By Message Staff BOSSIER CITY – Award-winning Christian music artist Big Daddy Weave is coming to First Baptist Church Bossier City Aug. 17 for its “Set Free Tour.” Scheduled for 7 p.m., the concert will feature the band that has recorded such No. 1 singles at “My Story” and “Redeemed.” The highly-decorated band which was formed in 2002 has received Dove Awards, K-LOVE Fan Awards, Billboard Music Awards and ASCAP Awards. “First Bossier is really excited to host Big Daddy Weave in concert in August,” said Pastor Brad Jurkovich. “We love seeing so many from around the Ark-La-Tex attend these concerts we host and we pray thousands will be encouraged with the hope of Jesus.” Tickets for the concert range from $15 for groups of four or more to $50 for a VIP pass that includes a post-show meet and greet with the band. Also featured during the tour are Micah Tyler and We Are Messengers. For more information, go to https://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/1493560. … [Read more...]

Holloway Baptist Church in Deville will be holding Revival July 30-August 2. Churches  are encouraged to send in your revivals, Homecomings, concerts and other church activities to philip@baptistmessage.com three weeks before the event in order to be published in the Message in Louisiana Notables. … [Read more...]

Acadian Baptist Center in Eunice is preparing to host its 100th anniversary celebration and reunion Oct. 13-14. One of the most notable alumni of ABC is Jimmy Warren, the father of Saddleback Church Pastor Rick Warren. He attended the camp in the 1930s. Camp director James Newsom explains more about Warren's experience there. For more information about the reunion and celebration event, call 337.457.9047 or visit abccamp.com. https://youtu.be/7NV7FICwGvg … [Read more...]

By Louisiana Right to Life A trailer has been released for "I Lived on Parker Avenue,” a new documentary that follows the dramatic cross-country reunion between then LSU student David Scotton and his birth-parents Melissa and Brian, who haven't seen him since the day he was born. In less than a week, more than 65,000 people viewed the trailer on Facebook and on the film’s website, www.ILivedOnParkerAve.com. “This film already has gained a lot of traction," said New Orleans-based director Philip Braun. "Early screening viewers have reacted powerfully to this very human story of a son who searches for his roots and his birth-parents who have wondered for 20 years whether their son has rejected them for decisions they made before he was born. The depth of Melissa's raw maternal emotions has especially affected audiences." "I Lived on Parker Avenue” details the story of David Scotton who was born in Indiana and placed with his adoptive family in Metairie, Louisiana, in 1993. David attended Jesuit High School and is now a law student at LSU. Braun worked with Joie de Vivre Media, a New Orleans-based media organization, to film David's journey, which turned into a 30-minute short documentary. The trailer is available online … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA/PINEVILLE – The summertime humidity of central Louisiana gave way to the Gospel message during a recent backyard Bible club at Alexandria’s City Park. One of many teams participating in ministry efforts in the area through Fuge missions camp, the group of 15 middle and high school students from Louisiana and other states spent four days going door to door to invite neighborhood children to an afternoon of games, face painting and learning more about Christ. Those 15 were among the 630 middle and high school students from seven states who came to Louisiana College for two Fuge camps, July 5-9 and 10-14. By the time they left, 35 had professed faith in Christ for the first time; 27 of them were Fuge campers. The remaining eight were among those to whom campers ministered. Using LC as a base, the students gathered for worship and Bible study every morning and then dispersed in small groups to neighborhoods, churches and other local ministries, where they held back yard Bible clubs, worked in a community vegetable garden, sorted donated clothing, served food to the homeless, and more. “We were pleased to partner with LifeWay Christian Resources in hosting the Fuge … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ST. GABRIEL – The newest campus of Celebration Church, located in St. Gabriel, celebrated its grand opening in style June 11, witnessing the baptism of three new believers, all part of a special “All In” weekend across the nine campuses of the combined congregation that spans Baton Rouge, New Orleans and the Northshore area. Held June 10-11, the weekend saw 137 people participate in believer’s baptism -- some scheduled already, and others taking place in response to the sermons presented that day. The event was promoted heavily by Dennis Watson, pastor of the Metairie campus, and the campus pastors on his staff. Leading up to the baptism weekend, Watson and other pastors led a sermon series on baptisms and reached out to the multisite congregation and the community about the biblical basis for baptism through social media, Life Groups, worship service announcements and e-mail blasts. ST. GABRIEL A crowd of 109 cheered as each of the three St. Gabriel converts declared their faith in Christ and were submerged in a portable baptistery. Tiffany Gomez was among the first that day. She told the Baptist Message that her decision to be baptized was the culmination of a journey … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA – Frances Clark stands amazed at one of God’s miracles. A Scott Brame Middle School lead teacher, in Alexandria, Clark witnessed first-hand God’s power and love May 10, during a school field day when 58 students accepted Christ. The nearly daylong celebration, sponsored by the school’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes club and attended by nearly 500 students, was filled with activities, with 25 volunteers from Philadelphia Baptist Church’s Horseshoe Drive campus cooking food, leading games and competitions, and helping students make crafts. Students also were offered opportunities to hear a brief Gospel presentation at a booth featuring Harley Davidson motorcycles and at another station where colorful bracelets were made. ENDURING IMPACT Nearly two months later, Clark still marvels how God used members of PBC at Horseshoe Drive to bring about a harvest of young souls and sow seeds of spiritual change on campus. “God is up to something big,” Clark said. “I hope we can continue this strong bond between the church and school. “For the future of Brame, I can see how, possibly, revival could break out -- because the Lord can use these young people,” she added. … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer WINNSBORO – Looking across the crowd gathered inside the Sardis Baptist Church worship center, Eddie Rhymes reflected on a fruitful 50 years of ministry in the very place where he first surrendered to Christian ministry, and where his dad was ordained as a deacon. “I am so grateful that so many came here today to join me in celebrating Jesus and the work He has done through me,” Rhymes said. “And to have this time in the same building where I made my profession of faith and commitment to the ministry brought back some precious memories. “Someone used the phrase a half-century of service and that really sounded a lot longer than 50 years to me,” he continued. “I have worked with some wonderful men and women through the years and I am so grateful to God and to those I have served on His behalf.  I look forward to continuing to serve Him in the years to come. “It’s overwhelming to think I’ve been at this for 50 years,” he said. “When you start out as an 18 year old preaching you never dream you would be still at it 50 years later. I look back at it and know I’m so blessed to preach at so many churches and help them with my ongoing ministry. The special day included a reception, … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message ALEXANDRIA (LBM)--Momentum is building for what likely will be the largest joint evangelistic effort in the state among Louisiana Baptist churches, according to Keith Manuel, Louisiana Baptists evangelism associate. Manuel said 536 churches already have signed up, as of July 6, to participate in the Harvest, Louisiana Baptists’ campaign to “pray for every home and share Christ with every person” in the state. If the goal of at least 700 churches is reached, it would be the most churches who have participated together at one time in a combined evangelism effort across the state. “Every church can participate to the degree they are capable,” Manuel told the Baptist Message. “All of us should be praying for the lost, preparing to share our faith with our friends, participating and encouraging others through Bible study and bringing others into a family of faith. It’s our ongoing work,” he said. According to previous news reports, last year was spent sharing the vision with pastors and developing plans with them. This year, more churches are signing up, and statewide evangelism training is happening even while different evangelistic events are taking place. Meanwhile, 2018 is dedicated for a … [Read more...]