COMINGS AND GOINGS n Harry Boyd Jr., pastor, resigns First Baptist, Winnsboro. n Kevin Phillips, new as Family Ministry Pastor, East Bayou Baptist, Lafayette. n Michael Taylor, new as youth pastor, Immanuel Baptist, Morgan City. n Noah Langley, new as interim pastor, Kaplan Baptist, Kaplan. n Wallace Milsaps, new as interim pastor, First Baptist, Jeanerette. n Stephen Laughlin, resigns First Baptist Oakdale as pastor; new as pastor at First Baptist Winnfield. n John Fream, new as pastor, Cypress Baptist, Benton. n Billy Sutton, new as associate pastor, Bethel Baptist, Shreveport. n Jason McNutt, resigns Ferry Lake Baptist, Oil City. n Matt Coker, new as minister of youth and students, First Baptist, Farmerville. n Mickey (wife Gay) Manning, new as pastor, New Prospect Baptist, Dubach. n Haven Hammons Sibley, new as youth director, Zion Hill Baptist, Farmerville. n Steven Perry, new as pastor, First Baptist, Grand Isle. NEEDED n Youth Director at Pine Grove Baptist. Send resume to Pine Grove Baptist Church, Attn: Mike Smith, 1167 Pine Grove Church Road, Bernice LA 71222. n Bi-vocational or part-time minister of music at Cross Roads Baptist. Send resume … [Read more...]

Youngsters at the Louisiana Baptist Childrens Home have been involved in a variety of summer activities – swimming, outings, camp – but that’s all past, and they’re getting ready for another year of school. MONROE – Youngsters at the Louisiana Baptist Childrens Home have been involved in a variety of summer activities – swimming, outings, camp – but that’s all past, and they’re getting ready for another year of school. “For most of us, starting a new school year as children was a greatly anticipated and exciting time,” said Perry Hancock, LBCH president and CEO. “For the boys and girls at your Children’s Home the first day of school can bring much anxiety – especially for our newest residents. Moving to a new home. Starting a new school. It can be a frightening time.” One way cottage parents distract their youngsters’ attention from the anxiety is to focus them on what they need: pencils, erasers, paper and the like. This costs money. So too do new shoes, clothes, school fees and even gasoline to transport LBCH youngsters to and from school, church, sports and other activities. “Our dedicated cottage parents are working diligently to make sure every child in our care is as prepared as possible,” Hancock said. “Not … [Read more...]

LBC Business Manager Dale Lingenfelter has given blood maybe 50 times. “I just feel like this is something I can do to help others,” Lingenfelter said Aug. 7 while letting the red blood cells in a pint of blood be taken from him by “Miz Leah” at a blood drive at the Baptist Building. The blood plasma combined with saline then was returned to his body. “With this machine, what’s given is more potent,” Lingenfelter said. “It’s better for the recipient.” Churches wanting to have a blood drive can call a nearby Life Share Blood Center; they’re in eight locations statewide. … [Read more...]

GuideStone Financial Resources President O.S. Hawkins updated trustees on the completion of initiatives related to GuideStone 90, the first phase of GuideStone’s long-range plan, during their July 28-29 meeting in Boston. BOSTON (BP) – GuideStone Financial Resources President O.S. Hawkins updated trustees on the completion of initiatives related to GuideStone 90, the first phase of GuideStone’s long-range plan, during their July 28-29 meeting in Boston. Trustees also heard an update on GuideStone’s preparations to launch its property and casualty insurance products and approved a business plan that will enable the organization to offer specific financial advice to its participants. Hawkins said each element of GuideStone 90, which was completed in June, “is designed to undergird our vision statement to honor the Lord by being a lifelong partner in enhancing the financial security of our participants.” Initiatives that grew out of GuideStone 90 included steps to provide competitive medical plan alternatives for participants. “Since 2003, health plan premiums nationwide have increased by an average of 52 percent,” Hawkins said. “By maximizing Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) network discounts, improved pharmacy … [Read more...]

Sturgis, S.D. – Tears told this tale. Sturgis, S.D. – Tears told this tale. One couple past the first flush of youth came to Sturgis to escape the ordinary. Winning a new Harley would have been the ultimate Sturgis souvenior, so they agreed to listen to a Christian testimony for three minutes to get in the drawing for the bike they were standing next to on Sturgis’ crowded Main Street. It was a bronze metallic 2008 Harley Davidson 105th Anniversary Deluxe Edition Softail motorcycle with a black and tan leather seat, which stood at the entrance of a large white tent. The Holy Spirit began working, and tears began rolling down the woman’s cheeks as she prayed the sinner’s prayer. As she prayed, tears formed in the eyes of her husband and he echoed the words she had just said. They looked at each other. “We need to pack up and go home and start living a Christian life,” she said. These were two of at least 1,365 decisions for Christ made during the intentional evangelism thrust at the 68th annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally last week, Aug. 4-9. Sturgis, billed as the “world’s largest motorcycle rally,” draws about 500,000 visitors to the Black Hills area of western South Dakota each August. Many visitors are people … [Read more...]

