FOREST HILL - Clyde Holloway, a former congressman, chairman of Louisiana's utility regulatory agency and a Southern Baptist, died Sunday at his home in Forest Hill. He was 72. A Lecompte native, Holloway, a staunch fiscal and social conservative, owned and operated Holloway's Nursery, a business he started with his wife in the early 1970s. He entered Louisiana politics in 1980, when he unsuccessfully ran to unseat U.S. Rep. Gillis Long in the state's 8th Congressional District. He ran unsuccessfully again in a 1985 special election after Long died before winning the seat in an upset in 1986. "I became a Republican because of Barry Goldwater, and Ronald Reagan inspired me to run for Congress," he often said. He was re-elected twice before the 8th District was eliminated following the 1990 Census. Forest Hill was redrawn into the 6th District, where Holloway faced fellow U.S. Rep. Richard Baker. Holloway lost by about 2,700 votes when Baker took clear majorities in the two largest parishes, Livingston and East Baton Rouge, both of them around his home base of Baton Rouge. He would run unsuccessfully for Congress five more times, the last time in 2014. Holloway served as the Louisiana State Director of Rural … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer BATON ROUGE – When 8-year-old Taylor Henry saw the devastation caused by August flooding in southern Louisiana, she realized something must be done. What she did not foresee is how her desire would turn into an effort that raised more than $7,000 for those affected by the disaster. Henry, her parents and grandparents made the journey to Woodlawn Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, where she presented a check during the Oct. 9 worship service. The youngster was all smiles as she handed over the donation, which will be used to purchase sheetrock to help rebuild houses and churches in the area. “This was a really good experience for me and one of the most exciting things I’ve ever done,” said Henry, whose family are members of Airline Baptist Church in Bossier City. “I probably won’t experience anything like this again. The flooding was really bad in south Louisiana. “I felt horrible for how bad the flooding was but felt glad I got to help the flood victims physically in their homes and by raising money for them,” she continued. “The donation I brought may not be the biggest donation but it was able to save a couple of houses by buying materials. I really think God gave me this … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA – Church planters, state missions staff and numerous guests gathered in the Louisiana Baptist Building Oct. 5 to commemorate the 150th church planted since 2010. This milestone achievement marks the half-way point for the goal of planting 300 churches by 2020 as part of one of the 10 action steps identified in the President’s 2020 Commission Final Report, which was affirmed by messengers during the 2013 LBC Annual Meeting. Planting healthy, biblically sound, multiplying churches is a key component to the seven-year-strategy which seeks to engage two audiences – the next generation and every people group – in reaching Louisiana with the Gospel. James Jenkins, director of church planting for Louisiana Baptists, said the occasion was a celebration of a partnership between church planters, sponsoring churches and directors of missions. “We have been ramping up our rate of church planting over the months and we knew if we were here at this point that we would be able to get to 300 by 2020,” said Jenkins. “I’m excited because every increase in this number actually corresponds with reaching people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. “We are baptizing people,” he … [Read more...]

By Tammy Sharp, Regional Reporter PELICAN - On the last night of Girls Camp at Clara Springs Baptist Encampment this past summer, my friend and pastor’s wife Julie Bell (First Baptist Church in Hornbeck) and I were celebrating because with the Holy Spirit’s guidance, we’d spent the whole week making sure all 19 girls in Bobcat cabin knew Jesus. We pulled campers aside every day to talk about Jesus as they swam circles around us in the pool; as we braided hair and gently combed out monstrous tangles; as we canoed and fished; as we sternly insisted on the need for showers every day; as we enjoyed s’mores and learned about missions; as we pondered the mysteries of missing socks and shoes and towels that disappear into thin air; as we looked frantically for missing snack shack cards; as we moaned about the heat and the long line in the dining hall; as we painted nails; as we learned new recipes; and even as we doled out discipline for too much talking during FOB (Flat on Bunk, or in layman’s terms: nap time). By the last day, we were exhausted. But camp wasn’t over. We were lining up for supper when we saw our youngest Bobcat sitting alone and crying. A few questions revealed that her grandmother had not yet arrived. Phone … [Read more...]

