Frank James Triplett knew something about hard times. His family moved to a variety of towns in Texas and Oklahoma. Shortly after the birth of their sister, Frank and his twin brother were abandoned by their father. Their mother had to be hospitalized for about a year in Houston, Texas. The children were cared for by relatives in Lake Charles. After a year, the Triplett children were reunited with their mother, Dora. Due to the difficult times of the Great Depression, the boys were unable to finish high school. They worked at a local grocery store. Dora was determined to help her children make something of their lives, so she encouraged them to go into the grocery business. Frank and his brother got started by selling candy out of a horse-drawn buggy. They would soon open the Triplett’s Grocery Store in Lake Charles. The brothers put in long hours at the store, with their mother working alongside them as the butcher. The store became well-known in Lake Charles for many years. Children especially loved the store because of its large candy selection. Frank was drafted in WW II, while his brother stayed behind to take care of the store and their mother. Frank worked for two years building the Alaskan Highway and then … [Read more...]

By BRIAN BLACKWELL, Special to the Message PINEVILLE – Holding up three phone books, MegaForce member Tim Stigner prepared to fulfill a promise to more than 200 youth, parents and others at Louisiana College’s Wildcat Field. Thirty seconds later Stigner used his two hands to tear in half the phone books, much to the approval of the crowd. “It doesn’t matter if your name is in a phone book,” MegaForce leader Steve Carrier said moments earlier. “It matters if you’re in the Lamb’s book of life.” [img_assist|nid=6867|title=MegaForce team leader Steve Carrier tears a par of phone books in half in a disply of brute strength.|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=66] Carrier, Stigner and two other members of the evangelistic power team MegaForce, based in the Dallas, Texas, area, shared the gospel message while displaying a combination of strength exhibitions such as using their hands to slice through concrete bricks on fire, breaking wooden baseball bats over a knee and bending a 1.5 inch-thick rod into a fish shape, which often is associated with Christianity. The event on Nov. 12 was part of CrossOver, a week of local evangelistic events that preceded the annual meeting of the Louisiana Baptist Convention. The … [Read more...]

By BRIAN BLACKWELL, Special to the Message BALL – Time after time others have asked Jack Graham why God has reasons for such setbacks as a job loss or death of a child. While Graham may be unable to explain why those tragedies happen, he understands that God will use those trials to teach believers perseverance and endurance. “If you’re going through a dark time now, just know that God is changing you, and God is creating in you something better yet for the future,” said Graham, pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas. “That’s why we don’t quit, because God will never quit on us.” [img_assist|nid=6894|title=Jack Graham|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=69|height=100]Graham, who based his sermon on Romans 8, was one of eight speakers at the 2010 Louisiana Baptist Pastors Conference at Kingsville Baptist Church. The two-day conference that preceded the annual Louisiana Baptist Convention also featured music by worship teams from Bellaire Baptist Church in Bossier City and First Baptist Church of Houma. The event also included election of the 2011 Pastors Conference officers: Mike Walker, pastor of East Bayou Baptist Church in Lafayette, president; Collin Wimberly, pastor of Parkview Baptist Church in Baton … [Read more...]

By David Holder, pastor of First Baptist Church, Sulphur I’ve been going to Baptist state convention annual meetings since I was pastor of a congregation located almost off the edge of Arkansas. I have a pastor friend, “Brother Rick,” who seemed to like nothing better than “conventioning,” and always encouraged me to go with him to the annual meeting. I guess old habits are hard to break. It is nice to get away and get immersed in the news, networking, and preaching that goes on at a Baptist convention. I see old friends, find out “Where ya at now?” and catch up on preacher talk. I am also inspired as well as challenged by the reports and messages as that occur during the convention. Over the years, Southern Baptists have had plenty to fight over. Convention fights make for large conventions. I’ve attended the Louisiana Baptist Convention for each of the eight years I’ve served in the state. But this is one convention where “I seen so many things I ain’t never seen before” (Apologies to Hoyt Axton). First, the attendance: The announced registered messengers at this year’s Louisiana Baptist Convention was 775, which is less than half of the number registered just a few years ago. No controversy, (sigh) no … [Read more...]

By KAREN L. WILLOUGHBY, Managing Editor ALEXANDRIA – The Cooperative Program percentage given to national causes by Louisiana Southern Baptists remained at 36.49 percent for 2011, voted messengers without discussion at the 163rd annual meeting of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, which met Nov. 15-16 at the Riverfront Center in Alexandria. It was a budget trimmed to $21,284,217, down $1,258,940 from the $22,543,157 budget of 2010. Messengers also approved, again without discussion, 10 resolutions: appreciation for those involved in annual meeting preparations; continuing confidence in and appreciation for the Louisiana Moral and Civic Foundation; standing with Christians who deal with persecution; commitment to the centrality of the gospel; encouragement for those involved with non-smoking policy efforts; lament for the deaths of the 11 Deepwater Horizon workers and all who have died or suffered injury while working offshore; encouragement for family worship; support for marriage; opposition to changing current law regarding homosexuals in the military; and opposition to the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. [img_assist|nid=6874|title=Louisiana Baptist Convention President Rod Masteller listens intently to Al Mohler, … [Read more...]