Jerry Johnson, president of Criswell College in Dallas, resigned Aug. 5 after a controversy went public about the direction of the College and its relationship with the First Baptist Church of Dallas, which founded the school and maintains active ties through trustee selection. DALLAS (BP) – Jerry Johnson, president of Criswell College in Dallas, resigned Aug. 5 after a controversy went public about the direction of the College and its relationship with the First Baptist Church of Dallas, which founded the school and maintains active ties through trustee selection. The discord was publicized Aug. 1 when the Dallas Morning News published an accusation by Criswell trustee Steve Washburn, pastor of First Baptist Church in Pflugerville, Texas, that Jeffress, pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas, was planning to liquidate Criswell’s assets to benefit the church, which established the college in 1970 under the leadership of their late pastor, W.A. Criswell. The paper also reported Johnson’s affirmation of Washburn’s accusation. Jeffress, who as pastor of FBC Dallas is automatically chancellor of Criswell College, denied the accusation, saying it was the product of an “overactive imagination.” Among the college’s assets is … [Read more...]

Robert Greer is one of the “good guys” gleaning from the natural gas “gold mine” made public within the last six months in Northwest Louisiana. SHREVEPORT – Robert Greer is one of the “good guys” gleaning from the natural gas “gold mine” made public within the last six months in Northwest Louisiana. He’s a cop – technically, a detective in the juvenile division with the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office. He also works on an Internet Crimes Against Children task force, and as such has nabbed several people – a local radio personality, Monroe politician, vascular surgeon – whose arrests on charges related to child pornography made state-wide news. The latest offer Greer and his wife Veronica – together they have three youngsters – have received includes a $12,500/acre signing bonus and a monthly 25 percent royalty of any natural gas removed from deep under their home in the North Highlands subdivision. “There’s some areas in town getting $20- to $25,000 an acre, and others that are getting $1 [thousand],” Greer said. “Considering I didn’t have anything before, $7,000 looks pretty good!” That’s his estimate for the .66/acre of land on which sets his home built in the 1950s. “I never even thought of mineral rights or heard … [Read more...]

When the Democratic National Convention meets at Denver’s Pepsi Center Aug. 25-28, the “Mile High City” will absorb an estimated 225,000 visitors – including the 5,000 credentialed delegates, politicians, the media and protesters. Local officials are readying for the challenge. DENVER (BP) – When the Democratic National Convention meets at Denver’s Pepsi Center Aug. 25-28, the “Mile High City” will absorb an estimated 225,000 visitors – including the 5,000 credentialed delegates, politicians, the media and protesters. Local officials are readying for the challenge. As a ministry to Denver’s law enforcement officers and first responders such as emergency medical service personnel and firefighters, three local Southern Baptist congregations and the Mile High Baptist Association have initiated a “Love Denver” outreach. Five hundred or more Baptist volunteers will join in the effort, and the North American Mission Board is coming alongside the outreach with funding assistance. Denver’s Riverside Baptist Church, Bear Valley Church and First Southern Baptist Westminster Church and the association have been planning the Love Denver ministry for 10 months. The outreach will provide law enforcement personnel and first … [Read more...]

Louisiana College played host to the Louisiana Family Forum’s Ten Year Celebration ceremony recently at the Granberry Conference Center. PINEVILLE – Louisiana College played host to the Louisiana Family Forum’s Ten Year Celebration ceremony recently at the Granberry Conference Center. The event was highlighted by several awards given by Louisiana Family Forum Action to area legislators for their support of family friendly issues. Traditionally, Louisiana Family Forum holds a single celebration per year. However, this year the statewide group decided to hold dual celebrations, one in Baton Rouge and another in Pineville. “We are both pleased and honored that Louisiana Family Forum chose Louisiana College as a host site for their Ten Year Celebration,” said L.C. President Joe Aguillard. “The Louisiana Family Forum is an organization whose mission is closely aligned with the mission of Louisiana College. Ten years ago they crafted a mission to bring this state and the entire country back to its biblical roots. Preserving those roots has been the mission of Louisiana College for over 100 years. We’re proud to have Louisiana Family Forum on our campus. They will always be welcome here.” Gene Mills, president of LFF … [Read more...]

It was an answer to prayer. CHALMETTE – It was an answer to prayer. Three years after Hurricane Katrina’s devastation, the rebuilding continues in St. Bernard Parish and especially at First Baptist Church, Chalmette. Progress on rebuilding First Chalmette appeared to be doing well as the church was nearly 65 percent complete. But then news came that the last volunteer team scheduled for the summer was departing, and there were no others scheduled. “We do not have any volunteer teams scheduled for September, October, November or December of ’08,” FBC Chalmette Pastor John Jeffries said. “And there were no teams scheduled for 2009.” Even though, hundreds of volunteers from across the U.S. had come to assist First Chalmette in its rebuilding efforts, the pool of volunteers had finally begun to dry up. Jeffries asked people to pray that God would help them find enough volunteers to complete the project. He did. On the day the church’s steeple was being put into place, Tommy Puckett, Director of the Office of Men’s Ministries and Disaster Relief for the Alabama State Board of Missions, informed Jefferies, and project manager Gary Morrow, that Alabama Baptist were adopting First Chalmette as a target project and … [Read more...]