By Message Staff RUSTON – All Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief assessment and chainsaw teams are being activated following a devastating tornado that ripped through Ruston, and parts of Lincoln Parish in the early hours of Thursday, April 25. The tornado which caused two known fatalities and significant structural damaged touched down around 2 a.m. The deadly storm left behind a trail of damage through the Louisiana Tech University campus and in parts of Ruston. Early photos and video shows fallen trees on top of cars, and awnings, canopies and signage strewn throughout. The ground was covered with debris. State Disaster Relief Director Gibbie McMillian told the Baptist Message an incident command center will be operational out of Rolling Hills Ministries in Ruston, and volunteers will be housed at Temple Baptist Church in the city. "We have needs for volunteers who can do chainsaw and rolled roofing, as well as assessors and chainsaws," McMillan said. "Call Rolling Hills or if trained, contact your blue hat and await instructions." Concord Union Baptist Association Director of Missions Barry Joyner said no churches in the association reported damage, but the Baptist Collegiate Ministry's chapel on the Louisiana … [Read more...]
Louisiana House passes constitutional amendment confirming there’s no right to abortion
Bayou Baptists unite, 12 join Christ
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer THIBODAUX (LBM) - The 33 churches of Bayou Baptist Association united around a call to share the Gospel with their respective communities, and 12 people turned to Christ during an area-wide evangelistic outreach. Attendance averaged 150 each session of the ‘Churches United’ Crusade, March 28-30, at three separate locations, nightly, records show. The harvest of souls included 11 acts of repentance for salvation during the first night at Cut Off Youth Center and another the final evening at Peltier Auditorium on the Nicholls State University campus in Thibodaux, officials shared. No one repented for salvation or restoration during the second night of the crusade at South Terrebonne High School in Bourg, but many cried out to God for personal revival, said J.P Cox, the crusade director. The crusade included powerful messages by Preston Nix, an evangelism professor at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and Duane and Iris Blue, Mission Service Corps volunteers with the North American Mission Board, said Cox, pastor of the University Baptist Church in Thibodaux, adding that special music was presented by a multi- denominational praise team. “The Spirit moved mightily in … [Read more...]
Baptisms billow a tide of revival at New Hope
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer DEQUINCY – Revival has come to New Hope Baptist Church in Dequincy and all signs point to the spiritual renewal continuing for the foresee-able future. Since February, 22 people have professed faith in Christ, with 16 coming forward during the revival, March 24-27. Many have been baptized already. Pastor Roland Hebert said a mighty move of the Holy Spirit has been an unexpected blessing. “It thrills me,” he said. “That’s what preachers live for. I can’t tell you anything we did to cause it to happen. It was a God thing. God opened the doors of Heaven and poured out a blessing.” During recent revival services, the worship center was filled to capacity each evening. A men’s wild game supper in the family life center the day before the revival was a catalyst for 12 people turning to Christ. Four more people repented during the nightly services and committed to live for Christ, and another person surrendered to the ministry. Evangelist Sam Moore, who shared the Gospel each evening, said the church embraced the effort. “The Gospel was preached with a lot of hunting illustrations, and a Gospel invitation given after each message,” Moore said. “The Spirit moved and 12 men … [Read more...]
RA Congress nets 10 more ambassadors for Christ
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer WOODWORTH – A movement of the Holy Spirit during the recent Royal Ambassador Congress prompted 10 young men to commit their lives to Jesus, said Mike Collie. The RA consultant added that the decisions resulted from seeds being intentionally planted, cultivated and harvested throughout the weekend. “Oh what a joy it is to see God working in the hearts and lives of these young boys … to know these 10 young men had the courage to step out and overcome all obstacles to surrender their hearts to Christ,” Collie shared. Held March 29-30 at Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center in Woodworth, RA Congress drew 202 students and adult leaders from 14 churches. The two-day conference featured American Ninja Warrior contestant Jared Greer, who used a portable obstacle course to present the Gospel. The event also included missionaries who shared about the dangers of substance abuse. Additionally, the young men had opportunities to make a gun out of pipes and participate in the Pinewood Derby and Soap Box car races as part of the “Mind and Body” theme, based on 1 Corinthians 9:24. In his presentation, Greer shared with the boys strategies to over-come obstacles. When he first … [Read more...]
