EDITOR’S NOTE: The Baptist Message provides churches an opportunity to share with other Louisiana Baptists an upcoming revival, homecoming, new pastor, new staff member, a community outreach, or a concert in Louisiana Notables. To place your event in the paper, send your information (who, what, where, when, time) to philip@baptistmessage.com or call 318.449.4345. Please submit your information four weeks prior to the event to insure placement in the Message.
ON THE MOVE
Robin Alderman Dean is the new music director at Belle Park Baptist Church.
Eric Zimmer is the interim pastor at Haynes Avenue Baptist Church.
Scott Shirley is the new pastor at Emmanuel Baptist Church, Shreveport.
Brenton, wife Lynsee, Smith is the new pastor at Pritchard Baptist Church from Ridgecrest Baptist Church.
Lee Myers is the new Louisiana Baptists Youth Strategist.
Scott McKenzie has accepted the call to be the Associate Pastor of discipleship & administration for First Baptist Church, Zachary from First Baptist Church, Lafayette.
HOMECOMING
Welcome Home Baptist Church, Dodson: Homecoming service, October 8, 10:15 a.m. Worship: Sanctuary Quartet, Pastor: Jim McKeithen.
Humble Baptist Church, Elizabeth: Homecoming, October 8, 10 a.m. Guest speaker: Billy Edwards. Donations can be made to Willis Flatt Cemetery. Mailed donations to P.O. Box 192, Elizabeth, La. 70638. Pastor: Billy Edwards.
Lakeside Baptist Church, Converse: Inaugural Harvest Reunion, October 14, noon until. Church members and community are welcomed. There will be food, fun, live music and fellowship.
New Prospect Baptist Church, Dubach: Homecoming Sunday, October 22, 10:45 a.m. Guest Speaker: Terry Ganey, Dunn Baptist Church. Special Music: TBA. A potluck meal and congregational-singing will follow. Pastor: Marvin Winham.
REVIVAL
Trinity Baptist Church, New Iberia: Revival, October 1-4, Sunday 11 a.m. & 6 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, 7 p.m. Guest speaker: Dusty Durbin AMS Evangeline Baptist Association. Worship: Conner Pounders.
Sharon Baptist Church, Port Allen: Community Wide Revival, October 6-8, Friday & Saturday at 6 p.m., Sunday at 10 a.m. Dinner on the grounds will follow the worship service on Sunday. Evangelist: Benji Richard. Pastor: Terry Swanson.
Coteau Baptist Church, Houma: Revival, October 8-11, Guest Speaker: Steve Horn, LBC Executive Director. Pastor: Wayne Hunt.
Love Without Limits Community Outreach, Drouet Park, Turkey Creek, October 14, 5 p.m. Main Speaker: Evangelist Benji Richard, James Roberts and Cody King. There will be special worship music.
Start Baptist Church, Rayville: Harvest Sunday, October 15. A lunch will be served immediately following morning worship service. Pastor: Jeff Thomas.
First Baptist Church, Lafayette: Crosses & Cars Show, October 15, Registration 8:30-10:30 a.m. at corner of Barry & Lafayette St. View cars before and after each service in lots 4 & 5. Pastor: James Pritchard.
Gray Baptist Church, Jefferson, Texas: Bible Revival, October 16-20, 6:30 p.m. nightly. Evangelist: Nick Holden. Pastor: Roy Davis.
University Baptist Church, Thibodaux: Hallelujah on the Hill, October 17, 6-8 p.m. at the Adley Landry Water Thibodaux, next to the Warren Harang Jr. Municipal Auditorium. Join us for a night of spiritual refreshment featuring live music & speakers. Please bring your lawn chairs/blankets. Pastor: J.P. Cox.
First Baptist Church, Covington: Adults 55+ Fall Celebration with Tim Lovelace at FBC Covington, October 17, 10 a.m. in the Worship Center. Tim’s award-winning musical talent and humor will have you laughing and enjoying the music. Online registration is required at www.fbccov.org/adults-55. Cost is $15 and is payable at the door which includes lunch at noon. Deadline to register will be noon on October 13. Pastor: Waylon Bailey.
Rocky Springs Baptist Church, Lisbon: Trunk-or-treat, October 22, 4-6 p.m. Pastor: Chris Stephens
Mt. Gilead Baptist, Vivian: Fall Revival, October 22-25. Evangelist: Kyle Williams, World Recovery, LLC. Pastor: William Treadway.
