Some people run from the Lord, while others race for His glory. EUNICE – Some people run from the Lord, while others race for His glory. Allen Carrier grew up the son of a Southern Baptist minister and the influence of his parents is still evident in his life even after their deaths. The son of the late Rev. Gabriel and Verdie Lavergne Carrier, Allen is an active member of Emmanuel  Baptist Church in Eunice. His father Gabriel died in 2004 at the age of 90 after 54 years of ministry, including 34 years as pastor of Lejeune Memorial in Eunice. The pastor also had a radio program on KEUN for 53 years. Carrier was born in Church Point in 1937 and his family lived there; his father was a meat cutter before accepting the call to be the pastor of Lejeune Memorial in 1950. “I remember the Christian background that my mother and daddy had,” Carrier said. “It was mandatory we went to church Sunday morning, Sunday night and Wednesday night. That was a must even before he became a minister and we were members of First Baptist Church of Church Point.” Carrier became a Christian at age 15 and was baptized by his father, an event Allen said he will always remember. While the son didn’t follow in his … [Read more...]

He’s warming up in the bullpen, and he gets the call from the manager. It’s time to pitch. EDITORS’ NOTE: BP Sports columnist Tim Ellsworth recently visited Florida to do a series of stories on spring training as baseball players get ready to begin a new season. JUPITER, Fla. (BP) – He’s warming up in the bullpen, and he gets the call from the manager. It’s time to pitch. “God in the aggression, with Eric by my side,” Florida Marlins pitcher Taylor Tankersley says to himself. He steps atop the mound and takes his warm-up pitches. “God in the aggression, with Eric by my side,” he repeats. He finishes warming up and stares to the catcher for the sign. “God in the aggression, with Eric by my side,” he says again. It’s a mantra that Tankersley repeats any time he takes the mound, because it reminds him of his two sources of fuel. The “God” part is clear enough. Tankersley, who has been a Christian since he was 14, knows that his talents and abilities come from the Lord. He doesn’t pray for a strikeout or anything like that, but he does ask God to help him use his gifts the best that he can. And being aggressive on the mound is part of that. But who exactly is Eric? “Eric was a buddy of … [Read more...]

With a mission strategy of getting plugged into the world, Northside Baptist Church of Greenwood, S.C., has members putting their faith into action in an Acts 1:8 focus that includes a partnership in New Orleans. NEW ORLEANS (BP) – With a mission strategy of getting plugged into the world, Northside Baptist Church of Greenwood, S.C., has members putting their faith into action in an Acts 1:8 focus that includes a partnership in New Orleans. “Instead of looking for ways to get people involved in the church, we began a few years ago to look for ways we could get involved in the world as ministers and missionaries,” Jeff Lethco, Northside’s pastor, said. Since September, five teams from Northside have worked with Operation NOAH (New Orleans Area Homes) Rebuild, a joint initiative of the North American Mission Board and the Louisiana Baptist Convention that is mobilizing a volunteer workforce to rebuild homes and share the Gospel. Twenty-three members from Northside participated in a recent trip to New Orleans. “Working with NOAH is a great opportunity, especially for first-time mission trip participants,” Lethco said. “A lot of people can participate, it’s safe and cost-effective, and you leave with a sense … [Read more...]

WMU annual meeting was an exciting time of fellowship, teaching and prayer as attendees embraced the mission statement of WMU, “Live the Call.” SHREVEPORT – WMU annual meeting was an exciting time of fellowship, teaching and prayer as attendees embraced the mission statement of WMU, “Live the Call.” Some 250 gathered at BroadmoorBaptist Church, Shreveport, as missionaries shared powerful testimonies of how the faithful prayers and service of the Women’s Missionary Union has assisted them in ministry and brought encouragement in their lives. “Keep wrestling in prayer for your missionaries because your prayers are making a difference in our lives,” NAMB missionary Diana Lewis said. “WMU plays a vital role in missions not only through prayer and financial support but through missions education as well,” said Lenae Scott, Women on Mission coordinator at Broadmoor Shreveport. “It is my hope that ladies in our churches will recognize the amazing opportunity we have through WMU to join Him in His work After the call to order and welcome it was time to “Embrace the Call” in the Northwest Baptist Association in Louisiana as attendees participated in a prayer walk, mission fair, and helped with mission projects for … [Read more...]

The Baptist Collegiate Ministry at Northwestern State University broke ground Thursday for its new home on the NSU campus. NATCHITOCHES – The Baptist Collegiate Ministry at NorthwesternState University broke ground Thursday for its new home on the NSU campus. The BCM is the first campus group at Northwestern to begin construction on the new Organizational Row located at the corner of Caspari Street andSouth Jefferson Street. The Baptist Collegiate Ministry, formerly the Baptist Student Union, has been at Northwestern since 1926. At one time, the University had a building for all campus ministries, but organizations gradually began getting separate facilities. The BCM has been located on Second Streetand on two locations onCollege Avenue. For the past two years, they have been on the first floor of the Friedman Student Union. Plans are to have the new BCM home complete by this fall. “The new 8,000 square foot facility will reflect current campus architecture,” said Rev. Bill Collins the BCM advisor. “This facility will be very student friendly and will allow us more opportunities to reach students.” Collins thanked Northwestern’s administration for the opportunity to have a building on campus and … [Read more...]

