Submitted by philip on Mon, 01/13/2014 - 13:01 B-Line Community Church, which is sponsored by First Baptist St. Francisville, isn’t your ordinary church plant. It is located inside the fences and on the property of Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola and it serves the people who live and work in the community at Angola known as the B-Line. By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ANGOLA – At first glance, B-Line Community Church is like any other Louisiana Baptist congregation. Members at this new church plant sing hymns, share prayer concerns and receive a message from Pastor Henry Geter. But step outside the church and in the distance you’ll be reminded you aren’t in any ordinary church, for B-Line Community Church is located on the property of the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola and is part of a true “gated” community. Sponsored by First Baptist St. Francisville, the church’s first service drew nine adults and several children, all who live and work in the community at Angola known as B-Line. While Angola has chapels for the convicted offenders in prison, there was no dedicated place of worship for the protestant workers living within the boundaries of the B-Line subdivision. Those residents who are … [Read more...]
Louisiana DR teams help Midwest during holidays
Submitted by philip on Mon, 01/13/2014 - 13:04 A team from the Eastern Louisiana Baptist Association prays with a retired Southern Baptist minister in Hugo, Okla. The team removed a tree from his home. By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer While millions of Americans were shopping for gifts, singing carols or attending a cantata, a few volunteers from Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief teams were spending some of their Christmas season giving victims of winter storms in the Midwest the gift of hope. The teams going to areas affected by the winter storm in Oklahoma and Texas worked there from mid-December to near the end of 2013. Teams from Carey, Eastern Louisiana and Washington and Two Rivers associations worked in Hugo, Okla. Another team from Northwest Association ministered in Paris, Texas. The winter storm in Hugo and other parts of Oklahoma dumped snow, ice and sleet and left behind snapped trees and thousands in the dark by the time it moved out of the state last weekend. Residents of Paris and other areas of North Texas dealt with the same weather event, with similar results as Oklahoma. Butch Guidry was among those who ministered in Hugo. As his team cleared debris from the streets and yards of … [Read more...]
Coffee provides ministry opportunities
Submitted by philip on Mon, 01/13/2014 - 13:07 By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer SHREVEPORT – It’s just before 10 a.m. and Sonya Booty has stopped inside the Well coffee shop for a mid-morning pick-me-up. A few moments later her friend Cindi Doeker joins her for some fellowship and a cup of coffee. Neither are members of Brookwood Baptist in Shreveport, where the Well is located, but frequent the establishment because of what they say is its great coffee, ambiance, service to the community and ministry efforts for the people of Rwanda. “We come here all the time and love that we support missions by buying coffee,” Booty said. “Since I’m going to buy coffee anyway somewhere I might as well where my money goes to a good cause. “Plus, I enjoy meeting all kinds of people here,” she continued. “They are such a blessing to our area.” Since it opened in 2009, the Well’s coffee sales have provided annual salaries for 11 Rwandan coffee farmers. Additionally, garage sales by Brookwood members along with money from various outside sales such as catering events has help provide funding for 33 bikes for Rwandan coffee growers and three dormitories for orphans. The Well – formerly six Sunday school classrooms now … [Read more...]
NOBTS trustees approve two new degrees at meeting
By Gary D. Myers, NOBTS Communications NEW ORLEANS (BP) – Trustees at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary approved two new degrees at their December meeting: the doctor of education (Ed.D.) and master of arts in cross cultural studies. NOBTS also announced the creation of a new counseling center designed as a training lab for counseling students and as a service to the New Orleans community. Trustees also approved a move of the seminary’s Graceville, Fla., extension center to Tallahassee. The board approved the reinstitution of the doctor of education (Ed.D.) degree that was discontinued by NOBTS in the late 1990s with the addition of the Christian education major in the doctor of philosophy program. Later the doctor of educational ministry degree was created to offer Christian educators another option for advanced studies. In the past few years, leaders of the two Christian education doctoral programs have noticed a dramatic increase in potential students seeking Ed.D. programs. The Ed.D. degree is research-oriented and prepares graduates for teaching on the collegiate level. NOBTS will retain both the Christian education Ph.D. and the D.Ed.Min. programs. “The Ed.D. is an accepted terminal degree for teachers and … [Read more...]
Naming Ceremony
Submitted by philip on Mon, 01/13/2014 - 13:12 On Dec. 6, the Acadian Baptist Center held its annual donor appreciation Christmas Banquet. The dining hall, which was completed in 2009, was formally named in a ceremony honoring Rev. Nathan and Jewel Robinson, former pastor of Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church. (from left to right) James Loewer (ABC Board Chairman), James Robinson (Honorary Campaign Chair and son of Rev. Nathan and Jewel Robinson), James Newsom (ABC Camp Director) and James Robinson’s wife, Diana Robinson, standing in front of the dedication sign. Select rating Give it 1/5 Give it 2/5 Give it 3/5 Give it 4/5 Give it 5/5 Give it 1/5 Give it 2/5 Give it 3/5 Give it 4/5 Give it 5/5 … [Read more...]
