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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

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 Richard, wife Vickie, Blue is the new Associational Missions Coordinator for Easter Louisiana Baptist Association. Blue resigned as the senior pastor of Walker Baptist Church, Walker to take the new position. Daryl Stagg is the new Director of Missions for Big Creek Baptist Association and the CENLA Baptist Association. Joel Murrah ordained to the Gospel ministry by Christ Church, Lafayette.  He is commissioned to pioneer a new celebrate recovery ministry at the church, which starts in October. Chad Ward is the new pastor at Victory Baptist Church, Walker. Cole Headrick is the student minister at Bayou Oaks Baptist Church, Monroe. James (wife Wanda) Lovell is the new pastor at Pine Grove Baptist Church, Castor. Jason Dubea resigns as pastor at Gateway Bible Church, Ball. Destry McFearin … [Read more...]

Outgoing DOM Lonnie Wascom is faithful to the end

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer COVINGTON – Lonnie Wascom has one final prayer request as he closes out his time as director of missions for Northshore Baptist Association Oct. 1. “If God favors me, He’ll let me go out like Elijah,” Wascom said. “I do not want to burn out; I want to burn up. I want to see people saved. I want to see our churches revived. I want to see an awakening before I die.” Wascom, director of missions for Northshore Baptist Association since its formation in 2011, announced in early May of this year his intention to retire. At the time, Wascom said in his e-mail blast he had served in vocational ministry for 55 years, and the decision was one he did not take lightly. With retirement just weeks away, Wascom said serving the association’s 90 churches has been an honor. “I’ve loved being a director of missions,” he said. “I never saw myself in this office, but I’m still excited. One brother asked what I am doing when I retire. I said ‘I will keep praying, I will stay in the Word, I will keep sharing my faith with people, I will preach as I have opportunity, and I’m going to encourage pastors and ministers. If God wants me in a local church as a pastor or another role, I’m going to do … [Read more...]

All eyes are on Gordon

By Baptist Message Staff All eyes are on Tropical Storm Gordon. In a 10 a.m. update Tuesday, September 4, the National Hurricane Center said Gordon was moving toward the north Gulf of Mexico, and was located about 145 miles east-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River. Reports from separate NOAA and Air Force Reserve Unit flights monitoring the storm measured winds near 65 miles per hour with higher gusts. Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief officials, along with others, have been closely monitoring the disturbance. "We are praying for the storm not to intensify," said Gibbie McMillan, Louisiana Baptists state disaster relief director. The New Orleans area remains under a tropical storm warning, though the warning has been discontinued for areas in Louisiana west of Grand Isle. A hurricane warning is in effect for the area from the mouth of the Pearl River to the Alabama-Florida state border. The tropical storm warning for the area west of Grand Isle was discontinued Tuesday morning, but a tropical storm warning remains in effect from Grand Isle to the mouth of the Pearl River, including Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas. A storm surge watch is still in effect for the areas west of Shell Beach to the … [Read more...]

Get to know those who serve

By Curt Iles ALEXANDRIA (BP) -- His name was Raymond, and we met when we were both about 18. It was unlikely we'd cross paths, much less become friends. Raymond was an urban black man from Pineville, and I was a redneck fresh from the woods of Dry Creek. He was the janitor for our section of Tudor Hall, the men's dorm at Louisiana College. I was a freshman and he had recently gone to work at the school. I was brought up to be friendly, so I introduced myself to Raymond. I'd spent all of my teen summers working at church camp, doing custodial-style work, which had taught me that all work has dignity when done well. So that served as common ground for our friendship. As we crossed paths daily, Raymond and I became friends. I think it happened because I learned his name when we met. Our casual friendship continued for my extended five-year college stay while Raymond moved up in his department. His success didn't surprise me. He was a conscientious worker who got along well with people. Thirty years later, I returned to Louisiana College as a trustee. While walking across campus one day, I saw Raymond. Like me, he had aged, his hair and beard now peppered with gray. We greeted each other and laughed at how young … [Read more...]

Revival at Benson Baptist Church

Benson Baptist Church, Benson: Revival, September 2-5, 6:30 p.m. nightly. Evangelist: Lyndon Longoria. Special Music: Kerry Longoria. Everyone is invited to attend. The church is located at 3213 Highway 512. Converse, LA. Pastor: Delmon Rogers. … [Read more...]

