By Will Hall, Message Editor RUSTON ­‑ Speaking to a full crowd in the chapel of Temple Baptist Church, Ruston, Jan. 21, featured speaker Mateo Lopez encouraged the audience of pastors and laymen to be intentional in preparing to reap a harvest through evangelism, and, he emphasized going back to the growth “secrets” of the early church in order to expand the Gospel to the world. Referencing 2 Timothy 4:5, Lopez, a pastor, church planter and teacher at the Indigenous Education Center in Veracruz, Mexico, said believers must be serious about “doing the work of the evangelist.” He said this life emphasis starts with “a personal transformation,” and he implored the crowd to seek the Word and pursue “an attitude of obedience.” Lopez concluded the first general session by referencing Isaiah 6:8 which asks “Who shall we send?” and elicits the response, “Here I am. Send me.” Revisiting this passage with the Baptist Message, Lopez said too often readers think “international missions” when reading this text. But he said it actually reflects the Great Commission’s charge that “as we go” we are to evangelize, baptize and disciple (Mathew 28:18-20). Furthermore, he said, “Acts 1:8 shows the correct order of priority in … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer RUSTON – Many God-fearing parents feel hopeless when their prodigal son or daughter strays from the faith, wondering where they went wrong in raising their child, Phil Waldrep told the crowd gathered for the annual Senior Adult Luncheon at the 2017 Evangelism Conference (ECON), Jan. 24. But the long-time evangelist encouraged listening parents and grandparents that all is not lost. “The very first thing we have to do is say to the Lord, until you show me what I did wrong, I will assume I did nothing wrong and I will not feel guilty anymore,” said Waldrep, who in 1980 with his wife Debbie, started the Phil Waldrep Evangelistic Association. “When you can make that decision, victory begins to come and you are in a position of strength to make other decisions.” The author of “Reaching Your Prodigal: What Did I Do Wrong? What Do I do Now?” Waldrep said some parents may question the meaning of Proverbs 22:6 – “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Waldrep said the verse does not teach perfect parenting will equate to perfect children. “You can be the world’s greatest parent and still have a child who is prodigal and … [Read more...]

By Will Hall & Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message RUSTON —Wayne Jenkins said in years past his team had tried other Convention-wide initiatives, but nothing with the focus of the newly launched Harvest campaign to “pray for every home and share Christ with every person” in the state. Moreover, the Louisiana Baptist Convention evangelism and church growth director said this cooperative effort is special because he truly believes Louisiana Baptists “have the ability to achieve these goals” ­‑ and he said the harvest of salvations that resulted from Louisiana Baptists 2017 Evangelism Conference is promising. Ed Newton led a kickoff for Harvest 2017-2018, aimed at youth, during the first day’s evening session of ECON 2017. After a pizza social at Temple Baptist Church, Ruston, Jan. 23, Ed Newton presented a message emphasizing the Gospel to hundreds of young people who were part of a packed worship center. “Heaven is real,” said Newton, pastor of Community Bible Church in San Antonio, Texas. “Life is short. Jesus is good, and, He desires to save you right where you’re at.” Without believing in Christ, Newton said, the future is hopeless. But he emphasized no one had to remain trapped in that spiritual … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer RUSTON – Gevan Spinney said he believes God wants to do something in Louisiana and he urged every Louisiana Baptist church to be a part of the Harvest, which could be the largest joint evangelistic effort ever in the state. GEVAN SPINNEY “At least pray God would send his revival through the state of Louisiana,” urged Louisiana Baptist Convention Spinney said during the 2017 Louisiana Baptist Evangelism Conference (ECON) at Temple Baptist Church in Ruston, held Jan. 23-24. “We are praying for the next two years God will flood our state with the Holy Spirit.” Preaching from Mark 15:21, Spinney, pastor of First Baptist Church, Haughton, encouraged everyone to be a cross bearer in the example of Simon, who carried the cross for Jesus. “It’s impossible for you and I to take up the cross of Christ with our hands’ full,” he said. “What is it you and I need to deny ourselves? What is it we need to let go of in our schedule to pick up the cross?” In order to reach the state for Christ for the next two years and beyond, Spinney said pastors will need to train their people to share the Gospel and love the lost. “We’ve got to go where the broken people are,” Spinney said. … [Read more...]

ON THE MOVE Jeff (wife Andrea) Tinsley is the new pastor at First Baptist Church, Haynesville. Marty (wife Joy) Williams is the new associate pastor at First Baptist Church, Zwolle. Marvin  (wife Dianne) Cooper is the new pastor at Bethany Baptist Church, Bethany. Billy Flowers is the new pastor at Emmanuel Baptist Church, Vivian. Kevin Kellow is the new youth minister at Ferry Lake Baptist Church, Oil City. Blade Foster is the new youth minister at First Baptist Church, Oil City. Jason Harp is interim pastor at Brookwood Baptist Church, Shreveport. Bill Stroud resigned as pastor at Caddo Prairie Baptist Church, Hosston. Wayne Dubose is the interim pastor at Trinity Heights Baptist Church, Shreveport. Bob Heustess retired January 31 after serving 46 years as pastor at Grace Memorial Baptist Church, Slidell. Dennis Hackler is the new pastor at Cherry Ridge Baptist Church, Bastrop. HOMECOMING Trinity Baptist Church, Natchitoches:  65th Anniversary, Feb. 19th, 10:30 a.m. Lunch and concert will follow the service. Friends and families are invited to attend. Speaker: Wayne Bridges. Music: Bob Adams. Pastor: Josh Currie. REVIVAL Wilda Baptist Church, Gardener: Revival, Feb. 8-12. Evangelist: … [Read more...]

