By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer RUSTON, La. (LBM) – The 2024 Lou­isiana Baptist Evangelism Conference will encourage participants to embrace an Acts 1:8 evangelistic mindset, Jan. 22-23, at Temple Baptist Church, Ruston. From pastors, professors, and Baptist collegiate campus directors in North America to a representative with the International Mission Board, the lineup will seek to spur Louisiana Baptists to share the Gospel in their communities and across the globe. “We’re excited to be back in Rus­ton,” Louisiana Baptist Evangelism and Church Growth Director Keith Manuel told the Baptist Message. “We are fo­cused on creating a culture of evange­lism in our churches with an emphasis this year on the uttermost parts of the world.” The sessions will feature George Lee, Baptist Collegiate Ministry direc­tor, Grambling University, Ruston; John Avant, director and president, Life Action Ministries, Bu­chanan, Mich.; James Pritchard, pastor, First Baptist Church, Lafayette; Jeff Ginn, vice-president of mobilization, Inter­national Mission Board, Richmond, Va. (also, former pastor of Istrouma Baptist Church, Baton Rouge); Preston Nix, professor of evangelism and evangelistic preach­ing, New Orleans Baptist … [Read more...]

EDITOR’S NOTE: Do you have a Revival, Homecoming, a new pastor, a community outreach or a concert? The Baptist Message would love to share your church news with the rest of the state. It is very easy to do, just send in your information (who, what, where and when) to philip@baptistmes­sage.com or call 318.449.4345. To get your event in the paper, please submit your information three to four weeks prior to the event. ON THE MOVE David, wife Rachel, Rose is the new pastor at Trinity Baptist Church, Lake Charles. Jimmy Clark is the new pastor at Singer Baptist Church, Singer. Christian Vige is the new Music Minister at First Baptist Church, Baton Rouge. Lloyd and Ginger Bye retiring from Lake­side Baptist Church in Pineville. Come to their retirement party December 31, 2-4 p.m. at Lakeside Baptist Church, 120 Allen Street, Pineville, La. 71360. Allen, wife Christy, O’Kelley is the new pas­tor at Sugartown Baptist Church, Sugartown. Neil Everett has announced his retirement as pastor of First Baptist Church, Calhoun Phillip Boone has been called as the new pastor at First Baptist Church, Bunkie. Bob Holloway has announced his retire­ment from Watson Baptist Church, West Monroe. Alise, husband Stan, who is … [Read more...]

By LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) - Louisiana Christian University Dean of Nursing Tomekia Luckett will serve as the keynote speaker at the University of Southern Mississippi nurse practitioner awards and recognition ceremony, Dec. 7., in Hattiesburg, Miss. Luckett, a graduate of Southern Miss, was invited to speak by her former course instructors in the nurse practitioner program to deliver the speech. “I was honored to receive the invitation to speak as the University of Southern Mississippi is a prestigious university within Mississippi with a long history of nursing excellence,” Luckett said. “In the graduate program, of which I am a student, we are all nurses and have been diligent in our careers, which makes this an even greater honor. I have been in the classroom with everyone as a student and experienced my own unique set of challenges in balancing life, work and school.” In addition to her role as dean of the School of Nursing, Luckett is an author and empowerment speaker, and is active in state and national nursing organizations.   In October, Luckett was elected to serve as the director for organizational affairs by the Mississippi Board of Nursing. She also serves as a delegate for the American … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer HAMMOND, La. (LBM) – The Louisiana Baptist Convention, Northshore Baptist Association and Louisiana Baptist Children’s Homes and Family Ministries have teamed up with the Psalm 139 Project to provide an ultrasound machine for women in crisis pregnancies. Leaders from all four ministries attended a Nov. 15 dedication for the ultrasound machine donated to the Restoration House Pregnancy Resource Center in Hammond, through the Psalm 139 Project, a pro-life ministry of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. Funds were given by the LBC, NBA and LBCHFM and forwarded to the Psalm 139 Project, which then coordinated the purchase and delivery of the machine, and in September provided the necessary training for the staff of the pregnancy resource center. Since 2004, the Psalm 139 Project has provided more than 80 ultrasound machines to pregnancy care centers across the country. The project provided an ultrasound machine in 2012 to the LBCHFM for use in a mobile pregnancy unit and in 2018 to the Baptist Community Health Services in New Orleans’ lower 9th Ward. Coleen Enmon, Restoration House board member and co-manager, said 25 women have used the … [Read more...]