By Message Staff BATON ROUGE – The search is on yet again for Louisiana's longest married couple. The Louisiana Family Forum is holding its annual contest to find the top 10 longest-married couples in the state, who will be entered into the family advocacy group’s Marriage Hall of Fame. “Sharing these stories of life-long faithfulness encourages the next generation to understand that being happily married still happens and still lasts a lifetime. We are honored and obligated to communicate these stories of enduring love,” said Louisiana Family Forum President Gene Mills. “Many have been told that marriage cannot last, that it is too difficult, but our longest married honorees demonstrate that being a ‘Covenant Keeper’ is a life-long commitment.” Those eligible for the contest must have been married for at least 70 years before Feb. 5. Eligible couples must submit their contact information and wedding date before Feb. 5 to info@lafamilyforum.org. Last year, Louisiana Family Forum named Lawrence and Varrie Player of Benton as the state’s longest-married couple at 81 years. The contest is held each year during National Marriage Week USA, which is Feb. 7-14. The week is an effort “to strengthen individual … [Read more...]

By Message Staff BOSSIER CITY – Former LSU soccer player Mo Isom and First Baptist Bossier City Pastor Brad Jurkovich are among those scheduled to speak during the upcoming Feugo Frio student conference. Scheduled for Feb. 10-11 at First Baptist Bossier City, Fuego Frio will feature eight pastors from throughout the U.S., each speaking for 10 minutes on a variety of topics. Other highlights of the weekend include illusionist Danny Ray of Yucaipa, Calif., comedians 321 Improv of Boca Raton, Fla., and musical guests the Hardcastles of Austin, Texas. “What we’ve got is these eight speakers who represent some of the largest churches in America do 10 minute talks,” said Jeff Luce, director of Camp Fuego. “We have these guys who are really solid communicators commanding an audience of so many on Sundays and they’ve agreed to come in for this short blast to talk to students about their passion.” Last year, 1,594 youth from at least five states attended Fuego Frio. By the end of the conference, 72 of them made a first-time decision to follow Christ as their Lord and Savior. “That’s the purpose of this whole weekend,” Luce said. “In the end, we come together to see major moves in people’s lives, which is the real benefit of … [Read more...]

By Message Staff A contest that allows winners the opportunity to gift their favorite Louisiana Baptist ministry is getting a makeover. Launched in 2016, the Give-A-Gift campaign awards one person – whose name is drawn among names submitted either online at baptistmessage.com or through the mail – the honor of giving a monetary prize from the Louisiana Baptist Foundation to a Southern Baptist church, ministry or organization of their choosing in the state. Last year, a $1,000 gift was given monthly to a church or ministry, as directed by the person randomly chosen in the drawing. In 2017, the award amount has been increased to $1,500 and will be given out quarterly. The name of the ministry receiving the gift will be published in the Baptist Message, who is partnering with the Louisiana Baptist Foundation for this contest. “Give-A-Gift illustrates one of the primary functions of the Louisiana Baptist Foundation – assisting Baptists with gifts to support Baptist ministry,” said Jerry Love, director of planned giving for the Louisiana Baptist Foundation. “We started Give-A-Gift in 2016 to raise awareness of the Foundation and the service we provide to God’s Kingdom work through.  In addition to several million dollars … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer Since the historic 1,000-year flood hit southern Louisiana, Leo Miller’s time has been split between two roles – pastoring First Baptist Church Denham Springs and rebuilding his own home that took in 2 feet of water. Though he has received financial assistance from churches, the Louisiana Baptist Convention, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and North American Mission Board, Miller has completed most of the work on his house himself during his free time, mostly at night and on weekends. Sheetrock has been installed and soon he hopes to begin putting in floors, doors and cabinets. Progress is slow, but Miller is hopeful he can move back into his house by March. First Baptist Denham Springs took in 10 feet of water and is worshiping at Denham Springs Junior High School until they move to another area of town in late 2017. “The entire area was devastated, so it makes the resources very limited so you do what you can when you can,” Miller said. “When the opportunity presents itself, you try to do things in your personal dwelling. You just realize it’s a marathon and not a sprint.” Indeed, Miller is not stressing about the situation but is embracing what God is teaching him … [Read more...]

The U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee has named a prominent Louisiana Baptist congressman as a member to the committee for the 115th Congress. “I am delighted by this appointment because the Judiciary Committee handles some of the nation’s most important issues, and many that I have been working on my entire career,” said Mike Johnson, who was elected Dec. 10, 2016, to serve Louisiana's 4th Congressional District. The Judiciary Committee is often referred to as “the lawyer for the House of Representatives” because of its broad jurisdiction over matters relating to the administration of justice in federal courts, administrative bodies, law enforcement agencies, espionage, terrorism, the protection of civil liberties, constitutional amendments, immigration and naturalization, interstate compacts, and oversight of the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security, among other areas. Johnson is a member of First Baptist Church in Bossier City.   … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer RUSTON – In the 23 years Gary Frost has traveled the country as a pastor, he has noticed a steady increase in the breakdown of society, particularly in urban America. The solution, Frost believes, is simple yet profound. “I am of the conviction that the social ills plaguing our urban environments are stubbornly resistant to remedies that are not birthed and sustained through the united, concerted and fervent prayers of God’s people in these communities,” Frost said. “Maladies such as fatherlessness, family dysfunction, drug addiction, sexual promiscuity, crime, incarceration, economic blight, inadequate education and more are spiritual at the very core. Good strategies to resolve these matters cannot be effective apart from strongholds of darkness being broken by the spirit of God, in the name of Jesus Christ.” A true believer in a spiritual cure, Frost has invested his energies into his role as national facilitator of prayer and compassion initiatives for Mission America Coalition, organizing prayer-based fellowships across the nation. Since joining the organization in 2015, he has helped start four such networks and has seen countless lives changed in dramatic ways. “I … [Read more...]

