By Baptist Message staff SINGER, La. (LBM) – As wildfires continue to rage in Beauregard Parish, Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief teams and churches remain in the area to show Christ’s love to those impacted. According to Gary Hahler, pastor of Shady Grove Baptist Church, Pitkin, and DR coordinator for Beauregard Baptist Association, a Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief feeding team had cooked 450 meals since Wednesday for first responders battling the fires. “Yesterday during supper preparations, the quick response feeding unit (from Philadelphia Baptist Church, Deville) had to evacuate where they were preparing meals at First Baptist Church in Singer because the fire took an unexpected turn,” LBDR Strategist Stan Statham told the Baptist Message. “The quickly moved to the Beauregard Baptist Association office in DeRidder, reopened and fed first responders. Once again, they showed the determination of our volunteers.” Philadelphia Baptist Church is providing a feeding trailer while other churches have stepped up as well to provide feeding team members: Trinity Baptist Church, Oakdale, Glenmora Baptist Church, Shady Grove Baptist Church, Pitkin, Singer Baptist Church, Cherry Grove Baptist Church, Dry Creek, New Life … [Read more...]

By Elizabeth Clarke, LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) – Louisiana Christian University welcomed 250 freshmen and offered highlights from the most recent school year during its annual convocation ceremony, Aug. 23. LCU President Rick Brewer delivered a message based on Galatians 5:1, the first of many that students will hear from faculty and guest speakers on the book of Galatians throughout chapel services for the 2023-2024 school year. “Christian education is about preparing you for life; we at LCU seek to prepare graduates and transform lives,” Brewer told the students gathered inside Guinn Auditorium. “We believe that transformed people transform communities, transform culture, transform families and others’ lives.” Freshmen attended in their major cohorts with their faculty mentors. During the ceremony, Brewer recognized LCU athletes and others for their many accomplishments last year including: LCU received the Red River Athletic Conference Sportsmanship Award for the second year in a row; Olivia Scott was named recipient of the first Clarence and Rose Fields Emerging Black Leader Scholarship; Josie Holt was crowned Miss LCU and a Top 10 Finalist for Miss Louisiana; Addition of a new Master of … [Read more...]

First Baptist Church, Harrisonburg, held an ordination service Aug. 20 for Youth Minister Justin Hardie. Photographed are the church's ordained deacons, Hardie (front row, second from left) and Louisiana Baptist Executive Director Steve Horn (front row, third from left). The church currently does not have a pastor. … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer FOREST HILL, La. (LBM) – Almost 150 Baptist churches in Louisiana, five other states and Paraguay may not realize they share a common bond inside their baptistries. Phil Preddy, who died in 1995, spent decades painting murals of scenes depicted in the Bible that were placed inside baptistries of churches in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Paraguay (some of those worship centers have been destroyed by hurricanes, fire, floods or tornadoes). Such was a labor of love for a man who did not charge churches for his work but only wanted to honor the Lord by using his artistic gift. His daughter, Judi Kent, who along with her husband, Tom, served as International Mission Board medical missionaries in Paraguay for 33 years and recently paid a visit to view one of his paintings at Elwood Baptist Church, Forest Hill. His granddaughter also served as an IMB missionary and a great granddaughter is nearing her departure for mission work (their names and locations are with held because of security reasons). “God had given him the talent of art, and he wanted to give back to the Lord in a way that would have a presence in baptisms,” Kent told the … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff MERRYVILLE, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief crews have been deployed to minister to those impacted by wildfires in the Merryville-Singer area. According to LBDR Strategist Stan Statham, a feeding unit will serve lunch at First Baptist Church, Singer, to firefighters and other first responders on Aug. 23 and chaplains will be on hand. Additionally, LBDR will distribute bottled water and Gatorade to those impacted by the fires. Beauregard Baptist Association Mission Strategist Tom Bruce said that Green Oak Baptist Church, Merryville, and Dry Creek Baptist Camp have offered their facilities to shelter evacuees and that FBC Singer will serve as a cooling station for first responders. The fire broke out Aug. 22 near Highway 110 between Merryville and Singer. The Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office issued a mandatory evacuation Wednesday morning for residents on Neale Oil Field Road, where the fire was just one-half mile away Wednesday. Additionally, a voluntary evacuation had been issued for the town of Merryville as crews continue to battle the wildfire. Wildfires have been an issue in Louisiana with the ongoing lack of rainfall. In mid-August, LBDR teams prepared 545 meals at First Baptist … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff WOODWORTH, La. (LBM) – Individuals with special needs will experience a full slate of activities with the upcoming Champions Camp, Sept. 8-10 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 from ages 8 and up who have intellectual or development disabilities. “This is a time for people to enjoy a camp in a Christian atmosphere who otherwise may not be able to attend one,” said David Anderson, camp organizer and Louisiana Baptist children’s ministry strategist. “All of the teaching and activities are geared to their level and most of those who come return each year. They have a blast, and we would love to have many more people join us for a fun-filled weekend.” Anderson said individuals with special needs along with their families are one of the most unreached people groups in the state. “We have so many who need a church to plug into,” Anderson said. “If you have an individual with special needs to come into your church, then you need a ministry for that group. I would love to help set … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff LORANGER, La. (LBM) – Sixth through twelfth grade girls will be reminded how God treasures them during the upcoming Teen Girl Retreat. The multi-site event will take place Sept. 8-9 at Camp Living Waters, Loranger, and then again on March 15-16 at Clara Springs Baptist Camp, March 15-16, offering participants to attend at the location closest to them. “Our heart for this event is for girls to know how truly treasured they are by God, the creator of the universe,” said Louisiana Baptist Children and Youth Mission Education Strategist Erin Jones. “He loves them and created them for such a special purpose. Our prayer is that teen girls will walk away from this weekend reassured of who they are in Christ no matter what the world around them may try to tell them.” Samantha LaRocque and Andrea Bourgeois, founders of “Holy Restored Ministry,” will be the main speakers. They will share about the importance of mental health awareness and provide coping skills from a biblical perspective. The event also will feature a pajama, popcorn and pamper party, times of worship, missions moments, and breakout sessions. Sept. 1 is the registration deadline. The retreat will start at Friday, 6 p.m., with … [Read more...]