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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

LC Fall Revival calls for students to ‘Focus on Jesus’

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE – Curtis Zackery’s message on how to change one’s community, campus and world was simple yet urgent for the youth, college students and others attending the recent revival at Louisiana College. Focus on Jesus. Every single person, every single day needs to be reminded of the cross of Christ,” Zackery said. “Because it either tells us the story of what we can be rescued from or it tells us the story of what we have been rescued from. And when both of us realize what we’ve been rescued from, the one who is the rescuer becomes our focus. And when He becomes our focus, He begins to change things.” Zackery was one of three guest speakers for the three-day annual revival inside LC’s Guinn Auditorium. Sammy Tippit, a global evangelist with Sammy Tippit Ministries, preached the first day’s message and Lee Howell, founder of Awaken Men Ministries and director of St. George Island Christian Retreat Center, preached on the second day of the revival. Zion Hill Church, the Louisiana College Chapel band and Philadelphia Baptist Church provided music and worship for each of the sessions. Students gathered at the altar throughout the revival, coming forward to pray for a variety … [Read more...]

Fire can’t break spirit of Turkey Creek Baptist, congregation rebuilds

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer GILBERT – A fire in late 2013 may have destroyed the sanctuary of Turkey Creek Baptist Church but could not break apart the spirit of the congregation in the midst of rebuilding the structure 19 months later. The fire happened in the early morning hours of Dec. 4, 2013. Though no one was injured, the incident left the congregation without a place to worship. Kyle Spinks, who became pastor of the congregation in July 2013, said that’s when his congregation began to rise to the occasion. “Just about every help you could think of, from prayers and phone calls to monetary donations, we received,” Spinks said. “We are thankful for the prayers and support. During all this process our prayer has been God would shine through us and our adversity. And we did that the best we can. “I told our congregation that when my family and I moved out here, we prayed for the fires of revival,” he continued. “They just came in a different way.” With the absence of a sanctuary the congregation had known as home for more than 90 years brought a few blessings. While they were without a sanctuary, the congregation met in a church member’s home. Attendance fluctuated between 30 and 60 people … [Read more...]

LC honoring distinguished alums Hill, Brown, Hanson at homecoming

By Kathy Hegwood Overturf, Louisiana College Alumni Director PINEVILLE – Louisiana College’s 2015 Homecoming Celebration kicks off Oct. 1 at a chapel service in Guinn Auditorium honoring this year’s class of distinguished alumni, which is a diverse group of individuals from the fields of business, education and full-time ministry. Don Hill (64), a former student body president; Becky Brown (76), a member of the first women’s basketball team, the Wildcat mascot and the 1976 homecoming queen, and Dr. Gretchen Lower Hanson (81) are the three alumni who will be honored. After graduating from LC, Hill, a businessman from Dallas, Texas, received  a Masters in Statistics from Florida State University. He went on to have a successful career in the financial industry. He was instrumental in creating the first Credit Reporting Resources Guide. He is also one of ten people who established Salt Grass Steakhouse and later Lupe’s Tortilla, two very successful restaurant chains. He and his wife Terry have been married since 1967 and they have one daughter. Upon graduation, Brown, who is from Richland, Miss., received graduate degrees from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, … [Read more...]

Louisiana College, Louisiana Tech enter into 3+2 degree program partnership

By Staff, Baptist Message PINEVILLE – Louisiana College students soon will have the opportunity to earn not one but two degrees. LC President Rick Brewer and Louisiana Tech President Leslie Guice on Sept. 15 signed a memorandum of understanding that allows for a 3+2 degree program partnership. Students at LC will earn a bachelor’s degree in pre-engineering in three years and then go to Louisiana Tech to earn an engineering degree in two more years. This new program allows for graduates to be more marketable in a changing world, contends Brewer. “I firmly believe that in the 21st century, success in the community will come through efforts of collaboration,” Brewer said in the press conference. “Programs like this 3+2 model will make graduates from LC and Louisiana Tech more marketable, and probably give them a good shot at grad school.” Guice called the partnership a great match, nothing that the agreement between the two institutions is both unique and historical. “The family spirit is very important on our campus,” he said. “We have a very positive culture on our campus that I think supports student learning.” “We are larger but it will be a nice transition opportunity for students that want to get some part … [Read more...]

First Baptist Doyline dedicates new children’s building

By Message Staff DOYLINE – Making a commitment to its future, First Baptist Church of Doyline dedicated a new children’s building Sept. 13. The congregation broke ground in March, two years after focusing on a week of prayer about the possibility of a new children’s building. The church set goals they met along the way and by the time of the dedication and ribbon cutting, the building was finished debt-free. Long-range planning committee chairman Larry Dean said. “We felt like the children are the future of the church,” Dean said. “If we don’t provide a place for the kids, we won’t have a church.” The new 40 ft by 100 ft building was constructed at a cost of $400,000. It includes a foyer, nursery, classroom space, an assembly room, bathrooms and kitchenette. Of the 80 who attend church services on Sunday morning, 20 are children. Dean is optimistic about what the future holds. “We want to give God all the glory,” Dean said. “We couldn’t have done it without God.” … [Read more...]

