By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer MONROE – Construction is common place these days on the campus of the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home and its executive director knows how much of a blessing it is for the changed lives of children and women in the state. Renovation is scheduled to begin in November for the cottages serving children and house parents. Two other projects are also scheduled to begin soon that will benefit children and their mothers who are transitioning from a homeless lifestyle to one of job readiness. “We are so grateful for special friends who are making the much-needed renovations and new cottages possible,” Perry Hancock, president and CEO of the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home and Family Ministries, shared during the recent trustees meeting. Peace Cottage will receive new flooring, an updated kitchen and paneling will be removed. Moreover, all eight of the cottages, built in the 1970s, will have been renovated by early 2016. Grace and Feazell cottages were the first to receive renovations in 2013. Since then, Joy, Rucker, Love, Hope and Faith have also received updates. While the cottage is receiving its renovations, construction has begun on Maggie’s Place, the first of … [Read more...]
Louisiana College three-day revival begins tonight
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer Louisiana College kicks off its three-day campus revival tonight, with Dr. Sammy Tippit bringing a message at 6 pm. The annual revival will also take place the following day, with Lee Howell, Founder of Awaken Men Ministries and Director of St George Island Christian Retreat Center, presenting his message at 6:30 pm. The revival concludes on Thursday when renowned youth evangelist Curtis Zackery speaks in chapel at 11 am and that evening at 6:30 pm. Area churches will lead music each session. The Gathering Place will lead music on the first day; Zion Hill Church on Wednesday; the LC Chapel band at 11 am and the Philadelphia Baptist Church choir at 6:30 pm on Thursday. In the past, Dr. David Allen and last year Dr. John Bisagno, Dr. Alvin Reid, and Dr. Sammy Tippit spoke at the Joseph Willis Symposium, which served as the Campus Revival. Philip Caples, Vice President of Integration for Faith and Learning and Assistant Professor of Preaching and Pastoral Ministry at LC, encouraged pastors, the campus community and others around the state to attend this year's revival. "We have great speakers and worship leaders, and the atmosphere on campus is set for the Lord to move in a powerful way," he … [Read more...]
Excavation efforts continue by NOBTS team, others in Israel
By Gary D. Myers, NOBTS director of public relations June 4, 2018 Juggling three sites has been difficult, but the results have been remarkable. It is very difficult to gather updates and photographs. However, we have begged and borrowed enough photos to update the NOBTS Moskau Institute Flickr page with photos from all three sites – Visit the Page. Tel Gezer The excavation and cleaning work in the water system itself is complete. The tunnel is ready for the Israel Nature and Parks Authority to begin working on a plan which will allow visitors to walk part of the way into the system. Over in Area C, the team is in a race with the clock. As this is the last season at Tel Gezer it is imperative that the team gather as much information as possible to help locate the connection between the water system (Areas A and B), Area C (the wall rooms), and the gate (Area D). As usual, Area C remains very active and continues to provide interesting finds – much of which we cannot discuss until well after the season in complete. Tel Hadid At Tel Hadid the team is working to excavate four squares in the morning and moving to the survey work after our mid-morning breakfast. Both efforts are going well. Click Here to … [Read more...]
BRNow ‘Fact Check’ – A Response
By David E. Hankins I did not intend to write anything else regarding the upcoming SBC presidential election. The election is only days away, and I have made my support for Ken Hemphill, and the reasons for that support, abundantly clear. However, the North Carolina Baptist online paper, BRNow, posted the article “Fact Check” in which candidate J.D. Greear said I erroneously attributed to him negative comments regarding state conventions. Subsequently, a number of people, both supporters and critics, have suggested I reply. In the interest of accuracy, I offer the following points: J.D. contextualized his comments by writing, “When I read David Hankins’ claim, I immediately called him…” (see 3/21/18 blog post) This just is not so. The truth is, I initiated through an intermediary a request for a conversation with Dr. Greear, and my talk with J.D. did not take place until days later. He did not immediately or otherwise initiate a call with me. I am attaching the email exchange between J.D.’s right-hand man and myself arranging the call. Is this a big deal? Maybe not. But the BR article was intended to give J.D. the opportunity to correct factual errors. Why would he misstate the material facts concerning a telephone call … [Read more...]
Update from digs in Tel Gezer/Tel Hadid/Sepphoris
By Gary D. Myers, NOBTS public relations As you see from the title of this post, members of our group will be at three different sites this summer. Logistics will greatly complicate our updates and blog posts over the next three weeks. Not only must we juggle the difficulties of different schedules, we each are working in different historic periods and unique settings. Today, May 29, marked the third official day of the excavation season and it is time for a much-needed update. The blog has been hampered by my jet-lag and concerns over lost luggage – not to mention the logistic concerns denoted above. Here is an all-too-brief overview. Tel Gezer On Sunday, the entire team from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Liberty University traveled to Tel Gezer for a site tour and several hours of set up. Set up was much easier this summer due to the scope of the excavation work at Gezer. The team will excavate in Area C (the intermural complex – wall rooms near the opening of the water system) and in Area B (the water basin or pool of the water system). The team will not excavate in Area D (MB II gate) or utilize a crane to pull material out of the water system. Volunteers will only probe in the material that remains … [Read more...]
