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 Johnny Wagner is the new pastor at Colfax Baptist Church, Colfax. He was ordained to the Gospel ministry during an October 6 ordination ceremony followed by a fellowship. He is the fifth generation grandson of Joseph Willis. Kevin Funderburk is the new Pastor for Discipling and Worship at First Baptist Church of Lake Charles. Kevin and family had previously been serving in East Asia. Delmar Bennett has resigned as Minister of Education & Outreach at Florida Blvd. Baptist Church, Baton Rouge. Galen (wife Robyn) Leger is the new music minister at Ellerbe Baptist Church, Shreveport. Trinity Heights: Collin Wimberly has resigned as pastor at Trinity Heights Baptist Church in Shreveport to church plant in Red River Parish. HOMECOMING Mangham Baptist Church, Mangham: Annual Homecoming … [Read more...]
Church honors outgoing pastor, Ed Jelks, by naming new children’s center in his honor
(Top photo) Nathan Lott, shown with his wife Dawn, daughters Alyssa, Alayna and Brayden, is the new pastor at Ethel Baptist Church, Ethel. He replaces John “Ed” Jelks, who retired July 31 after having served as pastor of Ethel for the past 12 years. (Bottom photo) In a celebration service, Jelks, who served as a Missions Builder, was recognized for his long service to the church and Mission Builders by having the newly completed children’s center named after him. … [Read more...]
Softball player finds family, faith at Louisiana College
By Norm Miller, Louisiana College News PINEVILLE, La. (LCNews)--Samantha Downey is a psychology major from Redondo Beach, California, and was heavily recruited to play collegiate softball. She chose to play for the Lady Wildcats because of the new challenge and a change of scene. Meeting the members of the softball team allayed one apprehension Downey had: “I knew I’d be far from my family, but I’m still going to have family here.” While playing softball, Downey sustained an injury that caused her to reevaluate why she came to Louisiana College. Appreciating the close-knit environment and “homelike atmosphere” of Louisiana College, Downey said her initial visit to the campus inspired her. “I fell in love with LC because of the one-on-one connection students have with professors.” “Before I came to LC, I had no relationship with God. I didn’t even know you could have a relationship with God,” she said. “My mom and dad believed in God but I never knew anything about that.” “And I didn’t understand why things happened,” she said. With a history of bad experiences with churches, Downey had difficulty even entering one. “But when I came here, my best friend -- and she’s my roommate -- she kind of introduced me to Christ. And the … [Read more...]
Louisiana College trustees elect officers; approve scholarships
By Norm Miller, Louisiana College News PINEVILLE, La. (LCNews) – The Louisiana College Board of Trustees unanimously approved two scholarships and elected officers in their Oct. 28 meeting. By unanimous vote trustees elected as chairman, David Jeffreys, associate pastor of Highland Baptist Church in New Iberia; as vice chairman, Michael Evans, pastor of Elwood Baptist Church in Forest Hill; and as secretary, David Lane, pastor of Judson Baptist Church in Walker. The President’s Leadership Award and a STEM to STEAM scholarship were unanimously approved. Based on academic performance and need, the STEM to STEAM full tuition scholarship is limited to five qualified students, total, from the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts or other STEM accredited high schools. “We believe the Arts are no less important than science, technology, engineering, and math are to a holistic liberal arts education,” said Louisiana College President Rick Brewer. “This scholarship reflects our commitment for STEM to become STEAM at Louisiana College and adds our collegial support to what the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts in Natchitoches and other STEM accredited schools are consistently … [Read more...]
Louisiana College honors Hixsons at Founders Day
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) –Louisiana College honored Carroll and Elizabeth Hixson with the unveiling of a historical marker in front of the student center that bears their name during its annual Founders Day celebration Oct. 24. “The Hixsons believed that everyone should have access to a Christian education,” LC President Rick Brewer read from a description on the marker. “Their gift of the Hixson Student Center testifies to the unified hearts, shared convictions and exemplary lives of Carroll and Elizabeth Hixson.” Carroll Hixson was a long-time co-owner of Hixson Funeral Homes, with multiple locations in the state, and served faithfully for 56 years at the First Baptist Church in Lake Charles in various roles that included deacon and Sunday school teacher. His love for Louisiana Baptists eventually led him to serve as a trustee with LC for 28 years, including a stint as chairman. The Hixson heritage traces back to 1907, when his father, J.E. Hixson, was an adjunct professor, according to the LC Office of Communication. In the ensuring years, other family members enrolled as students: Lauren Hixson Philips, an alumna and accountant in Lake Charles; Emma Hixson, a pre-med … [Read more...]
NWLBA honors M.E. Dodd during 50th celebration
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer SHREVEPORT, La. (LBM) – The Northwest Louisiana Baptist Association paid tribute to Cooperative Program father M.E. Dodd during its 50th anniversary celebration, Sunday, Oct. 20. Throughout the evening, Louisiana Baptist and Southern Baptist leaders honored the association with video tributes and statements of appreciation at Summer Grove Baptist Church in Shreveport. NWLBA Director of Missions Lane Moore stood behind the pulpit used by Dodd during his ministry as pastor of the First Baptist Church in Shreveport from 1912-1950 and shared how the legendary pastor helped lead an effort to form the Cooperative Program, Southern Baptists’ main channel of giving to fund cooperative mission causes. Moore recounted how during Dodd’s 1919 SBC Annual Meeting convention sermon, SBC leaders and messengers took up his challenge to increase the Convention’s missions fundraising goal from a previously planned $50 million to $75 million in a difficult post-World War I economy. “Chairman Dodd and his committee went back to work and for several more years revised, re-worked and re-structured a detailed plan that was presented at the 1925 Southern Baptist Convention,” Moore said. “The … [Read more...]
