By  Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer RUSTON – Wearing a shower cap only moments from entering the baptismal waters, Ophelia White was beaming with excitement. With the encouragement of friends gathered in the Cook Baptist Church worship center, the 94-year-old new believer was baptized, answering the prayers of those closest to her. “I want people to know it’s never too late,” White said. “Get with it.” When she was a young girl, White’s mom urged her to go forward and ask to be baptized. Not fully realizing why she was doing so, White obliged and for decades believed she had a relationship with Christ. But recently, roommate Joy Campbell noticed White lacked the confidence of Jesus in her life. So, Campbell took a bold step and asked White if she knew Christ as her personal Lord and Savior. For several weeks, Campbell continued the spiritual conversa tions and prayed for her roommate until one day in August when White made the decision she needed Jesus and publically announced her profession of faith to the congregation at Cook Baptist. The news stirred joy inside Campbell, who shared a house with White for eight years before discovering White was not a Christian. White’s conversion brought back … [Read more...]

By Norm Miller, LCNews PINEVILLE -- Louisiana College received grants totaling $208,416 to help support the arts, nursing, scholarships and entomology. Funds from the Louisiana Board of Regents Enhancement Grants will provide $55,000 to update sound and lighting equipment in the Martin Performing Arts Center, which will give “a full professional theater experience for the students as well as the local community of audience-goers,” said Tabitha Huffman, associate professor of Theatre. “Our audience numbers should grow as well as student involvement in the productions. Students within our Theater Arts program will have a competitive edge in the professional world, where previously their technical creativity was limited,” Huffman continued. A $58,416 grant to fund Nursing curriculum enhancements will provide state of the art projection and teaching equipment for classrooms in Cavanaugh Hall and the Nursing Skills Center practice lab. And a Lettie Pate Whitehead grant of $68,000 will fund Nursing scholarships. “These grants will afford better learning environments for students and instructional capabilities for instructors through three hi-tech lecterns with LCD projectors, dedicated computers, and drop-down screens. … [Read more...]

By Will Hall, Message Editor ALEXANDRIA – “I am a Christian, a husband, a father, a life-long conservative, constitutional law attorney and a small business owner in that order,” Louisiana Rep. Mike Johnson told the Louisiana Baptist Message, “and I think that order is important.” It reflects how his faith and his beliefs about family and freedom will influence his representation of Louisianans, if blessed to serve them in the U.S. House of Representatives, he said. Johnson is a candidate for the open seat of the 4th U.S. Congressional District, and he has 20 years of bona fides in protecting and advocating key issues of faith, family and freedom – experience he can apply in Washington, D.C., if elected to this position, he said. “Some people are called to pastoral ministry and others to music ministry, etc. I was called to legal ministry and I’ve been out on the front lines of the ‘culture war’ defending religious freedom, the sanctity of human life, and biblical values, including the defense of traditional marriage, and other ideals like these when they’ve been under assault. “As part of that work, I’ve been in and around the Louisiana legislature and other state legislatures, and the Congress, for many years,” he … [Read more...]

By Will Hall, Message Editor ALEXANDRIA – “Whether it’s national defense, right-to-life or the protection of First Amendment rights,” Rep. John Fleming told the Baptist Message, “it’s my personal faith, my belief in Jesus Christ as my Savior and what I think he wants me to do that guides me in my decision-making.” Fleming, who represents the 4th U.S. Congressional District in Louisiana, hopes to employ these same values as a U.S. Senator, vying as one of 24 candidates who have filed to replace the retiring Sen. David Vitter. But, for now, he is a member of the powerful House Committee on Armed Services, which has oversight for such matters as the defense budget (including defense acquisition programs), national security issues related to atomic energy, and contingency operations in the global war on terrorism. He also holds a coveted leadership position as chairman of the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans for the House Committee on Natural Resources, and guides policy and programs relating to such issues as fisheries management, hydroelectricity generation by federal water projects, and even U.S. participation in the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (which defines the rights and responsibilities of nations … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer Louisiana Baptists will be operating on a leaner Cooperative Program budget in 2017. During its September meeting, the Executive Board approved the Business and Finance Committee’s recommendation for the 2017 Cooperative Program Budget of $20,043,331, a decrease of $550,435 from 2016. The budget will be brought to messengers for approval during the 2016 Louisiana Baptist Convention Annual Meeting at Calvary Baptist Church in Alexandria. The allocation between SBC and LBC causes remains unchanged, with 63.26 percent going to ministries in the state and 36.74 percent forwarded to SBC causes. The portion of the budget which funds the LBC ministries will be $12,679,411, a decrease of $348,205 from the 2016 allocation. “The CP allocation budget is based on receipts received from August 2015 through July 2016,” said Dale Lingenfelter, business and information services director for Louisiana Baptists. “Our state is facing several economic challenges that are affecting the budgets of our churches which in turn, affects our cooperative missions and ministries. “The budget projected for 2017 is basically the same as our 1999 budget, even though the percentage forwarded to our SBC … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer WOODWORTH – A long-time dream finally became reality Sept. 27 when Louisiana Baptist staff, pastors, volunteers and other supporters who played a key role in the fundraising and construction of the Georgia Barnette Conference Center gathered on the grounds of Tall Timbers to dedicate the new facility. Actual work began on the facility 14 months ago but the idea was visualized long before. “This has been a buildup over about four years from vision to completion,” said John Hebert, missions and ministry director for Louisiana Baptists. “I’m grateful for all those who volunteered – over 250 volunteers -- and the hundreds and hundreds of donations.  God bless you. We appreciate you so much.” Since early 2013, the Louisiana Baptist Convention’s missions and ministry team led by Hebert has been raising money for the new center. They also have made hundreds of presentations to churches, Woman’s Missionary Union groups, individuals, missions education groups, various other audiences and at annual associational meetings. The 8,400-square-foot facility was designed for flexibility, providing a 560-seat auditorium layout or the option to change the floor plan into six meeting rooms with … [Read more...]

