By Philip Timothy, Message Managing Editor BOSSIER CITY – Is this the best Louisiana Baptists can do? THE PLEDGE Louisiana Baptist Convention President Steve Horn believes not and is asking every church in the state to take ‘The Pledge’ – a pastor-driven initiative designed to increase Cooperative Program giving in the coming months. ‘The Pledge’ is a plan challenging churches giving less than 3 percent to the CP to move to 5 percent; churches giving between 3 and 8 percent are encouraged to increase by 2 percent; and churches giving between 8 and 9.9 percent to go to 10 percent. Churches already giving 10 percent of their undesignated receipts through the Cooperative Program will be thanked and encouraged to consider a 1 percent increase or simply reaffirm a commitment to their current level of giving. In his report to the convention, he informed messengers Nov. 9 at First Baptist Church in Bossier City, on the progress the initiative, unveiled May 5, has made so far and challenged those who had not taken ‘The Pledge’ to do so now. “Just across the river from where we are tonight was a pastor named M. E. Dodd, well-known as the architect of the Cooperative Program,” said Horn. “At the 1919 SBC, an SBC … [Read more...]
At Revival Life Church, it’s out with the old, in with the new
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer HOUMA – Dexter Gaspard isn’t your typical pastor. Wearing gages in his ears and covered with tattoos, Gaspard can be found from time to time riding a skateboard with the teenagers, playing a bass guitar or talking about the eggs that are laid from chickens he raises in his backyard. But every Sunday, Wednesday and pretty much the rest of the week, Gaspard is busy ministering to a homeless man, preaching a message from inside Revival Life Church’s worship center or sharing the gospel with residents of a halfway house, many who live a life of drug use and alcohol that were once common for him. He’s quick to point out this past life is something he now uses to relate to the people he’s trying to reach. “A lot of them tell me later on when they’re clean that I understand where they are coming from,” said Gaspard, pastor of the south Louisiana church. “They tell me that helped them open up to share problems. They know I won’t give them a textbook answer; mine is from experience. “Growing up I knew there was a God,” he continued. “I was just mad at Him. I thought I was dealt a bad hand in life. After I got saved, I realized all that was prepping me to become a minister. Now, … [Read more...]
Louisiana Notables
ON THE MOVE Brent Shoalmire is new as pastor from laity at Oak Hill Baptist Church, Plain Dealing. David Savage has resigned as pastor at New Ebenezer Baptist Church, Castor. Nancy Huey is the new children’s minister at First Baptist Church, Calhoun. Johnny (wife Penny) Miller is the new pastor at Downsville Baptist Church. Marcelle Ronquille is the new pastor at Bosco Baptist Church, Monroe. Craig West resigned as pastor at First Baptist Church, Monroe. Daryl Purpera is the new pastor at First Baptist Church, Central. IN REMEMBERANCE A.L. Palmer of Ponchatoula passed away Oct. 28 at the age of 93 following a brief illness. Memorial services were held on Oct. 31 at the First Baptist Church of Ponchatoula. He served as a “Seabee” in the United States Navy during World War II. After the war he was a welder before entering the ministry. From 1986 into 1988, he served as pastor of First Baptist Church of Opelousas. In March of 1988, Palmer, a native of Perrysville, Ohio, retired from full-time ministry and relocated to the Hammond/Ponchatoula area. He then began a very active and fruitful 27 year period of ministry as an interim pastor, supply preacher and mentor to younger pastors. He preached in over 100 … [Read more...]
Floyd: For God to move prayer must be at forefront
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer BOSSIER CITY – With a decrease in baptisms across the Southern Baptist Convention and the reality of the International Mission Board cutting back its missionary force, SBC President Ronnie Floyd believes he knows what the No. 1 need is for Louisiana. “We need the power of God upon our churches and upon our ministries,” said Floyd, pastor of Cross Church in northwest Arkansas. “We have too many pastors and churches that are contented to go forward, doing ministry without the power of God.” Speaking to messengers during the final session of the Louisiana Baptist Convention Annual Meeting at First Baptist Church in Bossier City, Floyd said he is convinced Southern Baptists are moving away from the mission of God. “When we move away from the mission of God, you also move away from the power of God,” he said. “And when you move away from the power of God, you don’t have a heart to move toward the mission of God.” For God to move, Floyd said, prayer must be at the forefront. Preaching from Acts, Floyd recounted how the disciples gathered in the upper room soon after Jesus’ resurrection and called out to God, as one body. Then, God answered their prayers. Just like the … [Read more...]
FBC Minden blesses NOBTS students, families with gift cards
By Marilyn Stewart, NOBTS communications NEW ORLEANS – Coinciding with its “every member a missionary” focus and Cooperative Program emphasis this month, First Baptist Church Minden, donated gift cards totaling nearly $5,400 to international women students and to the homeschool community at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Leland Crawford, pastor, and wife Rose Crawford delivered the cards along with canvas school bags filled with school supplies for each of the 93 homeschooled children while visiting the seminary campus for the Oct. 14 fall trustee meeting. Leland Crawford, an NOBTS alumnus, currently serves as a trustee. Eleven countries – South Korea, Egypt, Romania, India, Colombia, El Salvador, Brazil, Taiwan, Argentina, Burkina Faso and Haiti – were represented at a reception for trustee wives and international students and international student wives hosted by Rhonda Kelley, president’s wife. “My international friends and I were super excited and thankful for the gift cards. They were such a blessing and came at the right time,” Tone said. “We praise God for always providing.” The 218 “Cards of Blessing” marked the third year First Minden has provided gifts to students. The gift cards were valued at … [Read more...]