NOBTS conference focuses on reaching cities
By Marilyn Stewart, NOBTS Office of Communications NEW ORLEANS, La. (BP) - Engaging cities for the Gospel was the focus of the one-day event "The Gospel and the City" at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Oct. 24. Jamie Dew, NOBTS and Leavell College president, pointed to the importance of engaging cities even when they seem overwhelming or outside believers' "comfort zones." "The cities are the population centers of the world, where 55 percent of the world's population resides," Dew told participants. "We can make a maximum impact on the world when we go into the cities." Dew stressed the importance of rural congregations, but noted that urban centers cannot be ignored because of the presence of media outlets, sports organizations and art communities in cities that shape the culture. Dew added, "Why would we not engage them and try to make a difference for Christ?" A biblical mandate to engage cities is modeled by Old Testament prophets and by Paul and Jesus, whose ministry led Him to Jerusalem, the cultural center of His day, Dew said. Dew drew a "cultural mandate" from God's command in Genesis 1 to have "dominion" over the earth and cultivate a culture that brings glory to God. The way to engage cities, … [Read more...]
Marc Taylor to be nominated for LBC second vice president
By Message Staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Marc Taylor, a member of the Cook Baptist Church in Ruston, will be nominated for second vice president of the Louisiana Baptist Convention during the 2019 annual meeting. Mike Holloway, pastor of Ouachita Baptist Church in West Monroe, notified the Baptist Message, Oct. 18, of his intention to make the nomination because of Taylor’s deep commitment to Jesus Christ and the LBC. He is a man of integrity and well respected by all of his peers, Holloway noted. The LBC annual meeting is scheduled to be held in the Alexandria Riverfront Center, Nov. 11-12. STATEMENT OF SUPPORT Holloway said he has known Taylor since 2005, when he became pastor of Cook Baptist. Even after Holloway resigned in 2015 to become pastor of Ouachita Baptist, he continued his friendship with Taylor. “Each year in the LBC we seek qualified and committed laypeople to serve our convention,” Holloway said. “I felt God placed Marc’s name on my heart because he is a committed Louisiana Baptist and a private business owner who has the time to serve our Convention, as he has in the past, as a trustee of Louisiana College. He will do Louisiana Baptists a great job while serving as our second vice … [Read more...]
Leroy Fountain to be re-nominated for LBC first vice president
By Message Staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) — Leroy Fountain, church health strategist with the New Orleans Baptist Association, will be re-nominated for a second consecutive term as first vice president of the Louisiana Baptist Convention during the 2019 annual meeting. Jack Hunter, associational missions strategist for NOBA, notified the Baptist Message, Oct. 18, of his intention to make the nomination. The LBC annual meeting is scheduled to be held in the Alexandria Riverfront Center, Nov. 11-12. STATEMENT OF SUPPORT “Our association has never had a more experienced strategist, a keener exegete of culture or a more humble pastor,” Hunter said. “Leroy is a consummate gentleman and an unflinching follower of Christ.” CANDIDATE’S RESPONSE “I’m honored that Mr. Jack Hunter has agreed to stand on the stage before Louisiana Baptists and express his trust in me,” Fountain said. “I’m excited about the possibility, if I should be so fortunate to be elected, of serving with Dr. Steve Horn, our newly elected state executive director, as he sets a course and leads Louisiana Baptists through the last half of the first quarter of the 21st century. I’m excited to have served with the outgoing president, Dr. Eddie Wren, and the … [Read more...]
LC unveils new computer science classroom
By Norm Miller, LC News PINEVILLE, La. (LCNews)--Thanks to the generosity of alumnus Don Hill and Terry, his wife, Louisiana College in Pineville unveiled a newly equipped and remodeled Computer Science classroom, Oct. 18. “I am deeply grateful that Don and Terry recognize the importance of Louisiana College’s mission and vision and have demonstrated such loyalty to Don’s alma mater,” said Dr. Rick Brewer, president of Louisiana College, told about 50 members of Louisiana College’s Board of Visitors gathered for its annual fall meeting. Hill, a 1964 graduate from LC, is an entrepreneur and restaurateur from Dallas who co-founded Saltgrass Steak House and the more recent Texas-based Lupe Tortilla. He is a member of LC’s Board of Visitors, whose combined annual gifts of more than $200,000 solely and wholly support qualified student’s scholarships. “This gift provides a huge lift to our emerging Computer Science major and our commitment regarding STEM becoming STEAM,” said Dr. Rick Brewer, president of Louisiana College. “I want to say thank you to Louisiana College because the four years I spent here were the four most important years in my entire life,” Hill said. “LC was the spring board for me to go on and have … [Read more...]
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