By Karen Pearce, Regional Reporter BOSSIER CITY – “You are what’s left of Christianity in America.” These sobering words were spoken by Louisiana Rep. Mike Johnson, R-Bossier City, July 20 to a standing-room-only crowd at First Baptist Church, Bossier City, where more than 200 church leaders gathered to learn next steps after the Supreme Court’s recent marriage ruling threatening religious liberty. Johnson said recent polls indicated that Louisiana is the most Bible-literate and most church-attending state in the nation, which leads to greater responsibility. “I really do feel like Louisiana Baptists have a particular responsibility. We shouldn’t take for granted what we have,” he said. “We need to be aware, but not afraid.” His legal organization, Freedom Guard, is ready to assist any organization that comes under fire. “On June 26th, five of the nine-member Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges to usurp the authority of the people and force same-sex marriage on all 50 states by judicial fiat,” Johnson said, expressing the outrage of his fellow conservative legislators as they watched years of hard-earned court victories disregarded and over-ruled. Johnson warned this latest ruling changed the playing field and … [Read more...]

ON THE MOVE Larry Sylvest is new as pastor at Lewiston Baptist Church, Kentwood. Scott Spins is new as pastor at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church, Mt. Hermon. Russell Zwerner is new as associate pastor at Victory Baptist Church, Walker. Mark (wife Paula) Norwood is new as pastor at First Baptist Church, Patterson. Kenneth Austin has resigned as senior pastor at Bayou Plaquemine Baptist Church. Nathan Coleman is new as youth director at North Shreve Baptist Church, Shreveport. Kelly (husband Chris) Pyle is new as children’s director at Koran Baptist Church, Haughton. HOMECOMING Turkey Creek Baptist Church, Gilbert: 97th Homecoming Celebration, Aug. 2, 10:45 a.m. The homecoming celebration will take place in the church’s new sanctuary in which the first service was held on July 5. The old sanctuary was destroyed by a fire Dec. 4, 2013. Everyone is invited to attend. Pastor: Kyle Spinks. Ebenezer Baptist Church, Jonesboro: 165th Homecoming, Aug. 9, 10:30 a.m. A meal will follow the service in the Family Life Center. Speaker: Clovis Sturdivant. Pastor: Randy Lee. First Baptist Church, Greensburg: 149th Homecoming and dinner on the grounds, Aug. 9, Sunday school, 9:15 a.m.; Worship services, 10:30 a.m. with dinner on the grounds … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer MANSURA – The retirement years may bring about visions of spending time at the grandchildrens’ home, traveling around the country in an RV or catching catfish for an entire day at an area lake. However, for Norris Landry, retiring meant one thing – planting a church in a community with little evangelical presence. “I was comfortable and everything was great,” said Landry, who retired as pastor of Hessmer Baptist Church last December to serve as a church planter at Point of Life Community Church in Plaucheville. “But I was uncomfortable that I wasn’t doing what God wanted me to do. I don’t know if I will ever retire. As long as I am able to, I will serve.” Landry, who learned to speak the French language as a young boy growing up in Pierre Part, felt called to reach Cajun country with the gospel while attending classes in 1980 at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and serving as pastor of First Baptist Church in Head of Island. A year later, Landry began serving as pastor of Loreauville Mission Church, a mission of First Baptist Church in New Iberia, while co-pastoring five miles away at Coteau Holmes Mission. He remained there until Hessmer Baptist Church called Landry to serve … [Read more...]

By Joe Dupree Message Staff Writer FOREST HILL – A helping hand from a sister church help make Vacation Bible School one to remember. More than 20 teenagers and adult volunteers from Kingsville Baptist Church in Ball helped to Forest Hill Baptist Church with its VBS recently. "I believe this is one of our best VBS's we have had here," said George Marshall, pastor of Forest Hill Baptist Church. "Our people have really come together and having Kingsville help was such a blessing to us." Averaging 30 children throughout the week, Forest Hill Baptist began each day with worship rally where the children sang songs and watched a video on the day’s lesson. After worship, there was Bible study before the children rotated between crafts, recreation, snacks and missions. Throughout the week, in the evening, the teens and college students from Kingsville would be there helping Forest Hill teach the children about Jesus and showing, by example, what it meant to come together for the sake of the gospel. "This is what it's all about. Larger churches helping smaller churches," said Marshall. "When a church comes to help with VBS, it's really great for us." And the congregation at Forest Hill didn’t mind sharing their … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer LAFAYETTE - Louisiana Baptist pastors in Lafayette are urging prayers after a deadly shooting in a movie theatre happened in their hometown late Thursday evening. Around 7:30 pm Thursday during a showing of the movie “Trainwreck”, 59-year-old John Russel Houser of Phenix City, Ala., the alleged shooter, was sitting alone when he got up from his seat at the Grand Theatre off Johnston Street and opened fire with a semi-automatic handgun according to Lafayette Police Chief Jim Craft. Two people sitting in front of him were killed, one at the theater and another later at an area hospital, according to KLFY-TV in Lafayette. Authorities identified the victims as 21-year-old Mayci Breaux and 33-year-old Jillian Johnson. Nine others were transported to three area hospitals for treatment. Since the shooting, two of the wounded have been released. The rest remain hospitalized, including one with critical injuries. Col. Michael Edmonson of the Louisiana State Police said, Houser was "a drifter who just happened to be in this theater and just took two beautiful lives," He said Houser was apparently acting alone. Craft said Houser had parked his car near the theater's exit door … [Read more...]

