By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer LAFAYETTE – As he passed by a local fast food restaurant, Wayne Barber felt a nudging by the Holy Spirit to stop and see what God had in store for he and his fellow Southern Baptist Disaster Relief team members. When Barber did, the Southern Baptists of Texas Disaster Relief chaplain found a worker in the establishment discouraged and in need of hope after flooding in mid-August left her apartment uninhabitable. Moments later, Barber offered her something that would never wash away or be destroyed – a lasting relationship with Jesus Christ. She would be the first person over the next three days in the same restaurant and in the same booth – and one of nearly 40 altogether during Barber’s eight days there – to make a decision for Christ. “There were three people in a row at the same booth, three days in a row, all accepting Christ,” said Barber, still all smiles after his week in Louisiana. “It was amazing how we were going down the road and the Holy Spirit nudged us to go in there, even though we really hadn’t planned to at first. “Every night when we go to bed we pray the Lord would prepare divine appointments the next day,” said Barber, a member of Hillcrest Baptist Church … [Read more...]
Calling all soul winners to Northside Baptist
By Brian Blackwell,vMessage Staff Writer DENHAM SPRINGS – James Carson is calling all soul winners to join him at Northside Baptist Church in spreading the Gospel to those hurting after recent flooding in south Louisiana. “We need all the help and prayers and support we can get,” said Carson, interim pastor of Northside Baptist Church in Denham Springs. “We as a church are looking at this opportunity not only of ministering to the physical needs of people but more importantly to the spiritual needs and trying to win people all over this community to Jesus Christ. We will put forth a really hard effort to get that done in our community here. “And we welcome any soul winners to come and join us in this effort,” he added. “We would appreciate that.” Nearly four feet of water came inside the worship center at Northside Baptist Church in mid-August. Nearly everything from pews to hymnals to carpet is ruined, except for the baby grand piano, an organ and the Bible sitting atop the Lord’s Supper table. “We are most grateful that our grand piano and organ was spared as they are used to glorify our Lord with leading our praise to Him in worship,” Carson said. “We also are grateful the large family Bible on the communion … [Read more...]
Louisiana Notables
ON THE MOVE Larry Evans is the new interim pastor following the resignation of Chris Campo as pastor at Parkerson Avenue Baptist Church, Crowley. Chad (wife Dawn) Boudreaux is new worship leader at First Baptist Church, Crowley. Kaylie Glovier is new children minister at Red River Baptist Church, Benton. Jerry Elkins retires as music minister from Cross Point Baptist Church, Bossier City. Bruce Edwards retires as education minister from Airline Baptist Church, Bossier City. Mike Landry retires as pastor at Bethany Baptist Church, Bethany. Derek Cox resigned as pastor at Springs of Grace Baptist Church, Shreveport. Rex Blankenship named as interim pastor at Springs of Grace Baptist Church, Shreveport. IN REMEMBERANCE C Bullard Jones, 85, passed away July 26, 2016 after a brief illness. Raised in Winnfield, he graduated from Louisiana College in Pineville, where he met his wife Sunnye Dykes. He went on to obtain his Master of Divinity from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. During his long service in ministry, he served churches in Louisiana and Texas. He retired from the ministry in Baton Rouge. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Barbara (Sunnye) Dykes Jones. He leaves behind four sons and … [Read more...]
Atheist flood survivor rescued by Jesus Christ
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALBANY – Jase Shawley had just wrapped up a sermon to 350 evacuees from the historic flooding in southern Louisiana when he was approached by a church member who passed along a request from Cindy, a nearly-blind woman and an avowed atheist. “She really wants to speak with you about her salvation,” the Bethlehem Baptist Church student minister was told. Later that Aug. 14 afternoon, Shawley shared with her the basic plan of salvation and afterward Cindy had reason not only to celebrate having survived the storm, but also being rescued by Christ. “Cindy told me she didn’t know what had happened but it was something like she had never felt before,” Shawley said. “She told me she had grown up being taught God didn’t exist. But now her heart was telling her He was real. “Watching somebody who literally had nothing to do with any form of church or praying until that morning and then watching her say ‘Lord I need you’ just hours later was beautiful.” But Cindy’s salvation is not the only miracle God has performed at Bethlehem Baptist Church as a result of the storm. Floodwaters rapidly rose in the church parking Aug. 12, until Shawley asked God to intervene. Afterward, the … [Read more...]
Cowboy church pastor: In times of crisis, world turns to the church
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ZACHARY – Since the launching of Cross Creek Cowboy Church in 2013, Pastor Josh Morris has talked to his congregation about being Jesus’ hands and feet. In mid-August, they got that chance when many in the congregation stepped up and helped serve 600 hot meals, rescued horses and cleaned out the inside of homes heavily damaged from what has been called the 1,000-year flood. All this happened despite the church getting 2 1/2 feet of water in its own building. Fortunately, the water quickly receded and repairs already have been completed, Morris said, and he offered that many churches in the southern part of the state were not in as favorable a position. But he said regardless of the situation facing a congregation, God can use the devastation caused by the flood for good. “A lot of people have questions,” Morris said. “Where do they turn first? Church. This is where they come for encouragement when bad things happen. It gives us an opportunity to reach those who normally don’t go to church.” “The love of Christ is what we are showing,” he continued. “What they need right now is for us to minister to them and get their needs met first. Then we can start sharing the … [Read more...]