ON THE MOVE Kyle, wife Rachel, Pieri is the new pastor at White Castle Baptist Church, White Castle. Mickey Alexander is the new pastor of Cedar Baptist Church, Archibald. Andrew Voss has resigned as pastor of Hillcrest Baptist Church, Franklinton. David Barnard is the new worship leader at Philadelphia Baptist Church Horseshoe Drive, Alexandria. David Montgomery has resigned as music minister at First Baptist Church, Livingston. Gary Johnson is the new pastor at Waller Baptist Church, Bossier City. Roy Davis has resigned as pastor of North Shreve Baptist Church, Shreveport. Jason Frazier has resigned as pastor of Woodland Hills Baptist Church, Shreveport. Billy Flowers is the interim pastor at Emmanuel Baptist Church, Vivian. Howard Cole is the interim pastor at Kingston Road Baptist Church, Shreveport. Rick Carter was licensed to the ministry in November by his father Pastor Paul Carter at Conway Baptist Church, Farmerville. REVIVAL Washington Baptist Church, Washington: Revival, Jan. 13-15, 6:30 p.m. nightly. Evangelist: Lyndon Longoria. Music: Brad Mount. Pastor: Louis Charrier . LAGNIAPPE Calvary Baptist Church, Shreveport: Price Harris’ 25th annual Night of Praise, Jan. 13, 6 p.m. … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer DECATUR, Ala. – Phil Waldrep, a long-time evangelist who has offered the hope of the Gospel to thousands of the lost, has a message of hope for the faithful who are experiencing life crises as parents and grandparents with prodigal children or grandchildren. “All is not lost,” Waldrep contends. He is the author of “Reaching Your Prodigal: What Did I Do Wrong? What Do I do Now?” Moreover, Waldrep told the Baptist Message believers should be excited, regardless of the circumstances. He said he will explain “why” to people at the Senior Adult Luncheon, Jan. 24, during the 2017 Louisiana Baptists Evangelism Conference (ECON) Jan. 23-24 at Temple Baptist Church in Ruston. He also will speak during one of the sessions scheduled during the two-day evangelism training event. “They will leave there with a skip in their step, knowing how vital they are and to be encouraged, not discouraged,” he said. “I am more encouraged today than ever before,” Waldrep said. “I think we live in an unprecedented age that we can share the Gospel. More than any time in our history people are asking basic questions of “Why am I here?”, “Where do I come from?” and “Where am I going? “As … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer LAFAYETTE – Sharing the Gospel with a stranger is as simple as starting a conversation about sweet tea and ending with an invitation to accept Christ. During a session of the Youth Evangelism Celebration, Nov. 21, keynote speaker Ed Newton shared with nearly 6,000 students a “conversational” method for witnessing to their friends and others. Newton said it is simply a matter of starting the conversation, finding something in common with that person, then looking for an opportunity to turn the discussion to Christ. He said something as simple as a comment about sweet tea can lead to a chance to share about Him. But, he underscored, the conversation must be authentic, and he said, you have to be intentional about asking some key questions, like: “What do you think it takes to go to Heaven?” “Do you mind if I tell you how the Bible answers this question?” and “Would you like to give your life to Jesus right now?” “Right there at that sweet tea fountain machine, you can lead somebody to Jesus Christ, calling on the name above all names, right there in that divine appointment,” said Newton, pastor of Community Bible Church in San Antonio, Texas. “Could we live life that way? … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer Louisianans will have the opportunity to celebrate the lives of children in the womb and their mothers during marches scheduled during three consecutive weekends in some of the state’s larger metropolitan areas. Scheduled for Jan. 21 in Baton Rouge, Jan. 28 in Shreveport/Bossier City and Feb. 4 in Alexandria/Pineville, the Louisiana Life Marches are a chance for people of different denominations, ages, ethnicities and races to come together across lines that might normally separate them to unite in prayer and in the effort to push back on the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade that legalized abortion in 1973. The theme for this year’s marches is “Protect Them Both.” According to the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, preliminary numbers for 2015 show 9,311 abortions took place, an average of 26 per day. The total represents a 10 percent decrease from the 10,211 abortions performed in 2014. That figure also is the lowest number of abortions performed in the state since 2012, when 9,225 were reported. Louisiana Right to Life Executive Director Benjamin Clapper said he and other march organizers wanted to remind those in the state that the pro-life movement is … [Read more...]