Evangelistic deer hunts. Christian fish fries. Wild game dinners at church. North American missionary Ken Wilson has a lot of tools in his Gospel-sharing tool box to win people to Christ amid the thick woods and crystal-clear lakes of northern Michigan.         MESICK, MICH. – Evangelistic deer hunts. Christian fish fries. Wild game dinners at church. North American missionary Ken Wilson has a lot of tools in his Gospel-sharing tool box to win people to Christ amid the thick woods and crystal-clear lakes of northern Michigan.       “Well, our motto is whatever it takes, we get ‘em anyway we can,” says Wilson.  While he actually was referring to deer as he stealthily walked through the woods with his bow – dressed head-to-toe in camouflage gear – he uses the same strategy for winning souls for Jesus.       As an associational missionary for the Northwest Baptist Association also supported by the North American Mission Board, Ken Wilson – the fanatical outdoorsman – knows he lives in a hunting and fishing paradise.       “I don’t think God could have called me to a better place than northern Michigan,” he says, … [Read more...]

BAGNO, the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans, includes all of five parishes – St. Charles, St. Bernard, Orleans, Jefferson, and Plaquemines – and the majority of a sixth, St. John the Baptist.         NEW ORLEANS – BAGNO, the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans, includes all of five parishes – St. Charles, St. Bernard, Orleans, Jefferson, and Plaquemines – and the majority of a sixth, St. John the Baptist.       Of those, four parishes were impacted by Hurricane Katrina in August 2005. To recap the devastation, at least 80 percent of the city of New Orleans was flooded, with some parts under 20 feet of water. The breach on the 17th StreetCanal levee caused flooding in Jefferson Parish streets, with some lower-     lying areas receiving significant water damage.     Plaquemines Parish was flooded severely, while St. Bernard Parish, east of New Orleans and the most exposed to the storm surge, also was flooded because of extensive levee failure. It is reported that up to 90 percent of these levees were damaged.       Statistics for the association are sketchy at best at this point, said association staff. … [Read more...]

NEW ORLEANS – Despite hurricanes, death, and the many challenges of life, Joe McKeever, director of missions for BAGNO, the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans, persists in ministry.         NEW ORLEANS – Despite hurricanes, death, and the many challenges of life, Joe McKeever, director of missions for BAGNO, the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans, persists in ministry.       By far the weirdest thing McKeever’s experienced in the ministry? “That would be Katrina,” the DOM said.       While destruction of the magnitude of Katrina is a test many ministers will never face, death is a constant, and McKeever remembers one in particular that dealt a heart-wrenching blow not only to the family involved, but the community as well.       “I’ve just lost Millie’s baby and I’m losing Millie. Pray!” The doctor, Charles, told his wife, who promptly called McKeever who came and paced the floor with Lenny, Millie’s husband and a church member.       Millie, acting on a premonition, had asked Charles to stay in the hospital near her from the time she was admitted until she gave birth, … [Read more...]

Looking for a ministry that will help you reach out to your community? A child care program could be the answer for your church.         SHREVEPORT – Looking for a ministry that will help you reach out to your community? A child care program could be the answer for your church. Becky Estes saw that opportunity here at Willow Point Baptist more than 20 years ago and pounced. Again. Making a third go of it after beginning two daycare centers elsewhere proved to be just as rewarding, she said.       According to a Louisiana report, Investing in the Child Care Industry –www.dss.state.la.us/Documents/OFS/Investing_In_The_Chi1.pdf – published in 2005, almost 60 percent of families in the state with children under age six have both parents in the workforce. Translation: more than 2.5 million families in the state may need child care. Yet the state has a mere 1,762 licensed child care facilities, each of which is capable of serving about 45 children, depending on staffing and space.       The need for more quality child care options seems apparent.       Louisiana Baptist churches respond to this need with a variety of … [Read more...]

The Weekday Early Education (WEE) Program at Pineville Park Baptist Church in Pineville teaches four-year-olds through kindergarteners five days a week, three hours a day. On Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays – again for three hours each day – 1-, 2-, and 3-year-olds can attend.         PINEVILLE – The Weekday Early Education (WEE) Program at PinevilleParkBaptistChurch in Pineville teaches four-year-olds through kindergarteners five days a week, three hours a day. On Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays – again for three hours each day – 1-, 2-, and 3-year-olds can attend.       Next year the center plans to offer 3-year-olds the option of two, three, or five days a week.       Similar to Mother’s Day Out, PinevillePark is more than anything a developmental school, Director Jenise Jeansonne said. Besides a 30-minute outside play time and a snack time, children are engaged in structured learning for the entire time they’re at the center.       The center provides physical education on Fridays and music education every day but Thursday.       On Wednesdays children can participate in a Stay-N-Play … [Read more...]

