By KAREN L. WILLOUGHBY, Managing Editor NEW ORLEANS/LAFAYETTE – Training is vital for a vibrant Sunday School, says Sean Keith of the Louisiana Baptist Convention’s Evangelism/Church Growth team. “Sunday School is the largest lay-led organization in our churches, and if they are to be effective, the leaders need to understand their roles and responsibilities,” said Keith, the LBC’s Sunday School/Discipleship strategist. “Our role [as teachers and class leaders] is to make disciples; that’s from beginning to end. We have to think holistically. [img_assist|nid=6664|title=Sean Keith, LBC Strategist Sunday School/Discipleship|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=79|height=100]“A successful teacher is not the one with the largest class,” Keith continued. “A successful teacher is one who equips and sends out leaders to start other classes and ministries. Successful teachers send out members to reach out to and care for others in the community.” In addition to the Bible study teacher, other leaders in Sunday School who need training include care group leaders, outreach leaders, ministry leaders, class coordinators and Sunday School directors. Each of these leaders has the opportunity for two final regional training events … [Read more...]

By KAREN L. WILLOUGHBY, Managing Editor ALEXANDRIA – Financial investing is just one way of being a good steward of your resources, says Wayne Taylor, Executive Director of the Louisiana Baptist Foundation. Taylor, celebrating fifteen years with the Foundation, said his parents taught him to tithe and instilled in him the need to be a good steward in every aspect of his life. He also learned from them the importance of family. He learned at Calvary Alexandria “that it was my choices that determined my life. “It’s a God-given responsibility to take care of your family,” Taylor said. “I love [my children] and I want them to have lots of opportunities to be the best at what God has planned for them.” That doesn’t mean giving them life on a silver platter, Taylor said. He learned to work by helping his grandfather tend his garden. He understood early in life the relationship between investment (hard work) and return (harvest). Taylor, an Alexandria native and 1981 graduate of Louisiana College, learned about financial investing during the time he was a representative for a school yearbook publishing company. He checked out cassette tapes on money management and investment from the public library and listened to them … [Read more...]

COMINGS & GOINGS Brian Richards, new as minister of education at Brookwood Baptist, Shreveport. Ken Collier, new as minister of education at Eastwood Baptist, Shreveport. Frank Teat, Jr., new as minister of education to students, adults and college at Summer Grove Baptist, Shreveport from First Baptist, Henderson, Texas. Tee Don White resigns as pastor of Calvary Baptist, Homer. Keith Adams, new as pastor at Antioch Baptist, Minden. Kevin Gray, new as minister of education and music at Central Baptist, Springhill. Wendell Dorman, new as pastor at First Baptist, Holden. Merelin McCon, new as interim pastor at Northside Baptist, Denham Springs. Pam Jones resigns as children’s minister at First Baptist, Monroe. Ross Adams, new as youth assistant at First Baptist, St. Francisville. NEEDED Minister of music needed at Mulberry Baptist, Houma; call 985.876.3204; Steve Graves, pastor. Youth pastor at First Baptist, Livingston; send resume to First Baptist Church, Attention: Tim Norris, PO Box 610, Livingston LA 70754. ANNIVERSARIES AND HOMECOMINGS PITKIN – Occupy II Baptist: Homecoming 10 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 5; Michael Evans, speaker and pastor. NATCHITOCHES – Calvary Baptist: Homecoming 10 a.m. Sunday, Sept, … [Read more...]

BALL/DEVILLE/PINEVILLE – A car wash to raise money to help minister to homeless men, women and families in the Alexandria/Pineville area has been set for Sept. 18 at Advance Auto on Highway 28 E in Pineville. “Many people don’t know there are a lot of homeless people in Alexandria, some of them living under the bridge,”  said Rita Huffman of Kingsville Baptist Church in Ball. She’s a volunteer at Main Street Mission in Pineville, which interacts regularly with the homeless people who stop in the mission for food, clothing and a caring conversation. Volunteers from Kingsville minister Tuesday morning at Main Street Mission. Volunteers from First Baptist Pineville do the same on Wednesdays, and they cook a mid-week meal for the church family that the homeless are invited to. (The mission is down the block from the church.) Volunteers from Philadelphia Baptist Church in Deville ministerThursday mornings. “The Lord laid this on my heart,” Huffman said. “They [the homeless] talked to me for two hours at the mission.” Nothing is set in concrete yet, Huffman said, but raising money with a car wash – or car washes if other churches get involved – will let the volunteers know how much money they have to work … [Read more...]

[img_assist|nid=6669|title=Crockett Point Baptist Church groundbreaking service|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=67] Crockett Point Baptist Church Crowville met for a groundbreaking service recently for a 1,500 square foot  building that will have education rooms and a youth worship/recreation room. The new  building will be attached to the back of the existing sanctuary by a 10’ x 10’ enclosed walkway. The dirt work was begun July 22. Construction is expected to be completed by April 2011. … [Read more...]

