By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer WALKER, La. (LBM) – Merelin McCon re­tired from Judson Baptist Church in 2010 but re­turned “home” in 2016 to teach a Bible study and dis­ciple others at the church he pastored for 33 years. “It’s been awesome, and I have thankful I was able to return here,” McCon told the Baptist Message. “I didn’t even want to come to Judson to pastor here years ago. But I’m thankful I said, ‘Yes’ to that opportunity, and it’s been so special coming back and helping others grow in their walks with Christ.” McCon (who actively pastored 55 years) was named a Louisiana Baptist Convention Exemplary Bi-vocational Pastor of the Year for his dedication to ministry. A native of Colyell, Mc­Con was 13 years old when he surrendered his heart to Christ during a service at Emmanuel Baptist Church, Baton Rouge. Four years later, McCon submitted to the call to preach the Gospel. He began his education to prepare for ministry at Louisiana College (now Louisiana Christian Uni­versity), in 1957, and dur­ing his senior year began a pastorate with the Twin Bridges Baptist Church in Alexandria, two days after he married his wife, Edith. Later he served as pastor with Magnolia Baptist Church, Holden … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer GILBERT, La. (LBM) – For 26 years, Bobby Arnold has faithfully served Eu­reka Baptist Church amid his own personal trials. Arnold, who suffered a stroke in April 2020, said while he has faced difficult moments, he never has considered resigning from a church who has support­ed him throughout. “The Lord hasn’t led me to go anywhere else,” Arnold told the Baptist Message. “It’s a definite call and is something that I have been blessed to be a part of for all these years.” Arnold was named a Louisiana Baptist Con­vention Exemplary Bi-vocational Pastor of the Year for his dedication to ministry. Born in Franklin Par­ish in 1949, Arnold gave his heart to Christ as a 17-year-old at the weekly Sunday service at New Hope Baptist Church, Crowville, where he had started attending with his girlfriend at the time, Ruth Weems. A year later, Arnold married Ruth, became a deacon at New Hope Baptist and felt the call to preach the Gospel. How­ever, he denied the call multiple times even amid service as a deacon and lay renewal leader at Wayside Baptist Church, Vicksburg, Mississippi. Finally, at 36, he surren­dered to God’s call and be­gan to fill the pulpit at Tur­key Bluff … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptist youth and adult leaders are gearing up for the 36th annual Youth Evangelism Celebration, a statewide assembly focused on preparing the next genera­tion to share Christ with the world. Scheduled Nov. 19-20 in the Rapides Parish Coliseum, Alexandria, the largest an­nual gathering of Louisiana Baptists will feature messages by Daryl Jones, founder of Point Ministries, high-energy music, times of fellowship and much more. Last year’s event drew more than 5,300 youth and resulted in 830 decisions for Christ. “We are excited for this year’s lineup,” Louisiana Baptist Youth Strategist Lee Myers said. “I believe God is going to do some amaz­ing things over the course of those couple of days. I’m ask­ing folks to start praying even now before the event! Pray that God’s presence is felt by every person that comes in the building. Pray for those on the program and those in attendance. I really sense big things are going to happen at this event! Don’t miss it!” Caitlin Rolon is one of those who will be making a return trip to YEC. Rolon began coming to the event in 2006 as a student at Simpson Baptist Church and now as an adult … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Organizers of this year’s Louisiana Baptist Pastors Conference in the facilities of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church, New Orleans, hope to remind participants, Nov. 13, about the joy of ministry. “Over the last three years of the COVID season, there has been much talk about persevering and not growing weary which is very important,” Pastors Conference President Michael Wood, also pastor of First West, told the Baptist Message. “We want to shed light on what an incredible honor it is to have joy in serving Christ. Each guy will have a different element to share on the theme of joy.” The program will begin, 9:30 a.m., with music led by Nate Jernigan, assistant professor of music and worship, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and others from the seminary, and messages by Leroy Fountain, an LBC church health consultant, and David Allen, professor, Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary, Cordova, Tenn. After lunch, the conference will continue, 1:30 p.m., with an afternoon session featuring messages by Ryan Rice, pastor, Connect Church, Algiers; Dean Inserra, pastor, City Church, Tallahassee, Fla.; and Clay Smith, pastor, Johnson Ferry Baptist Church, Marietta, … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – The Student Missionary evangelism strategy, launched in early August, is a guided, school-year-long training program for students to learn how to be intentional about being an evangelist on campus. Sixth to twelfth graders are commissioned by their respective churches to reach their classmates for Christ. Then each student is matched with a coach who will help him or her to grow in Christ and develop the skills needed to share Jesus with their classmates. Additionally, the student will have at least four prayer partners who will adjust their intercessions according to monthly updates from the student. Steve Masters, coordinator of the program and director of the Louisiana Baptist Collegiate Ministry at LSU, said he hopes many churches will partner with students and help foster a foundation of discipleship that will carry on past high school. “Many seniors have checked out of their faith and student ministry involvement by the time they reach the final year of high school,” Masters told the Baptist Message. “The best place to reach students is our schools. If we can walk beside our students, we can better help reduce that rate and help them reach … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Messengers to the 2023 Louisiana Baptist Convention Annual Meeting will be challenged with a theme of “Pursuit” to seek to grow a culture of evangelism as they celebrate the 175th anniversary of the state fellowship of churches, Nov. 14, in the facilities of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church, New Orleans. “We look forward to being in New Orleans for the 2023 Annual Meeting of Louisiana Baptists,” Louisiana Baptist Executive Director Steve Horn told the Baptist Message. “We are grateful for the hospitality of Dr. Fred Luter and the saints at Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in hosting us. As Louisiana Baptists will recall, we were scheduled to be there in 2020, but had to alter those plans due to COVID-19. I am excited that we will be able to finally gather at Franklin Avenue. “When Baptists gathered in 1848 in Mount Lebanon, Louisiana, to organize the Baptist State Convention of North Louisiana with 65 ministers, 88 congregations, and 3,650 members, I’m sure they could not envision the nearly 1,600 congregations and 425,00 baptized believers that comprise today’s Convention of churches,” he continued. “We will gather to celebrate their vision, their … [Read more...]

By John Kyle, LBC Communications ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBC) – “I would like to know that I am not lost and will be forgiven,” Breaux Bridge, LA “I believe there is a God, but I need help really feeling He is there,” Hammond, LA “I prayed that prayer and started crying,” Belle Chase, LA Quotes along the lines of those above are received on a regular basis in response to Louisiana Baptists’ multi-media outreach strategy, “Here for You,” according to Louisiana Baptist Communication Director John Kyle. “We receive a monthly report from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association outlining responses 25,000 views of the Gospel presentation and more than 4,100 people have indicated a decision for Christ since 2019. There have also been over 1,400 searches for area churches through HereforYou.org. Individuals visiting the website have the opportunity to share prayer requests." Recent requests include: “… I pray for healing release and deliverance from current and past traumas …” “ … I’m going through a really tough time. My husband of 10 years wants a divorce for no specific reason. … Please pray over us …” “I have been having health issues … I’ve lost my job, including my insurance … I can use all of the prayers for … [Read more...]