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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Cross on I-20 reminds believers Jesus watches over them

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer RAYVILLE, La. (LBM)--The community of believers in Rayville has erected a 120-foot cross near Interstate 20 to remind motorists that Jesus watches over them. The cross, which can be seen up to two miles from its location, was envisioned in 2017 by Timmie Ray Thames, a member of the First Baptist Church in Rayville. Thames was inspired after having noticed electrical wires near his backyard form the image of a cross. Several months passed and on Aug. 21, 2017, Thames’s longtime friend, Joe Bruynickx, noticed a giant cross on the side of Interstate 55 in Batesville, Mississippi. The friends previously had discussed different varieties of crosses, but Bruynickx said God revealed to them at that moment they should place the same design in Rayville. “I was on my way back from the solar eclipse in Missouri and called Timmie Ray to help me stay awake on the drive home,” he recalled. “We had finished discussing the eclipse when Timmie Ray made the statement that ‘I just don’t know if God is in this.’ It was at that very moment that I noticed the cross at Batesville, and I was stunned and awe struck, as was Timmie Ray when I told him what I was witnessing. I snapped that picture and sent … [Read more...]

Native Americans lead revival in state, and among Navajo nation

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer You are a sleeping giant, the original American. You are now awakening. Just around the corner, you may become a spiritual superpower in this country that could change not only America but the world. -- Billy Graham, 1975, speaking to a group of Native American leaders in Albuquerque, New Mexico God often chooses to use the ‘least’ of the peoples, much like He used the Israelites when He delivered them out of bondage. “These people are connected to indigenous peoples around the world. Should they gain a sense of divine purpose for their lives, they could travel down an established highway to carry the good news around the world. Henry continues to pray that God will begin a revival in a least-likely place among a least-likely people so that God receives all the glory. -- Richard Blackaby, son of Henry Blackaby, founder of Blackaby Ministries, in a 2019 statement to the Baptist Message. ELTON, La. (LBM)–An eight-week camp meeting in Oberlin and Elton has sparked revival in central Louisiana and among the Navajo nation in New Mexico, and there are no signs that it will end soon. The All Nations Camp Meeting kicked off Oct. 2 under a tent on the campus of Oberlin Baptist … [Read more...]

Louisiana Notables

EDITOR’S NOTE: Do you have a Revival, Homecoming, a new pastor, a community outreach or a concert? The Baptist Message would love to share your church news with the rest of the state. It is very easy to do, just send in your information (who, what, where and when) to philip@baptistmessage.com or call 318.449.4345. To get your event in the paper, please submit your information three weeks prior to the event. ON THE MOVE Terrell Suggs is the interim pastor at Calvary Baptist Church, Slidell. Jimmy Pitson is the new pastor at Baskin Baptist Church, Baskin. Cody Roberts is the new youth minister at Red Bluff Baptist Church, Folsom. Nichole Deline is the new music director at Serenity Baptist Church, Tickfaw. Codie (wife Kenzie) Smith is the new youth pastor at Airline Baptist Church, Bossier City. Randy (wife Chelby) Ziegler is the new youth pastor at First Baptist Church, Bossier City. Stephen (wife Amy) Cloud is the new youth pastor at Summer Grove Baptist Church, Shreveport. Tim (wife Casey) Purvis is the new children’s minister at Summer Grove Baptist Church, Shreveport. Chad Jackson has resigned as pastor at Liberty Baptist Church, Calhoun. Eastside Baptist Church, Ponchatoula: Pastor Wayne Hollie … [Read more...]

Louisiana College institutes ‘Clear Bag Policy’ for all on-campus events

PINEVILLE (LCNews) -- In the interest of public safety, Louisiana College has implemented a clear bag policy that limits the size and types of bags that may be carried by attendees into ticketed activities. The implementation of this measure is intended to enhance public safety while minimizing time spent searching bags at entrance security checkpoints and easing access into the facility. Louisiana College strongly encourages all attendees not to bring unauthorized types of bags to H.O. West Fieldhouse, the LC Football Stadium, Guinn Auditorium, the LC Softball Complex, the Billy Allgood Baseball Complex or the Martin Performing Arts Center. The only permissible bags or containers must meet the following parameters: Bags that are clear plastic or vinyl and do not exceed 12" x 6" x 12" All clear bags that do not exceed 12" x 6" x 12" are permissible (backpacks, drawstring bags, fanny packs, etc.) One-gallon, clear plastic freezer bags (Ziploc bags or similar) Small "clutch" purses, no larger than 4 1/2" x 6 1/2", with or without a handle or strap can be taken into the stadium in addition to the approved clear plastic bags. Attendees also will be able to carry other items allowed in such as binoculars and … [Read more...]

Emeritus missionary, Louisiana native James Madderson Young passes away at 94

By Mary Jane Welch James Madderson Young, an emeritus International Mission Board missionary who lived the gospel among Northern African and Middle Eastern people in the Gaza Strip and Yemen, died July 11, 2019. He was 94. Born November 13, 1924, in Choudrant, where he lived with his grandparents until age 6 when he moved to Ruston with his mother, Ila May Gibson. During World War II, he joined the Navy, where he completed training as a naval aviator. He was assigned to duty on an aircraft carrier just as the war ended. Young received a bachelor of arts degree with honors from Louisiana Tech University, Ruston. He married June Buckner of Ruston on August 24, 1946. The couple moved to New Orleans where he received a doctorate degree in medicine from Louisiana State University. They then moved to Panama, where Young completed his surgical internship in preparation for a medical career with the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board (now International Mission Board). Appointed as missionaries Oct. 10, 1954, the Youngs were assigned to the Gaza Strip in the Middle East, where Young headed up a local hospital for 10 years. In 1964, after learning that Yemen had very little medical care, the Youngs opened the first … [Read more...]