STATEWIDE – Nearly all the state’s 1,597 churches that affiliate with the Louisiana Baptist Convention hosted a Vacation Bible School this summer, and there was something special about each one. Following is a smattering of information from the reports that came in: VBS was combined with a soccer camp at New Hope Baptist in DeQuincy. During the time set aside in VBS for recreation and camp, New Hope VBS practiced soccer skills. “The climax included soccer games on Saturday morning, with parents, grandparents and friends invited – a great outreach for the community,” reported VBS Director Tracey Smith. Hill Baptist Church in Oak Grove “gave our material” to another church in the area, and gave its $415.02 offering to local missionaries, reported VBS Director Tina Vernon. Grosse Tete Baptist Church in Grosse Tete as a VBS missions project “collected school supplies for children on Louisiana’s coast whose families have been affected the by Deepwater Horizon oil spill,” reported VBS Director Julie Bayham. Calvary Baptist Church in Sabine used the free curriculum “Armor of God,” and as their offering filled boxes for soldiers in Afghanistan, reported VBS Director Cindy Byles. Of the 69 youngsters and 60 workers enrolled, … [Read more...]

1920-2010 SELLERS MATERNITY MINISTRIES "NINETY YEARS OF OFFERING A FUTURE AND A HOPE" Sellers Maternity Ministries was founded in 1920 as the Baptist Woman’s Emergency Home in New Orleans. The ministry became affiliated with the Home Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention in 1933 and the name was changed to Baptist Women’s Home. The ministry was renamed Sellers Baptist Maternity Home and Adoption Center in 1961 in honor of Dr. Thomas B. Sellers, a New Orleans obstetrician who had volunteered his services there for 33 years. On July 31, 1964, the Sellers Home placed its 1000th baby for adoption. In 1990, seeing a declining need for a national maternity service, the Home Mission Board closed the New Orleans facility and handed operations over to Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home in January 1991. Through God’s providence, at the same time, Ms. Lynn Seymour of Tallulah donated her estate to the Children’s Home, providing a new home for Sellers called “Happy House.” The ministry’s name was changed to Sellers Maternity Home and remained in Tallulah until 2007. In 2000, Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Cheatham donated his family home in the Central community of Baton Rouge to the Children’s Home. Initially, this … [Read more...]

How can LBCH & FM serve you or someone you know? Your Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home & Family Ministries strives to offer the highest quality of services through a dedicated Christian ministry team whose mission is to provide love, care, and a positive Christian witness for children and families in need. Please call 318.343.2244, e-mail home@lbch.org, or visit www.lbch.org for more info on how we can serve you or someone you know. [img_assist|nid=6673|title=Residential Ministries - Monroe|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=95]Residential Ministries – Monroe • Residential Child Care for Children Ages 5-17 • Residential Foster Care for Children Ages 0-12 • Residential Family Care for Homeless Children & Mothers Granberry Counseling Centers Statewide Locations 877.345.7411 • Professional Christian Counseling • Minister Care Partnership with LBC Pastoral Leadership Team • Marriage & Family Enrichment Seminars • Statewide Locations – Monroe, Winnsboro, Ruston, Minden, Shreveport, Pineville, Oakdale, Leesville, Baton Rouge, & Covington Sellers Maternity Ministries Baton Rouge 800.859.0046 • Christian Alternative to Abortion • Crisis Pregnancy Counseling • Post-abortion … [Read more...]

By QUINN LAVESPERE, Message Summer Staff Writer PORT BARRE – First Port Barre Baptist Church Pastor Benji Richard is a man who has seen both the depths of depravity and the fullness of God’s love. Nearly eight years after being saved, Richard has realized his dream of becoming pastor in his hometown of Port Barre, leading First Port Barre to spiritual triumphs through the blessings and work of God. “At the age of 26, God saved a rebellious and hell- bound sinner named Benji Richard,” Richard said. “The Lord answered the prayers my grandparents had been saying for me for 26 years.” Richard began his story by recounting how he and his wife came to be saved. “On Nov. 13, 2002, after hearing Matthew 11:28 being preached, God saved me and my wife Christy that night,” Richard said. “The preacher who was preaching had the touch of God on his life, and the Lord changed my life that night and saved my soul. “My wife and I left that night with a new desire in our hearts, Jesus on the inside, and tears in our eyes,” Richard said. “We wanted a brand new start in life, and God gave it to us. We attended a church called Bible Baptist Church in Krotz Springs for seven years. “On March 9, 2007, God called me to preach in a … [Read more...]

By QUINN LAVESPERE, Message Summer Staff Writer EROS – The month of October normally inspires people to prepare for Halloween. Pastor Gary Brewster and O.K. Corral Church have other plans in mind. O.K. Corral Church plans to host a rough stock training camp Oct. 8-10 for bull riders and bareback riders. “We’ve got a lot of things planned for the future, and this is one of them,” Brewster said. “We want to use these things to win people to the Lord.” The rough stock camp is to be a campout event for males between 15 and 25, the cowboy church pastor said. He described what would go on at the camp. “The boys’ll sleep in the tent,” Brewster said. “We’ll provide chuck wagon meals. Instructors are coming from Rome, Ga., and Athens, Texas, to teach the camp. We’ll camp out Friday night, teach clinics on Saturday and have some testimonies and Bible study time. “The classes we’ll be holding can only have 15 people at a time, so not everyone can get in a class,” Brewster added. “Also an open buck-out is planned for Saturday night, and Benny Kimble, the instructor from Georgia, is going to preach church on Sunday.” Brewster gave some information on the camp’s instructors. “Jarrod Smith, the instructor from Athens, … [Read more...]