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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

LAC director named ‘Hero Among Us’ by St. Jude

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...]

Associations welcome new leaders

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...]

Kentwood girl’s bracelet sales go to help DR victims in Florida

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer KENTWOOD, La. (LBM) – Alanna Chadwick’s heart was so moved to help those impacted by Hurricane Ian that the 9-year-old girl donated money earned from her home-made bracelets raised, Oct. 15, at a farmer’s market in Kentwood. Chadwick said she hopes the $75 will bless others impacted by the hurricane that devastated parts of Florida, Sept. 28. “It was pretty amazing how all these people care about disaster relief and I wanted to help out,” Chadwick told the Baptist Message. “I hope this lets them know that Jesus loves them and can save them.” Chadwick was introduced to disaster relief in 2018 when her family attended First Baptist Church, Springfield, where former Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief Strategist Gibbie McMillan was interim pastor. Her interest in this special ministry subsequently grew until, in early October, she asked her grandparents, Alan and Kim Chadwick, if she could make bracelets to sell at their booth during the farmer’s market. They agreed and the youngster began to craft bracelets. Kim Chadwick said she was touched by her granddaughter’s selfless act of helping others in need. “I have always tried to teach her about missions and the Lord … [Read more...]

Revival, crusade spur a discipleship boon

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...]

Brooks ends 43 years of changed lives at Calvary Baptist

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...]

LCU mourns loss of longtime faculty member

By Elizabeth Clarke, LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) - With great sorrow, Louisiana Christian University announces the death of longtime faculty member Tim Roper, who died Dec. 6 after an extended illness following surgery a year ago. Roper was a professor of art for 18 years at LCU, teaching painting and drawing, and graphic and web design. He held a BFA from Louisiana College (now LCU) and a MFA from Louisiana State University. “Professor Tim Roper was a beloved member of the University’s faculty serving in the Fine Arts Division,” said LCU President Rick Brewer. “His expertise in Graphic Design and Studio Art equipped and inspired scores of students during his tenure at LCU. Tim’s quick wit and brilliant intellect will be missed; but, above all, his commitment to sharing the Gospel through his creative gifts will be his legacy for generations who had the distinct privilege of being under his tutelage.” Roper was not just a colleague but a friend to everyone on campus. Known as much for his quick wit as his enormous talent and teaching and mentoring of students, his presence has been missed for the last year on campus—most notably in the Division of Fine Arts. LCU Director of Marketing Karen Carter, who was a … [Read more...]

Ephesians 2: Redemption is a gift

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor This is the second installment of a six-part series for the January Bible study on the book of Ephesians. ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – In Chapter 1, Paul explained redemption as a blessing from God and emphasized Christ as the means by which we receive it. In Ephesians 2, he built on this doctrinal concept, instructing that this “blessing” is a gift, or the “grace” of God. Again, Paul emphasized that this grace is found “in Christ.” Moreover, he contrasted “grace” with “works” to help us understand the enormity of the gift. This is important to his refutation of the Judaizers who emphasized the “works” of the law (the legalistic lives Jews had to live, including circumcision of males). In other words, they believed that the people of Israel had to “labor” to make themselves acceptable to God. Further, in verses 1-10, living in “trespasses and sins” is described as being “dead,” and in verses 11-22 being dead is defined as being separated from Christ. Moreover, Paul states three times that salvation is by “grace” (vv. 5, 7, 8) in contrast to the notion of “circumcision” (v. 11) – a reference to the legalism of the Judaizers in the passage that follows. Importantly, Paul … [Read more...]

Ephesians 1: God chose us in Christ

This is the first installment of a six-part series for the January Bible study on the book of Ephesians. By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – While a prisoner in Rome, Paul wrote a letter of freedom to the members of the church at Ephesus, reminding them that “in Christ” God had provided the means of salvation. Indeed, it is almost a singular emphasis in the first chapter of Ephesians. This is critical to note because many scholars agree that Paul wrote half of his letter (Chapters 1-3) to emphasize doctrine -- and Paul chose, first, to emphasize as doctrine the means by which God chooses us. Consider how the translators of the New King James Version presented verses 1-13 (there are only slight differences in the English Standard Version). They concluded that Paul: -- wrote to the saints who were faithful “in Christ” (v. 1); -- offered grace and peace from God, specifically mentioning two Persons of the Godhead, “our Father” and “the Lord Jesus Christ” (Son) (v. 2); -- described redemption as being blessed “in Christ” (v. 3); -- declared that God had decided – before the world was made – that the means of our salvation would be “in Him” (Jesus) (v. 4); -- … [Read more...]

YEC 2022: 830 students made decisions for Christ

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Organizers and participants of the recent Youth Evangelism Celebration praised God for the 830 students who made decisions for Christ, Nov. 20-21, at the Rapides Parish Coliseum in Alexandria. They also were grateful to Him for the estimated 5,300 teens who attended YEC (the largest annual gathering of Louisiana Baptists). Both numbers were significant increases  compared to last year’s event, which drew a crowd of 4,500  and facilitated 719 decisions for Christ. "It is incredibly powerful to see more than 5000 students join in worship and engage with God's Word,” Louisiana Baptist Youth Strategist Brandon Lewis told the Baptist Message. “But to see them respond, whether they were accepting God's free gift of salvation or expressing a call to ministry, is evidence of their desire to know Him, to follow Him and to tell others about Him." YEC challenged the Louisiana Baptist youth to share their story of how Christ changed their lives through messages by Shane Pruitt, National Next Gen Evangelism Director for the North American Mission Board. During all four sessions, students were offered a chance to step forward and declare a decision for … [Read more...]

John Hebert retires as LBC ‘point man’

By Philip Timothy, Baptist Message managing editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – John Hebert has always been a team player -- first as a standout basketball player for Rapides High School in Lecompte, where he was named Most Valuable Player at the 1973 “Top 20” state tournament, to the present day. But after years of shunning individual attention, his record of service and personal achievement is in the spotlight after he announced his retirement date of December 31, 2022. Hebert shared his intention, Nov. 2, to end his 23 years of official service to Louisiana Baptists, the last 11 as team director of the LBC Missions and Ministry team. “It has been quite a ride,” Hebert told the Baptist Message. “I just feel it is the right time.” He joined the Louisiana Baptist staff on Oct. 18, 1999, working in the New Work Division/Department under Mike Canady. “It was basically compassion ministry,” Hebert said. But he would be challenged six years later when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in August 2005 and the storm surge breeched the levees in two places, ravaging the Lower Ninth Ward with catastrophic flooding. A month later Hurricane Rita slammed into the state. Reeling from the double whammy, Louisiana Baptists still … [Read more...]