By Karen L. Willoughby, Managing Editor   [img_assist|nid=7863|title=Lifted in Faith Strongman|desc=A Lifted in Faith Strongman does a feat of strength to capture the crowds attention and afterwards presents God's word.|link=none|align=left|width=640|height=640]BOSSIER CITY –Rolling up a frying pan?  Not exactly what comes to mind when you think of planting a ministry.  However, that is exactly how the Lifted in Faith strength team was born.   Today, that pan has become a symbol to five Southern Baptist men, a symbol of how God wants to mold them to accomplish great things for His Kingdom, which is more than they ever dreamed of.   “We take no credit for anything we do, or for any of the great results we have seen,” said Brad Hornback, founder of the group that has grown to include five men of extraordinary strength and a sold-out commitment to sharing Jesus.  During Lifted in Faith’s short two years, more than 5,000 people have made professions of faith in Jesus at one of their crusades or other events.   “All glory goes to Jesus,” Hornback said. “We are excited that He has allowed us a front row seat to seeing thousands of lives impacted and changed by the Gospel of Jesus … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Special to the Message   PINEVILLE  The Caskey School of Divinity exceeded expectations in the fall semester and spring looks even better.   When Charles Quarles Ph.D. was preparing for the launch of the divinity school’s fall 2011 classes he expected perhaps 30 students to enroll in the school, which is located on the Louisiana College campus. By the time the divinity school opened its doors, 56 students had enrolled.   Attendance has now risen to about 70 and Quarles said an enrollment of 100 for the fall 2012 semester wouldn’t surprise him.   “I feel very honored and blessed to serve as the founding dean of the Caskey School of Divinity and to have a hand in laying the foundation on which the school will build for generations to come,” said Quarles, founding dean of the Caskey Divinity School, Vice President of Integration of Faith and Learning, and Professor of New Testament and Greek at Louisiana College.   “I believe that the school is guided by a solid confessional standard,” Quarles continued. “We have a biblically-based mission statement, and a genuine sense of calling to address the spiritual needs of our state, nation and … [Read more...]

By Karen L. Willoughby, Managing Editor   CANAAN, Haiti – Even as Southern Baptist disaster relief efforts wind down in Haiti, ravaged Jan. 12, 2010, by a 7.0 earthquake, the Louisiana Baptist Convention focuses its ongoing impact on the million-and-a-half people now living in what two years ago was a green field.   Initial plans include partnering with a church-multiplier national pastor, constructing a church and a medical clinic, and starting an orphanage, all in a part of the Haiti countryside that the people there named Canaan.   “We are intentionally making sure [the new strategy] is not a diversion from what we’ve done in the past with our facilitation of networks,” said Wayne Sheppard, LBC’s partnerships coordinator and executive assistant to the executive director. “But because of what the Florida Baptist Convention has already been doing in Haiti – since 1995 – we’re making sure our strategy works along with theirs.   “It’s still going to be our vision for Louisiana that we facilitate churches to do their own missions, but this is a little bit different direction in the sense that we are loosely partnering with Florida and as such have been assigned this part of Haiti,” … [Read more...]

[img_assist|nid=7868|title=Help for Zimbabwe|desc=About a dozen people participated Jan. 7 in an effort to pack and seal 950 boxes of goods, all of which will fit in a 40-ft. shipping container, to be sent as missions cargo to Zimbabwe.|link=none|align=right|width=640|height=480]By Karen L. Willougby, Managing Editor   PINEVILLE – A teacher in a poor village in Zimbabwe writes in chalk on a wall. That’s been the type of “book-learning” students have had.   However, when a school in Grant Parish closed, they gave their books to Shepherd Ministries International (SMI), and those books were among the boxes of items packed one recent Saturday.   About 950 boxes will be needed to fit in one 40-foot metal container that will be loaded onto a cargo ship to sail to the southern African nation.   “We just try to do what we can,” said Ruth Craigo, a volunteer with the organization founded in 2001.   SMI president Arthur Mazhambe, who is also chairman and assistant professor of business in the Business Division at Louisiana College and a native of Zimbabwe, leads the seven-member board. He goes to Zimbabwe each summer to distribute the contents of the containers as well as to do … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message   ARRIVALS/DEPARTURES   Ben Green, new as pastor of Oak Hill Bastrop.   Rueben Weaver, new as pastor of Faith Bastrop.   Stephen Nutt, resigned as associate pastor of Cook Ruston.   Jackie (wife Joanie) Gestes, new as pastor of First Many.   Donnie Linson is the pastor of Bethlehem Oak Grove.   “Jimbo” Herring is the pastor of Goodwill Oak Grove.   Drew (wife Kimberly) Rivers, Todd (wife Megan) Strain, and Jeff Pate were ordained to the gospel ministry Jan. 18 at Calvary Alexandria. Pastor: David Brooks.   Jeremiah Kovacs, new as part-time youth minister at Mulberry Houma. Pastor: Steve Graves.   Chad Merrell, new as campus pastor of First West Fairbanks, launching Jan. 22 as a multi-site campus of First West Monroe. Pastor: John Avant.   Damon Kirk, new as minister of music at Tioga First Baptist. Pastor: Tim Hisaw.   Jackie (wife Joanie) Gestes, new as pastor of First Many.   Shawn Downhour, new as student minister at Bayou Oaks Monroe. Clyde Sanchez is pastor.       Needed/Giving   Part-time music minister needed at Cherry … [Read more...]

