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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Archives for 2021

First Bossier dedicates facilities, celebrates God’s victories

By Brian Blackwell, Message staff writer BOSSIER CITY, La. (LBM) – More than 1,400 members and guests packed the newly finished facilities of the First Baptist Church in Bossier City, July 11, for a special time of worship and celebration 31 months after a fire destroyed much of the buildings on campus. “This rebuild journey has been filled with both challenges and victories,” Pastor Brad Jurkovich told the Baptist Message. “I believe God is giving us a season of victory at this time so that we are stronger than ever to share Jesus with our city, nation and world. Celebration Sunday was a powerful step in seeing God do incredible things in the coming years.” Construction of the $20 million, 70,000-square-foot building was completed in early July and included a new chapel that incorporates some of the more traditional features of the original building that was destroyed, such as pew seating, but also modern elements, such as technology upgrades that allow multi-media presentations. The rebuilt campus includes a student center, foyer/event center and space for Sunday school classes and other small groups to meet. RESELIENT AMID ADVERSITY On Dec. 10, 2018, a three-alarm fire began at 5:30 a.m., originating with an … [Read more...]

BASELA names Sheridan as new director

By Brian Blackwell, Message staff writer BOGALUSA, La. (LBM) – The Baptist Associations of Southeast Louisiana has named member pastor Keith Sheridan to serve as the next associational missions strategist. Sheridan, pastor of Lee’s Creek Baptist Church in Bogalusa for the last five years, will begin serving in his new role August 9. While this is his first time to serve as a director of missions, Sheridan believes his experience at churches and in associational life has prepared him for this next chapter in ministry. “I am both excited and terrified,” Sheridan told the Baptist Message. “DOM’s have an awesome responsibility. One can’t help but feel excitement for the opportunity that God has afforded me and the trust the pastors of BASELA are sharing with me. We are truly blessed in BASELA with some of the greatest pastors in the state. It will be a joy to serve alongside of them.” CALLED TO SERVE Sheridan repented for salvation at age 10 while attending Memorial Baptist Church in Bogalusa but strayed from his faith as a teenager. However, he experienced a spiritual revival while attending a Heaven’s Gate, Hell’s Flames event when he was 25 years old and four years later accepted the call to vocational … [Read more...]

Louisianans urged to wear masks amid another COVID wave

By Baptist Message staff BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – Gov. John Bel Edwards has recommended Louisianans once again wear masks indoors in the fight against a fourth surge of COVID-19. Edwards, during a news conference Friday, July 23, said hospitalizations and new cases of coronavirus are on the rise, and that the state now has the highest growth rate of cases per capita in the nation. The Louisiana Department of Health reported on July 22, 3,127 new cases of the coronavirus, bringing the overall statewide total to 512,843 cases. The department said 1,008 COVID patients were in the hospital, including 82 on ventilators. The Louisiana Department of Health is suggesting – not mandating – that people wear their masks indoors when at least six feet of distancing is not physically possible and to stay out of crowds. Department officials also ask that everyone who had been exposed to COVID through colleagues, family members and others get tested, regardless of whether they have been vaccinated or not. Under the proclamation, those entering buildings operating under Edwards’ executive branch must wear masks indoors, effective Monday, July 26. “Right now, Louisiana has the best tool it has ever had to fight this surge: the COVID-19 … [Read more...]

LA pulmonologist appeals to adults to get vaccinations

By Staff, Baptist Message ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Frank Courmier, a pulmonologist at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center in Lafayette, appealed to Louisiana Baptist state missions staff, July 20, urging them to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and to advocate for vaccinations among Louisiana Baptists. Courmier, who conducted virus bioengineering research at M.D. Anderson in Houston, Texas, is chair of a regional coronavirus task force that encompasses the parishes surrounding Lafayette, and he is a member of the state task force on COVID-19. He addressed key issues, and answered questions and concerns raised by individuals gathered at the Louisiana Baptist Building and from online participants, citing an urgency in getting out his message because of a fourth surge his hospital is facing. A 10-day increase from nine to 40 COVID, mostly unvaccinated patients, has caused the hospital to “scramble one more time to accommodate the influx of patients,” he said. “I am tired of the death and destruction that this is causing, and I have to do something,” Courmier shared. “And so, rather than sitting and going through another fourth surge I have asked permission and have been granted to go across the state trying to convince … [Read more...]

As pastor, judge, McCallum serves God, Louisiana

By Will Hall, Message executive editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Jay McCallum believes in public service, and living your whole life in service to Christ, he told the Baptist Message. “My wife and I came to an understanding a number of years ago that everything we do is to be part of our ministry and mission effort. And God is sovereign over all our lives, not just part of our lives. “When you look at Scripture, it’s obvious,” he offered. “The Holy Spirit reveals our whole lives are to be dedicated to Christ. And that means every part of our life, including our occupation, no matter what it is.” McCallum was elected to the Louisiana Supreme Court in November and recently served as interim pastor for Liberty Baptist Church near Linville. He is only a few hours shy of completing a master’s degree at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, he said, and hopes to graduate in December. He and his wife, Deanna, are members of First Baptist Church in Farmerville, where he is a deacon and teacher and both are active in various ministries, according to his official biography. They are partners in law, too. McCallum said his journey to the pulpit and the state Supreme Court bench has been guided by the Holy Spirit. “I am … [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. HOMECOMING First Baptist Church, Ball: Homecoming, August 1, 10:45 a.m. with a meal following the worship service. Worship: The Good News Gospel Trio. Pastor: Mike Hedrick. Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, Pollock: Homecoming, August 1, Sunday School, 9:45 a.m.; 10:45 a.m. Gospel music concert by Mountain View Connection Group. Lunch will follow. Speaker: David Maxwell. Pastor: Micah Murrell. ON THE MOVE Keith, wife Suzanne, Sheridan is the new BASELA (Baptist Association of Southeast Louisiana) Director of Missions. He was formerly pastor of Lee’s Creek Baptist Church, Bogalusa. Tony Carter is the new pastor at Unity One Baptist Church, Franklin. Jeff, wife Mary, Shows is the new pastor at East Winnfield Baptist Church, Winnfield. He comes from Union Hall Baptist Church in Coushatta. He officially begins July … [Read more...]

Seeds planted, harvest reaped in Coushatta

By Brian Blackwell, Message staff writer COUSHATTA, La. (LBM) – A season of prayer preceded a recent four-night crusade at Red River High School in Coushatta that saw 10 people come to Christ and many more seek personal revival. Held July 11-14, the Red River Crusade and Concert featured messages by Bill Britt, founder of Compel Outreach in Haughton, and music by the Jason Lovins Band and the New Hope No. 3 praise and worship team. Leading up to the crusade, Red River Parish congregations, representing multiple denominations, took part in coordinated individual times of prayer. Crusade organizer Shawn Beard, a member of Martin Baptist Church in Coushatta, said prayer was a solid foundation for a mighty movement of God during the course of the event. “I personally think without prayer we are spinning our wheels and not really headed in the right direction,” Beard told the Baptist Message. “Prayer also guided us to put our feet to the ground as we planned and prepared for what God had for us.” Even before he preached his first message of the crusade, Britt said he could feel a spirit of unity among those gathered. “It was a blessing to see different races, denominations, churches all come together,” Britt said. … [Read more...]