By Gary D. Myers, NOBTS Communications NEW ORLEANS -- Don’t tell seminary professor Preston Nix that door-to-door evangelism in New Orleans does not work. Time and again, he has found that loving, Gospel conversations, even during door-to-door evangelism, can and do lead to decisions for Christ. “It does not work ... if you do not work it,” said Nix, professor of evangelism and evangelistic preaching at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. “But if you work it with a smile on your face, the love of Christ in your heart, and the Good News of the Gospel on your lips shared with kindness and conviction, you will be amazed at how many people will listen to you and respond to the message of the Gospel.” During a recent servanthood evangelism effort in the Edgewood Park/Gentilly neighborhood near New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, six people trusted Christ as Savior and 16 prospects were identified. Gentilly Baptist Church began providing follow-up visits to each new believer and each prospect just days after the initial evangelism effort. Nix planned the servanthood evangelism project for April 26. Called “100 houses -- 100 minutes,” the goal was to visit 100 houses in Gentilly with teams of three or four … [Read more...]
Two-time Bassmaster Classic champion a fisher of men at Harvest event
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer TALLULAH – World-renowned professional fisherman Hank Parker helped reel in 10 lost souls for Christ during a one-night Harvest Night at First Baptist Church in Tallulah. Nearly 200 attended the evangelistic outreach May 9 to hear Parker share about the outdoors and the Gospel. Jason McGuffie, pastor of First Baptist Tallulah, said people attended from as far away as Monroe and Vicksburg, Mississippi. “We desired for the Gospel to be proclaimed and the Lord to be glorified,” McGuffie said. “Hank shared about outdoor things, and then tied it in so well to how God moved in his life. He spoke from a perspective that we could all relate to about brokenness and imperfection. Hank simply preached the Gospel and God blessed the evening. Lives were changed and we in Madison Parish are grateful.” Madison Baptist Association Director of Missions Jay Morgan is excited about the seeds planted among the crowd, including a large segment of men who attended. “I’m hoping the men who came will apply what they learned and it will have a far reaching impact among males from all across the association and beyond,” Morgan said. “God used Hank Parker in a powerful way to bring people in who … [Read more...]
Love fund established for family of pastor killed by motorist
By Philip Timothy, Managing Editor FORT JESUP – A love fund has been established for the family of Rev. Matt Haggard at MidSouth Bank in Natchitoches to help with expenses. Haggard was tragically killed Thursday, June 7. Interim pastor of First Baptist Church in Fort Jesup, Haggard was on his daily jog along state Highway 6 near the Fort Jesup Community which is located six miles east of Many, Louisiana, when he was hit by a teenage driver. According to a press release from Louisiana State Police Troop E, troopers responded to the crash on LA Highway 6 at Melody Lane around 6:50 a.m. The release stated the 17-year-old juvenile driver, who was from Many, lost control of his 2004 Cheverolet pickup and exited the right side of the roadway. After exiting the roadway, the vehicle collided with Haggard, as he was jogging eastbound on the westbound shoulder. The 46-year-old Haggard died at the scene of the accident according to Sabine Parish deputy coroner Ron Rivers. “Matt was just a good guy,” said Ron Thompson, Director of Missions for the District Eight Baptist Convention, “He was always smiling. He enjoyed life and celebrated it. And, he was never shy about bragging on his wife April and their two sons. “Matt … [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 Ben (wife Savana) Alderman is the new youth pastor at Barksdale Baptist Church, Bossier City. Allen (wife Lindsay) Flood is the new youth pastor at Calvary Baptist Church, Shreveport. David Venable is retiring as pastor of Westwood Baptist Church, Shreveport. Joe Jenkins has retired as Pastor of Teche Baptist Church, Breaux Bridge. Jake (wife Diana) Bondurant is the new pastor at Teche Baptist Church, Breaux Bridge. Steve Jensen has resigned as pastor of New Prospect Baptist Church, Dubach. HOMECOMING Johnson Bayou Baptist Church, Cameron: 83rd Homecoming, June 16, 11 a.m. Speaker: J.P. Miles, pastor Choupique Baptist Church, Sulphur. A covered dish luncheon will follow the service. All present and former members are invited to attend. Pastor: Jack Gandy. Philadelphia Baptist Church, … [Read more...]
Mabile helps Belle River become a pretty picture of church revitalization
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PIERRE PART – When Ronnie Mabile stepped into the pulpit for his first Sunday as pastor, Belle River Baptist Church in Pierre Part was a bleak view of its once-thriving past. Attendance had dwindled from 70 in the early 1990s, according to church records, to just 12 members the Sunday after Thanksgiving 2015, and, financial difficulties threatened the survival of the church. Ignoring the advice of others to turn down the call by the depleted congregation, Mabile followed the Holy Spirit’s lead, reaping the Lord’s blessings when the church experienced a significant revival. “God put on my heart to meet everyone who had once attended but fell off the books as the years passed,” said Mabile, winner of the 2017 Exemplary Bi-vocational Pastor of the Year for the South region as selected by the Louisiana Baptist pastoral leadership team. “For six months I visited and told them while I can’t do anything about the past, I wanted them to be part of the future. I wanted to show them the love of Christ and let them know the church is here for them. My vision was for us to be the heartbeat of the community and we became that in the coming months.” CALLED TO SERVE A native of Pierre … [Read more...]
