By Mark H. Hunter, Regional reporter DENHAM SPRINGS  – When Willis and Shannon Easley accepted the call to Christ’s Community Church eight years ago the Louisiana Baptist congregation was meeting in a junior high school cafeteria and attendance could be counted on the fingers and toes of two people. Now they are meeting in a spacious new building south of town, holding two Sunday services, averaging 500 in attendance, and, last year they baptized 135, Willis Easley said. What is the key to the growth? “Immediately we started doing outreaches – sowing seeds,” Easley said. “We’ve seen people come into the church as a result of ministry outreach that we’ve done and we’ve seen people come into the church for the opportunity to be part of something. It comes from both directions.” “We pretty much have people with tattoos and piercings every Sunday,” Shannon added. “We really create an atmosphere that no matter who you are, no matter where you’ve been, what you’ve done or what you have on – you will feel loved and accepted. Our job is to love you and let God do the work. We teach the truth but we let God do the work.” Last fall, for example, they had a back-to-school event which provided free haircuts and school supplies. One … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer Millions of Christians are expected to gather at churches and various sites throughout the United States May 5 with the single purpose of calling out to God as part of the annual National Day of Prayer. Created in 1952 by a joint resolution of the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Harry S Truman, this annual observance is held on the first Thursday of May, inviting people of all faiths to pray for the nation. Louisiana Baptist Convention President Gevan Spinney said now is the time to cry out to God for a revival and the National Day of Prayer presents the perfect opportunity to focus on that one task. He plans to join fellow members at First Baptist Church in Haughton, where he serves as pastor, in the worship center from noon to 1 p.m. “We have lost many of our freedoms in America while we sleep,” Spinney said. “As believers prepare to gather around our country on May 5, 2016, we are reminded that we have a freedom that can never be lost, and that freedom is prayer. In my lifetime, this country has not been at a greater crossroad than we are right now. As the church, we must cry out to God for revival, for a move of the Holy Spirit of God that would shake us and wake us … [Read more...]

By Brad Welborn, LC Sports Information PINEVILLE – As the man following in the footsteps of legendary Louisiana College basketball coach Gene Rushing, Reni Mason knew the 2015-2016 season would pose a challenge. As a matter of fact, it would have been challenging regardless who followed Rushing, an LC icon who retired last year after 29 years as the Wildcats’ coach. “Coming into the season we knew it would be difficult because of the transition,” said Mason. “There were a lot of high expectations because of the talent returning.” The team, though, exceeded expectations, Mason said, explaining that the team made a first-ever trip to the American Southwest Conference Tournament Championship game. HOOPS JOURNEY “For seven years I coached at Evangel Christian Academy [in Shreveport] and I really enjoyed it,” said Mason. As Evangel’s head basketball coach, he guided the Eagles to a 154-53 record and three district titles in 2010, 2011 and 2015. He led them to the LHSAA Top 28 twice, including a runner-up finish in Class 2A in 2011. “However, it wasn’t until the last year or so there did I start to think about getting back into college basketball,” Mason said. The 44-year-old Mason played collegiately at Louisiana Tech before … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer FLORES, Indonesia – This month, a small group of Hispanic pastors will board a plane from Louisiana and head across several oceans to share the Gospel with Indonesians using an English-speaking interpreter. Using Spanish speakers to reach this country might seem unusual, but it is a perfect approach to winning souls among this mainly Muslim population, according to trip organizer Carlos Schmidt. “Indonesians accept Hispanics easier than Anglo people,” said Schmidt, Hispanic church planting strategist for Louisiana Baptists. “Even though the cultures are miles apart, they have similarities such as being very family oriented and having a unique colorfulness of the culture.” This is the third year Louisiana Baptist Hispanic pastors and church members have taken a trip to Indonesia, a country located in southeast Asia. The primary mission of the team is to assist the ministry of an English-speaking Christian couple, who live there and are trying to reach their people group for Jesus. During the first trip in 2014, the team worked through a small English-speaking grade school to share the Gospel in one town. When the team returned to the country last year, they built relationships with an … [Read more...]

By Chuck Kelley, President of New Orleans Baptists Theological Seminary The Great Commission is Matthew 28:18-20. Based on His authority as the Risen Lord, Jesus gives a very clear command. It is not a recommendation, a request, or a suggestion. He commands us to make disciples among all nations, noting that He will always be present with us as we go about the task. Note how Jesus explained “make disciples.” The mark of Great Commission progress is not how many hear the Gospel, nor is it simply making the Gospel known to an ever growing number of people. According to the text, new disciples who are baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who know and obey the commandments of Jesus, and who are themselves engaged in making disciples are the truest measure of progress. I call your attention now to a provocative chart on the Great Commission progress of SBC Churches. The chart begins on the left in 1881 and concludes on the right with the most recent year for which date is available, 2014. Conclusion #1: Lostness in North America is having a bigger impact on Southern Baptists than Southern Baptists are having on lostness. Put another way: The world is having a bigger impact on the behavior of Southern … [Read more...]

