Note: Churches listed in alphabetical order.
Airline Baptist in Bossier City has seven Discipleship Unlimited
classes Sunday afternoons that have proven so popular rooms had to be
changed to accommodate the size of the classes. They include “Frazzled
Female” and “Men’s Fraternity.” Members participate Monday evenings in
GROW outreach, Moms’ Day Out, IRON Men, and in supporting the
Shreveport-Bossier Rescue Mission. Kids Night Out Oct.7 included a
missionary from China. Chad Grayson is pastor.
Baptist Temple in Alexandria heard John Hebert speak in Sunday school
and church about the Cooperative Program Oct. 22, which the church
designated as Cooperative Program Appreciation Day. Hebert is an LBC
regional missions and ministries strategist. The church has both an
Extreme Kids group and a BALL (Be Active Live Longer Club. The
Patriarchs, a Beth Moore study, started Oct. 1. Bill Broadwater is
pastor.
Boulevard Baptist in Lake Charles plans a garage sale for youth
ministries Nov. 11. This is important for everyone in the LBC to know
about, since many people will be in Lake Charles that weekend for
Crossover events preceding the LBC annual meeting. Come to Lake Charles
to minister AND find garage sale bargains! Arlene’s animal puppets
visited Boulevard Baptist Oct. 22. Harvest Festival was Oct. 31.
Churchwide Thanksgiving banquet set for Nov. 19. Mark Stagg is pastor.
Calvary Baptist in Slidell honored Pastor Charles and his wife Sandra
Starnes on their 28th anniversary at the church. The women’s ministry
of Faith Baptist in Oxford, Ala., sent purses some time past to the
women of Calvary Slidell who lost so much as a result of Katrina.
Recent church events include a youth camp fire Oct. 28, deacon retreat
Oct. 13-14, and Fall Fest Oct. 27.
Christ Baptist in Houma hosted a Hallo Him event Oct. 31. David Meacham is interim pastor.
“The Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand” from Matthew 3:2 was the title of
the mid-October Fall Bible Conference at Cook Baptist in Ruston. The
church plans a Lottie Moon Auction for Dec. 1. Members are invited to
make Christmas stockings for a detention center. A World Hunger
offering was taken during an Oct. 15 Chili Dinner, and Mission Friends
asked each person to also bring two canned meats, peanut butter or
jelly for local needs.
CrossPoint in Baton Rouge met each Saturday in October for the WEB
[Week-End Bible] club – culminating Nov. 5 with Heroes Unmasked, a fall
festival. A new children’s ministry, Kids 4 Truth, is starting; it’s a
Bible-based good time designed to ground youngsters in the first
through sixth grades in the essential teachings of an authentic
Christian faith. Live OutLoud discipleship training for youngsters
Sunday nights includes a choir and dance team. Landon Dowden is senior
pastor of this year-old church plant.
Dry Creek Baptist Camp dedicated its new tabernacle with a dinner service Oct. 10.
Edgewood Baptist in West Monroe sponsored a rummage sale Oct. 7 to
raise money for its Oct. 28 Fall Fun Fest. They raised more than
$6,000. Children’s attendance awards were presented Oct. 8 during the
morning worship service. Ray of Hope Ministry is gathering new and
gently used teddy bears and other stuffed animals for four orphanages
in Mexico. Larry Linson is pastor.
RAs at First Baptist in Baker participated in their annual sailboat
races Oct. 15. The church focused Oct. 8 on World Hunger. “We have had
seven new church members in September, and three of those were new
Christians,” wrote Pastor Dennis Allen in his newsletter column. “Do
you realize if that happens for 12 months we would have 84 new members
by the end of the [church] year [next September].”
First Baptist in Blanchard set its Fall Fest for Oct. 28. A Discovering
Church Membership class is set for Nov. 5 for all new members since
Apr. 24. Ongoing studies include The Patriarchs, Your Girl, DivorceCare.
First Baptist in Bogalusa’s recent auction for youth ministries raised
more than $12,000. Three arched top church windows still were available
in mid-October for $900 each, lowest bid price for those sold at the
auction. Call 985-732-3756 if you’re interested. The windows are from
the church’s original sanctuary. Bob Adams is pastor.
First Baptist in DeQuincy’s WMU hosted its annual Red Beans and Rice
luncheon Oct. 8 as a fundraiser for World Hunger. The RAs and GAs are
sponsoring the Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Ministry. Members
volunteered for an Oct. 31 Trunk or Treet outreach ministry at the
city’s baseball complex.
