ON THE MOVE David McGuffee new as pastor at Lighthouse Baptist Church, Monroe. Jason (wife Laurie) Frazier new as pastor at Woodland Hills Baptist Church, Shreveport. Harrell Shelton new as interim Pastor at Airline Baptist Church, Bossier City. Trey Lewis new as pastor at New Prospect Baptist Church, Dry Prong. Jennifer Maddox new as Children’s Director at Northwoods Baptist Church, Shreveport. Brad Solice new as youth minister at Plain Dealing Baptist Church. Joshua Piper new as youth minister at First Baptist Church of French Settlement.   REVIVAL Loch Arbor Baptist Church, Monroe: Revival, Jan. 18-21. Evangelist: Jerry Chaddick. Pastor: James Myrick Judson Baptist Church, Walker: Revival, Jan. 18-21, Noon on Jan. 19, 20, 21 and 6:30 p.m. every evening. Evangelist: Richard Green. Pastor: David Lane. First Baptist Church, New Iberia: Revival, Jan. 18, 11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.; January 19-21, 6:30 p.m. nightly Evangelist: David Hanna, Music: Price Harris, music. Pastor: Ed Downs. First Baptist Church, Haynesville: Revival, Feb. 1-4, 11 a.m. & 6 p.m. on Sunday; 6 p.m. Monday – Wednesday. Evangelist: Jerry Chaddick. Music: Brad Mount. Pastor: Shelby Cowling.   LAGNIAPPE New Zion Baptist Church, Kentwood: … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 01/09/2015 - 13:40 Brian Ray, standing with his family, has pastored First Baptist Robeline since 2002. He is a bi-vocational pastor, with his secular job at Red River Oil and Gas. By Brian Blackwell. Message Staff Writer ROBELINE – Brian Ray’s full-time job at Red River Oil and Gas takes him to the pipelines and roadways of Louisiana and East Texas most days of the week. Throughout the day Ray may field a call from a church member where he pastors, stop in at a Shreveport hospital visitation or preside over a funeral in Robeline. While juggling both jobs may seem like a lot to handle to some, the pastor of First Baptist Robeline contends he wouldn’t want his life any different. “I don’t view it from the standpoint that they are two separate things,” Ray said. “Whether I am ministering through the pulpit at First Baptist Robeline or in East Texas or Shreveport, I am called to do everything for God. It is something that God has blessed where the two have never conflicted.” A native of Shreveport, Ray remembers as a young boy worshiping with his grandparents and 30 other people on Sunday mornings at First Baptist Robeline. Though he accepted Christ as his personal Savior and Lord at the … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 01/23/2015 - 08:50 Thousands of pro-life marchers stream across the Long-Allen Bridge from Bossier City into Shreveport on Jan. 17 to support the right to life movement during the second annual Louisiana Life March North. Nearly 7,000 people from various denominations, ages and races turned out for the march on a mild January morning. Photo by Douglas Collier/Shreveport Times By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer SHREVEPORT – Some held up colorful signs that read “Stop Abortion Now” and “Defend The Defenseless.” Others just simply walked alongside their spouses, children and friends during the 1.2 mile journey from Bossier City to Shreveport. But despite their method of getting across their emotions, their message was all the same – stand up for those who have yet to be born. Nearly 7,000 people from various denominations, ages and races turned out for the second Louisiana Life March North on a mild January morning. Organizer Mike Johnson was pleased that so many would show up on a Saturday to stand for life. “Our theme this year was inspired by Isaiah 1:17 – ‘Defend the Defenseless’ – and I think today’s huge event was an important step in that regard,” said Johnson, legal counsel … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 01/23/2015 - 08:57 LBC Executive Director David Hankins reflects on the challenges, opportunities and blessings of the last decade. By John Kyle, LBC Communications Director Upon assuming the position of Executive Director on Feb. 1, 2005, David Hankins knew his new responsibilities would present challenges and opportunities – he just didn’t know they would come so quickly as Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated much of south Louisiana during his first year. Hankins was elected unanimously by the Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board to be the Executive Director of the LBC in October, 2004. He officially assumed his duties on Feb. 1, 2005. Prior to returning to Louisiana, where he had pastored Trinity Baptist Church in Lake Charles (1985-1995), he served Southern Baptists through the SBC Executive Committee in Nashville (1996-2004) as vice president of Convention Policy and vice president of the Cooperative Program. Hankins and his wife Patty just celebrated their 46th wedding anniversary and have three grown sons: Andy, a businessman in Lake Charles; Eric, pastor of FBC, Oxford, Miss., and Adam, a surgeon in Mandeville. Their brood of grandchildren has increased from 7 to 11 … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer Editor’s Note: January is human trafficking month.   Kay Bennett believes the power of prayer can transform Interstate 10 from the highest-rated corridor for sex trafficking to one of the least trafficked, one interstate mile at a time. In-10se: Turning Highways Into Lifeways is a ministry of Baptist Friendship House that creates awareness about human trafficking by allowing believers to adopt a mile along Interstate 10, a roadway that stretches 2,460 miles from Santa Monica, Calif., to Jacksonville, Fla. The Federal Bureau of Investigation lists Interstate 10 as the most used US interstate for sex trafficking. So far, prayer partners have adopted 494 of the miles along I-10. “Since human trafficking is the fastest growing criminal industry in the world, it stands to reason that it is one of Satan’s strongest strongholds,” said Bennett, director of the Baptist Friendship House in New Orleans. “The church – God’s children – are truly the ones to fight against this. We can bring into the light what has been in the dark and help prevent human trafficking.” The Baptist Friendship House has developed a prayer guide for which believers may pray for one or all of 10 requests. In … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 01/23/2015 - 09:11 Serving as pastor of Coax Baptist Church in Winnsboro is only one job Paul Perry holds. A funeral director since 1998, Perry’s secular job compliments much of what he does as pastor, whether that be prayer with each family member, comforting a hurting person or preaching a sermon. By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer WINNSBORO – The third song on the order of service at Coax Baptist Church is about to start and the pastor has just arrived inside the sanctuary. However, Paul Perry has a good reason for walking into church after the service has begun. Only 45 minutes earlier, Perry was wrapping up a burial 35 miles south of Winnsboro which he oversaw as director of Gill First National Funeral Home. Though he can’t control some aspects of his secular job – such as when someone buries a loved one or a sudden meeting with a family member whose son just committed suicide – Perry said he has yet to miss preaching a scheduled sermon in the nine years he has juggled both occupations. “I have a church which loves me and is supportive of me working here,” Perry said. “That is the most important thing. The church understands when I have a funeral to conduct, they are the first … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 01/23/2015 - 09:13 Ergun Caner MOUNT VERNON, Ga. – Ergun Caner has stepped aside as president of Brewton-Park College. Speaking to a packed room of trustees and others, Caner informed the board that the suicide of his 15-year-old son, Braxton, was still taking a toll on his ability to lead in his role. Caner said he plans to move back to Texas to continue healing with his wife and 10-year-old son, Drake. “Brewton-Parker College cannot become a healthy, growing and stable college under the leadership of a man who is broken,” Caner said in a statement. “And I am admitting to you that I am broken. I can’t get over his death, and I am not sure I want to. I do know that I cannot muster the fight needed to be the leader of our college. My family and my heart need healing, and you deserve better.” The college originally was informed it had lost its accreditation on June 2014 but regained accreditation later that year after launching an appeals process, administrators were told on Sept. 29 that it would remain an accredited member on probation as additional information was being prepared for reconsideration. Caner became president of the school on Dec. 2, 2013, and six months later the school … [Read more...]

