By Message staff ST. LOUIS (LBM) – Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief Strategist Stan Statham has issued a call for volunteers for a response in areas impacted by recent flooding in Kentucky and Missouri. Statham told the Baptist Message teams from Eastern Louisiana Association and the Lake Charles area will be needed to serve on mud-out and shower units. A team from First Baptist Church, LaPlace, also has been activated to bring generators. The first teams will be sent out around Aug. 8 or 9, and will join dozens of other state Baptist conventions who have sent teams to hard hit areas of eastern Kentucky and St. Louis, Mo. The call for DR team members comes after nearly a foot of rain fell in parts of eastern Kentucky and St. Louis, the Associated Press reported. At least 37 died from flooding in Kentucky and two deaths were reported in St. Louis. “Prayer is important for those impacted and our volunteers who are going,” Statham said. “And if people would like to give, that would be a big help because it helps fund our travel expenses and equipment used.” For more information on responding or giving, call 318.448.3402 or … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff LAS VEGAS (LBM) – Ben Waites, a Christian musical recording artist and 2010 graduate of Louisiana Christian University, is one of four contestants vying for the final spot on America’s Got Talent. During the Aug. 2 episode on NBC, the show’s judges chose 54 acts to advance to the live show on Aug. 9 and opened up voting for the final “Wildcard” spot. After the show on Aug. 2, Waites appealed to his fans to help him advance to the next round. “I need y’all’s help!!!,” Waites wrote on his Facebook page. “America’s Wildcard Save is open!” To vote, go to agt.vote.nbc.com. … [Read more...]

By Staff, Louisiana Baptist Message PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Christian University presently is accepting applications for fall enrollment in its TEACH alternative certificate program that the school hopes will help place more teachers into the school system. Previously, the school just offered summer enrollment for those who had a bachelor’s degree and wished to earn state certification in education. To accommodate the growing needs, LCU decided to expand the program. “We are hopeful this fall group will attract those who missed the summer start,” said Victory Lindo-Lemons, LCU assistant professor of education and TEACH program coordinator. “We basically want to change the narrative to say that it’s not too late to join the TEACH program and earn your master’s degree while pursuing certification.” Students must complete 21 hours to become certified. According to the Rapides Parish School Board website, schools in the parish have more than 98 teaching positions that need to be filled with school starting Aug. 8. RPSB Superintendent Jeff Powell said LCU continues to be a strong partner through its TEACH program. “Each year there is a big need to fill the dozens of vacancies left by those retiring, moving, … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff SUCEAVE, Romania (LBM) – A Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief team responded to a “last minute” call to Romania, July 11-22, and was rewarded by seeing many Gospel seeds planted in Ukrainian refugees and relief workers through food and Bible distribution. Tommy Middleton, associational mission strategist for Baptist Association of Greater Baton Rouge, led the team of six individuals who spent time at Suceave, Romania (located on the border with Ukraine). The team previously was scheduled to travel to Poland to do ministry work with Ukrainian refugees but changed their plans at the request of SEND Relief. During their time there, the team handed out bottled water, power bars, cookies, chips, and Bibles that were in both the Ukrainian and Romanian languages to refugees and relief workers. The Bibles and bottled water had a QR code attached to them, which directed individuals to a website that had a Gospel presentation. While the team did not see anyone come to accept Christ, the group was able to share the Gospel with countless individuals. “While these people were not on the level of the Ukrainian refugees three months ago, they were open to hearing the Gospel,” Middleton told the Baptist … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer PELICAN POINT, Bahamas (LBM) – Louisiana Baptist, community leaders, and Bahamian officials were among those who gathered at St. Matthew Baptist Church July 24 to re-dedicate facilities leveled by Hurricane Dorian in 2019. Louisiana Baptist Missions and Ministry Team Director John Hebert, Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief Strategist Stan Statham and Louisiana Baptist DR Volunteer Reggy Saxon were among more than 220 guests, leaders and officials that gathered inside the 4,655-sq.-ft. multi-purpose facility to celebrate the completion of three years of work. The building features a new worship center, covered driveway, restrooms, library, pastor's office and choir room. During the dedication, church leaders thanked Louisiana Baptists for the prayers, financial support and the numerous volunteers who steadfastly labored despite facing multiple hurricanes, severe floodiing, and ice storms themselves. The church also recognized the efforts of Gibbie McMillan. former Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief strategist who was instrumental in organizing the rebuild. McMillan passed away in August 2021 due to complications from COVID-19. “The rebuilding of the church is a perfect … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer MONROE, La. (LBM) – William Smith has led Lakeshore Baptist Church as pastor for nearly half a century. For his 45 years of service to the Monroe congregation and community, Smith was honored during a service July 10 that included two