By Holly Jo Linzay, Regional Correspondent WOODWORTH –In the truest biblical sense, Cecil Gassiott, a general contractor in Alexandria, is a blessed man because he believes in “giving back,” and his actions show his giving spirit is real. Gassiott’s generous donation of equipment use and manpower saved multiple thousands of dollars in the construction of the Georgia Barnette Conference Center on the grounds of Tall Timbers in Forest Hill. Robert Woods, missions’ builder strategist for Louisiana Baptists, said Gassiott’s gracious giving and willingness to serve has made a significant impact. “Cecil Gassiott has probably saved us more than $150,000 on this project. He has been a godsend,” Woods said. “If we had to get our own volunteers, it would have taken us another three to four more months to complete this job.” The construction of the 8,400-square-foot center is almost complete, and will be dedicated during the Sept. 27 ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board fall meeting at Tall Timbers. Even this week Gassiott has had his crew on site finishing up the concrete work, sidewalks and curbing in the asphalt parking lot. “Over the last month, Cecil has had anywhere from five … [Read more...]

By Message Staff LAFAYETTE – A Grammy and Dove-winning artist and one of the premiers nationally recognized youth speakers will headline this year’s Youth Evangelism Celebration at the Cajundome. Scheduled for Nov. 20-21, the largest annual gathering of Louisiana Baptists will feature Ed Newton, pastor of Community Bible Church in San Antonio, Texas, as the guest speaker during all sessions. The conference will close with a time of music led by the Newboys, a band formed in 1985 that includes former DC Talk vocalist Michael Tait. Steve Maltempti, youth strategist for Louisiana Baptists, said that while YEC features a mix of acts which have been around for decades, the conference also features those who are nationally recognized but new to Louisiana. These include worship led by The Museum of Altanta, Ga., and drama by Paul May with the Clear Vision Drama Company of Springfield, Mo. Throughout the two-day event, Louisiana Baptist teenagers will be challenged to celebrate what Christ has done in their lives and to share their story of how Christ changed their lives. Celebrating its 29th year, YEC’s theme will be Stories, based off 1 John 1:2-3. Early registration, which is open through Nov. 1, is $45 per person. … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE – Pastors in vibrant and successful ministries must guard against becoming prideful, or risk the fate of Nebuchadnezzar, Southern Baptist Convention President Steve Gaines told attendees of the Louisiana Baptist Convention E4 Preaching Conference. “God will humble the proud either in this life or in the next,” Gaines, pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church in Cordova, Tenn., told the crowd gathered at First Baptist Church, Pineville, Sept. 20. “It might be in this life, in eternity, or in both – but ‘God will humble those who walk in pride.’ “Some of you are too proud for God to keep blessing you,” he emphasized at the annual event. “He’s about to cut you down. Don’t think He can’t, and don’t think He won’t. Citing Daniel 4:1-37, Gaines recounted how Nebuchadnezzar was king of Babylon, the most powerful nation in the sixth century. Yet, despite warnings from God, the king became so selfishly proud of his nation he eventually was struck down with insanity. For seven years, Nebuchadnezzar lived outdoors like a beast of the fields, his hair uncut and fingernails and toenails grown out like talons. Fortunately, Nebuchadnezzar finally looked up to God in repentance and … [Read more...]

By Josie Rabbitt, Baptist Press BATON ROUGE (BP) - The North American Mission Board is facilitating a recovery effort to help Louisiana flood survivors rebuild and to assist churches and individuals who want to serve. The initiative, under NAMB's Send Relief ministry, will begin Oct. 1 and enlist Baptists nationwide. "We're developing a recovery plan to help Louisiana residents, pastors, churches and other buildings damaged by extreme flooding," said Mickey Caison, NAMB's Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) executive director. "The Send Relief plan includes a facility to house 300 volunteers as they aid those in crisis. Another part of what's in the works concerning this year-long project [is] collegiate opportunities during students' Christmas and spring breaks to help serve and rebuild Louisiana." The initiative, named Send Relief: Louisiana Flood, will entail a recovery and rebuild process similar to those NAMB facilitated in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, Hurricane Katrina, Detroit flooding and the Colorado floods and wildfires. While mud-outs, clean-ups and feedings are ongoing now, the one-year recovery plan will move into the rebuild stage. To be part of the effort, churches, groups and individuals can visit … [Read more...]

ON THE MOVE Lee Slayter is the new music director at Bethel Baptist Church, Colfax. Matt Walker is the new pastor at Peniel Baptist Church, West Monroe. David Hogg is the new worship and college pastor at First Baptist Church, Swartz. Justin Lawrence is new children’s minister at Chenier Baptist Church, West Monroe. Tim Post is the new pastor at Bethel Baptist Church, Bastrop. Charles Dupree is the new pastor at Parkview Baptist Church, Monroe. Sharon Harrell is the new student minister at Lakeshore Baptist Church, Monroe. HOMECOMING First Baptist Church, Eros: Homecoming, Sept. 25, 10 a.m. Dinner on the grounds will follow the service at noon. People are urged to bring a covered dish. Speaker: Marty Black. There will be singing, preaching, food and fellowship. Conway Baptist Church, Farmerville: Homecoming, Sept. 25. Brothers In Christ in concert, 10 a.m. and memorial and worship service, 11 a.m. Speaker: Tony Campanale. Lunch will follow services in the Family Life Center. Friends and families of present and former members are invited to attend. Pastor: Paul Carter. Alto Baptist Church, Alto: Homecoming, Sept. 25, 10:30 pm. Speaker: James H. Miller. Worship: The Sanctuary Quartet. Lunch will … [Read more...]

