By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Christian University is preparing to give students an exclusive view of campus and academic life during what President Rick Brewer has called the most significant “Preview Day” for the school. “More Christian students from our churches need the educational experience we provide, which is devoid of the woke and critical theories agenda,” Brewer told the Baptist Message. “Equipping hearts and minds to engage with competence and confidence a turbulent culture has never been more needed than at this seminal moment. Additionally, we are moving our enrollment forward after a period of two years when COVID-19 practically reduced opportunities to meet prospective students face-to-face either on campus or off. “‘Preview’ Day will allow students to have a fun time, meet coaches and faculty and learn about what it’s going to take to get that degree,” he continued. “It’s a win-win for our LCU community, churches around the state and prospective students. I am urging pastors and youth pastors to load a van full of students and join us.” Scheduled for Oct. 8, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., “Preview Day” will allow guests to tour the campus, gain details about classes … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell Message staff writer PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) – God has revealed himself so others may know Him and find life in His Son, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary President Jamie Dew said during the recent E4 Preaching Conference. Citing Psalm 19, Dew told a record E4 crowd of 92 pastors and 14 pas[1]tors’ wives at First Baptist Church, Pineville, that God reveals himself in creation, reveals himself in His Word and reveals himself to us in personal ways that we may know Him and be saved. “This God wants us to worship Him,” Dew said. “This God wants us to find life and joy and richness and fulfillment in worship of him. This God wants us to find redemption. That’s something the world had never seen until Christianity.” Dew reminded participants that of all creation, man is the most special. However, he said despite warning Adam and Eve to avoid sin, they disobeyed His command and subsequently brought a curse to all creation: death, guilt, hostility and difficulty. “Thus, we see that there were real genuine consequences for all of mankind as a result of Adam’s sin,” he noted. “When sin entered the picture, blessing and peace began to erode. In the end, man was left in a difficult situation.” But God … [Read more...]

EDITOR’S NOTE: Do you have a Revival, Home[1]coming, 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 weeks prior to the event. ON THE MOVE Ben, wife Kristin, Dupree is the new pastor at Goldonna Baptist Church, Goldonna. He first official day was September 1. Larry Eubanks and wife, Gay Humble Eubanks, celebrated 51 years in the ministry, September 25th, at South Central Baptist Church, Wisner. Alton Achorn has resigned as pastor of Union Hill Baptist Church, Glenmora. n James King has resigned as pastor of New Ouachita Baptist Church, Enterprise after 13 years. Jason, wife Lynette, Hazelton is the new pastor at Elizabeth Baptist Church. n Gary Myers has resigned as director of communications at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary to become the new executive director of discipleship at First Baptist Church, New Orleans. Paul, wife Shannon, Walker is the new pastor at Woodridge Baptist Church, Shreveport from Hattiesburg, … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) — In order for a church to be represented during the business portions of the Louisiana Baptist Convention to be held Nov. 15 in Calvary Baptist Church, Alexandria, it will need to elect messenger(s), who then must register and be certified by the Committee on Credentials. LBC Credentials Committee Chairman Steven Kelly noted to the Baptist Message that there are five ways for messengers to register and be approved: — The first and simplest way is for messengers to pre-register using www.LaOne.org and print out the registration card to bring to the annual meeting. This way allows messengers to be certified within a matter of minutes, Kelly said. — Second, a messenger may bring a note on official letterhead signed by the pastor or church clerk, stating that the individual was elected by the congregation. — Third, a church officer can phone in the names of elected messengers. — Fourth, a person can be vouchsafed as a duly elected messenger by a fellow registered church member. — Finally, when there are no other means by which to validate a person, the Committee on Credentials may be called into session to rule on the registration … [Read more...]

