By Kelly Boggs, Editor PINEVILLE – The Louisiana College Board of Trustees met in a special session Oct. 23 and voted to employee the Alston and Bird Law Firm of Atlanta, Ga., to assist the college with the Southern Association of College and School (SACS) accrediting process. LC announced in June that SACS had placed the school on probation. The accreditation agency provided the specific reasons for the probation in a letter dated July 9. Six areas were cited by SACS that must be addressed if LC is to be removed from probation. The areas specified are: Principle of Integrity; External Influence; Personnel Appointment; Administrative Staff Evaluations; Control of Finances; Title IV Program Responsibilities. While colleges sanctioned by SACS seek to be removed from probation within the first year, schools have up to two years to address the issues cited by the accrediting agency. LC’s accreditation is not affected during the probationary period and the school remains fully accredited. When asked if a law firm was necessary in order to address the SACS requirements, LC Chairman of the Board Tommy French said he saw the firm as a “safety-net” to insure we “cross every ‘T’ and dot every ‘I’.” The law firm, according to French, … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer LAFAYETTE – Pastors will be encouraged to fulfill their ministry during this year’s Pastors Conference. Scheduled for Nov. 9-10 at First Baptist Church Lafayette, the annual gathering’s theme is “Fulfill Your Ministry,” based on 2 Timothy 4:5. “We wanted this to be an encouragement to pastors,” said Stewart Holloway, president of the Pastors Conference and pastor of First Baptist Pineville. “The Pastors Conference can be a spiritual retreat before the convention and the pastors can then go back to their churches renewed. Some come in so discouraged that they need to be encouraged to press on.” The conference will begin at 6 p.m. on Nov. 9 with music by a combined choir from FBC Lafayette and FBC Pineville. New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Present Chuck Kelley will then preach the first sermon. Steve Horn, president of the Louisiana Baptist Convention and pastor of First Baptist Lafayette, and Fred Lowery, retired pastor from First Baptist Bossier City will also preach during the opening session. The next day, the conference will begin at 8:30 a.m., with the first sermon by Tom Shepard, pastor of Church at Addis in Addis. Others scheduled to preach are Ronnie Floyd, president of … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 10/31/2014 - 10:40 Eddie Wren By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer LAFAYETTE – Eddie Wren will be nominated as president of the Pastors Conference, according to Joe Senn, pastor of Crockett Point Baptist Church in Winnsboro. The pastor of First Baptist Rayville, Wren said if elected he will look forward to serving fellow Louisiana Baptist pastors. Wren is the only announced candidate for conference president. “I am honored to be nominated for Pastors’ Conference president,” Wren said. “I have always loved attending the Pastors’ Conference, whether that be on the state or national level. I have found the conference to be a refreshing time and if elected I will, with God’s help, seek to make next year’s conference a great time of refreshment and growth for Louisiana pastors.” Since Wren became pastor of First Baptist Rayville in October 2010, average Sunday school attendance has increased from 236 to 321 as of mid-July. In three of the four years that Wren has served as pastor, First Baptist Rayville has seen more baptisms in a single year than any other single year since 1980, the earliest records the church has on file. In 2011, the church baptized 28; in 2012, 28; in 2013, 22, and … [Read more...]

LAFAYETTE – This year’s annual meeting of the Louisiana Baptist Convention will be held at First Baptist Church in Lafayette on Nov. 10-11. In order for a church to participate in the business of the convention, they will need to elect messenger(s) to represent them. Messengers elected by their respective church are then able to register as messengers and participate in the business of the convention. The Credentials Committee oversees the registration process for the annual meeting. Chris Fuselier, Louisiana Baptists Credentials Committee Chairman notes that there are five ways that messengers may be certified to participate and vote at this year’s annual convention. The first and simplest way is for messengers to pre-register using the LAone online program, print out their registration card, and bring the card to the annual meeting. Pre-registration in this way allows messengers to be certified within a matter of minutes, Fuselier said. Second, if messengers have not pre-registered, bringing a letter from their church on church letterhead stating that they are elected messengers will allow them to register and be certified to vote. Third, a church officer can phone in the names of elected messengers. Fourth, verification … [Read more...]

Monday Evening November 10, 2014 President Steve Horn, Presiding Benjamin Harlan, Worship Leader   5:15       Pre-Convention Music     Combined Choir and Orchestra 5:35       Call to Order       Steve Horn Prayer   Alexandra Flores 5:45       Presidential Appointments – Tellers Chair, Tellers, Parliamentarian Committee Reports: CredentialsChris Fuselier Order of BusinessJohn Carrigan 5:50       Special Music      Combined Choir and Orchestra 6:00       Bible Study          Jeff Iorg 6:20       Introduction of Motions 6:30       State Missions Team Report – Baptist Collegiate Ministry  Mark Robinson 6:35       State Missions Team Report - Executive Director Report    David Hankins 7:10       Louisiana College Report               Argile Smith 7:30       Special Music      Choir and Orchestra 7:35       Introduction of LBC President      Gary Ruffin President’s Address          Steve Horn 8:15       Benediction        Kenneth Sims, IV   Tuesday Morning November 11, 2014 President Steve Horn, Presiding Todd DuBose, Worship Leader   8:20       Praise and Worship          Todd DuBose/Jacob Cowley 8:30       Call to Order       Steve Horn Prayer   Melvin Mendoza 8:40       Bible … [Read more...]

