ON THE MOVE New Life Baptist Church, DeRidder: Lynn P. Clayton has announced his April 30 retirement, after 14 years as founding pastor. He was previously editor of the Louisiana Baptist Message for 28 years. He and his wife Leah plan to reside in DeRidder. Collin (wife Gina) Wimberly is the new pastor at Trinity Heights Baptist Church, Shreveport. Larry Bernal has resigned as pastor of Bethsaida Baptist Church, Ida. Billy Stevens has resigned as pastor of Willow Point Baptist Church, Shreveport. Jeremy Brister has resigned as pastor of Oak Grove Baptist Church, Bentley. Jason, wife Tracy, Ogle is the new pastor at Bethlehem Baptist Church, Albany. James Summerlin is the new associate pastor to students at First Baptist Church, Hammond. Dustin Pierce is the new youth pastor at Trinity Baptist Church, Hammond. Judd Roark has resigned as pastor at South Side Baptist Church, Bastrop. IN REMEMBERANCE Miguel “Papi” Barrios of Bernice passed away March 29 in West Monroe at the age of 80. Burial services were at First Baptist Church of Farmerville on Saturday, April 1. Reginaldo DeLeon officiated. Interment followed at Shiloh Cemetery in the Shiloh Community. Barrios was born July 5, 1936 in Guatemala. He … [Read more...]

By Lane Corley, LBC's Church Planter, Mission & Life Strategists in SE Louisiana The 2016 ACP (Annual Church Profile) Reports are in for Louisiana. The Annual Church Profile is collected by State Convention Communication and Information Services Departments and tallied together nationally by Lifeway. Our Information Services Department works hard to gather the data, even from churches that do not turn in the form, by calling them and asking for what data can be gathered over the phone. Most Associations do a good job helping churches see the importance. It is valuable for us to see how we are doing together and for our strategists to have good data as we plan church planting and missions efforts nationally. It also gets our state included in national data collection. A FEW HIGHLIGHTS Here are a few highlights that I found interesting from this year’s ACP Reports: --86% or 1,376 Louisiana Baptist Churches reported. So, that means 248 churches did not report. --Total Worship Attendance for 2016 in Louisiana was 165,228. Which is 3.5% of Louisiana’s total population of 4,670,724. --Total Resident Membership for 2016 was 357,631. Which is 7.7% of Louisiana’s total population. --Total Baptisms reported … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE – Louisiana College celebrated several “firsts” Monday, April 10. During a press conference, the school announced a new degree, new scholarship and the grand opening of its first engineering classroom. To equip young men and women called to be marketplace missionaries from central Louisiana to the ends of the earth, LC will offer a new bachelor’s degree in missions and ministries. Those who qualify as freshmen automatically will receive $6,000 annually through the Dr. Fred Lowery Scholarship, named after the retired pastor of First Baptist Church in Bossier City. The degree will be offered through the School of Missions and Ministries, formerly the Division of Christian Studies. This school will have emphases on apologetics, biblical studies, church planting, evangelism, missions and pastoral ministry. “I see God lifting up, even in this room, young people who say, ‘I want to be like Paul, to be a tentmaker,’” said LC President Rick Brewer. “To go to an Omaha, a Kansas City, a Houston, a Dallas, a Los Angeles and plant churches and share the Gospel, but not to have to count and depend upon income from those people you are trying to reach. “I believe there’s a … [Read more...]

BOSSIER CITY - Louisiana Right to Life recently obtained a letter filed as a public record in the federal case June Medical Services LLC, et al. v. Rebekah Gee, et al. that indicates the Bossier City Medical Suite, an outpatient abortion facility in Bossier City, has closed its doors. The letter from the Center for Reproductive Rights also says the facility's outpatient license was returned to the Louisiana Department of Health. A moving trailer was seen on location yesterday, April 11. Benjamin Clapper, Executive Director of Louisiana Right to Life, said the following on the release of the news: "With the closure of Bossier City Medical Suite, there is one less facility in Louisiana destroying the lives of innocent unborn babies. From 2006 to 2015, this facility sold 7,482 abortions. We mourn for these lives that will never enjoy life in Louisiana but rejoice that this facility will no longer be in the business of abortion. "We encourage the pro-life community to continue its efforts to provide help to mothers and babies, both before and after birth. We look forward to a day when all babies are protected by law and welcomed with joy," Clapper said. There are currently three facilities selling abortion in Louisiana: … [Read more...]

By Matt Tullos, Louisiana Baptists Bring the full tenth into the storehouse so that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this way,” says the Lord of Hosts. “See if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out a blessing for you without measure.” Malachi 3:10 ALEXANDRIA -- So your pastor preaches on giving? Thank him! He’s giving you some important news about one of life’s greatest secrets. A pastor who invites members to tithe invites them into a life-changing, soul-transforming experience that affects every area of their lives. In truth, it’s unfair to you if he’s not teaching you about this principle that’s changed history in ways we’ll never completely know until we get to heaven! So here’s the short list of reasons you should be giving a tithe (10% of your income) to your local church. It’s worship Whether you’re in a church with electric guitars or pipe organs, everybody should have an opportunity to give because from Genesis to Revelation, giving is true worship. Think about what you are doing when you illogically say goodbye to a large slice of your income that you could be using somewhere else, doing something else. You are saying, “Lord, above everything, I believe in You. It all belongs to … [Read more...]