Notables
ON THE MOVE John David (wife Tami) Franklin new as pastor at Calvary Baptist Church, Springhill. Michael (wife Betty) Evans new as pastor at Elwood BC/Forest Hill. Brian (wife Joyce) Hevrin new as pastor at Ida Baptist Church, Ida. Danny Sandifer resigns from Common Ground Baptist Church, Bossier City to accept pastorate in Texas. William Pianki, Jr., ordained to the Gospel Ministry by Colyell Baptist Church. David Taylor has resigned as pastor of Don Avenue Baptist Church, Denham Springs. REVIVAL/HOMECOMING/ANNIVERSARIES First Baptist Church, Haynesville: Revival, Jan. 19-22. Evangelists: The “Power Team” Pastor: Shelby Cowling. Judson Baptist Church, Walker: Revival, Jan. 19-22, 6:30 p.m. Evangelist: Richard Green. Pastor: David Lane. Concord Union Baptist Association Evangelism Rally, Jan. 26, 6 p.m. Crestview Baptist Church, Farmerville. Message: Argile Smith. Concord Union Baptist Association Evangelism Rally, Feb. 9, 6 p.m. First Baptist Church, Ruston. Message: David Hankins. First Baptist Church, Crowley: 125th anniversary of its founding on Feb. 8 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. All former pastors, music/youth directors and former members are invited to attend. Lunch will be served. Pastor: Cullen … [Read more...]
True Love Project connects sexual purity with worship
Submitted by philip on Mon, 01/13/2014 - 13:19 The True Love Project continues a 20-year heritage of a movement that first made headlines on the National Mall in 1994. By Aaron Earls, LifeWay Communications NASHVILLE, Tenn. – In July 1994, more than 210,000 cards from teenagers pledging to remain sexually pure were displayed on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. In the years that followed, the True Love Waits movement witnessed millions of young people in the U.S. and around the world commit their sexual purity to God. In addition, many who compromised their sexual purity in the past experienced the promise of hope and restoration through Jesus. Twenty years later, building on the deep and rich legacy of True Love Waits, the program is being relaunched through a new resource called The True Love Project, a video-driven Bible study for students written by author and speaker Clayton King. The True Love Project is not simply another Bible study for students on the topic of sex and virginity. Rather, it is a “summons” for the next generation of students to understand their sexuality in light of the gospel, according to Ben Trueblood, director of student ministry at LifeWay Christian Resources, the organization behind … [Read more...]
Congo adoption families caught in red tape, questions
By Staff, Baptist Press CONGO (BP) – At least five U.S. families have been stuck in the Democratic Republic of Congo since as early as October amidst red tape and questions in the process of adopting children there, the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission reported. The DRC has suspended its adoption program and the exit permits of the adopted children there, thereby delaying the exit of the families with finalized adoptions in the war-damaged country where UNICEF counts 800,000 orphans and vulnerable children under age 17. Pray for the families and urge elected officials to intervene to help the families bring their children home, the ERLC urged on its website. “Our hearts ache for these families,” Matthew Hawkins, coalition director for the ERLC, wrote. “In addition to praying for these families and the wisdom of Congolese officials, friends of these families are encouraged to appeal to their respective representatives in the U.S. Congress, educating them on the situation and asking the representatives to encourage the State Department to use every diplomatic effort to bring these families home.” The DRC on Oct. 8, 2013, suspended its adoption program but grandfathered in adoptions approved before Sept. 25 of that … [Read more...]
Broadmoor beats missions drums with B-groups
Submitted by philip on Mon, 01/13/2014 - 13:23 B-Groups are the church’s name for Sunday School and other small group classes. In them, Broadmoor members grow as Christians by studying the Bible together SHREVEPORT – “Plan A” at Broadmoor Baptist Church in Shreveport involves “everybody.” They work together in B – Believe, Belong, Become – Groups. It’s a simple concept that came to Pastor Chuck Pourciau in 2011. “For a quarter-century, I experienced the frustration of trying to lead a program-driven church,” Pourciau said. “Trying always to latch onto the latest, greatest church growth/motivational strategy is a futile and fatiguing experience. “About three years ago, the Lord hit me between the eyes with the Great Commission,” said the pastor where about 1,800 people participate in one of seven Sunday morning worship services. “Speaking to all His followers, Jesus commanded them to preach the gospel to all the world. Therefore, doing missions is for every follower of Christ.” Broadmoor Shreveport for years has been among the top givers to missions in Louisiana; regularly it is No. 1. Their goals for seasonal offerings are 0.1 percent of the national or state goal, and often they exceed it. For example, … [Read more...]
Louisiana Life March: ADOPTION, NOT ABORTION
Submitted by philip on Fri, 01/31/2014 - 09:45 More than 3,000 pro-life demonstrators marched from the Old to the new State Capitol on Jan. 18 during the 4th annual Louisiana Life March. By Mark H. Hunter, Regional Reporter BATON ROUGE - When one of the State Capitol police officers was asked to estimate the crowd attending the 4th annual Louisiana Life March on Saturday, Jan. 18, he said, between 2,500 and 3,500. “We had a contingency plan for up to 8,000,” the officer said, looking out on the diverse gathering of young and old, African-American and Anglo, Protestant and Catholic, that filled the parking lot and spilled onto the Capitol Park lawn. “Wouldn’t that be something if there were 8,000 here!” quipped a man standing nearby. “Yes it would,” the trooper replied. “Maybe next year,” the man said. The trooper nodded in agreement. The annual march commemorated the 41st Anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion in all 50 states. Several speakers reported that since then, more than 50 million American children have been aborted. While some previous marches were held in cold, dreary conditions, this day was clear and warm. Because the start/finish line for the Louisiana … [Read more...]