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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Iorg makes about face on retirement plans, prepares to ‘lead on’ in new role

By Jane Rodgers, The Baptist Paper DALLAS (The Baptist Paper) - Jeff Iorg has been discussing leadership, calling and ministry in his weekly “Lead On” podcast for nearly seven years. What he didn’t anticipate was that he would indeed continue to “lead on” in a major capacity after his time as a seminary president. “It wasn’t very many weeks ago that we were tracking toward retirement plans,” Iorg, who is 65, said of his upcoming retirement from Gateway Seminary after 20 years as president. READY FOR THE NEXT SEASON Sharing during a March 21 press conference following his election as the next president and CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee, Iorg said he finds the turn of events surprising but that he and his wife, Ann, are committed to the move. Ann told the Baptist Standard she feels good about the change of course and that she and Jeff are excited because they both believe this next season is what God has for them. “God gives you what you need for what He has for you,” she said. Iorg explained at the press conference that he should be considered EC president-elect as he plans to finish the semester as president of Gateway, which ends with graduation May 11. He will assume the EC … [Read more...]

Embrace: Highlighting 125 years of WMU

By Baptist Message staff NEW ORLEANS (LBM) - Louisiana Baptist women will be challenged to embrace joy as they celebrate, April 19-20, during a special anniversary conference hosted by the First Baptist Church, New Orleans. “At this year’s Embrace conference, we will highlight 125 years of WMU in our state and reflect upon the Kingdom impact Louisiana Baptist women have had through their service and support of missions,” Louisiana Baptist Women’s Mission & Ministry Strategist Christine Gill told the Baptist Message. “The location of this anniversary celebration was intentional. The pastor of First Baptist New Orleans called Georgia Barnette in 1901 to serve as a missionary to New Orleans. We wanted to commemorate the calling of Georgia Barnette, who held the first full time position with Louisiana WMU, to Louisiana.” Embrace kicks off with check-in on Friday, April 19, at 4 p.m., and the first session will begin at 6 p.m. Messages will be presented by keynote speaker, Julie Busler, Oklahoma WMU president, author of “Joyful Sorrow: Breaking Through the Darkness of Mental Illness.” Special guests at Embrace will be Sandy Wisdom-Martin, National WMU executive director/treasurer, and Faith Grosshans, Lifeway women’s … [Read more...]

Gift of life: Pastor grateful to God and kidney donor

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer VIOLET, La. (LBM) – Pastor David Gonzalez is thankful for the gift of life he recently received a through a new kidney from a stranger-turned-best-friend. Gonzalez, who is pastor with Celebration Church’s Lower St. Bernard campus in Violet, in 2020 was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a rare form of blood cancer. Since then, Gonzalez has battled a myriad of emotions and has seen God move through others’ encouragement, prayer and His healing power. “The Lord keeps reminding me that to get through anything you have to be the one to encourage yourself in the Lord -- like King David had to do when nobody was around,” Gonzalez told the Baptist Message. “I said ‘Lord, help me to learn apart from hustle and bustle how to try to encourage myself.’” Since his diagnosis, Gonzalez has spent time at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans and at home as he underwent extensive hospital stays, kidney biopsies, bone marrow biopsies, chemotherapy, infusions, blood transfusions, plasmapheresis, a stem cell transplant, dialysis and most recently a kidney transplant, Dec. 1, 2023. “At one point I had lost my will to continue and remember thinking that all hope was lost,” he recalled. “It … [Read more...]

