https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbkXKb-dVcI By Message Staff COVINGTON – Waylon Bailey has a message for all those affected personally by the recent flooding in Louisiana – the key on the road to recovery is to lean on one another and God for encouragement. Bailey speaks from first-hand experience. He also knows just how beneficial Southern Baptist Disaster Relief teams can be to people trying to recover from a natural disaster. In late 2005, after Hurricane Katrina devastated parts of southeast Louisiana, disaster relief teams from Louisiana and throughout the US showed up in force. For several months, teams worked out of the parking lot at First Baptist Church in Covington, where Bailey serves as pastor. Throughout that time, teams not only helped rebuild homes but offered a spiritual uplifting to many who were hurting. Ten years later, disaster relief teams have come to the state once again to give a cup of cold water in Jesus’ name. “Based on Hurricane Katrina, remember the same God who is always been with you in the past is going to be with you,” Bailey said. “There are people who are going to show up and they are going to continue to show up and help and encourage. “We all need church,” he said. “We … [Read more...]

ON THE MOVE Mike, wife Dawn, Holloway is the new pastor at Ouachita Baptist Church, West Monroe. Terry, wife Rhonda, Horowitz is the new pastor at Carson Baptist Church, Zwolle. He recently resigned as pastor of Paradise Baptist Church, Ball. Matt Simmons is the new minister to students at Watson Baptist Church. HOMECOMING Emmanuel Baptist Church, Shreveport: 75th Anniversary Celebration, April 17, 10:45 a.m. Former members and staff are invited to the service at 10:45 and the luncheon to follow. Please RSVP by calling (318) 686-7548 by April 10. Pastor: Chad Hardbarger. First Baptist Church, Benton: Homecoming Celebration, April 17. A continental breakfast will be served beginning at 9 a.m., worship, 10:30 a.m. followed by lunch. Former members can contact the church at 318.965.2351 for more information. Pastor: Robert Beadle. REVIVAL Colfax Baptist Church, Colfax: Revival, April 7-10. Evangelist: Lyndon Longoria. Pastor: Gary Howard. Ft. Jesup Baptist Church, Many: Revival, April 10-13; Sunday, 11 a.m. Monday-Wednesday, 6 p.m. Evangelist: Michael Courtney. Pastor: George Treutlein. Richey Baptist Church, Deville: Revival, April 10 – 13; two services Sunday 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.; Monday-Wednesday 7 p.m. … [Read more...]

By Mark H. Hunter, Regional Reporter BATON ROUGE - There is a worldwide revival underway with an estimated million people each week becoming Christians, Jim Denison told more than 1,400 people gathered at the River Center for the 52nd Governor’s Prayer Breakfast. But in America the number of atheists and agnostics has quadrupled in recent years, he contrasted. “Our fastest-growing religious demographic is those who have no religion,” Denison said while showing a series of slides where Christianity is booming, like Nigeria, where 90 percent of the people attend church on Sunday. Denison is a longtime Baptist pastor who, since 2009, has been operating the Denison Forum on Truth and Culture. He writes a daily commentary on current events read by 113,000 subscribers worldwide, and, he refers to himself as a cultural apologist. “Why are we not seeing the spiritual awakening that is sweeping the nations?” he asked. “All across Scripture, our God is a King. Jesus taught us to ‘seek first the Kingdom of God’ (Matthew 6:33). He called us to ‘repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand’ (Matthew 4:17). When he returns, his name will be King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Revelation 19:16). “Tragically, in our culture God is … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer NEW ORLEANS – The friendship between the atheist Chinese student and the Georgian-turned-Cajun Tulane University Baptist Collegiate Ministry intern was almost instantaneous. After meeting at a BCM dinner in the fall, Lucy (last name withheld for security reasons) had many questions about Christ and Laura Hamilton had the answers. Two to three times a week, the two met and Lucy seemed to grasp the concept of God. However, she was not convinced, wanting to fully investigate Christianity before making a final decision to follow Jesus. Lucy and Hamilton continued attending Bible studies together and went to Metairie Church regularly. But it was when she was alone with just her Bible at her residence a few hours after one of their Bible studies that Lucy asked Jesus to be her personal Lord and Savior and fully committed her life to Christ. “Throughout the whole study, God was amazing in how He gave her answers to deep questions, giving her understanding that amazed me each time,” Hamilton said. “God very clearly said to me through this, ‘I am the One who gives understanding. You just do your little part and I am the powerful One at work here.’ “I remember lesson four in … [Read more...]

By Jerry Love, LBF communications Statistics. Webster says statistics is “a branch of mathematics dealing with the collection, analysis, interpretation and presentation of masses of numerical data.” In other words, statistics uses raw data to tell a story.  Sometimes the revelation from the data can be surprising, confusing, or even overwhelming, but there are times when we should give the numbers a little more attention. Take for instance the study released last fall by the Natural Marketing Institute which revealed a numerical picture of the heart and attitudes of regular givers. Their study called the 2015 Healthy Aging Database studied the giving patterns of adults over 40 in a wide range of situations.   The one element that stood out from the rest was this: Of those surveyed who were regular in their tithes and gifts to faith based organizations, 37% would likely include a gift to their church or other ministry as part of their estate plans.  Over one third of regular givers would likely leave a gift.    Of those surveyed, 19% were VERY likely to leave a gift in their will or in a trust.  That’s a pretty strong response. The sad news is that only 3% had already taken action to implement a plan to give to … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer MORGAN CITY – For 20 years, Bobby Powell invited his neighbor to attend worship services at Bayou Vista Baptist Church, only for that neighbor to turn down his invitation year after year. Still, Powell never gave up hope and continued his prayers and invitations. Recently, those 20 years of faithful outreach produced a harvest when Powell’s neighbor walked into a revival service at Bayou Vista Baptist Church and after the message asked Jesus for forgiveness and committed his life to following Him. Two nights later, the neighbor’s son walked into the church, repented and gave his life to Christ as well. “I have experienced answered prayers many times in my life, but never one that spanned over 20 years. We just have to wait on the Lord for His timing,” he said. “That story is just one of many happening at Bayou Vista Baptist Church these days.” Pastor Steven Kelly believes this south Louisiana congregation he pastors is on the edge of something great about to happen. “I have seen a positive change in where we are headed as a church,” said Kelly, who also serves as director of missions for the Gulf Coast Baptist Association. “Since the beginning of the year, we’ve had the … [Read more...]