By Staff, Baptist Message The Louisiana College community is mourning the loss of one of its staff members, following a fatal car crash Friday, July 22, in Mississippi. According to school officials, Bonny Elliott died from injuries sustained in an automobile accident while traveling to Memphis, Tenn. Also in the car was her husband, David Elliott, who serves as chairman of the Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at the school. He suffered minor injuries. Further details on the accident were not known. Bobby Powell, music minister at Bayou Vista Baptist Church in Morgan City and Bonny’s brother, posted on Facebook Saturday morning, “My wife’s brother Dr. David Elliott and his wife Bonny Elliott were in a tragic accident yesterday and Bonny was killed. “Bonny was one of the most hospitable persons I’ve ever known,” he continued. “She had a strong faith and a strong prayer life. We are in shock and deeply grieved over this loss. “Please be in prayer for our family as we mourn her loss and celebrate her being in the presence of Jesus,” Powell wrote. Brewer said the the Elliotts are a special family loved by so many both inside and outside the LC community. "Please pray for Dr. Elliott and his family as they grieve the … [Read more...]

By Waylon Bailey, Pastor FBC Covington I am praying for law enforcement officers, and I hope you are too. One of the law-enforcement families I know lives out of my area. Like so many others, they are struggling with this unprecedented time in American history. As I think of these families, I am having difficulty imagining what they are saying to family members and to children in particular. How can we help? First, we need to thank and encourage those who serve. Because of the shameful way some Americans have treated military personnel, we have learned to acknowledge and thank those who serve in the military. It’s now time to do the same with those who serve in law-enforcement. The greatest demonstration I have seen of this occurred at the funeral for Martha’s nephew who was killed in Afghanistan. We watched as a group of freedom riders made it their personal responsibility to make sure that protesters or others would not be able to get close to the family. Though there was no disturbance of any kind, their presence – – one of thankfulness and encouragement – – blessed the family. We can do the same for law-enforcement people around us. A hand shake, a nod, or a thank you will probably give the encouragement that these … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message ALEXANDRIA – Louisiana Baptists are celebrating a milestone – nearing the 150th church planted since 2010. According to John Hebert, missions and ministry team leader for Louisiana Baptists, the most recent church planted was in late July. The achievement marks the half-way point for the goal of 300 churches planted by 2020. The report of the President’s 2020 Commission, affirmed by messengers during the 2013 LBC Annual Meeting in Alexandria, included 10 actions steps, of which one was to plant 300 churches by the year 2020. Another milestone that should be reached by the end of the year is the 10,000th decision to follow Christ and the 2,000th baptism through church plants in their first 36 months of existence since 2010. Funding for church plants is provided through the Georgia Barnette Offering for State Missions, the Cooperative Program and the North American Mission Board. … [Read more...]

ON THE MOVE Millard, wife Marion, Monk resigns as pastor of Sunny Hill Baptist Church in Kurthwood. HOMECOMING Bayou Rouge Baptist Church, Evergreen: 175th Anniversary, July 31, 11 a.m. Music: Friends and Family Gospel Singers from Centerpoint. A catered meal will follow morning services with additional musical presentations and an inflatable fun house for children. For more information, call 318.346.2419 or email davidtrimbur@gmail.com. Pastor: David Trimbur. Hebron Baptist Church, Summerfield: Homecoming, Aug. 7, 10 a.m. Lunch will follow the service. Music will be by the former youth choir. Pastor: Kenneth Nutt Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, Pollock: Homecoming, Aug. 7, 11 a.m. Speaker: Casey Johnson. Worship: Pine Ridge Quartet. Pastor: Sammy Morrow. First Baptist Church, Greensburg: 150th Homecoming, Aug. 14, 10:30 a.m. Speaker: David Hankins. Music: Reggie Bridges. Dinner on the grounds will follow services at noon. Please join with us and our friends as we celebrate what the Lord has done for our church through the years. For more information or to get directions, please call 225.222.6580. Pastor: Tommy Smith. REVIVAL Beulah Baptist Church, Many: Revival, July 31-August 3, Evangelist: Scotty McDowell, chalk artist. … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message RUSTON/LAFAYETTE – At next month’s PreTeen Invasion, Louisiana Baptist youth, fourth through sixth graders, are in for double the fun. Why? Participants will have the choice between two locations – Temple Baptist Church in Ruston on Aug. 20 or First Baptist Church in Lafayette on Aug. 27 – for this age group’s annual evangelism conference. PreTeen Invasion will take place at two separate locations on two separate dates, and it will offer games, interactive activities, worship, Gospel opportunities, and just a great time for the children involved. “PreTeen Invasion has become the go-to event to celebrate back to school,” said Dave Anderson, Children Ministry Strategist for the Louisiana Baptist Convention. “Statistics show that these years are prime for young people to make a life-long commitment to Christ. PreTeen Invasion presents a wonderful opportunity for the kids.” The event will feature encouraging messages by Eric Thomas, pastor of First Baptist Church in Norfolk, Va., music by the worship team from Cypress Baptist Church in Benton and Louisiana College’s interactive games team. Free inflatables and other games will also be on hand to entertain the students during lunchtime. The theme for … [Read more...]