Cypress Baptist Church, Benton: Harvest Sunday, October 29. Evangelist: Bill Britt, Pastor: John Fream.
Start Baptist Church, Rayville: Trunk or Treat, October 31, 5:30-7 p.m. Safe fun for the whole family. Pastor: Jeff Thomas.
LAGNIAPPE
Start Baptist Church, Rayville: Ivan Parker in Concert, October 1, 6 p.m. in the main worship center. Pastor: Jeff Thomas.
Holly Grove Baptist Church, Wisner: The Louisiana Melody Boys in concert, October 8, 10 a.m. Pastor: Dennis Fontenot.
Beulah Baptist Church, Oak Grove: Kingsmen Quartet, October 8, 11 a.m. Pastor: Kenneth Herring.
Cotile Baptist Church, Boyce: Southern Plainsmen in concert, October 21, 6 p.m. Pastor: Robert McLane.
Bethany Baptist Church, Bethany: Car Show, October 21, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Entry fee $25 –Vendors needed — $25 fee. For more information, please contact either Jessica Shoalmire 318.218.8298 or Marvin Cooper 318.517.3743. Pastor: Marvin Cooper.
East Jena Baptist Church, Jena: Southern Plainsmen in concert, October 22, 10:45 a.m. A love offering will be taken. Pastor: Mike Wilkinson.
Woodland Park Baptist Church, Hammond: Fall Festival, October 22, 5-7 p.m. There will be games, classic cars, hayrides, food, petting zoo, trunk or treat and much more. Pastor: Tim Moffett.
Creston Baptist Church, Creston: Southern Plainsmen in concert, October 29, 10:30 a.m. A love offering will be taken. Pastor: Truman Leach.
Longview Baptist Church, Deville: Fall Festival , October 29, 4-7 p.m. There will be games, free food, prizes and much more. Pastor: Robby Poole.
REMEMBERANCE
After 96 years here, Arthur Derral Rockett went to be with Jesus on March 22, 2023 at 3:20 AM. Arthur was born in Union Parish in the Camp Creek community of Spearsville, LA to Carlus and Lois Turnage Rockett on March 16, 1927. He was known as “Cotton“to all his family and friends because of his white/blond hair. Growing up with childhood friends and cousins named “Dank,” Puddin,” “Pecker” and “Guts” perhaps explains why he was always a “big tease“! “Cotton” played basketball in school on a dirt court and spoke fondly of his growing up years. After graduating high school at age 16, he enrolled in LA Tech to study pre-veterinary medicine. He studied there for a short time before the draft for WWII convinced him to join the Navy. The war ended shortly after he finished medic training in San Diego, so he was assigned to work from a ship docked at the port of New Orleans. He served there 16 months. Arthur received Jesus as his Lord and Savior at a revival at age 13. While in the Navy, he struggled with what he wanted to do in life and felt God calling him into the ministry. He surrendered to the gospel ministry at a revival. When he told his dad that he was going into the ministry, his dad said he better get to preaching and assigned him to preach that next Wednesday night for prayer meeting. The sermon was 7 minutes and included two prayers. After his Navy discharge, he enrolled at LA College to pursue a bachelor of divinity degree. He also began preaching at two churches in North Louisiana. He met Tela Davis while attending LA College, and they married after he completed his studies there. He then enrolled at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary to study New Testament while continuing to pastor in North LA. Later he became pastor of Mesa Baptist Church in Tylertown, MS. Arthur completed his ThD in New Testament studies in 1955 and became pastor of First Baptist Church Hodge, LA. Later he pastored FBC Jennings, and then in 1964, became the Director of Missions for Southwest LA for Louisiana Baptists. He traveled 5 parishes, serving churches and ministering to pastors and congregations. After 26 years, he retired but continued to serve as interim pastor in many churches in the area. At 88, he finally gave up his long-time interim pastorate at Texas Ave. Baptist Church. He and his wife were longtime members at Trinity Baptist in Lake Charles, and after retirement, they became members of FBC DeRidder. Arthur truly loved his church, family and friends! He also enjoyed hunting, vegetable gardening, watching sports and the family chili sauce that he and Tela made for over 65 years from fresh homegrown tomatoes. Arthur was predeceased by his parents Carlus and Lois Rockett, his wife of 68 years, Tela Davis Rockett, his newborn/firstborn son Michael Eugene, his youngest son Bryan Edward, his brother, Grady, and his sisters, Nita Hollis, and Yvonne Barron.
