By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer CHOUDRANT – Megan and Joshua Passon have spent many hours in a swimming pool on a hot summer evening, but on this particular night a dip in the water was extra special. Standing in front of one another and dozens of friends, the husband and wife were baptized along with 11 others from Longstraw Baptist Church. The 13 new believers, ranging in age from 7 to 72 years old were baptized in pairs Sunday evening of Memorial Day weekend. Megan Passon said her baptism represented a public declaration of her faith in Christ, and added that being baptized with her husband was special because their marriage had been restored only several months before. “Being baptized in the pool with everyone was really cool,” Passon said. “Everyone was gathered all around us and I believe I can speak for everyone when I say that you could feel so much love surrounding all of us. “Having a relationship with the Lord is now top priority in my life,” she continued. “I have found that even in the chaos of everyday life, there is now a sense of joy and peace that I have; that joy and peace came from my Lord and Savior.” The service marked the highest number of baptisms for the church in a single day since Larry … [Read more...]

By Will Hall, Message Editor ALEXANDRIA – A small town girl from a dairy farm who ended up on the pages of Parade Magazine as an All-American athlete, Sheila Johnson has experienced an amazing life and now uses the platform of sports to reach out to youth for the glory of God. Johnson, a member of First Baptist Church in Pineville, is one of the founding members of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in Central Louisiana, and sponsors an FCA chapter at Pineville Junior High School. “It was a just a coincidence” she said, that she ended up at PJHS. At that time she had just met with three other FCA supporters to decide to form an area-wide FCA program, when she “happened to get a call” from the PJHS principal, who told her the physical education teacher was ill and the school needed someone to finish out the year in her place. “I never thought I’d go back to teaching – especially at the junior high level,” said Johnson, who as a player and then as a coach led the Louisiana College women’s basketball team to national final four appearances – in Division II of the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (in women’s sports, the predecessor of the National Collegiate Athletic Association) and then in the National … [Read more...]

By Marilyn Stewart, NOBTS Communications NEW ORLEANS – When the team of 17 New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS) students and  faculty members stepped into the neighborhood under storm-threatening skies April 21 to hand out 9-volt batteries, they did not know what the Lord would do. Three members of the community near the seminary came to faith in Christ. “The Lord gave us a window of one hour before the rain came down,” said Preston Nix, professor of evangelism and evangelistic preaching at NOBTS. “Two people…in two different locations had just finished praying to receive Christ when the rain started.” Seven faculty members and 10 students formed teams to knock on doors and give away free batteries for home smoke alarms. The teams partnered with Gentilly Baptist Church (GBC) to show love to neighbors with the goal of sharing the gospel. Two weeks later, on May 5, seven students and seven faculty members went into the community. As a result of their witness one person came to faith in Christ. “This involvement of our NOBTS faculty and students on the streets of our city shows once again that when we obey Christ’s Great Commission, the Lord has people ready to respond,” said Ken Taylor, professor of urban missions … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer BATON ROUGE – Churches from the Baptist Association of Greater Baton Rouge are trying to change the area’s inner-city youth, one summer camp at a time. Held at Judson Baptist Retreat Center in St. Francisville, Camp Beyond gives middle and high school students a weekend of recreation and Bible study. Since the first camp was held in 2010, about 600 students have participated in an experience that Director of Missions Tommy Middleton says allows the youngsters to “go beyond” spiritual barriers in their lives to find God and follow His will for them. “Crossroads” is the theme for this year’s camps. “They are at a crossroads in their life and we are teaching them about making the right decisions,” Middleton said. “The inner city is all these kids have ever known, so we expose them to a rural setting in a loving and supportive environment.” During its first five years of existence, the camp was offered for middle school students. Last year, a high school component was added. Seventy youth attended the middle school tract, June 23-26, and the high school camp is set for the final weekend of this month. Middleton is hoping they double last year’s high school attendance of 25 … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer DEVILLE – Spring break for 70 youth and leaders from Philadelphia Baptist Church was more than just a recreational outing along the southeast Texas coast. By the end of a week in Brownsville and Houston, the group saw 123 people come to know Christ, including five members of the evangelism team. “No one worked harder than our youth and their leaders,” said youth minister Stuart Sasser. “When one person was working, all were working. As always we went to serve and make a difference in the lives of those whom we came to serve. But through it all, God may have impacted our group greater than the ones we actually came to serve.” The youth worked in several teams on a number of mission projects, including: “stomp” and “trashcan drum-line” performances at 10 assemblies in six schools and three times at a Chick-fil-A restaurant; canvassing more than 1,000 homes in 12 neighborhoods with the Gospel; and, conducting four block parties. They also painted a house and worked in two mission compounds, removing dirt, digging ditches, moving bricks and shoveling rocks from the back of dump trucks. Throughout their time in Brownsville, the Louisiana group teamed up with evangelist Ken Freeman, and … [Read more...]

