ANGOLA – Clarence Frederick wore a big smile as he shepherded a group of Louisiana Baptist men through Camp C at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola on April 11. While the Baptist men witnessed, distributed tracts and prayed with the incarcerated men, Frederick, 52, described the importance of their visit. “The average sentence here is four years - we really have to keep the evangelistical message goin’ here,” Frederick said in his Cajun accent. Now in his 27th year of a life sentence for second degree murder, Frederick is a graduate of the New Orleans Theological Seminary pastoral studies program and leads a 70-member inmate church that meets in the camp chapel. While many of the 6,200-plus men incarcerated in America’s largest maximum security prison are serving life sentences at its five other camps, Camp C holds about 1,100 men, previously held in Phelps Correctional Center before it closed two years ago. They will all eventually be released. “These (Baptist) guys come in here and help us feel like we’re bridging the gap between the Christians in society and the Christians in here,” Frederick said. “They actually reach some inmates that perhaps don’t want to talk to an inmate pastor,” Frederick said. “They are … [Read more...]
Louisiana Notables
ON THE MOVE Titus Terrebonne new as associate pastor at South Lafourche Baptist Church. Preston Young new as pastor of First Baptist Church, Castor. Brad McCandless new as pastor at Mt. Olive Baptist Church, Quitman. Everett Geis, Sr., new as interim past at First Baptist Church, Ringgold. Lonnie Cook has resigned as Pastor of Carroll Baptist Church, Walker. Andy Granger new as song leader at New Bethlehem Baptist Church, Denham Springs. HOMECOMING First Baptist Church, Cameron: 75th anniversary, April 18, service at 11 a.m. followed by dinner on the grounds. Former members and pastors are invited to attend. For more information, call 337.764.3352. REVIVAL Philadelphia Baptist Church, Deville: RESCUE, a revival for the family, April 12-14. Evangelist: Josh McDowell. Worship: Casey Darnell. Pastor: Philip Robertson. First Baptist Church, Natchitoches: Revival – Life Action Thirst Conference, April 12-15. Sunday, 9:30 a.m. worship service, 11 a.m. Combined Sunday School for adults and youth in the sanctuary, 6:30 p.m. worship service. Monday-Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. worship service. Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. there will be a ladies luncheon. The Life Action conference at First Baptist will help people to slow down, examine their … [Read more...]
LBCH’s PathFinders expands to meet needs of youth ‘aging out’ of Louisiana foster care
MONROE – Shantel had no trouble fitting all of her earthly possessions into two trash bags. The problem was finding a place to unpack those bags – a safe place that she could call home. Shantel was 18 years old, and she had officially “aged out” of the foster care system. “Young people like me who age out of the system usually don’t have the luxury of having a family to help,” Shantel said. “The decisions we face every day – how we pay our bills, put food in our mouths and keep a roof over our heads – are difficult, and we have to answer them without the guidance or support of a family.” “Aging out” is a term used to describe the process of youth transitioning out of the foster care system with no permanent family connection. Of the 400,000 children who are in foster care nationwide, approximately 25,000 age out every year without a permanent home or family to support them. Many youth coming out of foster care are at higher risk for unemployment, poor educational outcomes, health issues, early parenthood, long-term dependency on public assistance, and increased rate of incarceration and homelessness. One in four will be incarcerated within two years of leaving foster care. One in five will become homeless. Only half will … [Read more...]
M-JAM particpants challenged to follow Jesus and follow Him when the opportunity presents
MINDEN – Andy Partington received a little help as he shared the importance of missions. Holding a puppet, Partington talked with more than 470 youngsters and their adult leaders about saying yes to Jesus. “When you follow him amazing things happen,” said Partington, who serves as the children’s pastor at First Baptist Church in Minden. “We just have to choose to be obedient.” Partington was the main speaker during the recent M-JAM, also known as Missions Jamboree. The day-long event featured Louisiana and international missionaries and was held at two locations – Williams Boulevard Baptist Church in Kenner on March 14 and First Baptist Church in Minden on March 21. The schedule was the same at both locations and allowed for youngsters in first through sixth grade and their leaders to attend M-JAM at the church closest to where they live. Attendance was 245 at Williams Boulevard Baptist and was 472 at First Baptist Minden While Partington was the main speaker for the M-JAM in Minden, Maegan Bruce was the main speaker for the event at Williams Boulevard Baptist. The event used challenging messages by Partington and Bruce, in addition to music by Chance Fussell and friends during the main celebration sessions to tell the … [Read more...]
Royal Ambassadors learn about missions, pioneer days
WOODWORTH – Brandon Duvall and his son, Brandon Jr., could have spent their weekend catching an LSU baseball game, playing golf or doing many other activities to spend their free time on a beautiful spring weekend. But the father-son duo chose to spend time with other young men learning about missions and what it was like to live in the pioneer days at the annual Royal Ambassador Congress at Tall Timbers Conference Center. “I loved talking to pioneers and how they talked to us about what a man has to do,” said fifth-grader Brandon Duvall Jr., a member of the First Baptist Church Krotz Springs RA group. “This weekend we got to learn about missions and interact with people, some I never met before. It was a pretty interesting time.” His father enjoys how RAs teaches the boys and their leaders about missions, both during and away from RA Congress. “They have so many outdoor activities plus teach our boys how to be men of integrity,” he said. “I look at this as my mission field because so many men aren’t Christians.” The Duvalls were among the 345 people from 21 churches attending this year’s RA Congress. Thirteen boys made decisions for Christ and 9 indicated a re-dedication of their faith. The two-day RA Congress featured the … [Read more...]