By Karen L. Willougby, Managing Editor   [img_assist|nid=7871|title=Top 10 South Asian UUPGs|desc=Top 10 South Asian UUPGs Area PEID Country People Group Population Primary Religion 1 Pakistan & Kashmir 6372 Pakistan Kolai 435,022 Islam 2 Northwest India 47953 India Gujjar (Marwari) 2,577,752 Hinduism 3 North India & West Nepal 47955 India Gadaria Awadhi 4,382,214 Hinduism 4 East Nepal, Bhutan & East India 41258 India Kalwar 3,232,405 Hinduism 5 Bangladesh & Northeast India 48006 India Bania (Assamese) 1,347,292 Hinduism 6 Central India 47903 India Mali (Marathi) 2,934,357 Hinduism 7 East India 48197 India Bangladeshi Muslims 3,720,029 Islam 8 South-Central India 47967 India Kalal (Kannada) 740,615 Hinduism 9 South India, Maldives & Sri Lanka 41247 India Mappila 8,603,290 Islam 10 Diaspora 11915 Saudi Arabia Bengali 1,576,767 Islam – Sunni|link=none|align=right|width=640|height=611]RICHMOND, Va. – Of the 7 billion people alive today, somewhere on Planet Earth, “unless things change radically, 1.7 billion will die without hearing the name of Jesus.”   That’s unthinkable and unacceptable, says Tom Elliff, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s … [Read more...]

By Staff, BGC Communications   Is your church interested in a hands-on project that will help the physical and spiritual needs of children around the world?   One that would give you the opportunity to connect People Who Care with People In Need?   This past summer Baptist Global Response (BGR) launched a project called “Kits for Kids.” The project involved churches, schools, camps, groups, families and others collecting/packing kits of basic school supplies and sending them to the warehouse.  Using its global network of national partners, BGR has been distributing the kits to families in dozens of countries around the globe.   There are millions of children around the world who are unable to attend school because their families cannot afford the basic supplies required. Others live in areas recently struck by disasters which render the supplies unavailable.   Providing these simple school items will not only meet the physical needs required for education, but will also give missionaries and national partners an opportunity to share the love of Christ with these children and their families as the supplies are distributed.   For more information visit the website … [Read more...]

By Staff, NOBTS Communications   NEW ORLEANS – At least eight students with Louisiana ties graduated from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS) Saturday, Dec. 17. In total, the seminary graduated 244 certificate, undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students.       Of those graduating, the following call Louisiana home:       Biblical Teaching Certificate   Albert R. O’Connor, Robert, La.; Kelley O’Connor, Robert, La.       Bachelor of Arts in Christian Ministry   Abram Timothy Haley, Prairieville, La.       Master of Arts in Christian Education   Kathleen Elizabeth Frady, Metairie, La.   Master of Divinity   Jeffrey Roy Tinsley, Bogalusa, La.       Doctor of Ministry   Jason Roy McNaughten, Monroe, La.   Chad Thomas Hardbarger, Shreveport, La.       Doctor of Philosophy   Robert F. Gallaty III, Chalmette, La.       One of the world’s largest accredited seminaries, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary offers associate, baccalaureate, … [Read more...]