RUSTON – Members of First Baptist Church in Ruston celebrated the arrival of summer with a BBQ, games, fellowship and even a baptism during its annual Picnic in the Park. Held June 25, the event at Lincoln Parish Park was a chance for current and former members to have a time of extended fellowship. “As a church grows its more difficult for people across different services to get to know each other and events like this, along with our Harvest Festival and Thanksgiving meal provide additional connection opportunities,” said Clayton Owen, minister of education for First Baptist. “We also find the baptisms at a setting like Lincoln Parish Park are not only a great way to celebrate baptism but it also provides us with a wonderful opportunity to further teach about the meaning and importance of baptism.” … [Read more...]

Riverview Baptist Church in Alexandria will hold its 3rd annual Fourth of July Bash featuring the patriotic musical Sweet Land of Liberty July 1 at 6 p.m. There will be free bar-b-que, a cake auction and lots of fireworks. The music minister is Mike Boone and the pastor is David Newton. If your church has an event to coincide with Independence Day, please e-mail philip@baptistmessage.com. … [Read more...]

By Message Staff While Tropical Storm Cindy is still in the Gulf of Mexico and moving slowly, Louisianans are already experiencing the effects of the storm and state officials are taking no chances with the approaching storm. Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards has declared a state of emergency Wednesday, June 21, for the entire state. “All arms of the state’s emergency preparedness and response apparatus are taking Tropical Storm Cindy seriously, and we are calling on all Louisianans throughout the state to do so as well,” Edwards said. “State and local officials are working around the clock to monitor and respond to dangerous situations as they develop. In the meantime, please do all you can to prepare for the worst while praying for the best.” Voluntary Evacuations According to the Associated Press, workers on Grand Isle were trying to reinforce a rock levee protecting the island’s west side, which is vulnerable. They were advising anyone wanting to head for the mainland to do so, though an evacuation was not issued. The Vermillion Parish Office of Homeland Security also was encouraging residents in low lying areas in the parish or special needs residents to voluntarily evacuate. The AP also reported that the … [Read more...]

UPDATED 1:47 P.M. JUNE 20 Early Tuesday afternoon, June 20, the National Hurricane Center upgraded Potential Tropical Cyclone Three to Tropical Storm Cindy. The third named storm of the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season, Tropical Storm Cindy was about 265 miles  south of Morgan City at 12:30 p.m. and had maximum sustained winds near 45 m.p.h., with some gusts higher. Tropical Storm Cindy is expected to approach the coast of southwest Louisiana late Wednesday or Wednesday night, and move inland over western Louisiana and eastern Texas on Thursday, the National Hurricane Center said. ORIGINAL STORY By Message Staff The entire Louisiana coast is under a tropical storm warning and is bracing for a “significant rain event Wednesday, Thursday and possibly Friday.” In their latest update, National Weather Service officials said Potential Tropical Cyclone No.3 has become better organized since Monday but still not enough to the point of being upgraded to a tropical storm. "The system could be classified as a tropical or subtropical cyclone later today," the NHC said. Depending on which expert one listens to, projected rainfall totals from the storm could produce three to five inches of rain with locally higher … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer COUSHATTA – Before she attended a Red River Association Crusade in late May, Molly Pickett admits her life was filled with anger toward God. But hearing a Gospel message by evangelist Sam Moore during one of seven evening services of the crusade changed Pickett, and also transformed two of her children. All three of the new believers were baptized at Martin Baptist Church in Coushatta, Sunday, June 4. “I was anxious at first but I decided to give my life to Christ,” said Pickett, whose husband encouraged her to attend. “I was so tired of living with the anger and anxiety, and I was not only surprised that my children accepted Jesus as their Savior that night, but also relieved. Now, I am feeling a sense of calm in all areas of my life.” CRUSADE CONVERTS Pickett and her children were among 19 people who professed Christ as Lord and committed their lives to Him, and were obedient in believer’s baptism at Martin Baptist Church and other churches in the area as a result of the Red River Association Crusade. Richard Kaufman, pastor of Martin Baptist Church, was one of the organizers of the crusade. Preparation included a prayer walk at the Red River Parish Fairgrounds and … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer LAFAYETTE – You would think someone who has 50 years of memories and relationships accrued while serving on the staff at First Baptist Church in Lafayette would have plenty to tell. But recently Luther Burney was left speechless when asked to recall how he managed to serve for a half decade at one church. “You have to live long enough first,” Burney joked with the Baptist Message shortly after a reception honoring his service to First Baptist Lafayette. “We are in the people business and I love the people. And they in turn have loved me and have let me work here.” Family, friends and others from the community gathered in the church’s fellowship hall April 30 to recognize Burney, who came to the church April 9, 1967 as a music and youth minister. ENCOURAGED TO BE AN INNOVATOR When he first got there, Burney was encouraged by the support of Pastor Perry Sanders who told him to pursue new ideas. “I respected Perry and he respected me,” Burney said. “I was always trying to do new things. Perry said as long as I could pay for it, I had the freedom to do what I felt led to do, and I ran with that.” As the years passed, Burney added new programs that became quite popular in … [Read more...]