By Will Hall, Message Editor NEW ORLEANS -- At the National Right to Life Convention Prayer Breakfast July 11, three members of the “first family” of Louisiana bared the sin, repentance and redemption of their experiences with abortion—in order to proclaim in agreement that all life is precious. Oldest son Alan Robertson, his wife Lisa and his mother “Miss” Kay shared their individual stories of poor choices to have sex before marriage, and the real life consequences of those decisions, but also stressed how God’s grace healed their hurts and reclaimed their lives. It is a part of the Duck Dynasty story that has not made it into one of the episodes of the A&E blockbuster reality show, even though the family has been faithful in sharing this testimony around the country. STRONG FOUNDATION As a young girl in a little bitty town, Miss Kay said the best thing that happened to her was being raised by her grandmother. “She was a Christian lady. She only went to school until she was 13 or 14, I think. And at 15, she married and moved out.” “So she had a limited education, but it didn’t matter,” she said. “She had a heart of gold and she loved God, and she loved the Bible.” Those foundations shaped her grandmother … [Read more...]

By Joe Dupree, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE/PONCHATOULA – The sights and sounds of children laughing, talking, and having fun will be the norm around area churches when Camp USA gets underway in the Central Louisiana area over the next week. In 2003, when David Cranford was pastor at Tioga First Baptist, he and Charles Lowery (then a member of First Baptist Pineville) met with Paul Lim of the Korea Baptist Church Development Board and began discussing bringing South Korean children to the United States as part of a camp experience. “Korean parents are willing to send their children abroad because it gives them a chance to be exposed to different cultures from other countries and a chance to learn about those cultures,” said Cranford current pastor at First Baptist Ponchatoula. When Cranford became the new pastor at First Baptist Ponchatoula, he brought with him the work of Camp USA to Ponchatoula, where they hold a music camp for the Korean children. They will also be presenting a musical on Sunday evening, August 2, at 6:30. The thriving ministry dates back more than 40 years when the Korea Baptist Convention’s Home Mission Board and the Louisiana Baptist Convention collaborated as part of REACH Missions … [Read more...]

By Joe Dupree, Message Staff Writer WOODWORTH - This year's RA camp featured good fun and important lessons in life. During this year's Royal Ambassador (RA) Camp at Tall Timbers, 52 campers from six churches not only got to experience what it was like to be a pioneer but they also got an opportunity to spend some quality time with their fathers and other godly men who come into their lives. The camp, which is for children first through sixth grade, took place June 22-25. "One of the main things we wanted to focus on was Christian men spending time and having fun with these young boys while being a good Christian person," said Mike Collie, Royal Ambassadors state director. "Additionally, it provided an opportunity for the boys to grow in their relationship with Christ." Besides the worship and Bible study, campers also got an opportunity to do archery, shoot BB guns, swimming, bazooka ball, tackle the challenging high ropes course  and use the paddle boats there at the camp. "We had a lot of fun," said Collie.  "We instructed our boys in shooting and archery. We also played bazooka ball, swam and completed a ropes course." Corey Olivier, BCM director of New Orleans Metro, was the camp pastor for the week. On … [Read more...]

By Message Staff NEW ORLEANS – Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal has announced an investigation into Planned Parenthood after video surfaced showing a senior director of the organization selling body parts of unborn children aborted at its facilities. “Today’s video of a Planned Parenthood official discussing the systematic harvesting and trafficking of human body parts is shocking and gruesome,” Jindal said in a news release on Tuesday. “This same organization is seeking to open an abortion clinic in New Orleans. I have instructed Louisiana’s Department of Health and Hospitals to conduct an immediate investigation into this alleged evil and illegal activity and to not issue any licenses until this investigation is complete.  I am also asking the FBI to assist DHH in investigating this alleged criminal activity by this organization.” Center of Medical Progress, a non-profit medical watchdog group, released the footage showing a female identifying herself as Deborah Nucatola and discussing Planned Parenthood Federation of America fetal parts business with an undercover investigator posing as a potential buyer during a July 25, 2014 meeting. Nucatola is senior director of medical services for Planned Parenthood Federation of … [Read more...]