By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA (LBM) - Wayne Jenkins’ call to fulfill the Great Commission has taken him from the bayous of south Louisiana to the streets of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, during his 27 years as director of evangelism for Louisiana Baptists. Jenkins retired Jan. 31, but his commitment to share the Gospel alongside Louisiana Baptists will continue with annual trips to Brazil. He hopes to continue spending time with his children and grandchildren, but he is determined to assist with the Harvest and other evangelism efforts that equip Louisiana Baptists with the tools needed to share their faith. “I never thought I would work for the Convention,” Jenkins said. “I always had high regards for the men and women who worked for the Convention and would never have felt qualified. When (Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Director) Mark Short approached me about considering the position of evangelism director, it was the one position I would consider. “Never would I have dreamed I would have been privileged to work here for 27 years and under three executive directors,” he added. “To be able to work with pastors, directors of missions, staff and laymen for all these years has been such a rich … [Read more...]
J.D. Greear to be SBC president nominee
By Baptist Press Staff DALLAS (BP) - North Carolina pastor J.D. Greear will be nominated for SBC president, Florida pastor Ken Whitten announced Jan. 29. WHOLEHEARTED ENDORSEMENT Whitten, pastor of Idlewild Baptist Church in Lutz, Fla., told Baptist Press that Greear, 44, "is all about what Southern Baptists have been all about." "We bleed missions. We bleed evangelism, and we bleed the Gospel of Jesus Christ ... J.D. Greear will give us the opportunity to impact another generation while continuing to honor the former generation of Southern Baptists,” he added. GREEAR’S REMARKS Greear, pastor of The Summit Church in Durham, N.C., released a statement to BP, announcing, "I am again allowing my name to be placed in nomination" after "a lot of prayer, encouragement and counsel, with the consent of our [Summit] leadership team and Veronica my wife." "The basic things that God laid on my heart haven't changed from 2016 and I feel more committed to them than ever," Greear added, according to BP. BP attributed Greear with stating he would emphasize "the Gospel above all"; "cultural and racial diversity"; "intentional, personal evangelism"; "church planting"; and, "engagement of the next generation in cooperative … [Read more...]
Louisiana College enrollment up again
By Norm Miller PINEVILLE (LCNews) - A two-year trend of enrollment growth continues at Louisiana College, which reports an 18 percent head count increase since the 2017 spring semester. Spring enrollment reflects a 53 percent increase in graduate students and an eight percent increase in traditional undergraduate students. High school dual enrollment also doubled. The continuing increases have reversed a 5-year downward spiral in enrollment that began in 2010. “There is no magical formula here,” said Rick Brewer, president of the college. “Success still requires a vision and the hard work to fulfill it.” Particularly gratifying for Brewer is the number of transfer students. “These students have essentially recruited us and have left other good schools for what we have to offer. Some of them considered enrolling at LC last fall but attended elsewhere, yet they have come back saying that they should have begun here initially.” Brewer noted the struggles LC endured prior to his unanimous election by trustees in 2015 are continually overshadowed by the innovative strategies developed in, and implemented by, the college’s President’s Leadership Team. “These enrollment successes require a team that’s ‘all in,’” said … [Read more...]
Ken Hemphill to be SBC president nominee
By Will Hall, Message Editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM)—Southern Baptist statesman Ken Hemphill will be nominated for president of the Southern Baptist Convention, according to an announcement issued by a group of distinguished Southern Baptists. ENTHUSIASTIC ENDORSEMENTS “Some interested Southern Baptist pastors and leaders have been thinking together for several weeks about whom God might raise up to follow Dr. Steve Gaines as our SBC president,” said David Hankins, executive director of the Louisiana Baptist Convention. “We desire to elect a man who is a Southern Baptist through and through, values our understanding of the Gospel, and, has an established record of affirming the cooperative work of our local churches through the associations, state conventions and national entities. “We sought Ken out because of his record in these areas as well as his impeccable character, remarkable breadth of experience in Southern Baptist life, passion for missions and evangelism, and an active ministry of re-vitalization to pastors and churches.” Numerous others added their endorsements in emails to the Baptist Message, including Richard Land, president of Southern Evangelical Seminary in Charlotte, N.C., and president emeritus of … [Read more...]
