By Eric Hankins, Pastor of First Baptist Church, Oxford, Miss. For years, I have loved re-reading Dylan Thomas “A Child’s Christmas in Wales” during this time of the year. It opens with a line so evocative of my memories of Christmas: “One Christmas was so much like another in those years around the sea-town corner, now and out of all sound, except the distant speaking of the voices I sometimes hear a moment before sleep, that I can never remember whether it snowed for six days and six nights when I was twelve or whether it snowed for twelve days and twelve nights when I was six.” As adults, we spend a great deal of energy trying to solve the puzzle of our longing for the past, trying to recapture wholly those experiences that return to us only as a fleeting glimpse or a whisper just between our waking and sleeping. For me, these moments of “homesickness” are never more acute than at Christmas.  I believe the reason for this is that these memories are uniquely imbued with the reality of my ultimate home, heaven. Christmas in a Christian home weaves the best of life (faith, hope and love) around the deep reality of the gospel:  God in Christ for us. Thomas closes his poem with these words: “looking through my bedroom window, … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 12/12/2014 - 10:02 Kelly Boggs By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA – The Baptist Message board honored its outgoing editor while looking toward the future at its last board meeting of 2014. Kelly Boggs, who became editor of the Baptist Messagein January 2006, announced during the 2014 Louisiana Baptist Convention Annual Meeting he was retiring from the position to become development director at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. He graduated from the school in 1985. Baptist Message board chairman Tim Hisaw thanked Boggs for his time at the newspaper. “I am grateful for Kelly’s leadership, guidance and dedication to the Baptist Message,” Hisaw said. “Before coming on the board of trustees for the Message, I only knew Kelly from his writing,” Hisaw continued.  “Since serving with Kelly, through my role on the board, we have developed a friendship that has been a blessing and an encouragement. I cannot think of a conversation that Kelly and I have had that did not end with him not saying, “let me pray for you. “Although he is going to be living on the wrong side of the Sabine River, I know I have a friend for life,” said Hisaw. Boggs expressed gratitude to the board, … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 12/12/2014 - 10:04 Started in 2011, the Mobile Pregnancy Care Center travels the state offering free pregnancy tests, free ultrasounds, pro-life literature and a positive Christian witness. So far, the MPCC has served over 2,000 women. Many abortions have been averted, saving the lives of countless babies and preventing the tragic effects of abortion on their mothers. A number of these women have prayed to receive Christ as their Savior and Lord. By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer KENNER – Jennifer Nelson was 19 when she made the choice to abort her child. Ten years later, as she was four months into her pregnancy and married, Nelson began to relive the decision she made as a teenager. Immediately, she fell to her knees, asking God’s forgiveness – and the beginning of healing through Christ. Today, Nelson is a volunteer with the Mobile Pregnancy Care Center (MPCC), a ministry of the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home & Family Ministries. Through this ministry, Nelson is able to use her past experience as a ministry tool to other women facing the same choice she did at one time – with hope that they will not abort their child. “As I have served at the unit, I have talked to … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE – Sixteen men lined up at the Louisiana Pecan Festival recently, with one goal in mind – earning the title of World’s Fastest Redneck. The path to earn the distinction included barrel and lawnmower racing, deer shooting, turkey bowling, eating a donut that was hanging from a twine and pole cat climbing. At the end of the day, the winner took home a new Browning BPS Medallion 12 gauge pump shotgun by completing the course in the fastest time, 1 minute, 20 seconds. However, though entertaining, the event was more than just fun and games. For those staffing the event from Alpine First Baptist Church, building relationships and winning souls for Christ was their main goal. Every 30 minutes, the church presented the gospel to hundreds in attendance. By the end of the two-day event in which the gospel was presented 12 times, one person accepted Christ and another who attended the event did as well during a revival held later at the church. Evangelism Pastor Kevin Billiot says the effort is just another way Alpine First Baptist Church is trying to use such events to spread the gospel. “We are making sure we make every concerted effort to share the gospel with people,” Billiot … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 12/12/2014 - 10:09 The Louisiana Baptist Collegiate Disaster Relief Team takes a few moments to share a laugh. Every day during the summer, the students were encouraged to spend time in and hold each other accountable for personal Bible study and prayer. By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer Each summer, Louisiana State University student Matt Branch normally works a job to earn money to help with expenses for the upcoming semester but not this year. Branch joined seven other college students for the first-ever all-Louisiana Baptist Collegiate Ministry disaster relief team and in the process of doing so received one of his greatest blessings. “This summer was one of the best summers of my life,” Branch said. “I learned so much, including the direction that I feel called to, and am so excited to take what I learned back to my campus at LSU and also to wherever I go in life. Southern Baptist Disaster Relief is a great organization for college students to be involved in, and I hope that more do get involved in it. I’m gonna do my part to make it happen.” A joint effort between the Louisiana BCM and Southern Baptist Disaster Relief, this was one of three such disaster relief teams made up … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 