by Kelly Boggs, Message Editor   PINEVILLE – After climbing to a No. 20 ranking in one national poll, the Louisiana College football team closed out the season with back-to-back losses to finish third with a 5-3 record in the very tough American Southwest Conference and 7-3 overall.   LC traveled to Seguin, Texas, on Oct. 29 and came away with a hard-fought 37-16 win over Texas Lutheran University. The victory over the Bulldogs kept the Wildcat’s hopes for their first NCAA Division III play appearance alive.   LC’s hopes for the post season were dashed on Nov. 5 when the Cats fell to McMurry University 49-28 at home on Nov 5. The War Hawks from Abilene, Texas, ended the regular season with a record of 8-2, 7-1, and ranked 19 in the nation.   McMurry finished second in the ASC behind conference champion University of Mary Hardin-Baylor of Belton, Texas.   McMurry and UMHB both earned playoff spots.   UMHB finished unbeaten, ranked No. 4 in the nation and was selected as the top seed in Division III South Region playoffs.   The Wildcats went on the road for the final game of the season Nov. 12 and fell to Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas, by a … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message   ARRIVALS/DEPARTURES   Brad (wife Kristin) Delaughter, new as pastor of Satsuma Livingston.   Barry Dunlap resigned as pastor of Agape Denham Springs.   Michael Wilkes resigned as youth pastor of New Covenant Denham Springs.   Jerry Dark resigned as pastor of Pisgah Bernice.   Bernard Canterbury died Aug. 24. He was the first pastor of Midway Baptist Church in Serepta in the early 1950s. Sixty years later, he retired from active ministry at Old Union Baptist Church, and returned to membership at Midway. A memorial service was to take place Nov. 20 at Midway, which was to include dedication of a “Heaven’s Rain” mural in his honor for the baptistry.       Needed/Giving   Bellevue Jena seeks bivocational pastor. Send resumes to Bellevue Baptist Church, PO Box 1583, Jena LA 71342 or call Lee Robbins: 318.992.5491.   Mt. Tabor seeks bivocational pastor. Send resumes to Pastor Search Committee, Mt. Tabor Baptist Church, PO Box 336, Farmerville LA 71241.   First Simsboro seeks pastor. Send resumes to Pastor Search Committee, First Baptist Church, PO Box 158, Simsboro LA … [Read more...]

[img_assist|nid=7768|title=Christmas At First Lafayette|desc=First Baptist Church of Lafayette – like many churches across Louisiana – will again this Christmas season (Dec. 9-12 at First Lafayette) be bringing a holiday production as a ministry to its community.|link=none|align=left|width=640|height=427] … [Read more...]

[img_assist|nid=7770|title=Pastor Bob Adams|desc=Bob Adams is pastor of First Baptist, one of 14 Southern Baptist churches in Bogalusa, Washington Baptist Association. He has written the page one devotionals for the Baptist Message for the last three years with a grace and gentleness that bring readers to a deeper worship of the Most High and Holy God, many have said. At right is a glimpse of the First Bogalusa worship center on a recent Sunday, with Adams in the pulpit, a choir behind, and – as in many churches – youth sitting down front.|link=none|align=left|width=640|height=480] … [Read more...]

[img_assist|nid=7772|title=LBC Executive Committee Officers|desc=Bob Heustess, pastor of Grace Memorial Baptist Church in Slidell, was named vice president of the LBC Executive Committee during a short meeting before the start of the 2011 annual meeting Nov. 14-15 at First Covington. Rick Byargeon, pastor of Temple Baptist Church of Ruston was named president.|link=none|align=left|width=640|height=424] … [Read more...]

[img_assist|nid=7774|title=LBC Bi-Vo breakfast|desc=Tim Patrick, DOM Beauregard Association, Alfred Kennedy, Sugartown Baptist Church, and Prentis Gandy, Friendship Baptist Church, Baskin, Exemplary Bi-Vocational Pastors of the Year, and James Carson, DOM Deer Creek Association. The award is given annually at the Bi-Vocational Breakfast.|link=none|align=left|width=640|height=480] … [Read more...]

[img_assist|nid=7777|title=New LBC Officers|desc=Waylon Bailey, pastor of First Baptist Church of Covington, was elected president of the LBC for 2012. To his left is Michael Shamblin, pastor of New Prospect Baptist Church in Dry Prong, elected first vice president, and Ken Fryer, pastor of College Place Baptist Church in Monroe, second vice president.|link=none|align=left|width=640|height=424] … [Read more...]

img_assist|nid=7779|title=Bentley Dove Award|desc=Danielle Flintroy of Monroe received during the annual meeting from David George of Woman’s Missionary Union the WMU Foundation’s Sybil Bentley Dove award for her progress through the Christian Women’s Job Corps. “Without Him, none of this would be possible,” Flintroy said. The Monroe CWJC site, led by Tonya Hancock, is one of 250 sites across the nation that help women enter the work force.|link=none|align=left|width=640|height=427] … [Read more...]

By Karen L. Willoughby, Managing Editor   COVINGTON – The clock is ticking, Louisiana Baptists were reminded Nov. 14-15 at the 164th annual meeting of the Louisiana Baptist Convention.[img_assist|nid=7781|title=Dr. Masteller in Prayer|desc=LBC President Rod Masteller, pastor of Summer Grove Baptist Church in Shreveport, issues a challenge to Louisiana Baptists to Awaken from their complacency.|link=none|align=right|width=640|height=427]   “It’s time to repent of our complacency,” preached Rod Masteller, LBC president and pastor of Summer Grove Baptist Church in Shreveport.   “It’s time to conquer half-heartedness, with committed and consecrated hearts,” preached LBC Executive Director David Hankins.   “It’s time to quit playing church,” preached Dustie Dunn, pastor of First Baptist Church of Vivian. At 28, he is perhaps the youngest person ever to deliver the convention sermon.   “It’s time for a great awakening founded upon the prayers of the saints to sweep our nation, and I – for one – would not be surprised if its epicenter were to be in this great state of Louisiana,” said Augie Boto, representing the SBC Executive Committee, in remarks prepared overnight, he told the … [Read more...]

[img_assist|nid=7785|title=Prayer|desc=A messenger is in fervent prayer during Monday evening’s Sacred Assembly, which saw hundreds stream to the altar to ask God for an Awakening.|link=none|align=left|width=640|height=427]Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and wondrous things you do not know.   – Jeremiah 33:3   quoted by Rod Masteller       I know  your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot tolerate evil. … but I have this against you: you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember then how far you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place – unless you repent.   – Revelation 2: 1-7   (portions) quoted by Craig Price.       “Come, let us discuss this,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow….”   Isaiah 1:17   – quoted by David George, WMU Foundation.       They will crush you and your children … because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.   – Luke 19:41-44 quoted by Rod … [Read more...]