ON THE MOVE Don Turner has resigned as pastor at New Horizon Church, Church Point. Randy Bowman is new pastor at New Horizon Church, Church Point. Christopher Jeffus is new pastor at Trinity Baptist Church, New Iberia. Clovis Sturdivant is interim pastor at New Chapel Hill, West Monroe. Dustin Stockstill is new pastor at Bedico Baptist Church, Ponchatoula. Dickie Nelson is new pastor at Westside Baptist Church, Ponchatoula. Jeffery Hodges licensed to the Gospel Ministry at Macedonia Baptist Church, Holden. John Campbell resigns as pastor of Holly Springs Baptist Church, Homer. Gerald Palmer resigns as pastor of West Lake Baptist Church, Doyline. Richard, wife Tricia, Price is new minister of counseling at Haynes Avenue Baptist Church, Shreveport. James, wife Hyuna, Franklin is new youth minister at First Baptist Church, Blanchard. Don Francis is new associate pastor at Eastwood Baptist Church, Haughton. Matt Powers is new music minister at Northwoods Baptist Church, Shreveport. IN REMEMBERANCE William Hoten “Buck” Curry lost a long battle with cancer June 5. Services were held at Warsaw Baptist Church in Delhi. He surrendered his life to the Lord in 1985 which yielded a strong devotion in him to serve his Savior in … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message NEW YORK – For his entire life, Greg Oden dreamed of directing a choir at Carnegie Hall. He finally got his chance in late May, when Oden and 82 students from the West Monroe High School Rebel Choir performed a 30-minute performance that featured several Christian-themed songs before a crowd of about 2,000. “It took me 52 years to make my Carnegie Hall debut,” said Oden, a member of First West. “It’s just a revered place. I tell all the kids who have been there, that all these great, great performers have come before us. It’s one of those places walking onto the stage that is inspiring.” Five of the six songs the choir sang had Christian themes. These included “Elijah Rock,” “Lamentations of Jeremiah” and “At the Round Earth’s Imagined Corners.” This was the school’s fifth time for the choir to perform at Carnegie Hall, but the first time not to be combined with other choirs, and, the first time Oden was able to direct the group. Other locations where they have performed include 9-11 Memorial in New York, Omaha beach in Normandy, and Papal Basilica of St. Peter in the Vatican. Oden, a member of the First West orchestra, will continue his travels, this time overseas, when he goes to Europe this … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer WOODWORTH – Jimmy Noblit is a man on a mission, working four days a week alongside other volunteers to complete the Georgia Barnette Conference Center. From the time construction began last July, Noblit has spent most weeks at Tall Timbers helping to build a legacy that will long outlive him for generations to come. “Somebody has to do this,” said Noblit, a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Alexandria. “This will affect the lives of many children who come through here. They will be discipled and some will commit to missions. “The next person who makes a decision here may be the next Lottie Moon,” he continued. “It’s all for the Glory of God.” Since July 13, an army of Louisiana Baptist volunteers like Noblitt and others from around the U.S. have helped build the Georgia Barnette Conference Center and Missionary/Volunteer Training Center. Once complete, the center will house information about influential early-day Louisiana Baptists and become a state-of-the art training facility for the future of missions in Louisiana. The 8,400-square-foot center is to have six small group rooms and a large auditorium that can be arranged for up to 580 participants. Also included is a … [Read more...]

By Andy Kanengiser, MC University News Coordinator CLINTON, Mississippi -- Awesome worship services, a deeper understanding of the Bible and a marathon of fun games were all part of the agenda during a recent FUGE camp at Mississippi College in Clinton, Mississippi. Sizzling temperatures on the Clinton campus in mid-June went with the experience for 42 kids and adult chaperones from First Baptist Church Arcadia.  The 157-mile journey from their hometown between Shreveport and Monroe to the Baptist-affiliated university was well worth it, students say. “Not only do you grow closer to our Lord, but you also have the opportunity to encourage others in their faith at different sites around the area,’’ says Madison Hoffman, 18, of Arcadia. “God is evident and moving!’’ “I love being surrounded by new people in my Bible study class,’’ says Sydney Moore, 18, of Arcadia. “Even though we are all different, we can come together with our common love for Jesus! It is such an encouraging time to be surrounded by so many kids my age who are unashamed to admit their faith.’’ An estimated 6,000 children from 15 states utilize the campus in June and July to not only sharpen their sports skills but more importantly step up their Christian … [Read more...]

By Mike Midkiff, ETBU Public Relations MARSHALL, Texas – It had been more than 20 years since Pastor Aaron Dickinson of Swartz First Baptist Church in Monroe had set foot back on the campus of East Texas Baptist University. On June 1, Dickson, who is in his first year as pastor at Swartz, returned to the campus June 1 and brought a group of senior adults from his church to attend ETBU’s annual senior adult conference, Hilltop University, to enjoy three days of fun, fellowship, worship, preaching, and Biblical teaching focused on revival and renewal. Dickson said his group came to this particular conference because he was looking for a spiritual retreat experience for his senior adults that would be fun and inspiring. “I knew about the Senior Adult Conference when I was a student here at ETBU,” said Dickinson. “I looked the conference up online to see if they were still holding it because I wanted to find a regional event our senior adults could attend. We do not have a conference like this one in Louisiana.” Over 270 campers attended representing 56 difference churches -- with 50 from Texas, four from Louisiana, and two from Arkansas. Brook Wood Baptist Church, Shreveport, First Baptist Church, Bossier, and First Baptist … [Read more...]