Ray W. Scott Jr. didn’t invent the sport of bass fishing but he has shaped bass fishing into the multi-million dollar industry it is today. PINTLALA, Ala. – Ray W. Scott Jr. didn’t invent the sport of bass fishing but he has shaped bass fishing into the multi-million dollar industry it is today. Scott, the founder of the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S.), the world’s largest fishing organization, built the organization with faith – a whole lot of faith – and by using our Lord Jesus Christ as a model, he said to the Message. “A lot of people credit me for coming up with the concept or prospecting for men – fishermen – to join BASS, but it was Jesus Christ that came up with the idea of using ordinary men to spready the Word. “Jesus started with just 12 disciples over 2,000 years ago, and today there are how many Christians in the world? If you don’t go out and look for new prospects, you will never find them,” Scott said. “You know you have to have new people in order to grow,” Scott said. “Whether it is a church congregation, a business or a bass club, without new people things stagnate and decline.” Scott, a deacon at Pintlala Baptist Church in Alabama, is an all-American original. With his trademark … [Read more...]

What do you do when you’re a 52-year-old grandmother rearing your 8-year-old granddaughter and your monthly income is $497? FERRIDAY – What do you do when you’re a 52-year-old grandmother rearing your 8-year-old granddaughter and your monthly income is $497? If you live in Delta Baptist Association, you go to Delta Storefront Ministries, where you can get food, clothing, a Valentines (or other seasonal) gift for your grandgirl, and maybe even a “pretty” for your home – all without spending a penny.  “This is a poor area,” said Ruby Holder, director of the Southern Baptist community ministry center, referring to all of Delta Parish, a long, thin slit of land that borders the Mississippi River. “About half the people in this town qualify” for the food assistance provided by Delta Storefront Ministries. Holder has a filing cabinet filled with applications for food assistance from people whose income should make those of us with more, feel rich. In response to such overwhelming need, Delta Storefront Ministries is a community ministry center supported by individuals and churches, mostly in Delta Baptist Association, as well as by the Southern Baptist Convention’s World Hunger Funds, and the Food Bank of Central … [Read more...]

As Christians who hold to doctrinal orthodoxy, Baptists are Trinitarian in our theology. As Christians who hold to doctrinal orthodoxy, Baptists are Trinitarian in our theology. That means we Baptists believe that the one and only God eternally exists in the three persons of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each person is fully God and equal to the other two persons of the trinity while at the same time the one true God is one, existing in three persons. The three persons enjoy equality in nature and yet possess subordination in their function, activity, or economy. (I know it is confusing, but there is not enough space here to go into greater detail.) Theologically speaking, we Baptists have tended to do a fairly good job of dealing with and teaching about the Father and Son– especially the Son’s redemptive work and its salvific implications for fallen humanity.  However, we Baptists tend to be rather weak in our theology and practice when it comes to the third person of the trinity. We may mention the Spirit’s convicting and drawing work during the invitation and we may preach an occasional sermon about some of the Spirit’s gifts, but for the most part we tend to neglect the third person of the Godhead. I … [Read more...]

I hear most Christians pray “in Jesus’ name” when they’re praying, but sometimes they don’t say “in Jesus’ name.” Why do we pray “in Jesus’ name?” Question:  I hear most Christians pray “in Jesus’ name” when they’re praying, but sometimes they don’t say “in Jesus’ name.”  Why do we pray “in Jesus’ name?” Bill Warren answers:  To begin, we need to understand that prayer is not about magic where the right formula brings the desired magical results, but rather prayer is about a relationship.  In other words, praying or using the phrase “in Jesus’ name” is not a magical formula that trumps the relationship requirements.  For example, in Matthew 7:22, Jesus says, “Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, in your name didn’t we prophesy, and in your name cast out demons, and in your name do many miracles?’  And then I’ll confess about them, ‘I never knew you!  Depart from me, you who practice wickedness.’”  Jesus clarifies that doing God’s will (Matthew 7:21) and practicing righteousness are integral to our relationship with our heavenly Father.  Prayer needs to be kept in this relationship context as a starting point. Within that context, Jesus says in John 16:23b that his disciples have the privilege of … [Read more...]

It wasn’t that Martha Bailey “found her voice” in the wake of Katrina’s wrath. That’s just when the rest of the state awakened to what the congregation at First Baptist Covington had long known: PINEVILLE – It wasn’t that Martha Bailey “found her voice” in the wake of Katrina’s wrath. That’s just when the rest of the state awakened to what the congregation at First Baptist Covington had long known: She’s a treasure. Bailey, wife of pastor Waylon Bailey, is guest speaker this year for the Kaleidoscope Women’s Conference, sponsored by the LBC’s women’s missions and ministries. Author of the book “Putting My Dress-Up Clothes Away,” subtitled “because big girls live in the real world.” Set to start with registration at 8:30 a.m. and worship at 9 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, at First Baptist Pineville, Kaleidoscope is to include several breakout sessions, and worship led by the Women of Praise, who are a part of the women’s ministry at Longview Baptist Church in Deville. “We are so excited about this year’s Kaleidoscope,” said Janie Wise, LBC women’s missions and ministries strategist. “Our theme this year is ‘Life Abundant,’ with John 10:10 our scripture, and you’re going to find an abundance at Kaleidoscope of everything … [Read more...]

