By Norm Miller, Louisiana College communications PINEVILLE (LC News) - If you ask Mark Rodie why he and four other men from First Baptist Church Bossier City would give up a Saturday to labor in landscaping at Louisiana College under the sultry July sun, within about a minute he will tell you about Men of Courage. Inspired by the movie “Courageous,” Rodie helped form Men of Courage as part of the men’s ministry at FBC Bossier, where he heads up the church’s ministries to men. “Where are you men of courage?” is a line from the movie that shot through Rodie’s heart a few years ago, but not without leaving the conviction to not only be a man of courage but to lead others to join him. What started as Rodie and his mentor meeting every Friday morning has grown into hundreds of men gathering for breakfast and “a time of rejoicing in the joy of our salvation -- you know, men sharing testimonies of what the Lord is doing in their lives,” Rodie told LCNews. “We will sometimes reference 20 to 30 passages of Scripture. The Bible is our workbook. It really encourages us when we leave to be the Church.” Inspiration from the Bible study moves men like Rodie and those who tore out overgrown shrubbery at LC and who will come back … [Read more...]

By Message Staff WOODWORTH – The site of the new Georgia Barnette Conference Center is anything but quiet this week. Volunteers from throughout the state are busy laying concrete on the front sidewalk of the building, digging drain and fire water lines for the sprinkler system and building cabinets for the coffee bar. Some workers are as young as elementary school age while others are in their 70s. But all have the same goal and mission – contribute to the construction of a center that 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. Among the volunteers onsite this week is Mackenzie Aymond, who came with fellow youth group members from Calvary Baptist Church in Woodworth. She counted it joy to brave the humidity and follow the example of others who have worked for months on the project. “I have seen all these people sweating and working out here before, so when I heard I would have an opportunity to help out here, I immediately agreed,” Aymond said. “After spending a few hours working on the building, I appreciate what all they have done.” Glorida Beasley came with others from First Baptist Church in … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer JOHNSON BAYOU – The past of Johnson Bayou Baptist Church is filled with far too many memories of damage and destruction caused by two hurricanes in the past 11 years. Yet with each setback its members vowed not to give up, and promised not to dismiss the dream of finally one day rebuilding at its original location off Highway 82. Now that persistence paid off with an official groundbreaking ceremony and the laying of the first boards of a new church building on June 22. “After nearly eight years of not having a building, this is a dream come true,” said Pastor Jack Gandy. Scheduled for completion sometime in September, the new building will be a metal structure with wood interior. Built by Brystar Construction of Beaumont, Texas, the cost is approximately $575,000. To protect itself from possible rising water in the future, the 3,200-sq.-ft. structure will sit on beams 10 feet high. Inside the building will be an auditorium with seating for 100, classrooms, a kitchen with a small fellowship area, restrooms and an elevator. The original structure was damaged when Hurricane Rita made landfall Sept. 24, 2005, as 4-5 feet of floodwaters came inside the building and the high winds ripped … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff RUSTON – On a recent Sunday afternoon, around 200 members of First Baptist Church in Ruston hurried to the lake after its morning worship service, but not for just grilling some burgers or having a good time on the water. They were there to witness a decades-old tradition of the church – baptism for 10 of their fellow church members in a lake on the grounds of Lincoln Parish Park. Some were as young as nine, and others as old as 55. The candidates were as equally diverse in ethnicity, from Anglo to African-American to Chinese. But, they were all there for one reason – to declare publicly before their church family, other friends and even passers-by of their decision to follow Christ. “We talk to folks about salvation and publicly professing their faith at our church but to see people boldly proclaim that in this way is always encouraging,” said Clayton Owen, minister of education at First Baptist Ruston. “If you’re willing to wade out in the lake and have others there to see you do that is a bold witness.” Despite temperatures flirting with the 100 degree mark and the water a bit murky, the setting was perfect for Candia Tims. “To be able to experience nature with God has … [Read more...]

