Submitted by philip on Fri, 08/08/2014 - 10:42 DOM Bert Langley prays for fellow DOM Alan Knuckles at the first Day of Prayer in Lafayette. By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer BOSSIER CITY – Keeping with a desire to focus on prayer in the state, Louisiana Baptist Convention President Steve Horn has scheduled a second day of prayer within a four-month period. Scheduled for Sept. 11 at First Bossier, the day of prayer will be similar to the one held at First Lafayette on June 24. During that gathering, around 77 Louisiana Baptist pastors and laypeople gathered to pray for repentance, the President’s 2020 Commission, Louisiana College, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and other college students in the state, needs of the churches and revival. Since the prayer gathering at First Bossier will fall on Sept. 11, Horn expects more focus on praying for the nation. Horn said that he was pleased with the attendance at the first prayer gathering and is excited that people will come together to pray for an entire day. “In reflecting on our prayer gathering, though we had representation from every corner of the state, it was dominated by the south,” said Horn, who also is pastor of First Lafayette. “So, I have … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 08/08/2014 - 10:49 After a day of activity, Bible study, and small groups, these children at Seeker Springs Baptist Encampment joined together for prayer. By Hannah Boggs and Hannah Fleming, Message Staff Writer From new paint to new programs to new buildings, Louisiana’s Baptist encampments throughout the state have been extremely busy and productive making improvements and, even expanding, all the while keeping up with a busy summer camping season. Here is what has been taking place at some of those encampments: ACADIAN BAPTIST CENTER EUNICE – For the past 39 years, the Acadian Baptist Center, a former Baptist school, has provided Southwest Louisiana with a quality camp and conference experience. Their vision is to con tinue that service for another 100 years. In order to accomplish this feat, though, it would take money … a great deal of money. Well, ABC has been getting lots of money thanks to a capital building campaign which was started more than a year ago in June. Within a few months of its start, through God’s blessing, the money began to flow into the campaign. It not only surpassed its original goal of $1.4 million but organizers were so encouraged, they set a new goal … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 08/08/2014 - 10:52 Campers at this year’s Centri Kid Camp worship with music and motions during the evening worship service in Guinn Auditorium on the Louisiana College campus. By Hannah Fleming, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE – The Centri Kid Camp has been reaching middle schoolers nationwide for the past 13 years and at Louisiana College for the last two. And the popular camp is growing. “Centri Kid has grown in both numbers and space since it began back in 2001,” said Ellie Doom, assistant director for the camp at Louisiana College for the past two years and a member of the Centri Kid staff for the past five years. “It has especially grown here at Louisiana College,” said Doom. “Last year, we did two weeks totaling 450 kids and this year it was around 700. It has been steadily growing.” Louisiana College hosted one of the eight teams during the weeks of July 16-19 and July 22-25. As a matter of fact, LC is the only location in Louisiana that holds a Centri Kid camp. Why? “Because one of the main goals and foundations of the camp is that everything be rooted in the scriptures,” said Doom. During the week the kids are constantly taught about Christ through activities, worship and … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 08/08/2014 - 10:56 Girls pray with a leader after the first night of worship at the Girls Mission Camp at Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center at the end of July. By Hannah Fleming, Message Staff Writer WOODWORTH – Girls from all over Louisiana were challenged to be ‘fearless’ as they developed a heart for Christ and a heart for missions at this year’s Girls Mission Camp. “I was excited to see how the girls got to experience and grow in their relationship with God, learn about missions and see Him in nature and the outdoors,” said Louisiana Baptist Convention’s Children & Youth Mission Education Strategist Jess Archer. More than 200 campers, staff and church sponsors participated in the two camps (July 20-23 and July 23-26) held at Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center. Both three-day camps were for girls who had completed first through sixth grade and their adult leaders. Campers were able to interact with missionaries, be involved in Bible study and worship, play games, make crafts but best of all make new friends. “We attempted to stuff a lot into a day,” said Archer, who was directing her first Girls Mission camp. “Each morning the girls started off with group Bible studies … [Read more...]

