By Philip Timothy, Managing Editor WELSH – In the small Jefferson Davis Parish town of Welsh, a church and its pastor put its faith on display by providing hope where there was little and giving unconditional love when it was needed the most. Battling rising flood waters himself, Pastor Pat Deshotel and members of First Baptist Welsh set aside their own problems to come to the aid of their neighbors. Special attention was given to a pair of widows. Each lost a husband two days before the rain and flooding began, and a day apart from each other. “I couldn’t imagine losing a spouse and then having to face the devastation of the flooding several days later. They didn’t even have time to grieve before the flooding began,” Deshotel said. “I knew both ladies and their husbands well, and I could not let them go this alone.” Joe Bertrand died Aug. 9 after a long battle with cancer leaving behind Judy, his wife of 49 years. Victor Thomas passed away the following day leaving behind his wife Shannon. While Judy Bertrand, a Roman Catholic, had family, Shannon Thomas, who is affiliated with a non-denominational, did not. “Judy had eight feet of water in her home and Shannon’s trailer was surrounded by water,” said … [Read more...]
NOBTS Caskey Center named as strategic partner for 2017 SBC Pastors’ Conference
By Gary D. Myers, NOBTS Communications NEW ORLEANS -- The Caskey Center for Church Excellence at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary will serve as a strategic partner for the 2017 Southern Baptist Convention Pastors' Conference in Phoenix. The partnership will include financial and logistical support. NOBTS President Chuck Kelley announced the partnership to the school's faculty Sept. 7. "The Caskey Center for Church Excellence at NOBTS is delighted to partner with the 2017 SBC Pastors' Conference in Phoenix to highlight the role of the smaller membership church in Southern Baptist life," Kelley said. "We are passionately committed to encouraging all pastors to make excellent biblical exposition in the church and consistent Gospel conversations with those outside the church the building blocks of their ministries." The news follows the election of Dave Miller, pastor of Southern Hills Baptist Church in Sioux City, Iowa, and editor of the SBC Voices blog, as the president of the 2017 Pastors' Conference. Typically a position reserved for larger church pastors, Miller ran on a platform emphasizing expositional preaching and celebrating the contributions of smaller churches in the SBC. Miller's church, which averages … [Read more...]
Rector’s Return: Northwestern State defender finds way back to soccer after year-long mission trip
By Matt Vines, Northwestern Sports Information NATCHITOCHES – Peyton Rector was at peace ending her college soccer career with one year of eligibility remaining. Finishing a psychology degree in three years, the Northwestern State product decided she would go on a worldwide whirlwind of a mission trip, visiting more than a dozen countries in 11 months. Soccer was never far away, but Rector came to a harsh realization that prompted her to reprioritize her life while paving the path back to collegiate soccer. “My faith grew a lot in this process,” Rector explained. “I always considered myself a Christian, but I realized that my real identity was in soccer. “God finally had to completely take (soccer) away from me to realize that. My relationship with God is different now, and I feel that I am able to return to college soccer and share these experiences.” Despite being away from competitive soccer for nearly two years, Rector will start at her old center back position. Rector hopes she can meld with a young but talented team to help the Lady Demons to a Southland Conference Tournament appearance, a place the program hasn’t been since 2008. THE DECISION An active Fellowship of Christian Athletes member at … [Read more...]
Kelley: ‘Talk about Jesus, see what God will do’
By Marilyn Stewart, NOBTS Communications NEW ORLEANS -- New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary President Chuck Kelley posed an important question to students and faculty gathered for convocation Sept. 13. “Where do people hear you talk about Jesus?” he asked. Drawing from Philippians 1:12, Kelley pointed to the apostle Paul as a “master of Gospel conversations” who talked about Jesus “always, and in all places.” Holding up him as the example to follow, Kelley said Paul talked to others about Christ wherever he was—even in prison. “Where do people hear you talk about Jesus?” Kelley asked. “Is it in the grocery store? Is it over coffee or in any other casual settings?” Kelley acknowledged that students came to seminary to learn to preach and expound God’s word, but cautioned them that preaching alone was not enough, adding that a strategy for reaching those outside the church walls was necessary. “How can you mobilize your congregation to talk about Christ in their homes, at work, and with their friends?” Kelley asked. “By letting them see you talk about Jesus everywhere and at any time.” Kelley concluded by saying that his prayer this year is that the seminary would be a place that encourages and celebrates … [Read more...]
Second SBC DR Volunteer dies this year while serving in Louisiana
BATON ROUGE (BP) -- Working as part of his church's disaster relief team, Sonny Ellis died while doing what he did best -- serving people. "He was showing the people of Denham Springs, an example of what Jesus would do," said Roy Hill, pastor of First Baptist Church in Satsuma, Alabama. On Sept. 1, Ellis had just placed a load of laundry in a washing machine with his church's disaster relief laundry unit, which was in operation helping flood survivors of the historic flooding in south Louisiana. A little before lunch, Ellis, 72, lost his balance and fell out of the door of the unit and sustained brain injuries, Hill reported. Ellis was taken to Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge and died later that evening. "God is still on His throne and Jesus is still Sonny's Savior," Hill wrote on his Facebook page. "We were reminded last night at church that there are times we must prove that we believe what we say we believe. This is one of those times and [the Ellis family] is living out their faith." John Hebert, Louisiana Baptists Director of Missions and Ministry, was saddened to hear the news. "I have connected with his family and pastor to express how all Louisiana Baptists are deeply saddened … [Read more...]
