By Staff, Baptist Message KANSAS CITY, Missouri – Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary awarded degrees to 120 students at its 59th commencement exercises at the Daniel Lee Chapel. In all, 120 students graduated including one diploma from the Midwestern Women’s Institute, one diploma in Christian Ministry, 25 undergraduate, 80 graduate, and 14 doctoral degrees being conferred. Among those receiving doctorates from Louisiana were: Randy Tompkins, Owner of Cornerstone Consultants Ministry and trustee at MBTS and Peter Eric Keough. Tompkins received a Doctor of Educational Ministry and Keough earned a Doctor of Ministry in Leadership. President Jason Allen’s charge to students in his commencement address to, “Finish Well,” as well as a presentation of the institution’s Professor of the Year award. … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer DRY PRONG – Lloyd Whitman was nearing his final weeks of a 30-year ministry at First Baptist Church Dry Prong, but refused to “coast along” until he retired. Instead, Whitman wanted to baptize at least one person during his final two months at the central Louisiana church. He did that and more, baptizing at least one person each week from the the first Sunday in January until he stepped out of the pulpit Feb. 28. Whitman said not doing so would have gone against the very mission of Jesus Christ that he has tried to fulfill in his 51 years of ministry. “To see what God was doing at the end of my ministry was rewarding to me,” Whitman said. “The mission of the church is to win people to Jesus. To see that being fulfilled at Dry Prong gave me a sense of thankfulness and gratitude to God that He was moving in a powerful way.” The string of baptisms came on the heels of the end of an 18-month search for a new pastor at First Baptist Dry Prong. Whitman said the congregation had prayed during that time that God would lead them to the right man for the job. In the process, the church experienced its own personal revival. “God was just moving in every area of our church,” he continued. “I … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer “We NEED a Word from God!” Those sentiments from Steve Horn, pastor of First Baptist Church in Lafayette and former LBC President, perhaps best summed up the feelings of so many following a tumultuous week in which seven died and seven more were shot. It especially sums up the feelings on the day following the deadly sniper attack on police officers in downtown Dallas Thursday evening. “Pray for the pastors of America this Sunday,” Horn wrote on Facebook. “We do not need a word from our President, the Governors, the Chiefs of Police, and certainly not all of the commentators on television. We need a Word from God! “Pray for your pastor to have and deliver that Word from God this Sunday,” he continued. “Pastor, our job is not to offer political commentary; our job is to expound the authoritative Word of God. God, help us!” As everyone tries to make sense of what took place Thursday night, Tuesday in Baton Rouge and Wednesday in Falton Heights, Minnesota, Horn made his impassioned plea to turn to God. And many Louisiana Baptists and law enforcement officers echoed his thoughts and for the desperate need for prayer. “Our hearts are again broken as we hear the news out of Baton Rouge, … [Read more...]

HOMECOMING Hillcrest Baptist Church, Franklinton: Church Anniversary, July 17, 10:30 a.m. A pot-luck meal will follow the morning service in the Christian Life Center. Pastor: Andrew Voss. Lakeshore Baptist Church, Monroe: 62nd Anniversary, July 24, 10:45 a.m. Pastor: William Smith. Beech Spring Baptist Church, Quitman: 109th Homecoming, July 24, 11 a.m. Dinner on the grounds following the service. Special Music: Glorifying Him. Pastor: Jay Lancaster. REVIVAL First Baptist Church, Converse: Revival, July 10-13, Speaker: Gary Hanberry of First Baptist, Larose. Worship: The Mackey Willis Family. Pastor: Lon Almeida Aimwell Baptist Church: Revival, July 13-17. Speaker: Bill Robertson. Pastor: Ronnie Sandifer First Baptist Church, Zwolle: Revival, July 13-17. Speaker: Spencer Lovitt. Pastor: Jerry Penfield First Baptist Church, Minden: Revive (summer revival series), July 17, 24 & 31. July 17, 6 p.m. Speaker: John Lary. Music: Jake & Rachel Chapman. Fellowship following service features ice cream. July 24, 6 p.m. Speaker: Eddie Briery. Music: Joe & Jody Nida. Fellowship following service features hot dogs and soft drinks. July 31, 10:45 a.m. (no first Gospel hour). Speaker: Argile Smith. Music: Ammer Gayle Whatley. … [Read more...]

By Will Hall, Message Editor BATON ROUGE – Gov. John Bel Edwards signed House Bill 51 into law June 28 as Act 12 of the 2016 Second Extraordinary Session for the Louisiana Legislature, removing a number of taxes on church activities that were imposed in March as part of Acts 25 and 26 of the 2016 First Extraordinary Session. Although Act 12 took effect July 1, the Louisiana Department of Revenue has yet to issue an official interpretation. However, legislators have said publicly this measure should fix the difficulties created for churches by the earlier action. When the LDR releases its guidance, churches should anticipate relief from collecting taxes on such things as cake sales and auctions, which were tagged with special tax rates from April 1, 2016 – June 30, 2018. HB 51 was offered by Rep. Jim Morris of whose District 1 office is in Oil City, but a number of legislators signed onto the bill as co-sponsors, including 58 representatives and two senators. Rep. Rick Edmonds (District 66, Baton Rouge), a retired Louisiana Baptist pastor (Calvary Baptist Church in Shreveport) and former vice president with Louisiana Family Forum, was particularly aggressive in working this issue. He offered eight bills which were rolled into … [Read more...]

