North Louisiana Cowboy Church in West Monroe is planning its second Rodeo Bible Camp.     WEST MONROE – North Louisiana Cowboy Church in West Monroe is planning its second Rodeo Bible Camp.   The first camp, last summer in Ruston, combined cowboy culture with preaching, singing and Bible study, said church member Gwen Snowden.   Regular church attendance leapt dramatically after the camp, especially in the student group, she said.   "Students brought their horses, and we had instructors in barrel racing, bronco riding, and calf roping, and then Bible studies at night, with a singer/preacher," Snowden said, explaining how one of the leaders for the Rodeo Bible Camp traveled to Colorado to see how such an event could be organized.   The 2007 camp is to take place Jul.30-Aug. 2 at the Ike Hamilton Complex in West Monroe for contestants ages 10 to 18.   Costs have not been finalized, but last year it was $175.   Fifty-seven students attended last year’s camp, Snowden said. With tents and shower trailers on-site, the students stayed four days and nights, just like a summer camp. The same set-up is planned for the 2007 Rodeo Bible Camp.   The cowboy church had its start with a couple from Cedar Crest Baptist Church in … [Read more...]

After several false starts here with at least a couple of Baptist missions, church planter Louis Charrier finally found the group he was meant to reach: the cowboy culture.     SUNSET – After several false starts here with at least a couple of Baptist missions, church planter Louis Charrier finally found the group he was meant to reach: the cowboy culture.   Charrier started the Grand Couteau Baptist Mission in 1997 and closed it in 2001. Then Greenbriar Baptist mission, which had opened in 2003, closed in 2005.   "The community was not responding to a church-type mission, and there was not a strong enough core group to keep [either mission] going," he said. The closures left Charrier wondering about God’s plan.   Then Terry and Kitty LeBlanc, a family who’d been a part of the Greenbriar Mission, stepped forward with the suggestion that Charrier use their place, Knoll Wood Ranch, to begin a cowboy church.   "Bert Langley, Jeff Cook, and Buddy Hampton were very instrumental in getting all this started," Charrier said. "All three have been instrumental in establishing this work and to help in going to another location to start another."   Charrier, a church planter with the Louisiana Baptist Convention for the last 20 … [Read more...]

Christ’s power is made perfect in Janelle Burford’s weakness.     GLOSTER – Christ’s power is made perfect in Janelle Burford’s weakness.   Burford, despite her age – 77 – and its accompanying loss of energy, takes every opportunity to share Christ with others, including going on missions trips she pays for herself with money saved from living frugally.   Whether she’s sharing the gospel in England, Wales, Kenya or her local Wal-Mart, Burford always has a ready answer for the hope that is within her.   "It’s very worthwhile," Burford said of her mission trips to other countries. "I feel very useful while I’m there." In all she’s been on close to 35 foreign missions trips. She’s been to Korea three times, Brazil at least four times, England and Wales several times, and to Kenya at least a dozen, though she says she may have lost count.   Burford, who attends Gloster Baptist Church, here, located about 20 miles south of Shreveport on Hwy 171, is planning her next mission trip to Kenya, set for February 1.This time she’ll be teaching keyboard skills, a task that has her just a bit nervous.   "I play, but I can’t teach," she explained. "But I have my books and I’ve been studying."   Despite her nervousness, God has … [Read more...]

More than a year after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, its citizens are still suffering from post traumatic stress disorder, according to youth evangelist Chris Lange.     NEW ORLEANS (BP) – More than a year after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, its citizens are still suffering from post traumatic stress disorder, according to youth evangelist Chris Lange.   "They’re suffering whether they know it or not," Lange said. "You have a million people who all exhibit some of the symptoms. They’ve experienced a traumatic loss and they think about it daily. They have trouble sleeping and getting past it. Many are lonely and depressed. People are stressed. Some are volatile. If that doesn’t say, ‘Go door to door and tell people about Jesus,’ I don’t know what does."   Lange is preparing to do just that. He is the organizer of a massive, concerted missions endeavor called "Love Never Fails" that will draw thousands of young people to the city to assist with evangelism.   About 100 churches from across the South are working together on the mission trip, which is to include neighborhood fellowships, evening concerts, rebuilding, door-to-door evangelism, and 20 other missions projects.   The project will take … [Read more...]

We took 15 students to Boston for a week before Christmas and had a great time working with a church plant and a couple of other churches there," reports BCM Director Keith Cating in a recent newsletter. LAKE CHARLES – "We took 15 students to Boston for a week before Christmas and had a great time working with a church plant and a couple of other churches there," reports BCM Director Keith Cating in a recent newsletter. "Our students were surprised at how nice New Englanders are. We did servant evangelism on several campuses and at subway stops. People were open to these efforts and one pastor told us that one half of his congregation of around 300 came to the church as a result of servant evangelism.   "We had one young lady spend Christmas in China, an IMB project to impact that part of the world.   "Pray for us this spring as we continue to evolve in our ministry to our campus. These mission trips have challenged our students to reach the McNeese campus in a more intentional way. Also pray that new student leaders will emerge as those who are in leadership begin to graduate."   … [Read more...]

