LBC church planting moves ahead despite pandemic
By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA (LBM) – The novel coronavirus outbreak may have disrupted plans to plant 30 churches in the state this year, but in the midst of challenging circumstances Louisiana Baptists still managed to start 15 new congregations. Next year, the Louisiana Baptist missions and ministry team has a goal to plant 29 churches, which would bring the total of new congregations started since 2010 to 300. “I am glad that we serve an unusual God in these unusual times,” James Jenkins, director of church planting for Louisiana Baptists, told the Baptist Message. “Pandemic or no pandemic, people need the Gospel. Planting 29 churches in the coming year is a God-sized goal that can be accomplished by God’s people working cooperatively to plant churches in every town, every city, every parish, to the very borders of Louisiana.” Planting 300 churches by 2020 is one of 10 action steps identified in the President’s 2020 Commission Final Report, which was affirmed by messengers during the 2013 LBC Annual Meeting. The strategy for church planting has been to target the regions of the state where most Louisianans live, with an emphasis on cities and communities along the I-10 corridor and … [Read more...]
Music minister Ken Fryer passes away at 56
By Baptist Message staff BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – Ken Fryer, minister of music at Riverside Baptist Church, Watson, died Saturday, Dec. 12. He was 56. A native of Delhi, Fryer served at several Louisiana Baptist churches, including as pastor of First Baptist Church, Greenwood, and College Place Baptist Church, Monroe. He also served as an associate pastor at Heritage Baptist Church, Shreveport; Milldale Baptist Church, Zachary; Willow Point Baptist Church, Shreveport; and Broussard Grove Baptist Church, Prairieville. In addition to being on the staff of six churches, Fryer served Louisiana Baptists as a LBC Executive Board member (2007-2011), moral and social concerns committee member (2012-2014), and President’s 2020 Commission member (2012-present), according to the Annual Church Profile. According to his obituary, Fryer taught at Sequitur Classical Academy, University View Academy and Christ Presbyterian Church, as well as teaching voice to numerous private students. He co-authored the book “Virtues of the Great Composers for Children,” and was a contributor to the book “Covenant Theology: A Baptist Distinctive” by Earl Blackburn. He was a graduate of Ouachita Parish High School, Monroe; East Texas Baptist … [Read more...]
2020 time of triumph during much tragedy
BENTON, La. (LBM) – When Pastor John Fream made a 2020 dare to members of the Cypress Baptist Church in Benton in January, urging them to embrace the “Who’s Your One” evangelistic challenge to share the Gospel with someone close to them, little did he know that two months later a pandemic would test the church’s commitment to the task. But instead of backing down, members embraced the circumstances as an open door to present the Gospel to their neighbors, he said. In the ensuing months, the congregation shared the Good News that can sustain during the uncertainty of a COVID-19 health emergency; and, by the end of November, 238 new converts had been baptized, up from 214 baptisms in 2019. “Our folks have been intentional to reach people and offer the hope in Christ,” Fream said. “We’ve been very aggressive about challenging them to do it. People need hope and we want to give them the Hope.” Even when the church was unable to meet, baptisms continued. Fream said during a six-week period, when the congregation was unable to meet in their facilities because of COVID-19 attendance restrictions, 20 people were baptized in pre-recorded videos that were broadcast during the livestream of services on Facebook Live, YouTube … [Read more...]
Angola Prison pastor set free!
By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ANGOLA, La. (LBM) – Paul Will, the immediate past pastor of Grace Baptist Church in the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola -- what is believed to be the first fully recognized Southern Baptist church inside the walls of a prison, has been granted parole and a second chance at life outside the prison. According to his fiancée, Amy Kossover, a parole board voted 3-0 to grant Will’s release Thursday, Dec. 10, and he was freed Friday, Dec. 11. “Many people have been asking me what is the one thing that mattered most on my journey to freedom,” Will said in a written statement to the Baptist Message. “I have believed there are many narratives to identify with in prison and I chose never to believe the ones that would keep me here. Kossover, who met Will many years ago while interviewing inmates as part of a video project at Angola, said she was moved to tears when the board announced their decision. “I am overjoyed for Paul,” Kossover told the Baptist Message. “It was pretty spectacular as I got to share the story of how Paul is a changed man of God. We now will look forward to all the things God will do in his life.” Will was saved while in transitional … [Read more...]
