God uses tough times in people’s lives to help them grow. It is during these trying, desperate times that people need the church and its message of hope, more than ever. BASTROP – God uses tough times in people’s lives to help them grow. It is during these trying, desperate times that people need the church and its message of hope, more than ever. Times couldn’t be any tougher than what they are right now in the town of Bastrop and surrounding Morehouse Parish. Since 2005, the area has been hard hit economically with the loss of more than 2,500 jobs that included the closing of the regional operations center for State Farm Insurance in Monroe 2005, Guide Corporation in Monroe in 2007, and on Nov. 21 of last year, the International Paper Mill in Bastrop itself. The closure of the IP Mill was extremely tough it cost the community 550 jobs and an annual payroll of $30 million. As if things couldn’t get any worse, Pilgrim Pride announced in January it was closing its chicken processing plant in Farmerville, which meant the loss of another 1,300 jobs directly, another 300 independent growers and an annual household income of $85 million. More than 500 of those workers came from Morehouse Parish. “It’s tough … really … [Read more...]

Last week’s announcement of the pending sale of Pilgrim Pride’s chicken processing plant here came as an answer to prayer for the more than 1,300 people affected. FARMERVILLE – Last week’s announcement of the pending sale of Pilgrim Pride’s chicken processing plant here came as an answer to prayer for the more than 1,300 people affected. Gov. Bobby Jindal addressed a large crowd at the Family Life Center of First Baptist Farmerville about the state’s efforts to ensure the Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. facility was sold to Foster Farms, a California-based chicken producer. While the sales agreement is a vital first step, and possibly the most difficult part of the process, the work is not complete, the governor said. “The tomb is empty,” Jindal said. “We’re not at Easter Sunday yet.” While the $80 million dollar agreement, to be split evenly between the state and Foster Farms, is cause for celebration, Jindal said, now is not the time to be complacent. For the plan to work, the bankruptcy court must accept the agreement, an anti-trust must be filed, and legislative help must be obtained. Still, after more than three weeks of fear, anxiety and bad news, many are thanking God for finally getting some good … [Read more...]

And the people came. They came from Elmer, Farmerville, Minden, Bastrop, Monroe, Shreveport, Alexandria, Pineville, Hammond, Baton Rouge, Gonzales, and Kentwood. They came from North, Central and South Louisiana. There were even some from as far away as Mississippi and Texas. BASTROP – And the people came. They came from Elmer, Farmerville, Minden, Bastrop, Monroe, Shreveport, Alexandria, Pineville, Hammond, Baton Rouge, Gonzales, and Kentwood. They came from North, Central and South Louisiana. There were even some from as far away as Mississippi and Texas. Organizers for the annual 4 Wheels 4 Him four-wheeler trail ride expected a big crowd but marveled at the final numbers. They also marveled at the distance in which some traveled to participate. “I was excited because we I saw we had 430 to pre-register. But when the article came out in the Message we began to get flooded with phone calls and now people are showing up in droves to register,” said Andy Myrick, Evangelism Director for the Northeast Louisiana Baptist Association and one of the organizers for the event. “This turnout is beyond anything I ever dreamed would happen. “Many of these people drove hundreds of miles to get here,” Myrick said. “And there is … [Read more...]

It has been noted that if you get three Baptists to talking it will only be a matter of time until five opinions emerge. It has been noted that if you get three Baptists to talking it will only be a matter of time until five opinions emerge. While usually said in jest, the aforementioned does hit close to home. And I like to think that it is a strength of Southern Baptist life. There are critical theological issues on which we must agree. Among them, but certainly not all of them, are the nature of God, salvation and the Scriptures. I would also argue that there is at least one method on which we must agree – and that is the Cooperative Program. What sets Southern Baptists apart from other Baptist groups is we have chosen to cooperate financially, and otherwise, for the sake of the gospel. While there is much that we must agree on in order to be considered Southern Baptist, there is much that we can and do disagree on. Never has that been more evident to me than with my decision to publish a column titled “What preachers can learn from Rush Limbaugh’s predicament” by Joe McKeever [Baptist Message, March 19]. Joe is a gifted cartoonist as well as an effective writer. He is also a proven leader and the Lord has … [Read more...]

A man working on an icy bridge fell 70 feet into the river. The current began moving the injured man downstream. Watching, a passing barge captain was faced with a life-or-death decision. Knowing the worker would freeze and drown if someone didn’t act, he dove into the frigid water and kept the man afloat until help arrived 30 minutes later. A man working on an icy bridge fell 70 feet into the river. The current began moving the injured man downstream. Watching, a passing barge captain was faced with a life-or-death decision. Knowing the worker would freeze and drown if someone didn’t act, he dove into the frigid water and kept the man afloat until help arrived 30 minutes later. When asked what motivated him to risk his life for someone he didn’t even know, Captain Brisson told reporters: “I have a family; I thought about that. But I thought about how life is very important. I’m a Christian, and I couldn’t let anything happen to him.” That day, Captain Brisson acted like Jesus. He disregarded his own personal comfort and was willing to give his life to save someone who would surely have perished without him. Jesus said, “The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). There are three aspects … [Read more...]