Louisiana Notables

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Baptist Message provides churches an opportunity to share with other Louisiana Baptists an upcoming revival, homecoming, new pastor, new staff member, a community outreach, or a concert in Louisiana Notables. To place your event in the paper, send your information (who, what, where, when, time) to philip@baptistmessage.com or call 318.449.4345. Please submit your information four weeks prior to the event to insure placement in the Message. ON THE MOVE Larry Linson is the new pastor at New Hope Baptist Church, Monroe. Linson will share pastoral responsibilities at Highland Park and New Hope. Clay Corley is the new student pastor at Cheniere Baptist Church. Katie Gordy is the new children’s minister at North Church, Bastrop. REVIVAL Summerfield Baptist Church, Colfax: Guest Speaker Robert Dukes. March 24. Pastor: Jeremy Brister. Clarks Baptist Church, Clarks: Spring Revival, March 24-27. Guest speaker: Scotty McDowell. Pastor: Kyle Bryan. Temple Baptist Church, DeRidder: Revival – Refresh Week, March 24-27, Sunday 10:45 a.m. Monday – Wednesday 6 p.m. Pastor: Quincy Gill Reeves Bible Church, Reeves: Revival, March 24-27. Evangelist: Mackey Willis. Mackey preaching. Pastor: Charlie … [Read more...]

Jeff Iorg elected next SBC Executive Committee president and CEO

By Staff, The Baptist Paper DALLAS (The Baptist Paper) - Jeff Iorg, retiring president of Gateway Seminary, was elected as the next Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee president/CEO during a special-called trustee meeting in Dallas, March 21. Iorg transitions to the new role after 20 years at Gateway. He enters the position at a crucial moment in SBC life, as the EC copes with financial and legal challenges amid the denomination’s reckoning with sexual abuse and declining baptisms, among other concerns. “Jeff Iorg is who we have been praying for,” said search team chair Neal Hughes, director of missions and executive director of the Montgomery (Alabama) Baptist Association, in announcing Iorg’s nomination March 1. Sixty trustees were present at the March 21 meeting held at the Grand Hyatt in the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. The vote to call Iorg was unanimous. “Southern Baptists are a force for good,” Iorg said following the vote. GODSEND Hughes noted that Iorg’s “calm demeanor, communication skills, executive administrative ability and thorough knowledge of Southern Baptist life will be a godsend to the SBC.” EC chair Phillip Robertson called Iorg “a leader that all Southern … [Read more...]

Journey Church invites community to hop into Easter with

By Journey Church PINEVILLE, La. (Journey Church) – Journey Church will host a two-day Easter-themed event, March 30-31, complete with egg hunts, crafts, food trucks, photo booths for family pictures and jumpers for the children. “Each year, we strive to bring the message of Easter to life in a way that resonates with everyone, from the youngest child to the oldest member of our community,” explained Children’s Pastor Steven Roberts. “This year, we’re excited to offer something truly special, blending worship with family-centered activities, including a drama about Jesus’ love and sacrifice presented by the children.” DAY OF CELEBRATION, COMMUNITY The celebration at Journey Church, located at 2900 Donahue Ferry Rd., Pineville, will include Easter services (March 30, 5 p.m., and March 31, 8:30, 10 and 11:30 a.m.) The community also will be invited to attend various activities planned throughout the weekend: an egg hunt featuring more than 5,000 eggs; photo booths; crafts for children; giveaways for children and adults; petting zoo; the Easter bunny; silent auction; food trucks; and bounce houses. "We believe that by creating a space where worship and community intersect, we can offer a deeper, more meaningful … [Read more...]

Jeffreys named acting president of Louisiana Christian

By Elizabeth Clarke, LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) - David Jeffreys has been named acting president of Louisiana Christian University by the board of trustees, following the March 8 retirement announcement of Rick Brewer, LCU’s ninth president. “Prior to this assignment, he served in an executive leadership role at the university, gaining substantial knowledge about its operations and objectives,” said Board of Trustees Chairman Anthony Bunting. “On behalf of the board, we would like to congratulate Dr. Jeffreys on his appointment and look forward to his leadership in continuing the vision and mission of the university.” Jeffreys has served as the executive vice president and chief operating officer of the university under Brewer since January 2022. “I know Louisiana Christian University is in faithful and capable hands as David Jeffreys steps into the role of interim president,” Brewer said. “For the past two years, he has been an invaluable asset with resource development, facilities management, denominational relations, strategic planning and special projects.” Brewer also worked with Jeffreys during his six-year tenure on the board of trustees Jeffreys holds a Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Arts, … [Read more...]