First Baptist in Hammond honored Dr. Thomas (wife Rojean) Tedder Oct. 8
and named him Deacon Emeritus. Veterans are to be honored Nov. 112. The
church has restarted its Wednesday night supper ministry. Women on
Mission will be filling Samaritan’s Purse shoeboxes Nov. 7; other
members are filling their own. Deacon ministers will prepare and serve
a Thanksgiving dinner at noon Sunday, Nov. 19.
Hurricane Katrina took the roof off the education building Aug. 29,
2005. As of Oct. 4, 2006, “we took over the bottom floor, and now have
our Sunday school rooms and nursery area up and running. [Second floor
will be ready soon.] We hosted the Associational meeting on Sunday
night, so had our first official function in the Fellowship Hall. It
all went well,” according to the Progress Ledger newsletter. Jim
Lancaster is pastor.
Warden Burl Cain from the Angola State Prison was featured guest for
Friend Day 2006 at First Baptist in Haughton. Members who are prison
employees were honored. The church is involved in a Big Buck Contest;
the clip art with the notice in the Herald newsletter is of a buck
deer. Some members “who are really serious about Bible study” are in
the midst of a 14-week Step by Step through the New Testament that
requires two hours homework each week. Rick Wolfe is teacher.
This is a busy church: Minuteman Ministry, with Genesis and Matthias
teams; Honor Society Luncheon, with guest speak from Shreveport crisis
pregnancy center; Bible skills, drills and thrills kicked off Oct. 1
for grades 1-5; First Contact ministry to expectant and new parents.
Proceeds from the Coke and snack machines in the family life center go
to the SBC’s World Hunger program. Gevan Spinney is pastor.
First Baptist in Haynesville has a booth each year at the Claiborne
Parish Fair. Nine members went on a mission trip to Proyecto
Abrigo, Mexico in mid-October. Plans are progressing for a late January
multi-media live drama, Last Chance. Shelby Cowling is pastor.
First Baptist in Homer offers a 3-D Sunday school, one that
“accomplishes foundational evangelism, discipleship, ministry,
fellowship, worship and much more,” according to The Evangel
newsletter. Fall Family Fun Day was Oct. 28 at Papa Simpson’s Farm. A
Fish Fry Oct. 22 was to help fund a trip to Glorieta in June 2007. Joe
Henry has served the church for more than 50 years as custodian and
grounds keeper. James Simeon is pastor.
First Baptist in Jackson celebrated Constitution Week recently.
“American colonists fought, sacrified and died to establish and
preserve the freedoms now guaranteed to us by the Constitution of the
United States. Our Founding Fathers were careful to give us a Republic
in which a written Constitution established laws to protect the rights
of all citizens. During Consitution Week study the Constitution. Know
your responsibilities,” wrote the Alexander Stirling chapter of the
Daughters of the American Revolution in the Witness newsletter. Joe
Nesom is pastor. His wife, Janice, died recently.
First Baptist in Luling’s Children’s Fall Family retreat was Oct.
13-15; Casting for Christ fishing tourney, Oct. 26-28; Fall Family
Festival, Oct. 29, which included a pumpkin carving show. Members
honored Caleb Lampert at an Eagle Scout Ceremony Oct. 15. A Redeeming
the Season Christmas Tea is set for Saturday, Nov. 4.
First Baptist in Mansfield has a goal of 350 gift-filled shoeboxes by
Nov. 20 for the Samaritan’s Purse ministry. Different items for the
shoeboxes are highlighted each week, which apparently means at some
point there will be a big ‘packing day.’
In the Sept. 24 issue of The Lighthouse newsletter, the featured items
were washcloth, soap and toothbrushes. Like many other churches, a Beth
Moore study on “Daniel” is underway. Sept. 20 there were 47
youngsters in Mission Friends, GAs and RAs. Jewish believer Michelle
Beadle spoke Oct. 22 of how Jewish prophets foretold the events taking
place in Israel today. The church’s library ministry regularly meets to
discuss new books in the library.
