By John Hebert, Louisiana Baptists Missions & Ministry Team Leader ALEXANDRIA (LBM) – If you have ever searched Google for “things to do in Turkey,” the first result that typically pops up is the Hagia Sophia Museum. Once a Christian cathedral, the Church of the Holy Wisdom, which is now the museum, was built in A.D. 537 and was the center of Christianity in that region for 1,000 years. Its existence is a testimony to the success of the Christian faith in Asia Minor – which is most of modern-day Turkey – and directly related to the ministry of the Apostle Paul, although he did not visualize such a physical structure. But he did believe in the power of the Gospel and he foresaw the tremendous potential for the Gospel to grow in Asia Minor, which is why he invested so much of his personal ministry there. Indeed, conversations about church planting should begin with the Apostle Paul, not because of his special calling, but because of his exceptional skills – especially his remarkable ability to visualize the success of a ministry in a particular place and his exceptional talent in communicating this vision to others in context of the roles they could undertake. We call this skill, vision capacity. Paul could … [Read more...]

By Will Hall, Message Executive Editor ALEXANDRIA (LBM) – Louisiana Baptist Foundation Executive Director Wayne Taylor informed the entity’s trustees July 30 of his intention to retire. He has been the chief executive of this Louisiana Baptist ministry since July 1995. Taylor told the Baptist Message he had a peace about the next phase of life he felt that God was ready to unfold for him and his wife Joanna. “My experiences of ministering and sharing the Gospel in Belarus have revealed a new passion for me,” he said, indicating he plans to engage even more in missions and ministry, including a young adult discipleship group he currently leads at his home church. He has made multiple mission trips to the former Soviet satellite country that is about 41 percent agnostic and atheistic with only two percent of the population professing Christ as Savior. He leverages his professional expertise to share about Christ with elite groups, using his platform in the financial sector to speak at Belarusian universities and business forums. He also has been active in the distribution there of the Good and Evil Illustrated Bible, a graphic-novel-style presentation, which has a 43 percent return on investment in that more than 4 … [Read more...]

By Jerry Love, Louisiana Baptist Foundation ALEXANDRIA (LBF) – Trustees of the Louisiana Baptist Foundation received positive investment reports and upbeat updates about operations during a regular quarterly business meeting held July 30 in the Louisiana Baptist Building. They also received news of the pending retirement of Executive Director Wayne Taylor. He told the board that he has not set a specific date to retire, but “it would be no later than next summer. “I have spoken with board officers prior to the meeting and will be working with them to determine a strategy for hiring a new executive director,” said Taylor, who has led the Foundation since 1995. POSITIVE SECOND QUARTER Every portfolio component had earned a positive return for the second quarter, with almost all sectors exceeding their benchmarks. Lee Morris of Graystone Consulting reported fixed income portfolios continued to perform in line with expectations, adding his observation that this sector is heavily dependent on what the Federal Reserve will do with interest rates for the rest of the year. Presently rates are expected to be flat or trend slightly down. The alternative investment allocation of the LBF portfolio (preferred stocks, … [Read more...]

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 Corey Fontan is the new pastor at Mandeville First Baptist Church. Robert “Bodie” Spicer is the new pastor at Clark Springs Baptist Church, Eros. Danny Hawthorne is the new pastor at Greenacres Baptist Church, Bastrop. John McDonald retiring as pastor at Westlake Baptist Church, Shreveport. Stephen (wife, Crystal) Craver is the new Director for Shreveport Metro Baptist Collegiate Ministry. Scott (wife Naikia) Ridenour is the new associate pastor of discipleship at Broodkwood Baptist Church, Shreveport. Roger Harris is the new pastor at Countryside Baptist Church, Mooringsport. Joey (wife Rachel) Anwar is the new Youth/College pastor  at First Baptist Church, Haughton. He comes from First Baptist Church, Calhoun. Jahill (wife Ka) Richards is the new pastor at Springs of Grace Baptist … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer POLLOCK – The Big Creek Baptist Association of churches could spark a nationwide revival if they would develop a love for sharing the Gospel with others, Paige Patterson, former president of the Southern Baptist Convention and the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, said during the association’s Evangelism Night at the First Baptist Church in Pollock, August 4. “A revival would break out in this association and the first thing you know that revival would spread to other churches in local parishes around you and then it would spread and it would spread and it would spread,” Patterson said. “And the first thing you know the very thing that everybody considers to be impossible would happen and we would have a rebirth of the Word on God in America. It's that easy folks. We don't have to be destroyed. God is not through with us. And if we would begin to witness, it would make all the difference in the world.” Patterson, who referenced 2 Kings 7:1-9, said four lepers discovered an abandoned Syrian camp fully stocked with food, water and valuables, and after eating and drinking their fill began hiding their loot. Bu they had a change of heart and felt compelled to share the good … [Read more...]

By Message Staff PINEVILLE, Louisiana – America’s Got Talent contestant Robert Finley paid a visit to the Zion Hill Church Family in Pineville Sunday, August 4, to share a simple, yet profound musical message of hope. “Hold onto God’s unchanging hand,” Finley said in between songs. “Keep your faith. Good things come to those who wait, if you wait upon the Lord.” Finley, who is a bluesman from Bernice, Louisiana, first caught the attention of the nation July 9 when he received a standing ovation for his song “Get It While You Can” in his audition on America’s Got Talent, a television show that features acts who advance through several rounds with hopes of winning a million dollar prize and a guaranteed show in Las Vegas, Nevada. Finley advanced through another preliminary round July 23 to the live performance quarter-final round later this month in Hollywood, California. The air date has not been announced. According to a biography on his website, Finley joined the armed forces as a teenager and, after working as a helicopter technician, used his musical talents to lead an Army band that toured Europe. After he completed his military service, Finley returned to the United States to work as a carpenter. Four years … [Read more...]

By Message Staff PINEVILLE – Congressman Ralph Abraham championed his gubernatorial vision for tax cuts and attracting new businesses to the state during a July 31 meeting of the North Rapides Business and Industry Alliance. Abraham, who is one of three candidates for governor and a member of Alto Baptist Church, told a crowd gathered in Louisiana College’s Granberry Conference Center that, if elected, he would better position the state to end a recent streak of last-place finishes in an annual ranking of quality of life measures by the U.S. News & World Report. “We are going to incentivize businesses to come, stay, grow and give that living wage job with benefits,” Abraham said. “If we do that, then they can invest and they grow.” Among the ideas he presented to stimulate the economy in central Louisiana is the proposed Interstate 14 that would run from Texas through South Carolina, incorporating Louisiana Highway 28 between Texas and Mississippi, as a strategic highway connecting military bases to deep water ports for ease of shipping heavy combat equipment overseas. Abraham is a member of a multi-state caucus advocating for HR 6111, which would build existing roads into the congressionally designated … [Read more...]