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
Robby (wife Anne) Poole retires as Pastor at Longview Baptist Church, Deville.
Mike (Arenda) Schultz is the new pastor at Benton from First Baptist Church Forest Hill.
Johnathan Lewis is the new music minister at FBC Blanchard from Bethany Baptist.
Leonard (wife Melinda) Nichols is the new pastor at Woodland Hills.
Abby Taylor is the new worship leader from ETBU to Trees Baptist Church.
Ta’Mya Davis is the new associate director at McNeese BCM.
Robbie Cook is the new pastor at Bosco Baptist Church.
Rainey Felts is the new Chrildren’s Minister at Cheniere Baptist, West Monroe.
HOMECOMING
Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, Pollock will host homecoming, August 3, 2025, Sunday School at 9:45, Gospel Music concert at 10:45 by The Plainsmen Quartet. Message by Robert Dukes. A pot luck lunch following the service. Pastor: Jack Powell
Bethel Baptist Church, Colfax: Homecoming, August 24, 11 a.m. Speaker: Lloyd Whitman. Worship: The Gospel News Gospel trio. Pastor: Kenneth Bratton.
REVIVAL
Palestine Baptist Church, Grant: Summer Revival, July 27-30. Evangelist Scotty McDowell. Pastor: Hardy Estes.
First Baptist Church, Princeton: Evangelist Bill Britt, July 27, 2025. Pastor: Darrell Cooper
Macedonia Baptist Church, Effie: Revival, July 28-30, 7 p.m.; Youth Hour, 6 p.m. Speaker: Casey Johnson. Pastor: Adam Thornton.
Hargrove Baptist Church, DeQuincy: Summer Revival. August 3-6. Evangelist: Scotty McDowell.
Beulah Baptist Church, Many: Summer Revival, August 10-13. Evangelist: Scotty McDowell. Pastor: Kenneth Leach.
Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, Columbia: Revival, August 17-20. Evangelist: Sam Moore. Pastor: Robert Cook.
Richey Baptist Church, Deville: Revival, August 17-20. Evangelist: Scotty McDowell. Worship: Brad Mount. Pastor: Grady Dodge.
Unity Revival: Morehouse Baptist, Reubin Weaver, pastor Antioch Baptist Church, First Baptist Church, August 17, 6 p.m.; Bonita Road Baptist Church, August 24, 6 p.m. Speaker: Jason McGuffie, pastor, First West Calhoun, Morehouse Baptist Association.
Fort Necessity Baptist Church, Fort Necessity. Revival, August 21-24, 2025, Evangelist: Sam Moore. Pastor: John Bradley.
North Shreve Baptist Church, Shreveport: Evangelist Bill special speaker, August 24, 2025. Pastor: Cecil Marr.
Milldale Baptist Church, Zachary: Bible Conference, August 29-September 1, 2025. Evangelist: Bob Pitman. Pastor: Jeremy Pruitt.
Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, Jena: Revival, August 31-September 3. Evangelist: Scotty McDowell. Pastor: Rickey Grefhan.
Pine Grove Baptist Church, Castor: Summer Revival, September 7-10. Evangelist. Scotty McDowell. Pastor: Dane Lodell.
Pine Grove Baptist Church, Bernice: Summer Revival. September 14-17. Evangelist: Scotty McDowell. Pastor: Steve Barrett.
New Hope Baptist Church, DeQuincy: Revival, September 7-10 (September 7 at 10:30 a.m., September 7-10 at 6:30 p.m.) Evangelist: Da[1]vid Hanna, Worship: weRcalled; Pastor: Roland Hebert.
Fellowship Baptist Church, Greenwell Springs: Revival, September 28-October 1 2025. Evangelist Bob Pitman. Pastor: Mardy Guidry.
Wallace Baptist Church, Pelican: Revival, September 7-10, Evangelist: Sam Moore. Pas[1]tor: Jeff Jinks.
New Hope Baptist Church, DeQuincy: Summer Revival, September 7-10 (September 7 at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.; September 8-10, 6:30 p.m.) Evangelist: David Hanna. Worship: weRcalled. Pastor: Roland Hebert.
First Baptist Church, Spearsville: Fall revival, September 14 -17 (September 14 at 11a.m. and September 15-17 at 6:30 p.m. Evangelist: David Hanna. Pastor: Neil Everett.
The Church at Oakgrove, Ringgold. Revival, September 11-14, 2025. Evangelist: Bob Pitman. Pastor: James Hester.
Richland Baptist Association will host its second annual Simultaneous Revival, September 20 and October 3.
Outreach Baptist Church, Columbia: Fall Revival, September 28- October 1. Evangelist: Bill Britt. Pastor: Buster Duplissey.
Fellowship Baptist Church, Jena: Bible Conference, November 8-9, 2025. Evangelist: Bob Pitman. Pastor: Shad Tibbs.
Rescue Fellowship, West Monroe: Fall revival, November 9-12, 2025. Evangelist: Bill Britt. Pastor: Russell Caldwell.
Antioch Baptist Church, Farmerville: Harvest Day, December 7, 2025. Evangelist: Bill Britt. Pastor: Rubin Weaver.