Chuck McInturf of Woodridge Baptist in Shreveport served as revival
preacher in early October at First Baptist Morgan City. “God wants us
to have revival,” wrote Pastor David Willoughby in the ddddddd
newsletter. “He wants a church that is excited, evangelistic, and
encouraging. A church more concerned with service than comfort, a
church that remembers we are about the Father’s business and not our
own. God wants a church where the fruit of the Spirit is evident in the
lives of its members, where we look at our attitudes and actions to see
what aspect of the fruit of the Spirit we are displaying. … We need
revival. We need refreshing, reawakening and remembering who we are
because of who lives in us. … Only God the Holy Spirit can revive us
and He wants to. The question is, ‘Do we want Him to?’ Do we want a
significant change in us that will affect those around us? …”
First Baptist in Oak Grove invited Wayne Jenkins, LBC evangelism
director, to speak at a recent fish fry, where a crusade next July was
discussed. Church services are broadcast on radio, and four times each
week on cable television. Carl Gulde is pastor.
Allison Ouzts, a member at First Baptist in Ringgold, recently was
named Teacher of the Year for Ringgold High School and for Bienville
Parish School System. She teaches Consumer Science and Health. A
rummage sale to help fund youth ministries is set for Nov. 4. The
church recently named a pastor search committee.
First Baptist in Tullos met at Lasalle High Football Stadium Oct. 22-25
for an evangelistic crusade with Jerry Chaddick preaching. George
Treutlein is pastor.
First Baptist in Winnfield started Christian Life College Oct. 1:
photography 101, music and notes, Daniel, body talks, and parenting
your teenager. It hosted a Dunkin Booth, food booth and performance of
the sanctuary choir during the recent Winn Parish Fair. Edith Price
recently celebrated 46 years as church organist; soon Brenda Etheridge
will celebrate her 29th year as church pianist. Training for church
committee members was 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 15.
First Baptist in Zachary on Oct. 29 began an eight-week evangelism
training course, the Way of the Master. GROW training is ongoing. Youth
began The Gospel Journey Oct. 15, a study of seven teens of different
belief systems on a journey through the mountains. About 150 teens
attended the first two Fifth Quarters after football games. About 400
peeople attended the church’s recent Outdoorsman Banquet, where Steve
Chapman spoke. This is year 11 for Upward Basketball and year 4 for
Upward Cheerleading at the church. Family Life Center activities
include aerobics, racquetball, volleyball and basketball. First
Priority Bible study and fellowship takes place during lunch on
Thursdays at Zachary High School. The church is seeking a minister of
children.
First Baptist in Zwolle rented out its youth for $5/hour Oct. 31 and
28, to help the teens raise money to go to the Youth Evangelism
Conference in November. A cake social Oct. 29 also helped raise money.
Members are filling Samaritan’s Purse shoeboxes.
The Turning Hearts Tour is set for Dec. 1-2 at Florida Boulevard
Baptist in Baton Rouge. This is a “whole event focused on teenagers and
their parents,” featuring Richard Ross [who started the entire True
Love Waits sexual abstinence campaign in 1992], Joel Ingle and Tyra
Lokey. This is a big deal, parents. The Message will have a full report
in the Nov. 9 issue.
Foster Road Baptist in Baton Rouge knocks on doors and shares the
gospel the first Saturday of each month. Members are preparing for this
year’s Christmas musical, The Heart of Christmas. Huey Moak is pastor.
Grace Memorial Baptist in Slidell is preparing for its “first annual”
Mother/Daughter Tea Nov. 4 at Precious Pearl’s Tea Room. During the
Oct. 9 FAITH visits, two people made professions of faith. Playground
equipment damaged by Katrina was replaced and the area improved over
the last month. Fall Festival was Oct. 31. Two Grace University classes
began Oct. 8: My Identity in Christ; Survival Kit: 5 Keys to Effective
Spiritual Growth.
Members participated Oct. 1 with a local Life Chain. The church’s area
was “the sidewalk from Cuco’s back to Cingular Wireless,” reported
Pastor Bob Heustess in the Spirit of Grace newsletter. “I urge you to
join us in standing up for the unborn.”
Members at Hebron Baptist in Denham Springs are filling shoe boxes with
gifts for Franklin Graham’s Operation Christmas Child. The choir’s
recording session with Prism Music was a success; extra copies of their
CD are available. Author Mary Stafford Varnado was keynote speaker Oct.
21 at the “Vision and Vessels” women’s conference. Fall Festival is set
for Oct. 31. Members are in training to lead starting in January with
Kids Time children’s church. Pastor Joe Alain is to lead “The Prayer of
Jesus: Living the Lord’s Prayer Nov. 7. “Twelve Ordinary Men” by John
MacArthur is to be studied Thursday mornings for five weeks.
