By Marilyn Stewart, Regional Reporter NEW ORLEANS, La. (LBM) -- Baptist Friendship House celebrated 75 years of changing lives with a special celebration at the New Orleans Center, Sept. 28. Festivities included longtime friends, past memories, and a look to a future full of hope. “Baptist Friendship House is committed to continuing its legacy of meeting needs through love, action, and in truth,” said Kay Bennett, executive director. “Sharing Jesus with people in need will always be the top priority of our ministry for generations to come.” Baptist Friendship House supports women and children in transition by providing housing, job training, and education in computer skills and reading. More than 100 women are enrolled in the center’s weekly Bible study. Bennett praised all who had come before her and noted that while much has changed since the center’s earliest days, the mission remains the same. “We still let anybody walk through our doors,” Bennett said. “It does not matter where they’ve been, what they’ve done, or what’s going on in their lives, we love them.” Bennett introduced the event’s speakers as “three special ladies” who had impacted her life—Pat Shaffer, daughter of the center’s founders Henry and … [Read more...]
Native Americans seek revival for the country in Oberlin
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer OBERLIN, La. (LBM)—Native American pastors began a multi-week tent camp meeting with nightly evangelistic messages on the grounds of Oberlin Baptist Church, and organizers are optimistic that God may use the event to bring about revival across America. The All Nations Camp Meeting kicked off Oct. 2 and is scheduled to continue through at least early November. Native Americans from 15 states already have committed to supply guest evangelists, and, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Henry Blackaby Ministries also are assisting. “Small numbers are coming right now but we are not discouraged,” Tony Robinson, pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Oakdale and a member of the camp meeting planning committee, told the Baptist Message. “We feel like it will gain momentum as the word gets out and we feel like God’s in it. I don’t know when the last time was someone planned a meeting that went six weeks or indefinitely. We are just going to keep doing it until we feel like it has run its course or God says shut it down.” The camp meetings have brought hope to a community that saw more than 50 homes flooded after Hurricane Barry dumped nearly 20 inches of rain in Oberlin in … [Read more...]
6. Skills of a church planter: Partnering with your wife in ministry
By John Hebert, Louisiana Baptists missions and ministry team director ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM)--In 1985, I was a happily married father of five and in sales management. I was 30 years old and making a good living. My wife Kitty was a “stay at home” mom, although certified as a high school science teacher. We became involved in Evangelism Explosion, a method of sharing the Gospel with others, through our church, Parkview Baptist in Alexandria. It was the first time we had partnered in a ministry effort. The next year I became convicted that God was calling me to the ministry, coming to that realization clearly on a Sunday morning during the worship service, although I had sensed it for a long time. I knew I would need to go to seminary to prepare for ministry, but I was overwhelmed with questions about the transition: How would I provide for my family? Would Kitty be willing to teach and be the bread winner for our family while also raising the children? Would she make enough to support so large a family? How would all this work? Would she even be willing to give up her comfortable life to take on so much responsibility? After all, the oldest of our, then, five children was 10 and the baby was six months old. These … [Read more...]
LBC celebrates 250th church plant
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Church planters and state missions staff gathered in the Louisiana Baptist Building Oct. 9 to commemorate the 250th church planted since 2010. The achievement moves Louisiana Baptists closer to the goal of planting 300 churches by 2020 as part of one of the 10 action steps identified in the President’s 2020 Commission Final Report, which was affirmed by messengers during the 2013 LBC Annual Meeting. Planting healthy, biblically sound, multiplying churches is a key component to the seven-year-strategy which seeks to engage two audiences – the next generation and every people group – in reaching Louisiana with the Gospel. James Jenkins, director of church planting for Louisiana Baptists, told the Baptist Message the reception to mark the occasion was a celebration of partnership among church planters, sponsoring churches and directors of missions. “This celebration, and the ones we have had along the way to the 300th church plant, is a way of thanking God for his grace and Louisiana Baptists for their giving,” Jenkins said. PRESSING TOWARD THE GOAL Hope Church in Baton Rouge was recognized as the 250th new church plant, and Pastor Jeff Vincent … [Read more...]
What will your legacy be?
By Jerry Love, LBF director of planned giving Isaiah 40:8 tells us: “The grass withers, the flowers fade, but the word of our God remains forever” (CSB). There also are times the grass grows up in the cracks, and the flowers and shrubs overtake structures that we would call permanent. A pastor friend who now lives in Virginia relayed a story in a recent blog post about a walk in the woods with his wife. As they strolled around a local lake they came upon the remains of a cabin that had become an overgrown pile of rubble. My friend wrote: “This rubble is hidden... you might walk right by it without even being aware of its presence. Someone once lived here. They worked hard to gather heavy rocks to line the foundation and walls. They farmed, they hunted, and they walked around the same lake we were now walking around. They had dreams, plans, and a vision to build something and make a living. They may have even died here. “Who were they? What were their dreams? Did they leave any relatives to carry on the legacy?” The more important question for me is “What kind of legacy did they leave?” I recall a particular song from years past titled “Only One Life” by Lanny Wolfe. With a little digging (thanks, Wikipedia) … [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 Kevin Funderburk is the new Pastor for Discipling and Worship at First Baptist Church of Lake Charles. Kevin and family had previously been serving in East Asia. Delmar Bennett has resigned as Minister of Education & Outreach at Florida Blvd. Baptist Church, Baton Rouge. HOMECOMING Bluff Creek Baptist Church, Clinton: Homecoming services, October 27, 10:15 a.m. There will be dinner on the grounds following the worship service. Speaker: Roger Sullivan. Music Director: Mrs. Patty Davis. Both were leaders of the church back in the 80s. Pastor: Cole Permenter. Cooper Baptist Church, Leesville: Homecoming Celebration, October 27, 11 a.m. There will be a covered dish lunch following the worship service. Speaker: Edgar Evans. Special Music: The Stanley’s. Sunday School will be held at 9:45 a.m. … [Read more...]