Louisiana Bible Drill & Speakers Tournament: “Champions” in the making
Fifteen years have passed since I made the trip to Louisiana College to participate in the Louisiana Baptist Convention Youth High School and Children’s State Bible Drill and Youth Speakers Tournament of which I had previously competed for nine years from fourth to 12th grade. I can remember being so excited about attending the State Drill that, no matter what time of the year my family drove the Pineville Expressway, when I smelled the creosote plant across from Louisiana College it throttled-up my adrenalin. As I pulled up to judge the Speakers Tournament last year at First Baptist Church in Pineville, that same excitement and energy was reignited as I viewed the faces of the 2014 participants. However, the most nostalgic moment came when I walked into the registration area and saw Mrs. Ella Creel, the godly lady who had been my Bible drill teacher for my grade years. She was waiting patiently with the children and the parents of her newest crop of drillers. As I saw her just a few feet away, she was talking to her crew, and I knew exactly what she was doing because her methods have not changed much since the early 90s. Her encouraging words and influence helped strengthen my personal faith walk that has led me to love the … [Read more...]
Coteau Baptist Church showing ‘A Matter of Faith’ on April 18
HOUMA – Coteau Baptist Church is hosting a movie that disproves evolution while raising money for its summer associational mission trip at the same time. “A Matter of Faith” is about a Christian female college student whose Biology professor influences her through his teaching that evolution is the answer of the origin of life. Her father learns of the situation and agrees to debate her professor. Coteau Baptist will show the film on April 18 at 1 pm, 4 pm and 7 pm at 2066 Coteau Road in Houma. The price of admission is $5. Patrons can purchase concessions during all three showtimes. Proceeds from concessions will go toward the Bayou Baptist Association’s mission trip to Philadelphia, Miss. Scheduled for mid-July, the association is hoping to take 100 people to participate in two sports camps, construction projects and nightly revivals. Wayne Hunt, pastor of Coteau Baptist, said to the best of his knowledge, no other church in Louisiana is hosting a showing of the movie, though other movie theaters are doing so. Hunt said the local theater in Houma was not interested in showing the movie, so the company that produced the film asked if Coteau would be interested. Coteau has an HD projector used in movie theaters along with a … [Read more...]
Lane’s senior project helps impact her life, lives in community
PINEVILLE – When Lexi Lane* initially began brainstorming the topic of her senior high school project at Pineville High School, she knew her focus would center on orphans in another country*. She never dreamed how this project would impact her life and many lives around the community. What she received in the process was a return to her roots overseas and seeing first-hand the love of Christ on display through the lives of special needs orphans in the country. Lane said she wanted to go back to see her birthplace, to understand more about the culture, but also to help an orphanage in some way. Lane's life began in a rural area in the country. Adopted at 14 months old, Lane has no memory of what life was like as a baby. When the time came for Lane to choose the topic of her senior project – which is required for graduation – she thought of her desire to give back to her country in doing something for orphans there. Lane’s mom, Pam, started the process by contacting an organization that helps unite families with orphans from around the world. Sean and Pam Keith adopted Lane. Lane was then directed to a childhood advocacy organization. Starting in May 2014, she began raising funds for a trip to work in the orphanage and … [Read more...]
Crockett Point Revival: A POWERFUL MOVEMENT OF GOD
CROWVILLE – Evangelist Bill Britt originally planned to preach just four days at a Crockett Point Baptist Church revival. However, Britt’s scheduled four-day stay at the Deer Creek Association church continued for two weeks as the congregation extended the revival not once, not twice, but three times. By the end of the revival in mid-March, 197 people accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior and numerous others made other decisions for God. Britt could only attribute the extension to one reason – God. “When we came to the end of the scheduled last day each time, crowds were so big and so many saved, we didn’t think the Lord was finished,” Britt said. “It wasn’t just me and Joe but the people who also wanted to keep going. That was a key deal. People were hungry to meet with the Lord and to keep bringing their friends.” Joe Senn, pastor of Crockett Point Baptist, said the extended revival was not about the pastor, congregation or who was on the schedule. The center focus was God and how he moved. “The revival was about allowing the Holy Spirit to move without restraint,” Senn said. “Again, some may believe there is a secret to a revival of this magnitude. Who wouldn’t want to see revival of this nature commence at all … [Read more...]
Every People Group Task Force continues work on plan
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA – The Every People Group Task Force met recently, continuing charting a plan on how Louisiana Baptists can reach those of various ethnicities in the state. James Jenkins, church planting director for Louisiana Baptists, said the charge of the task force is three-fold: ● Evaluate the ethnic diversity in Louisiana and its implications for Louisiana Baptists, ● Create avenues for input and involvement in LBC life by non-Anglo leaders and congregations, ● Lead Louisiana Baptists in effective engagement with ministry among all people groups in the state. The task force was appointed as a result of the President’s 2020 Commission, which was affirmed by messengers during the 2013 LBC Annual Meeting in Alexandria. The President’s 2020 Commission report was crafted collaboratively by 400 Louisiana Baptist pastors, leaders, staff members and laypeople working in 20 subcommittees of 20 members each. Ten “key actions in reaching our state” – known as KAIROS – were developed to engage two audiences – the next generation and every people group. As the first step in carrying out its charge, the Every People Group Task Force agreed to outline a missiology for the work … [Read more...]