Highland Baptist in West Monroe had a work day Oct. 21; took up a
mission offering for a member’s upcoming trip to Pakistan in advance of
a multi-member trip there in 2007. The WMU continues to collect
Campbell Soup Labels and General Mills box tops, both for the Baptist
Friendship House in New Orleans. Fall Festival is set for Oct. 31.
Craft and Things Fair is Sat., Nov. 11. The Discipleship Training study
When Worldviews Collide started Oct. 8.
Homewood Baptist in Alexandria started Financial Peace University Oct. 17. Jimmy Koonce is pastor.
A 55 Alive driving course – take it to reduce your insurance premiums –
is set for Nov. 9 at Kingston Road Baptist in Shreveport. Cost: $10.
Call to register. Jerry Jones was to be at an Oct. 30 fish fry at the
church. A Harvest Celebration was set for Oct. 28.
Mount Carmel Baptist in Florien hosted a Fall Festival and Stew Oct.
28. The church recently installed “lots of nice equipment” in its
exercise room in the family life center. Blinds, tv monitor and several
other items are needed to completely finish the room. In the FLC
kitchen, lots of pots, pans and other kitchen commercial-type supplies
are needed. Larry DeLoach is pastor.
Mulberry Baptist in Houma hosted a spaghetti cook-off after church Oct.
29, and the drama group. The Jeremiah People earlier in the month.
Steve Graves is new as pastor.
Northside Baptist in Lafayette is losing its pastor; an interim is
being sought. According to figures posted in its October newsletter,
Northside has a Sunday school enrollment of 90, and average attendance
in August of 42. The church also listed August figures for three
missions: Coteau Holmes Mission has a membership of 100 and Sunday
school average attendance of 16, with one baptism; Mt. Olivet Mission
has a membership of 42 and Sunday school average attendance of 30; Tech
Baptist Mission has a membership of 122 and Sunday school average
attendance of 63.
The Titus Women at Pinecroft Baptist in Shreveport are collecting
Christmas-colored washcloths and bathsize bars of soap for an upcoming
missions activity. Youth led in a block party Oct. 21 at the Pinecroft
baseball field. Marty Wright is pastor.
Pleasant Hill Baptist in DeRidder is one of many churches across Louisiana who participated in October in a blood drive.
Riverside Baptist in Denham Springs has accepted a Golf Challenge
issued by First Baptist Gonzales and Don Avenue Baptist. Ladies at the
church gathered Sept. 30 for a scrapbooking and crop night. This church
is bouncing around the 200 barrier: 192 in Sunday school Sept. 3, 217
Sept. 10, 206 Sept. 17 and 195 Sept. 24. The Wednesday schedule
includes a parenting class – Growing God’s Kids God’s Way, plus midweek
service, Team Kid, Basic Christian Beliefs, and youth Bible study. The
Oct. 31 fall festival included a slide and climbing wall.
Shreve City Baptist in Shreveport is “a group of baptized believers,
banded together, searching for the best way to love and serve god. Our
mission is to worship and serve Him, equip His people, and proclaim His
gospel,” according to The Challenger newsletter. The church hosted a
Fall Fest Oct. 31.
Simpson Baptist in Simpson is registering now for Upward Basketball and
Upward Cheerleading. The annual Hobo Stew was Oct. 31. These are the
church’s biggest outreaches during the year, says Pastor Paul Watts. A
craft/rummage sale was Oct. 28 as a fundraiser for Mission Mexico.
“‘Satan,’ the Hinderer, may build a barrier about us,’ Hudson Taylor
once said, ‘but he can never roof us in so that we cannot look up,’”
wrote Minister to Families Bucky Erwin in a recent issue of the
Messenger newsletter.
Superior Avenue Baptist in Bogalusa recently rededicated its education
wing to doing the Lord’s work. The wing was renovated after Katrina;
the church wasn’t able to use it for six months. Repairs now have been
completely finished and the church members “Renewed their vows” Oct.
15. The church helped with the association’s water booth at the
Washington Parish Free Fair Oct. 19; produced a Fall Festival Oct. 25;
and Oct. 29 rededicates themselves individually “to the mission God has
given us as His children,” according to the Bulletin newsletter.