LifeWay providing assistance to flood-ravaged Louisiana
NASHVILLE (BP) -- As Louisiana recovers from historic flooding, LifeWay Christian Resources wants to help churches, pastors and other victims. Part of the effort includes restoring Bible study material and pastoral libraries lost in the floodwaters. "LifeWay provides biblical solutions for life," said Thom Rainer, president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources. "We want to support these pastors and churches during the good times, but even more during the difficult times. Replacing some of what was lost is a way for LifeWay to stand with pastors and churches through these heartbreaking circumstances." Amy Thompson, director of corporate relations, said, "Pastors were reaching out to LifeWay before the floodwaters even receded. We understand at least 35 pastors' homes and 60 churches are flooded." Bill Robertson, director of pastoral leadership at the Louisiana Baptist Convention, is helping coordinate LifeWay's ministry to flooded churches and pastors. "LifeWay is our partner in ministry to teach and reach people," he said. "In preparation for preaching and teaching, the pastor's library is an essential tool. When you lose it, it only compounds your misery during these difficult days. The resources provided by LifeWay … [Read more...]
Louisiana Notables
ON THE MOVE Larry Evans is the new interim pastor following the resignation of Chris Campo as pastor at Parkerson Avenue Baptist Church, Crowley. Chad (wife Dawn) Boudreaux is new worship leader at First Baptist Church, Crowley. Kaylie Glovier is new children minister at Red River Baptist Church, Benton. Jerry Elkins retires as music minister from Cross Point Baptist Church, Bossier City. Bruce Edwards retires as education minister from Airline Baptist Church, Bossier City. Mike Landry retires as pastor at Bethany Baptist Church, Bethany. Derek Cox resigned as pastor at Springs of Grace Baptist Church, Shreveport. Rex Blankenship named as interim pastor at Springs of Grace Baptist Church, Shreveport. IN REMEMBERANCE C Bullard Jones, 85, passed away July 26, 2016 after a brief illness. Raised in Winnfield, he graduated from Louisiana College in Pineville, where he met his wife Sunnye Dykes. He went on to obtain his Master of Divinity from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. During his long service in ministry, he served churches in Louisiana and Texas. He retired from the ministry in Baton Rouge. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Barbara (Sunnye) Dykes Jones. He leaves behind four sons and … [Read more...]
Atheist flood survivor rescued by Jesus Christ
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALBANY – Jase Shawley had just wrapped up a sermon to 350 evacuees from the historic flooding in southern Louisiana when he was approached by a church member who passed along a request from Cindy, a nearly-blind woman and an avowed atheist. “She really wants to speak with you about her salvation,” the Bethlehem Baptist Church student minister was told. Later that Aug. 14 afternoon, Shawley shared with her the basic plan of salvation and afterward Cindy had reason not only to celebrate having survived the storm, but also being rescued by Christ. “Cindy told me she didn’t know what had happened but it was something like she had never felt before,” Shawley said. “She told me she had grown up being taught God didn’t exist. But now her heart was telling her He was real. “Watching somebody who literally had nothing to do with any form of church or praying until that morning and then watching her say ‘Lord I need you’ just hours later was beautiful.” But Cindy’s salvation is not the only miracle God has performed at Bethlehem Baptist Church as a result of the storm. Floodwaters rapidly rose in the church parking Aug. 12, until Shawley asked God to intervene. Afterward, the … [Read more...]
Cowboy church pastor: In times of crisis, world turns to the church
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ZACHARY – Since the launching of Cross Creek Cowboy Church in 2013, Pastor Josh Morris has talked to his congregation about being Jesus’ hands and feet. In mid-August, they got that chance when many in the congregation stepped up and helped serve 600 hot meals, rescued horses and cleaned out the inside of homes heavily damaged from what has been called the 1,000-year flood. All this happened despite the church getting 2 1/2 feet of water in its own building. Fortunately, the water quickly receded and repairs already have been completed, Morris said, and he offered that many churches in the southern part of the state were not in as favorable a position. But he said regardless of the situation facing a congregation, God can use the devastation caused by the flood for good. “A lot of people have questions,” Morris said. “Where do they turn first? Church. This is where they come for encouragement when bad things happen. It gives us an opportunity to reach those who normally don’t go to church.” “The love of Christ is what we are showing,” he continued. “What they need right now is for us to minister to them and get their needs met first. Then we can start sharing the … [Read more...]
Louisiana Baptist churches can connect with churches affected by flood
By Staff, Baptist Message Louisiana Baptists have announced an initiative to partner healthy churches with churches impacted by the mid-August flooding in southern Louisiana. In some cases, multiple congregations will be connected with the same church due to the size of the recovery and rebuilding projects, said Wayne Jenkins, director of evangelism for Louisiana Baptists. Already, 34 churches have stepped up, he said. But 50-60 more partners are needed to care for up to another 40 or so churches still seeking financial and manpower assistance. Jenkins used as an example Amite Baptist Church in Denham Springs – home to 625 worshipers on a typical Sunday – which was flooded with up to 4 feet of water Aug. 13 and experienced about $1.3 million in damages. Unfortunately, the congregation did not have flood insurance to deal with the devastation caused by the 1000-year rainfall, he explained. “I just believe there are plenty of churches that are willing and are able to do something to assist flood-impacted churches like Amite,” Jenkins said. For information on how to partner with a flood-impacted church, call 318.446.3242. … [Read more...]
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