SHREVEPORT - Calvary Baptist Church in Shreveport hosted on July 19 briefing for church staff and members on important legal issues in the state. Topics discussed included current challenges in religious freedom, changes in taxes for Louisiana non-profit agencies, gender identity issues and the abortion crisis in Shreveport. State Rep. Mike Johnson, who also founded Freedom Guard, was the guest speaker and was prayed for by Lane Moore, director of missions for Northwest Louisiana Baptist Association, and others in attendance. Freedom Guard is a not-for-profit law firm that defends religious liberty, the sanctity of human life and traditional American values. … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message BATON ROUGE -- The Baptist Association of Greater Baton Rouge would like to treat our police officers and their families to dinner and a snack! We are asking church members to donate $30 gift cards to local restaurants be distributed to local law enforcement officers. Each participating church will then package them with a 20 ounce Gatorade, a granola bar, and hand sanitizer. A letter letting the officers know that we are praying for them and listing the participating churches will also be placed in each bag. If you would like to donate a gift card, please bring it to your church on Sunday, July 24. If your church would like to contribute completed blessings bags and participate in the distribution, please contact Stephanie Hulett at shulett@jeffersonbaptist.org. Completed bags will be collected at Jefferson Baptist Church between 10 a.m. and noon on Wednesday, Aug. 3 and distributed that afternoon. … [Read more...]

By Message Staff TIOGA - An international missions effort close to home is taking place this week, with the hopes of planting seeds of the gospel that will make a return trip overseas. Nearly 50 fourth through ninth graders from South Korea arrived in central Louisiana July 15 for the start of Camp USA. A partnership of REACH Missions and the Korea Baptist Church Development Board, the camp involves 25 churches in three Baptist associations. The children are participating in a Vacation Bible School at Alpine First Baptist Church and spending the afternoons participating in activities such as swimming, skating, English classes and fishing at area churches. After a week in central Louisiana, the campers will depart for southeast Louisiana and spend the remainder of their time in the Ponchatoula area. While there, the children will participate with American children in a music day camp at First Baptist Church of Ponchatoula. The combined 90-voice choir will present Kidz Under Construction at 6:30 pm on July 31 at First Baptist Ponchatoula. Camp coordinator Susan Duke said the cultural experience and opportunity to take English classes are a draw that could lead to something much bigger - a personal relationship with Jesus … [Read more...]

By Message Staff BATON ROUGE – Amidst the strife and destruction a cowardly shooter caused on Sunday in Baton Rouge, God can work in a mighty way to bring about good to the situation said Pastor Jeff Ginn during a special prayer service Tuesday night. “There was a man who very recently meant evil and he brought about evil in this community,” said Ginn, pastor of Istrouma Baptist. “It was something Satan intended for evil. It holds in it the carnal for potential division, unrest and destruction. “But I believe in it all God intends for good,” he continued. “We are His children and the good He intends, He is going to bring part of that through us. That’s the God who we serve.” Ginn gathered with others inside Istrouma Baptist Church to lift up law enforcement, the community and other needs during a special 'Night of Prayer.' The church is one of many throughout Baton Rouge and the state holding prayer gatherings to help the city heal after a gunman fatally shot three law enforcement officers Sunday morning and wounded three others. The shootings took place a little more than a mile from the Church. On Wednesday, Istrouma Baptist Church will also host a community blood drive at their Baton Rouge campus from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.to … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message "Consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly. Gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land to the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord." Joel 1:14 BATON ROUGE – Col. Mike Edmonson, head of the Louisiana State Police recently requested prayers following the tragic shooting of three Baton Rouge law enforcement officers. “We want and need your prayers,” Edmonson said. “Baton Rouge is in need of your prayers right now.” And churches are responding, especially after what transpired over the weekend. Prayer is needed now more than ever. At 6 p.m. this evening (July 19), Istrouma Baptist Church will host a night of prayer for Baton Rouge and law enforcement. According to the church’s website, “Anyone is welcome to stop by and pray for our city, our nation, our local law enforcement, and the families and friends of the officers who lost their lives Sunday.” On Wednesday, Istrouma will also host a community blood drive at their Baton Rouge campus from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.to help the blood bank restock its blood reserves. That evening, there will be a Night of Prayer at Istrouma’s ‘The Grove’ Campus, located on Hwy 42 in Prairieville, beginning at 7 p.m. PRAYING FOR HEALING & … [Read more...]