ALEXANDRIA – Louisiana Baptists are invited to submit names of nominees for service on state convention boards and committees and to submit resolutions for possible consideration for the 2016 Louisiana Baptist Convention. The Louisiana Baptist Committee on Committees is beginning its work to nominate persons to serve on various state convention committees. Currently, 17 nominees are needed for service on committees on Credentials, Moral and Social Concerns, Nominations, Order of Business and Resolutions. Committee on Committees Chair is Jake Roudkovski, Bogue Falaya, Folsom. In addition, the Louisiana Baptist Committee on Nominations is beginning its work to fill vacancies on state boards. At this point, 17 nominees are needed to serve on the Convention’s Executive Board and as trustees of Louisiana College, the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home and Family Ministries, the Baptist Message, and the Baptist Foundation. The Committee on Nominations chair is Philip Robertson, Philadelphia, Deville. As in previous years, persons should submit names of nominees and the committee or board for which they are being nominated. Submissions should include information on the nominee’s church membership and current employment. Nominations … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE – Summertime usually means less activity on a university campus but not Louisiana College, not this summer. The Pineville college is humming with activity as the school is undergoing $17 million worth of construction. Eighteen of the 23 buildings on campus are receiving new roofs, after hail from a storm last year caused extensive damage. Other work includes a number of interior upgrades between now and late 2017. LC President Rick Brewer calls the improvements on campus a miracle. “Transformation is a central theme for Louisiana College both in the classroom and in our campus facilities,” Brewer said. “The blessing we’ve received from the GuideOne insurance claim will impact the entire campus with 18 roof replacements, several interior repairs and the refurbishment of Guinn Auditorium. Indeed, this work accelerates the significant deferred maintenance facing the college.” LC contacted GuideOne insurance company for an inspection, which revealed the refurbishment would be rather costly but agreed to cover all the repairs. The first wave of construction began in late May, when Campers on Mission refurbished a fountain near Alexandria Hall administration building, formed … [Read more...]

By Message Staff LAFAYETTE – State officials have reassured Louisiana Baptists that the Cajundome will be ready for the 2016 Youth Evangelism Conference scheduled for the Lafayette facility, Nov. 20-21. A June 30 report in The Advocate created confusion among the public by stating the arena “won’t re-open for business until Dec. 1.” But apparently, the information was not correct in context of the YEC. “We have been given assurances the Cajundome will be ready prior to our event,” Louisiana Baptist Convention youth strategist Steve Maltempti said in a statement to the Baptist Message. Maltempi shared information with the Baptist Message which cleared up the misunderstanding caused by The Advocate article. “The reason you see Dec. 1st  in media reports is we don’t expect or plan to schedule basketball and, hockey games or any major concerts until Dec. 1st, or about 9 days after your event ends,” wrote one Cajundome official to Maltempi. “We have always expected and needed those 9 days to prepare the hockey rink and basketball court on top of the hockey rink in the new arena configuration for the upcoming season after your event.” This official noted that crews will continue the work, which began May 23, up until Nov. 18 and … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message SLIDELL – The pastor and the congregation of Bayou Baptist Church are resolute but still shocked after their church was torched by an arsonist for the second time in 10 months. "We don't know who would want to do this to us," Pastor Frank Treme shared with the Baptist Message, adding, "We have never had any prior incidents where someone accused us of ill will that I am aware of. “We are a church for all races and people,” he said. “This church is a safe haven for all people and we would like for all people to feel safe coming into God's house to worship and pray. “It is hard for everyone in our church,” Treme continued. “We have had to overcome so much. First, we had to rebuild after the flooding from Hurricane Katrina, then the fire in October, and now this.” Treme said his congregation of 50 or so came together to face these other challenges, and he is confident they will rise to the occasion this time, too. In the early morning of July 2, a neighbor called 911 to report flames engulfing the church according to a release by the Slidell Police Department. Firefighters arrived in just over two minutes after the 7:30 a.m. call and found flames leaping from the front and rear of the 2,500 square … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message SLIDELL -- It's happened again. Bayou Baptist Church in Slidell has been hit again by a suspicious fire. On July 2 at 7:30 a.m., a neighbor called 911 reporting flames pouring the church according to a release by the Slidell Police Department. Firefighters arrived in just over two minutes and found flames and smoke pouring from the front and rear of the 2,500 square foot building. Working quickly, the fire department was able to extinguish the fire in about 15 minutes. They reported no injuries in the blaze. According to the fire department, the church is considered “a total loss.” This is a second time in a year Bayou Baptist has been the victim of an arsonist. According to fire prevention officer Chad Duffaut for Fire District 1, the arsonist set the fire to cover up the burglary in October. After the October fire, Pastor Frank Treme said the church had been rebuilt after the flooding during Hurricane Katrina in 2005, but the fire was even more devastating than Katrina. “It’s hard for everybody in our church,” Treme said in an Oct. 27 article. “This is devastating. It’s not bad enough they violated and burglarized parts of our building but why did they have to put a fire to it?” Treme said his … [Read more...]