Noakes takes home full scholarship to Louisiana College in prestigious competition
Louisiana College President Rick Brewer presents the Smith Scholarship trophy to Prospect resident Alena Noakes, a student at the Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts in Natchitoches, after she was announced the winner of a full scholarship to Louisiana College. All of the competitors were judged according to their academic performance, leadership traits, and Christian commitment. Runners-up who enroll at LC this fall will be awarded an annual scholarship of $8500 and admitted into the C.S. Lewis Scholars Honors Program. Addyson Baden photo … [Read more...]
Louisiana College announces winner of Smith Scholarship
Prospect resident Alena Noakes (fourth from left, front row) won Louisiana College's prestigious Smith Scholarship competition Jan. 27. The winner was announced at a luncheon for all the competitors. Noakes beat out 24 other competitors, all of the competitors were judged according to their academic performance, leadership traits, and Christian commitment. Runners-up who enroll at LC this fall will be awarded an annual scholarship of $8500 and admitted into the C.S. Lewis Scholars Honors Program. Addyson Baden photo … [Read more...]
U.S. Rep. Johnson releases statement after State of the Union speech
WASHINGTON, D.C. - President Donald Trump delivered the annual State of the Union speech Jan. 30. Among those releasing a statement following the speech was U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana and a member of First Baptist Church, Bossier City. “This has been a historic year for the Trump administration, for Congress and for the American people," Johnson said in an e-mailed statement. "Many of the burdensome and duplicative regulations put in place under the previous administration’s regulatory state have been repealed, our military has once again become a priority, our economy is surging and people all across the nation have already begun to reap the benefits of our landmark Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. We should celebrate these achievements, but never rest—as there is much work yet to do. “The president delivered a positive message and a bold vision for an even stronger and safer America. I look forward to investing again in our eroding infrastructure, solving the illegal immigration problems facing our nation and rebuilding our military to promote peace through strength. We have accomplished so much in just this first year, and I believe that momentum will continue through 2018 and beyond. We have a … [Read more...]
Ginn urges LC students during chapel to “love one another”
By Norm Miller, LC News PINEVILLE - Jeff Ginn, lead pastor of Istrouma Baptist Church, Baton Rouge, keynoted Louisiana College’s Jan. 23 chapel service, urging students to “love one another” as Romans 12:9-10 instructs. That love must be true, tough and tender, he said. “Biblical love by its nature hates what harms others and hates, as God does, what is evil,” Ginn said. He also said that the Greek word for brotherly love, which is prescribed by God’s word, literally means to be born “from the same womb. ... We are family.” “We are elated to have so many top-notch leaders, pastors and laypersons who ably encourage and challenge our Louisiana College family,” said LC President Rick Brewer, noting that the “common denominators among these speakers is a love for God, a love for the Bible, and a love for college students.” Others speakers scheduled for LC chapel include: Michael Wood, pastor, First Baptist Church, West Monroe; Jerry Pipes, president of Jerry Pipes Productions, Lawrenceville, Ga.; Fred Luter, pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church, New Orleans, and a former Southern Baptist Convention president; Steve Horn, pastor of First Baptist Church, Lafayette, and a former Louisiana Baptist Convention president; … [Read more...]
One dead, one injured in overnight shooting on Scenic Highway, BRPD says
Hundreds seek revival during Northwest Louisiana association “Call to Prayer”
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer BENTON – Nearly 700 members of the Northwest Louisiana Baptist Association’s 117 churches came together to cry out to God to bring revival during the local fellowship’s third annual “Call to Prayer.” Hosted by Cypress Baptist Church, Benton, the Jan. 28 gathering brought together Christians of various ages and ethnicities to pray for law enforcement, the persecuted church, missionaries serving around the world, pastors and other church leaders. Just like the previous gatherings at First Baptist Church, Bossier City, and Summer Grove Baptist Church, Shreveport, this event was marked by prayer from the worship center stage, in small groups around the room and by individuals who pleaded with God for revival in their community, state and nation. URGENCY TO SEEK GOD During opening remarks, Lane Moore, NLBA director of missions, said that without God there is no hope, and, he emphasized how great movements of God have followed focused times of prayer by His people. “When Scripture talks about crying out to God, it is indicative of desperation,” Moore said. “This gathering tonight is about all of us by the hundreds calling out to God. “We are living in a country that … [Read more...]
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