Report: Foundation sees increase in assets, donations
By Jerry Love, LBF director of planned giving ALEXANDRIA (LBM) – Some positive economic news, a significant increase in assets and deposits, highlighted the quarterly meeting of the Louisiana Baptist Foundation Board of Trustees meeting May 8. INVESTMENT UPDATES Pat Lacour, trustee from Pineville, chaired the morning meeting of the investment committee and had Lee Morris, Investment Consultant with Graystone, give an update on the performance of the LBF portfolio. Morris said the first quarter saw “lots of noise, with not much happening,” explaining that there was a lot of volatility in the equity markets without much progress in investment growth for the beginning of the year. The outlook for fixed income positions is still very modest, he added, saying the general expectation is that the Federal Reserve will bump rates higher at least a couple more times this year. However, the LBF’s bond portfolio managers are continuing to maintain shorter durations, hedging against the rise in rates. Other smaller investment allocations in the LBF portfolio, such as preferred stock, and, oil and gas MLP’s, continue to add value to the mix of assets so far this year, he said. Morris told trustees analysts expect … [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 Charles Malone is the new pastor at Bethlehem Baptist Church, Calhoun. Morgan McCallister is the new pastor at Trinity Baptist Church, West Monroe. Jason Purdy was ordained April 22 at First Baptist Church, Livingston. Frank Valenzano resigned as pastor of One Life Church, Denham Springs and is now the new pastor at First Baptist Church, West Fairbanks. Mallory Sanchez is the new worship leader at Bayou Oaks Baptist Church, Monroe. HOMECOMING Pine Hill Baptist Church, Leesville: 124th annual homecoming, June 3, 10 a.m. Dinner on the grounds will follow the service. Speaker: Chase Burns. Pastor: Tri Evans. Mt. Gilead Baptist Church, Vivian: 158th Homecoming, June 3, 10 a.m. Dinner on the grounds will follow the service. The church invites everyone to come and fellowship on this special … [Read more...]
Leavell College surpasses 5,000 graduates during 25th anniversary commencement
By Gary D. Myers, NOBTS Communications NEW ORLEANS – Leavell College of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary marked two significant milestones during the school’s commencement service Friday, May 18: Commemoration of 25 years as a four-year institution and celebration of its 5,000th graduate. “We are preparing students so that they are first and foremost grounded in their biblical understanding. This is unchanging,” Thomas Strong III, dean of Leavell College, said in a recent interview. “We are preparing students to build their lives upon the Scripture and then to help others do so as well.” According to Strong, this commitment to the Bible and a biblical understanding of ministry leads to a deep commitment to the local church among the school’s students. This year’s top graduating bachelor’s student, Jerome Bradley, exemplifies this dedication to the local church, Strong said. Bradley, who will continue as a master’s student at NOBTS in the fall, sensed a call to ministry while serving as a Sunday School teacher at Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans. Retired after 33 years in the military and federal government service, Bradley began studying at Leavell College with the goal of becoming a chaplain. … [Read more...]
NOBTS Graduation: ‘Jesus changes everything’
By Marilyn Stewart NEW ORLEANS - As the world watched the royal wedding festivities at Great Britain’s Windsor Castle May 19, graduate candidates waited patiently to receive their diplomas inside the Leavell Chapel on the campus of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. NOBTS President Chuck Kelley reminded the chapel audience that while a media frenzy that morning surrounded Prince Harry and his new bride Meghan Markle, no reporters waited outside to talk to them. “So, why does this day matter?” Kelley asked the crowd. “The occasion we are here for today is far, far more significant than that gathering that has the eyes of the whole world.” Every graduate is important, Kelley explained, but the ministries and positions of service each would soon occupy did not depend on them. “Your life matters,” Kelley said. “But, it’s not about you. It’s about Jesus. He holds the key.” Kelley explained that he carries in his pocket a key once used to unlock cell doors at the Louisiana State Penitentiary, Angola, La. Worn past its usefulness, the key now is “retired,” Kelley said. “I carry it with me always as a reminder that Jesus changes everything,” Kelley said. Once known as the “bloodiest prison in America,” the … [Read more...]
Retired DOMs hold reunion, remain active in Louisiana Baptist life
ALEXANDRIA (LBM) –Twenty-two retired Louisiana Baptist directors of missions, along with former Louisiana Baptist Convention missions and ministries staff and other guests, gathered at the Alexandria state missions center, May 15, for a first-ever reunion. Don Mabry, who retired as Louisiana Baptist Convention state missions and ministries director in 1999, said the meeting allowed the directors of missions to reminisce about the highlights and challenges they faced. “We enjoyed each other’s company and had a good fellowship time of remembering some of the wonderful things that went on with Louisiana Baptists,” Mabry told the Baptist Message. “On this day, we rejoiced together about what the Lord has done with a lot of our folks. Through the years there have been some very wonderful people serving the Lord in Louisiana. When some of them called and asked if we could have a reunion, I told them sure and I think everyone had a great time.” Addressing the directors of missions, LBC Executive Director David Hankins commended them for still caring for pastors and churches in the state. “Some of the best help that’s being done in our churches around Louisiana is by you guys who still have the passion for the Lord in your … [Read more...]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 186
- 187
- 188
- 189
- 190
- …
- 338
- Next Page »