Submitted by philip on Fri, 03/06/2015 - 09:53 By Hannah Fleming, Message Staff Reporter PINEVILLE – God is revealing Himself in a new way through The Gathering Place church. Glen Whatley, pastor of The Gathering Place, says God has changed his perspective on church. And in so doing, The Gathering Place has expanded and is now meeting in not one but two locations. “Two years ago in November, I attended a conference where the speaker spoke about becoming a ‘sending’ church,” said Whatley. “The idea was to always be looking to send people out to plant new churches in your area, state, or wherever.” Whatley said when the church outgrew its existing building he wanted to follow the traditional trend of most churches and just build a new building or, perhaps, relocate the entire church to a bigger location. “It was very satisfying to think about expansion in that way. It would have made me look successful and the church proud,” said Whatley. But as hard as it was for Whatley to let go of the old ways, God had spoken and he began to follow God’s Call. He first took the idea to the elders, who began to pray about it, and then it was brought before the congregation where the idea received 100 percent affirmation. Upon … [Read more...]

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- The trustees of two Baptist colleges, Tennessee Temple University and Piedmont International University, voted unanimously to merge the institutions March 3. The announcement comes a day after The Chattanoogan (Chattanoogan.com) reported TTU would be closing its doors at the end of this semester. The merger will be finalized April 30, pending the approval of the Transnational Association of Colleges and Schools, which accredits both universities. Established only a year apart in the mid-1940s, the two universities share a common mission that dates back to their founders, Charles Stevens of PIU in Winston-Salem, N.C., and Lee Roberson of TTU in Chattanooga, Tenn. TTU online students can expect decreases in their tuition rates and a seamless transition, according to PIU officials. Online programs will be transferred in their entirety to PIU. Residential students who move to Winston-Salem will experience a drop in tuition, room and board of approximately twenty-five percent. Several TTU board members will join PIU’s board, and some of TTU’s faculty and staff will move to Winston-Salem. PIU’s president, Charles Petitt, said the merged schools will have far greater potential together than either school can … [Read more...]

ON THE MOVE Mike Landry new as pastor at Bethany Baptist Church, Shreveport. HOMECOMING Cotile Baptist Church, Cotile: 33rd Homecoming Service, March 15, 11 a.m. Following the service, there will be dinner on the grounds. There will be a free concert at 1:30 p.m. with Paul’s Journey. A love offering will be taken. For more information, call the church office at 318.793.8847. Pastor: Johnny Miller. Calvary Baptist Church, Slidell: 56th Anniversary, March 15, 11 a.m. Meal will follow the service please bring desserts. Pastor: John Reid. REVIVAL Cotile Baptist Church, Cotile: Revival, March 12-14, 7 p.m. Speaker: Jimmy Koonce. Pastor: Johnny Miller. First Baptist Church, Ruston: Revival, March 15, Traditional Service, 8:45 a.m.; Contemporary Service, 11 a.m., evening service, 6 p.m. Speaker: William Blackburn. Childcare will be provided. Pastor: Chris Craig. Bethel Baptist Church, Colfax: Revival, March 15-18. 10:45 a.m. and 6 p.m.; March 15; 6:30 p.m. nightly, March 16-18. Evangelist: Joe Aulds. Music: Price Harris. Pastor: Carl Gulde. Crossroads Baptist Church, Marthaville: Revival, March 15-18, 7 p.m. nightly. Evangelist: Craig James. Pastor: Earnest Little. Memorial Baptist Church, Bogalusa: Revival, March 20-22, … [Read more...]

NASHVILLE (BP) – Year-to-date contributions to Southern Baptist Convention national and international missions and ministries received by the SBC Executive Committee are 4.81 percent above the year-to-date budgeted projection, and are 2.97 percent above contributions received during the same time frame last year, according to SBC Executive Committee President and CEO Frank S. Page. The total includes receipts from state conventions and fellowships, churches and individuals for distribution according to the 2014-15 SBC Cooperative Program Allocation Budget. As of Feb. 28, receipts totaled $82,098,104.34, or 104.81 percent of the $78,333,333.33 year-to-date budgeted amount to support SBC ministries globally and nationally. The total is $2,371,418.56 more than the $79,726,685.78 received through February 2014. The SBC-adopted budget is distributed 50.41 percent to international missions through IMB, 22.79 percent to North American missions through the North American Mission Board, 22.16 percent to theological education through the six SBC seminaries, 2.99 percent to the SBC operating budget, and 1.65 percent to the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. GuideStone Financial Resources and LifeWay Christian Resources are … [Read more...]