Louisiana Baptist churches can connect with churches affected by flood
By Staff, Baptist Message Louisiana Baptists have announced an initiative to partner healthy churches with churches impacted by the mid-August flooding in southern Louisiana. In some cases, multiple congregations will be connected with the same church due to the size of the recovery and rebuilding projects, said Wayne Jenkins, director of evangelism for Louisiana Baptists. Already, 34 churches have stepped up, he said. But 50-60 more partners are needed to care for up to another 40 or so churches still seeking financial and manpower assistance. Jenkins used as an example Amite Baptist Church in Denham Springs – home to 625 worshipers on a typical Sunday – which was flooded with up to 4 feet of water Aug. 13 and experienced about $1.3 million in damages. Unfortunately, the congregation did not have flood insurance to deal with the devastation caused by the 1000-year rainfall, he explained. “I just believe there are plenty of churches that are willing and are able to do something to assist flood-impacted churches like Amite,” Jenkins said. For information on how to partner with a flood-impacted church, call 318.446.3242. … [Read more...]
Pastors Conference to stress urgency to reach culture with Gospel
By Message Staff BALL - Understanding the urgency to reach the culture with the Gospel, organizers of this year’s Pastor's Conference are hoping to equip participants with tools needed to assist in this spiritual battle. Scheduled Nov. 13-14 at Kingsville Baptist Church, the annual gathering’s theme is “Urgency,” based on Romans 13:11. “With the state of affairs in our nation, now more than ever, we need a sense of urgency as it relates to personal evangelism, the preaching of the gospel, and equipping the saints,” said Pastors Conference President Nathan Davis. “We are really looking forward to what God is going to do this year. “I believe we have an all-star lineup with great preaching and singing,” said Davis, pastor of First Baptist Church in Coushatta. “Be praying for the conference and encourage people to come with a sense of ‘urgency.’ Please make plans to attend because this is your Pastors Conference. We are expecting God to do amazing things this year. Don’t miss out.” The conference will begin at 6:00 p.m. on Nov. 13 with music led by Todd DuBose, Minister of Music at First Baptist Church in Minden, with area choirs participating. Among those scheduled to preach are David Allen, Dean of the School of … [Read more...]
It’s time to step up: More recovery workers needed, as damaged homes top 155,000
By Philip Timothy, Message Managing Editor ALEXANDRIA – With a revised estimate of 155,000 damaged homes now being reported by the governor’s office, Louisiana Baptist leaders are asking for more volunteers to meet the overwhelming demand for assistance in mud-out and related services caused by historic floods across the southern part of the state in August. The new number, issued by Mike Steele, communications director for the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, more than doubles the previously reported figure of about 61,000 flooded houses. But, Steele stressed the numbers may continue to fluctuate because calculations include direct reports from parishes combined with information gleaned from imaging technology. Meanwhile, Louisiana Baptist leaders are calling for an even greater mobilization of volunteers. Gevan Spinney, pastor of First Baptist Church, Haughton, and president of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, thanked Southern Baptists for their response so far and lauded the North American Mission Board for the great work it does with disaster relief. “Those yellow shirts are a reminder throughout our state that we are not alone in this,” he said. But he also urged more … [Read more...]
Blood River pastor calls for more Sheetrock donations
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALBANY – The water was rising to the door of the church parsonage and Pastor David Collins knew he had to make a difficult decision – placing his trust in complete strangers in an airboat to rescue his family. With the water waste deep and Blood River Baptist Church just a few hundred yards away, Collins reassured his two young boys they would be okay. Moments later, Collins joined his children as the three breathed a sigh of relief, for they had found refuge inside the church building. And in the midst of the situation, the Lord reminded Collins of a sermon he preached a few Sundays before on trusting in the Lord wholeheartedly for everything. Collins had to apply the message at that very moment. “It’s crazy how some folks think that it’s easy to put our trust in someone with an airboat, that we’ve never met, and put our little boys and belongings, on the boat,” Collins said. “I’ve never seen these people in my life. They came to rescue us without asking for anything in return. They came into my house to help me pack, grabbed my boys, dogs, and some essential belongings up and unselfishly placed them on their airboat. They asked me what else I needed and I had to say just … [Read more...]
Students give up Labor Day holiday to help with flood recovery
By Message Staff BATON ROUGE – The college spirit is coming to Baton Rouge this weekend, but not for a tailgate party near a football stadium. Four hundred college students from five southern states and 18 different Baptist Collegiate Ministry and church collegiate groups are coming together in the city, for one purpose – to help rebuild homes impacted by mid-August flooding. The groups will begin arriving on Friday and the last ones remaining will return to their campuses Monday. They will stay are area churches and come together on Saturday evening for a worship service at Istrouma Baptist Church in Baton Rouge. Steve Masters, Baptist Collegiate Ministry director at Louisiana State University, is one of the organizers of the event. He expects the student groups will complete between 70 and 100 homes. “I’m proud of these college students for being to help other people,” said Steve Master’s, BCM minister at LSU. “It’s so timely these college students would come. The sooner we can get Sheetock out of the homes, the better.” If a BCM is interested in assisting with recovery efforts, call Masters at 225.964.0830 or e-mail lsubcm@eatel.net. … [Read more...]
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