By Staff, Baptist Message
NEW ORLEANS/SHREVEPORT – Global Fest 2012, the annual fundraising effort for Global Maritime Ministries in New Orleans and Reserve, La., is to take place Sept. 28 at First Baptist New Orleans, and Oct. 13 at Calvary Baptist Shreveport.
“As a nonprofit, we must raise all the support needed to meet our financial obligations,” said Executive Director Philip Vandercook. “This includes ministry resources such as the seafarers’ centers and vans. It also includes Bibles, insurance, chaplains’ salaries, utilities and all the other resources needed to keep the ministry going on a daily basis.”
In the first seven months of this year, Global Maritime Ministries visited 60 ships, talked with 9,239 seafarers from 989 countries and 145 port workers, brought 3,115 seafarers to the GMM center, led in 228 evangelistic conversations and listened as seven people made professions of faith.
HOUMA – “After one of our older church members heard about supporting Chick-fil-A, he treated all of our Wednesday night crowd to a meal,” said Angela Walling, church secretary at Christ Baptist Church.
About 30 people got “whatever they wanted,” on Sept. 5, Walling said, as a gift from long-time member Mecklen Taylor. James Chapman is pastor.
COTTON VALLEY – Cotton Valley Church of Christ offered to sell Cornerstone Baptist Church its facility (after merging with another in Sarepta) “and God in His goodness provided us with the funds to purchase it,” said Frank DeLoach, pastor and founder of Cornerstone 20 years ago. Until now, the congregation has met in a storefront.
“It only took about two months to raise the funds,” DeLoach said. “Our new church home will seat about 300 and includes Sunday School space as well as a fellowship hall.”
DERIDDER – Volunteers are needed to help in the Fair Outreach ministry Oct. 2-6 at the Beauregard Parish Fair; DOM: Tim Patrick.
“We need volunteers to staff our booth in two- to three-hour shifts,” Patrick wrote in the Beauregard Baptist Association newsletter. “Volunteers will be given a pass to get into the fair grounds. We will give out water, tracks, popcorn, a smile, and a word of witness, when possible. You can also give out free material about your church.”
Supplies of water, candy, and small boxes of raisins also are needed, the DOM wrote. Call Ruth Shirley for passes and additional info: 337.463.9535.
MONTEREY – New Era Baptist recently honored Maxine Strebeck for serving 62 years as church pianist, and Adella Paul for 35 years as church secretary. Pastor: Dennis Baker.
SLIDELL – John Reid, pastor of Calvary Baptist Slidell, has been talking with his congregation about modesty.
“Dress in a way that honors God,” he wrote in a summer newsletter announcing a new sermon series.
“Let the vision men in the church have of you be based on your inner beauty first. Let your outer appearance simply be the frame of the picture of who you are in Christ.”
VILLE PLATTE – First Baptist Church of Ville Platte’s annual cookoff — “Cookin’ under da trees” – is set for Nov. 4 at the church’s new property: 815 Chicot Park Road. Admission, food samples and entry into the competition are all free.
Those persons or businesses who want to enter in the beef, pork, seafood, chicken, wild game, soup or “Real Men Bake” dessert challenge must register by Oct. 15 by calling Rachel Ortego at 337.296.9737 for an entry form and details.
LIVINGSTON – Eastern Louisiana Baptist Association presents Paul Daily’s “Round Pen of Life” at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 10 at the rodeo arena at the parish fairgrounds. For more information call 225.664.9309.
LAKE CHARLES – JP Miles has announced plans to retire Dec. 31 as director of missions for Carey Baptist Association, a post he’s held since December 1996. He writes in the September issue of Carey News that he plans to stay in the area and be available for preaching and teaching.
DENHAM SPRINGS – Nearly 300 families have been helped since Hebron Baptist’s free clothes closet was opened in February 2011. This includes once-a-month “shoppers,” plus people starting over after domestic violence, loss of job, house fire, relocation to find a job, single parents, families with financial strains, clothes stolen, release from prison, rehab, and many other reasons for needing clothes and not having financial resources. In addition to clothing, the ministry finds that people need towels, washcloths and personal hygiene items.
The clothing and other items are stored in two unused classrooms, and brought out the first Tuesday of each month in the fellowship hall by the 10 volunteers who work in this ministry. “This ministry is one way people can be touched with God’s love at a time when they’re open to receive it,” said Pastor Joe Alain. “We have had several salvation decisions come out of this ministry and we have a faithful group of volunteers who provide counsel and prayer with the people who come. It’s really a tremendous tangible expression of faith in Jesus in our community.”