Too often, a youth minister gets caught up trying to fill up a calendar, and it overflows onto his personal life. When this happens both his ministry and his spiritual life suffer for it. ALEXANDRIA – Too often, a youth minister gets caught up trying to fill up a calendar, and it overflows onto his personal life. When this happens both his ministry and his spiritual life suffer for it. What can be done about it? Matt Kearns, director of Student Ministry at the Missouri Baptist Convention, says youth leaders should step back, make an honest evaluation of their walk with the Lord, and get their priorities straight. The featured speaker at the second of two yearly youth ministry forums sponsored by Louisiana Youth Ministry department of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, Kearns spoke frankly to a room of youth ministers from across the state. “You are so fortunate because you get to hear from God,” Kearns said. “Unfortunately, you just don’t how to listen. You shouldn’t feel bad, though because you are not alone. It is the same all across the board. “Too often we get lost in the numbers – how many did we have Sunday morning, Sunday evening, or Wednesday evening,” Kearns said. “As a former youth minister, I know I  … [Read more...]

In the days following Hurricane Katrina’s devastation to our part of the world, I began calling on pastors and churches to see who was still in business and who needed our immediate help. At the First Baptist Church of Luling, Pastor Todd Hallman gave a brief tour of his fellowship hall which they had turned into a distribution center, supplying necessities for storm victims. NEW ORLEANS – In the days following Hurricane Katrina’s devastation to our part of the world, I began calling on pastors and churches to see who was still in business and who needed our immediate help. At the First Baptist Church of Luling, Pastor Todd Hallman gave a brief tour of his fellowship hall which they had turned into a distribution center, supplying necessities for storm victims. Volunteers were everywhere and a constant stream of people flowed in and out of the buildings, entering empty-handed and leaving heavily laden. Todd said, “One of our leaders returned from evacuation and saw all this and became indignant. He wanted to know who gave me the authority to turn the church into a distribution center.” He smiled. “I told him it was a no-brainer.” That’s as good an answer as any, and probably all the man needed. Some things do not need … [Read more...]

Friday is the third anniversary of the landfall of our omnipresent storm, Hurricane Katrina, the most powerful storm to strike America since scientists began measuring such calamities. NEW ORLEANS – Friday is the third anniversary of the landfall of our omnipresent storm, Hurricane Katrina, the most powerful storm to strike America since scientists began measuring such calamities. Hurricane Katrina was three times the size of Rita or Andrew or Camille in the sheer energy it generated, lifting the waters of the sea at least 10 feet above sea level for a span of 200 miles. This storm surge, 30 feet high at the midpoint, filled Lake Pontchartrain to unprecedented levels and toppled the walls of the city’s drainage canals at seven different locations. And there you have it – Mother Nature’s swirling gift that just keeps on spinning. Not a day goes by – maybe not even a waking hour – that I don’t somehow encounter this storm in my memory. Driving through Lake-view I see a new home and think, “They didn’t elevate it much. I guess they’re betting on the levees.” I see a vacant lot where a home used to sit and wonder, “Is that family living nearby or still displaced by the storm?” I walk our church parking lot and lament … [Read more...]

“Since 1845, the Southern Baptist Convention has focused on one mission – the Great Commission.” BATON ROUGE – “Since 1845, the Southern Baptist Convention has focused on one mission – the Great Commission.”  With these words, Janie Wise opened a five-minute talk at Vietnamese Hope Baptist Church one recent Sunday on the Cooperative Program, the SBC’s unified plan of giving through which cooperating Southern Baptist churches give a percentage of their undesignated receipts in support of their state convention and SBC missions and ministries. Wise is women’s missions and ministry strategist in the Missions department of the Louisiana Baptist Convention. She is one of more than 30 people trained to make presentations in Louisiana churches about the Cooperative Program. With churches working on their budgets for the next year, this might be a good time to have a Cooperative Program speaker explain how it works, said Michael Stewart, Cooperative Program strategist for the Louisiana Baptist Convention. The Cooperative Program is built on a foundation of biblical stewardship, Stewart explained. The first thing to understand is that everything you have comes from God. In a sense, it’s all His. Returning a tithe – a tenth – to … [Read more...]

Looking at their community, Richland Baptist Association knew God had a plan for ministry opportunities in the area. Seeing the physical needs right at their doorstep, Care and Share Ministry in a downtown Rayville storefront was started. RAYVILLE –  Looking at their community, Richland Baptist Association knew God had a plan for ministry opportunities in the area.  Seeing the physical needs right at their doorstep, Care and Share Ministry in a downtown Rayville storefront was started. Thanks to volunteers helping to supply food, clothing and emergency assistance to families in the small agricultural community, within the first year of operation, eleven people made professions of faith in Christ.  “That’s what we strive to do at Care and Share … help people,” Brenda Winburn said. One recipient of the assistance offered through Care and Share ministry is a 90 year old woman. Her husband, now deceased, served many years as a Southern Baptist pastor.  Although her physical disability limits her ability to personally go and receive the help offered at Care and Share she is thankful for the “dear people who work there.  I appreciate everything. It’s a big help to me, it helps me get through life,” she said. When the … [Read more...]

