By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE – Fred Lowery believes persecution of Christians in the United States is coming and believers should be prepared. When those difficult times do come, Christians should find comfort that the Lord is right beside them as they try to stand strong in their faith, Lowery told those attending the recent E4 Preaching Conference at First Baptist Church in Pineville. “For the first time, we are facing amazing persecution in America,” said Lowery, who retired in 2004 after serving as pastor of First Bossier for more than 30 years. “Everything else is alright. The only thing that is wrong is to be a born-again Christian and they somehow see us as the hate people, the bigots and the idiots. “We will face persecution in our lifetime, you as pastors, we as churches,” he continued. “We need to understand and get encouragement because we’re going to need the Lord as we go through persecution more than ever.” Lowery said that the world is in trouble and evil out of control. Every week Lowery said he is asked what is happening and he then becomes excited. “I have the answer,” Lowery said. “Jesus. That’s exactly what this world is coming to.” Citing Revelation 1, Lowery shared … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer WOODWORTH – Faced with changing times, the Louisiana Baptist Convention’s executive board is taking proactive rather than reactive steps to address matters in this nation’s culture war. “We are living in changing times,” LBC Executive Board President David Cranford said. “We are living in a watershed moment. Our culture has shifted over the last year, the last few months. “It troubles us,” said Cranford, pastor of First Baptist Church in Ponchatoula. “It grieves us. What’s next for the American Christian?” Cranford reminded the Executive Board during its annual fall meeting at Tall Timbers Conference Center that what is happening in 2015 is nothing new for believers who have faced similar situations throughout world history. Citing Matthew 10:16-31, Cranford said Jesus gives marching orders on how believers should think and act in a society where Christianity is under attack. “In the end Jesus wins,” he said. “Whatever suffering we might experience in this dangerous world, let us remember our Lord wins in the end.” With recent news of several Southern Baptist churches in various states affirming homosexuality, the credentials committee introduced guidelines for … [Read more...]

By Philip Timothy, Message Managing Editor MANDEVILLE – Kenneth (Ken) Schroeder will be nominated for first vice president of the Louisiana Baptist Convention by Randy Harper, senior pastor of Bellaire Baptist Church, during this year’s LBC Annual Meeting according to a press release from his office. Schroeder is the senior pastor at First Baptist Church in Mandeville where he has served for the past 21 years. “Ken is a godly man…a man of prayer who loves Jesus and Louisiana Baptists,” said Harper.  “I have had the pleasure of serving with him on the Louisiana College board of trustees and different committees where he has exhibited grace, patience and a keen understanding of the tasks asked of members.” “He has served on numerous boards and committees in both his association and in the state convention,” continued Harper.  “He is faithful to this convention and to whatever committee he has been asked to serve.”  “Ken may be a little quiet; but when he speaks, people listen because what he has to say is thoughtful and to the point.” Under Schroeder’s leadership, First Mandeville has undergone significant capital improvements projects, including a15,000-square-foot educational building, a 10,000-square-foot student … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE – On the stage at Guinn Auditorium, Don Wilton turned and pointed at Louisiana College President Rick Brewer and offered him a charge. He told him to carry on a trait of famed evangelist Billy Graham, a member of Wilton’s church. “What he says he does and what he does he means,” said Wilton, pastor of First Baptist Church in Spartanburg, SC, and a friend of Brewer for more than 20 years. “Are you ready to do the same with Louisiana College?” Wilton, who gave the message during Brewer’s inauguration as the school’s ninth president on Sept. 18, said Louisiana College is needed in today’s culture. “You have to lead us,” Wilton said. “We need you. America really needs you. Louisiana really needs a Christian college.” He then challenged Brewer to provide a distinct Christian education at the school through five ways. Wilton encouraged Brewer to continue to pray, teach so others will “get on fire,” demonstrate by keeping on “living it out,” commit to not stopping despite obstacles that may come and expect results to happen. “God has sure smiled on Louisiana College by calling you to be its president,” said Wilton to his friend. Wilton was among a number of … [Read more...]

