By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE – Alyssa Rayette Altenberger struggled with emotional setbacks for several years until, in 2014, she encountered a horse named Tony who served as a means for the youngster to develop a relationship with Christ. Since meeting Tony at the Cross Branded Cowboy Church, Pineville, he has been present for a number of special moments for Alrenberger that took place inside the church’s arena -- including her baptism in a galvanized horse trough during a November 2017 worship service. Altenberger is one of five new believers at the Cross Branded Cowboy Church baptized in 2017. Another four are awaiting baptism. “Some people might ask, ‘How do you ask Jesus to be your Savior?’” Altenberger told the Baptist Message. “Well you just have to ask him. You have to love Him enough to go to Heaven with gold streets, and you will never cry, go thirsty or hungry in Heaven. “If you want to be forgiven, you have to ask Christ to forgive you of your sins,” she added with conviction. CROSS-FOCUSED While Cross Branded opens its services to anyone, it especially appeals to those who are part of the cowboy culture. An amateur horse trainer, Pastor Herb Dickerson said many times he … [Read more...]
Super Bowl Champs praise God after epic win
By Will Hall, Message Editor After the Eagles’ comeback win in Super Bowl LII, Tony Dungy, a high-profile Christian and a Super Bowl champion coach now working as an NFL analyst with NBC Sports, said Philadelphia quarterback Nick Foles, a stand-in for the injured franchise quarterback Carson Wentz, had his head on straight. He understands he is the backup, Dungy said, noting that Foles told him “This is Carson Wentz’s team." But Foles also told Dungy, "God has me here for just this time." Foles is a student at Liberty University and plans to become a pastor after he eventually leaves the NFL. But, Foles is not the only high profile Christian on the Eagles’ roster. As team speakers came forward during interviews surrounding the presentation of the Lombardi Trophy, awarded to the winner of the NFL championship game, each offered some mention of their love of Christ. Doug Pederson, who has strong Louisiana ties from playing for Northeast Louisiana University (now known as University of Louisiana Monroe) and coaching Calvary Baptist Academy, founded by Calvary Baptist Church in Shreveport, was bold in his testimony. When asked by NBC sportscaster Dan Patrick how to explain that just nine years ago he was coaching … [Read more...]
Ken Hemphill to be SBC president nominee
By Will Hall, Message Editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM)—Southern Baptist statesman Ken Hemphill will be nominated for president of the Southern Baptist Convention, according to an announcement issued by a group of distinguished Southern Baptists. ENTHUSIASTIC ENDORSEMENTS “Some interested Southern Baptist pastors and leaders have been thinking together for several weeks about whom God might raise up to follow Dr. Steve Gaines as our SBC president,” said David Hankins, executive director of the Louisiana Baptist Convention. “We desire to elect a man who is a Southern Baptist through and through, values our understanding of the Gospel, and, has an established record of affirming the cooperative work of our local churches through the associations, state conventions and national entities. “We sought Ken out because of his record in these areas as well as his impeccable character, remarkable breadth of experience in Southern Baptist life, passion for missions and evangelism, and an active ministry of re-vitalization to pastors and churches.” Numerous others added their endorsements in emails to the Baptist Message, including Richard Land, president of Southern Evangelical Seminary in Charlotte, N.C., and president emeritus of … [Read more...]
What to do?
By Steve Horn, Pastor First Baptist Church, Lafayette LAFAYETTE -- A few days ago I read in my daily Bible reading Proverbs 24:10, “If you do nothing in a difficult time, your strength is limited.” My mind went to several difficult things that I am presently involved in and a few other difficult things that I could be involved in if I allowed myself. I thought about one of our past church initiatives that we simply called “Do something.” I began thinking what would the Lord have me to do. The next day, in my reading, I read Luke 24:49 which contains the instruction of Jesus to His disciples after His resurrection and before His ascension. “And look, I am sending you what my Father promised. As for you, stay in the city until you are empowered from on high.” In addition I saw an article based on this Scripture that challenged pastors that there were certain occasions “to do nothing.” Ah… “to do something” or “to do nothing.” There are occasions when one is right and the other is wrong. And to know the difference? How do we know? Maybe these few principles will guide us in some way. There are certain times when it is always right to do something. It is always the right time to share the Gospel. That seems to be one … [Read more...]
Two-year-old dies at NOBTS preschool center
By Gary Myers, NOBTS Communications NEW ORLEANS – A two-year-old child died Jan. 11 while eating lunch at the Early Learning Center at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS) in Gentilly. The child lost consciousness after choking on food just after noon Thursday. Efforts to resuscitate the child by members of the ELC staff and EMS responders were unsuccessful. NOBTS President Chuck Kelley said the seminary community is saddened by the death and called on members of the immediate community, and the larger Southern Baptist community to pray for the child’s family and all those affected by the death. “Our hearts are overwhelmed with sadness in the loss of one so young. May all of us join together in praying for God’s grace, comfort, and strength to minister to this family and all of those affected by this tragic loss,” Kelley said. The seminary has mobilized grief counselors to speak with staff members, parents and children at the ELC. The Early Learning Center at NOBTS is a Tier III licensed child care center through the Louisiana Department of Education and currently enrolls 76 children between the ages of six weeks and four years old. The preschool center opened in 1952 to provide a preschool … [Read more...]