Louisiana College blessed with a week of generosity

By Norm Miller, LC News PINEVILLE (LCNews) -- The week of Aug. 26 – 30 revealed the blessings of God, the generosity of others, and the fruits of relationship building as Louisiana College received more than $300,000 in support. “The Lord has blessed the College in multiple ways this past week, which I know you want to share in praise and thanksgiving,” said Louisiana College President Rick Brewer in an email to LC leaders. “We received individual financial gifts of $100,000, $20,000, $10,000, $5,000, and several gifts ranging from $100 to $1,000.” One donor designated an additional $65,000 to equip a state-of-the art Computer Science lab. “This gift provides a huge lift to our emerging Computer Science major,” Brewer noted. “Glory to God!” Citing other methods of regular support, Brewer noted the Board of Visitors, whose gifts total about $250,000 annually in direct scholarship funds.  The Legacy Society and Wildcat Club reflect planned giving and resources for athletics, respectively. Brewer expressed “humble and heart-felt gratitude” for all the Louisiana Baptists who support the College through the Louisiana Baptist Convention Cooperative Program. “This underwrites tuition costs about $3,000 annually per … [Read more...]

Louisiana Tech BCM starts rebuild

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer RUSTON – Three months after a tornado heavily damaged the Louisiana Tech University Baptist Collegiate Ministry chapel, crews began repairing the facility. Kevin Inman, director of the Louisiana Tech BCM, said workers from Triad Builders in Ruston started work July 22 and that he is hopeful they will complete the job before the start of fall classes in early September. Workers will replace water-logged walls and carpet, rebuild a porch and restore the roof. Insurance money will fund the repairs. “We are very excited and hopeful that a whole lot is going to be done in the next month to get us where we can use the building when the students get back Labor Day weekend -- when we will have up to 1,500 students attending some of our Welcome Week events,” Inman said. “The first week of school is the best time to reach a student, but also the easiest time to lose a student. “Pray that the crews are able to finish this work by Labor Day weekend,” he continued. “And pray that things will be repaired correctly. A number of things can be improved upon to make our building and ministry more effective.” He also asked Louisiana Baptists to pray that staff and student leaders will be … [Read more...]

Botched Baton Rouge abortion results in emergency surgery

By Will Hall, Message Executive Editor BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Right to Life has reported that a botched abortion by a Baton Rouge facility resulted in complications leading to an emergency hysterectomy for the woman. The baby did not survive. LRTL obtained the information about the incident at the Delta Clinic via a report from the Louisiana Department of Health in response to an Open Records Request. According to the report, the patient began bleeding profusely as a result of the abortion procedure and “the facility did not have adequate emergency supplies, such as IV fluid, on hand to stabilize her” despite a Louisiana law that requires outpatient abortion centers to maintain an inventory of basic medical materials to sustain patients until emergency medical services arrive. Because of the medical negligence during the abortion, a Baton Rouge hospital had to perform a total abdominal hysterectomy and a bilateral salpingectomy (the removal of both fallopian tubes). Although only recently reported, the tragic circumstances took place on March 15, just a month and a week after the U.S. Supreme Court stopped, at least temporarily, a 2014 Louisiana Law from going into effect that requires abortionists to … [Read more...]

2. Skills of a church planter: Vision capacity

By John Hebert, Louisiana Baptists Missions & Ministry Team Leader ALEXANDRIA (LBM) – If you have ever searched Google for “things to do in Turkey,” the first result that typically pops up is the Hagia Sophia Museum. Once a Christian cathedral, the Church of the Holy Wisdom, which is now the museum, was built in A.D. 537 and was the center of Christianity in that region for 1,000 years. Its existence is a testimony to the success of the Christian faith in Asia Minor – which is most of modern-day Turkey – and directly related to the ministry of the Apostle Paul, although he did not visualize such a physical structure. But he did believe in the power of the Gospel and he foresaw the tremendous potential for the Gospel to grow in Asia Minor, which is why he invested so much of his personal ministry there. Indeed, conversations about church planting should begin with the Apostle Paul, not because of his special calling, but because of his exceptional skills – especially his remarkable ability to visualize the success of a ministry in a particular place and his exceptional talent in communicating this vision to others in context of the roles they could undertake. We call this skill, vision capacity. Paul could … [Read more...]

Executive Director Wayne Taylor to retire from LBF

By Will Hall, Message Executive Editor ALEXANDRIA (LBM) – Louisiana Baptist Foundation Executive Director Wayne Taylor informed the entity’s trustees July 30 of his intention to retire. He has been the chief executive of this Louisiana Baptist ministry since July 1995. Taylor told the Baptist Message he had a peace about the next phase of life he felt that God was ready to unfold for him and his wife Joanna. “My experiences of ministering and sharing the Gospel in Belarus have revealed a new passion for me,” he said, indicating he plans to engage even more in missions and ministry, including a young adult discipleship group he currently leads at his home church. He has made multiple mission trips to the former Soviet satellite country that is about 41 percent agnostic and atheistic with only two percent of the population professing Christ as Savior. He leverages his professional expertise to share about Christ with elite groups, using his platform in the financial sector to speak at Belarusian universities and business forums. He also has been active in the distribution there of the Good and Evil Illustrated Bible, a graphic-novel-style presentation, which has a 43 percent return on investment in that more than 4 … [Read more...]