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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Despite perils, Louisiana Baptists continue overseas ministry in Haiti

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer NEW ORLEANS (LBM) – Escalating violence may have forced Louisiana Reach Haiti to halt most operations in the country, however, the ministry has found other ways to share the hope of Jesus in Haiti. Ministry President Darrin Badon said he wishes LRH could have continued “business as usual” in Haiti, but he is grateful the Lord has allowed the ministry to move forward despite the many challenges. The ministry is a partnership between the Louisiana Baptist Convention, Haiti Baptist Convention, Louisiana Baptist churches and the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home & Family Ministries. “It’s been a faith builder,” Badon said. “We may not be able to send teams or have as many ministries happening there as in the past. But we do have kids in our Children’s Village and staff who depend on us to provide for them each month. The kids still need the Gospel, too, and the board members feel like we can’t fail them. “We are still in the trenches,” he continued. “We are still restoring families and still are making a difference in the lives of them and the staff; and we need help to be able to continue to do that.” BACKGROUND In January 2010, Haiti was devastated by an … [Read more...]

Riding a soul-winning wave: 1,300 saved, hundreds discipled in Hammond

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer HAMMOND, La. (LBM) – A 20-week extended revival and tent crusade in south Louisiana has recorded more than 1,300 salvation decisions, and hundreds have been enrolled in discipleship programs. Moreover, all signs point to the meetings continuing for the foreseeable future. According to local reports, 513 individuals surrendered their hearts and lives to Jesus during revival services, extended five times, Oct. 17-Nov. 18, at Old Zion Hill Baptist Church, Independence. Additionally, more than 800 covenanted to follow Him during the South Louisiana Awakening Tent Crusade, Hammond, Nov. 28-March 31, a multi-denominational spiritual outreach. The meetings were paused for April; however, they will resume May 4-5 and will continue after that on Thursday and Friday evenings, according to OZHBC Pastor Gary Dennis. “The continuation of the meetings is for the purpose of reaching the huge number of people along the Interstate 12 corridor who are not connected to Christ and His Church,” Dennis told the Baptist Message. Area churches have formed a follow-up team that developed a strategy to connect every new believer from both spiritual events with a local congregation in … [Read more...]

Louisiana Notables

EDITOR’S NOTE: Do you have a Revival, Homecoming, a new pastor, a community outreach or a concert? The Baptist Message would love to share your church news with the rest of the state. It is very easy to do, just send in your information (who, what, where and when) to philip@baptistmessage.com or call 318.449.4345. To get your event in the paper, please submit your information three weeks prior to the event. ON THE MOVE Dusty C. Durbin is the new associational mission strategist for the Evangeline Baptist Association. n Tanner, wife Sami, Dryden of Deville was licensed to the Gospel ministry at HIS Church. Mark Bevill is the new interim pastor at Westlake Baptist Church, Shreveport. Rick Daniels is the new pastor at Belcher Baptist Church, Belcher. Ricky Boone has resigned as pastor of Center Point Baptist Church, West Monroe. Eric, wife Jeanette, Green is the new pastor at Bayou Vista Baptist Church, Houma. James Hester is the new Bienville Parish Sheriff’s Office department chaplain. He continues in his role as pastor of Social Springs Baptist Church, Ringgold. HOMECOMING Bogue Chitto Baptist Church, Mt. Hermon: 150-year celebration homecoming, May 6, 10:30 a.m. Speaker: Joe Wiggins, former pastor. … [Read more...]

M-JAM to youth: Have Christ-filled joy

By Baptist Message staff WOODWORTH, La. (LBM) – Nearly 400 students, first-sixth grades, will learn how to have joy in Christ during the upcoming Louisiana Baptist Missions Jamboree. Known as M-JAM, the event will take place May 6 at Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center in Woodworth. The “joyful in hope” theme for M-JAM is based on Romans 12:12. “M-JAM will be a fun, high energy day filled with mission education opportunities that your church will not want to miss,” Louisiana Baptist Children and Youth Mission Education Strategist Erin Jones told the Baptist Message. “We will learn how to be joyful in hope as we learn to live on mission for God. Don’t wait to register. We can’t wait to see you there.” Illusionist David Laflin will be the main speaker. According to his website, davidandteesha.com, Laflin and his wife, Teesha, have been featured at the NCAA Final Four, Fortune 500 company events and conferences and conventions all over the world. Check-in will take place from 9:00-9:45 a.m., and the conference will run from 10 a.m.—2:30 p.m., including breakout sessions. The cost to attend M- JAM is $40, which includes a snack and lunch. T-shirts are $15. Register via louisianabaptists.org/event/2023-m-jam/; or call … [Read more...]

NOBTS Serve Day yields salvations, touches lives

By Marilyn Stewart, NOBTS Communications NEW ORLEANS (NOBTS Communications) -- Wearing jeans and a tee-shirt reading “From the Parishes to All People,” Jamie Dew, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary president, welcomed SBC president Bart Barber as speaker in chapel for the NOBTS Serve Day, April 13, when students go out to serve and minister around the city. At least three professions of faith resulted as 185 students, staff, faculty members and trustees—joined by Barber, his wife and daughter—shared the gospel and served in the community. The group represented the largest number of participants to date for the once-a-semester event. Dew’s tee-shirt with the NOBTS Global Mission Center tagline reminded listeners that believers are called to take the gospel out from Louisiana’s parishes (counties) to all nations. “There’s nothing out there [in the world] that will ever give us hope. There’s only brokenness and there’s only sorrow and there’s only destruction,” Dew said. “[But], Jesus is sweet  …  As people who have tasted that redemption and have a burden for the brokenness out there, we go out into that.” Evangelism teams shared the gospel on the streets and door-to-door. Others prayer walked, ministered to the … [Read more...]