STATEWIDE – The assistants who keep pastors and denominational workers on track have planned to gather March 8-9 at Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center in Woodworth. The retreat begins at 10 a.m. Theme: A Day at the SPA – Spiritually Uplifting, Practical Ideas, Anointed Bible Teaching. Registration begins 9 a.m. March 8 in the Activities Building at Tall Timbers. For more information contact Debra Hull: 225-673-6674. … [Read more...]

Last fall Donahue Family Church opened a school for students from kindergarten through the eighth grade – Cenla Christian Academy. This month Pastor Keith Dickens and school Administrator Glen Whatley – who also is the worship leader at the church – announced the arrival of Matt Middleton as the school’s first head football coach and athletic director. PINEVILLE – Last fall Donahue Family Church opened a school for students from kindergarten through the eighth grade – Cenla Christian Academy. This month Pastor Keith Dickens and school Administrator Glen Whatley – who also is the worship leader at the church – announced the arrival of Matt Middleton as the school’s first head football coach and athletic director.   CCA school leaders anticipate adding freshman and sophomore classes next fall, but are prepared to add junior and senior classes as well, if the demand is there, Whatley said. Enrollment opens in February.   Middleton comes from a coaching slot at Caldwell Parish High School in Columbia, and before that, an assistant’s position at Evangel Shreveport, which grew a powerhouse football team under the coaching of Dennis Dunn. Dunn today is head football coach at Louisiana College, and an adviser for Cenla Christian … [Read more...]

Judson Baptist recently bought two old fire trucks for use in its children’s ministry. WALKER-- Judson Baptist recently bought two old fire trucks for use in its children’s ministry.   "Kids are attracted to a fire truck. As they come up to ours, that’s our opportunity to minister to them, to reach out to them," saidWillis Easley, minister of education and Children at Judson for the last nine years. Hehas snowball and popcorn machines, and a helium tank for balloons. These will go on the pumpers – a 1968 Mack and a 1976 Ford – that are in the process of being retrofitted.   "There’s a lot of new construction in our area," Easley said. "We hope by taking out our fire truck and ministering through it, we’ll bring a lot more kids into our children’s ministry."   … [Read more...]

BUNKIE – Lawrence and Frieda Armour were guest speakers at the Jan. 18 WMU meeting at First Bunkie, where Billy Edwards is pastor. Armour is pastor of Epiphany Missionary Baptist in New Orleans, which is meeting in the old Village de L’est Baptist church building. About 35 attend services there; two recently were added by baptism. Hessmer Baptist Mission, which has adopted this church, showered the Armours with a variety of material blessings at the WMU meeting. Norris Landry, pastor of Hessmer Baptist, also requests prayer for the Mansura Care and Hope Center. LAKE CHARLES – Trinity Baptist hosts a Singles Conference for people aged 18 to 98 on Jan. 26-27 with Doug Dees as guest speaker. Dees is a singles minister from Orlando, Fla. Breakout sessions include Effective Communication, Finding a Godly Mate, Keeping God in my Finances, and Raising Godly Children in an Ungodly World. $25 cost includes three meals. GLENMORA – Seen on the December 2006 financial report of Amiable Baptist: "You’re not just a number computers can trace; Christ knows your need, your name and your face." MINDEN – North Acres Baptist hosted an Ugly Mug Coffee Tasting and Sale Jan. 21 as a youth fund raiser. ALEXANDRIA – Leaders at Parkview Baptist … [Read more...]

Staff changes Doug Burnley retired in December after 10 years as chaplain at Christus Schumpert Hospital in Shreveport. Gary Funderbunk is no longer pastor at Community Baptist in Lafayette; Noah Langley is interim. Chet (wife Kathy) Keating is new pastor at First Baptist, Pine Prairie. Chris (wife Jessica) Thacker is new pastor at Emmanuel Baptist Alexandria, from Eagle Lake, Texas. Seeking staff Youth minister at Pineville Park Baptist, Pineville, part time. Greg Carroll is pastor. Youth and worship leader at Norwood Baptist, part time. Rural church 40 miles north of Baton Rouge. Call 225-629-4774. Associate pastor of education/music at Riverside Baptist, Denham Springs, a traditional church. Larry Hubbard is pastor. Revivals and related events Don Avenue Baptist, Denham Springs, Feb. 4-7, with Lyndon Longoria as guest evangelist. Evangelist Joe Aulds is to lead in revival services in three churches in February: Port Hudson Baptist in Zachary Feb. 4-7, where Joe Thibeau is pastor; Union Grove Baptist in Lillie Feb. 16-18, where Matt Taylor is pastor; and Cheniere Baptist in West Monroe Feb. 25-28, where Robert Spicer is pastor. Concerts, conferences and related events The Down East Boys from … [Read more...]