The Southern Baptist Convention's WMU Mission Celebration/Annual Meeting got underway Sunday in the Ferrara Theater at America's Center in St. Louis. Here are some photos of Louisiana Baptists who were in attendance. Look for more photos and videos of Louisiana Baptists sharing what they thought of the meeting later today. … [Read more...]

By David E. Crosby, Pastor of First Baptist Church New Orleans NEW ORLEANS -- The interstate was jammed with commuters at drive time. I started thinking about my friend, almost 100 years old, and wondering what words of wisdom I would glean as I visited her in the hospital. I determined that I would listen carefully and, if necessary, prompt her with questions. I saw her super-gripper socks when I glanced in the door, and finally her face as I walked past the curtain. Her hair was matted from a night on the pillow, something she would never countenance when healthy. Every hair was in place every time I saw Myrtle Louise Ainsworth—usually even when she was sick. “Hello, Myrtle Louise,” I said. I was the only person in her life who called her by both names, and she often responded by calling me both of mine --David Eldon. “I was wondering where you were,” she remarked dryly. I took a seat at the foot of the bed. “I just had the best breakfast of my life,” she said enthusiastically, “soupy grits, scrambled eggs, toast and jelly.” My ears perked up. Many people are not so grateful for hospital food. “My doctor is so sweet,” she said, and I wondered if all his patients felt the same. I guessed that her statement indicated more … [Read more...]

By Gary D. Myers, NOBTS communications Finished. Today we wrapped up the 2016 Tel Gezer Water System Expedition. We removed the last few buckets of dirt and pottery from each of the excavation area and began the clean-up process by 10:30 a.m. yesterday. Today we took final photos of each area, took down the dig tent, and packed all the tools and equipment for storage. This was a great dig season – with important finds that we cannot mention and new questions to answer. Each year we are inching closer to a firm answer about the date of the water system – the primary question we are looking to answer. We collected countless pottery sherds, charcoal samples and ancient material items. Much study will take place in the months to come. Databases of pottery information were created and will be studied closely. The pottery evidence is the most important aspect of our research – the pottery will help us determine the date of the system and who built it. Experts in archaeology have developed finely tuned typologies of pottery in Israel – these experts (like Dr. Eli Yannai) can date a piece of pottery within a 100 years or less. Even with all the research left to close out the books on this season’s dig, before we left the tel today, … [Read more...]

By Gary D Myers, NOBTS communications You may have noticed that the blog has been less active this dig season and especially less active this last week of the dig. There are several reasons – the addition of a third digging location makes this our busiest dig season at Tel Gezer. More people, more pottery, more contemplation, more paperwork, and more work. The extra work leaves us ready for bed much earlier than usual. Another reason for the lack of blogs is the complicated and theoretical nature of our work this season. We are trying to answer complicated questions regarding the dating of the water system construction and we are trying understand the relationship between the water system and fields C and D. It was much easier to blog when we were only focused moving dirt from the tunnel. Once we broke through all the fill material in the tunnel several years back, even the discussions of our progress in the water system became more complicated. The main reason for the lack of blogs is the wonderful season we are having. We have made our best finds to date at the Tel Gezer Water System Expedition. We would love to tell you all about the finds, but we can’t until each has been studied and published. The team is well and we are … [Read more...]

By Marilyn Stewart, NOBTS communications NEW ORLEANS—The New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary trustee executive committee approved a doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) major in apologetics and elected three new faculty members during their June 7 meeting. “Apologetics is an area of strength at NOBTS,” said NOBTS Provost Steve Lemke, adding that the Ph.D. major builds on the school’s three master degrees in apologetics and has generated “great student interest.” “In our postmodern, post-Christian culture it is simply irresponsible for Christian ministers not to be equipped apologetically,” said Robert Stewart, director of the NOBTS Institute of Apologetics. “This means that our seminaries have to be on the leading edge of academic work in stating, defending, and providing reasons for the faith once delivered to the saints. This major is just one part of responding to this need.” The board elected David Odom to the graduate faculty and Karla McGehee to the Leavell College faculty. In a presidential appointment, Adam Hughes was named Dean of the Chapel. Odom was elected associate professor of student ministry and director of the NOBTS Youth Ministry Institute. With experience in youth ministry at the church level, Odom served two … [Read more...]

