By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer HAUGHTON – While communication and money are common problems in marriages, Kirk Cameron believes the main problem is selfishness. “Selfishness poisons everything,” Cameron said. “The heart of the problem in my marriage is the problem of my heart. I know without the intervention of God I will destroy the most precious relationship I have on the planet and that is my wife. I am bent toward selfishness by nature. It is only God who can cure a selfish heart.” Cameron shared his thoughts on marriage at the Love Worth Fighting For conference Sunday, April 30, at First Baptist Church in Haughton, and at First Baptist Church in West Monroe on Saturday, April 29. In addition to Cameron’s message, speaker and singer/songwriter Warren Barfield also shared some inspirational thoughts on the subject. Known for his role as young Mike Seaver on the ABC sitcom “Growing Pains” in the 1980s, Cameron now uses his notoriety on the big screen to share the Gospel. He can be seen alongside evangelist Ray Comfort presenting Christ on the video series “Way of the Master” and has starred in such films as “Left Behind” and “Fireproof.” During Love Worth Fighting For, Cameron made several references to … [Read more...]
Archives for May 2017
Alpine helps extend Louisiana Baptists’ missions overseas
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer MOZAMBIQUE – Modern day miracles are taking place in Mozambique and Lucas LaCour is thankful he and his fellow church members have a front seat to the revival happening in a cluster of villages. Since their first mission trip to the country in 2015, Alpine First Baptist Church team members have witnessed more than 40,000 people make a profession of faith in Jesus Christ and seen the number of church plants grow from zero to 41. “It’s miraculous,” Lacour said. “And it’s encouraging and convincing of the power of the Gospel. To see them hear it for the first time, there’s no doubt whatsoever in my mind that Christ is on the move in Mozambique.” COOPERATING CAJUNS Alpine First Baptist has taken at least three mission trips to Mozambique each year since 2015. They are in the third of a five-year commitment to take teams to an area of the country that is home to Nsenga people, one of nearly 3,250 who the International Mission Board classifies as an Unreached Unengaged People Group. A people group is unreached where the number of evangelical Christians is less than 2 percent of a country’s population and are deemed unengaged when there is no church planting strategy consistent … [Read more...]
Another weekend, another damaging storm hits Louisiana
By Message Staff A round of severe weather swept through the state late Saturday and into Sunday dumping more than 10 inches rain in some areas, producing high winds and at least one confirmed EF-1 tornado. At least one Louisiana Baptist church – Faith Baptist Church in Livonia – had the majority of its roof ripped off and a significant amount of water damage inside. CLECO, AEP-SWEPCO and Entergy – three utility companies that serve many areas impacted by the storms – reported significant outages. At the height of the storm, more than 42,000 Entergy, 12,000 Cleco and 13,500 AEP-SWEPCO customers were without power. Among the churches damaged was Faith Baptist Church in Livonia, which lost a portion of its roof. Tommy Middleton, director of missions for the Greater Baton Rouge Area Baptist Association, said the congregation of Faith Baptist was trying to remain positive. “Pray as they try to figure out what to do going forward,” he said. Pastor Freddie Rodrigue, who rushed to the church as soon as the storm had passed, found half of the church’s roof missing, pieces of tin wrapped around a tree and a broken brick column lying on the roof line on the fellowship hall. "Water was coming into the building, the … [Read more...]
Some relief for pastors & wives impacted by disasters
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ST FRANCISVILLE – Louisiana Baptist pastors and their wives affected by either of the historic floods of 2016 are invited to take advantage of a gift, courtesy of the missions and ministries and pastoral leadership teams at the state missions office – some days of relaxation on the grounds of Judson Retreat Center. Couples will have the option of choosing to attend one of two identical overnight retreats – either May 15-16 or May 16-17 at the center, located at 10330 Peterson Road in St. Francisville. Each retreat will begin at 3 p.m. and end at noon the following day. Endel Lee, a military church planting catalyst with the North American Mission Board, will be the speaker and Ben Waites, a musical evangelist from Ball, will lead the music. Additionally, Fred Luter, pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, will share some inspirational words during the Monday evening session. “This conference is to assist the pastor and his wife to be able to unload and reload for the long haul,” said Gibbie McMillian, Louisiana Baptists state disaster relief director. “Pastors carry too much stress and they need opportunities like this to take a load off and be able to relax for … [Read more...]
Prayers answered – God restores pastor’s health, ministry
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ST LANDRY – Pastor Jerry Adams’ life almost ended in December when he was forced into a medically-induced coma. But a merciful God – implored by the prayers of thousands in Louisiana and around the world – granted Adams a miraculous return to the pulpit at Centerville Baptist Church in St. Landry, only four months later, he told the Baptist Message. COMMON SICKNESS TO COMA “It’s been a long hard process coming back,” Adams said. “God does have a plan for our life but it isn’t what we always want. It’s always for our best.” Adams’ near-death experience began when a painful and persistent sore throat caused him to visit the emergency room at St. Francis Cabrini Hospital in Alexandria Dec. 1, being admitted shortly afterward. Days later, he was placed into a coma after his vitals plummeted following a tracheotomy, and was kept in this state of unconsciousness for 10 days. Physicians told Adams’ family to prepare to say their final good-byes Dec. 13. Determined not to give up, family and friends joined hands and sought God’s grace. “We began to pray for peace and God’s will alone,” said Josh Adams, the son of Jerry Adams and also pastor of Pisgah Baptist Church in Forest … [Read more...]
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