LC president releases holiday CD to support student scholarships
By LCNews staff PINEVILLE, La. (LCNews) – Louisiana College President Rick Brewer has released a Christmas album that not only can fill a loved one’s stocking but also will support student scholarships. The CD includes Brewer’s own arrangement of many beloved holiday favorites including “O Holy Night,” “Jingle Bells,” “White Christmas” and “Go Tell It On the Mountain.” “Christmas is a wonderful time to celebrate and rejoice,” Brewer said. “What would the holidays be without music?” Brewer recorded the album in his living room with assistance from LC Director of Technical Production Jeff Young. Brewer’s son, Jason, a Nashville, Tennessee-based musical artist, handled the post-production of the CD. “We recorded it in my living room on my piano with the acoustics in my house,” Brewer said. “Jeff recorded it with an Apple computer and microphones, and we emailed it to Jason.” This is the second album Brewer has released. In 2015, he recorded “Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs” alongside his son whose album, “The Explorers Club,” was released this summer and reached No. 5 on the United Kingdom Top 100 albums. Brewer said he is grateful to the Lord for his musical talents and for the support of both his family and … [Read more...]
YEC smaller and multi-site, but impact unchanged
By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) – The format was different for this year’s Youth Evangelism Celebration but the message to proclaim the Gospel in the students’ schools and communities remained unchanged for the more than 1,100, collectively, who gathered for three one-night regional events in November. Originally, the largest annual gathering of Louisiana Baptists – typically counting 6,000 attendees -- was scheduled to convene at the Rapides Parish Coliseum in Alexandria, Nov. 22-23. But, novel coronavirus pandemic attendance restrictions caused planners to restructure the event into a regional format called “YEC: Limited Edition.” Importantly, the three gatherings combined resulted in 69 students making some type of faith decision: 16 statements of belief, 44 acts of repentance to restore fellowship with Christ and nine commitments to vocational ministry. “It was a blessing to even have the opportunity to do this,” Louisiana Baptist Youth Ministry Strategist Brandon Lewis told the Baptist Message. “I want to express to (Louisiana Baptist Executive Director) Dr. Steve Horn and the (Louisiana Baptist) administrative council my appreciation for even trying this and making a way for … [Read more...]
Billy Burkett, pastor for more than seven decades, passes away at 90
By Baptist Message staff MANY, La. (LBM) – Billy Burkett, a pastor of northwest Louisiana Baptist churches for seven decades, died Sunday, Nov. 1. He was 90. A native of Converse, Burkett preached his first message when he was 16 and one year later surrendered to the ministry at Fellowship Baptist Church in Converse, according to his obituary. Burkett served 70 years as a pastor in Louisiana and two years as missions pastor of College Heights Baptist Church in Alamosa, Colorado. Most recently, he was pastor of Bethany Baptist Church in Marthaville, one of 10 Louisiana Baptist churches he served. Burkett also was active in the District 8 Baptist Convention, helping to form Clara Springs Baptist Camp in Pelican. Burkett was preceded in death by his parents, John and Gladys Burkett; his first wife for 62 years, Mary Louise Pentecost; and his sister, Johnnie Mae. He is survived by his wife, Martha Jane; sister, Elaine Burkett; three children, Mike Burkett (Sue), Don Burkett (Virginia), and Lisa Graham (Randy); Martha's children, Robert Burleson and Jo Lynn Graham; and numerous grandchildren. Family and friends gathered for celebration of life services Tuesday, Nov. 3, at Fellowship Baptist. In lieu of flowers, the family is … [Read more...]
Swingers are COVID positive after NOLA orgy billed as ‘convention’
Supreme Court passes on case of Louisiana pastor defying governor’s COVID order
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