By Staff, Baptist Message ANGOLA – The deadline is quickly approaching to submit forms necessary to participate in the annual Louisiana Baptist Angola Prison Revival. Set for Sept. 16-17 on the grounds of the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola, the annual event will feature revival services and one-on-one Gospel presentations with inmates throughout the weekend. The Angola revival has taken place since 1995, the year New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary held its first class at the prison extension center. The first day of the revival begins at 5 p.m. with a time of worship and ends around 8 p.m. that evening. The revival continues the following day at 9:30 a.m., with an opportunity to visit one-on-one with inmates, before ending at 2 p.m. Only males are eligible to participate in the revival. Because of a lack of housing, the prison is not offering housing on campus. Though meals are not provided, participants may bring snack items to enjoy in their vehicles. “Louisiana Baptists’ Angola Prison Revival provides our volunteers a way to touch lives who quickly lose contact with the outside world,” said Keith Manuel, evangelism associate for Louisiana Baptists. “The average inmate has little contact with … [Read more...]
All-state choir ministers through more than song
By Holly Jo Linzay, Regional Reporter ALEXANDRIA – Students of the Louisiana Baptist All-State Youth Choir spent the early part of this summer worshipping through song, sharing testimonies and reaching out to others. Seventy-eight youth, representing 38 churches throughout the state, participated in a June trip to Tennessee accompanied by 10 adult sponsors. The choir sang praises to God and presented personal testimonies at youth detention centers, public parks, shelters, rescue missions, nursing homes, shopping malls and a few unexpected places. Chris Turner, minister of music at First Baptist Church in Pineville, headed up the tour this year. “The youth choir got to sing and help minister with a church in downtown Nashville that reaches out to the homeless under a bridge. It was a moving experience,” Turner said. He has participated in the choir tour for three years as a sponsor, but this year he oversaw the 10-day trip for Herb Armentrout, the LBC youth music consultant out of Broadmoor Baptist Church in Shreveport, who was unable to travel because of scheduled surgery. The group made quite an impact in Tennessee, Turner said. “This was not just a choir tour. The youth were given the opportunity to do … [Read more...]
LBF changes equity manager, reports budget savings, names a key hire
By Jerry Love, LBF Communications ALEXANDRIA -- The Louisiana Baptist Foundation Board of Trustees met at the Louisiana Baptist Building July 26 for their third quarterly meeting of the year with the morning dedicated to meetings by the investment committee and operating committee and the afternoon spent in general session by the entire body to consider committee reports and other business. INVESTMENT UPDATES Lafayette’s Jim Prince, who chaired the morning meeting of the Investment Committee, called on Lee Morris of Graystone Consulting, the LBF’s investment consultant, to give the quarter’s update on the investment managers and market conditions. Morris noted the following market conditions as considerations for the context of his report: -- US domestic equity market was the only positive performer for the past 12 months. All others around the world were negative. -- Entering 2016 analyst expectations were interest rates would rise and fixed income portfolios would struggle as a result. The opposite has happened. Rates have dropped and the fixed portfolios have delivered excellent returns. -- After six years of underperformance versus developed markets, emerging markets are starting to deliver the best … [Read more...]
Wisdom-Martin elected executive director of WMU, SBC
By Julie Waters. WMU Communications BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Sandra Wisdom-Martin, executive director of WMU of Texas, was unanimously elected executive director/treasurer of Woman’s Missionary Union, SBC, by the WMU executive board during a special called meeting, July 29-30, in Birmingham, Ala. Wisdom-Martin succeeds Wanda Lee, who has served as executive director of the 128-year-old missions organization for the past 16 years. Wisdom-Martin, who will begin her new role on Oct. 15, was presented to the board by a search committee appointed in February following Lee’s announcement of her intentions to retire. Prior to leading WMU of Texas since 2010, Wisdom-Martin served as women’s missions and ministries director for the Illinois Baptist State Association, 2001-2010; and as Cooperative Program Missionary with the Arkansas Baptist State Convention, 1991-2001. “Having served in three different Baptist state conventions, Sandy brings great experience as a leader to this role along with tremendous creativity,” said Joy Bolton, executive director of Kentucky and chair of the search committee. “The affirmations of her leadership received from people in each state where she has served speak volumes. She has earned love and respect … [Read more...]
Louisiana Baptist churches face burglaries and vandalism
By Philip Timothy, Managing Editor ALEXANDRIA (LBM) -- Four Louisiana Baptist churches were among eight churches and six businesses in four parishes victimized by burglars and vandals in mid-July. Richey Baptist in Deville, Rosefield Baptist in Grayson and New Ouachita Baptist in Enterprise were burglarized while Lakeside Baptist in Pineville had its sign vandalized. According to investigators at the Sheriff offices in the four parishes (Avoyelles, LaSalle, Catahoula and Rapides), it does not appear the string of break-ins were linked in any way. In the break-in at Richey, Pastor Grady Dodge says he has “them on camera.” However, it was hard to make the thieves out as “the security cameras are not the best and the thieves wore long sleeves and hoodies. They definitely didn’t want to be seen.” On July 17, between 12:30 a.m. until 2 a.m., the thieves came to the church three times. At approximately 12:30 that morning, according to surveillance footage they broke into the church for the first time. “They broke in through the Life Center by busting down the door. They rummaged around the different buildings and made their way to a back room behind the sanctuary where they found our fireproof safe.” The thieves … [Read more...]
