baptist Message provides churches an opportunity to share with other Louisiana Baptists an upcoming revival, homecoming, new pastor, new staff member, a community outreach, or a concert in Louisiana Notables. To place your event in the paper, send your information (who, what, where, when, time) to philip@baptistmessage.com or call 318.449.4345. Please submit your information four weeks prior to the event to insure placement in the Message. ON THE MOVE Eric Halphen is the new music minister at Providence Baptist Church, Baton Rouge. Louis Husser retires as Pastor at Crossgate Church, Robert. Alex, wife Renee, Dupree is the new minister of youth and children at Bethel Baptist, Bastrop. Caleb Whitten is the new worship pastor at Judson Baptist Church, Walker. John, wife Sharon Gibson, Cleveland has stepped down as pastor of Pioneer Baptist Church, Pioneer. Jeff, wife Angela, Hoffman is the new Associational Strategist for Bienville, Webster, Claiborne Baptists Associations as Randy Hales retires following 23 years of service. Tommy Inman is the new pastor at Magnola Baptist Church, Saline. Marvin Bartlett is the new pastor at Ford Park Baptist Church, Shreveport. Alex, wife Renee, Dupree is the … [Read more...]
Special needs Champions Camp set, Sept. 6-8
By Baptist Message staff WOODWORTH, La. (LBM) – Individuals with special needs will experience a full slate of activities during the upcoming Champions Camp, Sept. 6-8 at Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center, Woodworth. The camp will match participants with buddies who will accompany them throughout the weekend. The camp will feature games, activities, crafts, karaoke, worship and Bible study designed for children and adults, ages 8 and up, who have intellectual or developmental disabilities. Champions Camp Director David Anderson, who also serves as Louisiana Baptists’ children’s ministry strategist, said individuals with special needs along with their families are one of the most unreached people groups in the state. He cited a 2022-2023 study from the National Center for Education, which found that the number of students ages 3–21 who received special education and/or related services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act was 7.5 million, or the equivalent of 15 percent of all public-school students. “Our friends and family members that deal with special needs in their lives are just like everyone else,” Anderson told the Baptist Message. “They want to lead as normal lives as possible with friends … [Read more...]
LCU welcomes new freshmen and new faculty
By Elizabeth Clarke, LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) - Louisiana Christian University welcome the incoming Class of 2028 during its annual freshmen convocation chapel, Aug. 20. LCU Acting President David Jeffreys offered the message to a packed auditorium, reminiscing on his own freshman experience at what was then known as Louisiana College. “In the fall of 1988, I was sitting in the same spot as you,” he told the students, many who took their first classes the day before. “I had been to my classes for a couple of days, and the reality of the coursework was terrifying. I was an OK student in high school, but I had looked at my syllabi and was asking myself, ‘Can I do this?’” He said the Lord truly worked in his life at LC and provided exactly what he needed to be successful in and out of the classroom. “God has a calling on your life, and He will always provide for you,” he said. A relatively new tradition at LCU is naming a senior classman as ‘president for a day.’ Baptist Collegiate Ministry President Will Dunham, who was this year’s choice, challenged the freshmen to be intentional and leave their worriers to the Lord. He shared there would be times of great anxiety and that he too struggled with this … [Read more...]
Louisiana Christian announces additional Town Hall meetings
By Elizabeth Clarke, LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) - Louisiana Christian University will hold three additional Town Hall meetings in September to hear from members of the public interested in offering input in the search for the next president and the direction of the school moving forward. The newly added meetings will be held: Sept. 3, 6:30 p.m. - Home of Beth Frith, 416 Marilyn Dr., Lafayette Sept. 5, 6:30 p.m. - Baptist Association of Greater Baton Rouge Building, 10560 Airline Hwy., Baton Rouge Sept. 10, 6:30 p.m. - Location TBD, Lake Charles Meetings already announced include: Aug. 20, 6:30 p.m. - Edgewood Building, 201 Riggs St., West Monroe Aug. 27, 6:30 p.m. - New Orleans Baptist Association Building, 2222 Lakeshore Dr., New Orleans LCU is conducting a nationwide search for the 10th president of the nearly 120-year-old institution, according to Tommy Kiker, who serves on the university’s Board of Trustees and as search committee chair. “As we continue this process, the committee and I need your prayers and ask for your input,” said Kiker, lead pastor with East Leesville Baptist Church, Leesville. “We are accepting applications and recommendations and have spent the summer praying, … [Read more...]
