By Baptist Message staff WATSON, La. (LBM) – Ken Fryer, minister of music at Riverside Baptist Church, Watson, died Dec. 12. He was 56. A native of Delhi, Fryer served several Louisiana Baptist congregations as: pastor of First Baptist Church, Greenwood, and College Place Baptist Church, Monroe; and, associate pastor of Heritage Baptist Church, Shreveport, Milldale Baptist Church, Zachary, Willow Point Baptist Church, Shreveport, and Broussard Grove Baptist Church, Prairieville. Additionally, Fryer served Louisiana Baptists as a LBC Executive Board member (2007-2011), Committee on Moral and Social Concerns member (2012-2014), and President’s 2020 Commission member (2012-present), according to the Annual Church Profile. According to his obituary, Fryer taught at Sequitur Classical Academy, University View Academy and Christ Presbyterian Church. He also taught voice to numerous private students. He co-authored the book “Virtues of the Great Composers for Children,” and was a contributor to the book “Covenant Theology: A Baptist Distinctive” by Earl Blackburn. Family and friends gathered for a celebration of life service, Dec. 16, at Woodlawn Baptist Church, Baton Rouge. He was buried, Dec. 17, at Woodard Cemetery in … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer MONROE, La. (LBM) – The Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home and Family Ministries has an urgent need for a husband and wife to accept the call to serve as cottage parents. The couple will have the opportunity to make a lasting impact on children in their care on the ministry’s campus in Monroe, according to LBCH President and CEO Perry Hancock. “The greatest staff need we have at the present time is loving, compassionate cottage parents,” Hancock told the Baptist Message. “They are at the center of everything we are trying to accomplish in a child’s life. Cottage parents provide the support, encouragement, and guidance that our children so desperately need. They have the opportunity not only to prepare a child for life but also for life eternal. “It is the positive Christian witness of our Cottage Parents that often leads a child to accept Jesus as Savior,” he continued. “If any Baptist couple felt that serving in this role might be God’s call for their lives, we would love to talk with them and pray with them about this great ministry opportunity.” Susan Nolan, executive director of child and family services for the LBCH, said the parents have the opportunity to be the … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer LAKE CHARLES, La. (LBM) – Soon after Trinity Baptist Church in Lake Charles set up a site for ministry to Hurricane Laura survivors Aug. 29, truck driver Len Miller arrived to deliver clean water tanks for Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers to use. Instead of returning home immediately to Wauchula, Florida, Miller felt compelled to remain at the church and assist with relief efforts for the next four weeks. Throughout the course of his time there, Miller developed a relationship with disaster relief volunteers and, having accepted Christ 10 years ago, he was finally convicted of his need to be obedient in publicly sharing his faith through believer’s baptism. On Sept. 25, Gibbie McMillan, Louisiana Baptist state disaster relief coordinator, baptized Miller in a cattle trough that relief volunteers used to wash equipment. After the baptism, Miller was presented with a Bible, signed by disaster relief volunteers, so he could grow deeper in his faith. “I was thankful Trinity Pastor Steve James gave me the authority to baptize Len, whom we struck up a great friendship with over time,” McMillan told the Baptist Message. “He accepted Christ years before but when he … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer SHREVEPORT, La. (LBM) - Following a challenging year dominated by COVID-19, hurricanes and political turmoil, Louisiana Baptists will refocus their efforts to the goal of “winning another person for Christ” at the upcoming state Evangelism Conference, Jan. 25-26, at Summer Grove Baptist Church in Shreveport. “Pastors and laypeople are tired,” Keith Manuel, evangelism and church growth director for Louisiana Baptists, told the Baptist Message. “Decisions pastors make are scrutinized; and, decisions made by other church leaders don’t make some people happy. “People are dealing with disease, death and hopelessness,” he said. “And they need a place to find hope. Jesus is the only answer to find peace. When everything else is changing, Jesus doesn’t.” Manuel said organizers will ensure proper social distancing guidelines are followed. For those unable to attend, the conference sessions will be livestreamed on louisianabaptists.org. PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS The first session of ECON will begin at 6 p.m. and will feature messages by Richard Ross, professor of youth ministry at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Richard Taylor, interim evangelism director and … [Read more...]

By Norm Miller, Baptist Message special assignments reporter DRY CREEK, La. (LBM) -- On the lawn of Cherry Grove Baptist Church in Dry Creek, Pastor Josh Eubanks stood in knee-deep water in a small, round, plastic stock tank, in which he baptized six people, that Sunday morning. “Never take for granted what’s about to happen because there are tens of thousands of churches across this country that may never get to experience what you guys are about to experience in a few moments,” Eubanks said prior to the baptisms. “We don’t decide when people are baptized, God does,” Eubanks noted. “We prayed specifically for God to save some people so we could baptize them. And today is the culmination of our prayers.” LOOKING BACK The church baptized seven new believers total in 2020. But Eubanks is excited about how the harvest of souls in 2020 has set up Cherry Grove for an even greater soul-winning experience in 2021. Already, the church has witnessed attendance grow in Sunday morning services, from 60 in early March to 100 in December. LOOKING AHEAD Josh Boswell, a 40-something husband, a father to five girls, and a former alcoholic who started drinking at age 16, is among those baptized by Cherry Grove in … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer RUSTON, La. (LBM) – Temple Baptist Church in Ruston helped to clear $3.2 million in medical bills for more than 1,400 residents in a five-parish region during 2020. The church worked with RIP Medical Debt, a nonprofit organization that works with debt collectors to resolve medical debt that sits in collections, for people in Bienville, Claiborne, Jackson, Lincoln and Union parishes. Members gave $40,000 and RIP Medical Debt used the collected money to work with creditors to resolve the outstanding amounts. Founded in 2014 by two former debt collection executives, RIP Medical Debt began as a response to the overwhelming impact of debt on the lives of poor Americans. According to ripmedicaldebt.org, since 2014, the group has helped more than 1.8 million individuals and families eradicate more than $2.7 billion in medical liabilities. The company contends that for every $1 raised, it can abolish $100 in medical debt, on average. Minister of Education and Administration Jason Walsworth said this was an opportunity for Temple Baptist to bless others who otherwise might struggle to pay these obligations. “We believe we have been blessed, even during these challenging times, … [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 Chad (wife Cole) Gilbert is the new pastor at First Baptist Church, New Orleans. Greg Oden is the new worship leader at New Chapel Hill, West Monroe. Jay George is the new associate pastor at First Baptist Church, Swartz. Bodie Spicer has resigned as pastor of Clark Springs Baptist Church, Eros. Cody (wife Francie) Tabor is the new family pastor at First Baptist Church, Blanchard. Eric Zimmer is the interim pastor at Ida Baptist Church, Ida. Lance Rolland resigns as pastor of Westwood Baptist Church, Keithville and David Venable is the interim pastor. REVIVAL Temple Baptist Church, DeQuincy: Harvest Day, January 10. Evangelist: Sam Moore. Pastor: Bruce Austin. Koran Baptist Church, Haughton: Revival, January 10-13. Evangelist: Bill Britt. Pastor Mike Reichard First Baptist … [Read more...]