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Reggie Bridges, pastor of the Temple Baptist Church, Ruston, will be nominated during the 2022 annual meeting to serve again as president of the Louisiana Baptist Convention. Jason Walsworth, TBC minister of discipleship and administration, notified the Baptist Message, Sept. 8, of his intentions to make the nomination. The 2022 LBC annual meeting is scheduled to be held Nov. 15 in the Calvary Baptist Church, Alexandria. INVOLVEMENT Bridges will complete his first term as LBC president at the November meeting. He also has served as a member of the Committee on Committees for the Southern Baptist Convention (2018), as well as on the LBC Executive Board (Bridges is serving a term, now, that runs through 2022) and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary board of trustees (2022-2027). Bridges has served on the Georgia Barnette Louisiana Missions Offering Committee (2010), as a trustee for Louisiana Christian University (2014- 2017) and on various committees with the Baptist Associations of Southeast Louisiana and Concord[1]Union Baptist Association. BY THE NUMBERS The database of the Annual Church Profile shows that the Temple Baptist … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer LAKE CHARLES, La. (LBM) – For several months straight, Trinity Baptist Church prayed for changed hearts to result from their four-day revival Aug. 28-31. God answered those prayers with 119 professions of faith and 92 other decisions that resulted from “Revive 22.” Fifteen of these new believers were baptized during revival sessions, and overall 4,064 individuals attended and 400 volunteers participated during the four-day event. “Some folks live a lifetime and never see the spirit of God move like that,” Pastor Steve James told the Baptist Message. “We put a lot of preparation and prayer into this and saw God touch the hearts of our people and others who experienced Him.” SUSTAINED MOVEMENT “Revive 22” added to nearly two years of personal renewal among members of Trinity Baptist and an awakening among the lost population in the region. Moreover, since Oct. 31, the church has baptized 200 new converts, collectively, every Sunday for 48 consecutive weeks. This is the third time the church in its 96-year history the church has baptized 200 or more new believers in a 12-month period. INTENTIONALITY James recognized that for the Holy Spirit to move, the … [Read more...]

By LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) - Curtis Zackery, a pastor at the rapidly growing multi-campus Church of the City in Franklin, Tennessee, will return to Louisiana Christian University to deliver the messages for this fall’s revival. The revival will be held Monday through Wednesday, Sept. 20-22, at 11 a.m. in Guinn Auditorium. “Curtis Zackery is one of LCU’s favorite speakers,” said President Dr. Rick Brewer. “We know from previous times of ministry CZ will challenge all with the claims and power of The Gospel of Jesus Christ. How blessed to serve at a university that makes it a priority to provide ther campus with an extended time of spiritual renewal.” Zackery, known as “CZ,” is the author of Soul Rest: Reclaim Your Life. Return to Sabbath. He has worked in ministry for more than 15 years, delivering a gospel perspective that is raw, accessible and relevant to college students and all audiences. "I'm looking forward to having CZ on campus,” said Dean of Chapel Nick Maricle. “He spoke during the Wildcat Welcome Weekend last fall, and the students connected well with him. So, I'm praying for the revival and expect it to be wonderful.” … [Read more...]

By Message staff PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) - Louisiana Christian University faculty and staff and community members gathered Sept. 15 at Granberry Conference Center to dedicate the school's new Jonathan E. Martin Master of Business Administration program. The MBA is the newest graduate degree offered in the Young School of Business at LCU. Martin, a deacon at Calvary Baptist Church, Alexandria, began his career in his family’s business in 1971 and remained with the business until his death in September 2019. During the time with the company, Martin served as chairman, CEO and past president. … [Read more...]

By Victoria Watson, Wildcats Media PINEVILLE, La. (WildcatsMedia) -- Kyah Iles, founder of Six Feet Above, a non-profit organization dedicated to mental health awareness and suicide prevention, will speak at Louisiana Christian University today, Sept. 15, during a Suicide Awareness Event titled “Six Feet Above.” Iles is a resident of Central Louisiana and certified suicide interventionist and crisis interventionist instructor. Additionally, Iles has told her story of survival after her own suicide attemptto hundreds of students, educators, law enforcement officers, and mental health professionals throughout Louisiana. Taylor Dauzat, the mental health counselor at LCU, believes that suicide awareness and prevention affects everyone. “Suicide is definitely a big and growing area of concern over the last several years, especially among college students,” Dauzatsaid. “I was really inspired by her and her story and thought that she would be a perfect speaker for our students because when you are able to talk to someone who has really went through it and hear a story about a survivor, it impacts in a different way.” Iles said her focus is to break the stigma around mental health, notably in the Christian … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Former childhood television star Kirk Cameron encouraged more than 1,100 guests gathered at the CENLA Pregnancy Center’s Gift of Life Banquet to continue the fight in the pro-life movement that is gaining more and more momentum across the nation. The annual event was held at the Randolph River Front Center. “When I think of all that is going on at the CENLA Pregnancy Center, I see this whole strategy being carried out in a beautiful little microcosm right here in Alexandria and in your satellite locations,” Cameron said during the Sept. 13 event. “It’s driven by faith. The Gospel is shared. More importantly, people are coming into a relationship with God. “They are educating and talking to these young ladies about how they are made in the image of God, and these young women are learning about God’s value for families and children,” he continued. “They have an educational component for their clients and the community that is helping to liberate little babies, allowing them to live and giving all of us an opportunity to join in on what God is doing at the CENLA Pregnancy Center. “And the center, also, is involved in making people understand that … [Read more...]