Don Wilton, Louisiana pastor join NOBTS faculty

By Marilyn Stewart, NOBTS Communications NEW ORLEANS (NOBTS Communications) - Two faculty additions by presidential appointment were announced at the April 11-12 trustee meeting of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, along with reports of God at work. Appointed were Don Wilton, recently retired senior pastor of First Baptist Church, Spartanburg, South Carolina, and W. Andrew “Ted” Williams, coming from his position as pastor of Galilee Baptist Church, Zachary. Jamie Dew, NOBTS president, welcomed trustees by reporting excitement on campus due to spiritual formation taking place. “This is a very vibrant season of life right now,” Dew said. Dew pointed to the more than 6500 gospel conversations held by students this academic year that yielded more than 800 decisions, a student-led prayer walk in the community, and student participation in Serve Day where students and faculty participate in door-to-door evangelism and in various service projects in the community. The spring semester Serve Day came the day following the spring meeting. Trustees whose schedule permitted them to stay participated. Returning to the NOBTS faculty, Don Wilton was appointed ministry-based professor of preaching and pastoral … [Read more...]

LCU students to participate in Adopt-a-Street clean-up

By Elizabeth Clark, LCUNews PINEVILLE, La. LCUNews -- Louisiana Christian University Greek student organizations Kappa Omicron and Lambda Chi Beta will be participating in city clean-up efforts in Alexandria on April 14. The university has adopted an area of Versailles Boulevard through its partnership with the City of Alexandria's Adopt-A-Street program. "LCU is committed to teaching servant leadership to our students through service-learning projects within the Central Louisiana community,” said Meredith Rennier, vice president for Student Life. “We are excited to partner with the City of Alexandria's Adopt-A-Street program in bettering our city." Terrell Phillips, coordinator of student activities said the Adopt-a-Street program encourages local organizations to take on the responsibility of picking up litter on a specific section of roadway.  Volunteer organizations are recognized by having their name on two roadside signs provided by the City of Alexandria. The first clean-up will be April 14 from 1-3 p.m. … [Read more...]

Clara Springs Camp celebrates 70 years of Kingdom impact

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer PELICAN, La. (LBM) – Several hundred people gathered during the Clara Springs Baptist Camp 70th anniversary celebration, March 24 and 26, to celebrate the life-changing impact the camp has had on their lives. Held on the grounds of the camp in Pelican, the event featured the traditional Fourth Friday Fish Fry, concerts by Southern Plainsmen and Vines and Company, fireworks, games, and the Overcoming Obstacles Ministry’s American Ninja Warrior course. The weekend also included a reunion of campers and a time for sharing memories of Clara Springs. Bubba Mills, who has served as director since 2007, said the celebration reminded him of how God’s hand has been on the camp for the past 70 years. “God has brought us through the good and bad times and blessed us tremendously,” Mills told the Baptist Message. “Most people would say God has blessed the camp through the buildings on the grounds and that certainly is true. But blessings also have come from those who have accepted Christ here and the hundreds we know committed to ministry and who are serving in ministry all over the world.” LASTING LEGACY The idea for the camp was presented and adopted at the 1952 District 8 … [Read more...]

Revival challenges Big Creek churches to seek Christ

DRY PRONG, La. (LBM) – The 30 churches of the Big Creek Baptist Association gathered for a joint revival, March 26-29, in preparation for a possible spiritual awakening in Grant Parish. Held at the B22 Auditorium in Dry Prong, the revival featured messages by evangelist Bill Britt of Haughton and music by Jimmy Crabtree, minister of music at New Prospect Baptist Church, Dry Prong, and other musicians in the association. Additionally, the Adult and Teen Challenge choir shared testimonies and special music and First Baptist Church, Dry Prong, hosted a pizza supper before the final night of the revival. Association moderator Travis Sanders, also pastor of Hebron Baptist Church, Dry Prong, said the revival has helped unify the churches as they seek the Lord for a great harvest of souls in their communities. “Churches feel more connected and less alone,” Sanders told the Baptist Message. “When God’s people are revived, then we will see a great crusade.” … [Read more...]

Journey Church celebrates 100 baptisms in 2022

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) – Journey Church is in revival and all signs point to this movement of the Holy Spirit continuing for some time. Since January, Pastor James Greer has seen lives changed as they have recorded 222 salvation decisions and 43 baptisms. “I’ve never seen anything like what has happened the first four months of this year,” Greer told the Baptist Message. “It’s not what we are doing but what God is doing.” Originally Lee Heights Family Church in Pineville, the congregation moved in 2009 to the former site of Donahue Family Church and changed the name to Journey Church. Since then, the congregation (which averages 562 in Sunday worship and baptized 105 in 2022) has celebrated the baptism of 1,072 new members into the body of Christ and witnessed hundreds of other spiritual decisions, including repentances to restore fellowship with Christ, and commitments to vocational missions and ministry. The congregation’s core value, “Growing People Change,” facilitates growth. Meanwhile, its message to the lost, “I mess up, you mess up, we all mess up,” helps start conversations to convey the truth that Christ is the answer. That mindset is what drew Arlene … [Read more...]