When the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) met Jan. 13, members approved the rules and regulations of the Science Education Act, which was made into law last legislative session. BATON ROUGE – When the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) met Jan. 13, members approved the rules and regulations of the Science Education Act, which was made into law last legislative session. Joe Aguillard, president of Louisiana College, expressed his satisfaction with the approval.  “This allows science teachers in our state to freely teach scientific information that is contrary to Darwinian evolution,” Aguillard said. “Prior to this time, it was frowned upon or not allowed. “This law is not an effort to promote religion,” Aguillard continued, “but it allows them to teach scientific facts that debunk the scientific theory of evolution.” President Aguillard and four faculty members traveled to Baton Rouge last summer to testify on behalf of the legislation, which, they told legislators, would allow science teachers to present material that spoke truthfully, scientifically and contradictory to Darwinian evolution theory. “That’s all Darwinianism is: a theory,” Aguillard said. … [Read more...]

People with an interest in “teaching people to fish” rather than merely providing meals for them are invited to participate in the 2009 annual meeting of the Louisiana Baptist Agricultural Missions Fellowship. MONROE – People with an interest in “teaching people to fish” rather than merely providing meals for them are invited to participate in the 2009 annual meeting of the Louisiana Baptist Agricultural Missions Fellowship. The gathering is set for Saturday, Jan. 31, at North Monroe Baptist Church, where Bill Dye is pastor and Gene Hodgkins is church host for the meeting. “By working together we can bring joy where there is no joy,” said W. Nelson Philpot, president of what is usually known as the Ag Missions Fellowship. “We can bring hope where there is no hope, and we can bring life instead of a premature death and an early grave.” The Ag Missions annual meeting is to start with registration and refreshments at 9:30 a.m., and the opening prayer at 10 a.m. The Southern Grace choral group is to lead in a time of worship. Wayne Sheppard is to be the opening speaker. He is partnership missions mobilization strategist for the Louisiana Baptist Convention. Billy and Barbara Nutt, and Bryce Blackman, are to report on … [Read more...]

Sandy Bayou Baptist Church Caldwell Baptist Association COLUMBIA – Complete with cypress trees, cypress knees and moss, Sandy Bayou Baptist Church in Columbia is perfectly named. The brick church building with a steeple rests on the edges of the Sandy Bayou, with the Ouachita River to the west and the Boeuf River to the right. Sandy Bayou Baptist was established on Sept. 20, 1917, and still meets in the church building that was built in 1959.  “We’re just a small rural church, but we’ve got active young people,” said Larry Russell, pastor for the last four years. The church averages 40 to 50 in attendance each week. In 2008, Sandy Bayou Baptist made the decision to branch out and take a different approach on vacation Bible school, the pastor said. Instead of the traditional week-long VBS, the church held VBS over one weekend; 50 kids attended.  “We had Bible school on Friday afternoon and all day Saturday, but both days after we rented an inflatable water slide for the kids to play on,” Russell said. The weekend ended with a commencement service Sunday morning, lunch right after, and more water slide fun until dark, the pastor said. “The new approach worked out well and we’re planning to do it again with … [Read more...]

Focused on reaching people with a Western style, Open Gate Western Heritage Church uses hayrides, trail rides, and rodeos to reach people. Focused on reaching people with a Western style, Open Gate Western Heritage Church uses hayrides, trail rides, and rodeos to reach people. Among the many features offered by the church is a ‘Higher Ground Rodeo Club’ for its youth. While they are meeting in the cafeteria at Fairview Elementary in Lake Charles, the church recently purchased property with the prospect of  building soon. … [Read more...]

COMINGS & GOINGS Braxton Humphries, new as pastor, Bethel Baptist, West Monroe. Christopher Wright, new as pastor, Grace Baptist, Bastrop. Ted Drell, new as minister of music, St. Clair Baptist, Boyce. Gary Ashworth, new as minister of families, Simpson Baptist, Simpson. NEEDED Full-time pastor needed at Mt. Vernon Baptist, West Monroe; send resume to Pastor Search Committee, 215 Mt. Vernon Church Road, West Monroe LA 71292 or email to baptmiss@aol.comthrough Feb. 13. Full-time youth/family life minister; contact Stephen Laughlin 318.628.3544 or emailfbcwinnpastor@bellsouth.net. Full-time associate pastor; send resume to Gloster Baptist Church, PO Box 86, Gloster LA 71030; requires MRE, 5 years experience. AVAILABLE Baldwin Tube Organ and 130 1975 Baptist Hymnals free; call 318.226.1500. Family Bibles (20) available; call Ed Weiland 318.687.4920. Piano and organ free to any church; call Charles Garner, 318.846.2261. Upright piano, choir robes (20) and hymnals free; call 318.982.5363. Baldwin electric organ free; call 318.254.1339. DEATHS Jessica Teutsch, daughter of Scott Teutsch, pastor of Eastwood Baptist in Haughton, died Jan. 15 in an auto accident. ANNIVERSARIES AND … [Read more...]