Louisiana Baptist youth leader, NOBTS student, dies on mission field
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer NAKARU, Kenya – Even as family and friends mourn the loss of a loved one, they are celebrating the Christ-honoring legacy left behind by Emily Martin, an interim youth leader at Hebron Baptist Church in Bush, Louisiana, who died Jan. 1 while serving on her third mission trip to Kenya. Martin, 21, passed away following complications from a blood clot that developed inside her lungs shortly after arriving in the country. Martin organized the trip, traveling with her brother, Joshua, cousin, Ashtin Mullett, and friend, Vally O’Connor. While in the country, she worked alongside missionaries Len and Susan Eastwood, who represent Neighbors Outreach Worldwide ministry in Nakaru, Kenya. Her father, Scot, told the Baptist Message that his daughter spent her final days in a place she loved. Even before her first visit to Kenya, Martin had a strong love for missions that began as a teenager with a church evangelistic trip to Oklahoma where she took part in conducting Vacation Bible School. She also took mission trips to Belize and Guatemala in recent years. A student with the Leavell College of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Martin likely would have moved to Kenya to continue … [Read more...]
YEC students learn, share Jesus
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer LAFAYETTE (LBM) – When Clayton King encouraged nearly 6,000 students at the 2017 Youth Evangelism Celebration to share Christ with someone while they were in Lafayette, ninth grader Kylan Davis just a few hours later accepted that challenge by leading another person to a relationship with Jesus. As Davis was enjoying a smoothie at a restaurant with fellow members of the First Baptist Church, Houma, youth group Nov. 20, he reached in his pocket and pulled out “The Road to Life” tract King used earlier in the afternoon as a guide to demonstrate how to share the Gospel. Moments later, the Holy Spirit moved Davis to share Christ with Todd, a manager at the restaurant. Apprehensive at first, Davis moved forward in obedience, nonetheless, asking the man if he had a few minutes to chat. “When I asked Todd if he wanted to receive Jesus in his life, he said, ‘Sure,’” Davis said. “I could tell the Holy Spirit was moving. I never thought I would be sharing the Gospel with someone that day, but for some reason I reached for the tract that Clayton King used to walk us through sharing Christ.” Now that he has experienced the joy of leading someone to Christ, Davis said he no longer is … [Read more...]
A LIFE CHANGING MOMENT: 1,081 students respond to Christ
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer LAFAYETTE (LBM) –The 2017 Youth Evangelism Celebration wrapped up its three-year run in Lafayette on a high note, seeing 1,081 students make decisions for Christ. The annual event returns to its traditional home in Alexandria next year. “YEC was truly a celebration of the past and present,” Louisiana Baptists Youth Ministry Strategist Steve Maltempti said. “The Lord continues to bless and propel YEC forward. Students and teenagers are engaged with the Gospel message.” During the Nov. 19-20 gathering inside Lafayette’s Cajundome, 5,929 Louisiana Baptist students were challenged by evangelist Clayton King to share what Christ has done in their lives and to lean on God’s truth. “The biggest lie is God doesn’t love you,” King told the students. “That’s a lie. God loves you. He loved you so much that He made a path for you to be saved.” During all four sessions, King offered a chance for students to step forward and respond to the call of the Holy Spirit. He said simply knowing the truth of redemption through Christ does not set a person free but rather believing and making a decision. “Every one of us is more lost than we ever dreamed but we are more loved than we … [Read more...]
Cajun Baptists share faith, hope & love with Haitian Creoles
By Will Hall, Message Editor PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (LBM) – After 14 years of peacekeeping duties in the country, the United Nations stood down its 2,300 military forces Oct. 15, giving hope of a return to political stability for the people of Haiti, a poverty-stricken nation of more than 10 million citizens. Meanwhile, the arrival of a 44-member team of Louisiana Baptists, Oct. 14, launched a week of compassionate aid and spiritual ministry to hundreds of residents of Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas, offering hope in the form of medical and dental services, construction work, safe drinking water filter installations and upkeep, and, the sharing of the Gospel as part of these compassion efforts, Vacation Bible School, and door-to-door community evangelism. SHARING THE WORD Ray Swift, administrative pastor, First Baptist Church in Lafayette, Jason Cole, pastor, First Baptist Church in Simsboro, and Wayne Sheppard, partnership missions strategist for Louisiana Baptists preached in local churches the Sunday after landing in Port-au-Prince: Swift spoke in the rudimentary structure of a rural evangelical church in Monet; Sheppard shared the Word at an established Baptist church in Croix-des-Bouquets and presided … [Read more...]
ECON 2018: Pressing hard toward Harvest
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE (LBM) – After two years of praying and preparing for the largest joint evangelistic effort in the state among Louisiana Baptists, the time for Harvest has arrived. This year-long statewide soul-winning effort will launch with the 2018 state Evangelism Conference, known as ECON, Jan. 22-23, at the First Baptist Church in Pineville. “God truly has blessed us with the largest number of Louisiana Baptist churches ever to commit to work together on a specific evangelistic initiative,” Keith Manuel, evangelism associate for Louisiana Baptists, said. “Whether it is through a church participating individually or in a group through their association, we are praying for the lost to receive prayer, hear the Gospel, be saved, baptized and become a vibrant, growing disciple of Jesus in these congregations. The enlistment was great. Now the real joy comes as we meet, pray, and share the Good News with our neighbors.” The groundwork for the initiative to “pray for every home and share Christ with every person” began in the fall of 2015 with a small group of leading pastors. Strategy development and the enlistment of churches were undertaken in 2016. Statewide evangelism training … [Read more...]
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