ADDIS - What is the key to healing following the recent deaths of three law enforcement officers in Baton Rouge? Loving people where they are, said Thomas Shepard, pastor of the Church at Addis. And showing Christ’s love can be as simple as picking up the telephone to offer support or bringing the hurting individual a meal Shepard believes. Once those physical needs are met, then the opportunity to share the gospel is much greater. “To make them wonder why somebody would want to do that is key in healing a community because they do not see an agenda at that point,” Shepard said. “There is no agenda other than this person is loving me unconditionally, which is exactly what Christ commanded us to do.” Such was the case on July 16, when members of his congregation spent the afternoon ministering to the family of Baton Rouge Police Officer Matthew Gerald, who was the uncle of children who had attended Vacation Bible School recently at the church. The church, which includes some law enforcement officers, prayed with the fallen officer’s sister-in-law and let them know they were available for counseling or other needs. Preparing his congregation to minister to the family of Officer Gerald is a byproduct of training his members to … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message BATON ROUGE – Tommy Middleton understands the value of a consistent prayer life but events of the past few weeks in Baton Rouge have reminded him of its importance. Middleton, who is director of missions for the Baptist Association of Greater Baton Rouge, said more intentional prayers are needed for each other and on the issue of racial tension. To that end, 30 churches from the BAGBR and that National Baptist Association gathered at First Baptist Church in Baton Rouge on July 24 to pray for a variety of topics, including law enforcement, government officials, churches, pastors and the nation. The event drew more than 300 people also featured small group prayer time and the gathering joining hands to sing “Amazing Grace.” “I think what we see in our culture especially in Baton Rouge is the coming together of all our churches with the expressed purpose of not only working together in unity but also for the advancement of the gospel,” Middleton said. “Because the real issue here is a spiritual need and hopefully a spiritual awakening in our area to the need for Christ. And when that comes, unity will come as well.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yL8yw6TdNIA … [Read more...]

BATON ROUGE – The city of Baton Rouge is at a crossroads. For some time now,  the issue of race relations has been the elephant in the room, according to Lee Wesley. It was a problem nobody wanted to discuss. He believes recent tragic events have opened a channel for such dialogue. Now is the time to capitalize on a positive end result, Wesley said, to help bring about unity throughout the city. “There’s an opportunity now to have serious dialogue about how we will overcome this racial divide,” said Wesley, pastor of Community Bible Church in Baton Rouge. “Not only are we divided by race, we are divided by denomination, we are divided by economics, we are divided by geography. And Baton Rouge really is two cities, one city on the north side of Florida Boulevard, another city on the south side of Florida Boulevard. So the challenge is how do we bring those cities together and make them as one, so we will be a unified Baton Rouge.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWnWKFcz_-E … [Read more...]

By Message Staff BATON ROUGE - The gospel was presented – and accepted by many – at Istrouma Baptist Church during the funeral of East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Deputy Brad Garafola. Held on July 23, the service to remember one of three fallen law enforcement officers from the Baton Rouge area drew a crowd of 3,000 from the community, state and nation. When Istrouma Baptist Pastor Jeff Ginn offered the chance for anyone in attendance to accept Christ, he heard many voices across the worship center publicly declare out loud their intention to follow Jesus. “We wanted to be a part of that and the Lord allowed us to wrap our arms around all who attended,” Ginn said. “It was an unparalleled opportunity to share the hope that is found in Jesus. Many prayed to receive Christ and we believe eternity was changed.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJ-6uXziPoo   … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message SLIDELL – Bayou Baptist Church Pastor Frank Treme is hoping a $10,000 reward will finally help solve the mystery of who set fire to his church for the second time in 10 months. Earlier in the month, Crimestoppers offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of an arsonist who burned down the church. The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives announced July 21 that it was giving Crimestoppers another $5,000 to help capture the guilty party. Treme said even though the fire destroyed one of the church buildings, his congregation holds no malice toward the arsonist. “What good would it do for me or my congregation to hate someone?” Treme said. “That would go against what we believe and what the Word of God says.” Treme said the congregation continues to pray for strength and guidance, and seeks for prayers from others as well. Members have stayed committed, and the church has even gained some members since the last fire. The latest fire occurred on July 2. After a neighbor called 911 to report flames engulfing the church, firefighters arrived in just over two minutes after the 7:30 a.m. call to find flames leaping from the front and rear of the 2,500 … [Read more...]

BATON ROUGE – Christmas may be five months away but it can a little early recently for a group of women at Florida Boulevard Baptist Church. Making snowmen filled with white chocolate pretzel treats and wreaths and hearing a devotional about turning tragedy into inspiration were among the highlights for the Christmas in July event at the church. During the event, Ginny Traylor shared the story of her daughter, Tracy, a freshman at Baylor University majoring in interior design. Left paralyzed from the neck down following a car accident, Tracy Traylor refused to give up on her dream. Currently, she designs jewelry based on scripture and her mother has become her hands to make a line of Christian jewelry called PRIMS.  The jewelry is made of baked clay beads and semiprecious stones fashioned in a primitive look. Next year, the event will feature a “Ladies Tea” with all the trappings of an “old-fashioned” tea time. The women will enjoy five varieties of tea and breads and scones, tea sandwiches, finger food and desserts during the occasion. … [Read more...]