Disaster Relief urges timely preps for hurricane season
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA (LBM) – With hurricane season officially here, Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief state director Gibbie McMillan said churches and residents of the state must not delay preparations for the next big storm. “For the most part, people live for the moment and what they can see, not thinking about what emergencies might happen,” McMillan said. “Unfortunately, if they don’t take the initiative, they will be unprepared when something major happens. You can’t be ready for every contingency, but we want people to understand that having a plan in place for hurricane season is important.” Hurricane season was off to a busy start even before it officially began June 1. A sub-tropical system developed in the Gulf of Mexico and formed into the first named storm of the year. Alberto produced heavy rainfall and was cited as the cause for multiple deaths. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasts an average to above-average intensity hurricane season for the year, predicting 10-16 named storms with five to nine of these becoming hurricanes -- and one to four of these strengthening into Category 3, 4 or 5 hurricanes that pack winds of more than 110 miles per … [Read more...]
Shumock on a ‘mission’ to build up church plants
By Philip Timothy, Managing Editor ALEXANDRIA – Mike Shumock knows the day is coming and he wants to be ready. “In the 2020 plan, the vision is to plant more than 300 churches by the year 2020,” said Shumock, the Missions Builder Strategist for Louisiana Baptists. “Since 2013, we are already more than two/thirds of the way toward reaching that goal. “It will not be long before those church plants will want their own buildings,” he said. “And we need to be ready to assist with their building needs.” Shumock plans to mobilize church-based teams, consisting of five to 10 members in different regions of the state through the associations. His regionalized approach would allow associations and churches to better organize resources to help church plants because of close proximity. “It would cut down on the cost, travel, and possibly give teams additional time on the job,” he said. “I am emphasizing associations and churches to organize teams that can meet the needs already here and in the future.” SUCCESSFUL TEST He already has successfully tested his plan. Gulf Coast Baptist Church in Golden Meadow – a two-year-old church plant – needed help remodeling a recently purchased building into a worship center. “We … [Read more...]
Cajun DR team’s kindness helps lead Connecticut couple to Christ
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer SOUTHBURY, Conn. (LBM) – A Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief team’s week in an area of Connecticut devastated by a tornado in May started off on a high note when they saw a married couple accept Christ. Chaplain Fred Hart had just finished handing off a Bible signed by members of the Eastern Louisiana Baptist Association chainsaw team, May 28, when he asked the male homeowner an eternally significant question – “If you were to die this evening, would you know for sure you would go to Heaven?” “He said, ‘I think so’ and I said, ‘We can make sure of that right now,” Hart recalled. “He was very open to the Gospel and after I walked him through the plan of salvation, he prayed right there to accept Jesus as his Savior. His wife was right there beside him and did the same. I cried because this is what we are all about. It’s not about just cutting up fallen trees or mudding out a home, but presenting the Gospel.” Hart was among nine members of the disaster relief team from Louisiana who were in Southbury May 27-June 2. The team comprised members from Live Oak Baptist Church and Amite Baptist Church in Denham Springs, First Baptist Church in Livingston, Judson Baptist Church in Walker … [Read more...]
Sabine parish pastor hit, killed while jogging
FORT JESUP – Matt Haggard, interim pastor of First Baptist Church in Fort Jesup, was hit and killed by a motorist Thursday morning while jogging. The accident was reported just before 7 a.m. Haggard, 48, was on his daily jog on state Hwy 6 near the Fort Jesup Community which is located six miles east of Many, Louisiana when he was hit by a teenage driver. He died at the scene of the accident according to Sabine Parish deputy coroner Ron Rivers. Haggard was headed west as was the teenage driver of a Chevrolet pickup truck who struck him, Rivers said. Louisiana State Police Troop E is investigating the accident. According to the Annual Church Profile, Haggard previously served as pastor of Oak Hill Baptist Church in Many and First Baptist Church in Marthaville. Phillip Strahan, minister of music at First Baptist Marthaville, told the Baptist Message that Haggard leaves behind a wife, April, and two sons, Sam and Brenden. First Baptist Jesup said in a Facebook message to the Message, “Please pray for his wife and children, and also the driver and his family. Funeral arrangements are still pending but the Message will publish once we have them. … [Read more...]
Churches must abandon 600MHz wireless sound systems
By Diana Chandler, Baptist Press WASHINGTON (BP) -- Churches that haven't updated their wireless sound system may have trouble being heard on any given Sunday, as the federal government is phasing out the 600MHz frequencies many congregations use. The Federal Communications Commission will complete the transition of the 617-652 MHz and 663-698 MHz spectrum bands from wireless microphones and television broadcasts by July 13, 2020, but the transition began in 2017. The frequencies are being transitioned to wireless communicators such as cellphone companies to meet industry demand, and will become unavailable for use by wireless mic systems by the 2020 deadline or earlier, according to the FCC. Violators could face fines or additional criminal penalties, the FCC reported. T-Mobile bought 45 percent of the available 600MHz spectrum during a 2017 auction when the transition began, the company announced, with a purchase price of $7.99 billion. Churches that haven't updated their wireless sound systems in recent years are more vulnerable to sound system failure, LifeWay Christian Resources' Mike Harland told Baptist Press. "Where it would impact churches is if they have wireless equipment that may be a few years … [Read more...]
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