Nearly 500 young and not-so-young men met at Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center Saturday, March 24, for the annual Louisiana Baptist Convention RA Congress. WOODWORTH – Nearly 500 young and not-so-young men met at TallTimbers BaptistConference Center Saturday, March 24, for the annual Louisiana Baptist Convention RA Congress. Sponsored by the LBC Men’s Missions and Ministry department, the RA Congress is designed to provide a challenging environment for young men to show off skills learned during regular RA meetings: using a saw, tying knots, setting up tents within preset time limits, and much more, including the racing of model cars handmade by the boys out of pinewood. Trey Talley of the evangelistic weightlifting group Team Impact was a special guest. “He shared a very simple message and testimony of how he came to know Jesus as his Lord and Savior,” said Gibbie McMillan, LBC men’s ministry and missions strategist. “Then, after doing some incredible demonstrations of his physical strength, he made a statement that his physical strength was nothing in comparison with God’s power and strength. “Trey also gave God the glory for all he did physically,” McMillan continued. “Then he challenged the … [Read more...]

SHREVEPORT – Titus Women at Pinecroft Baptist baked cookies and took them with tracts to the ICU waiting room at Willis Knighton South. This church also has a Youth On Mission group, which meets Wednesday evenings. Joe Ward is youth minister. The church is seeking a music minister. Marty Wright is pastor. BLANCHARD – First Baptist’s Harvest Sunday, set for April 29, is the culmination of three years’ sacrificial giving to reduce the debt on the sanctuary. More than $1 million has been given; a bit more than $1 million remains. A ministry fair is set for April 15, to showcase 25 ministries the church is involved in. An Auction for Missions is set for 6 p.m. May 11 at the pavilion on Poke Salad grounds. On April 1, 335 were in Bible study and 377 in Sunday morning worship. James Hill is pastor. HAUGHTON – The Singles Ministry at First Baptist plans an April 13-15 jaunt to see Texas bluebonnets. Student Ministry has a Weekend Blast set for April 13-15, with Brent Crowe from StudentLeadershipUniversity speaking and the John Gist Band leading in worship. The Saturday  night banquet has a Western theme.A women’s breakfast is set for 7:15 a.m. Sunday, May 6, in the Lodge. Free blood pressure checks are given each … [Read more...]

Seeking staff Pastor needed at Goodwood Baptist, Baton Rouge. Resumes to Pastor Search Committee, 1813 Beechgrove Dr, Baton RougeLA 70806. Worship leader needed at Trinity Franklinton. Resumes to PO Box 743, Franklinton LA 70438 or email trinitystan@bellsouth.net. Full-time minister of education sought by Riverside Watson. Resumes to 36890 La. Hwy., Denham Springs LA 70706 or email rbcsbc@bellsouth.net. Larry Hubbard is pastor. First Farmerville is accepting resumes for pastor. Video tape messages are welcome. Sent to First BaptistChurch, PO Box 296, Farmerville LA 71241. Una George, search committee chairman. Chaplain needed at National Guard Unit. Contact Barry Joyner, Concord-Union DOM, at 318.255.9030. Carey Association pastorless churches: Boulevard, First Cameron, First DeQuincy, Eastern Heights, First Hayes, Johnson Bayou, Sale Street, Temple, First Welsh and Woodlawn. JP Miles is director of missions. Northwest Association pastorless churches: Cypress, Grawood, Gray, Linda Lay, Oil City, Plain Dealing, Providence, Trinity Heights, BanSuk Korean English Pastor. Northwest Association churches wanting ministers of music: Full-time: TrinityHeights. Part-time: … [Read more...]

Prior to the last century, Baptists “practiced church discipline on a large scale” and regarded the practice as a normal part of church life, according to church history professor Greg Wills. Second in a series of three articles on church discipline. Next: Gambler says church discipline saved his life.  NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) – Prior to the last century, Baptists “practiced church discipline on a large scale” and regarded the practice as a normal part of church life, according to church history professor Greg Wills. Between 1781 and 1860, for example, “Baptists excluded more than 40,000 members in Georgia alone,” Wills, director of the Center for the Study of the Southern Baptist Convention at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, noted in a 2001 essay in “Polity: Biblical Arguments on How to Conduct Church Life,” edited by Southern Baptist pastor Mark Dever. “Across the nation in this period they excluded between one and two percent of their membership every year. But the number of church trials was yet greater. Only about half of the offenders received excommunication. Baptists on average disciplined between three and four percent of their membership,” Wills wrote. Baptists generally exercised discipline at … [Read more...]

Children’s Honor Choir, an annual event promoted and planned by the Music and Worship office of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, begins at 4 p.m. Friday, April 13, at Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center. ALEXANDRIA – Children’s Honor Choir, an annual event promoted and planned by the Music and Worship office of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, begins at 4 p.m. Friday, April 13, at TallTimbers BaptistConference Center. The event concludes with a 1:30 p.m. concert at the Baptist Building on Saturday, April 14. The children, grades 4-6 were previously selected by their local church children’s choir leaders.  Qualifications for attending the honor choir include the ability to match pitch, enthusiasm and faithful attendance at 90 percent of choir rehearsals. This weekend will host 67 children and 23 adults representing 20 different churches throughout the state. Some of the children are residents of the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home. The children learned five songs over the three weeks prior to this weekend. Directing the rehearsals and concert will be Darryl Ferrington from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. The Children’s Honor Choir is partially funded by the generosity of Louisiana Baptist … [Read more...]