ON THE MOVE Jason, wife Jessica, Dubea new as pastor at Gateway Baptist Church, Ball. Joe Bob Alexander is the new pastor at Ferry Lake Baptist Church, Oil City. Chad Mills is the new pastor at Beulah Land Baptist Church, Haughton. Tommy McManus is the new pastor at Trinity Baptist Church, Eunice. Bryan Camp is the new youth minister at Beulah Land Baptist Church, Haughton. Mike, wife Arenda, Schultz is the new youth minister at Cross Point Baptist Church, Bossier City. Terry, wife Jennifer, Young is the new pastor at Airline Baptist Church, Bossier City. Jeff and Jan Shadoin are new as youth ministers at Bethany Baptist Church, Bethany. Ronnie, wife Kayla, Whitten is the music minister at Bethany Baptist Church, Bethany. Melvin Sharry resigned as pastor at Bethsaida Baptist Church, Shreveport. Michael Prescott resigned as pastor at New Bethel Baptist Church, Plain Dealing. Shelby, wife Devona, Cowling retires at First Baptist Church, Haynesville on May 15. REVIVAL Social Springs Baptist Church, Ringgold: Revival, May 8-12, Sunday 11 a.m. & 6 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, 6 p.m. Evangelist: Scotty McDowell, chalk artist. Pastor: James Hester. New Hope Baptist Church, Jonesboro: Harvest Sunday, May 15, 11 a.m. … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message RUSTON – The jobs have faded but the lives touched will never be the same. Southern Baptist Disaster Relief efforts in Louisiana, which were such a godsend in the state’s time of need, are finally starting to wind down. “We, the staff of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, can never say thank you enough to the 30 state conventions that responded and sent volunteers to help our recovery efforts,” said John Hebert, the LBC’s Mission and Ministry Director. “We are very grateful for their partnerships and applaud their commitment to helping people. “Thank you Southern Baptists for caring for Louisiana Baptists in their greatest time of need,” Hebert said. It has been 48 days since Louisiana was ravaged by a historical rainfall and flooding event that left more than 14,000 homes flooded and countless lives affected. Even though more than 85 percent of Louisiana’s DR volunteers were among those affected, churches rallied and rushed to help those in desperate need. The Southern Baptist Convention mobilized and soon DR units from state conventions began making their way into the state to offer their assistance. To those on the front lines, they more than a welcome sight. Unlike other disasters encountered by … [Read more...]

MONROE - The Louisiana Baptist Children's Home has dedicated its first cottage in more than 40 years. Children's Home staff, trustees and others gathered on April 22 for a ribbon cutting at a cottage designed to provide transitional living for women and their children as they prepare for independent living. The HomePlace Cottages at Martin Village provide a place for homeless women and their children to stay for up to one year at no cost to the residents. While there, the women receive a high school equivalency degree, life and employment skills training through the Christian Women Job Corps. Two additional cottages are planned for the near future from proceeds generated by the 12th Annual Roy O. Martin/Brenda Hall Abney Golf Classic. The tournament was created by Roy O. Martin, chairman, and CEO Jonathan E. Martin and his wife, Maggie, in memory of Abney, who passed away in 2005 from a rare form of breast cancer. Abney grew up at the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home in Monroe and attended Louisiana College, where she was figuratively adopted by the Martins in 1983. Over the years, more than $1.7 million has been raised from the golf tournament to support the LBCH.     … [Read more...]

Before the executive board of the Evangeline Baptist Association met on April 18, interim Director of Missions Bert Langley, who is retiring, and former DOM Wallace Primeaux shared a moment with incoming DOM David Carlton. Carlton, a former International Mission Board Missionary who served in various capacities for IMB and was a part of the IMB voluntary retirement initiative program, was the unanimous selection of the executive committee of the EBA on Feb. 22 to become the association’s next DOM. His first official day on the job was April 18 -- the day of the board meeting. Langley (left), Carlton (center) and Primeaux (right) have a combined 140 years in ministry – Primeaux, 69 years, Langley, 46 years, and Carlton 25 years. Primeaux is presently the pastor of Esther Baptist Church.     … [Read more...]

By Gary D. Myers, NOBTS Communications NEW ORLEANS -- New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary trustees elected a collegiate ministry professor and approved a new graduate certificate in counseling ministry during their spring meeting April 13. The board also approved a $24.3 million budget, elected two faculty members to serve in Leavell College (the seminary's undergraduate program), and approved minor curriculum revisions designed to streamline and update graduate degree and certificate programs. Collegiate ministry Beth Masters, former Baptist campus minister and director of Christian Life and Ministries at Mississippi College, was elected to serve in the seminary's growing collegiate ministry program. She earned the master of divinity degree with a specialization in collegiate ministry, master of theology and doctor of philosophy at NOBTS. During Masters' time in New Orleans, she served as associate metro director of Baptist Collegiate Ministry (BCM) in New Orleans and directed BCM programs at the University of New Orleans and Leavell College. Masters currently serves as a leader in the college ministry program at her church, First Baptist Church in Jackson, Miss. Her wide collegiate ministry experience earned Masters a … [Read more...]