By John Kyle, Louisiana Baptists Communications Director Church planting, compassion ministries, missions education and other missions-related endeavors are what typically come to mind when one thinks of state missions. In Louisiana, you can add multi-media outreach to the list. Here for You is a multi-media evangelism strategy for local churches that has become a significant part of Louisiana Baptists state missions efforts. Launched in southwest Louisiana in the summer of 2014, Here for You is a multi-platform media strategy designed to give every person in Louisiana the opportunity to say “yes” to a relationship with Jesus. According to Louisiana Baptists Communication Director John Kyle, the basis for Here for You comes from a parable of Jesus. “In Luke 14, Jesus tells a parable that includes the admonition to ‘go into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in.’” Kyle said. “What does this look like in 2015 and beyond? How can we get inside people’s smart phones, tablets, TV’s and other communication platforms?” Since July 2014 the spots have aired over 7,800 times on broadcast and cable outlets in southwest and northeast Louisiana. They have generated more than 135,000 online views via the splash … [Read more...]

By Marilyn Stewart, Regional Reporter NEW ORLEANS – When it comes to international missions, the African American community may be “a sleeping giant,” said Keith Jefferson, IMB African American missional church strategist, at a recent IMB Forum at Franklin Avenue Baptist Church, New Orleans. The event highlighted that the time is now and the opportunity great for African American churches to invest in international missions. While a lack of missions education and exposure has been a damper to African American participation in the past, the tide is changing. “[Awareness] is beginning to grow,” Jefferson said. Fred Luter, Jr., host pastor, told the group of mostly African American lay persons and pastors that he participated in his first international mission trip – to Africa –  while president of the Southern Baptist Convention. Luter served as president from 2012-14. Stories from IMB leaders of Africans that asked, “Where are the people who look like us?” convicted him, Luter said. “I was bitten by the bug of foreign missions,” Luter said. He added later, “Once you go, you always want to go back.” Featured speakers included Tony Mathews, senior pastor of North Garland Baptist Fellowship, Garland, Texas and … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer WINNSBORO – In his 50 years of ministry, James Carson has pastored Baptist churches in Texas and Louisiana for 37 years. But it’s the last 13 years as director of missions for the Tri-Association that have given Carson one of the greatest joys and fulfillments of his ministerial career. “What a privilege and blessing it has been to meet so many wonderful people and to work with some of the finest pastors of our churches,” Carson said. “I still believe these three associations are the finest in the Louisiana Baptist Convention.” After serving the churches in Caldwell, Deer Creek and Richland Baptist Associations since Feb. 1, 2002, Carson has felt led to retire from his position on Sept. 30. The reason, Carson said, is because after much prayer and thought he felt led by the Lord that now is the right time. “I have been blessed beyond measure to have made lifelong relationships with so many people through these last 50 years of ministry,” he said. To honor his time of service as director of missions, a reception is scheduled for Sept. 27 from 2 to 4 pm at the Temple Baptist Church Family Life Center in Winnsboro. Keith Dowden, pastor of South Central Baptist Church in … [Read more...]

By Marilyn Stewart, Regional Reporter ANGOLA – Celebrating a 20-year partnership that has changed lives and deployed “missionaries,” New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary/Leavell College recently dedicated a new facility with expanded classroom and library space at Louisiana State Penitentiary, Angola. The Aug. 27 dedication followed a graduation ceremony marking the program’s 278th graduate. “This has been the most spectacular day we could ever have,” said Warden Burl Cain. “We have a new seminary building; we doubled our capacity; and, it means less victims of violent crime.” The Joan Horner Center, an 11,000 square foot building with a computer lab, two classrooms, an auditorium and library, was named in memory of benefactor Joan Horner, founder of Premier Designs of Dallas, who with husband Andy Horner were long-time supporters of the Angola ministry. An anonymous donor provided funds for the structure. James LeBlanc, secretary of the Louisiana Department of Corrections, echoed Cain’s correlation between the program’s success and a state-wide drop in repeat offenders, crediting as a factor the work of 35 NOBTS “missionaries,” graduates who asked to transfer to other Louisiana prisons in order to plant new … [Read more...]