First Baptist Lafayette plans several events and on-going activities in the next few weeks: 12-step recovery group, DivorceCare and GriefShare support groups, the Chinese Ministry’s 20th anniversary, plus IGNITE for high school juniors and seniors, and college students, and REFRESH for women. First Baptist Lafayette Evangeline Baptist Association  LAFAYETTE – First Baptist Lafayette plans several events and on-going activities in the next few weeks: 12-step recovery group, DivorceCare and GriefShare support groups, the Chinese Ministry’s 20th anniversary, plus IGNITE for high school juniors and seniors, and college students, and REFRESH for women.  Here is a list of the events that are planned: A 12-Step recovery group is to start Aug. 31 at 4:45 p.m. at the church. The purpose of the group is to have fellowship and celebrate God’s healing power in lives. By applying biblical principles, participants begin to grow spiritually and have the opportunity to become free from addictive, compulsive, and dysfunctional behaviors, explained Media Minister Dennis Clark. The process creates peace, serenity, joy and most importantly, a stronger personal relationship with God and others. A new session of DivorceCare begins at … [Read more...]

Several youth from Clifton Baptist Church graduated; several middle schoolers were moving up, and Jeff Tinsley was new as youth director and husband to Andrea Dunigan Tinsley, so a group-bonding retreat was planned for mid-July. Clifton Baptist Church Washington Baptist Association FRANKLINTON – Several youth from Clifton Baptist Church graduated; several middle schoolers were moving up, and Jeff Tinsley was new as youth director and husband to Andrea Dunigan Tinsley, so a group-bonding retreat was planned for mid-July. Nine youth – ages 12-18 – and accompanying adults went to Covenant Camp Retreat Facility in Fairfield Bay, Ark., on the shores of Greer’s Ferry Lake. “We focused on a Bible study of Moses, with a mountain-top experience theme from Micah 4:2,” said Lynette Lindsey, a member at Clifton who went with the youth on their summertime adventure. “The group had morning and evening devotions, with our days filled with trips to several places like Branson, Silver Dollar City and Ride the Ducks,” Lindsey continued in an email to the Message.  “Our day in Eureka Springs began with worship at Thorncrown Chapel, then the Holy Land Tour, Christ of the Ozarks, and ended with the Passion Play,” Lindsey … [Read more...]

https://baptistmessage.com/9733/

COMINGS AND GOINGS Jeff Smart, new as pastor, First Baptist, Swartz.   NEEDED St. Landry Baptist needs 15-passenger van; call 318.838.2655 or 337.331.1974. Joshua Adams, pastor. Pastors: Erath Baptist, Erath; First Baptist, Breaux Bridge; First Baptist, Jeannerette; First Baptist, Morgan City; Kaplan Baptist, Kaplan; Teche Baptist, Centerville.   ANNIVERSARIES AND CELEBRATIONS Destry McFearin, music minister, celebrates 15th anniversary of ministry at Hebron Baptist, Denham Springs. GLENMORA – Amiable Baptist celebrates 180th anniversary 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 31; music, testimonies, covered dish lunch; Kelly Boggs, speaker, Bill Calloway, pastor.   REVIVALS   MONROE/WEST MONROE  –   Host churches for Senior Adult Progressive Revival: Highland Baptist, West Monroe,  Monday; Lakeshore Baptist, Monroe, Tuesday; Mt. Vernon Baptist, West Monroe, Wednesday 10 a.m. Sept. 8 – 10; Bob Utley, evangelist; Dave St. Andre, music leader; lunch $3. HEFLIN – Jack Daniels Ministries First Friday Camp Meeting 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 5; David Watkins, speaker; Brad Mount, music.   CHURCH AND ASSOCIATION EVENTS   SWARTZ – First Baptist: Young at Heart meeting 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 2, … [Read more...]

For the second year in a row, Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home brought home a top award from the Southwestern Association of Child Care Executives Conference. For the second year in a row, Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home brought home a top award from the Southwestern Association of Child Care Executives Conference. The association includes 50 Christian child care agencies from Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, New Mexico and Missouri. This year Thomas and Reba O’Neal of Grace Cottage were presented the 2008 Thomas E. Roberts Award during the annual workshop luncheon in Plano, Texas, on June 24th.  Ken and Arlene Hudson of Hope Cottage took home the prize in 2007. The award recognizes individuals for their professionalism, commitment, character, dedication, length of service and contribution to quality child care services and programs. The O’Neals have served at LBCH for 24 years. They have parented 129 children and 75 newborns during their time at the Home. Currently they have eight children – four girls and four boys – in their cottage. “We know that this is a calling. It didn’t just happen.” Reba O’Neal said. “We had no children of our own, but God has blessed us with many here at the Children’s Home,” … [Read more...]

LBC Executive Director David E. Hankins is pleased to announce Stacy Morgan as the new Church Administration Strategist in the Pastoral Leadership Team led by Bill Robertson. ALEXANDRIA – LBC Executive Director David E. Hankins is pleased to announce Stacy Morgan as the new Church Administration Strategist in the Pastoral Leadership Team led by Bill Robertson. “Stacy brings a wealth of pastoral experience to the team as well as knowledge in administration.  He has a great love for pastors and a desire to minister to our churches. We look forward to his service with us,” Bill Robertson said. Morgan is a graduate of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (Master of Divinity), and Louisiana State University (Bachelor of Science).  Morgan most recently served as pastor at Jerusalem Baptist Church, Hammond.  He has also served as pastor at New Horizon Baptist Church, Baton Rouge, Philadelphia Baptist Church, Deville, and Pine Grove Baptist Church, Livingston.  In college, he served as youth director at Oakcrest Baptist Church, Baton Rouge.  Morgan’s pastoral experience aids his service to pastors and church leadership in the Louisiana Baptist Convention. “I’m excited about this opportunity to serve pastors.  A stronger … [Read more...]