baptisms, memories shared by friends and family, a song composed in his honor, a monetary gift from the congregation and a word of appreciation from Louisiana Baptist Executive Director Steve Horn. “It is a calling,” Smith told the Baptist Message. “When you know God has called you, it is who you are. We have had opportunities to go other places, but I have known this is where God wants me.” Raised in Crowville, Smith surrendered his heart and life to Christ, at age 10, while attending First Baptist Church, Crowville, and responded to the call to ministry while attending a missions emphasis week at the former Ridgecrest Baptist Conference Center, Black Mountain, N.C., when he was 18 years old. “I spent a lot of time in the prayer garden and asked God what was I supposed to do,” Smith said. “During one of the services at camp, the song ‘I Surrender All’ was played and it was then that I told God I was surrendering my future plans to … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer JENA, La. (LBM) – Terry Townsend has served churches in Texas and Louisiana for 35 years, committing the last 28 years as student minister with First Baptist Church, Jena, before retiring July 17. “It’s been a privilege and an honor to minister to people, and to spread the Gospel,” Townsend told the Baptist Message. “God has put a lot of great people in my life that have not only helped me grow as a Christian but also helped me in ministry. I appreciate those who have invested in me and helped me in this journey.” A native of Columbus, Ohio, Townsend’s spiritual journey began in 1969, when he sought permission to date a young lady. Her father, who was the pastor with Southside Baptist Church in Columbus, said Townsend must first attend church with the family. For the next month, Townsend soaked in biblical truths at worship services and during the car ride back to his home. “Through his ministry, I realized I was a sinner in need of a Savior,” Townsend said. “In the middle of one of his sermons, the Holy Spirit rocked my world and I asked Jesus into my heart. The girl soon dropped me, but I got the better end of the deal.” Immediately after he accepted Christ, … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – During the upcoming CENLA Pregnancy Center ‘Gift of Life’ Fundraising Banquet, Sept. 13, at the Randolph Riverfront Center in Alexandria, former childhood television star Kirk Cameron will share his testimony about the power of adoption. According to his website, kirkcameron.com, Cameron starred as Mike Seaver in the 1980’s hit “Growing Pains.” He later starred in the faith-based film “Fireproof,” produced the evangelical TV series “Way of the Master,” and urged others to return to a faith in God through Facebook Live streams on “American Campfire Revival: 100 Day Plan.” Most recently, Cameron partnered with the Kendrick Brothers and Fathom Events to produce the film “Lifemark,” scheduled for a Sept. 9 release in theaters. The film was inspired by the 2017 documentary “I Lived On Parker Avenue,” which details the story of David Scotton who was born in Indiana and placed with his adoptive family in Metairie in 1993. Cameron and his wife, Chelsea, have been married for 31 years and have six children (four of whom are adopted). “We are so excited to have Kirk Cameron as our keynote speaker for this year’s banquet and can’t wait for our community to hear about his passion … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer NEW ORLEANS (LBM) – More than 100 volunteers from eight churches have spent a portion of the summer helping Immanuel Community Church expand its Gospel reach into the community through the construction of a multipurpose facility in New Orleans. Under the direction of Louisiana Baptist Mission Builders Field Strategist Mark Jelks, teams from Wisconsin, Alabama, Mississippi and Kentucky are working with Louisiana Baptists to construct the 10,000-square-foot facility. When completed, the facility will house a worship center (with seating for up to 400), children’s area, fellowship hall and offices. Groundbreaking on the property was held in June and the new facility is expected to open by November on property that once was home to Elysian Fields Baptist Church, which sustained damage from Hurricane Katrina in 2005. “Since I moved to New Orleans, I have been burdened for the youth in our city,” Pastor Matt Delaughter told the Baptist Message. “We want to see those youth not go the route of so many in New Orleans who have chosen violence. Instead, we hope to help them know the joy of Jesus and a life of generosity. We want Immanuel to be that faithful witness to Jesus and … [Read more...]

GLENMORA, La. (LBM) – Being wheelchair-bound could not stop 68-year-old Jack Butler from publicly declaring his faith in Jesus through baptism, May 15. Six men, three on each side, carried Butler on a wooden plank and then placed him in the water while Pastor Neil Treme baptized him at Glenmora Baptist Church. Moments later, Brandy Butler, 45, followed. “Whatever it took, Jack wanted to profess his faith in Christ,” Treme told the Message. “Jack really wanted people to know that he was following Christ, even though he was very sick.” The couple accepted Christ, April 22, during an in-home visit from long-time friend James Irvine and Treme. Irvin led Jack and Treme led Brandy to a relationship with Jesus during the encounter. “After 45 minutes, I asked them if they happened to be right with the Lord and they said no,” Irvine recalled. “I told them we can take care of that right now and I shared Scripture with them. “It was an awesome experience to be able to lead someone like that to the Lord and then see the husband want to be baptized no matter what it took,” he continued. “God reminded me that you should never give up on people. If God wants to do something, he will make a way to see it through no matter how … [Read more...]