12/12/2014 - 10:11 Special to the Baptist Message ALEXANDRIA – Believe it or not, the year 2014 is almost over. If you are considering a gift to your church, other ministry or a favorite charity the IRS has published a few reminders for year-end gifts. The Louisiana Baptist Foundation would like to remind Louisiana Baptists  about six these IRS tips for year-end gifts to charity. Many people give to charity each year during the holiday season. Remember, if you want to claim a tax deduction for your gifts, you must itemize your deductions. There are several tax rules that you should know about before you give. Here are six tips from the IRS that you should keep in mind: 1. Qualified charities. You can only deduct gifts you give to qualified charities. Use the IRS Select Check tool to see if the group you give to is qualified. Remember that you can deduct donations you give to churches, synagogues, temples, mosques and government agencies. This is true even if Select Check does not list them in its database. 2. Monetary donations.  Gifts of money include those made in cash or by check, electronic funds transfer, credit card and payroll deduction. You must have a bank record or a written … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 12/12/2014 - 10:15 Connie Humphries, pictured to the far right, of the Northeast Louisiana Baptist Association was one of 77 volunteers from 11 states who participated in a WMU MissonsFest in Toledo, Ohio recently. By Julie Walters, WMU Communications BIRMINGHAM – When Helen Henley, a member of Sunrise Baptist Church in Midland, Mich., heard Missionsfest would be in Toledo, Ohio, she “felt it was too close not to be a part.” Henley was familiar with the city and the three-hour drive since her son had attended the University of Toledo in 2000–2004. He lived in downtown Toledo until 2007, just a few blocks away from her ministry assignment. “I had visited the area before, but had not really been in the neighborhood,” Henley said. “I saw the city life that most people want to avoid seeing, but felt welcomed by those we spoke to and worked with.” In the midst of an unseasonable cold snap, Henley was one of 77 volunteers from 11 states who served Oct. 1–5 in Toledo during Missionsfest. Ministries in the Toledo area and also in Defiance, Ohio, provided a unique opportunity for volunteers to serve in both rural and urban settings. Missions volunteers served each day doing construction, hosting … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message ON THE MOVE Duane (wife Lisa) R. Moreno new as Pastor at Magnolia Baptist Church, Saline. LAGNIAPPE Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, DeRidder: That Night in Bethlehem, a drive-through nativity experience, Dec. 19, 20 and 21 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Come drive through the streets of Bethlehem and observe what life was like when Jesus was born. Maximum height of vehicle entering Bethlehem is 9 feet. Pastor: Danny Wilson. First Baptist Church, Haynesville: Kids Family Christmas Caroling, Dec. 19, 5:30 p.m. Christmas Eve Service, Dec. 24, 6 p.m. Pastor: Shelby Cowling. First Baptist Church, Winnsboro: Noel, Jesus is Born, Dec. 20, 6 p.m.; Jon and Friends Concert, Dec. 22, 7 p.m. Pastor: Craig Beeman. Philadelphia Baptist Church, Deville: A Christmas Promise, Dec. 20, 6 p.m.; Dec. 21, 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Tickets for this year’s Christmas musical are no available in the welcome center before and after each of the morning services or during the week at the church office (442-0754). There is a maximum of 20 tickets per family. Pastor: Philip Robertson. Elwood Baptist Church, Forest Hill: Back to Bethle’Hymns’ featuring Benji Harlan, composer and LBC Worship Arts Strategist, Dec. 21, 10:30 a.m. Harlan will be … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 12/19/2014 - 11:35 Baptist Churches and leaders are preparing to minister to thousands of workers as Lake Charles undergoes an unprecedented economic impact in the next seven years. By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer The pending construction of a liquefied natural gas facility, a gas to liquid plant as well as other clean energy related projects has Lake Charles and the surrounding area on the verge of an unprecedented economic boom that could pump billons of dollars into the economy and create more than 50,000 jobs over the next seven years While Lake Charles and Southwest Louisiana government leaders make preparations to handle this upcoming surge, Southwest Louisiana Baptist churches and leaders are also hard at work as they prepare for the tremendous ministry opportunities that lie ahead. BRIGHT FUTURE AHEAD In the coming years, the city of Lake Charles and surrounding area could see as much as an $86 billion impact on the economy, sparking a growth of 5.7 percent, according to George Swift, president and CEO of the Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance in Lake Charles. Such facilities include liquefied natural gas facilities, gas to liquid plants and other new … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 12/19/2014 - 11:39 LC graduate Lindsay Moore of Ruby, one of two students to finish with a 4.0, celebrates her graduation with fellow student Karemmy Blanco. LC graduated 79 undergraduates Saturday in Guinn Auditorium. By Al Quartemont, Special to the Message PINEVILLE – Louisiana College completed its 2014 Fall semester with 133 students receiving their degrees as part of the school’s 157th Commencement Ceremony Saturday, Dec. 13 at Guinn Auditorium. Crossing the stage were 79 undergraduates and 54 masters students. The graduating class featured 12 honor graduates, students who finished with a minimum 3.5 GPA for their four years. Among that elite group were two who finished with 4.0 GPAs, Visual Art major Lindsay Moore of Ruby and Psychology major Marissa Whiddon of Bossier City. “Louisiana College congratulates you on this significant occasion,” LC Board of Trustees Chairman Tommy French told the graduates. The commencement address was delivered by Stewart Holloway, pastor of First Baptist Church of Pineville, who also serves as an adjunct professor at the Caskey School of Divinity. Holloway joked he could not recall any of the commencement addresses he experienced, but tried to … [Read more...]