By Mark H Hunter, Regional Reporter ANGOLA – For the first time in Louisiana Baptist history, and perhaps in all of Southern Baptist history, a local Baptist association has accepted a prison church into its fellowship. The Washington Baptist Association unanimously voted Oct. 5 to accept Grace Baptist Church of the Main Camp in Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola. The Washington Association compromises 38 Louisiana Baptist Convention churches in Washington and St. Tammany Parishes and the annual meeting was held at First Baptist of Franklinton. Grace Baptist is five years old and is the only Southern Baptist church among the prison’s 28 inmate-led churches. Its 65 or so members meet five times a week in the Main Camp’s Education Center and twice a month in the Main Camp’s Tudy Chapel. Grace Baptist is led by inmate Pastor Paul Will, 42, a 2007 graduate of the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Extension at Angola. Like most of the men at Angola, he is serving a life sentence. Andrew Voss is pastor of Hillcrest Baptist in Franklinton, where Will was ordained last year. Voss facilitated the agreement and is also a NOBTS adjunct professor. “To our knowledge this is the very first, fully recognized Southern … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer BOSSIER CITY – The times are challenging and messengers attending the annual meeting of the Louisiana Baptist Convention at First Baptist in Bossier City on Nov. 9-10 will have the opportunity to respond. Louisiana Baptist Convention President Steve Horn is hopeful messengers will embrace a new pastor-led initiative called The Pledge which aims to boost Cooperative Program giving and provide the necessary resources to meet the challenges presented by an increasingly secular culture. First announced during the Louisiana Baptist Executive Board meeting May 5, The Pledge was birthed out of the 2020 Commission Report adopted by messengers attending the 2013 meeting of the LBC in Alexandria. The initiative challenges churches giving less than 3 percent through the less than 3 percent through the Cooperative Program to move to 5 percent by 2020; churches giving between 3 and 8 percent are encouraged to increase by 2 percent by 2020; and churches giving between 8 and 9.9 percent are asked to move to 10 percent during the same time frame. Churches already giving 10 percent through CP will be thanked and encouraged to consider increasing by 1 percent by 2020 or simply reaffirm their … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer MARRERO – Made new is a common phrase these days for many at West Bank Baptist Church. Since moving to be nearer the community where the church ministers, the small but growing congregation has seen multiple decisions for Christ and baptisms. They have grown from just Pastor Ryan Melson and a handful of others meeting in his home in July 2014 to nearly 40 who now gather for worship at a local elementary school. Some may say it’s a strategic vision. Melson attributes that vision to the hand of God. “We prayed when we came to Marrero that God show us where to go, where You are moving,” said Melson, who moved from north Alabama to plant West Bank Baptist Church. “Now that we have an open door with the school, we do ministry with the school. “As God opens doors in different parts of the city, we go through them,” he continued. “It’s been cool to really to see God move.” One key part of the growth has been establishing relationships early on with “persons of peace” – those whom God would use to help Melson make inroads with others in the community. He found one in Ernest Houston, a resident in a neighborhood not far from Miller Wall Elementary School, where the church … [Read more...]

By Will Hall, Message Editor ALEXANDRIA – Newly inaugurated President Rick Brewer has released a white paper providing the theoretical framework for his vision for growing Louisiana College through greater intentionality in integrating faith with learning in all academic disciplines. Brewer is the ninth president of the Christian college, having led the institution since his election March 5, and celebrated his installation with an official ceremony Sept. 18. His essay, delivered to Baptist Message Oct. 22 outlines key ideas that will undergird his approach to leading the institution to embody an academic culture that challenges students to “think critically, learn continuously and serve creatively,” three Cs he said would position Louisiana College graduates “to convert the knowledge they acquire into value” to their lives and work. “Education at a Christian college involves more than the delivery of content in the classroom in an effective way,” he wrote. “It also involves helping students learn to see the world through the lens of a Christian worldview.” He offered that the college must continue to provide “competencies in one’s chosen field of study,” but also “shape character for life and vocation. “Thus, … [Read more...]

By Message Staff SLIDELL – A Louisiana Baptist church is searching for answers after a fire destroyed most of the building last week. Pastor Frank Treme received a phone call from a church member around 10:30 pm on Oct. 22 that Bayou Baptist Church in Slidell could be on fire. When he arrived on the scene, about a mile from his home, several firetrucks already were battling the blaze. The New Orleans Advocate newspaper cautioned that it is too soon to declare arson as the cause, however, Treme said he believes the blaze was intentionally set. “It’s hard for everybody in our church,” Treme said. “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 the insurance company has not yet made a determination about the extent of damage, but he believes it will be a total loss. The fire destroyed a part of the building that houses classrooms, a nursery and the kitchen. The sanctuary did not burn to the ground but the interior sustained enough damage from smoke that Treme is doubtful it can be saved. Regardless, Treme is certain the church will rebuild. While they look for a location to build, the congregation also will be … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE – Louisiana College has launched a program that not only provides financial aid to students but gives them possible real-world business experience in a variety of fields. The newly-formed 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 will help the students find internships, network for the college, help develop additional financial resources and help refer prospective students to LC. LC President Rick Brewer, who said the initial goal was to sign up 25 members by Sept. 1, who would contribute at one of four levels: Board of Visitor, $1,000; Leadership Council, $2,500; Executive Council, $5,000; and the President’s Council, $10,000. But they surpassed that goal when the formation of the Board of Visitors was announced on Oct. 6. Forty-four have signed up. The initial success prompted Brewer to set a goal of 50 members before the end of the fall semester. “It has the ability to transform a student’s life,” said Brewer, who saw success with the same model when he was on staff at Charleston Southern … [Read more...]