By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer BATON ROUGE (LBM) -- Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee President Frank Page said too many times when pastors encounter difficult circumstances they are prone to believe God has forgotten them. But, he said during those encounters it is important they remember the sound of God’s voice from other times in their lives and to be still and listen for Him, again. “You may have come here tonight dry as the bones we just sang about,” Page said during the Pastors’ Conference, held Nov. 12-13 at Istrouma Baptist Church in Baton Rouge. “You may believe, ‘God doesn’t know where I am,’ and, ‘He doesn’t know my name.’ But He does.” Citing 1 Samuel 3:1-10, Page explored the call of Samuel who was attentive for the sound of God’s voice. “Every time we come before the Lord (we need to say) ‘Lord, speak, I’m listening,’” Page said. He said God placed Samuel, who later became a prophet, not in the most appealing city but rather in Shiloh, a community where few people visited. However, that is where God revealed himself to Samuel. “You may think that God doesn’t know your name and doesn’t know where you are,” he said. “But He does know where you are. Maybe, where you are, you … [Read more...]
Gun laws & churches
ALEXANDRIA (LBM)—Louisiana is an open carry state, meaning any gun must be in plain sight unless the bearer has a concealed carry permit. But in both instances, open and concealed carry, there are restrictions: Guns are prohibited on school campuses, federal facilities, and places that serve alcoholic beverages, for instance (not a complete list). Moreover, private property owners, including churches, can restrict people from open carrying on their respective properties, too. Importantly, according to Louisiana Revised Statute 40:1379.3, it is illegal to conceal carry in a church, unless: -- the pastor approves weapons on campus; -- the congregation is informed that weapons are present; -- the person with the weapon has a normal concealed carry permit, and, -- that person completes eight hours of additional “tactical” training, annually. … [Read more...]
Wayne Sheppard set to ‘redeploy’ to reach the lost
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA (LBM) – For the past nine years, Wayne Sheppard has been on mission with Louisiana Baptists, fulfilling a Great Commission commitment in a number of ways. He has given leadership to a project to build a pastor’s training center and children’s village, helping Louisiana Baptists establish a strategic foothold in Haiti. Likewise, he led the effort to engage Louisiana Baptists in the evangelization of Belarus through the distribution of Bibles – with 4 in every 10 recipients surrendering their lives to Christ! Now Sheppard is set to retire, Dec. 31, as missions partnership mobilizer for Louisiana Baptists. However, he will continue to pursue his passion for reaching the lost – as pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Casa Grande, Arizona. “I never dreamed God would have allowed me to serve Louisiana Baptists in this role by connecting them with missions opportunities here in the United States and around the world,” Sheppard said. “But the Lord opened that door to help me live out a passion of helping churches do missions to the ends of the earth. We’ve been able to make so many connections and build so many relationships to see some significant things happen since we’ve … [Read more...]
LBC DOMs’ offer hope, gift cards to Texas pastors, DOMs
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA (LBM) – Two Louisiana Baptist directors of missions took a recent out-of-state road trip to deliver a heartfelt love offering to Texas pastors and directors of missions whose homes were damaged by Hurricane Harvey. Ron Thompson, director of missions for District 8 Baptist Convention, and Stan Statham, director of missions for Baptist Associations of Southeast Louisiana, on the behalf of the Louisiana Directors of Missions Fellowship, visited 12 associations along the Texas Gulf Coast, Oct. 24-25. By the end of the tour, they had given nearly $30,000 in gift cards to 12 directors of missions to distribute in $300 bundles to 95 pastors. Two of those directors of missions also were given a $500 gift card. Thompson, who is treasurer of the Louisiana Directors of Missions Fellowship, told the Baptist Message that every association in the state participated in some way, from praying to giving money during a four-week period leading up to the two days of gift cards distribution, and, he said the effort to give back to Texans who helped Louisianans during the 2016 floods was heartwarming. “Like any disaster relief work, we’re always able to do far more together than we are … [Read more...]
LBC honors six new churches accepted into membership
By Staff, Baptist Message Six churches accepted into membership of the Louisiana Baptist Convention during the 2017 Annual Meeting were honored during a reception Nov. 13 at Istrouma Baptist Church in Baton Rouge. … [Read more...]
Triumph emerges from Puerto Rico tragedy
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PONCE, Puerto Rico (LBM) -- Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief team members are rejoicing about 14 souls saved by Christ during a recent mission effort in Puerto Rico. The team of 10 from Baton Rouge, Eastern Louisiana, North Rapides, Two Rivers and Washington Baptist Associations arrived in Puerto Rico Oct. 28 to a scene of nearly complete destruction caused by Hurricane Maria in early September. They worked alongside six college students from the Canadian National Baptist Convention and a missionary of the International Mission Board, performing a variety of tasks to help meet physical needs of the island’s residents during the eight-day trip, but also attending to the peoples’ eternal needs. “Very quickly we realized the Holy Spirit had gone before us to prepare the hearts of those we encountered,” Bruce Worrell, pastor of Sherwood Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, told the Baptist Message. “Although we met some strong believers in Christ, most of those we encountered had no assurance of salvation. But they were ready to hear what the Word of God said, and they listened attentively to the plan of salvation, and asked through genuine repentance for God to forgive them of their … [Read more...]