LAGNIAPPE
Philadelphia Baptist Church, Alexandria Horseshoe campus: Ben Waites in concert, August 17, 9 a.m. Pastor: Stuard Sasser.
Philadelphia Baptist Church, Deville campus: Ben Waites in concert, August 17, 10:30 a.m. Pastor: Philip Robertson.
Eastwood Baptist Church, Haughton: Worship Louisiana, presented by Semsen Music beginning September 5, at 10 a.m. This is a two-day conference for worship leaders, praise teams, choirs, worship musicians, pastors and church tech teams. Created by worship leaders for worship leaders and their teams. For more information visit www.worshiplouisiana.com.
Victory Baptist Church, Hammond: Greg Sullivan Ministries in concert, September 7, 10:45 a.m.
New Hope Baptist Church, DeQuincy: Louisiana Revival – We R Called, September 7-10, 6:30 p.m. Pastor: Roland Hebert.
Maurepas Baptist Church, Maurepas: Greg Sullivan Ministries in concert, September 14, 10 a.m. Pastor: Glynn Reinne.
Fordoche Baptist Church, Fordoche: Greg Sullivan Ministries in concert, September 14, 5 p.m. Pastor: Cody Delahoussaye.
Cedar Grove Baptist Church, Lecompte: Ben Waites in concert, September 21, 10:30 p.m. Pastor: Robert Daniel.
Beulah Baptist Church, Oak Grove: Ben Waites in concert, October 12, 11 a.m. Pastor: Kenneth Herring.
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
Bethany Baptist Church, Bethany: Vacation Bible School – Magnified, August 4-8, 5 – 8 p.m. For more information, go to the website at www.bethanybaptistla.com, or call the office at 318.938.5028. Pastor: Marvin Cooper.
OBITUARY
On September 27, 2024, Rev. James Foster went home to be with his heavenly Father. After suffering a massive heart attack and having all of the best medical care for ten days, the Lord was merciful and took him out of the physical pain of this world to a place of everlasting rest and peace with the King of Kings. No more pain – no more sorrow – no more tears – just peace. James started his ministry by singing in church at the early age of five. He continued to sing and preach until the Sunday before his heart attack. He had not been well for some time but continued, with the help of the Lord, to do the work God had called him to do so many years ago. He still had a burning desire to serve God. A large part of his ministry began as a student at Louisiana College. Soon after he started there he met some of the most dedicated, young Christian men who would remain friends and colleagues throughout his life. These young men worked revivals on and off the college campus. This was achieved with the blessing and encouragement of Dr. Whittington, a godly professor who had a profound amount of influence on James life. James was the first in his family to attend college and this was accomplished through an athletic scholarship from Louisiana College. This started a family tradition with both of his brothers and his sister graduat[1]ing from LC and later both of our sons. But, the tradition continued on with two of our grandchildren graduating with honors from LC. After James graduated he started teaching and coaching but was also preaching and singing. He pastored churches and held revivals where he would sing or preach. Many of these were with his friends from LC and they were across the state of Louisiana, East Texas, Mississippi, Tennessee and Kentucky. He even did mission work in Mexico and Korea. James was not one to ever turn down an opportunity to preach or sing, and my goodness, could he sing!!! He never turned his back on anyone with a need, be it physical, spiritual, emotional or just down on their ‘luck.’ He always saw God’s grace in a persons life and knew “God Loves and Forgives”. He…”preached Christ to them”. I Cor. 1:23. Besides being a minister and singer he was also a retired teacher and a local barber. This gave him more time and more opportuni[1]ties to expand his ministry. With all the people James knew and met through his ministry and work, he felt most blessed with his family. He was married to his high school sweetheart for 57 years. They ministered together for many of those years by working revivals together and being in charge of the music at the church we were serving in. James was preceded in death by his parents, Bentley (Dick) and Elizabeth Foster. He was also met in heaven by his beloved sister Joan Rist. It was in this home where he was taught the word of God and the old hymns of the church. They grew up around a family altar. James was also blessed to have Christian, praying, godly grandparents who are now in heaven. James is survived by his wife of 57 years Wanda (Hudson) Foster; Sons: Bradley Scott Foster (June Wells); James Benjamin Foster; Daughter: Rebecca Suzanne Cooper (Jason); Grandchildren: Trinity Joan Foster, Cade Ashton Foster, Jonathan Bentley Foster. Brothers: Bennet Foster (Bev), Mark Foster (Pam), He is also survived by two aunts and two uncles and a large number of cousins and friends. Special cousins that sang together with James and his sister, Joan, as a quartet for many years: Charles and Ida Whitstein and Kathy Lacomb (Tom). James is also survived by an elderly aunt and uncle who have always been prayer warriors for our family. Uncle Melvin and Aunt Grace Deville are in their 90’s and they prayed for James every day of his life and saw the fruits of many of those prayers. I think James was most noted for his acclaimed …”Well…Glory!” at any LC function. The kids and grandkids and their friends always looked forward to hearing those words in that beautiful, deep, bass voice.