By Message Staff WOODWORTH - A long-time dream to build a conference center and missions training facility has finally become reality. Louisiana Baptist staff, pastors, volunteers and other supporters who played a key role in the fundraising and construction of the Georgia Barnette Conference Center gathered Tuesday, Sept. 27 on the grounds of Tall Timbers Conference Center to dedicate the facility. The facility hosted its first meeting following the ceremony, when members of the Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board met in the auditorium. “This has been a buildup over about four years from vision to completion,” said John Hebert, missions and ministry director for Louisiana Baptists. “And I’m grateful for all those who volunteered – over 250 volunteers (and the) hundreds and hundreds of donations.  God bless and we appreciate you so much.” Since early 2013, the Louisiana Baptist Convention’s missions and ministry team led by Hebert has been raising money for the new center, making hundreds of presentations to churches, Woman’s Missionary Union groups, individuals, missions education groups, associational groups and at annual meetings of associations. The 8,400-square-foot facility was designed for … [Read more...]

By Bradley Welborn, LC Sports Information For at least one day, four Louisiana College baseball players traded the diamond for a runway to serve as escorts for the annual Christus St. Francis Cabrini Cancer Center Threads fashion show Sept. 25. Senior Keifer Moore and juniors Sully Martin, Zane Corbell, and Dylan Keller participated in the event, which began in 2000 and serves as a fundraiser for Cabrini's cancer patient assistance fund. The monies raised from the fashion show help patients with such costs as supplemental nutrition or fuel for trips to the hospital. Former patients get the full fashion show treatment with makeup from a local beauty school and outfits from local businesses to model on the runway. While it is not typically something a baseball player would do, these four LC standouts were motivated by the fact one of the 60 survivors serving as models in this year’s show was Colynda Byrnes, wife of Wildcats baseball coach Mike Byrnes. Colynda was diagnosed with breast cancer in November of 2014, on her 61st birthday, and underwent a mastectomy eight days later. She had her first chemotherapy treatment in December of that year. Following a year-long treatment process, she was officially placed in … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer COVINGTON – Christy Newell had experienced many high points in life as a young adult – getting married, having a child, accepting Christ and serving in a ministry at her church. Still, something was missing – publicly declaring her faith in Christ through believer’s baptism. Her husband encouraged her to join him in being obedient by taking this next step. Standing beside her husband in the waters and their daughter watching nearby, Newell was baptized Sept. 4. “Getting baptized that Sunday in the river with my husband was an incredible feeling,” she said. “The whole day unfolded just as it should. It was just the two of us with our little girl and she was so proud. She wanted to take our picture and she cheered from the river bank. Since that day I can feel Jesus working for the good in our marriage.” Newell and her husband were among 77 baptized on the banks of the Bogue Falaya River in Covington. Nearly 400 people were present to witness the baptisms. When the day was over, the church had set its all-time record for baptisms in one year, with 159. But as exciting as it was to baptize 77 people, Pastor Waylon Bailey said his congregation was even more elated … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer METAIRIE – The young Anglo, a native of New Orleans, admits he is an unlikely person to lead a Hispanic congregation of 200 in his hometown. But as David Speed serves as pastor of Iglesia Celebration in Metairie and trains leaders to fulfill the Great Commission throughout New Orleans and beyond, he realizes it would not be possible without the help of the Georgia Barnette Offering for State Missions. “There have been times where my wife and I have talked and it seems God has chosen us to be in this position because it personifies He is great in our weakness,” Speed said. “On the outside looking in, I’m a young White American guy and my wife is from Guatemalan culture. “But God is faithful and we are seeing people baptized and giving lives to the Lord,” said Speed. “God continues to confirm we are right where He wants us. There is no better place to be.” Unlikely calling God planted a desire within Speed to minister to Hispanics while he was living in New Orleans shortly after Hurricane Katrina devastated the city. One afternoon Speed was driving past a home improvement store when he noticed 300 Hispanics sitting in the parking lot, waiting for someone to come and pick … [Read more...]