YEC yields 1,081 decisions for Christ
By Message Staff LAFAYETTE - Organizers and participants of the 30th Youth Evangelism Celebration are thankful for the 1,081 students who made a decision for Christ. "YEC was truly a celebration of the past and present," Louisiana Baptists Youth Ministry Strategist Steve Maltempti told the Baptist Message. "A history of excellence propels YEC forward. Students and teenagers are engaged with relevant entertainment and the Gospel message." Held Nov. 19-20 inside Lafayette's Cajundome, YEC challenged Louisiana Baptist teens to share what Christ has done in their lives through messages by evangelist Clayton King. He encouraged students not to believe the lies of Satan but instead lean on God's truth. "The biggest lie is God doesn't love you," King told the students during one of his messages. "That's a lie. God loves you. He loved you so much that He made a path for you to be saved." During all four sessions, King offered a chance for students to step forward and declare a decision for Christ. By the end of the two-day spiritual encounter, 1,081 students had made some type of faith decision: 325 statements of belief, 212 responses to a call to ministry, 463 acts of repentance to restore fellowship with Christ and 81 … [Read more...]
Louisiana Notables
ON THE MOVE Ken Schroeder has resigned as pastor of First Baptist Church, Mandeville. Kenneth Austin has resigned as pastor of First Baptist Church, Simmesport. HOMECOMING First Baptist Church, Delhi: 12th Anniversary Celebration, December 2, 6:30 p.m. Special Music: Sanctuary Quartet, Southern Revelation, Ben Waites, Chad Tingle, and Keith Lee. Pastor: Stacy Morgan. REVIVAL Ridgecrest Baptist Church, Ridgecrest: Revival, November 26-29. Evangelist: Bill Britt. Special Music: Mackey Willis Family. Pastor: Dennis Baker. Open Door Baptist Church, Moss Bluff: Harvest Sunday, December 3. Evangelist: Bill Britt. Pastor: Sonny Simpson. Willow Point Baptist Church, Shreveport: Harvest Sunday, December 10. Evangelist: Bill Britt. Pastor: Billy Stephens. LAGNIAPPE First Baptist Church, Slidell: “Pia Noel” -- Christmas piano concert by a group of the area’s outstanding pianists, November 26, 6 p.m. The concert is at the beginning of the Advent season Cost: Free. Pastor: Casey Stark. Greenwell Springs Baptist Church, Greenwell Springs: The Foto Sisters in Concert, November 26, 9 a.m. Pastor: Tony Perkins. Riverview Baptist Church, Alexandria: The Perrys in Concert, December 1, 7 p.m. A love offering will … [Read more...]
Page, Luter encourage pastors to pause at Pastors’ Conference
BATON ROUGE – The opening session of the 2017 Pastors’ Conference encouraged ministers and lay people alike to pause and be still before God Sunday, Nov. 12, at Istrouma Baptist Church. North Monroe Baptist Church’s praise team led times of worship with a mix of classic songs such as “I Stand Amazed” with new tunes including “Come Alive.” Meanwhile, Frank Page, CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee, and Fred Luter, pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, delivered inspiring messages that centered around the conference theme “Pause,” based on Psalm 46:10. Page challenged ministers to stay true to God’s call on their lives, even in the most difficult circumstances. “God wants us to realize He has a work He wants to do in our lives,” Page said. “And He is not done with us, even when we think we are done.” Luter closed out the evening with his high-energy style of delivery while sharing about the will of God. “The safest place in the whole wide world is in the will of God,” Luter said. “But you’ve got to know for sure the Savior, the Spirit and the scriptures. Then you will know the will of God.” The Pastors’ Conference continues Monday, Nov. 13, with the second day kicking … [Read more...]
Gerald Long to keynote CENLA Pro-life Prayer Breakfast, Nov. 17
By Staff, Baptist Message PINEVILLE (LBM) — Organizers for the CENLA Pro-life Prayer Breakfast have announced that Gerald Long, president pro tem of the Louisiana Senate, will be the keynote speaker for the annual event. Furthermore, they reported tickets still are available ($20 per person, or, $10 for students) for the Nov. 7 gathering which will take place 7:30 a.m. in the Granberry Conference Center on the campus of Louisiana College. Brian Gunter, pastor of First Baptist Church in Pollock, said the fundraiser will be a time to unite congregations across the region in the pro-life movement. “Gerald Long has been a longtime advocate for the unborn and their mothers,” Gunter told the Baptist Message. “I'm looking forward to hearing his perspectives on where we are now in our state, and, where he thinks we are headed.” Tickets may be purchased at the door. Or, you may order them in advance from Gunter, 318.312.9861, or bgunter3@hotmail.com. Additional information is available at http://www.prolifelouisiana.org/cenla. … [Read more...]
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