Revival at Calvary Baptist Church, Forest Hill

Calvary Baptist Church, Forest Hill: Revival, September 2-5; Sunday 10 a.m. and 7 p.m.; Monday-Wednesday, 7 p.m. Evangelist: Wayne Jones and Freedom Mission. There will be the Word of God, testimonies, praise and worship. For more information, call 318.733-0248. Pastor: Wayne Dunn. … [Read more...]

Reaping the Harvest – 3,212 saved in Brazil

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer POUSO ALEGRE, Brazil – A Louisiana Baptist-led mission team took the 2018 statewide Harvest emphasis international, resulting in 3,212 Brazilians repenting for salvation in July. “Numbers matter because they mean people,” said Deanne Denton, a trip coordinator and member of Highland Baptist Church in New Iberia. “Numbers mean changed lives. Numbers on this trip mean churches in that area can take those contacts of people who accepted Christ and follow up with the new believers through the year. That is always amazing to see because the people are very responsive.” Denton was among 130 men and women who were on mission in Pouso Alegre, Brazil, as a part of an evangelism outreach in the country July 6-17. Some remained in Brazil two additional days to see the country. While there, the teams participated in street evangelism, Vacation Bible Schools, drama performances, sports clinics, cooking demonstrations, construction of churches and a school, and conducted medical, dental and eye clinics. The mission group included other volunteers from Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Utah. Denton said there were some ups and downs during the mission trip, but God was in … [Read more...]

Mother, sons celebrate new life through baptism

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer HOUMA – Not long after Clifton Arnold started Kingdom Life Fellowship in September 2016, Sade Harris presented a simple request – a chance to participate in baptism with her three sons. After hearing the complete story, Arnold wholeheartedly granted the request. “Her oldest son shared her birthday, and now she wanted to celebrate her own spiritual birthday with him and the other two siblings,” Arnold said. “Once I heard her request, I thought ‘that is really nice.’” The family was introduced to Jesus within a two-week period in 2016. Harris was attending a baptism class with son, Quentin, when she realized she needed to repent of her sins. She then introduced the other two sons, Ma Khi and Que, to Christ. The baptisms were the first for Kingdom Life Fellowship, which was birthed out of a home-based Bible study with only three people. The Fellowship now has grown to 40 strong, seven of whom have been baptized. Since the service, Harris has become involved in such ministries as the hospitality team. “You just let God take over, and everything falls into place,” Harris said. “It may not be when you want it, but it happens.” … [Read more...]

GBO fuels rocket scientist’s church planting efforts

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer HOUMA – NASA’s Clifton Arnold is a rocket scientist with a successful formula for church planting. “You get them in the door with music, you keep them in the house with teaching,” Arnold, who planted Kingdom Life Fellowship in Houma in 2016, told the Baptist Message. “People go to churches where they like their worship style and their teaching is solid.” When he is not preaching at Kingdom Life Fellowship, Arnold manages four NASA rocket propulsion test sites – at Stennis Space Center in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio, and Plum Brook Station in Sandusky, Ohio. While working on projects to reach the planets and the stars, he uses opportunities to discuss creation and Heaven with those he meets in the space industry. “It’s really amazing that they parallel and feed into one another,” Arnold said. “People are interested in what God has to say about the rest of the universe, and, sometimes you don’t have an answer and you say, ‘Well when I see Him, I’ll ask Him. But right now, the Bible tells me this,’ and that’s the way I approach it.” GBO FOCUS Arnold is thankful for God’s … [Read more...]

After 60 years, Doyle Adams still preaching

By Holly Jo Linzay, Regional Reporter MANGHAM – Pastor Doyle L. Adams knew at age 19 God’s call on his life was irrevocable. “My belief is that God called me, and He called me for a lifetime,” said Adams, who at age 79, does not have any plans to retire from the pulpit. For the last 60 years, Adams, the pastor of Lone Cherry Baptist Church in Mangham, has established a history of faithful preaching and caring pastoring, and recently was  honored for his long-time service in both, with a special plaque from the Louisiana Baptist Pastoral Leadership team and special recognition by the Richland Baptist Association. Bill Robertson, Louisiana Baptists pastoral leadership director, said he has known Adams for more than 40 years. “Bro. Doyle Adams is a wonderful, faithful servant of the Lord, and he has quite a legacy. Churches have prospered under his leadership, and he is still going strong,” Robertson said, adding Adams has sacrificed and sown into some smaller churches that had been without a pastor. With more than six decades of min istry under his [Bible] belt, Adams has experienced his share of successes and challenges on a number of levels. But, he said, regardless he was doing what God called him to … [Read more...]