By Baptist Message staff PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) – H.B. Charles, the first black president of the Southern Baptist Convention Pastors’ Conference, is the keynote speaker for the 2020 E4 Preaching Conference. Charles, who is pastor of Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Fla., will bring messages during three sessions of the annual conference Sept. 8 at First Baptist Church Pineville. In addition to serving as the 2017 SBC Pastors’ Conference president, Charles has been a speaker at several previous LBC Pastors’ Conferences. The conference will feature music by the First Baptist Pineville praise team, and, present breakout sessions on such topics as preaching from John’s Epistles, I Corinthians, and the prophets; planning an effective invitation; spiritual warfare; and more (led by professors from Louisiana College, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and pastors from other states). “We are looking forward to an exciting E4 this year,” First Baptist Pineville Pastor Stewart Holloway told the Baptist Message. “We will follow social distancing protocols in order to provide you with an engaging and safe conference opportunity.” The E4 Conference began in … [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 Jason (wife Lori) McNaughten is the new pastor of Walker Baptist Church, Walker from First Baptist Church, New Roads in Pointe Coupee Parish. Jeff May is the new pastor at Cypress Baptist Church, West Monroe. John (wife Adrianne) McCatherty is the new pastor at Rodessa Baptist Church, Rodessa. Scott Teutsch is the new pastor at Trinity Heights Baptist Church, Shreveport from Plain Dealing Baptist Church, Plain Dealing. Ron Nation resigns as pastor of Unity Baptist Church, Deville to plant NOW Church in Creola. James (wife Toni) Brown is the new pastor at Unity Baptist Church, Deville. Darryl Hoychick retires as pastor at Trinity Baptist Church, Pineville. Kevin (wife Bobbye) Roberts is the new pastor at Trinity Baptist Church, Pineville. Bob Colquette is the new pastor Bethany Baptist … [Read more...]

By John Kyle, Louisiana Baptists communication director ALEXANDRIA, La. – Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic, Louisiana Baptists are convinced this is “The Right Time” to reach the state. “When the Lord led us to the theme ‘The Right Time’ for our 2020 Georgia Barnette State Missions Offering emphasis, little did we know what 2020 would bring,” said John Kyle, director of communications for Louisiana Baptists. “Obviously, God knew the fear and uncertainty that would accompany COVID-19 thus making this ‘The Right Time’ to share the assurance and hope found in a relationship with Christ.” Kyle noted the theme for this year’s state missions offering was taken from Paul’s second letter to the church in Corinth in which he challenged the early believers to realize “Indeed, the ‘right time’ is now. Today is the day of salvation” (2 Cor.6:2, NLT). “These words speak to the current condition of our culture,” said Louisiana Baptists Executive Director Steve Horn. “We’ve been reminded how quickly things can change. How quickly our health can turn. How quickly our finances can evaporate. People are looking for what Jesus has to offer and Louisiana Baptists have the opportunity to share His promise of peace and provision to the … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer KENNER, La. (LBM) - A leisurely drive around Kenner on a Sunday morning in June turned out to be more than a joy ride for Jaicoven Johnson and his family. That fateful road trip took them past the campus of the Family Church where they saw members gathered outside in fellowship before entering the worship center. Intrigued by the love and joy on display, they began attending services, and on Aug. 16 church members gathered around him to celebrate his walk of faith from confession through baptism. “Something on that day in June told us to check out Family Church,” Johnson told the Baptist Message. “I felt an instant connection that only grew stronger. Instead of waiting, I wanted to get baptized the day I accepted Christ. It’s been everything I could have asked for, and more.” MERGER TO BAPTISM Johnson‘s baptism was the fi rst for Family Church, a congregation that was formed in March from a merger between Restoration Church in Metairie and Crossroads Church in Kenner. Crossroads Church had seen a decline in membership from 183 in 2012 to 20 in 2019, according to the Annual Church Profile. Meanwhile, Restoration Church had been meeting on the campus of their parent … [Read more...]