By Message Staff BATON ROUGE – Istrouma Baptist Church has released details for a memorial service honoring long-time Baptist Message freelance writer Mark Hunter, who died on April 24. The church will host the service at 11 a.m. on May 5 with visitation scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. The church’s Facebook page reported Hunter, who has written for the Baptist Message since January 2011, suffered a cardiopulmonary event while worshipping at Istrouma, where he is a member, Sunday morning. Medical personnel in the worship service came to the aid of Hunter and emergency personnel were immediately called to the church. Jeff Ginn, pastor of Istrouma Baptist Church, said in an email Hunter lived a life that honored Christ. Ginn said in addition to his love for serving Christ through writing faith-based articles appearing in the Baptist Message and Baton Rouge Advocate, Hunter was passionate about men’s ministry at Istrouma and throughout Baton Rouge. “Mark died as he lived,” Ginn said. “One moment he was singing a song of praise by faith in our Sunday worship service, the next moment he worshipped by sight in heaven. I remember the last words he shared with me. The day before he died he had written an article about a mission effort … [Read more...]

By Gary Meyers, NOBTS Communications NEW ORLEANS (BP) -- At first, it seemed like any other chapel for Chuck Kelley, president of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, but he was in for a surprise. Members of the faculty and staff planned a special recognition of Kelley's 20th anniversary as NOBTS president. Kelley was clearly surprised and moved by the acknowledgement. Chapel at NOBTS usually includes a brief encouraging word from Kelley between two times of musical worship, when he greets those in attendance, introduces the speaker and offers a prayer of consecration for the service. But on March 1, when Kelley expected the music and singing to resume, it did not. Instead, Jonathan Key, faculty member and assistant to the president, stepped in to announce the anniversary. The announcement stirred a standing ovation from the chapel audience. Kelley began serving as NOBTS president on March 1, 1996. From 1983 until 1996 he served as an evangelism professor and director of seminary's Leavell Center for Evangelism and Church Health. During Kelley's tenure as president, the seminary has experienced significant student enrollment and endowment growth. During the celebration, John Foster, NOBTS trustee and member of Franklin … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message BATON ROUGE -- The Baptist Message has lost one of its long-time freelance writers. Mark Hunter, who has written for the Baptist Message since January 2011, died earlier today while worshipping at Istrouma Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, where he was a member. The church's Facebook page reported that Hunter suffered a cardiopulmonary event. Medical personnel in the worship service came to the aid of Hunter and emergency personnel were immediately called to the church. Jeff Ginn, pastor of Istrouma Baptist Church, said an email that Hunter lived a life that honored Christ. Ginn said in addition to his love for serving Christ through writing faith-based articles appearing in the Baptist Message and Baton Rouge Advocate, Hunter was passionate about men's ministry at Istrouma and throughout Baton Rouge. "Mark died as he lived," Ginn said. "One moment he was singing a song of praise by faith in our Sunday worship service, the next moment he worshipped by sight in heaven. I remember the last words he shared with me. The day before he died he had written an article about a mission effort of our church. I shot him a "thank you" email for the compelling job he did in penning that story. His reply?  "To God be … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE – Don Hill came to Louisiana College with a $100 scholarship. He left in 1964 with a college education that would pave a path to financial success. Though he left for graduate school at Florida State and other endeavors across the U.S., Hill said he never lost touch with the school. When Hill heard of the opportunity last year to become a member of a newly-formed body that would provide scholarships to students of his alma mater, he enthusiastically agreed. Hill was among the 80 members who attended the Board of Visitors first meeting Friday afternoon. “Because of the contribution Louisiana College made to me, I am able to be fairly successful financially and want to contribute back to the school,” said Hill, president of DMH & Associates in Dallas, Texas. “The Board of Visitors allows me to do that and I’m looking forward to meeting some of the students who will benefit from that.” Formed in September, the Board of Visitors is comprised of alumni, business owners and other professionals and friends of LC who are giving between $1,000 and $10,000 annually for four years. During their four-year commitment, the members help the students find internships, network for the … [Read more...]

