By Argile Smith, Louisiana College Sometimes we hear stories about God’s love that stop us in our tracks. A story Dr. Welby Bozeman told about a member of his church had that kind of effect on me. I have a hunch that it’ll make you stop and think too. And it’s sure to make you breathe a prayer of gratitude to the Lord for His love that’s expressed through His people. But first, you need to know about Welby. Born and reared on a farm in Alabama, he was a public school principal before he became a preacher. Everyone regarded Welby as the quintessential Southern gentleman who exhibited the character of Christ in all his relationships. People who knew him will always remember his deep blue eyes that could peer into your soul. Welby and his wife, Jeanine, moved to Louisiana to serve the Lord in ministry. For seven years, He served as pastor of First Baptist Church of Chalmette. Then the Lord called him to Louisiana College, where he served as a professor of Christian education for eighteen years. Welby also served churches in the capacity of interim pastor. After retirement, he continued to work in the churches and invest himself in the lives of people the Lord brought his way. His penetrating eyes, easy smile, and gentle ways … [Read more...]
Questions we’ve pondered
By Archie England, NOBTS Question: How can God be good and allow there to be suffering? Archie England responds: Suffering resulted from Adam and Eve’s rebellion in the Garden of Eden. Whereas God had created all things “good,” humanity, by the means of sinful rebellion, caused the blight of suffering to descend upon all creation. In Genesis 3, God announced the curses of sin. Sin’s deviation from the holiness and righteousness of God, necessarily evoked God’s judgment against every infraction of His goodness: Sin entered, bringing death, sorrow, pain, disease, etc. Human goodness devolved into corruption; selflessness, into selfishness. God, therefore, did not cause suffering to trample the creation, but as judge, He did utter the verdict that revealed the consequences of sinful rebellion: suffering. All subsequent suffering is the continued consequence of Adam’s first act of rebellion. Childbirth and (by implication) marriage relationships became complicated and painful (Gen 3:16). The means of daily existence was transformed from simple yielding (of harvested foods) to stingy refusal. Humanity would now have to work laboriously to coax the necessary sustenance from the earth (Gen 3:17-19). The Serpent forfeited its … [Read more...]
‘Pure gospel’ gives Basile detainees best hope for salvation
By Rachel Ortego, Regional Reporter BASILE – When Johney Jeans, a member of First Baptist Basile, walked into the local prison one Monday night to share God’s word, he was not surprised when the Holy Spirit led him to turn over the pulpit that night to his partner, Kent Aguillard, a member of First Baptist Eunice. What really “threw him for a loop,” Jeans said, was when a prisoner walked up to him and asked if he was a preacher or pastor, then left and returned with a blind man who wanted to talk to Jeans privately. “The prisoner came back to me with a blind man who asked if he could speak to me in secret. He then asked, ‘What do I have to do to convert to Christianity?’ I questioned him about his beliefs and led him in the sinner’s prayer,” Jeans said. He then told me, ‘I am a Palestinian Muslim. I cannot tell anyone my full name or I will be killed.’” A week after he made his profession of faith in Jesus Christ, the Muslim was returned as part of routine deportation to his home country. “Oh, I tell you it was unbelievable to experience this,” Jeans said. “I relate it to Phillip preaching that revival in Antioch. I’m not a preacher or pastor, I’m just a layman, and if I had been so prideful as to not give up my place to lead … [Read more...]
Wild Spirit Ministries reaches young men through sport of hunting, fishing
Submitted by philip on Tue, 06/04/2013 - 11:05 Based out of Duson Baptist Church, Wild Spirit Ministries ministers to boys through hunting and fishing. Each boy is paired with a mentor who shares tips on the sport but also advice on life and a relationship with Jesus Christ. By Brian Blackwell, Marketing Director DUSON – Daniel Benoit’s vision to reach young men for Christ came one day on a deer stand. An avid hunter, Benoit spent many mornings on his property participating in a sport he loved. Then, Benoit said, God told him to share his passion with boys who needed Christian love, whom in some cases had never hunted in their life. “God spoke to me and told me to quit being selfish,” Benoit said. “I couldn’t wait to get back and tell [Duson Baptist Pastor] Toby Ryder what God told me. “When I did tell him the news, Toby shared that God had told him the same thing but using his love for fishing,” Benoit continued. “And that’s how this ministry started.” Based out of Duson Baptist Church, Wild Spirit Ministries is a young men’s hunting and fishing club. The boys attend weekly Bible studies, participate in fishing and hunting trips both inside and outside the state and a monthly community-wide men’s supper where the boys cook … [Read more...]