Louisiana Family Forum releases 2016 legislative scorecard
Baton Rouge — Louisiana Family Forum released its 2016 Legislative Scorecard July 26, providing a tool for Louisiana residents to evaluate members of the Louisiana legislature on key policy votes. The 2016 regular legislative session was augmented by weeks-long special sessions called by the governor before and after the regularly scheduled lawmaking assembly which convened March 14 – June 6. LFF President Gene Mills said his group maintained a constant presence throughout, assessing legislation to provide feedback to stakeholders on key bills. He said they also tracked how House and Senate members voted on these key issues and that the scorecard reflects a measure of a legislator’s actual stand, not just rhetoric, on a range of family values. "We encourage Louisiana residents to take time and evaluate this report,” Mills said. He also asked voters to “analyze how well your lawmakers represented Louisiana family values” and to call each with feedback. Mills announced his organization would be presenting Life and Liberty Awards to the men and women who successfully passed measures promoting life, liberty, and limited government this year. The 2016 recipients are: Rep. Rick Edmonds – HB1019 – prohibits abortion … [Read more...]
Johnson: Louisiana needs to support law enforcement families by voting or Act 678 this fall
By Mike Johnson BOSSIER CITY – State Representative Mike Johnson (R-Bossier City) urged Louisianans July 28 to support at the ballot this fall Act 678, a proposed constitutional amendment to assist the families of first responders and military personnel who die in the line of duty. The amendment, authored by Johnson and passed unanimously by the Legislature in June, would provide important tax relief for the families who suffer such a loss. “With so many of these tragedies occurring in recent months, many Louisianans are asking themselves, ‘What small difference can I make to help those hurt by the loss of life from these deadly police shootings?’ Passing our amendment would be a one important contribution,” said Johnson. News reports have noted shooting deaths of law enforcement officers have risen 78 percent so far this year over last. Sadly, Louisiana ranks as the state with the second highest number of officer deaths, losing seven officers already this year. The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund has also tracked a shocking increase in “ambush-style assaults” upon police. Johnson noted that as a member of a first responder family himself, he feels particularly for the families of these brave public … [Read more...]
We still have a spending problem
By John Kennedy, Louisiana State Treasurer BATON ROUGE -- Louisiana just became a more expensive place to live, work, play, raise a family and own a business. As we all know, legislators watched winter turn into spring and then spring turn into summer at the State Capitol this year. They spent 19 weeks in legislative session. Here's what was accomplished: State government now has the second largest budget in Louisiana history (second only to the post-Hurricane Katrina days when state government was a mere conduit for the millions of federal taxpayer dollars that flowed through to help our people rebuild). Counting last year's regular session, the legislature raised $2.4 billion in new taxes and fees. Not all legislators went along; many fought valiantly against the Governor and his supporters, who apparently believe we are one tax increase away from prosperity. But the governor won, and it's the largest tax increase in Louisiana's history. What's worse, not a single bill that even remotely resembles spending reform passed. And there's talk Governor Edwards may call lawmakers back to the Capitol in the fall. I don't know about you, but I'm not sure my family can afford that. Louisiana businesses, many … [Read more...]
Pushing past aside, persistent Johnson Bayou finally breaks ground on new church building
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer JOHNSON BAYOU – The past of Johnson Bayou Baptist Church is filled with far too many memories of damage and destruction caused by two hurricanes in the past 11 years. Yet with each setback its members vowed not to give up, and promised not to dismiss the dream of finally one day rebuilding at its original location off Highway 82. Now that persistence paid off with an official groundbreaking ceremony and the laying of the first boards of a new church building on June 22. “After nearly eight years of not having a building, this is a dream come true,” said Pastor Jack Gandy. Scheduled for completion sometime in September, the new building will be a metal structure with wood interior. Built by Brystar Construction of Beaumont, Texas, the cost is approximately $575,000. To protect itself from possible rising water in the future, the 3,200-sq.-ft. structure will sit on beams 10 feet high. Inside the building will be an auditorium with seating for 100, classrooms, a kitchen with a small fellowship area, restrooms and an elevator. The original structure was damaged when Hurricane Rita made landfall Sept. 24, 2005, as 4-5 feet of floodwaters came inside the building and the high winds ripped … [Read more...]
FBC Ruston transforms lake for celebration of transformed lives
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff RUSTON – On a recent Sunday afternoon, around 200 members of First Baptist Church in Ruston hurried to the lake after its morning worship service, but not for just grilling some burgers or having a good time on the water. They were there to witness a decades-old tradition of the church – baptism for 10 of their fellow church members in a lake on the grounds of Lincoln Parish Park. Some were as young as nine, and others as old as 55. The candidates were as equally diverse in ethnicity, from Anglo to African-American to Chinese. But, they were all there for one reason – to declare publicly before their church family, other friends and even passers-by of their decision to follow Christ. “We talk to folks about salvation and publicly professing their faith at our church but to see people boldly proclaim that in this way is always encouraging,” said Clayton Owen, minister of education at First Baptist Ruston. “If you’re willing to wade out in the lake and have others there to see you do that is a bold witness.” Despite temperatures flirting with the 100 degree mark and the water a bit murky, the setting was perfect for Candia Tims. “To be able to experience nature with God has … [Read more...]
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