By Message Staff WOODWARD, Okla. – A small team of Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers was removing debris from the yard of a home damaged by a mid-January ice storm when they encountered a resident in need of Jesus’ love. By the end of their conversation, the team members had accomplished their mission – sharing a cup of cold water in Jesus’ name. According to Louisiana Baptists state disaster relief director Gibbie McMillan, Woodward, Okla., resident Linda Hunter suffered a stroke a few days before an ice storm snapped trees in half and knocked down power lines. Noticing Hunter was in need of equipment to help exercise her arm weakened by the stroke, the team members traveled to the local hardware store, where they purchased a pulley apparatus that would enable her to strengthen her arm. The team returned a day later, finding Hunter in good spirits for their service. “When disaster relief workers respond they are ready to help people deal with their needs if at all possible,” McMillan said. “These people care about people first then do what they can to make a difference. “ The teams from Eastern Louisiana and Washington Baptist associations worked in Woodward from Jan. 22 to 31. They were part of a … [Read more...]

By Will Hall, Message Editor WASHINGTON —Two of Louisiana’s three newest elected U.S. officials recently spoke with the Baptist Message to share their thoughts about the wholesale change of attitude in the White House with regard to respect for the life of the unborn since the inauguration of the 45th president of the United States, with both men commenting on the participation of the vice president in the March for Life, Jan. 27, in Washington, D.C., as historic. “I’ve gotten to know Vice President Pence, starting with my campaign. He’s a godly man and believes as I do that every life is precious,” Sen. John Kennedy said. “He is soft-spoken, but he knows who he is and he knows what he believes, and, he’s not afraid to stand up for what he believes.” Kennedy garnered nearly two-thirds of the runoff vote, Dec. 10, to represent the state in the Senate. Likewise, his counterpart in the House, Mike Johnson, also won with a landslide margin, and now serves as Louisiana’s representative from the U.S. 4th Congressional District. Rep. Johnson said it was “a shame that it took 44 years for someone of his stature to appear,” and he said all the pro-life advocates who had worked “so many years in this arena” celebrated the fact … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer SHREVEPORT – U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson believes 2017 will be the most pro-life year in America in a half-century. “We are just getting started, so buckle up,” Johnson told a record crowd gathered for the Louisiana Life March North Saturday, Jan. 28. “Thank you for standing for life. This is an important historic moment for our nation, for our state and for this community that all of us love so much.” More than 9,000 people turned out for the fourth annual march to stand for life. The theme for this year’s march was “Protect Them Both.” Organizers wanted to emphasize the pro-life movement values not only the unborn child but their mothers who have alternatives to abortion, such as crisis pregnancy centers in the state. The march included speakers and musicians from various denominations, including a number of Louisiana Baptists such as Lane Moore, director of missions for the Northwest Louisiana Baptist Association. He told the Baptist Message after the march that he always is amazed at the diversity represented in the march. “The young families with strollers and small children is encouraging,” Moore said. “The people that attended seemed to be more excited about the future … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer SHREVEPORT – Nearly 900 members of the Northwest Louisiana Baptist Association ended their final days of January by crying out to God to bring revival to a nation becoming increasingly filled with turmoil. Much like the first Call to Prayer at First Baptist Church Bossier City in January 2016, this 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. Some pastors, ministers’ wives and associational leaders led prayer from the stage inside the worship center at Summer Grove Baptist Church in Shreveport. Other prayers took place individually and in small groups. But in the end, the Holy Spirit moved in a mighty way as pleas for revival were lifted up. During Northwest Louisiana Baptist Association Director of Mission Lane Moore’s opening remarks, he said the culture is desperate for the love of Christ and is watching how believers live. “My desire tonight is that we would not leave this place the same way we walked into this place,” Moore said. “We are going to invite Him, and praise Him, and bless Him and worship Him and talk to Him … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer WASHINGTON, D.C. – More than 2,000 Louisianans joined 500,000 others from across the nation and world to stand up for the unborn in the 44th Annual March for Life Friday, Jan. 27. Ben Clapper, executive director of Louisiana Right to Life, told the Baptist Message that he was encouraged to see so many people brave the cold weather to march for life. “These brave warriors, most of them young people, send a strong message to our nation that life must be protected from beginning to end,” Clapper said. “Over 2000 Louisianians joined the crowd and brought the “Preaux-life” message to Washington DC.” During the pre-march rally, Vice President Mike Pence told the crowd he was humbled to become the highest ranking U.S. official to speak at the event. He said ending tax-payer funded abortions and appointing a pro-life Supreme Court judge are among the priorities of the administration of President Donald Trump. Pence encouraged all supporters of life to show compassion as they continue the pro-life battle. He encouraged supporters of the pro-life movement to show compassion. “Because of all of you and the many thousands who stand with us in marches like this all across the … [Read more...]