By Brian Blackwell, Message staff writer DEVILLE, La. (LBM) – A fire damaged the worship center at Richey Baptist Church, Deville, in January 2021, leaving the congregation of 80 seeking God’s help to rebuild their facility. Fifteen months later, their prayers were answered in even greater ways than the congregation ever could have imagined, according to their pastor, Grady Dodge. Dodge told the Baptist Message he was encouraged so many churches stepped up to assist in the rebuild, modeling the body of Christ. “When the fire happened, I thought it was the end of the world,” said Dodge, also the Louisiana Baptist Building maintenance supervisor. “God showed me so much through it. He showed me unity in the community and unity in the churches.” The fire began at 11 a.m., Jan. 9, 2021, and engulfed the worship center. Fire crews from Effie and Ruby-Kolin extinguished it later that same evening. While most of the worship center was destroyed, a steeple and Bible located near the front doors miraculously survived. Rather than fold, the church, pressed forward with the insurance company paying half of the $700,000 needed to rebuild, and churches and individuals from around the state donating the remainder. During … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message staff writer PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) – New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary President Jamie Dew is the keynote speaker for the 2022 E4 Preaching Conference. Dew, who was elected president of the seminary in 2019, will bring messages during general sessions of the annual conference Sept. 13 at First Baptist Church, Pineville. “I’m thrilled to join pastors and preachers from all over Louisiana for this year’s E4 Conference,” Dew told the Baptist Message. “Our pastors work hard to care for their people and proclaim the Word to the lost. The Gospel of Jesus is the only hope for the broken world, and we must be prepared to defend it with clarity, conviction and kindness.” The conference will feature music by the FBC Pineville praise team. Breakout sessions will include such topics as Contending for the Faith, Preaching Issues in our Culture and Preaching through Ephesians and will be led by professors from Louisiana Christian University, NOBTS and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Mississippi Pastor Argile Smith. Dew’s wife, Tara, will lead a study track for ministers’ wives. “With all that is happening in our world, preachers must be prepared to be biblical and relevant at … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message staff writer NEW ORLEANS (LBM) – Louisiana Baptists recently hosted backpack giveaway events that planted Gospel seeds in families prior to the start of the new school year. NEW ORLEANS Several ministries and churches teamed up, July 30, to distribute both 1,750 backpacks that were filled with school supplies and 500 bags of hygiene items at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Additionally, a Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief feeding unit from First Baptist Church, Slidell, and SEND Relief provided more than 800 meals; the Baptist Community Health Services administered free health screenings to 49 families; and the LSU School of Dentistry administered dental care to 46 families. The event was sponsored by Lakeshore Church, SEND Relief and Infinite Blessings (a non-profit organization that serves the schools, food banks, shelters and clinics in the city). Joshua Durnell, worship pastor at Lakeshore Church and a SEND Relief missionary, said mission teams from Northbrook Baptist Church and Temple Baptist Church, Cullman, Ala., and Ashland Avenue Baptist Church, Lexington, Ky., filled the backpacks at the church. Fifty members from Lakeshore Church later moved the backpacks to … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message staff writer FOREST HILL, La. (LBM) – Pastor Mike Evans recently missed two months in the pulpit during a fierce battle with cancer and other medical issues, but through those trials he experienced God’s goodness through the love displayed by his church. Meanwhile, his congregation, Elwood Baptist Church, Forest Hill, has experienced a personal revival with eight baptisms since April. Five other new believers are awaiting baptism. “They stepped up,” Evans told the Baptist Message. “Since this church was founded in 1912, we have had love, respect and unity. You can never underestimate the value of a prayer or receiving a card from someone. That helped get me through some very difficult days. They stood in the gap for me when I wasn’t able.” Evans, from April 11-June 16, spent time in Alexandria and Baton Rouge hospitals and at home as he underwent surgery for prostate cancer and fought off pneumonia and multiple embolisms (obstruction of his arteries). While he was away from the pulpit, Evans said the members and other Louisiana Baptists never ceased showing their love. His church continued paying his salary, cared for the facility and grounds and sent him numerous messages of … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message staff writer PRIDE, La. (LBM) – Jolie Pruyn, 20, was a faithful attender of church-related activities as a youngster but an encounter with Jesus at Sandy Creek Baptist Church’s summer camp left her convicted of her need for a Savior. “That night I told myself, ‘If not now, when?’” Pruyn, a camp chaperon, told the Baptist Message. “Up