Airline Baptist, Shreveport   Alpine First Baptist, Pineville   Amite Baptist, Denham Springs   Bellaire Baptist, Bossier City   Bethel Baptist, Jennings   BethsaidaBaptistChurch, Many   Broadmoor Baptist, Shreveport   Calvary Baptist, Shreveport   Calvary Baptist, Slidell   Calvary Baptist, Alexandria   CelebrationChurch, Metairie   CentralBaptistChurch, Springhill   Christ Baptist, Houma   Comite Baptist, Baton Rouge   Cypress Baptist, Benton   Donahue Family, Pineville   Eastwood Baptist, Haughton   Ebenezer Baptist, Jonesboro   Emmanuel Baptist, Lake Charles   FairPark Baptist, West Monroe   First Baptist, Baton Rouge   First Baptist, Bossier City   First Baptist, Calhoun   First Baptist, Covington   First Baptist, Denham Springs   First Baptist, DeRidder   First Baptist, Haughton   First Baptist, Homer   First Baptist, Houma   First Baptist, Jonesville   First Baptist, Mandeville   First … [Read more...]

“God’s timing is perfect timing,” said Jamie Wilson, Miss Louisiana 2006 and a competitor this past January for the Miss America title. “I think everything always works the way it’s supposed to.”         MINDEN – “God’s timing is perfect timing,” said Jamie Wilson, Miss Louisiana 2006 and a competitor this past January for the Miss America title. “I think everything always works the way it’s supposed to.”       Wilson, 23, first became involved with pageants when she decided that she wanted to represent her home town and become Miss Minden.       “I initially thought it would be something fun to do, but I’ve become ever more aware of how influential this position can be and how I can use it to encourage others,” she said, emphasizing that she always looks for God’s guidance.       After becoming Miss Minden, Wilson shifted her sights toward the Miss America crown, which required winning the state title first. That goal took five years to accomplish.       At first struggling to break into the top ten, then the top five, then winning first runner up, Wilson was finally crowned Miss Louisiana … [Read more...]

Plans for a marching band at Louisiana College are well under way. PINEVILLE – Plans for a marching band at LouisianaCollege are well under way.       Despite all the excitement about it, not many people are aware that the band is a reinstatement, or that it was once an established extracurricular organization. But since LC has not had a marching band for almost 50 years, it is probably accurate to call it an “inaugural” band.       Joe Rivet, former trumpet player in the 1952 marching band and an LC alum, recalls the group had about 35 members and included boosters.  Band members wore blue and orange uniforms. The new band will include a color guard and a spirit line.       Andrew Hunter is to arrive June 1 at LC to organize the new band. Hunter at the present time is directing the pep band that he organized at La GrangeCollege in La Grange, Ga., a United Methodist school said to be the one of the oldest women’s schools in the nation. It became a co-ed institution in 1953.       Forming a band at LC will be “a great opportunity which will develop a more comprehensive instrumental music program,” Hunter … [Read more...]

Many legislators have attempted to, and partially succeeded in, banning prayer in public schools. However, in one Louisiana city, students at Alexandria Senior High are engaging in their right to pray. 7:14 prayertime takes place beside high-traffic parking-lot-to-classrooms corridor.       Many legislators have attempted to, and partially succeeded in, banning prayer in public schools.  However, in one Louisiana city, students at Alexandria Senior High are engaging in their right to pray.  Led by the founder of Orange Ministries, Greg Ziecker, about 15 students meet to pray every Monday and Friday morning.       The group, labeled 7:14 Prayer Circle, have been meeting since August.  “It all started as an attempt to get involved,” said Ziecker, a member at Calvary Alexandria. “Soon we plan on expanding past our school into other local junior high and high schools. We’ve found that more people are willing to pray in a group if they are given the opportunity.”       7:14 Circle is not limited to any denomination or church.  “If you want to take a stand for God, you’re welcome to pray with us,” Ziecker said. “It’s a simple idea for simple … [Read more...]

The Louisiana College Teacher Education Department recently was subject to NCATE evaluation. PINEVILLE – The Louisiana College Teacher Education Department recently was subject to NCATE evaluation.       NCATE, the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education, offers colleges a chance to receive a nationally-recognized stamp of approval. In considering LouisianaCollege for NCATE accreditation, a team of 10 representatives visited the LC campus Feb. 24-28 and assessed the Education Department in a number of ways: The team conducted interviews with faculty and students, as well as observed classes and student teachers in their school settings.       One of NCATE’s chief interests was the department’s conceptual framework, a 107-page document that outlines the department’s  philosophy concerning the future educators it produces, LC administrators said.       The conceptual framework of the department focuses on three aspects: Christian Service, Mastery of Subject Matter, and the Attributes of a Practitioner Teacher. The framework states that “the goal of the Teacher Education Department is to train teacher candidates to become Dynamic … [Read more...]