By Bradley Welborn PINEVILLE – Concentration and an intense focus are the reason Louisiana College’s softball team leads in multiple defensive categories this season. To maintain that edge, it is not uncommon to see some Lady Wildcats with colorful bows in their hair, headbands, sunglasses or eye black which helps to reduce the glare and enables them to see the ball better. Some even apply a little ‘face paint.’ Perhaps no ‘face paint’ is more noticeable than that of Wildcat second baseman Jessica Johnson, who for the past year has drawn a cross on each of her cheeks before every game. “I started doing it last year, and I just put it on my face because crosses are a good reminder for me,” said Johnson. “Before I go up to bat, I draw a cross on the ground because it reminds me no matter what the outcome is, whether I strike out or get a hit, that doesn't determine my identity in Christ. “And when I’m on defense, after every play or maybe even after every pitch, I draw a cross in the dirt,” Johnson continued. “I do it to help me calm down, relax and get rid of any fears or anxieties I might be feeling. I draw a cross to assure me there’s no fear in God and we’re playing for His Kingdom.” Whether by happenstance or not, she … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE – Even before she graduates, Louisiana College student Rachel Britt knows her calling in life – to one day open a safe house for human trafficking survivors. This summer, Britt will have the opportunity to put her dream into practice when she serves as an intern at the Hope House in Baton Rouge. While there, she will work with survivors of human trafficking through a variety of programs intended to give them hope found in Christ. “I actually want to open a safe house for minors who have survived human trafficking,” said Britt, a member of First Baptist Church in Zachary. “I’m really excited to have this opportunity.” Britt is among 12 LC students who will serve as summer missionaries in several locations such as Baton Rouge, North Carolina, New Mexico, Kentucky, Tennessee, Africa and South America. They were recognized during a special commissioning service at LC earlier today. The service included music, a commissioning charge, medallion presentations to the student missionaries and a message by Eric Hankins, pastor of First Baptist Church in Oxford, Miss., and son of Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Director David Hankins. Citing Luke 10:1-16, Hankins challenged the … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer WOODWORTH – The recent RA Congress concluded with truly a Holy Spirit moment during the Saturday morning session according to Gibbie McMillan, state director for Royal Ambassadors. After offering an invitation to come forward and accept Christ, McMillan watched as 14 young men made their way to the front of the Tall Timbers Conference Center activities building. Only the Holy Spirit could have orchestrated that moment, McMillan believes. “We had a very great opportunity right there to see those boys come to Christ,” McMillan said. “It’s a moment where we present the Gospel to them and they respond in a way of the Holy Spirit drawing them to a point of decision. “It’s always an exciting time to see the Holy Spirit move in this way,” he said. “Seeing the boys come forward to make a decision is why we do ministry.” McMillan said the decisions resulted from seeds being intentionally planted, cultivated and harvested. “That’s the end result,” McMillan said. “This is an example of why it’s vitally important the Gospel be presented at every opportunity.” Dustin Lee, children’s minister at First Baptist Lafayette, was able to lead one of the boys in his group to Christ at RA Congress. Lee … [Read more...]

IN REMEMBERANCE Jeffrey L. Woodrich, 57, passed away April 4. An accomplished carpenter, painter, and cabinet maker, the lifelong resident of Walker took those skills on the road when the Lord called him into the ministry. He and his wife started Louisiana Volunteer Mission Builders, which later turned into Jeffrey Woodrich Baptist Builders. He worked for the Louisiana Baptist Convention for 17 years as the associate and then Mission Builder Strategist building numerous church buildings across the state. He is survived by his wife of 22 years, Erin Dawn Higginbotham Woodrich, his three sons, Toby Keith and wife Amanda and their two boys Jordan and Kyle; Cory James and his wife Sarah and their daughter Elena Belle; and Jeffrey Andrew Woodrich; his mother, Melba Janette Woodrich; his sister, Deborah Ann McMorris and husband Brett along with their two children Austin and Jenna.; his in-laws, Louis Lodney and Mary Higginbotham and sisters-in-law, Patricia and Tereasa Higginbotham. He was preceded in death by his father, Harold Ernest “Woody” Woodrich and his grandparents, Ernest and Helen Woodrich and Toby and Ola Haynes. A memorial service took place April 8 at Judson Baptist Church in Walker. ON THE MOVE Steven Hicks is the … [Read more...]

By Jamie Stephens, Regional Reporter WOODWORTH – Speakers encouraged more than 175 ladies representing 70 different churches and 26 associations to pray and listen as they seek to reach the lost in Louisiana and around the world. The women gathered April 1-2 for the 116th annual Women’s Missionary Union meeting, held this year at Tall Timbers Conference Center, to hear a number of messages around the theme of “opened eyes to follow” based on Matthew 20:32-34. THE LORD’S ARMY “You are a mighty army of Southern Baptist women who are steady and intent on serving the Lord through missions,” said Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Director David Hankins in welcoming the attendees to the annual meeting. Referencing 2 Kings 6:13-20, Hankins recalled Elisha’s prayer for the young servant. “We should be driven to our knees in prayer as we reach out to younger generations. We must open our eyes to the cross, to the Promise, to the potential, and to the next generation so that the following generations can have their eyes opened to the Lord,” said Hankins. With Hankins’ remarks fresh on their minds, attendees took part in several breakout sessions about engaging the younger generations and a variety of other topics, including the … [Read more...]

By Marilyn Stewart, Regional Reporter NEW ORLEANS – The phone call Alexis Leslie received from Calvary Baptist School in New Orleans last year began with words every parent loves to hear. “I have awesome news,” Leslie said the principal told her. But when Leslie heard her 11-year-old son Liam had made a commitment to follow Christ, she was not sure she understood. “I’ll be honest with you, I don’t know a whole lot about the Baptist religion. I’m Catholic,” Leslie said. “I really wasn’t quite sure what ‘saved’ meant.” The unusual phone call was followed by an unusual baptism when Liam Leslie, a fifth-grader, was baptized Oct. 28 in front of the entire student body, K-8th grade. The school is a ministry of Calvary Baptist Church in New Orleans, and when a Sunday morning baptism could not be worked out, the church approved the baptism during school hours, a first for the school. “We couldn’t seem to find a perfect fit for a Sunday baptism date with the family,” said Laekan Carter, the school’s children’s coordinator and a chapel teacher. “Liam asked me weekly, for months, when he could be baptized.” Liam’s commitment to Christ had come months earlier after Carter had shared during a school chapel program what it meant “to have … [Read more...]