until that point I felt ashamed of pretending to live a life for Christ and I was scared of what people would think. But the family I have become a part of at ‘The Creek’ was nothing but supportive. I have never felt more loved and uplifted in my life.” Pruyn is one of 25 students and young professionals at Sandy Creek Baptist Church who have decided to follow Christ in 2022. Seventeen of those were baptized July 17 (the most the church has baptized in one service) and seven are awaiting baptism. Additionally, five new believers who are not youth or young professionals have been baptized since January in a church that averages 225 in Sunday worship. Most of the decisions have taken place during Teen Extreme camp (attended by 95 students) in Pensacola, Fla., June 27-July 1, and at Wednesday night student worship. “It’s been cool to hear students say the … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Keith Manuel and his Labrador retriever, Luke, have traveled thousands of miles across the state in 2022 to share the Gospel, and together have seen more than 160 individuals make decisions for Christ. Manuel said they are eager and ready to visit other Louisiana Baptist churches, too, at no cost. “Luke is a draw for people to come,” said Manuel, Louisiana Baptist evangelism and church growth team leader. “He’s a great evangelistic tool that people really seem to relate to.” Manuel purchased Luke in 2017 (his birth year) to calm victims of trauma he encounters in his law enforcement ministry. He also knew canines helped build confidence in children who struggled in school; and thought Luke might be useful to his wife, Wendy, a reading specialist with Rapides Parish Schools. But most importantly, Manuel believed Luke could be an effective tool to lead others to a relationship with Jesus. Earlier this year, Manuel noticed churches were beginning to re-engage in evangelistic outreach after COVID-related restrictions limited such efforts in 2020 and 2021. Several churches who were familiar with Manuel’s special ministry asked him to bring Luke to … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer KENNER, La. (LBM) – In Kenner, New Hope Community Church are bringing the light of Jesus to a community still recovering from Hurricane Ida and COVD-19. According to Pastor Mark Mitchell, the church has served more than 2,200 people since March 2020. Whether they are feeding the community, mentoring school children or conducting sports camps, the Gospel is being shared and souls are being saved. “We engage the community with the Gospel of Christ,” Mitchell told the Baptist Message. “When He calls us, it’s an opportunity on mission with Him. No matter what opposition we may face, God helps us overcome.” Among its most difficult trials the church faced was in late 2021, when Hurricane Ida damaged their facilities and caused a reduction in its membership from 250 to 125. Still, the church pressed on and continued pouring into its community. Some of their ministry efforts have included holding men’s and women’s Bible studies to help raise godly leaders, hosting “front yard” Bible clubs and “adopting” multiple schools to build relationships with the students, teachers and parents. By early January, the church hopes to complete renovations to its facilities as they … [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 weeks prior to the event. ON THE MOVE James David Miller was licensed to the gospel ministry at Alto Baptist Church on August 14. He will attend Mississippi College and study Christian Ministry and be on the MC track and field team as a thrower. His father, Alan Miller, is the Alto pastor.  His grandfather is  James H. Miller, who is a retired pastor living in Dubach. Jerry Masters is the new pastor at Red River Baptist Church, Benton. Rick Draper, the minister of worship and music, has departed from First Baptist Church, New Orleans. Nate Jernigan will begin serving as First Baptist Church, New Orleans interim worship leader on September 11. Cassidy Richardson is the new children/family associate at Grawood Baptist Church, Keithville. Ashley Young is the new children’s minister at Grawood Baptist Church, Keithville. Haley Kemp … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message staff writer GLOSTER, La. (LBM) – For many years, Gloster Baptist Church has helped carry the torch of Georgia Barnette, who served as a missionary with a passion for sharing the Gospel as the first elected and paid Woman’s Missionary Union executive director/treasurer for Louisiana Baptists. Not only does the church have boots on the ground in their own community and other towns throughout Louisiana, but Gloster Baptist gives generously to the annual state missions offering named after “Miss Georgia.” According to Pastor Ron McLellan, the church (with an average of 100 in Sunday worship) in the last 12 months has given $14,638 to the annual offering which honors Barnette’s dedication to spreading the Good News in Louisiana; and they have set a giving goal of $16,000 for 2022. McLellan, who has served as pastor since 1995, said his church’s commitment to doing whatever it takes to further the Gospel nearby never ceases to amaze him. “Our Gloster family amazes me with their willingness to go on mission with God to places like Sulphur, after hurricanes ravaged the southwest; to Plaucheville to do a music and arts camp; to a foster care camp held in North Monroe; and most recently to the inner … [Read more...]