Three days, thirty changed lives at Hineston Crusade
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer HINESTON – Prayer proved to be the catalyst for a powerful movement of the Holy Spirit during a crusade at the Hineston rodeo arena, the key organizer shared with the Baptist Message. Over the three-day period, April 10-12, 30 people made spiritual decisions, including six who made first-time public professions of faith in Jesus and another 24 who restored fellowship with the Lord through repentance. The harvest resulted from prayerful planning and preparation by many for the Hineston Crusade, said Brandon Smith, also pastor of Dixie Baptist Church in Sieper. Glenn Price, worship minister for the Philadelphia Baptist Church, Deville, accompanied by his praise team members, led music and evangelist Bill Britt brought the message each night. “You could sense the Holy Spirit moving all through the arena,” Smith offered. “It gave me goose bumps. “It was a special moment when I looked into the eyes of those who finally came to the realization they are lost or needed to restore their lives with Christ,” he continued. “The youth, especially, had this glow on their faces when they came forward to declare their decisions for Jesus. I’m praying they continue with that same excitement and … [Read more...]
Friends, family celebrate Hankins’s LBC, SBC leadership
By Message Staff WOODWORTH – Family and friends from around the nation paid tribute to outgoing Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Director David Hankins during a special retirement banquet, Thursday, April 11. GRATEFUL GOODBYES “Our hearts are full of gratitude, gratitude to God for the blessings of this life,” Hankins told the crowd gathered at the Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center in Woodworth. “I would be the most ungrateful person on the earth to have one complaint or one gripe about what has happened in my existence. God is so good - a great expression of that is you all. “From the first to the last, I know it’s been good for us, every bit of it,” he continued. “I’d do it all over again. I trust it’s been good for the people we work with, our staff and our friends.” Hankins, who officially retires June 30 from a post he has held since 2005, previously served a pair of Texas Baptist churches from 1971-85 before becoming pastor of the Trinity Baptist Church in Lake Charles in 1985. Upon leaving Trinity in 1996, Hankins became vice president for convention policy with the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee, and was named vice president for the Cooperative Program in 1998 to expand … [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 James H. Miller retired April 14 as pastor of the First Baptist Church, Spearsville. John Elliott will retire April 28 from Emmanuel Baptist Church, Natchitoches. David Correira has resigned as pastor of Eastside Baptist Church, Ponchatoula. HOMECOMING Old Union Baptist Church, Benson: 160th Anniversary/Homecoming, May 5, 11 a.m. Evangelist: Lyndon Longoria. A covered dish luncheon will follow with the Southern Plainsmen providing special music. Pastor: Alton Middleton. REVIVAL Ridgecrest Baptist Church, Ferriday: Associational Evangelism Rally, April 28, 5:30 p.m. Speaker: Philip Robertson. Worship: Sanctuary Quartet. DOM: Mickey Hudnell. Bethel Baptist Church, Bastrop: Spring revival, April 28-May 1, Sunday, 6 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, 7 p.m. Evangelist: Rubin Weaver. Pastor: Tim … [Read more...]
Easter Reflections – Day 33
As Easter approaches, the Baptist Message team invites you to pause daily from the hustle and bustle of life to focus on the days leading up to Easter or Resurrection Sunday. Join us in this challenge to read through the Gospels to get a greater understanding of Jesus’ birth, ministry, death and resurrection. Day 33: John 19-21 (NKJV) ========================= (John 19) The Soldiers Mock Jesus So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. 2 And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe. 3 Then they said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they struck Him with their hands. 4 Pilate then went out again, and said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him.” Pilate’s Decision 5 Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, “Behold the Man!” 6 Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him.” 7 The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to [b]our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God.” 8 Therefore, … [Read more...]
Easter Reflections – Day 32
As Easter approaches, the Baptist Message team invites you to pause daily from the hustle and bustle of life to focus on the days leading up to Easter or Resurrection Sunday. Join us in this challenge to read through the Gospels to get a greater understanding of Jesus’ birth, ministry, death and resurrection. Day 32: John 16-18 (NKJV) ========================= (John 16) Jesus Warns and Comforts His Disciples 16 “These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble. 2 They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. 3 And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me. 4 But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them. “And these things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you. The Work of the Holy Spirit 5 “But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you,sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I … [Read more...]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 150
- 151
- 152
- 153
- 154
- …
- 338
- Next Page »