By Baptist Message staff KEITHVILLE, La. (LBM) – Multiple tornadoes ripped through Louisiana Tuesday and Wednesday, damaging homes and businesses, and causing multiple injuries and at least two confirmed deaths. The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office posted on their Facebook page that a mother, Yoshiko A. Smith, 30, and her son, Nikolus Little, 8, were found dead in the Pecan Farms area of Keithville. The mother was discovered under debris one street from her home while the boy was found deceased in a wooded area of Pecan Farms a half-mile from where the home was destroyed. One additional injury was reported after an adult male was transported to a local hospital. The extent of injuries was unknown. There was also severe damage reported by law enforcement and storm chasers near Four Forks in southwest Caddo Parish as a tornado crossed Hwy 169 early Tuesday afternoon. In Farmerville, nearly 25 people were injured when a tornado caused significant damage in a neighborhood including an apartment complex along Hwy 2 near Scotts Hideaway Road in Union Parish, according to KNOE-TV in Monroe. The National Weather Service also said a confirmed tornado was reported on the ground in Madison Parish at around 10:30 Tuesday … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer METAIRIE, La. (LBM) – Good Shepherd Hispanic Baptist Church recently celebrated the retirement of $1,085,000 in debt on the congregation’s education building. Members rejoiced during a special note burning service, Oct. 8, and leaders said they are preparing to renovate the worship center to accommodate the growing congregation. “I can’t describe the joy,” Pastor Gonzalo Rodriguez told the Baptist Message. “People are excited and see that God is doing many great things. We are united with God in what He is doing, and we appreciate that He is blessing us.” Since God planted a desire in Rodriguez’s heart to start a small Bible study group (five people in 1980), Good Shepherd has grown to a church that in 2022 averaged 300 in worship and baptized 26 new believers. The growth and baptisms underscore the importance his congregation places on reaching Hispanics in the New Orleans area, and beyond, for Christ. The church recently ordained a member, Fernando Vera, to the ministry; and in July, he became missions pastor at First Baptist Church, Bogalusa. Additionally, the church has sent money and supplies to help churches share Christ’s love in Guatemala, Honduras and … [Read more...]

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 Rick Daniels is the interim Pastor at Belcher Baptist Church, Belcher. Kurt Zortman is the interim Pastor at Elm Grove Baptist Church, Bossier City. Zeke Toups is the new music director at South Bossier Baptist Church, Bossier City. Tonya Blanton is the new children’s minister at New Chapel Hill, West Monroe. Jimmy White and Wes Coleman were ordained to the gospel ministry at McClendon Baptist Church, West Monroe. Jimmy serves as music minister and Wes serves as college and young adult minister. Chris Holloway is the new associational mission strategist for the Gulf Coast Baptist Association. Harry Brown resigns as pastor of First Baptist Church, Ringgold to become new director of Camp Harris. Aaron Coffey, First Baptist Church, Homer, is the new director to Bienville, Webster, Claiborne … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services recently named Connect1Child its Community Partner of the Year. During the 24th annual adoption celebration at the Governor’s Mansion in Baton Rouge, Nov. 6, DCFS honored Connect[1]1Child (Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home & Family Ministries’ off-campus foster care and adoption ministry) with this special recognition and announced other award winners in a celebration of the 538 families who adopted 700 children and youth from foster care during the past year. “To see Governor Edwards and First Lady Edwards join the other organizations and the kids to celebrate the adoptions was quite the experience,” LBCHFM Foster Care and Adoption Specialist Christy Goodwin told the Baptist Message. “We were honored to be the ones chosen for this special award.” Since its inception in 2014, Connect1Child has helped hundreds of families impact the lives of over a thousand children in the state foster care system. The ministry includes a team of social workers trained in trauma-informed care who work closely with the DCFS and other foster care community partners to understand the needs of foster … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer COVINGTON, La. (LBM) – The opportunity to reach the world for Christ has come to Louisiana Baptist churches through English as a Second Language classes, according to leaders of various teaching ministries. “It’s exciting to see God use ESL ministry to reach lives for people to share the Gospel, and for students to be encouraged and helped through our churches,” Shannon Brown, a Louisiana Baptist ESL trainer, told the Baptist Message. “You don’t have to have certain qualifications to serve in this ministry. If you speak English, you can teach ESL.” According to Brown, a member of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church, New Orleans, at least 50 Louisiana Baptist churches host an ESL ministry. However, many more are needed to make a Kingdom impact on non-English speaking Louisianans, Brown added. “Churches should know they should get involved, no matter how big or how small they are,” she said. “As long as they have the heart for others, they can make an impact in a big way through ESL.” JEFFERSON BAPTIST CHURCH Twice a week, more than 100 students from 12 nationalities participate in ESL classes at Jefferson Baptist Church, Baton Rouge, church records show. But more … [Read more...]

