By Staff, Baptist Message   [img_assist|nid=7416|title=A Helping Hand|desc=From left, Jeanette Thompson of Pine First Baptist Church, and, Ricky Davis, Sherrie Bumstead and Debbie Mims, all missionaries in Africa, stand with one of the boxes of diapers and baby blankets that will be shipped to Zimbabwe, Africa, to aid in Bumstead’s missions work.|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=88]PINE – Pine First Baptist in 2006 started supporting the faith missionary work of Sherrie Bumstead, a former neo-natal nurse at Tulane Medical Center in New Orleans.   Bumstead reported in 2009 on a visit to the church that at a women’s clinic in Zimbabwe, Africa, she learned newborn babies and their moms were being discharged without any diapers or blankets.   “This need so moved the ladies of Pine First Baptist Church that they started a diaper and blanket mission,” reported Jeanette Thompson. “As of this time [in early June], the ladies have made more than 9,000 diapers and 1,000 baby blankets.   “The ladies feel they have received much more spiritually than they have given,” Thompson continued. “If you are willing to do the mission work, God will provide!”   Donations of thread and material … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message   COMINGS & GOINGS   n John Yeats, new as transitional pastor at McClendon West Monroe.   n Jason (wife Martha) Mercer, new as children’s minister at First Winnfield. Pastor: Stephen Laughlin.   n Ken Fryer new as pastor at College Place Monroe from First Greenwood.   n Randy Ray, new as pastor at Saint Rest Baptist in Dubach.   n Pam Smith resigns as Early Learning Center director at Grace Memorial Slidell, to serve in Nigeria. Bob Heustess is pastor.   n Venita Richards, new as Early Learning Center director at Grace Memorial Slidell. Bob Heustess is pastor.   n Barry Dunlap, new as pastor at Agape Denham Springs.   n Tom McLaughlin, new as minister of music and youth at First Marthaville, from music minister at Calvary Denham Springs.   n Sondra McLaughlin resigned as youth director at Calvary Denham Springs. Rhett Major is pastor.   n Charles Ray Smith, new as pastor at New Beginnings Denham Springs.   n Glyn Nale, new as pastor at Meridian Marion; being ordained to gospel ministry at 2 p.m. June 12 at the church.   n Weston (wife Lindsay) Brown, new as … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message   ALEXANDRIA – Good news was the theme at the spring meeting of the board of trustees for the Baptist Message.   With a strong support from Cooperative Program, and increased advertising sales, the financial picture looks better than it did a year ago, Editor Kelly Boggs told board members at the May 10 meeting.   “Last year was a tough year financially,” Boggs said. “Things are really looking up thus far this year.”   The meeting agenda included reports from the policy, personnel, finance and nominating committees, as well as reports from Boggs and Managing Editor Karen Willoughby.   The policy had no new or revised policies to consider, thus the committee reported most its meeting time was spent in orientation for new board members.   Personnel Committee Chairman James Still reported, “Everything is going well, and everyone is happy.” Editor Boggs commended the staff members on their performance, and singled out Rhonda Havens for the additional responsibilities she has assumed since the retirement Dec. 31 of Joanne Brechtel, who had served the paper for 27 years.   “Violet Adams is doing a tremendous job in advertising,” Boggs … [Read more...]

By Karen L. Willoughby, Managing Editor   EVANSVILLE, Ind. (BP) – “If we stop reaching people, we’re going to die,” church planter Bobby Pell, pastor of NorthWoods Church in suburban Evansville, Ind., said.   “I never want our people to get away from that sense of desperation, and the best way I knew to do that was always to be about the process of church planting,” Pell said. “We have been effective in reaching people as a church plant, and we want to invest in church planting. We believe it is an effective way of evangelizing in communities.”   The Cooperative Program is the most effective way of funding church planting, the pastor said. CP helps support Southern Baptist work in state conventions, across North America and around the world.   [img_assist|nid=7421|title=Bobby Pell|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=71|height=100]“From a church planting perspective, the Cooperative Program is crucial to how the North American Mission Board receives funds and is a conduit in helping church planters be on the field,” said Pell, who twice has served three years with church planter support from NAMB. “One of the things CP does that people don’t think about is that it relieves stress from the … [Read more...]

By Will Tubbs, Louisiana College Sports Information After a lengthy search, Louisiana College has landed on the man who administrators feel is the ideal candidate to lead the school’s 12 intercollegiate sports programs. Thursday at 10 a.m. Darrell Payne, of Cincinnati, Ohio, was named as the school’s new athletics director. Payne, currently a private practice lawyer, has a resume that tells of experience not only in athletics, but law, social work and academia and represents, Louisiana College President Dr. Joe Aguillard said, the perfect blend of talents to head up LC athletics. [img_assist|nid=7424|title=New LC AD|desc=Darrell Payne was introduced today as Louisiana College's new athletics director. Payne was chosen following a lengthy search and replaces Tim Whitman, who resigned earlier this year for personal reasons.|link=none|align=left|width=640|height=628]“We are pleased to welcome Darrell Payne to the Louisiana College family,” Aguillard said. “Louisiana College is blessed to have as our athletic director a man of faith, character and leadership to head all of our athletic programs. He is a profound athlete and scholar and will integrate athletics, academics and faith through his position. After an extensive … [Read more...]

By Waylon Bailey, Senior Pastor First Baptist Covington   One of the most consistent polling questions in America has to do with whether or not we are on the right track.   The question gets a consistently negative response. America is on the wrong track. Politicians use this to prove whatever they want to change.   Could it be what America needs is not about the economy or the congress? Could it be that what the American public wants is a change of heart?   What would a real revival look like and could it happen here?   We have an example of what a real revival looks like and the kind of place where it can occur. In 1904/1905, one of the most famous revivals of history occurred. In 1904 Wales erupted in change and repentance as the power of the Holy Spirit swept the nation.   This is the kind of change that it brought.   Public houses (pubs) went bankrupt as coal miners and other workers went home after work to spend time with their family.   For the most part, crime ceased. The main work of police involved controlling crowds and traffic for the meetings held all over the country. Some police formed barbershop quartets to sing in churches … [Read more...]