Coach O lifts spirits on field, off
By Will Hall, Message Executive Editor BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM)—LSU football Coach Ed Orgeron is lifting spirits on the field and off it. The Bayou Bengals have won their first six games, defeating the then Associated Press number six Florida Gators 42-28, vaulting LSU from fifth place to second in the latest sports writers’ poll. Fans and analysts are exuberant about game plan changes Orgeron has made, creating a highly effective air strike offense that has lifted the hopes of the Tiger Nation for an undefeated season. But Ken Ellis, team Chaplain, and Andy Stroup, greater Baton Rouge area director for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, also praised “Coach O” for what he has done off the field, too. Ellis, a former NFL Pro Bowl defensive back who serves as an associate pastor with Bethany World Prayer Center in Baton Rouge, lauded Orgeron for placing a high priority on the spiritual character of the players. “It starts with Coach O,” he said regarding the spiritual attitude in the locker room. “He attends all the chapel services. He doesn’t miss any. He’s there and shows how much he appreciates it. He also reaches out to me to pray after each game. “He leads by example,” Ellis told the Baptist Message. … [Read more...]
Spiritual movement builds at Louisiana College
PINEVILLE (LBM)--During the campus revival at Guinn Auditorium, Sept. 17-19, seven students repented and professed Christ as Savior, 20 repented and restored fellowship with the Lord, and, countless others sought prayer. The seven new believers are among 57 students who have surrendered their lives to Christ since the start of the fall semester -- 25 during a seminar on personal evangelism in August. LC President Rick Brewer told the Baptist Message the college’s faculty and staff and local pastors have prayed many months for God to move among the students. “The awakening has just begun,” Brewer said. “We can sense what God is doing here. We’re excited and are anticipating a mighty movement of the Holy Spirit.” DISCIPLED IN CHRIST Already, faculty and staff as well as local pastors have begun discipleship training with the 57. In fact, the college has developed a study guide, “Joy Through Suffering,” as part of this semester’s eight-part chapel series on 1 Peter. It will be used to disciple new believers, Baptist Collegiate Ministry meetings will feature the studies, and, 35 discipleship small groups which meet weekly will use it for in-depth discussions. VALUED IN CHRIST The revival services featured … [Read more...]
Louisiana Baptists prepare to rebuild paradise
By Philip Timothy, Message Managing Editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) -- Louisiana has withstood its share of devastating hurricanes but the destruction left by Hurricane Dorian to the Commonwealth of The Bahamas is hard to process, according a leading authority on disaster relief. “They have no electricity, no running water, no shelter, no trees on some parts of the island,” said John Hebert, missions and ministry team leader for Louisiana Baptists. “There are stories of rescuers on Sea-Doos riding 30-foot waves and going over raised bridges. “I just can’t fathom how people were able to survive a storm of that magnitude,” he continued. “God just laid on my heart the need for us, as a state, to come to the aid of these people. It is going to take a herculean effort to help get these people back up on their feet.” In the coming weeks Hebert wants to introduce Louisiana Baptists to a project called ‘Bahama Rebuild’ which will help restore the spiritual community on the island nation. “The churches are the center of the Bahamian culture and the majority of them were severely damaged or destroyed,” said Hebert. “We have pastors without churches and churches without congregations. I am currently trying to enlist the support … [Read more...]
5. Skills of a church planter: Relating to the lost & unchurched
By John Hebert, Louisiana Baptists missions and ministry team director ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM)—You may not consider yourself a “people person,” but if you want to successfully grow your church or church plant you better become one. It is one of the most important skills a leader must develop. One of the masters of being a “people person” also happened to be the individual who launched the phrase, “What would Jesus do?” Charles M. Sheldon was the son of a minister and became one himself in the Congregational Church, starting his ministry in Topeka, Kansas, in 1889. He seemed to see things others could not or would not see and ministered in ways not imagined by others at the time. But his “secret” was that he actually put himself into situations to learn to empathize with others. In an effort to understand and minister to the unemployed, during an economic depression, he put on old clothes and went to every store in town to apply for jobs, learning what it was like to be turned down by everyone. Later, Sheldon noticed a colony of impoverished former slaves who had located near his church and took it upon himself to inspire Topekans to engage in relief projects for them. One of the outcomes of his efforts was the 1893 … [Read more...]
