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. Send in your information (who, what, where and when) to philip@baptistmessage.com or call 318.449.4345. Submit your information three weeks prior to the event. ON THE MOVE Adam, wife Felicia, Rainey is the new pastor at First Baptist Church, Lake Providence. Terry, wife Denise, Barnes is the new pastor at Parkview Baptist Church, Monroe. David McCormick is the interim pastor at First Baptist Swartz, Monroe. Matthew Cormier ordained into the Gospel ministry at Bayou Jack Baptist Church, Plaucheville. Caleb Parks ordained into the Gospel ministry at Baskin Baptist Church, Baskin. Chuck McInturf retiring as pastor at Woodridge Baptist Church, Shreveport. Scott Mercer has resigned as director of Camp Living Waters, Loranger. Mark Robinson has resigned as pastor at First Baptist, Bunkie. HOMECOMING Esler Baptist Church, Pineville: 74th Annual Homecoming, May 29, 10:30 a.m. Dinner on the grounds following service. Speaker: Jesse Garrison. Worship: Gordon Roy Whately. Pastor: Joshua Timothy. Pine Hill Baptist Church, Leesville: 129th Annual … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message staff writer OAK GROVE, La. (LBM) – During his first Sunday as pastor of Trinity Baptist, February 2020, Courtney Rainey presented a vision to 75 worshipers that they could reach and baptize 50 people in one year. Two years later the congregation is on pace to meet that goal, having baptized 24 new believers since January, while now averaging 135 in Sunday morning worship. For comparison, the church baptized 21 people, combined, in 2020 and 2021. Rainey told the Message that “when they asked God to move in our own lives and the community” that they did not anticipate they would see the results “in such a short time.” “I’ve never been part of a movement like this,” he said. “We are not just going through the motions. Lives are being changed and it’s exciting to see what God has in store for us.” Rainey said members have embraced a lifestyle of discipleship that has fueled growth, both spiritually and numerically. Since June 2021, 40 members have met together on Sunday evenings for discipleship. During the week, four discipleship groups also gather for further accountability and encouragement. Additionally, several groups have seen increased participation compared to February 2020, … [Read more...]

By Message staff PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Christian University will host an event this weekend to help acclimate incoming students to campus life. Scheduled May 20-21, Frosh Days will allow new students to meet their advisor, register for classes, tour the campus and meet classmates. While the weekend is required for freshmen, other incoming students also may attend. “We are excited to add this dimension to the university’s freshman year experience,” LCU President Rick Brewer said. ”Frosh Days will enrich the connection our new students will have with our faculty, staff and each other.” … [Read more...]

By Message staff MONROE, La. (LBM) – The Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home and Family Ministries, on March 16, dedicated a new cottage and broke ground on a new apartment complex that will serve homeless mothers and their children seeking to start a new life. LBCHFM staff, board members and donors also celebrated on April 14 the completion of a renovated cottage that will provide temporary housing to Louisiana Baptist pastors and Southern Baptist missionaries in transition. MARY’S PLACE COTTAGE Mary’s Place will house homeless women and children for up to 12 months at no cost to the residents. Through its HomePlace ministry, the women may work toward their high school equivalency certificate and receive life and employment skills training through the Women’s Learning Center, a ministry of the LBCHFM. Residents living in this cottage will experience an array of amenities to provide a true home environment for the women and their children as they transition to independent living. This is the third new HomePlace Cottage to open since 2016, joining Maggie’s Place and Irma’s Place. Mary’s Place is named after Mary Martin Fowler, sister of the late Jonathan Martin, who organized the Brenda Hall Abney Golf Classic in … [Read more...]

By Message staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptist children and youth in grades 4-12 recently competed in State Bible Drill and the Speakers Tournament. State Bible Drill was held at three separate locations (Temple Baptist, Ruston on April 26, First Baptist Church, Covington on April 28 and Kingsville Baptist Church, Ball on April 30). In all, 276 children, youth and high school students participated in State Bible Drill (170 children and 106 middle and high schoolers). The Speakers Tournament was held April 30 at Louisiana Christian University. BIBLE DRILL Ninth grader Brett Frost, New Chapel Hill Baptist Church, West Monroe, and twelfth grader Mary Copeland, First Baptist Church, Gonzales, each were chosen to represent Louisiana at the National Invitational Tournament in June at First Baptist Church, Brunswick, Georgia. Bible Drill involves a three-step process which begins in the church before moving on to the district level and then finally advancing to the state level. They are part of a discipleship program designed to assist children, youth, and high school students in developing useful skills and knowledge of the Bible. Participants test their knowledge in the books of the Bible, scripture references, … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message staff writer EDMOND, Okla. (LBM) – The Skit Guys, a Christian comedic duo who have performed at the 2021 Louisiana Baptist Convention Annual Meeting and the 2012 Youth Evangelism Celebration, will debut their first-ever family film May 13 at theaters nationwide, including several in the state. According to the movie’s website, “Family Camp” chronicles the journey of two “polar opposite” families who find themselves sharing a cabin for a week at rustic Camp Katokwah. During a competition for a camp trophy, the two fathers (played by Tommy Woodard and Eddie James, known as the Skit Guys) find themselves lost in the woods after a comedy of mishaps and therefore the two men have to work together to find their way out of the woods. The film was produced by Provident Films, producer of such films as “Overcomer,” “War Room,” “Courageous,” “Fireproof,” and “Woodlawn”, Educational Media Foundation, parent company of K-LOVE, the largest contemporary Christian radio network in the United States, and Roadside Attractions, whose movies have grossed more than $500 million and garnered 23 Academy Award nominations. Woodard and James have wanted to make a comedy feature film for more than 20 years. When Brian … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – U.S. Congresswoman Julia Letlow told the Louisiana Christian University Class of 2022 graduates to remain hopeful when difficult days come. Speaking during the college’s 167th Commencement May 7 at the Rapides Coliseum in Alexandria, Letlow shared how her faith in Christ sustained her after her husband, Luke, died from COVID-19 complications, Dec. 29, 2020. He was just five days from taking office after he had won the election the month before to succeed Ralph Abraham, who retired from Congress. She later won the seat in a special election in March 2021. “The Holy Spirit stepped in to sustain me in the hard days that followed after Luke's death, to take my next breath, to put one foot in front of the other, to care for my children, and to eventually run for the same seat held by my husband, in order to continue a dream that the Lord put in both our hearts: to serve this community,” she said. “It was during this immensely difficult time in my life that the Lord showed me that two things can be true at once. “A person can be full of grief and still choose hope for the future,” she continued. “And it is that message of hope put into action that I want to impart … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message staff writer WOODWORTH, La. (LBM) - During its May 3 meeting, the Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board received updates on Cooperative Program giving and the ongoing work of the four convention entities. BUDGET REPORT Louisiana Baptist Executive Director Steve Horn told board members that gifts through the Cooperative Program from January to April totaled $514,944.68 more than budgeted for 2022, so far. He added that churches, from January to April, have given $344,009.75 more this year than the same timeframe as last year. ENTITY REPORTS Louisiana Christian University President Rick Brewer shared that the school has been blessed by God since he last spoke to the Board. During the 2021-22 academic year, LCU celebrated: accreditation reaffirmation with no findings of non-compliance from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (the regional accrediting body); a name change to reflect its status as a university; transition in sports classification from the NCAA to NAIA; updates to classrooms; a partnership expansion with New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary; and the sale of its building in Shreveport that was to house a law school that never … [Read more...]