A car can’t drive itself, at least not on our streets – yet. A car can’t drive itself, at least not on our streets – yet. Volkswagen has been successful in creating a version of the Golf in 2006, which actually drove itself at speeds of 150 mph! By using radar and laser sensors, the car’s “eyes” maneuvered the vehicle at high speeds around various obstacles on a closed track. The day is coming when cars will have autopilot. Could it be some churches are already stuck on autopilot? Are some pastors and staff expecting the church to run itself? While I hope this is not the normal experience, it is obvious some churches are struggling from a lack of leadership. Several reasons may contribute to churches finding themselves in this dilemma. One reason could be church members are not allowing the pastor to lead. Ultimately, God has given the pastor the role of shepherd. The members are to follow their shepherd because he submits to the leadership of the Good Shepherd. When the roles of sheep and shepherd are reversed, problems arise. Another reason could be a lack of knowledge.  With the many things a pastor learns in seminary, his church’s particular need might be an area of weakness in his education or … [Read more...]

Two months before Hurricane Katrina, Celebration Church’s Hope Center opened its doors to minister specifically to substance abuse clients. METAIRIE – Two months before Hurricane Katrina, Celebration Church’s Hope Center opened its doors to minister specifically to substance abuse clients. The emotional damage that ravaged lives in the wake of Katrina’s destruction opened Celebration Hope Center – CHC – to widen its ministry. And as a result of a continually-increasing client load, CHC is moving from three cramped sites across Greater New Orleans into an 8,000-square-foot unit in the shopping center that also is home to Celebration’s Airline Highway Campus. “During 2008, the CHC provided 500 clients with mental health services, [plus] another 100 clients [recovered] from the addictions in their lives,” said Florence “Freddie” Landry, executive director of Healing Hearts for Community Development, the 501c3 organization under which the Celebration Hope Center operates as the organization’s counseling center. That was double the number of clients who received services in 2007. Just since January, the addictions’ program has doubled in clients. CHC itself is the outgrowth of Celebration Church’s successful Celebrate … [Read more...]

First Baptist Church in Denham Springs has a fresh approach on children’s ministry. DENHAM SPRINGS – First Baptist Church in Denham Springs has a fresh approach on children’s ministry. Under the guidance of Sam Labello, minister of education at First Denham Springs, Julie O’Neal and Laura Dunlap are children’s ministers seeking to find new and creative ways to teach children the Bible. On April 26, the children will perform a musical called “Parablelooza” that will go through the parables of Jesus in the New Testament. Song and drama will be involved, and the children will recite the books of the Bible. Kathy and John Frady, familiar faces from several children’s events like M-JAM and GA Camp, will also present two skits for the church during “Parablelooza” Sunday. An emphasis on this summer’s vacation Bible school also will be part of “Parablelooza.” Usually having an average of 100 children at VBS, this summer is expected to be a big hit with Lifeway’s “Boomerang Express,” O’Neal said. For the last three years, VBS has been at night and has allowed for more volunteers and a more successful VBS, she explained. O’Neal has worked with the children at First Denham Springs for three years, and with Labello as … [Read more...]

More than 200 people prayerwalked on Saturday, March 21, the mile and a half from the Riverfront in downtown Natchitoches to the coliseum at Northwestern State University. NATCHITOCHES – More than 200 people prayerwalked on Saturday, March 21, the mile and a half from the Riverfront in downtown Natchitoches to the coliseum at Northwestern State University. They then completely circled the round structure and with hands joined in one accord, prayed for God to do His work there the next day, at District Eight’s Festival of Hope for West-Central Louisiana, an evangelistic event a year in the planning. “We were walking along [as a city-permitted parade,] and traffic had to stop,” said Ron Thompson, pastor of Trinity Baptist in Natchitoches, and chairman of the Festival of Hope. After describing two young men on bicycles clad in black pants, white shirt and ties – typical garb of Mormon “missionaries” – Thompson added, “They had to stop what they were doing, for what God was doing. It was such an assurance that God was in this.” Perhaps 1,500 people participated in the Sunday evening Festival of Hope. Following a 90-minute gospel music show of several local vocalists and vocal groups, Fred Lowery, pastor of First Baptist … [Read more...]

For several New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary students, this year was not your typical Mardi Gras. NEW ORLEANS – For several New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary students, this year was not your typical Mardi Gras. Eleven Unlimited Partnerships students from NOBTS spent their Mardi Gras vacation networking with Southern Baptist leaders. They were joined by three students from Southern California Seminary in El Cajon, Calif., affiliated with Shadow Mountain Community Church and Dr. David Jeremiah. On Feb. 22-24, these students visited LifeWay Christian Resources, the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee, and the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, all in Nashville, Tenn., and the North American Mission Board in Alpharetta, a suburb of Atlanta, Ga. This trip was designed to connect young leaders with experienced leaders in the Southern Baptist Convention. “We believe that our churches and denomination as a whole will grow stronger as we dialogue and learn from each other,” said Bill Taylor, president of Unlimited Partnerships. “I want our students to have opportunities to meet people they may not otherwise meet and thus be challenged to think broader about their ministries.” Students … [Read more...]