By LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) - The Louisiana Athletic Club will celebrate its 25th birthday, April 9 at 10 a.m. Among the activities planned are cake, door prizes, including LAC merchandise and memberships, and zero-enrollment-fee memberships with a 12-month contract for $25 per month. … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff ZACHARY, La. (LBM) – Women from across Louisi­ana will gather, April 17–18, at First Baptist Church, Zachary, for “Embrace,” a statewide Louisiana Baptist Women’s Missions and Ministry con­ference designed to encour­age each attendee to recog­nize her God-given value and calling. Bible teacher and author Melissa Spoelstra will be the keynote speaker for the two-day event. Teaching from the book of Numbers, Spoelstra will offer lessons on content­ment and trusting God in every season of life. Hosted by the Louisiana Baptists Women’s Missions and Ministry team, “Em­brace” will seek to equip women of every generation and background to grow spir­itually and engage in God’s mission through the local church. “Our desire is for women to leave ‘Embrace’ confident in their God-given value and equipped to live out their purpose,” Louisiana Bap­tist Women’s Missions and Ministry Strategist Christine Gill told the Baptist Message. “When women understand their calling and grow in their relationship with Christ, it strengthens families, church­es and communities.” General sessions will incorporate prayer, teaching and worship led by the FBC Zachary praise team. The event also will include the an­nual … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – For the past 13 years, Carlos Schmidt has fulfilled the Great Commission to Hispanics across the state. He has seen the number of Hispanic-speaking church­es grow from 25-55 and encouraged them to continue reaching their communities for Jesus. Now, Schmidt is set to retire, March 31, as a church planting strategist for Loui­siana Baptists. However, he will continue to pursue his passion for reaching the lost with El Renuevo, Lafayette, having served as pastor of the church since 2019. CALLED Born in the country of Colombia, Schmidt’s first exposure to life in Louisi­ana began when he was an exchange student with a Catholic family in Crowley. Though he did not know Christ at the time, he met his wife, Gwen, while living there. The two married and moved back to Colombia, where they lived until they decided to return to Louisi­ana in 1980. After returning to Louisiana, they experi­enced marital problems, which led Gwen to find peace via her fellowship with members of First Baptist Church, Rayne. Meanwhile, Schmidt was working as a helicopter mechanic with PHI Aviation in Lafayette. He also took a part-time job as a financial management and … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer MORGAN CITY, La. (LBM) – Churches in the state have embraced their mission to further the Gos­pel through establishment of hospitality rooms for law enforcement officers. Through their efforts, churches such as Bayou Vista Baptist Church, Morgan City, and Live Oak Baptist Church, Denham Springs, have built Christ-like relationships with po­licemen and policewomen in their areas. “Being in law enforce­ment, I knew some of the struggles,” Bayou Vista Baptist Church Pastor Ronnie Mabile told the Baptist Message. “I knew some of the pitfalls and I’ll always have a heart for those in the military, those who serve locally in local sheriffs and police depart­ments, and fire depart­ments. “It’s hard on them and they have a tough job, especially in today’s cli­mate,” he continued. “They don’t always see the best in people, and we wanted to show them the best we could by opening the room inside our church. “Our facilities are not ours; the facilities on the Lord,” he said. “So how can we not use our facili­ties to reach and minister to them?” Mabile spent eight years patrolling the highways and byways of Assumption Parish and after he re­signed still had a burden to reach … [Read more...]

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Baptist Message provides churches an opportunity to share with other Louisiana Baptists an upcoming revival, homecoming, new pastor, new staff member, a community outreach, or a concert in Louisiana Notables. To place your event in the paper, send your information (who, what, where, when, time) to philip@baptistmessage.com or call 318.449.4345. Please submit your information four weeks prior to the event to insure placement in the Message. ON THE MOVE Shane, wife Victoria, Russell is the new Outreach Minister at Wilda Baptist Church, Boyce. Mike, wife Phyllis, Freeman is the new minister of music at First Baptist Church, Marion. Michael Collins is the new pastor at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, Farmerville. Collin, wife Leslie, Carpenter has been called by Calvary Baptist Church, Ruston as the new youth pastor. Jeremy Babb is the new associate pastor at Highland Baptist Church, New Iberia. Clayton, wife Gracie, Bryan is the new pastor at Cheniere Baptist Church, West Monroe. Billy, wife Linda, Edwards is the new pastor at Marksville Baptist Church, Marksville. Aaron Coffey is the new pastor at New Sarepta Baptist Church, Sarepta. Evan Griffin to be ordained into the ministry March … [Read more...]

By LCU News, Baptist Message staff PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) - Louisiana Christian University will hold its first SENDLA event, March 24. The event, which is a phonetic play on the familiar CENLA for Central Louisiana, is rooted in the call of Matthew 28, where Jesus commands His followers to “go and make disciples of all nations.” The program will take place each semester as the campus community steps out together in service. In partnership with local nonprofits, students and faculty will spread throughout the parish to minister in practical and relational ways, showing the Gospel in action. Participating organizations include First Baptist Church, Pineville; Philadelphia Baptist Church, Horseshoe Drive, Alexandria; Family of Grace Church, Alexandria; the Hope House, Alexandria; Fostering Community, Alexandria; the Food Bank of Central Louisiana; First Baptist Church, Ball; Main Street Mission, Pineville; Rapides Parish Library System; CENLA Pregnancy Center, Alexandria; Pineville Park Baptist Church, Pineville; and Faith Baptist Church, Tioga. In addition, LCU President Mark Johnson will lead a group of students to visit with residents in the neighboring community. The Louisiana Baptist Convention and Send Network … [Read more...]

By Elizabeth Clarke, LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) - Louisiana Christian University alumnus and Sports Hall of Famer Mattie Stine stepped into the role of head softball coach this season, and she said that some of the most important and lasting wins have happened off the field. “Stepping into the head coach role at LCU has been both humbling and incredibly meaningful,” Stine said. “God often places us in new positions to grow us beyond what feels comfortable, and this season has stretched me in all the right ways.” She said that coming back to a place that shaped her as a student-athlete makes this opportunity deeply personal, and she is grateful. “While the title has changed, my heart has not,” Stine said. “My goal has always remained the same: to love these young women well and to keep Christ as the foundation of everything we do. "Wins and losses will come and go, but we are building a culture rooted in faith, love for each other and servant leadership," she continued. "I want our players to know they are valued for who they are, not just what they produce on the field. I want our players to love each other well and to go out and love others well.” Before taking on the role of head coach, Stine was … [Read more...]