By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA – A long-time Louisiana Baptist pastor who moved out of state in 1996 has returned as the new director of missions for the Big Creek and the CENLA Baptist associations. Daryl Stagg, who is a native of Tioga, has served in the Midwest for the last two decades, but he said the allure of coming back to Louisiana proved too enticing to ignore. “I got to a point where I was tired of the heat and moved to a colder climate,” quipped Stagg. “Now being older you get tired of shoveling snow and battling ice on the streets. Coming home and seeing the pine trees and having a lot longer climate is a blessing. I look forward to being around my family, my children and grandchildren.” He began his work as director of missions on Sept. 1. CALL TO MINISTRY Stagg repented for salvation and was baptized at the First Baptist Church in Pineville when he was nine years old. Eleven years later, he accepted a call to vocational ministry when he was a summer missionary in Bangladesh. During the years that followed, Stagg served as pastor of the Bayou des Glaises Baptist Church in Moreauville, Fellowship Baptist Church in Converse, First Baptist Church in Calhoun, and Fellowship … [Read more...]
Louisiana Notables
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 Marlene Williams is the new communications minister at Fair Park Baptist Church, West Monroe. Josh, wife Carrie, Cagle is the new pastor at Oak Hill Baptist Church, Plain Dealing. Lance, wife Debbie, Rolland is the new pastor at Westwood Baptist Church, Keithville. He comes from Summer Grove Baptist Church. Adam Hughes is the new pastor of Red Bluff Baptist Church, Folsom. Mark Long is the new pastor of Bogue Falaya Baptist Church, Folsom. Robert Fontenot is the new minister to students at Jerusalem Baptist Church, Hammond. Devan and Tiffany Rodriguez are the new youth directors at Loranger Baptist Church, Loranger. John Rushing is the interim pastor at Sardis Baptist Church, Farmerville. HOMECOMING Trinity Baptist Church, Hammond: 65th Homecoming Celebration, October 13-14, on … [Read more...]
Students urged to take Bibles to school Oct. 4
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (BP) -- The freedom to distribute Bibles in schools and discuss Scripture openly with fellow students is being celebrated nationwide Oct. 4 at the fifth annual Bring Your Bible to School Day. The Focus on the Family (FOTF) event founded in 2014 is on track for its largest participation to date, founder Candi Cushman told Baptist Press today (Oct. 2). "We'll definitely exceed half a million participants, but it's hard to measure and predict exact numbers because lots of kids wait until the last moment to sign up and join the movement," said Cushman, FOTF director of education issues. "In addition to public school students in every state in the nation, we also have involvement from many kids in private schools and homeschooling communities who choose to do special events or distribute Bibles in their communities as a way of showing support. We welcome all of them." Nearly half a million participated in 2017, up from 8,000 in the event's first year, FOTF said of the event open to kindergarteners through college students, with downloadable free resources for churches, pastors, parents and students at BringYourBible.org. FOTF President Jim Daly said many students appreciate Scripture but are afraid … [Read more...]
NOBTS President Chuck Kelley announces retirement; will serve through July 2019
By Gary D. Myers, NOBTS Communications NEW ORLEANS – New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary President Charles S. (Chuck) Kelley Jr., announced his plan to retire at the end of the current academic year during Founders’ Day chapel Oct. 2. Kelley will continue to lead the seminary through July 31, 2019. “This is the biggest decision of my life in a lot of ways,” Kelley said in an interview. “I have been a part of almost half of the 100-year existence of NOBTS, it is very much the fabric of my whole life, and it has been a joyful, wondrous journey.” “This is a happy decision for us,” Kelley said. “We have served the seminary in a variety of ways and are thrilled to do so now in a completely different way.” The public announcement came during Kelley’s Founders’ Day presentation called “A Walk through the Presidents.” In the presentation, Kelley noted the highlights of the seven other presidents who have served since the seminary launched 100 years ago. He concluded with the story of his presidency and the announcement about his future. After much prayer and several years of planning, Kelley said the conclusion of the centennial celebration offered a great opportunity to announce the transition. Kelley expressed … [Read more...]
Speaker challenges LC students to be part of the harvest
By Message Staff PINEVILLE – International Mission Board representative Janna Smith challenged students to live with a purpose and that purpose is for Jesus. Smith was speaking at Louisiana College’s weekly chapel which coincided with the opening day of the three-day “Live Out Loud” missions conference September 27. “Jesus said open your eyes to see the harvest,” Smith told the students. “He said the harvest is ready right now. “Others have done the hard work; we are invited to go and be part of the harvest,” she continued. “If you are a follower of Jesus and He has continued to let you live, the purpose of your life is to make Him known.” Smith is among several IMB, North American Mission Board and Louisiana Baptist missionaries who will share how to live on mission during the conference. Keith Manuel, director of evangelism for Louisiana Baptists, John Hebert, director of missions for Louisiana Baptists, George Ross, SEND North America New Orleans representative, and Brad Webb, pastor of Family of Grace Church in Alexandria will share their experiences with students during classes on Friday, September 28. The Love Out Loud conference culminates September 29 with hundreds of LC students mobilizing with four area … [Read more...]
