Week of January 30, 2006 LC art exhibit “Extra Points: Louisiana College Art Faculty” will be on display from February 9 until March  15, and an opening reception will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. on Feb. 9 in the gallery on the LC campus in Pineville. “This show is devoted to showcasing the recent work of the outstanding Louisiana College art faculty,” said Ted Barnes, chair of the college’s division of visual and performing arts. “This exhibit highlights five individuals whose work in various media is exciting and innovative.” The faculty who will be displaying their artwork include: Barnes, Leslie Elliottsmith, Preston Gilchrist, Bob Howell, and Leandro Huebner. Elliottsmith, Gilchrist, and Huebner all teach adjunct courses at Louisiana College, while Howell joins Barnes as full-time professor in the art department.  The exhibit will be open to the public during regular gallery hours, 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. There is no fee to view the exhibit. For more information, contact Barnes at (318) 487-7435. LC chapel schedule Louisiana College recently announced its spring chapel schedule. This semester’s chapel services include a Feb. 16th appearance by New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary … [Read more...]

LAFAYETTE - A seamless integration of worship, prayer, testimonies and impassioned sermons at the 2006 Evangelism Conference led more than 1,000 participants in a fresh commitment to the challenge of Acts 1:8. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing editor LAFAYETTE - A seamless integration of worship, prayer, testimonies and impassioned sermons at the 2006 Evangelism Conference led more than 1,000 participants in a fresh commitment to the challenge of Acts 1:8. In addition, 16 small-group workshops provided detailed instruction in how pastors and laypeople across the state could meet the local, state, North American and global challenge of being witnesses of the living Jesus Christ. “Evangelism at its essence is simple and basic,” preached Thom Rainer, new president of LifeWay Christian Resources. Rainer was one of 10 high-powered speakers, drawn from every SBC agency to challenge Louisiana Southern Baptists to an increased level of evangelistic purpose during this post-hurricane time of willing listeners. “Southern Baptists have earned the right to tell our story in southeast Louisiana,” said Mike Rasberry, pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church in Slidell. “Southern Baptists have been the primary movers … [Read more...]

ALEXANDRIA – If the Louisiana Baptist Convention’s 2006 Evangelism Conference was a movie, I would give it two thumbs up! By Kelly Boggs Editor ALEXANDRIA – If the Louisiana Baptist Convention’s 2006 Evangelism Conference was a movie, I would give it two thumbs up! I laughed. I cried. I prayed. I left inspired. In more than 20-plus years of vocational ministry, I have attended my share of conferences and conventions. Most of them I can’t even remember. Those meetings that I am able to recall are the ones that helped facilitate a significant change in my life and ministry. I will remember this year’s LBC Evangelism Conference for years to come. For me, it rates as one of the best I have ever attended. What made the conference so significant? It wasn’t the quality of the music, though it was excellent in all respects. It wasn’t the caliber of the preaching, though the content and delivery of each message was superb. It wasn’t the sincerity of the fellowship, though it was encouraging and enjoyable. The fact that last week’s evangelism conference was my first as a Louisiana Baptist, as well as my first as editor of the Message, made it very special, but not necessarily … [Read more...]

LAFAYETTE – While many in our culture are of the opinion that the church is irrelevant, obsolete and only of historic value, the Bible paints a very different picture, Dr. David Hankins said. By Kelly Boggs Editor LAFAYETTE – While many in our culture are of the opinion that the church is irrelevant, obsolete and only of historic value, the Bible paints a very different picture, Dr. David Hankins said. “The word of God says the church is not about to fall apart; the church is on its pathway to success,” the Louisiana Baptist Convention executive director told those attending the Monday evening session of last week’s Evangelism Conference. “The church is not only going to succeed – it is not only going to advance; the church is invincible.” declared Hankins. “And the reason it is invincible is because of some endowments that it was given at its founding.” Citing Matthew 16:13-19, Hankins pointed out endowments that cause the church to be invincible. They are: • The person of Jesus. When Peter confessed that Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of the Living God,” he was speaking against popular opinion. Though the people of His day “really had a high view of Jesus,” Hankins said, they still believed … [Read more...]

HIGH POINT, N.C. (BP) – To the casual observer, it could have seemed Green Street Baptist Church was hosting a cardiology convention, with several people wearing lab coats and sporting stethoscopes around their necks. By Andrea Higgins Baptist Press correspondent HIGH POINT, N.C. (BP) – To the casual observer, it could have seemed Green Street Baptist Church was hosting a cardiology convention, with several people wearing lab coats and sporting stethoscopes around their necks. Heart health was the emphasis of featured speaker Kenneth Hemphill. But it wasn’t of the medical variety. The Southern Baptist Convention’s national strategist for Empowering Kingdom Growth, or EKG, has developed an “instrument” that is becoming widely used by churches to do a spiritual checkup. “Before churches correct errant thinking or myopic vision, they’ve got to have a change of heart,” said Hemphill, author of “Empowering Kingdom Growth: The Heartbeat of God,” a 40-day Bible study for church settings and a companion to the book of the same title. He also has developed a blue bracelet to remind wearers of their urgent prescription. Of course, any good doctor would prescribe a dose of outside exercise to maintain a … [Read more...]

Week of January 30, 2006 Potpourri FARMERVILLE – Anitoch church:  Bible Conference; Feb. 9-11, 6:30 p.m.; guest speakers/music leaders as follows:  Thursday – Jerry Chaddick/Smith, Elkins and Donahue; Friday – Bill Robertson/Brothers In Christ; Saturday – Jack Daniels/Brad Mount; Feb. 12, 11 a.m., Brad Mount in concert; everyone welcome; Paul Carter, pastor. ROBERT – Crossgate church: At a Dec. 18 event, in which 160 bicycles were given away, 57 people made a public profession of their faith in Jesus, pastor Louis Husser reported at last week’s Louisiana Baptist Convention State Evangelism Conference. The pastor also said that after watching Southern Baptists in action, two area churches voted to become part of the Southern Baptist Convention, Central Baptist Church in Slidell and New Vision Baptist Church in Kenner. LAFAYETTE – First church: Reported at the 2006 Evangelism Conference: About 420 adults meet Wednesday evenings. They are studying through the entire Bible in one year under the direction of Senior Pastor Perry Sanders. Steve Horn is pastor. ZACHARY – Milldale church: Bible Conference; Feb. 20-23, 6:45 p.m.; Herb Reavis, Sonny Simpson, Sonny Holland, Jerry Chaddick, Luther Price and Philip … [Read more...]

NEW ORLEANS (BP) – Calling it a great day of triumph and victory, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary President Chuck Kelley welcomed students back to the main campus Jan. 23. By Gary Myers New Orleans Seminary NEW ORLEANS (BP) – Calling it a great day of triumph and victory, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary President Chuck Kelley welcomed students back to the main campus Jan. 23. After five long months away, about 200 students participated in a “welcome back” lunch on the first day of classes. Also among those in attendance were 17 new NOBTS students. The return of classes to New Orleans marked the most significant milestone to date in the seminary’s efforts to recover from Hurricane Katrina. The storm and subsequent levee failures inundated much of the campus with water in late August, forcing a complete evacuation. “It’s good to have you back,” Kelley told the commuter students at a special red beans and rice lunch. “Welcome to ‘Camp New Orleans’ – lots of uncertainty, lots of limitations – but God is here. “People literally all over the world know your challenges and they are praying for you,” he said. Kelley recounted the sadness of driving through the campus following the … [Read more...]