By Philip Timothy, Managing Editor WELSH – In the small Jefferson Davis Parish town of Welsh, a church and its pastor put its faith on display by providing hope where there was little and giving unconditional love when it was needed the most. Battling rising flood waters himself, Pastor Pat Deshotel and members of First Baptist Welsh set aside their own problems to come to the aid of their neighbors. Special attention was given to a pair of widows. Each lost a husband two days before the rain and flooding began, and a day apart from each other. “I couldn’t imagine losing a spouse and then having to face the devastation of the flooding several days later. They didn’t even have time to grieve before the flooding began,” Deshotel said. “I knew both ladies and their husbands well, and I could not let them go this alone.” Joe Bertrand died Aug. 9 after a long battle with cancer leaving behind Judy, his wife of 49 years. Victor Thomas passed away the following day leaving behind his wife Shannon. While Judy Bertrand, a Roman Catholic, had family, Shannon Thomas, who is affiliated with a non-denominational, did not. “Judy had eight feet of water in her home and Shannon’s trailer was surrounded by water,” said … [Read more...]

By Gary D. Myers, NOBTS Communications NEW ORLEANS -- The Caskey Center for Church Excellence at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary will serve as a strategic partner for the 2017 Southern Baptist Convention Pastors' Conference in Phoenix. The partnership will include financial and logistical support. NOBTS President Chuck Kelley announced the partnership to the school's faculty Sept. 7. "The Caskey Center for Church Excellence at NOBTS is delighted to partner with the 2017 SBC Pastors' Conference in Phoenix to highlight the role of the smaller membership church in Southern Baptist life," Kelley said. "We are passionately committed to encouraging all pastors to make excellent biblical exposition in the church and consistent Gospel conversations with those outside the church the building blocks of their ministries." The news follows the election of Dave Miller, pastor of Southern Hills Baptist Church in Sioux City, Iowa, and editor of the SBC Voices blog, as the president of the 2017 Pastors' Conference. Typically a position reserved for larger church pastors, Miller ran on a platform emphasizing expositional preaching and celebrating the contributions of smaller churches in the SBC. Miller's church, which averages … [Read more...]

By Matt Vines, Northwestern Sports Information NATCHITOCHES – Peyton Rector was at peace ending her college soccer career with one year of eligibility remaining. Finishing a psychology degree in three years, the Northwestern State product decided she would go on a worldwide whirlwind of a mission trip, visiting more than a dozen countries in 11 months. Soccer was never far away, but Rector came to a harsh realization that prompted her to reprioritize her life while paving the path back to collegiate soccer. “My faith grew a lot in this process,” Rector explained. “I always considered myself a Christian, but I realized that my real identity was in soccer. “God finally had to completely take (soccer) away from me to realize that. My relationship with God is different now, and I feel that I am able to return to college soccer and share these experiences.” Despite being away from competitive soccer for nearly two years, Rector will start at her old center back position. Rector hopes she can meld with a young but talented team to help the Lady Demons to a Southland Conference Tournament appearance, a place the program hasn’t been since 2008. THE DECISION An active Fellowship of Christian Athletes member at … [Read more...]

By Marilyn Stewart, NOBTS Communications NEW ORLEANS -- New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary President Chuck Kelley posed an important question to students and faculty gathered for convocation Sept. 13. “Where do people hear you talk about Jesus?” he asked. Drawing from Philippians 1:12, Kelley pointed to the apostle Paul as a “master of Gospel conversations” who talked about Jesus “always, and in all places.” Holding up him as the example to follow, Kelley said Paul talked to others about Christ wherever he was—even in prison. “Where do people hear you talk about Jesus?” Kelley asked. “Is it in the grocery store? Is it over coffee or in any other casual settings?” Kelley acknowledged that students came to seminary to learn to preach and expound God’s word, but cautioned them that preaching alone was not enough, adding that a strategy for reaching those outside the church walls was necessary. “How can you mobilize your congregation to talk about Christ in their homes, at work, and with their friends?” Kelley asked. “By letting them see you talk about Jesus everywhere and at any time.” Kelley concluded by saying that his prayer this year is that the seminary would be a place that encourages and celebrates … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE – Southern Baptist Convention President Steve Gaines is the keynote speaker for next week’s E4 Preaching Conference. Gaines, who is pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church in Cordova, Tenn., will bring messages during three sessions of the annual conference Sept. 20 at First Baptist Church Pineville. In addition to Gaines’ messages and music by the First Baptist Pineville praise team, the conference will also feature breakout sessions on such topics as Biblical examples of how doctrinal preaching helps in discouraging times, preaching through a crisis, preaching on the Trinity and preaching on social issues: how can I preach on social issues without devolving into the social gospel? Professors from Louisiana College, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary will lead the breakout sessions. Those attending the conference will have the opportunity to win numerous giveaways, valued at a total of $2,500. The North American Mission Board is providing lunch along with giveaway items including numerous books, an iPad mini, an iPad, blue tooth speakers and an Apple TV. Pastors displaced by last month’s flood in southern Louisiana … [Read more...]