Pro-Life leaders celebrate ruling on admitting privileges law
By Louisiana Right to Life A federal appeals court panel has ruled that a 2014 Louisiana law requiring abortion providers to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital passes constitutional muster. The U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals three-judge panel recognized a similar law struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2016, but by a 2-1 decision September 26 they said the Louisiana Unsafe Abortion Protection Act (Act 620) does not impose the same "substantial burden" on women as the Texas law. Judges Smith and Clement analyzed the law's impact on Louisiana, separating it from the Texas-based facts presented in the Supreme Court's 2016 Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt decision. The ruling reverses the 2017 ruling of federal district court Judge John deGravelles, who blocked the law. "Louisiana Right to Life celebrates today’s 5th Circuit decision upholding Louisiana’s Unsafe Abortion Protection Act as a victory for women’s health and safety," said Benjamin Clapper, Executive Director of Louisiana Right to Life. "Ever since we began working with State Rep. Katrina Jackson (D-Monroe) to introduce HB 388 in 2014, the goal of requiring abortion providers to have admitting privileges at local hospitals was always … [Read more...]
Urgent call issued for disaster relief response to Florence
By Message Staff The Baptist Association of Greater Baton Rouge has issued a call for disaster relief team members for a response to Hurricane Florence. According to an e-mail from the association, a team from Fellowship Church in Prairieville is scheduled to leave September 29 for New Bern, North Carolina. The team will help clean up debris resulting from the hurricane that sent water into 4,300 homes, about one-third of houses in the city. They are scheduled to return to Louisiana October 5. Florence, which made landfall Sept. 14 as a Category 1 hurricane, has produced record rainfall and flooding that has caused entire towns to be cut off, and is responsible for at least 42 deaths in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. Those interested in participating should register at Smartsheet or contact Sarah Reynolds at 225. 673.4735. Donations for disaster relief can be given at the association website. … [Read more...]
Tomorrow’s Hope Crusade’s powerful second night leads to 15 more salvations
By Message Staff JENA – Hundreds of people came forward, knelt, and filled the altar to pray for lost souls in a stirring, powerful moment during the second night of Tomorrow’s Hope Crusade. Answering a call by evangelist Scott Camp, people streamed out of the stands and to the altar to pray for family, friends and neighbors Monday night, Sept. 24. “Do you have a burden for someone? I want you to get out of your seats and come to this altar and pray for that person,” Camp told the crowd inside Jena High School’s gymnasium. “God wants to touch this little town. God wants to touch this parish. Aren’t you sick and tired of letting the devil run over you like a smooth road? We need revival. Get on our face before God. “Our hearts have grown cold,” he continued. “We don’t weep over the lost. Church is just a country club with a steeple on top and it is time we change.” A passionate Camp told the crowd he was a changed man because as a “17-year-old boy, alone in a jail cell,” Jesus came and rescued him from a life of sin. “God still heals people today,” he said. “God still delivers people today. And I’m praying that if nothing else this week, you will get full of the Holy Ghost. ... The Holy Spirit of God will give you … [Read more...]
Prayer will be the focus of annual See You at the Pole events tomorrow
By Message Staff Prayer will be the emphasis early Wednesday morning, Sept. 26, when students in Louisiana and all over the country will join for this year’s annual See You At The Pole events. Held the fourth Wednesday of every September around their school’s flagpoles, the students assemble to pray for their friends, community and nation. Some churches continue the day of prayer with a time of worship [See You After the Pole) in the evening. This year’s theme is Broken, based on Ephesians 3:14 which states “I fall on my knees before the Father.” The Baptist Message would like to post pictures of your SYATP activities on our Facebook page and publish a photo gallery later on our website, baptistmessage.com. Anyone who would like to share what your students are doing can email your photos to brian@baptistmessage.com. … [Read more...]
Tomorrow’s Hope’s first night yields 63 decisions
By Message Staff JENA – Evangelist Rick Gage urged hundreds of people attending the opening night of the Tomorrow’s Hope GO TELL Crusade to consider turning to Christ before the opportunity passes. “You don’t know when your last chance to give your heart and life to Christ will pass you by,” Gage told a few hundred gathered inside Jena High School’s gymnasium Sunday, Sept. 23. “You’re not guaranteed that you will see tomorrow “There will be billions who will stand before Jesus on judgment day and they will be shocked when they hear Jesus say I never knew you,” Gage said. “Can you say tonight in confidence when this brief life ends you will go to heaven?” At the invitation, 63 came forward to declare Christ the Lord of their lives and several others sought prayer for family and friends who do not know Christ. Crusade leaders will connect with those persons who made a decision with the pastor of a local church for follow-up. Gage shared how Christ transformed his life that was destined for self-destruction to a future marked with the hope of Jesus. Soon after, Gage lost his desire to become a head football coach at a major program (Texas Tech), and surrendered his life to full-time evangelistic ministry. Since then, … [Read more...]
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