By KAREN L. WILLOUGHBY, Managing Editor AMITE – The plaque from the International Mission Board recently received by First Baptist Church of Amite was a surprise, said Mike Foster, pastor since 2005. The response of the congregation to his challenge a year ago was “overwhelming,” he added. First Amite averages about 128 in Sunday School, and 250 in worship. Yet they gave $61,120 to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for international missions last year, and this year received a plaque from the IMB saying that in 2009 they were 183rd in giving out of all Southern Baptist churches. “There was a lot of news last year about giving being down, and missionaries who were ready and willing were not able to go to the mission field because giving was down,” Foster said. “Then I read an article by Jerry Rankin saying it costs approximately $43,000 to sustain a missionary for one year, so I challenged our church to send a missionary to the field. In three weeks we raised more than $43,000 to go along with what we would eventually take up for our Lottie Moon challenge First Amite’s usual Lottie Moon Christmas Offering goal is $25,000. This in addition to its $15,000 goal for the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering and $12,000 goal for … [Read more...]

By KAREN L. WILLOUGHBY, Managing Editor LAFAYETTE – For the first time in 20 years, all the East Bayou Baptist “church family,” as Pastor Mike Walker calls them, gathered together at the same time, Sunday morning, Nov. 14. Some 2,100 children through adults regularly meet in 10 venues, at two times, in two locations, at what informally is known as “The Bayou.” (A ‘venue’ is a location, such as the on-site coffee shop, with multiple flat screen televisions airing the preaching; the venue provides its own live music.) On Nov. 14, the congregation gathered in a circus-sized tent on the 19-acre property. They came together to celebrate what God has done so far at the 42-year-old church – 26 with Walker as pastor – and look forward “with great expectation to what He will call us to do in the days ahead,” the pastor said. [img_assist|nid=6878|title=The East Bayou Baptist, Lafayette congregation recently gathered in a circus-sized tent for the first time in 20 years.|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=67]“God led us to build our current facility in 2002,” Walker wrote in the worship guide passed out as people entered the tent. “When we were done, we were $8.8 million in debt. Because of the faithful giving of our people … [Read more...]

Editor’s note: Executive Director David Hankins gave the following as his report during the 2010 annual meeting, using Romans 1:1-5; 16 as his scriptural reference. Mission statements are very popular among our churches. Taking a cue from business, we realize we need to articulate what it is we are trying to accomplish. Mission statements serve to declare, remind, and focus our aims and goals. The apostle Paul planned on going to Rome to make it the western base of operations. In Romans 1, he sets out his plan and purpose, “set apart for the gospel of God.” Allow me to remind us of our LBC mission: LBC is a gospel organization created, guided and supported by gospel churches  for gospel goals. What are the implications of the gospel of God for Christians and what is its apologetic intent? [img_assist|nid=6872|title=Executive Director David Hankins makes a point during his report to messengers at the 2010 annual meeting|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=67|height=100] The gospel of God is particular in its content. Verses 2-4 conclude that this gospel is centered in Jesus Christ our Lord, who was prophesied, identified and ratified.  All of Paul’s ministry hinges on the reality of Jesus as the promised Messiah, … [Read more...]

Editor’s note: Executive Director David Hankins gave the following as his report during the 2010 annual meeting, using Romans 1:1-5; 16 as his scriptural reference. Mission statements are very popular among our churches. Taking a cue from business, we realize we need to articulate what it is we are trying to accomplish. Mission statements serve to declare, remind, and focus our aims and goals. The apostle Paul planned on going to Rome to make it the western base of operations. In Romans 1, he sets out his plan and purpose, “set apart for the gospel of God.” Allow me to remind us of our LBC mission: LBC is a gospel organization created, guided and supported by gospel churches  for gospel goals. What are the implications of the gospel of God for Christians and what is its apologetic intent? [img_assist|nid=6872|title=Executive Director David Hankins makes a point during his report to messengers at the 2010 annual meeting|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=67|height=100] The gospel of God is particular in its content. Verses 2-4 conclude that this gospel is centered in Jesus Christ our Lord, who was prophesied, identified and ratified.  All of Paul’s ministry hinges on the reality of Jesus as the promised Messiah, … [Read more...]

On Expression of Appreciation WHEREAS, many individuals and groups have had a part in planning, preparing and conducting the 163rd annual meeting of our Louisiana Baptist Convention; and WHEREAS, the messengers of this convention desire to warmly recognize and express appreciation to the following: Mark Jones, Facilities Director, Julie Bayone, Sales Manager, and the staff of the Riverfront Convention Center, Alexandria, for their assistance with details and for providing the use of the facilities for this annual meeting; and Rod Masteller, Convention President, for his warm, gracious spirit in leading, speaking and listening to Louisiana Baptists during the year, and his gentle firmness in moderating this annual meeting; and; Jeremy Christ, Music Director for this annual meeting, for planning and coordinating the music, and the musicians for their dedicated service at the instruments; and Mike Miller and members of the Order of Business Committee for planning this informative and inspirational annual meeting; and Crossover Alexandria/Pineville, and its volunteers for their provision of pre-evangelistic outreach and we pray for those who made decisions for Christ during the Crossover events. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, … [Read more...]