ON THE MOVE Joseph Craig Kubic new as Dean of Libraries at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. Lavelle Spillers new as pastor Welcome Home Baptist Church, Dodson. Billy Prince has resigned as pastor at Corinth Baptist Church, Winnfield. Stephen Byrd new as pastor of First Baptist Church, Zachary. Jason Robertson new as pastor of Milldale Baptist Church, Zachary. Joshua (wife Beth) Shirey is new as youth pastor at First Baptist Church, Blanchard. Emmitt (wife Sharpel) Welch is new as youth minister at West Hills Baptist Church, Shreveport. Jack Varnado is new as pastor of Beech Ridge Baptist Church, Livingston. Jason Weir is new as minister of music at Judson Baptist Church, Walker. REVIVAL/HOMECOMING Ebenezer Baptist Church, Jonesboro: Revival, Aug. 17-20. Evangelist: Michael Courtney. Music: Kerry Tolar. Pastor: Randy Lee. Bethel Baptist Church, Colfax: Homecoming Service, Aug. 24, 10:45 a.m. Speaker: Robert Daniel. There will be a covered dish luncheon after the service. Pastor: Carl Gulde. Mt. Vernon Baptist Church, West Monroe: Homecoming Services, Aug. 17, 9 a.m. (Sunday School), 10:15 a.m. (morning Service). Speaker: Jordy McKaskle. Music: New Liberty Quartet. There will be dinner on … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer Campuses will be buzzing with students in the coming weeks and Baptist Collegiate Ministry directors emphasize the importance of establishing a pattern of building relationships with them early in the fall semester. “Collegiate life is all about relationships,” said Ryan James, director of the Louisiana State University at Eunice BCM. “Relationships, especially to campus organizations, often begin where impressions can be made. If a student is coming to campus for the first time in which a positive, loving and relational impression is made by someone involved in BCM or a local Baptist church, that could be the kindling that initiates a long-lasting relationship.” Most campuses resume classes for the fall in late August, giving BCMs ample time to prepare for activities and events that serve as a platform to welcome students. These include but are not limited to dollar steak nights, freshmen survival weeks, neon night, a picnic on the parade grounds, late night laser tag and a welcome back barbecue. BCMs and churches should make every effort during the first two weeks of the semester to do all they can to reach the students, believes Louisiana BCM State Director Mark Robinson. He … [Read more...]

By Kelly Boggs, Message Editor The art of debate in American public discourse has, it seems, gone the way of the dodo bird. Insults and accusations have replaced the reasoned presentation of ideas buttressed by points of fact. Take, for instance, the subject of homosexual marriage. Those who oppose same-sex marriage are accused frequently of being bigoted homophobes, end of discussion. As a result, real public debate on the issue has been squelched. The average American, who must sort through media portrayals of the debate to arrive at a conclusion, is thus vulnerable to manipulation. A case in point is the disparity between the percentage of Americans who identify as homosexual or bi-sexual and the public perception of that percentage. The Centers for Disease Control released a study in July which found that slightly more than 2 percent of Americans (male and female) identify as homosexual or bisexual. A study released in April of 2011 by Gary Gates, a demographer-in-residence at UCLA, found that only about 4 million adults in America identify as gay or lesbian. This figure represents 1.7 percent of the nation’s population. Keep in mind the previous facts when you consider a 2011 Gallup poll found that “U.S. adults, on … [Read more...]

By Richard Land, President Southern Evangelical Seminary Sometimes things come across your desk that stop you dead in your tracks, and you say, “That just can’t be.” And then you find out, “Yes, it can.” This happened to me the other day when I read a news release that said that at least 40% of Americans (and 90% of under 30 millennials) are afflicted with “nomophobia”-the fear of not having, or losing, their smartphones. This fear actually produces psychological and physical symptoms. One colleague said it should be called “no-more-phoneaphobia.” Seriously, this is no laughing matter. These statistics reveal the extent to which technology is changing our personal lives. When people don’t have their smartphones, they feel disconnected and isolated (72% of people report being within five feet of their smartphone the majority of the time.) According to an article in Psychology Today (July 25, 2013) when people who own smartphones (56 percent of all Americans) were asked how they felt when they misplaced their phones, 73% said they were “panicked,” 14 percent were “desperate,” 7 percent “sick,” and 6 percent were “relieved.” Dr. Sylvia Hart Frejd reports that one well-respected study found “the urge to log into social networking … [Read more...]