Back-to-school praying
By Steve Horn ALEXANDRIA, La. - Since I was four years old, this time of the year has meant “Back to School.” I have either been in school, Linett’s been teaching school, I’ve been teaching, or our boys have been in school. Many years, more than one of us were involved in school at some level. We’re still “going back to school” with Dru. This is a time ripe for prayer. Let me encourage us to be praying about all things “back to school.” Pray for our teachers — What a mission field they have! Pray for our students — Pray for their physical safety and spiritual safety. Pray for our Baptist College, Louisiana Christian University. Pray for our BCM’s — You know the importance of engaging new students and reengaging returning students in the early days of this new semester. Pray for our churches — Back to school time is prime time in the life of the local church. Ministries that have been put on pause for the summer are starting again. Pastors have been waiting to get through the summer to launch new ministries. Let’s pray for kingdom impact this fall. The Bible tells us to pray at all times and pray for all things. The “all things” right now is “back to school.” In a former community where I lived, a … [Read more...]
‘Concerned Women for America’ rally encourages women to vote
By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer COVINGTON, La. (LBM) – On the heels of a presidential election, the Concerned Women for America’s “She Prays She Votes” bus tour recently made a stop at Lakeshore Church to encourage more than 150 women and a handful of men to pray for the United States and vote. Launched at the Republican National Convention in July, the tour features stops at 12 states through Aug. 20, and includes messages from elected officials and other speakers, food, giveaways and a large pink bus. “We're going coast to coast this summer just to pray over the election and then encourage Christians to be engaged in the upcoming election because we believe in the values and the importance of what we’re voting on in the voting booths,” Concerned Women for America spokesperson Macy Petty told the Baptist Message moments before the start of the Aug. 5 rally. “And ultimately, these are spiritual issues. We know that the devil can do harm through elections and politics, and it's another arena that we need to be engaged in and where we need to be fighting for Christian values. We continue to see women stand up to this call, really engage in amazing ways and stand boldly in faith.” State Sen. Heather … [Read more...]
Louisiana writer publishes debut novel: ‘A Fortunate Murder’
By Tammy Sharp FLORIEN, La. - Tammy Sharp, a native of Vernon Parish and resident of Sabine Parish has released her debut novel, "A Fortunate Murder", book 1 of her "Shattered" series, which is set in the fictional town of Bethel, Louisiana. The novel was prepared for publication by Wise Publications in Sulphur for print on demand distribution through Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing. “A Fortunate Murder was fun to write,” said Sharp, who is an award winning poet, journalist and teacher. “I’m dedicated to clean fiction, but I also like a lot of different genres. I’d call this a clean, contemporary Southern gothic, with sprinkles.” “Sprinkles of romance, humor and psychological twists,” she clarified. The book features main character Moriah Jordan who, after coming home to help her sick mother, finds herself also committed to helping her best friend beat a fake murder charge, all without losing her job, her life or her mind. But the longer she’s home, the worse her memory gets, interfering with everything she’s trying to do (and not do). Mysterious objects appearing in her house, a murderous, familiar stalker, and her complete blackouts cause Linc, her high school flame and the sheriff’s chief investigator on the … [Read more...]
LCU invites public to town hall meetings
By Elizabeth Clarke, LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) - Louisiana Christian University will hold a series of town hall meetings around the state to welcome input from all those interested in the search for the next president and in the direction of the school moving forward. Those interested can attend meetings on the following dates: Aug. 6, 6:30 p.m. - 8617 Glen Haven Dr., Shreveport; Aug. 8, 6:30 p.m. - 1140 College Drive, LCU Granberry Conference Room, Pineville; Aug. 20, 6:30 p.m. - 201 Riggs Street, Edgewood Building, West Monroe; and Aug. 27, 6:30 p.m. - 2222 Lakeshore Dr., New Orleans Baptist Association building, New Orleans Other town hall meetings may be planned for other cities and dates and will be announced. LCU is currently doing a nationwide search for the 10th president of the nearly 120-year-old institution, according to Tommy Kiker, who serves on the university’s Board of Trustees and is search committee chair. “As we continue this process, the committee and I need your prayers and ask for your input,” said Kiker, lead pastor with East Leesville Baptist Church, Leesville. “We are accepting applications and recommendations and have spent the summer praying, receiving input from … [Read more...]
LBCH’s Legacy Room highlights 125 years of ministry
By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer MONROE, La. (LBM) - The Louisiana Baptist Children's Home & Family Ministries gathered on July 16 for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open the Legacy Room. The room celebrates 125 years of sharing Christ's love with children, their mothers and countless others around the state. The Legacy Room inside the Rucker-Austin Center on the Monroe campus features a chronological timeline of events covering all four walls and artifacts from its history. The LBCHFM was birthed in 1899 when William Cooksey, pastor of Pine Grove Baptist Church, Bernice, had a vision to start an orphanage. Since then, the entity relocated from Lake Charles to Monroe and expanded its ministry to see thousands of families impacted by the Gospel through foster care and adoption; compassion ministry; job training for women; ministry to homeless women and their children; counseling services; and a ministerial care residential program. "We're celebrating what God has done for 125 years here at the Louisiana Baptist Children's Home," LBCHFM President and CEO Perry Hancock told the crowd during the ribbon-cutting ceremony. "From its beginnings as the Louisiana Baptist Orphanage to the multifaceted … [Read more...]
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