By Elizabeth Clarke, LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) - Louisiana Athletic Club Director Ronnie Schwartz recently received the 2022 Hero Among Us award from the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Memphis Marathon, held Dec. 3. Schwartz, a local and national ambassador for St. Jude and a member of Calvary Baptist Church, Alexandria, said he has been fundraising for St. Jude for six years and is honored by the recognition. The award is given each year to a St. Jude Hero who rallies others around them to raise funds for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Since Schwartz became a Hero in 2018, he has personally raised more than $200,000 and helped his team raise over $772,000. “I’ve been involved with St. Jude for over 12 years,” said Schwartz said. “I put together a team called CenLa Runners Heroes during the last six years and applied for nonprofit status for our team. We all have people we know from Central Louisiana that are patients of St. Jude. We raised over $177,000 this year.” Schwartz’s team goal is to raise $1 million. “We are only $100,000 from hitting that goal and should hit and go over that mark in 2023,” he said. Schwartz and CenLa Runners Heroes have been celebrated for many years as one … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer MONROE, La. (LBM) – Three Louisiana Baptist associations recently welcomed their new ministry and mission coordinators: Northeast and Morehouse Baptist associations, Steven Kelly, and Gulf Coast Baptist Association, Chris Holloway. STEVEN KELLY Kelly, who previously served as director of missions for Gulf Coast Baptist Association and pastor of several Louisiana Baptist churches, assumed his new associational mission strategist roles, Dec. 5. He follows Jerry Price, who retired from the position, Jan. 31, 2022. “What excites me is this is one of the strongest areas of our Baptist work in the state,” Kelly told the Baptist Message. “I consider it an honor to work with some of our leading churches and also the opportunity to help encourage some of our struggling churches. To link the strong with struggling is a wonderful thing, which is one of the roles of the missions strategist. I want to help link people, love pastors and encouraging our churches.” A native of Chalmette, Kelly most recently served as pastor with Bayou Vista Baptist Church, Morgan City (2009-2022). Before then, Kelly was the pastor of Circle Baptist Church, Baker (1995-1997), First Baptist Church, … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer HAMMOND, La. (LBM) – A revival and a tent crusade in south Louisiana that have combined to produce 730 new believers, so far, also have resulted in 400 new converts, already, enrolling in a formal process of discipleship to become more like Christ. 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; and another 217 made decisions to follow Him during the South Louisiana Awakening Tent Crusade, Hammond, Nov. 28- Dec. 9, a multi-denominational spiritual outreach. At press time, it was not announced if the tent crusade would be extended. “The revival continues to produce good fruit,” Old Zion Hill Baptist Church Associate Pastor Dave Ketchand told the Baptist Message. “Remarkable testimonies of salvation and changed lives abound. The need to follow up with intentional disciple making is daunting. Doing this effectively will not be accomplished by doing church as usual. We ask for the prayers of all Louisiana Baptists as we continue this work.” DISCIPLESHIP STRATEGY Ketchand said area churches had formed a follow-up team that … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – David Brooks has completed 43 years of ministry with Calvary Baptist Church, Alexandria, and will retire Dec. 31. Brooks said he is grateful for the many changed lives that he witnessed during his tenure as a youth minister and then senior pastor at Calvary, the only church where he has served in a full-time ministerial role. For his years of service to the congregation and community, Brooks was honored during a pre-retirement celebration, Nov. 6, that included memories shared by friends and family, gifts from the congregation, and notes of appreciation presented on behalf of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (Brooks visits the state often with his wife, Suzy, who is a native Texan) and Blue Bell CEO Ricky Dickson (Brooks’ favorite dessert). “When we came here, I was 23, and a lot of people took Suzy and I in like we were their kids,” Brooks told the Baptist Message. “They have loved and nurtured us and been great mentors who invested in me. “I had opportunities to go other places, but never felt like that was where God was leading me,” Brooks shared. However, he added, “When I came to Calvary, I never thought I would be here 43 years.” A native of … [Read more...]