By Ronnie Floyd, President Southern Baptist Convention SPRINGDALE, Ark. (BP) – This is the State of the Union season, where our president has already addressed the nation, governors will address their respective states, and mayors will address their respective cities. They will unveil their dreams for today and hopes for tomorrow. Questions worth asking Who is addressing the spiritual state of our nation? Are we really trusting only in governmental powers and processes to heal our land? I love America and believe each citizen needs to be involved in charting the future of our nation. The church has compartmentalized its faith from influencing our nation far too long, just as most of America’s leaders compartmentalize their faith from their politics. Today, our nation has become a product of this sad reality. We need to return to the conviction that a faith worth believing is a faith worth dying for. Our faith cannot be checked at the door like a piece of luggage at an airport. The time is now The time is now for the church to rise up and address the spiritual state of our nation. With compassion, we need to tell it like it is. With hope, we need to share it like we believe it. With fervency, we need to pray like God … [Read more...]

By John Yeats, Executive Director of Missouri Baptist Convention Who wants to come to the end of something and say, “Oops!” Or, “I really messed up!” Or, “If only I had....” Whether you are talking about closing out an event, a career, a year, a life or a chapter in your life, you want to glance back over your shoulder and see that you finished well. Years ago, an author/speaker challenged me to consider my birthdate and the reality of my end date. Then he said, “What are you going to do with the middle?” He went on to say that no matter how you start, be determined to finish well. Several things to know about finishing well: n Finishing well is possible for every follower of Christ. You can rest in knowing that the Father wills us to finish well. One reason finishing well is possible is because the standard of our success is not our family of origin, language or any other unchangeable. Nor is God’s measure of success determined by financial status, ability, giftedness, education or influence. God’s standard of measurement is obedience. Faithful obedience to Christ in all things is the possibility and potential for every believer. At every juncture of life a believer needs to take inventory and ask, “Am I faithfully … [Read more...]

By Zach Cook, Pastor Friendship Baptist Church in Weathford, Texas It only takes a cursory glance at the state of cultural morality here in America can be somewhat disheartening. The Defense of Marriage Act has been labeled unconstitutional and same-sex marriage is being legalized in states all over the nation. If we can be honest for a few moments, we can realize that we now live in a post-Christian culture. The 1950s have come and gone and they aren’t coming back. For someone like me, the pastor of a Baptist church in the Bible Belt in Texas, I hear the alarmists sound the end of Christian influence and the demise of our country. Culturally, it seems Christians have “lost” the battle. What was once considered taboo is now considered normal. There is no absolute truth. One’s gender is no longer determined by physiological make-up but by choice and feeling. God’s Word doesn’t seem to have much place in the public square. Now that we stand on the other side of a failed “moral majority,” there is one question everyone is asking: “What now?” As is often the case, we can find direction for moving forward by studying the history of those who came before us. In many ways, the English Puritans of the late 16th century were … [Read more...]