By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer MARRERO, La. (LBM) – Ames Boulevard Baptist Church had experienced a decline in membership and was looking for “next steps” to reach the community when they approached Cross Culture church about merging in August 2022. The once vibrant congregation had dwindled to 25 members who had seen just one baptism from 2015 to 2022, and they felt Cross Culture could help them better reach the community and ensure its survival for many years to come. After several meetings and much prayer, both congregations finalized the merger and became Cross Community Church at Ames on April 30. “It’s been a whirlwind,” Pastor Troy Gause told the Baptist Message. “People in the neighborhood are starting to come from all different walks of life and the church is having newfound excitement. I’m really excited what God has done and will do.” ANSWERED PRAYER For more than a year, Gause and other leaders of Cross Culture church had prayed for God to provide resources to purchase a new facility and for them to team up with a struggling church for revitalization. Gause in July 2022 was notified by Derek Kitterlin, son-in-law of Ames Boulevard Pastor Steve Foxworth, that the church property … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer DRY PRONG, La. (LBM) – New Prospect Baptist Church recently raised $1,368 for the Georgia Barnette Louisiana Missions Offering during its annual fall festival and cook-off competition featuring many of the state’s iconic dishes. The event, held Oct. 21 on the church’s park track, drew more than 300 members of the community who sampled foods from each of the 13 teams from NPBC and other churches. Their dishes included jambalaya, gumbo, chicken and sausage sauce piquant, sweet potato casserole, crawfish etouffee, pastalaya, roasted pig, shrimp and corn bisque, corn maque choux, red beans and rice, and beignets. After they sampled the food, festival goers then voted by donating money (that was then given to the GBO) for their favorite dish for the People’s Choice Award that was won by a team from Bethel Baptist Church, Colfax. Their winning dish netted $250 alone for the GBO, the annual missions offering named after Louisiana’s first Woman’s Missionary Union director. The event also featured a dessert bar, trunk or treating, an obstacle course, tailgate-style games and Christian contemporary music and prayer walk. “When thinking about how we were going to promote Georgia … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) – Whether as a pastor or a lay leader, all Christ followers are called to embrace God’s calling on their lives, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary President Jamie Dew and his wife, Tara, told Louisiana Christian University students, Oct. 31. “If you are a Christian, you're a follower of Jesus Christ, then you have been called out of the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of light, which means you are an ambassador, you are part of the royal priesthood, to love God, and to make Him known,” Tara Dew said. “The Great Commission is not just for the pastors and the missionaries, and the student pastors, it is for every believer, and so as you are going about you are to teach what God has commanded and you are to make disciples.” The Dews shared with students in the chapel service that as they pursue God’s calling, they can use five ways to discern it: Scripture, sustained seasons of submission, active service now, cultivated burdens of passions and confirmation from the body of believers. Jamie Dew stated finding God’s calling is not a quick process but rather one that can take many years to come to fruition. Dew referenced his own calling to be … [Read more...]

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Matt Endris, pastor of the Fairview Alpha Baptist Church near Coushatta, will be nominated for the office of first vice president with the Louisiana Baptist Convention during the 2023 annual meeting of church messengers. Philip Caples, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Coushatta, contacted the Baptist Message, Oct. 23, to share that he was “excited” to make the nomination because Endris “loves Jesus, loves and leads his family to follow Jesus, and leads his church to embrace the community, state and world for the purpose of reaching the lost for Jesus.” The yearly gathering of Louisiana Baptists is scheduled to be held in the facilities of the Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, Nov. 14. STATEMENT OF SUPPORT Caples said he has known Endris for 10 years and has been impressed with his faithfulness and service as a Baptist leader. “Matt has served as moderator of the Red River Association for two years and with numerous committees of the association as well,” Caples said. “He has served with the Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board for two terms, and he now serves as a board member with Gateway Seminary on behalf of the … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptists will have the opportunity to join thousands across the world to share the ultimate gift to children in other countries during the 30th anniversary of Operation Christmas Child. Formed in 1993 by Samaritan’s Purse, OCC allows churches and individuals to bring gift-filled shoeboxes to relay stations across the country that are then processed and shipped to local partners around the world with a means of reaching out to children in their communities with the good news of Jesus Christ. National Collection Week is Nov. 13-20. Though the gifts are simple [small toys, hygiene items and school supplies] they still bring a smile to children who may be affected by war, poverty, natural disaster, famine, and disease. Mary Deen, an OCC regional spokesperson in Louisiana and a member of Journey Church, Pineville, told the Baptist Message the effort provides an opportunity for Christ followers to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to children who may not receive any other gift. “Operation Christmas Child is one of the most effective evangelistic ministries,” she said. “According to our statistics released last month, because of our … [Read more...]