Click to Login or Sign Up

Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Family, community praying for safe return of missing New Orleans pastor

By Message Staff NEW ORLEANS – An urgent call to prayer has been issued for the safe return of David Plessy, a missing New Orleans pastor whose wife was tragically killed in a carjacking incident Nov. 27. Authorities and family members are pleading for help finding the father of two young children, whose family has already been struck by tragedy once. According to WVUE-TV in New Orleans, Plessy was last seen around 8 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 1 as he left his residence in the 3600 block of Havanna Street in New Orleans. His car was found in the Treme neighborhood of New Orleans Tuesday night, and his cell phone was inside the vehicle. Plessy’s disappearance comes a month after his wife, Jeannot, was tragically killed in a carjacking incident in New Orleans. Three teenagers were charged Dec. 1 in connection to her death. Plessy is pastor of the non-denominational Crossover Christian Fellowship in New Orleans, and the father of Nadia Sanchez, a member of Celebration Church, Metairie, and the father-in-law of facilities manager Kristian Sanchez. “Pray for David Plessy's safety,” Celebration Church Lead Pastor Dennis Watson said in an e-mail statement to the Baptist Message. “Pray that if he has been apprehended that he … [Read more...]

McGee’s long, noteworthy LC career wraps up December 31

By Norm Miller, LCNews PINEVILLE -- In the minds of many people -- many hundreds of people -- Byron McGee is a name synonymous with Louisiana College perhaps because he invested 35 years of his life on the Hill in Pineville. More than that, McGee -- a 1979 LC alumnus -- worked in Louisiana College’s admissions office for more than three decades, also worked in alumni relations, and concluded his tenure with three years as Vice President for Institutional Advancement. “In one sense it seems like 35 years have passed, and in another it seems just like yesterday,” said McGee, whose last official day is Dec. 31. “I’ve made some great friends and worked with great colleagues. The people working here now are doing a great job under Dr. Brewer’s leadership.” “The relationships I have made over the years mean the most to me. I met my wife Cay here. All my children went to school here. It’s been a great time. Louisiana College has been my life, and I will cherish the memories very much,” he said. “Byron went from recruiting thousands of students to hundreds of donors,” said Rick Brewer, Louisiana College president. “He’s done a great job. He’s one of the most easy-going people I’ve ever worked with. The past three years of … [Read more...]

LBC Executive Director Search Committee seeks candidates

ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) -- The Louisiana Baptist Convention’s 15-member Executive Director Search Committee held its first meeting Nov. 27, focusing on prayer but also completing the first actions of official business, according to a press release from the committee. Members elected Waylon Bailey, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Covington, as chair, and began developing a profile of the type of candidate they are seeking to lead Louisiana Baptists. Bailey, who also is president of the LBC Executive Board, told the Baptist Message the committee understands the near “impossibility” of pleasing everyone. But he said, “We want to do our very best for the future of our state. Our state needs Louisiana Baptists in order to be its very best.” The committee will nominate a successor to LBC Executive Director David Hankins, who announced Nov. 2 his plans to retire June 30, 2019. The LBC Executive Board will vote on the nominee, as stated in the state convention’s Articles of Incorporation. Bailey said the process for Southern Baptists to recommend candidates, or, for interested individuals to apply, is a simple one. Names and resumes should be emailed to Bailey at lbcexedirsearch@gmail.com or sent via postal mail to “Dr. … [Read more...]

First Bossier holds first campus service since devastating fire

BOSSIER CITY, La. (LBM)--Pastor Brad Jurkovich reassured members of the First Baptist Church in Bossier City, "There's hope today," Dec. 16 during the first Sunday worship service following a devastating fire only days before that impacted about three-quarters of the facilities on the church campus. His message to a packed crowd in the main worship center was consistent with his statements to the media that "God is in control ... we are going to press forward and trust Him," On Dec. 10 a three-alarm fire began at 5:30 a.m., originating with an uninterruptible power supply backup battery for a computer. The flames began in an office space near Faith Chapel -- the original worship center -- and spread quickly to the attic and other buildings including the childcare center and various youth facilities. About 65 firefighters fought the blaze, finally extinguishing it about 3:30 p.m. that same day. The congregation held a meeting in the Bossier Civic Center on Wednesday, Dec. 12, to pray, worship and organize for recovery, but the Sunday service was the first post-fire gathering on campus. There was an extended time for expressing gratitude to first responders and thanking officials for their support, but Jurkovich … [Read more...]