  By Norm Miller, LC News PINEVILLE - As Louisiana College’s spring semester drew to a close recently, 13 professors were honored with endowed chairs and professorships. Cheryl Clark - interim vice president for academic affairs - presided over the luncheon that acknowledged the professors. “Louisiana College is blessed to have a stellar faculty, who continue in the tradition of excellence for which this institution is known,” said Clark, who is also Chair, Division of Humanities. “Those we especially honored, however, were the most deserving because they consistently demonstrate exemplary academic prowess and student-centric practice among a faculty of top-performers.” Those honored include: Edith Kilgore Kirkpatrick Professorship in Music: Paul DeBoer, Chair, Division of Fine Arts; Claude & Lois Colvin Endowed Professorship in Theatre: Tabitha Huffman, MFA, Associate Professor of Theatre; Coughlin-Saunders Foundation Chair in Nursing: Marilyn Cooksey, Dean, LC School of Nursing; BellSouth Professorship in Liberal Arts: Nancy Whitlock, Associate Professor of Spanish; J. E. Hixson Professorship in English: Lillian Purdy, Professor of English; McCormick-Huie Professorship in English: Jill Reid, MFA, … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer Have you ever thought about participating in international missions? Well, here is your chance and you do not even have to leave the state in order to do so. On July 15, 50 South Korean students (fourth through eighth grade) will arrive in central Louisiana for the start of the annual Camp USA. And more than eight host homes are needed to house the students and their chaperones. A partnership of REACH Missions and the Korea Baptist Church Development Board, the camp will involve 25 churches in three Baptist associations. The children will participate in a Vacation Bible School at Alpine First Baptist Church and spend 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 (Ponchatoula area) where they will spend the remainder of their time. While there, the South Korean youth 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 July 31 at First Baptist Ponchatoula. Tim Hisaw, pastor of Tioga First Baptist Church, said while … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer BASTROP – Faith Baptist Church is in the midst of a four-month revival and there are no signs of it ending anytime soon. Since a city-wide crusade at Bastrop’s Morehouse Activity Center and a revival at the church that took place in January, Faith Baptist has experienced significant growth in both attendance and baptisms. Pastor Bodie Spicer and his members recognize something special is taking place at the Morehouse Association church, and they wait with anticipation each Sunday for how the Holy Spirit will move. “When people start opening themselves to God and start listening and responding to the Holy Spirit and come to church with an expectation of hearing from God, then we see all sorts of miraculous things happen in everybody,” Spicer said. “I pray each week that our worship services get out of hand, out of my hand, and that the Holy Spirit takes over. That’s what I seek every week, and when it happens, it’s very rewarding and very moving. I’ve been pastoring thirty years and some of the most rewarding times of my ministry are right now.” The groundwork for the movement at Faith Baptist began in early January when the church participated in multiple evangelism training sessions … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer EVANS – Two months have passed since her husband unexpectedly died from a heart attack at the same homesite where she was now working as a member of an Illinois Baptist Disaster Relief team. Grabbing a bottled water to quench her thirst in the 90-degree Louisiana heat, Margie Fulkerson fought back the tears as she remembered the day her husband, Don, passed away while helping mud-out a home damaged by several feet of flooding. Gone are the days when the Fulkersons served side-by-side as members of the team from First Baptist Church in Galatia, Ill. The couple, who would have celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary in April, had served on 15 disaster relief trips together since their first assignment in 2012. As emotionally difficult as the decision was to return to work on the same house where her husband passed away  March 29, Margie Fulkerson said returning to finish the job is what Don would have wanted. “He loved this kind of work and always wanted me to come with him,” she said. “I wanted to finish this for him.” Fulkerson returned with seven other members of the team from Illinois. They arrived May 20 and worked through May 27, placing sheetrock, installing insulation and … [Read more...]