Trustees approve 5-year strategic plan; learn of record enrollment
By Gary D Meyers, NOBTS communications NEW ORLEANS — New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary trustees approved a five-year strategic plan for the seminary and voted to establish a new extension center in Columbus, Ga., during their fall meeting. Seminary President Chuck Kelley also shared news of the record enrollment of 3,952 students. In his report to trustees, Kelley recounted the ways in which God provided for the seminary following Hurricane Katrina. In the 10 years after the storm NOBTS has witnessed the restoration of the campus and the launch of numerous new programs and scholarship initiatives, he said. For Kelley, the most exciting post-Katrina news came at the end of this summer when he learned of the record-setting enrollment of students during the 2014-2015 school year. Kelley said the Katrina experience helped the seminary learn to be a more resilient institution. Defining resilience as “the ability to continue when normal dramatically changes,” Kelley listed four keys to NOBTS resiliency: a comprehensive curriculum (featuring both traditional and distinctive programs); multiple delivery systems (main campus, extension, online, mentoring, travel courses); enhanced fundraising efforts; and a faculty … [Read more...]
Ways messengers can participate at meeting
BOSSIER CITY – This year’s annual meeting of the Louisiana Baptist Convention will be held at First Baptist Church in Bossier City on Nov. 9-10, 2015. In order for a church to participate in the business of the convention, they will need to elect messenger(s) to represent them. Messengers elected by their respective church are then able to register and participate in the business of the convention. The Credentials Committee oversees the registration process for the annual meeting. Roger Johnson, LBC Credentials Committee Chairman, notes there are five ways that messengers may be certified to participate and vote at this year’s annual convention. The first and simplest way is for messengers to pre-register using the LBC online program, print out their registration card, and bring the card to the annual meeting. Pre-registration in this way allows messengers to be certified within a matter of minutes, Johnson said. Second, messengers may bring a letter from their church on official stationary stating they are elected messengers. This will allow them to register and be certified to vote. Third, a church officer can phone in the names of elected messengers. Fourth, verification by a fellow registered church … [Read more...]
Conference speakers will encourage pastors to remember their pursuit of their calling
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer BOSSIER CITY – Pastors will be encouraged to remember the pursuit of their calling during this year’s Pastors’ Conference. Scheduled for Nov. 8-9 at First Baptist Church Bossier City, the annual gathering’s theme is “The Higher Call: Personal Holiness, Preaching, Evangelism,” based on Colossians 3:2. “I want to encourage pastors this year to recognize and reflect on the high call of being a pastor,” said Eddie Wren, president of the Pastors Conference and pastor of First Baptist Church Rayville. “I want to encourage everyone to be there. I think it will be a great time of refreshment and refocus and a call back to the essentials of being a pastor.” The conference will begin 6 p.m. Nov. 8 with music by the First Bossier praise band. Brad Jurkovich, pastor of the host church, will preach the first sermon of the Pastors Conference. Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Director David Hankins and LBC President Steve Horn, pastor of First Baptist Church Lafayette, will preach also during the opening session. The following day, the conference will begin 8:45 a.m. with music by Todd Dubose, minister of music at First Baptist Church Minden. Those preaching during the morning … [Read more...]
LC student is called to Uganda
By Karisa Grant, Louisiana College student/first-person account PINEVILLE – For the past three years, I have studied education and social work at Louisiana College and would not trade that for the world. I have experienced more hands on training for my future than I could have ever imagined. During this time, I have been to Uganda twice and have fallen in love with the people there. After the first trip, my whole world was shifted. It was impossible for me to continue to live my life normally. When I changed my major to social work, I began to see so clearly what God wanted me to do with my life. He is leading me to spend my spring semester in 2016 in Uganda for my senior year social work internship. I will receive class credit because LC is a member of Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, which is affiliated with the Uganda Best Semester Program. I believe God is calling me to the mission of using my education to spread the gospel. I feel blessed to have this opportunity to glorify God and show His love. … [Read more...]
Foster receives DSA at annual Louisiana College Founders’ Day ceremonies
By Message Staff PINEVILLE – James Foster has a long, very diverse résumé which includes being a graduate of Louisiana College, a public school teacher, an evangelist, a barber, a pastor, and a trustee at Louisiana College. He can now add being selected as the recipient of the 2015 Distinguished Service Award to his impressive resume. Foster, a 1969 LC graduate, was awarded the DSA during this year’s Founder’s Day ceremonies at the college. In his acceptance message of the award given out each year during Founders Day, Foster, who has served as pastor of Utility Baptist Church in Jonesville since 1996, called the college a “marvelous place” and encouraged the students and others in attendance to serve others. “The word of God says you are bought with a price,” Foster said. “You are no longer your own. You belong to Him. And when you belong to Him, friend, you will serve Him through serving others.” It was Oct. 3, 1906, that Louisiana College was founded as a private, Christian, liberal arts college funded by the Louisiana Baptist Convention. Each year the founding of the college is marked by a campus-wide celebration and special chapel service. This year LC celebrated its 109th year at its annual Founder’s Day … [Read more...]
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