By Message Staff PINEVILLE – A team from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges has found Louisiana College is in compliance with all standards except one, ‘external influence.’ The SACS-COC team made the decision during its exit interview after a one-day visit to LC on March 11, according to a news release from the school. LC announced in June that SACS had placed the school on probation. The accreditation agency provided the specific reasons for the probation in a letter dated July 9. Six areas were cited by SACS that must be addressed if LC is to be removed from probation. The areas specified were: Principle of Integrity; External Influence; Personnel Appointment; Administrative Staff Evaluations; Control of Finances; Title IV Program Responsibilities. While colleges sanctioned by SACS seek to be removed from probation within the first year, schools have up to two years to address the issues cited by the accrediting agency. LC’s accreditation is not affected during the probationary period and the school remains fully accredited. LC must now wait to receive a written report from the SACS-COC team and will have the opportunity to respond. The school’s trustees and administration will … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 03/20/2015 - 09:13 Incoming Louisiana College President Rick Brewer recently sat down with the Baptist Message and answered a series of questions before he officially takes office on April 7. By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer First of all, what would you like to say to the Louisiana College family, Louisiana Baptists and others with an interest in the college? Listen, then learn, then lead. That’s my approach. I tell my students my rule of five. My rule of five every day is: I pray, I read, then I listen, learn, lead. I ask a lot of questions. I easily recognize to move any institution forward, particularly a Baptist college, it takes a whole team moving forward. You need broad-based participation. As we think more strategically here at Louisiana College that’s what we are going to do. We’ve had a warm reception from people, numerous emails, texts, phone calls from pastors and biz leaders from across the state saying, “Welcome, we are glad you are here.” What I’ve heard most is we’ve been praying for you, we just didn’t know who you were. That’s really good to know people have been praying. We are trusting that God will enable us to be a part of transforming the college, a vision … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 03/20/2015 - 09:17 The Georgia Barnette Conference Center and Missionary/Volunteer Training Center, an 8,400-square-foot center, will house information about influential early-day Louisiana Baptists. This artistic rendering of the center shows the building in its early stages and the design likely could change. By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer WOODWORTH – A two-year effort to raise funds for the construction of the Georgia Barnette Conference Center and Missionary/Volunteer Training Center is nearing completion. Through March 19, Louisiana Baptists have raised close to $1 million of the $1.2 million needed to build the facility located at Tall Timbers Conference Center in Woodworth. Once complete, the center will house information about influential early-day Louisiana Baptists and become a state-of-the art training facility for the future of missions in Louisiana. The 8,400-square-foot center is to have six small group rooms and a large auditorium that can be arranged for up to 580 participants. Also included is a state-of-the-art sound system and lighting. The center is named after Georgia Barnette, the first elected and paid Woman’s Missionary Union executive director/treasurer … [Read more...]

The 2014 Louisiana Baptists’ Woman’s Missionary Union Mission Celebration and Annual Meeting featured a panel of missionaries among its many items on the schedule. This year’s mission celebration and annual meeting is scheduled for April 10-11 at Airline Baptist Church in Bossier City. By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer BOSSIER CITY – Surrender, sacrifice and serve. That’s not only the focus but the challenge for the upcoming Louisiana Baptists’ Woman’s Missionary Union Mission Celebration and Annual Meeting. “Surrender, sacrifice, serve, is clearly defined in Mark 8:34 and our challenge to live All-for-You lives, made possible as we accept Christ’s command to ‘deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Me,’” said Janie Wise, women’s missions and ministry strategist for Louisiana Baptists. “Our objective would be everyone in attendance on April 10-11 will depart on Saturday afternoon refocused and recommitted to live All-for-You lives that engage in mission and ministry open doors to share the Gospel in ways that lead the lost to a saving relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.” Scheduled for April 10-11 at Airline Baptist Church in Bossier City, the 115th annual meeting will celebrate how WMU is participating in … [Read more...]

By Chuck Lawless, Professor of Evangelism and Missions, Southeastern Seminary Recently, I posted about burdens pastors often share with our Lawless Group consulting team. Others have since asked what we hear from church staff members. In response to that request, here are topics of pain we often hear from staff. Again, I ask you to use this post as a catalyst to pray for your church’s staff members. Lacking time with senior leadership Given the size of some churches, it may be difficult for staff to spend significant time with the senior leader – but that reality seldom lessens the desire of staff to have face-to-face conversations. Staff often struggle when they have no more time with the senior leader than does the typical layperson. Having no “safe” place to be honest This burden is obviously connected to the previous one. Our consultant team often hears these concerns simply because staff believe they have no other place to go with their concerns. Lacking clear role expectations  Sometimes leaders know in their mind exactly what they expect from staff, but the church has provided no written job descriptions. In other cases, a job description is provided, but expectations are different than the written narrative. In … [Read more...]

By Obbie Todd, Student Minister at Zoar Baptist Church, Baton Rouge Nearly 200 years ago, in modern-day Myanmar, two fearful disciples of Jesus Christ made their way down to a muddy river to be baptized. At night. It was the only way these two men had agreed to be baptized was under the cloak of darkness, hidden from the condemning eyes of their Burmese brothers. After all, to be identified as ‘Christian’ in Southeast Asia was to risk social, financial, and mortal danger. In many parts it’s still the same today. Baptizing these men was Adoniram Judson, the first American missionary and first to the country of Burma. Judson was a Baptist. He’d become so on his trans-Atlantic voyage. Nevertheless, after immersing each man in the river, Judson marked the occasion with a mix of joy and sorrow: Perhaps Jesus looked down on us, pitied and forgave our weaknesses, and marked us for his own; perhaps, if we deny him not, he will acknowledge us another day, more publicly than we venture at present to acknowledge him. (1819) Fast-forward 200 years. Two more souls have given their lives to Jesus. However these disciples aren’t fearful for their lives. In fact, they live in America, with no physical barriers to their baptism. Yet these … [Read more...]