By Justin Langford, Louisiana College ALEXANDRIA (LBM) -- If you are reading this article right now, I have no doubt that you have been impacted tremendously by the ministry of a particular pastor or minister. Maybe it was a pastor who instilled in you a love for the gospel at a young age. Or maybe it was a youth minister who invested in your life, taught you the basics of the gospel, and who played an instrumental part in your decision for salvation. Or perhaps you were in college and the ministries of the local church and BCM challenged you to grow stronger in the faith. All of us, whether church member or staff person, have a rich heritage of faith. Deep reflection on this heritage should bring us to a place of gratitude for those who have served well in discharging their duties as a minister of the gospel. Paul describes the minister’s duty plainly to Timothy in this way: “But as for you, be serious about everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2 Timothy 4:5, HCSB). Pastors have a high calling and responsibility to shepherd the flock of God. As biblical scholar Gregory K. Beale put it, they are “the doctrinal and ethical guardians of the church.” To … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer DOWNSVILLE – As a teenager, Jerry Whitman’s main passion in life was aviation. He dreamed of one day flying an aircraft as a full-time job, and Whitman was on track to fulfilling his dream until a revival meeting in 1970. It was there God showed Whitman He wanted him to go on a different flightpath – one which would lead him to pastor Holmesville Baptist Church in Downsville for 40 years. For his service to the Concord Union Baptist Association church, the long-time pastor was recently honored in a surprise celebration service that included a video tribute from Whitman’s friends, presentations by Director of Missions Barry Joyner, Lincoln Parish District Attorney John Belton and an inspirational message by NASA astronaut Barry Wilmore. “That Sunday I was thinking the service would go on as planned like any other time, but when I walked into the worship center I saw a plethora of people, including the astronaut in the suit, and knew something was up,” Whitman said of the April 23 service. “Our church has blessed me and my family so much and this was an example of how they care for us. I was blown away by all they put into this for me. I’m not worthy of it.” A native of … [Read more...]

By Marilyn Stewart, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary communications PHOENIX (BP) - New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary President Chuck Kelley greeted convention delegates with a good news/bad news scenario in his seminary presentation at the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting Wednesday, June 14. "Are you ready for some good news?" Kelley asked. "Today, we are 100 years old at NOBTS." Centennial events launch Oct. 3 with special activities and emphases on campus and at extension centers continuing throughout the year. But the NOBTS 100th birthday celebration must not be like any other celebration, Kelley said, "because of the present state of the Southern Baptist Convention." Kelley referenced findings by the NOBTS Leavell Center for Church Growth and Evangelism on the continued decline in baptisms in Southern Baptist churches. Presenting a chart of the findings to messengers, Kelley called the statistics "stunning." Kelley said church plants are "absolutely essential" but the drop in baptisms demands Southern Baptists' attention, with the NOBTS centennial being no exception. "We need to celebrate in a way that will strengthen our seminary and our churches," Kelley said, issuing a challenge … [Read more...]