By Tammy Sharp, Regional Reporter PELICAN - The Holy Spirit did some serious work at Clara Springs Baptist Encampment this summer, according to Camp Manager Bubba Mills and counsellors who attended sessions with their church groups. Mills said he habitually leads his staff through an in-depth Bible study during the summer. “This summer I was really praying about what we were going to do,” he said, which led him to Jerry Rankin’s A Challenge to Great Commission Obedience, a collection of 40 commissioning sermons by the president emeritus of the Southern Baptist International Mission Board. “Now that I look back I realize every week they were reading four sermons telling them to do what God told them to do, no matter what,” said Mills of his staff. “It was the repetitive voice of God telling us over and over and over that we can do more, that we’re not doing enough, that we need to go.” The result was that intentional evangelism infused the camp, even among those who had no idea of what was going on behind the scenes. Mills said his young adult staffers came out of their shells to share the gospel and several recommitted their lives to Christ through baptism. With a little over 200 salvations recorded from the … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer Approximately 300 students from the state’s Baptist Collegiate Ministries obeyed this summer a simple yet profound one-word command by Christ – go. Seventeen BCMs commissioned their students earlier in the spring to preach the Gospel from the highways and byways of Louisiana to the mountaintops and valleys of some of the most unreached areas of the world. Yet, each had a unique experience to live and a powerful, life-changing Gospel message to give. This year students participated in one of the most fruitful summers ever for collegiate missions. Students shared the Gospel in 5 countries. New this year to the program was the launch of a marketplace evangelism team called GoLA innovators. Through this effort, students go to pre-arranged locations, land a market place job to support themselves on the field and work with local missionaries to evangelize and disciple. Local missionaries take an active role in discipling and mentoring students.  Witnesses in Jerusalem and Judea A summer ministering in many Louisiana towns was an impetus for a greater spiritual walk for Kennedy Parson, a member of the BCM at Northwestern State University. As a member of the GOLA VBS team, … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer WALKER – Pastor David Lane will be nominated for the office of first vice president of the Louisiana Baptist Convention during the 2016 LBC Annual Meeting. Willis Easley, pastor of Christ’s Community Church in Denham Springs, plans to nominate Lane for the position. Easley said Lane, who has served as senior pastor of Judson Baptist Church in Walker since May 2012, models Christ’s commandment to go and make disciples. “Throughout his ministry Dr. Lane has used his leadership positions to lead others to fulfill the Great Commission not only through his words but also in his actions,” Easley said. “Judson Baptist Church, under his servant leadership, is committed to not only give to the Cooperative program and mission offerings but also to go on international mission trips and participate in local mission projects. David’s servant leadership begins in his home where he is an example of a Godly husband and father of five.” Lane said he is excited about the possibility of serving alongside Gevan Spinney, who is expected to be elected for a second term as LBC president, especially with regard to the Harvest Initiative, a Louisiana Baptist initiative to engage at least 700 churches … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer NATCHITOCHES – When his son Cort was born, Josh Currie wondered what baptizing him would be like should that blessing come to pass. Nine years later, a variety of emotions overcame the pastor of Trinity Baptist Church in Natchitoches as Cort publicly declared his faith and was baptized by him. “I was joyful and a little relieved,” Currie said. “When he was relieved of the burden of sin and he had experienced salvation -- to now make that decision public through baptism, I felt like at that moment it doesn’t matter what else happens in his life. “I was baptized by my grandfather and I can remember when he brought me back up in the air he was so happy,” he continued. “I remember his excitement more than anything else from that day.” His son concurred. “I felt joy from head to toe when I was baptized,” Cort Currie said. “I had never felt anything like it before.” LEGACY OF FAITH The older Currie pointed to the crucial role Christian parents serve in a child’s spiritual development. But he also lauded various faith-based activities such as Sunday school, Christian camps and Vacation Bible School for contributing to the solid biblical foundation children need in making … [Read more...]

ALEXANDRIA -- Registration is now open for both the 2016 Ministers’ Wives’ Luncheon and childcare during the Pastors Conference. Scheduled for 11:30 a.m. at Kingsville Baptist Church in Ball during the Monday, Nov. 14, session of the Pastors Conference, the Ministers’ Wives’ luncheon will feature Meredith Floyd, wife of Nick Floyd, teaching pastor of Cross Church in Fayetteville, Ark. The first 100 ladies to register will receive a free gift. Tickets are $15 and can be reserved by visiting louisianabaptists.org/mwl by Nov. 1. Those seeking childcare during the Pastors Conference at Kingsville Baptist Nov. 13-14 should contact Jason McGuffie, vice-president of the conference, at fbcpastor.jason@yahoo.com by Nov. 6. … [Read more...]

DEVILLE – For more than 10 years, Philip Robertson, pastor of Philadelphia Baptist Church in Deville, had a vision for starting a second campus. During that time, he watched, prayed and waited for God’s timing, when in March 2015, Horseshoe Drive Baptist Church in Alexandria asked the 750-active-member-strong Philadelphia congregation for help in staying viable. Robertson knew that coming alongside this smaller congregation, which had dwindled to about 35 active members, was “God’s will for Philadelphia Baptist Church.” His faithfulness to the multi-site vision God had given him resulted in a re-launch celebration Sept. 18 with 338 in attendance on the Horseshoe Drive campus, now Philadelphia Baptist Church, Horseshoe Drive. A combined 1,022 worshipped on the two campuses that Sunday, and Philadelphia Baptist Church became one congregation in two locations. “It’s very humbling and an honor they would see us as someone they could reach out to,” said Philip Robertson, entering his 21st year as pastor at Philadelphia Baptist. “I have had multi-site ministry on my heart for more than a decade.... It became apparent very early on that God was in this conversation. There began to be affirmation upon affirmation that this … [Read more...]