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...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Riverview Baptist Church held a groundbreaking ceremony, July 17, to celebrate the beginning of construction on a new multi-purpose facility that will serve future generations. Pastor David Newton told the Baptist Message the new facility will ensure the church has adequate space to meet the needs of a growing congregation. Since February 2020 (just prior to Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards’s COVID-related worship attendance restrictions), Sunday worship attendance has increased from 92 to as high as 115 in February 2022. Moreover, the church has baptized seven new believers who committed their lives to Jesus during a revival in early January. Additionally, Newton, on July 24, will baptize a youngster who, during Vacation Bible School in June, chose to follow Jesus. “I have a great supportive group of deacons and others in our church who do great things,” he said. “Our music minister Brother Mike Boone, for instance, has been our point man in this project and he has tirelessly got this project to where we are today. “We are seeing God move and things happen because of the leadership here,” he continued. “We have church members from all walks … [Read more...]