RESOLUTION 1: ON EXPRESSION OF APPRECIATION WHEREAS, many individuals and groups have had a part in planning, preparing and conducting the 167th annual meeting of our Louisiana Baptist Convention; and WHEREAS, the messengers of this convention desire to warmly recognize and express appreciation to the following: Dr. Stephen Horn and the staff of First Baptist Church, Lafayette, for their assistance with details and for providing the use of the facilities for this annual meeting; and Dr. Stephen Horn, 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; Benjamin Harlan, Music Director for this annual meeting, for planning and coordinating the music, and the musicians for their dedicated service at the instruments; and John Carrigan and members of the Order of Business Committee for planning this informative and inspirational annual meeting; and THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the messengers of this 167th session of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, meeting in Lafayette, Louisiana, November 10-11, 2014 express to each of the above our deepest heartfelt gratitude. RESOLUTION 2: ON ENDING … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 10/31/2014 - 10:48 Joe Senn By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer LAFAYETTE – Joe Senn, pastor of Crockett Point Baptist Church in Crowville, is expected to be nominated for the office of second vice-president of the Louisiana Baptist Convention during this year’s LBC Annual Meeting. Jim Wolfe, pastor of Ridge Avenue Baptist Church in West Monroe, plans to nominate Senn for the position. He is the only candidate that has announced for the position. Senn, who has served as pastor of Crockett Point Baptist for the last 14 years, said he is excited about the possibility of being able to serve in the position. “It’s an honor to even be considered to serve in this position,” Senn said. “I will start my 15th year here at Crockett Point on January 1. God has just blessed us extremely.” Crockett Point Baptist gives 10.5 percent to the Cooperative Program, the joint giving effort by Southern Baptist churches that supports mission causes in Louisiana, North America and throughout the world. The church has between 225 and 250 people in attendance each Sunday in worship services and has averaged 20 baptisms per year during Senn’s 14 years as pastor there. “I believe the Cooperative Program is … [Read more...]

By Marilyn Stewart, Regional Reporter With teenagers comprising nearly twenty-five percent of Louisiana’s population, reaching the “next generation” with the gospel is a priority, the Louisiana Baptist Convention President’s 2020 Commission reported. The 2020 Commission Report, formulated by 400 Louisiana Baptist pastors, lay leaders and denominational workers, noted that the decline in attendance and baptisms over the last few decades comes almost entirely from children and youth age groups. Reaching the next generation is “the key to gospel success for the future,” the commission reported. Seizing the moment to impact the future can be done through 2020, the state-wide initiative to reach every generation and every people group in Louisiana, concluding remarks of commission subcommittee chairpersons noted. “Collegiate ministry is the gateway for new church leaders to be discovered and developed,” said Matt Endris, pastor, Fairview Baptist Church, and Baptist Collegiate Ministry (BCM) subcommittee chairperson. “If Louisiana churches will intentionally invest in the development of collegiate ministry, they will find that the college students who are won to Christ will meld with the students who have grown up in the church to … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 10/31/2014 - 10:52 Wayne Sheppard By Brian Blackwell. Message Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA – Louisiana Baptists looking to expand their opportunities to be on mission will have an opportunity to preview the upcoming launch of Cast the Net, a missions mobilization website, during the Annual Meeting of the LBC in Lafayette next week. First developed in 2009, Cast the Net allows individuals, churches and associations to connect with mission efforts in whichever state and nation God has led them. Wayne Sheppard, Executive Assistant to Executive Director David Hankins, is excited about the opportunity to connect Louisiana Baptists with missions opportunities across Louisiana and beyond. “As more people and churches are getting more intentional about being on mission, Cast The Net will provide multiple tools for missional engagement and global Gospel impact.” Sheppard said.  “Acts 1:8 opportunities will allow for local, regional, national, and global involvement.” Among the new features of the website is a listing of missions opportunities in Louisiana, North America and the world, as well as ways to get involved in such missions endeavors. A registration feature will enable individuals and … [Read more...]

It is important to remember that motions may only deal with one topic at a time. When making a motion, you should be as brief as possible and always begin with the phrase “I move that...” If you are making a subsidiary motion (one that deals with a motion already on the floor), it must be relevant to the motion currently under consideration and not be a motion that is the same or substantially similar to one already dealt with by this convention. If your motion is a privileged motion, it must not be dilatory (unnecessary or made only to delay the conduct of business). If your motion seeks to amend the Louisiana Baptist Convention Articles of Incorporation or Louisiana Baptist Convention Bylaws, please review these documents in advance for special rules regarding the process of amendment prior to offering your motion. A copy of the LBC Articles of Incorporation and LBC Bylaws are found in your Book of Reports. Important Steps in wording your motion: • A motion should direct that the Convention take some sort of action or refrain from taking some action. Include only the action you want to see taken in your motion. • Do not include supporting reasons for adopting your motion in the motion itself. This is done during debate and as … [Read more...]