Local contractor donates crane, labor for Georgia Barnette Center

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer WOODWORTH – Baptist roots run deep through Cecil Gassiott’s blood. He is a member at Calvary Baptist Church in Woodworth and went to Rapides High School in Lecompte with John Hebert, missions and ministry director for Louisiana Baptists. So when the chance to donate manpower and use of his crane for laying trusses for the Georgia Barnette Conference Center became available, Gassiott knew this was an opportunity too good to pass up. “I have been so, so blessed through the years doing a few volunteer projects that I try not to miss one,” said Gassiott, a general contractor in Alexandria. “The end result winds up being so much more fruitful than any paying job can be. Just one ‘anything’ from God can change your life and your business. Plus, this job is at home and we’re working with friends.” The crane began operating around 7 a.m. Aug. 24 at Tall Timbers Conference Center and Gassiott’s crane finished on Sept. 3, but not without a small setback that was quickly resolved. Two days into the laying of trusses, the team on site discovered the pieces were slightly taller than what was needed. But Rogers Manufacturing Corporation in West Monroe, the company that built the … [Read more...]

Louisiana Notables

ON THE MOVE Stephen Jennings is the new associate pastor of music and worship at Colyell Baptist Church, Livingston. Michael Shamblin is the new pastor at Emmanuel, Lake Charles. John Astling is the new pastor at University Baptist Church, Lake Charles. Wayne (wife Michelle) DeSlattes is new as pastor at Kingston Road Baptist Church, Shreveport. Jeremy (wife Julie) Shepherd is the new pastor at Pineville Park Baptist Church, Pineville. Jacob (wife Amanda) is new as minister of local ministry evangelism at Summer Grove Baptist Church, Shreveport. Robbie Briggs is new minister of music at New Hope Baptist Church, DeQuincy. Tommie Hodge from New Hope, DeQuincy, to Pine Terrace Baptist Church, Milton, FL. Luke Hand is new youth and family pastor at Amite Baptist Church, Denham Springs. Bill Stroud is the interim pastor at Caddo Prairie Baptist Church, Hosston. Pat Lofton has been called as the interim pastor at Tillou Baptist Church, Bastrop. Daniel (wife Sarah) Guaglairdo is the new youth minister at Central Baptist Church, Springhill. Jeffery Triplet (wife Dianna) is the new youth minister at First Baptist Church, Haynesville. HOMECOMING Vick Baptist Church: Celebrating 100th Homecoming, Sept. 13, 10 a.m. … [Read more...]

Organizer says God at work in community outreach

ALEXANDRIA – Walter Layssard, a contractor and a member of Homewood Baptist Church in Alexandria, is on fire for God. “God is really in my life right now and He has laid it upon my heart to touch one million lives,” Layssard said. “And that is my objective.” A talented songwriter and singer since the age of 14, Layssard has turned to the ministry and has put together a community outreach – To Make Homewood Your Home – in which he is inviting people to come to church, while also feeding lunch to the first 200 people, handing out 100 CDs filled with Christian songs by Charles Crawford and two cases of Gideon Bibles. And it is all free . He will hold his outreach on Sept. 12 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Quick Print Printing Services, located at 1125 Texas Avenue in Alexandria. “God has opened so many doors,” Layssard said. “I can’t say enough about Miss Sharon [Meranto] not only allowed me to use her parking lot but also provided me with the fliers and invitations I’ve been passing out. She donated three hours of her valuable time to make and print these fliers and invitations. “People at our local radio and TV stations have also been so helpful helping to get the word out as well. It has been a blessing to get this much … [Read more...]

Down by the river: First West celebrates baptism of 31 members in Ouachita

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer WEST MONROE – A few hundred members of First West recently celebrated the baptism of 31 fellow members down by the riverside. One of two river baptisms the church holds each year, First West held River Fest on a mid-August afternoon that resembled a true celebration by the Ouachita River. Nearly 600 people were present to witness the baptisms and take part in games, music, inflatables for the kids and a catered catfish supper. “There was a lot of energy, as people were super excited to get baptized,” said Christopher Trombatore, student pastor at First West. “We had people from every age range and socio-economic class. It was just a really neat day for our church and the people who were baptized.” For Trombatore, River Fest was extra special. The last person he baptized was Caleb Adams, a member of the youth group when Trombatore was student minister at Tom Hebert Road Baptist Church in Lake Charles. Now an intern for the student ministry at First West, Adams believed he had made a decision when he was younger and was baptized. However, as a teenager, Adams realized his true need for Christ but had not followed through with believer’s baptism. Adams told Trombatore he knew … [Read more...]

First Haughton’s Spinney to be nominated for LBC President

By Philip Timothy, Message Managing Editor Gevan Spinney’s name will be placed in nomination for the position of president of the Louisiana Baptist Convention during this year’s LBC Annual Meeting, according to a press release distributed by Waylon Bailey, pastor of First Baptist Covington and former Louisiana Baptist Convention president. Spinney is the senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Haughton. The LBC Annual Meeting is scheduled to meet Nov. 9-10 at First Baptist Church in Bossier City. According to the release, Spinney is “a young man who loves Jesus and has a passionate heart for the lost while not compromising his conservative theology. He has served in almost every imaginable position in his association and in the state convention.” Since becoming the pastor of First Haughton in 2003, he has overseen the church’s explosive expansion. Under his leadership, First Haughton’s attendance has grown from 300 to 900 and the church has recently moved into a new $7 million children’s facility and worship center that seats 1200. In the last two years, the church has baptized 246, an average of 123 annually. Additionally, the church’s budget has more than doubled through his stewardship and First Haughton … [Read more...]